A dinner conversation sparked a movement. We sit down with leaders from SAVE and Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation CEO Tony Coder to share how the National Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network (NSPAN) is helping small and mid-sized nonprofits combine their strengths, talents and passions!

The idea is simple but ambitious: when community groups connect and collaborate, proven strategies scale faster, funding pathways open, and lives are saved.

We talk through the four pillars that guide the work—education and training, advocacy, lethal means safety, and support for suicide loss survivors—and why they matter now. The data is shifting: while some demographics improve, suicide risk is climbing among women, preteens, and rural communities tied to a struggling agricultural economy. 

Technology looms large in this conversation too. Social media can harm, yet responsible AI and digital tools may help identify risk and connect people to care sooner. The keys are safeguards and smart design paired with human support. We also spotlight 988—the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline—and the surprising awareness gap among young workers.

If you lead or support a suicide prevention nonprofit, or if you’re a community member who wants to help, this is your invite to lean in. Learn how to join NSPAN, collaborate on funding and advocacy, and carry solutions across county and state lines. Subscribe, share this episode with a local organization, and leave a review to help more people find these stories to hopefully, save more lives.

The heart of Ohio agriculture beats inside family trucks, quiet cab rides, and long rows that hold equal parts pride and pressure. We sit with first‑generation farmer Nathan Brown to trace the real story behind the harvest: the money paid up front, the machinery that breaks at the worst time, and weather that never reads the plan. Nathan shares how he scaled from 25 acres to 2,000, why conservation practices ground his work, and what it took to exit cattle during a drought without losing hope or identity.

The conversation turns to mental health where the stakes are human and immediate. Nathan names the stigma farmers face, the belief they must fix everything alone, and the danger of silent struggle. He offers a toolkit built on lived experience: “get your five” trusted contacts, call to vent before rumination takes over, step away for a few hours to reset, and treat counseling like any other professional service.   You’ll hear why subtle signals on a farm speak volumes and how persistence can save a life.

We also explore the wider system: market swings, policy shocks, and public narratives that misread modern farming. Nathan outlines simple ways organizations can help, from short mental health segments at ag events to creating real on‑ramps for new producers. 

If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with someone in agriculture, and leave a review to help more farmers and families find practical support and hopeful stories. Your voice helps break stigma and builds a safer, stronger farm community.

Raw honesty meets hard-won wisdom in a conversation with three veterans who open up about service, identity, and the messy middle of healing. We explore how the military’s structure can be both lifeline and blindfold—building discipline and leadership while making it easy to bury pain in the name of the mission. From early careers where mental health was a no-go topic to a slow cultural shift toward prevention, they lay out what changed, what hasn’t, and why vulnerability makes units stronger, not weaker.

We dig into myths civilians hold about veterans and trauma, and why “strong and struggling” can be true at the same time. You’ll hear practical ways to support without clichés: ask simple questions, listen without fixing, and learn the basics of military culture so your words land. Families get real attention here too—the constant balancing act of deployments, childcare, and unknowns—and how the load often pushes people toward unhealthy coping unless a community shows up. 

Scott and Stephanie ask our guests about the transition after the uniform too: the loss of mission, the hit to identity, and the temptation to fill the void with busyness or substances. Our guests share what helped them rebuild—therapy when ready, peer groups, veteran retreats, EMDR, and outdoor activities that blend movement with conversation.   If you care about suicide prevention, veteran wellness, or simply want a clearer way to show up for people you love, this conversation will change how you listen and how you lead.

If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more real talk on mental health, and leave a review to help others find the show. 

What if a prison operated like a bridge back to community rather than a dead end? We sit down with Director Annette Chambers-Smith of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to explore how values, data, and everyday relationships are reshaping safety, reentry, and long-term well-being.

We start with the bigger picture: 98% of people come home. That reality shifts the mission toward healing, education, and practical preparation.  Director Chambers-Smith shares four core values—and shows how correction officers, teachers, volunteers, and families become the frontline of change. 

Then we go deep on mental health. With high rates of behavioral health and substance use needs among those incarcerated—and elevated PTSD and suicide risk among staff—the department is investing in employee support teams, nonprofit partnerships, and stigma-busting tools.  The director also leads a national push beyond recidivism, tracking 16 determinants of post-release success.

We close this conversation with candid lessons from the director's own reset: sleep hygiene, protected time, and professional help that turned burnout into sustainable leadership. It’s a grounded, hopeful look at rehabilitation powered by data, partnerships, and human connection.

If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories.

When COVID-19 forced the world into isolation, four friends with beat-up bikes started riding around their neighborhood to escape cabin fever. Those simple rides evolved into something none of them expected – a movement that's changing how people talk about mental health and suicide prevention across Ohio.

"We just started riding bikes together," explains Josh Snead of Ride for Hope. "One trip turned into two trips, turned into 'let's do 20 miles'... and then this idea of 'what if we rode our bikes across Ohio?'" That wild thought, born during pandemic restrictions, has transformed into a registered nonprofit that hosts an annual 340-mile journey from Cleveland to Cincinnati, along with community rides throughout the year.

What makes Ride for Hope special isn't just the physical challenge. It's the conversations that happen along the way. Sam Woodward recalls a defining moment when a man pulled his work van over after seeing their jerseys: "He's holding back tears and says 'I want you to know that I lost my daughter to suicide. This means so much to me that you guys are willing to do this.'" These encounters happen regularly, revealing how many people carry silent grief related to suicide.

Beyond fundraising for suicide prevention organizations, the team creates spaces where people feel safe discussing mental health challenges. "Reducing the stigma, erasing it, getting it out of the way and saying we all have this shared human experience that includes struggle and hardship," says Mariah Woodward. "You are not alone in that."

Ready to join the movement? Visit rideforhope.org to learn about upcoming community rides, volunteer opportunities, or to register for their signature Cleveland-to-Cincinnati journey happening this September.

Breaking down the walls of silence surrounding youth mental health takes courage, creativity, and compassion – qualities that shine brightly in our remarkable student guests this month.

Meet Ainslee Lloyd from Franklin High School and Aarush Mantro from St. Xavier High School, two passionate advocates serving on the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation's Youth Advisory Council. Their infectious energy and genuine commitment to helping their peers navigate mental health challenges offer a powerful glimpse into how today's youth are transforming these crucial conversations.

"Talking about mental health is kind of taboo, especially in an all-boys school," Aarush admits, reflecting on his initial hesitation before joining Sources of Strength, a nationwide prevention program implemented in Ohio schools. Both students now lead campaigns that foster belonging and connection. 

The students don't shy away from tough topics, offering candid insights about substance misuse among friends seeking escape from emotional struggles and how bullying has evolved in the digital age. "It's not as obvious...it's a lot more under the radar," Ainslee explains, while Aarush notes how COVID isolation further complicated young people's ability to maintain face-to-face connections.

Their work extends beyond their schools as part of the Youth Advisory Council, where they've helped award grants to youth-led suicide prevention projects across Ohio and created "Nate," a clever mascot for the 988 crisis line with the slogan "Call Nate before it's too late."

Listen now to be inspired by these remarkable young advocates who remind us that every voice matters in suicide prevention, and even small actions can save lives.

The workplace mental health crisis is costing American businesses billions while leaving employees struggling without adequate support. This eye-opening conversation with Teresa Lampl, CEO of the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health and Family Services Providers, and Ashley Matthews, VP of Tax for Crane Group and Maryhaven Board Member, reveals the shocking reality behind mental health access in today's workforce.

When one in four adults experience mental health conditions annually but only half can access care, both human potential and business productivity suffer. The statistics are staggering: $300 billion lost annually from GDP due to untreated conditions, and 53% of working parents missing work monthly for their children's mental health needs. Beyond numbers, both guests share powerful personal journeys that highlight why this issue transcends business metrics.

The discussion also tackles the evolving stigma around mental health and the urgent need to treat brain health with the same priority as physical health. While social media has helped normalize conversations, persistent stereotypes still prevent many from seeking help. By valuing mental health as essential health and expanding access to the full continuum of care, businesses can create healthier workplaces while improving their bottom line.

Ready to transform how your organization approaches mental health? Listen now to discover practical strategies that benefit both your employees and your business success.

What does resilience look like in the face of unthinkable loss? Debbie McClintock found herself navigating that question when she lost both her husband Pete and son Logan to suicide within five months. Rather than letting grief define her story, she chose to honor how they lived.

"Pete had a really big heart," Debbie shares, describing a quiet computer programmer who loved chess and telling corny jokes. Logan, her "wanderer and dreamer," was sharp-witted with aspirations to teach English abroad. Father and son shared a special bond on the Appalachian Trail—a connection that later inspired a remarkable journey toward healing and advocacy.

Through therapy, scholarships, and becoming "trail angels," Debbie celebrated their legacies. A gift from her now-husband, Chip—a license plate honoring Logan’s trail name “Wolverine”—sparked a realization: Ohio had no suicide prevention plate. Within two years, they helped pass legislation signed by Governor Mike DeWine.

Today, Ohio’s first suicide prevention license plate raises awareness for the 988 Crisis Lifeline and supports men’s mental health programs. Call or text 988 anytime for free, confidential support.

According to the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, the economic impact of domestic violence in Ohio is formidable, costing the state $1.2 billion annually. Yet only $20 million is allocated to combat this crisis. This discrepancy affects thousands: while nearly 10,000 Ohioans found shelter last year, over 8,000 were turned away due to capacity issues. Annually, around 188,000 experience intimate partner violence, resulting in more than 100 fatalities.

We explore the complex web connecting domestic violence with brain injuries, substance use disorders, and suicide risk. Furthermore, evolving technologies offer new methods for abuse. Nonetheless, there remains hope, as one survivor said, "After trauma, it is possible to live a life you love."