Before You Kill Yourself: a suicide prevention podcast.

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 wanting escape and needing depthHow “leaping” can be a cry for rest, touch, or meaningWhat it means to unplug, fast, and floatA practice for staying grounded when you feel unspooledWhy intensity sometimes masquerades as danger—but is really a call to be heldIf 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 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 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 release and recklessness in emotional expressionHow to safely express anger, resentment, longing, and fear without hurting yourself or othersWhat 365 Tao teaches us about drawing from our inner well before it stagnatesDaily practices to clarify your inner life through intentional expressionThrive 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 seven powerful strategies that can help someone survive intense emotional distress and suicidal thoughts (from the book, THE SUICIDAL PERSON by Konrad Michel): Call a trusted doctor or therapist for personalized careReach out to a 24/7 crisis line for nonjudgmental supportAvoid alcohol to protect your judgment and emotional balanceResist writing a goodbye letter to keep options openContact a mental health clinic for urgent interventionCall an ambulance when immediate safety is neededGo directly to the ER to access full medical and psychiatric careIf 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 powerful symbolism of the zero — often misunderstood as "nothing" — and reveal how it actually represents connection, wholeness, and infinite potential. If you’ve ever felt invisible, isolated, or not enough, this conversation is for you.Key Takeaways:How feeling like a "zero" can actually signal readiness for connection, not emptinessThe role of circles in cultures around the world and why they represent community and healingWhy you don’t have to be "more" before you start moving toward your goals or relationshipsHow the zero is the "hug of numbers" — and why surrounding yourself and others with love mattersA reminder that at every moment, you are enough to take the next stepThrive 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 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 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, not resolution, can carry us through a crisisSimple decisions that protect life in the most fragile momentsIf 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 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 asking “Who thinks about sex more?” misses the deeper question of touchHow men and women often experience and imagine touch differentlyThe evolutionary and emotional roots of skin hungerWhy physical contact—non-sexual, non-romantic—can be life-savingReal-world insights from survivors and ways to reach out, or be reachedIf 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 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.

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 personal transformation.Opened up about her grandmother’s undiagnosed OCD and its generational impactShared her own suicide attempt and living with Autism Spectrum DisorderReflected on her divorce after 29 years of marriageDescribed her experience in the psychiatric ER and ongoing therapyDiscussed psychiatric medications: Cymbalta, Buspar, Lamictal, TrazodoneMemorable quotes:“I don’t want to escape my life, I just don’t want it to hurt so much.”“A smile is the shortest distance between two people.”“I learned that I have something to offer everyone.”Purchase Book: https://tinyurl.com/French-Court 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 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 and misunderstandingThe physical sensation of a missed connection—what it tells usWhy we often choose efficiency or comfort over connectionHow being unseen can create deep emotional painThe power of pausing, noticing, and trying again—with empathyThrive 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 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.

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 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:Learn why emotions are like storms and feelings are the stories we tell about themDiscover how movement helps with emotions, while naming helps with feelingsExplore a simple 3-step tool for when you're in crisis:Name the feelingNotice the story you're tellingIdentify what you need right nowHear how this awareness can keep you grounded in your most overwhelming moments

Dive into the emotional landscapes of conversation with insights on pillow talk, couch talk, and kitchen talk. Each setting offers a unique space for vulnerability, self-reflection, and dynamic discussions. Discover how to have meaningful dialogues with yourself and the importance of these settings in forming connections. Historical and literary examples enrich the conversation, making the exploration both entertaining and thought-provoking.