During this bonus episode, we were honored to chat with Ben Higgins. Ben is best known from season 20 of The Bachelor, but also co-founded Generous International, a for-purpose company dedicated to contributing profits to social issues around the world. In this episode, Ben shares his lived experience with loneliness and what inspired him to write his story in his book, Alone in Plain Sight. He discovered sharing his experience of loneliness and difficulty have become a place for connection. And that being honest about our pain might be what connects us the most to the people around us.

Connect with Ben:

Ben's Instagram: @higgins.ben

Ben's Podcast: Hope Still Wins

Ben's Book: Alone In Plain Sight

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Learn more about Only7Seconds

Connect with us on social media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

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Music written & produced: Dash8

Two months ago, we shared the first story of the I Know Lonely Project from Kealani Yamamoto. Today’s episode is a special bonus in collaboration with the Pathlight Behavioral Health and the Mental Note Podcast, where you’ll hear a bit of a continuance of Kea’s story. Together Ellie Pike (host of the Mental Note Podcast)  and Kea cover how she mended relationships, what dating with a Bipolar diagnosis was like, and why she decided to become a mother despite the hereditary nature of her disorder.

As a teenager, Kea Yamamoto’s behaviors transformed from being respectful, creative, and empathetic to ones that alienated the people she cared most about. Not only did she lash out, but she also stopped sleeping, began hallucinating, and felt immune to consequences. Kea’s eventual diagnosis of Bipolar I Disorder proved to be both a relief and a frightening look into the unknown. Would she be able to enjoy the relationships and experiences that make life worthwhile? Or would she move deeper into isolation and pain?

To find Kea’s full story & the first podcast episode: www.only7seconds.com/kea 

Additional Resources:

Mental Note Podcast: www.mentalnotepodcast.com 

Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center Website: www.pathlightbh.com

Free Group Support: www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups  

Free Evaluation with a Trained Pathlight Therapist:  (877) 850-7199

Meet Vik Chopra, our third storyteller for the I KNOW LONELY Project. Vik shares his journey with addiction that led to the loneliest and darkest place of his life. He recounts how his story begins as a straight-A student in high school to experiencing a successful career in his early twenties and then eventually becoming someone he couldn’t recognize in the mirror. Being trapped in a cycle of opioid and meth addition eventually led to crime as a way of survival. When Vik was arrested and charged with 26 felonies, he decided this was a chance to change how his story ends. 

Vik did change his story. What could have ended in tragedy is now a story of hope, connection, and triumph. Today, Vik is a filmmaker and co-founder of a passion project where he works to shift the collective consciousness from intolerance to redemption by humanizing the unincarcerated.

To watch Vik’s short video and access the full shownotes and resources: https://only7seconds.com/vik/

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To learn more and support the I KNOW LONELY Project: click here.

Connect with us on social media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

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Music written & produced: Dash8

In this special bonus episode, Luke sits down with Denise Waters, our school & youth program manager, to have a conversation about the Connection Curriculum. The Connection Curriculum is our school and youth program that is now available to be implemented in schools and youth programs all around the world.

During this conversation, Denise and Luke share how the Connection Curriculum grew from an idea to a pilot program with over 3,000 participating students and staff, to what it is today.

The Connection Curriculum is now available to purchase for individual classrooms, multiple classrooms, or school wide. Learn more & place your order: www.only7seconds.com/connection-curriculum

Meet Mario Gonzalez, as he shares his story as a part of the I KNOW LONELY Project. If you have followed along with Only7Seconds over the past 2 years, Mario is probably a familiar face. From SHARE Day videos, to film production, photography, and content creation, to having an internship with us this summer, he has been an integral part of creating Only7Seconds what it is today.

Growing up as a latchkey kid, Mario shares how loneliness led him into getting involved in substance, alcohol use, and negative decisions as young as 6th grade. When his mom suffered a severe stroke and suddenly passed away, 13 year old Mario made a promise to change.

As a first generation high school graduate from an immigrant family and now a senior in college, Mario reflects on the decisions- and more importantly, the people- that shaped him into who he is today. Mario also gets vulnerable by sharing about a dark time during his sophomore year of college and how a friend taking 7 seconds to reach out is why he is alive today. "I’m a living example of what this message can do”, he says. Mario is a communications major at Whitworth University, a photojournalist, and an artist and creative who is passionate about storytelling.

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To watch Mario's video, see the full show notes, and access resources: www.only7seconds.com/mario

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To learn more and support the I KNOW LONELY Project: click here.

Connect with us on social media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

Music written & produced: Dash8

For our first bonus episode, we are honored to have Colleen Hilton, a licensed marriage and family therapist with nearly 20 years of experience here with us. She has a passion to impact the world through mental health and creating thriving, scalable solutions.

Colleen shares about the intersection of mental health and loneliness, how to help better equip teens for success as a parent, and the impact loneliness has in relationships and marriages. She provides relevant, practical tools that can be applied in your life.

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For more information about Colleen's work at Thrivelution, click here.

To support the work of Only7Seconds and the I KNOW LONELY Project: click here.

To hear Kea's story and view resources on bipolar: www.only7seconds.com/kea

Connect with us on social media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

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Music written & produced: Dash8

Meet Kealani Yamamoto, the first storyteller for the I KNOW LONELY Project. Kea shares about her experience with bipolar disorder and rebuilding relationships with people she cares about. She also talks about the pressure of being the “tough one” one and that it is okay to be fragile. Kea has a passion for de-stigmatizing mental health. She was a superstar athlete and runner in high school and college. She is now a remarkable artist and designer.

To watch Kea's video and access the full shownotes and resources: www.only7seconds.com/kea

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To learn more and support the I KNOW LONELY Project: click here.

Connect with us on social media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

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Although this episode wasn’t centered around what’s happening currently in Kea’s life, she wanted to add a quick note. “I want to thank my husband, Cai. He takes little credit,  but he makes me a better person and loves me unconditionally. On August 5th, 2022, we welcomed our son, Boulder Cal Yamamoto, into the world. We are excited to be on this wild adventure with him! I hope you enjoy hearing my story and I’m so grateful for Only7Seconds. —Kealani (Kea)"

Music written & produced: Dash8

Welcome to the first episode of the I Know Lonely Podcast, a project produced by Only7Seconds. This episode is a short introduction to the storytelling project, an overview on the loneliness epidemic, and how you can build resilience for the times you might experience loneliness. 

For information about Only7Seconds, the I Know Lonely Project, and how you can join the movement: www.only7seconds.com

For more information on loneliness: click here.

Connect with us on social media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

Music written & produced: Dash8

The I Know Lonely Project harnesses the power of stories, cultivates empathy & understanding, inspires meaningful connections, and helps people feel less lonely. The project is a set of stories produced by Only7Seconds, each month you'll hear from different people sharing their life experiences. We believe stories have the power to remind us that we are not as alone as we may feel.

For more information about the project and Only7Seconds, visit: www.only7seconds.com

#Iknowlonely