Before You Kill Yourself: a suicide prevention podcast.

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 at how finding your “one thing” can protect your mental health, help you recover from chaos, and remind you why you’re still here.Talking Points:What the quote “People who live for one thing never seem to age” really meansThe difference between youthfulness and timelessnessHow devotion — not distraction — keeps us steadySigns you’re not living for your one thingSimple ways to identify your anchor or purposeWhy having a “one thing” can make life feel worth staying for

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 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 the US: Crisis Text Line: Text CRISIS to 741741 for free, confidential crisis counseling. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or 988The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386Outside the US:International Association for Suicide Prevention lists a number of suicide hotlines by country. Click here to find them.

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.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 the US: Crisis Text Line: Text CRISIS to 741741 for free, confidential crisis counseling. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386Outside the US:International Association for Suicide Prevention lists a number of suicide hotlines by country. Click here to find them.

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 inputs (like sugar, doomscrolling, or people-pleasing) feel good briefly but exhaust usHow to identify visual, auditory, and social junk fuel in your daily lifeWhat real, sustainable fuel looks like across body, mind, and relationshipsThe emotional and physiological signs you’re misfueledA better blueprint for lasting vitality, clarity, and connectionPlus: a metaphorical dashboard and why your internal engine deserves premium inputThrive 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 the US: Crisis Text Line: Text CRISIS to 741741 for free, confidential crisis counseling. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or 988The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386Outside the US:International Association for Suicide Prevention lists a number of suicide hotlines by country. Click here to find them.

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 suicidal thoughtsTransforming personal pain into public healing through books, songs, and an operaPractical ways art can help us move from isolation to connectionWhat many artists who died by suicide were missing—and how to fill in those gapsCreative exercises that turn suffering into meaning

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 signalsWhat it means to actually feel safe enough to tune inWhy slowing down isn’t indulgent—it’s essentialHow this connects to mental health, nighttime overthinking, and suicide preventionThrive 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 the US: Crisis Text Line: Text CRISIS to 741741 for free, confidential crisis counseling. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or 988The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386Outside the US:International Association for Suicide Prevention lists a number of suicide hotlines by country. Click here to find them.

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 genuine admiration and blind flattery.Learn practical ways to admire others and yourself sincerely, even when it feels vulnerable.Reflect on the balance between setting boundaries and giving honest praise.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 the US: Crisis Text Line: Text CRISIS to 741741 for free, confidential crisis counseling. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or 988The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386Outside the US:International Association for Suicide Prevention lists a number of suicide hotlines by country. Click here to find them.

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 childhood dynamics and emotional wounds shape this patternThe emotional cost of chasing approval from naysayersWhy breaking the cycle matters for our mental health and self-worthActionable steps to turn toward compassion instead of criticismThis conversation is a reminder that healing doesn’t come from earning acceptance—it comes from reclaiming your own.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 the US: Crisis Text Line: Text CRISIS to 741741 for free, confidential crisis counseling. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or 988The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386Outside the US:International Association for Suicide Prevention lists a number of suicide hotlines by country. Click here to find them.

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 noise, solitude, mediocrity, and companionship — connecting her revelations to my own experiences with silence, striving, and the human need for connection.Discussion Highlights:How “the roar penetrates you” mirrors our craving for sensory overwhelm — music, crowds, even chaos — to quiet the mind’s constant chatter.The painful beauty of solitude eroding, and what it means to reconnect with ourselves after long avoidance.The “Weep for Me” moment as an honest confrontation with buried sadness, surfacing only when the world finally goes quiet.The narrator’s fear of mediocrity and how society equates “average” with “unacceptable,” fueling endless striving.The final revelation — “If you had a companion you would stay where you are” — as a call to seek steadiness, humility, and shared presence over transcendence.

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 doing hard things earlyWhat happens when we only choose easeThe Four Boxes of Action: Easy & Empty, Easy & Essential, Effortful & Enriching, Effortful & DrainingHow to build a daily rhythm that supports growth, not just comfortThrive 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 the US: Crisis Text Line: Text CRISIS to 741741 for free, confidential crisis counseling. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or 988The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386Outside the US:International Association for Suicide Prevention lists a number of suicide hotlines by country. Click here to find them.