Before You Kill Yourself: a suicide prevention podcast.

In this episode, I reflect on my time leading a cottage at a group home and how stepping into a leadership role challenged my identity, anxiety, and desire to just be the “fun guy.” I unpack ...

In this episode, I talk about what it really means to be touch starved — not in a dramatic way, but in a nervous-system way. I break down why safe, consensual touch matters for our mental hea...

I’m taking a short hiatus from the podcast to rest and reset. In the meantime, I encourage you to stay connected to at least one person, keep a small daily routine, and revisit the few episod...

When someone says, “Everyone would be better off without me,” it sounds selfless — but what if it’s a distortion built on the wrong currency of worth? In this episode, we unpack the hidden as...

What does it mean to feel like the outsider in your own family — the one who gets blamed, ignored, or quietly cast as “the problem”? In this episode, we explore the psychology of scapegoating...

Is the real crisis today economic — or architectural? In this episode, we challenge the idea that loneliness and despair come from a broken ladder of upward mobility. What if the problem isn’...

In this episode, we explore how poverty affects mental health and increases suicide risk, particularly through relative deprivation, structural barriers, and unclaimed government aid. We look...

In this episode, we use the metaphor of turbulence to explore why intense moments in life can feel dangerous without actually being dangerous—and how the nervous system responds when stabilit...

Have you ever been told to “just relax” when your body felt like it was on high alert? In this episode, we unpack why that advice fails—and how suicide prevention requires understanding stres...

We explore why emotional highs are often followed by sudden lows, especially after moments of achievement, transition, or loss. We look at how identity, nervous system biology, and meaning co...

Explore the power of purpose through the story of Velasco in The Samurai and research-backed insights:Velasco chose meaning over comfort, even at the cost of his life.Purpose drives resilienc...

We often describe our feelings with one word — “fine,” “pissed,” “tired” — and wonder why others don’t get us. In this episode, we explore how to turn vague emotions into vivid, specific expe...

In this episode, we explore the real difference between talking, venting, and unburdening—and why unburdening is the emotional release most people never realize they need. We break down what ...

In this episode, we explore the quote, “People who live for one thing never seem to age.” What does it mean to have an anchor — a devotion that gives life direction and resilience? We’ll look...

In this episode, we explore how embarrassment, social pressure, and the need for permission show up in everyday life—and what that reveals about mental health.Key Takeaways:Why people wait fo...

We discuss three phases of emotional regulation learned through how we deodorize our car! If you want to reduce your psychological pain, regain your purpose and forge your own path, go to&nb...

Today we discuss how to cope with the grief from the unexpected death of a parent. If you want to reduce your psychological pain, regain your purpose and forge your own path, go to www....

In this episode, we explore the metaphor of human energy and emotional regulation through the lens of aviation fuel—what keeps us running clean vs. what makes us crash and burn.Why the wrong ...

In this episode, we explore the life-saving potential of creativity in suicide prevention based on a webinar with Dr. Diane Kaufman, MD.Key Highlights:How Dr. Kaufman used poetry to process s...

In this episode, we explore:Why your body waits until the end of your shower to signal you need to peeHow this everyday moment reveals deeper truths about tension, distraction, and missed sig...

Today we'll discuss: Explore the power of admiration as a tool for connection and healing.Discuss how admiration can counteract shame, loneliness, and psychological pain.Differentiate between...

In this episode, we explore the deep-rooted tendency to seek approval from the very people who criticize us most. Together, we unpack:Why we confuse critique with wisdom and validationHow chi...

In this episode, I explore Norman Rush’s Mating, focusing on the chapter “Guilty Repose” and the section “Weep for Me.” Through the narrator’s encounter with the waterfall, I unpack themes of...

In this episode, we explore why starting your day with effortful tasks can build momentum, meaning, and mental strength.Why your brain is primed for effort in the morningThe science behind do...

In this episode, we unpack a powerful distinction that shifts how we view conflict, commitment, and connection:The difference between fighting for your life (survival mode) and fighting for a...

If you're a parent of pre-teen or teenage boy, today's episode is for you. Today's episode is: Exploring why heartbreak can lead preteen and teenage boys to suicidal thoughtsUnderstanding th...

In this episode, we explore the quiet power of doing things with both hands:Why bilateral movement calms the nervous systemCultural and spiritual traditions that honor two-handed gesturesEver...

THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE BOOK "STONER" BY JOHN WILLIAMSSPOILERS...In this heartfelt episode, we explore:How the novel Stoner reveals the hidden emotional lives so many of us car...

In this episode, we explore why having a personal "Why Not" list can be a powerful tool for mental health and suicide prevention:How “Why not?” can lead to impulsive or harmful decisionsWhy h...

In this episode, we explore:What a manic episode actually looks and feels likeHow mania and depression can reduce grey matter in the brainWhy overstimulation, lack of sleep, and creative pres...

In today's episode we discuss the following questions: What truth in you cannot be broken?When do you feel most like you?Who are you without your name?What are you growing into?Where does you...

In this deeply personal solo episode, I reflect on a moment at sea that stirred something primal—a desire to leap, not to die, but to feel fully alive. We explore:The difference between wanti...

In this episode, we explore what happens when we withhold what’s true, raw, or real inside us:Why unexpressed thoughts and emotions don’t just disappear—they festerThe difference between rele...

In this episode, we explore seven powerful strategies that can help someone survive intense emotional distress and suicidal thoughts (from the book, THE SUICIDAL PERSON by Konrad Michel): Cal...

In this episode, we explore the powerful symbolism of the zero — often misunderstood as "nothing" — and reveal how it actually represents connection, wholeness, and infinite potential. If you...

In today's episode we discuss:What we often do when suicidal urges riseWhy small, immediate actions can be life-savingThe psychology behind choosing connection over isolationHow resistance, n...

In today's episode we explore the quiet but powerful human need for touch—and how its absence can deepen despair and loneliness, especially for those struggling with suicidal thoughts.Why ask...

Lauren Henry Brehm joined the podcast to discuss her book The French Court: Essays from One Family's Legacy of Mental Illness and her journey through mental health, family trauma, and persona...

In this episode, we explore the subtle, often missed moments of human connection—and what they reveal about our deeper needs.A brief exchange with a mailman sparks reflection on communication...

Thrive With Leo Coaching: If you want to improve in the areas of health, wealth and/or relationships, go to www.thrivewithleo.com to begin your journey.If you or anyone you know is ...

In this episode, we explore how meaningful conversation can be divided into three emotional spaces — even if you live alone:🛏️ Pillow Talk: A space for vulnerability, emotional honesty, and ...

In today's episode we discuss: Explore the life and legacy of Boeing whistleblower John BarnettHear key excerpts from his powerful final noteAnalyze the emotions, thoughts, needs, and wants e...

In this episode Jess Feliciano shares:What led to her first suicide attemptWhy breakups and heartache are so painfulWhy therapy is not enough to heal usHow to trust yourself to love againHow ...

We discuss ways we isolate and how to slowly emerge to re-engage with the world around us. ...

We discuss Tony Stark's (yes, that's his real name) three suicide attempts and his road to creating a life worth living.Thrive With Leo Coaching: If you want to improve in the areas of h...

In this episode, I explore suicide prevention not from the edge of crisis, but from the quiet places where meaning begins to erode—often, first thing in the morning. I share a personal reflec...

We discuss how menopause and andropause can impact our mental health. Thrive With Leo Coaching: If you want to improve in the areas of health, wealth and/or relationships, go to www.thri...

Authors Joshua Howe and Alexander Lemons join me to discuss:slow violence vs acute violencecoping with suicidalityThree Eights for scheduling your dayWhy healing is not recoveryHow to find me...

Hope can lead to painful disappointment. Fantasizing can prevent us from taking action. How do we bridge the two?Thrive With Leo Coaching: If you want to improve in the areas of health, wea...

We discuss why we need first, second, third and fourth responders as part of our mental health team. Thrive With Leo Coaching: If you want to improve in the areas of health, wealth and/or re...