THE SOCIAL WORK RANTS PODCAST

Vote for Bas!! Top host competition. Winner gets $25,000; 6 podcast episdoes produced by IHeartRadio and be interviewed by Ryan Seacrest. Use the link to vote for Bas. https://tophost.org/2026/basiliso-moreno Hosting a financial webinar "What Abuelo/Abuela didn't teach you about money" on Thursday October 21st 7:30pm. $35. Each registrant will get an autographed copy of my upcoming book "The Wealth They Couldn't Take: Use this link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-abuelo-abuela-didnt-teach-you-about-money-tickets-2002919941462?aff=oddtdtcreator What happens when an athlete speaks openly about mental health—and a national sports show turns that decision into a joke? In this episode of The Social Work Rants Podcast, host Bas Moreno discusses Philadelphia Eagles player Lane Johnson’s retirement and Stephen A. Smith’s comments about Johnson’s decision to prioritize his mental health and family. Bas examines why those remarks matter, what a public apology can and cannot repair, and how influential voices can reinforce mental health stigma. This conversation reaches beyond football. Bas reflects on the pressure athletes face, the personal struggles people carry outside of work, and his own experiences with grief, therapy, and caregiving. Ahead of World Mental Health Day, he makes the case for giving people privacy and respect when they say they need help. Whether you’re a sports fan, social worker, mental health professional, or caregiver, this episode asks a question worth considering: How do we respond when someone chooses their well-being? Subscribe to The Social Work Rants Podcast on YouTube, follow the show on Instagram @thesocialworkrantspodcast, and leave a rating or comment wherever you listen.

Could new federal student-loan policies deepen America’s mental health workforce crisis? In this episode of The Social Work Rants Podcast®, Bas Moreno, LMSW, CFSW, examines how proposed federal student-loan limits and higher-education accountability rules could affect social work, mental health counseling, early-childhood education, culinary arts, and other essential professions. Graduate social work programs are already expensive, while many social workers enter careers where salaries do not reflect the education, licensing, experience, and emotional labor the profession demands. If future students have less access to federal funding—or if programs lose access because graduates’ earnings do not meet federal benchmarks—the pipeline of trained social workers and mental health professionals could shrink when communities need them most. Bas discusses: • How student-loan changes could affect social work and counseling students • The connection between graduate-school debt and low social-work salaries • Why the mental health workforce pipeline is at risk • How federal earnings tests could affect college programs • Why social workers must demand compensation that reflects their value • The importance of contacting members of Congress and participating in elections • How advocacy, policy engagement, and voting can protect essential professions • Why social workers should explore transferable skills and additional income opportunities Bas also shares an update about his upcoming book, The Wealth They Couldn’t Take: A Latino Story of Money, Mind, and Family. The book explores the intersection of Latino history, systemic racism, colonialism, mental health, family, and financial well-being—and offers a path toward surviving and thriving financially. This episode is commentary and education, not legal, financial, or student-loan advice. Policies are evolving, so verify current information through Federal Student Aid and trusted student-loan professionals. Follow The Social Work Rants Podcast® on Instagram: @thesocialworkrantspodcast Learn more about Bas Moreno Consulting: https://basmorenoconsulting.net Subscribe, share this episode with a social worker or mental health professional, and tell us in the comments: How could restrictions on graduate-school financing affect the future of social work? #SocialWork #StudentLoans #MentalHealthCrisis #SocialWorkStudents #MSW #MentalHealthProfessionals #StudentDebt #SocialWorkAdvocacy #HigherEducation #SocialWorkPodcast #FinancialSocialWork #LatinoMentalHealth #MentalHealthWorkforce

What’s the difference between palliative care and hospice, and how can families make informed decisions before a crisis? In this episode of The Social Work Rants Podcast, Bas Moreno talks with Noni Ife Taylor, a social worker with experience in hospice and pediatric palliative care, about serious illness, caregiving, and end-of-life planning. Noni explains when palliative care may be available, how hospice supports patients and families, and why the way these services are introduced matters. They discuss medical mistrust in Black and Brown communities, common fears about hospice medications, and the lasting barriers older adults and caregivers face after the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation also covers advance care directives, choosing someone to make medical decisions if you cannot, the financial strain of caregiving, and why social workers need to be prepared for these conversations across practice settings. If you’re a social worker, healthcare professional, caregiver, or someone supporting an aging loved one, this episode offers a starting point for asking questions and planning around what matters most to your family. Follow the podccast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thesocialworkrantspodcast

How can social workers use advocacy, policy, and collective action to strengthen the profession? In this episode of The Social Work Rants Podcast®, host Bas Moreno, LMSW, CFSW, speaks with Amanda Rodriguez, Policy Lead for the National Association of Social Workers—New York Chapter (NASW-NY). They discuss the unification of the New York City and New York State chapters, the importance of representing both urban and rural communities, and how social workers can influence legislation affecting their careers and clients. Amanda explains NASW-NY’s advocacy efforts around social work salaries, student-loan forgiveness, licensing barriers, temporary work permits, and workforce shortages. The conversation also explores the ethical use of artificial intelligence in mental health care, the need to protect minors from unsafe AI chatbot features, and why AI should support—not replace—licensed social workers and therapists. You’ll also learn: What NASW does for social workers and MSW students How social workers can participate in policy and legislative advocacy Why New York’s social-work loan-forgiveness program needs greater accessibility How licensing exams and employment restrictions affect the workforce Why stronger safeguards are needed for AI-powered mental health tools How NASW-NY’s Capitol Action Day helps social workers speak directly with lawmakers Why voting and civic engagement are essential parts of social-work advocacy Whether you are a social-work student, LMSW, LCSW, mental health professional, policy advocate, or community change agent, this episode shows how your voice can help shape the future of social work. Connect with NASW-NY and learn more about membership, professional development, advocacy committees, and Capitol Action Day at naswny.socialworkers.org. Follow and subscribe to The Social Work Rants Podcast® for honest conversations about social work, mental health, financial wellness, public policy, and social justice. Content note: This episode includes discussion of suicide and unsafe chatbot interactions. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

This episode is dedicated to all the victims of the September 11th attacks 25 years ago. This episode is also dedicated to all the victims post 9/11 who lost their lives as a result of the toxic air surrounding ground zero. After 25 years, are we really safer now than back on 9/11? We are still dealing with the middle east like we were after the terror attacks. President Bush lied about weapons of mass destruction. Trump lies every day. The government lied about the air being safe to breathe. That was proven by NYC Mayor Mandami this week. So how much has really change if you think about it? If we don't like what is currently happening, we have midterm elections coming up and we can do something about it, by voting and encouraging our clients to vote. (The picture of the twin towers in the thumbnail (on youtube) was taken by me in May 2001 while on a boat party cruise around Manhattan weeks before my undergrad graduation). #9/11 #neverforget