A Father’s Mission: Turning Tragedy Into Hope Through Storytelling

“The opposite of depression is not happiness, but connection.” – Johann Hari In this episode, Logan and Tyson sit down with Dana Christian Lee and Jason Reid from the organization Tell My Story to talk about the growing mental health crisis facing kids and teens today—and what families can actually do about it. Jason shares the heartbreaking and deeply personal story of losing his youngest son to suicide in 2018, a tragedy that reshaped his life and ignited a mission to bring real mental health conversations into homes that often avoid them. Dana, the executive director of Tell My Story, adds her perspective from years of working with youth, families, and communities—helping unpack why so many kids struggle silently and what meaningful connection really looks like. The conversation covers the realities many parents don’t see: how common anxiety and depression have become, why kids often feel like a burden instead of asking for help, and how today’s digital world—especially unrestricted phones, social media, and algorithms—can quietly amplify those struggles. They also talk about practical ways families can build trust, communication, and emotional safety, including tools like the Tell My Story card game, and why creativity, purpose, and learning to do hard things matter so much for a young person’s mental health. This is an honest, emotional, and ultimately hopeful conversation about loss, parenting, connection, and what each of us can do right now to change the mental health narrative for the next generation. If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone. Sometimes one conversation really can save a life. LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO “DAD BODS and BEARDS” Podcast: YouTube Apple Music Spotify

Jason Reid is a successful entrepreneur, executive coach, and filmmaker whose life changed forever in 2018 when he lost his 14-year-old son to suicide. Instead of retreating into despair, Jason transformed his grief into a mission: helping parents and kids navigate mental health challenges through storytelling and conn

Jason Reid shares how personal loss reshaped his mission, turning storytelling into a powerful tool for mental health awareness, workplace wellness, and deeper parent-child conversations. 

In Episode 228 of the Say It Skillfully® podcast, Molly welcomes back storyteller, entrepreneur, and founder of Tell My Story , Jason Reid. After the tragic loss of his 14-year-old son Ryan to suicide in 2018, Jason transformed unimaginable grief into a mission to help families better understand youth mental health and create spaces where young people feel seen, valued, and supported. In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Jason shares the inspiration behind his new film Shift: Do What Moves You , which highlights how purpose, passion, and personal interests can help young people rise above depression and anxiety. The discussion explores the importance of creating safe conversations around mental health, the role of parents in supporting their children’s emotional wellbeing, and why having a hobby or passion outside of work or school can be life-changing. Jason also reflects on personal growth, the power of curiosity, and why learning about emerging technologies like AI is essential in a rapidly changing world. From parenting insights to leadership lessons, this episode is filled with practical wisdom for anyone seeking to live more intentionally and help others do the same. Jason’s message is both hopeful and practical: finding what moves you—and encouraging others to do the same—can create profound change in both individual lives and communities.

In Episode 228 of the Say It Skillfully® podcast, Molly welcomes back storyteller, entrepreneur, and founder of Tell My Story , Jason Reid. After the tragic loss of his 14-year-old son Ryan to suicide in 2018, Jason transformed unimaginable grief into a mission to help families better understand youth mental health and create spaces where young people feel seen, valued, and supported. In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Jason shares the inspiration behind his new film Shift: Do What Moves You , which highlights how purpose, passion, and personal interests can help young people rise above depression and anxiety. The discussion explores the importance of creating safe conversations around mental health, the role of parents in supporting their children’s emotional wellbeing, and why having a hobby or passion outside of work or school can be life-changing. Jason also reflects on personal growth, the power of curiosity, and why learning about emerging technologies like AI is essential in a rapidly changing world. From parenting insights to leadership lessons, this episode is filled with practical wisdom for anyone seeking to live more intentionally and help others do the same. Jason’s message is both hopeful and practical: finding what moves you—and encouraging others to do the same—can create profound change in both individual lives and communities.

Jason Reed built a company from his second bedroom into a 3,500-employee business with five brands across the nation. He's coached CEOs for 15 years, failed at over 30 companies, and lost tens of millions of dollars along the way. But in March of 2018, Jason experienced the loss no parent should ever face — his 14-year-old son took his own life. That moment changed everything. It changed how he leads, how he shows up for his people, and why he now dedicates his life to making sure no other parent misses what he missed. In this episode of The Impactful Leader, host Chris sits down with Jason to talk about: Why he calls himself a "builder of people" — not a CEO What 30+ business failures taught him that success never could "Failure is an event, not an identity" — how to bounce back without losing yourself Why discipline and written goals separate leaders from dreamers The signs of mental health struggles he wishes he'd recognized sooner Why frontline managers MUST be equipped for mental health conversations How leading with vulnerability creates stronger teams — and real ROI "Do your employees want to give you a hug? If not, you're doing something wrong." This is one of the most honest conversations we've ever had on this podcast.

In this episode of The Amanda Kaufman Show, I’m joined by Dana Christian Lee for a deeply human conversation about mental health, storytelling, and why asking a different question can change everything. Instead of starting with what’s broken, Dana invites us to start with presence. With curiosity. With the question: What moves you? We talk about why film opens conversations that advice often can’t, how young people experience pressure and disconnection, and why so many adults lose touch with what actually lights them up. This is a conversation about shifting from performance to presence, from problem-focused thinking to possibility, and from managing life to actually feeling it again. If you care about mental health, connection, or creating spaces where people feel seen without being fixed, this episode will stay with you. Ways to Connect with Dana Christian Lee Website https://www.tellmystory.org/ LinkedIn / tellmystory-org Facebook / 1tellmystory

This episode welcomes Dana Christian Lee, Executive Director of Tell My Story, an organization dedicated to suicide prevention and fostering authentic conversations between young people and their families. Dana discusses her own mental health journey, the heartbreaking loss that inspired Tell My Story, and the organiza

In this episode, I’m joined by Jason Reid, an entrepreneur, father, and founder of Tell My Story, an organization dedicated to transforming how families, schools, and communities talk about mental health.