As we prepare for Craft and Care on World Mental Health Day, October 10th, we are thrilled to put the spotlight on our generous Presenting Sponsor Nodpod with Founder and CEO Melissa Bamberg. 

What began with an innovative weighted sleep mask evolved into a deeply personal mission to support individuals navigating mental health challenges. Below, Melissa shares the personal inspiration behind Nodpod's mission, the restorative power of rest, and why partnering with The Art Therapy Project feels like the perfect fit for World Mental Health Day.  

Melissa Bamberg, Founder & CEO, Nodpod

1. Nodpod is known for promoting rest and wellness through innovative weighted sleep products. How does prioritizing rest and relaxation tie directly into mental health for your community? 

Sleep and mental health are so deeply connected. When we are exhausted, overwhelmed or constantly “on” everything feels harder. Nodpod has always been about creating a simple moment where you can shut out the world, quiet some of that noise and give yourself permission to relax. I think sometimes we underestimate how important those small moments of self-care can be.  

2. What was the vision behind Nodpod, and how did rest and mental well-being factor into that from the beginning? 

Nodpod originally began with a very simple idea - I wanted to create a cozier, more comfortable way to fall asleep, without straps, Velcro, or anything wrapped around your head. Then, in 2012, I discovered the science of deep touch pressure and learned that weighted products had been used for decades in occupational therapy, particularly within special needs communities, as a way to help calm and regulate the nervous system. 

At the time, weighted wellness simply did not exist in mainstream retail. I remember being completely blown away by that. Here was this incredibly comforting concept with decades of clinical use behind it, yet the average person had virtually no access to or idea about it. I wanted to change that. 

That discovery became so much bigger than creating a better sleep mask. I felt like I had found my life’s work - taking the comfort and science of deep touch pressure out of the clinical setting and bringing it into everyday life for all of us to experience and benefit from. 

3. How has your original motivation for starting the company evolved as you've seen the brand grow into a supporter of critical mental health services? 

Originally, it really was about helping people sleep better. I have always prioritized my own sleep because I know how profoundly different I feel when I haven't had a good night's rest. 

But over time, sleep became much more personal for me. I'm one of five girls, and one of my sisters has struggled with significant mental health challenges throughout her life. After a particularly difficult episode, her doctor explained to our family that lack of sleep could be a major trigger for her. That was a full circle moment for me. I had spent years building a company around better sleep, but suddenly I understood in a very personal way just how deeply connected sleep and mental well-being can be. 

It changed the way I thought about what Nodpod could stand for beyond the products we make. As the company grew and we had more ability to give back, I became incredibly passionate about using that success to support mental health services and the people and families who rely on them. For me, it feels like one of the most meaningful things to come out of building Nodpod. 

4. What motivated Nodpod to step up as presenting sponsor for this year’s Craft & Care event, especially with it falling on World Mental Health Day? 

It felt incredibly aligned with who we are as a brand. Our entire reason for existing is centered around sleep and helping people feel better. To be able to support an event that brings people together around mental health, particularly on World Mental Health Day, felt like exactly where Nodpod should show up. 

And I love that Craft & Care isn't just about talking about mental health. It creates an opportunity for people to connect, create and actually care for themselves and one another. 

5. What inspired your decision to donate a portion of every Nodpod sale to mental health organizations, and why do you believe it is vital for businesses to support non-profit causes? 

Once I understood on such a personal level how deeply sleep and mental health can be connected, I knew I wanted giving back to be part of Nodpod's future. As the company grew, so did our ability to make a meaningful contribution, and donating a portion of every sale felt like a way to make that commitment part of the business itself, rather than something we did occasionally. 

I believe that when you're fortunate enough to build a successful company, you have an opportunity to use that success for something bigger than yourself. For Nodpod, supporting mental health organizations feels deeply connected to who we are and why we exist. Better rest is what we can offer through our products, but supporting organizations that provide critical mental health services allows us to help in a much bigger way. 

6. Nodpod has shown up for our mission in a big way over the years. What makes this partnership so meaningful to you personally? 

This partnership is incredibly personal to me because I know what it feels like to love someone who struggles with their mental health. I know the impact it can have not only on that person, but on an entire family, and how important it is to have access to real support when you need it most. 

As Nodpod has grown, one of the greatest privileges has been realizing that we can use what we've built to help make that support available to more people. Knowing that every Nodpod sold can contribute in some small way to the work you're doing makes this partnership feel incredibly meaningful to me. It connects something I've built and love with something that has touched my family very deeply. 

7. World Mental Health Day is a powerful global reminder to slow down and promote self-care. What message or hope do you want Craft & Care participants to take away from the event on October 10th? 

I hope people walk away remembering that caring for your mental health doesn't always have to begin with something big. Sometimes it starts with giving yourself permission to slow down, to rest, to ask for help, or simply to recognize when you aren't feeling like yourself. 

I've learned through my own family that mental health can touch anyone, and that none of us really know what someone else may be carrying. My hope for October 10th is that people leave feeling a little more compassionate toward themselves and toward one another, and reminded that taking care of yourself is never something you need to apologize for.