Before You Kill Yourself: a suicide prevention podcast.

In this episode, I explore a simple but powerful idea: most of us aren’t actually chasing happiness — we’re trying to feel less miserable. When happiness becomes the goal, we overthink, compare, and pressure ourselves to feel a certain way. But when we shift the focus to reducing unnecessary suffering, life becomes more manageable, grounded, and sustainable. Instead of asking “How do I feel amazin...

In this episode, I reflect on James Baldwin’s powerful insight that “a human being can only be saved by another human being,” and why 4 a.m. can be one of the most dangerous times to be alone with our thoughts. I explore how love, connection, and even the quiet presence of others can help us recognize that our lives are deeply intertwined—and that simply staying alive may be the greatest gift we g...

In this episode, I explore why failure is not something to hide, but something to study, share, and even celebrate. Drawing inspiration from the “Flops” exhibition at the Musée des Arts et Métiers, I look at how psychology, religion, science, and art all reveal the same truth: my mistakes are often the very things that shape my character, deepen my relationships, and point me toward a more meaning...

When a hard drive crashes, people will spend thousands—or even hundreds of thousands—of dollars to recover what they thought was lost. In this episode, I explore what data recovery can teach us about resilience, meaning, and suicide prevention. In this episode, I discuss: Why we often don’t realize the value of something until it’s gone How our bodies, relationships, and memories are more fragile...

Typically, when we vent, it causes more harm than good. How do we vent our emotions in a healthy way? Thrive With Leo Coaching :  If you want to reduce your psychological pain, regain your purpose and forge your own path, go to  www.thrivewithleo.com to begin your journey. If you or anyone you know is considering suicide or self-harm, or is anxious, depressed, upset, or needs to talk, th...

"Eat the apple. Plant the seeds." How does this quote pertain to suicide prevention? Thrive With Leo Coaching :  If you want to reduce your psychological pain, regain your purpose and forge your own path, go to  www.thrivewithleo.com to begin your journey. If you or anyone you know is considering suicide or self-harm, or is anxious, depressed, upset, or needs to talk, there are people wh...

What do you do when your mind feels like the Drake Passage—violent, unpredictable, and overwhelming? In this episode, we break down what it actually takes to survive extreme conditions, both at sea and in your mental health. This isn’t about powering through. It’s about learning how to stay on the ship. What We Cover: Why the Drake Passage is so brutal—and why no one is surprised by it The myth of...

What do you do when depression and burnout disconnect you from the very things that once made you feel alive? In this episode, I explore why progress alone isn’t enough—we need rest, play, and purpose to reconnect with ourselves and remember what makes life worth living. Key Takeaways: Depression often shows up as anhedonia —the inability to feel pleasure from things you still care about. Like my...

We give, give, and give some more. How do we give back to ourselves? Thrive With Leo Coaching :  If you want to reduce your psychological pain, regain your purpose and forge your own path, go to  www.thrivewithleo.com to begin your journey. If you or anyone you know is considering suicide or self-harm, or is anxious, depressed, upset, or needs to talk, there are people who want to help:...

In this episode, I use The Devil Wears Prada and its sequel to explore the mental health costs of ambition, the hidden support systems that help us succeed, and how to pursue excellence without sacrificing our relationships, identity, and sense of self. Visionary vs. vendor Ambition and burnout Wants vs. needs The cost of success Hidden mentors (“Nigels”) Mixed motives and self-honesty Print vs. d...

There's something seductive about starting over. Blowing our lives up seems like a great way to do it. How do we resist that urge? Thrive With Leo Coaching :  If you want to reduce your psychological pain, regain your purpose and forge your own path, go to  www.thrivewithleo.com to begin your journey. If you or anyone you know is considering suicide or self-harm, or is anxious, depressed...

Today we talk to Madeline Vosch, author of " Undead: A Memoir of My Suicide." We discuss: complicated truths of surviving a suicide rethinking concept of suicide prevention how access to basic needs keeps people alive Thrive With Leo Coaching :  If you want to reduce your psychological pain, regain your purpose and forge your own path, go to  www.thrivewithleo.com to begin your journey....

A real-time look at what it feels like when everyday costs jump overnight—and how I keep my footing when the math stops working. Key Points: Prices rising faster than paychecks creates emotional, not just financial, strain The difference between failing and being squeezed by the system Shifting from convenience to control (small, practical swaps) Stabilizing mindset: survive first, optimize later...

This episode explores the difference between interrupting thoughts and suppressing emotions—and how trying to control what we feel can quietly keep us stuck. I share how I’ve learned to stop feeding the mental loop while still allowing emotions to move, instead of shutting them down. Why interrupting thoughts can accidentally suppress emotions The hidden ways we avoid feeling (and why they backfir...

In this episode, I break down the difference between comparing and studying — and why one leads to despair while the other leads to growth. We’re going to talk about how comparison quietly attacks your identity, and how to shift into a mindset that builds strategy instead of shame. In this episode: Why “comparison leads to despair” is psychologically true The difference between ranking yourself an...

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 the psychological shift from being liked to being responsible, and how consistent structure reduced chaos, stress, and mental overload — ultimately allowing me to lead with both authority and warmth. Why I ini...

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 health and how we can get more of it in simple, intentional ways. What “touch starved” actually means Why lack of touch increases stress and anxiety How we used to experience touch vs. now Small, practical ways t...

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 episodes that truly helped you instead of consuming everything at once. Build a simple support list, do one meaningful thing each week, and please reach out to professional or crisis support if you’re struggling — t...

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 assumptions behind that belief, from perceived burdensomeness to shame, control, and the quiet fear of being irredeemable. Why “better” is often measured by productivity, not meaning How depression turns imagina...

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, why families assign roles, and how to stop seeking validation from a system that may never give it. It’s about moving from exile to self-acceptance — and building belonging on your own terms. In This Episode...

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’t that we can’t climb… but that we were taught to measure our worth by climbing in the first place? Drawing from Middlemarch , modern work culture, and personal experience, this conversation explores why craft...

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 at why poverty is more than a lack of money—it’s instability, stress, and social exclusion—and what coping strategies can help. Topics covered include: How relative income deprivation can heighten feelings of...

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 stability feels lost. Through a grounding practice designed for “arrival,” we offer listeners a simple way to reorient their bodies after emotional, relational, or existential turbulence, without needing to fix or exp...

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 stress physiology, not willpower, by meeting the nervous system with safety before insight. What we cover: Why “relax more” is a behavioral demand, not a biological solution The difference between calming thoughts...

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 collide — and why the crash doesn’t mean something is wrong. Most importantly, we talk about how to build guardrails for the comedown. Key Points: Highs stress the nervous system Identity amplifies the swing End...