Experts Unfiltered: Mental Health

Experts Unfiltered is an Ask-Me-Anything (AMA) style session designed to give members an opportunity to take learning into their own hands by driving the conversation and exploring topics most relevant to their work and careers. Instead of a traditional slide-based presentation, Experts Unfiltered emphasizes open dialogue. These sessions are intended to be highly interactive — members should come prepared with thought-provoking questions, and speakers should show up ready to share honest experiences, candid perspectives, and practical insights from their field in the fermented beverage industry.

This is a safe space for our members to ask questions they may not feel comfortable raising in their workplace or other professional settings. While these talks are intended to be off-the-cuff, everyone is required to comply with the Pink Boots Society Code of Conduct.

Speakers

Leah Rainis is a Senior Customer Experience Specialist at Beer30 by the 5th Ingredient where they nerd out on problem solving, operations, and helping customers align real life happenings with appropriate workflows in their brewery data software. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at A-B Tech Community College in Asheville, N.C. With a career spanning SaaS customer experience, brewery operations, and executive leadership, Leah has spent over a decade embedded in the beverage community. Leah is committed to building stronger support systems within the craft beverage industry an  believes that taking care of the people behind the beverages is just as important as the product itself. Leas is the Co-Chair of the Pink Boots Development Committee and when they are not staring at screens and spreadsheets, you can find them running or spending quality time with her senior Pomeranian, Fishcake. 

Dr. Ashley Warhol (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist and a craft beer professional working in Massachusetts. Ashley has over 13 years of experience in the mental health field and almost 5 years of experience in taproom operations, sales, and brewing within the craft beer industry. Ashley is passionate about bringing mental health awareness and discussion to the forefront of an industry where this is often a silent struggle. 

Kate Hardy is the founder and Executive Director of Six Feet Over, a Michigan-based nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention and postvention support. A survivor of nine suicide losses, beginning with the passing of her mother in 2003, Kate has transformed her personal experiences into advocacy, leadership, and action. Recognized as the 2017 American Association of Suicideology Loss Survivor of the Year, she has played a pivotal role in shaping suicide prevention efforts nationwide. Her contributions include serving on the NSPL Individual and Family Lived Experience Committee (2026-2021), the 988 Lived Experience Committee, and participating in the Lifeline Chat Workgroup. She has also advised on the Michigan Suicide Prevention Plan Workgroup, contributed to the Michigan 2024-2027 Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan, and is a member of the International Messaging Advisory Group. Kate continues to impact national and state-level initiatives as an advisory committee member foe the Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative and the Kansas Suicide Prevention Coalition, and is actively involved in revising the Kansas Suicide Prevention State Plan. Additionally, she serves as a board member of With One Voice, participates in multiple advisory workgroups, boards, and committees, and is a respected national speaker on suicide prevention and postvention. She lives just outside of Detroit with her husband of 20 years and their teenage son.