In this episode, Raul Rodarte Shuto visits with Julie Winters, executive director of Aspire: A Mindful Place, to talk about her life across rural communities, her years of service with Hutchinson County United Way, and the growing need for accessible mental health care in the Texas Panhandle.
Julie shares her personal journey from Clovis and the Panhandle to England and back again, reflecting on how those experiences shaped her understanding of community, culture, trauma, and resilience. She also opens up about caring for her late husband during his battle with cancer, and how that season of grief deepened her commitment to making mental health support more accessible for others.
The conversation highlights the origins of Aspire: A Mindful Place, a nonprofit working to bring compassionate, comprehensive behavioral health services to Hutchinson County. Julie explains how Aspire grew out of a local mental health task force, the community’s recognition of unmet needs, and a desire to create local support that removes barriers like travel, stigma, and cost.
Raul and Julie also discuss the realities rural communities face when it comes to mental health, the importance of meeting people where they are, and the power of collaboration in building stronger systems of care. Julie shares how Aspire is already making an impact through peer support, wellness and recovery workshops, and community partnerships while preparing to open its permanent facility in Borger.
The episode is ultimately a conversation about loss, hope, community care, and the belief that rural Texans deserve accessible mental health resources close to home.
