Mental Health Quickcast: Susy Ramirez

In this heartfelt conversation, Susy Ramirez—Kennedy Kids Foundation board member and the heart behind Dani's Balloons—joins Robert Bailey and Bailey Brooks Mashburn to share a story rooted in resilience, reinvention, and purpose.

Susy opens up about the mental-health challenges that shaped her life across seasons: immigrating from Honduras, being bullied as a child, navigating the pressure and expectation of NFL cheerleading, and enduring deeply personal losses— including her family’s devastating experience with suicide. She reflects on how grief can stay raw for years, and why community is often the bridge that helps people keep going.

Together, they pull back the curtain on the “glamour” of professional cheerleading—talking about body image pressure, perfection culture, financial strain, and the emotional toll that many people never see. But this episode is also about hope: how service, movement, family, and meaningful rituals can become survival tools—like Susy’s powerful way of honoring her nephew through the “Brendan’s Sandwich Project,” giving food to people in need. Susy also shares the mindset practices that help her stay grounded: prioritizing fitness, taking pride in caring for herself, showing up for her family, and giving back—because helping others can sometimes be the very thing that helps you heal.

If you or someone you know is struggling, visit kennedykids.org and explore the Resources tab. If immediate help is needed, call 911. You can also call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), available 24/7