Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Laisha Martinez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Laisha, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
The biggest risk I took was making the life-changing decision to move across the country—from North Carolina to California—on just two days’ notice, right after graduating high school. At only 18, I knew I needed to get sober and start fresh. Leaving behind everything familiar, I went to California with the hope of reshaping my life and confronting my struggles head-on.
The journey didn’t stop there, though. As I progressed in my sobriety, I made the even bigger choice to open up about my experiences with addiction publicly. I started sharing my story online, which eventually led me to launch a podcast and create a platform for others to do the same. My goal was, and still is, to break the stigma surrounding mental health and addiction.
I had battled social anxiety and depression, and the stigma around addiction made it even harder to acknowledge my struggles. For a long time, I didn’t see myself as someone who had a problem, despite receiving three DUIs in less than a year and relying on substances to do something as simple as grocery shopping. Admitting that I needed help took immense courage.
Today, I’m the Director of Content Creation for F The Stigma, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that aligns perfectly with my passion to de-stigmatize addiction and mental health issues. Putting myself out there so openly was a leap of faith, and there were risks—fears of judgment, vulnerability, and self-doubt. But taking that risk brought me to a place where I can help others find strength in their own stories, and that has made it all worth it.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m a content creator specializing in outreach and impactful storytelling for F The Stigma, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. My work spans the entire content creation process—from filming and being on camera to editing and strategic planning—all focused on driving our nonprofit’s mission to break stigmas around mental health and addiction.
At F The Stigma, we offer several key services aimed at direct support and harm reduction. For example, we run a Medication Assistance Program for Maryland residents who struggle to afford essential medications. Additionally, we are committed to harm reduction, providing access to naloxone and fentanyl test strips, along with educational content on social media that equips our audience with life-saving knowledge.
One of the core ways we address stigmas is through our podcast, which I host. The podcast is an open platform where we dive deep into topics often filtered or avoided, holding raw, unfiltered conversations about mental health, addiction, and other stigmatized issues. I bring on guests from all walks of life to share their experiences, with the goal of helping listeners feel seen and less alone in their struggles. Through these stories, we’re building a supportive, like-minded community that embraces authenticity over silence.
What sets F The Stigma apart is our commitment to transparency and real talk; we don’t shy away from hard conversations. I’m proud to be part of a mission that stands for openness and community, empowering people to embrace their truths rather than be limited by the stigmas around mental health and addiction.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Building our audience on social media was honestly about not giving up, even when it felt like I was talking to an empty room. I kept creating and sharing because I believed in our message and knew it could make a difference. Those early days were tough, but I stuck with it, finding little ways to improve my filming and editing, and learning what connected best with people.
Over time, things started to click, and our community began to grow. Today, we’re a family of over 5.5k followers on TikTok, more than 90k on Facebook, and 1.5k on Instagram. If I could give one piece of advice to anyone just starting out, it would be this: don’t stop. Keep showing up, even when it feels like no one’s there yet, and keep growing along the way. It might feel slow, but the people who need to hear your message will find you.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist—especially on the F The Stigma platform—is the freedom to be completely myself. This work has pushed me to stay true to who I am and to express myself openly, without shame for my experiences or the thoughts I carry. Creating has become a way to release what’s inside and share it with others. It’s empowering to put my truth out there, and knowing it resonates with others makes the journey feel that much more meaningful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fthestigma.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fukthestigma
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FTStigma
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/f-ck-the-stigma-inc-501-c-3/
- Twitter: https://x.com/fuck_thestigma
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTA3MSa2Cq_H5NEpxjUmdZw
- Other: FTS TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigma
Personal Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nolongerlaisha/
Image Credits
Laisha Martinez