I used to believe loving my kids was enough to keep them safe. I had four kids and a close bond with each of them. I gave them a steady home, my time, and my attention. I believed if something felt wrong, my kids would come to me. In 2018, I lost my 14-year-old son, Ryan. He was bright, funny, and warm. After losing him, the questions would not leave me. How had I missed the signs in a boy I knew so well?
Jason Reid returns to Doing Business with a Servant’s Heart to talk about why today’s kids are losing their joy, and the simple habit that can help bring it back.
Most parents want to protect their children from pain. But what if the most protective thing we can do is learn to sit with them in it and ask the questions that feel the hardest to ask? In this episode of Let's Get Mental, part of the Truth to Triumph series, I sit down with Jason Reid, founder of Tell My Story, a nonprofit using documentary filmmaking to open life-changing conversations about youth mental health. After losing his 14-year-old son Ryan, Jason has spent eight years learning everything he wishes he had known and sharing it with families everywhere. In this episode, you will hear: Why Jason focuses on depression and anxiety rather than suicide itself and why that shift in focus matters. The clouds framework for understanding how a depressed mind sees the world and how to actually reach someone in that state. The questions parents are afraid to ask their kids and why asking them is so much safer than staying silent. Warning signs that are often missed because they do not look like what we expect. The films Tell My Story, What I Wish My Parents Knew, and Shift and how to bring them to your school or community. What Jason has learned about grief, acceptance, and why he keeps going. How workplaces can better support employees navigating mental health challenges at home. Practical ways to support your child's mental health beyond the conversation, including sleep, movement, creativity, and letting them find what they love. This episode was recorded during September's National Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month to encourage open and honest conversation that is deeply needed. Watch the full podcast here: The Signs of Teen Mental Health Struggles Most Parents Miss | Let's Get Mental Ep 5 RESOURCES 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, available 24/7 Tell My Story: www.tellmystory.org Tell My Story documentary: Available on Amazon Prime CONNECT WITH LIGAYA WELLNESS Website: www.ligayawellness.com Instagram/TikTok: @ligaya_wellness Podcast: Spotify / Apple links Speaking and Consulting: www.ligaya-wellness.com/contact-us
Back for a second time on The Just A Mom Podcast is entrepreneur, author, speaker, and filmmaker Jason Reid. Don’t miss this deeply personal conversation about grief, depression, and the power of creative purpose. Jason shares how the loss of his son Ryan to suicide changed his life, why he now focuses on helping parents and kids talk more honestly about mental health, and how his latest film, Shift, is designed to spark those conversations in schools and communities. We also discuss what self-care really looks like beyond the usual advice, why adults need creative outlets just as much as kids, and what Jason learned after discovering he may have been living with a form of depression himself. Listen on Apple Podcasts What is The Just A Mom Podcast? My name is Susie. I have three children, the youngest of whom struggles with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. I never thought this could happen to me, and I missed the signs. Being a parent is really hard, and I'm here to help! I'm talking to parents and experts to help you with the issues your kids may face. I want you to know that you are not alone and there is hope. Website: https://www.thejustamompodcast.com/
In this deeply personal episode of What Not To Do, Jason Reid, founder of Tell My Story and Mental Wellness Media, shares how the loss of his 14-year-old son, Ryan, changed his understanding of mental health, connection and the conversations we often fail to have. The conversation goes beyond mental health awareness. It asks a much harder question: What do we get wrong when someone we love is struggling? He also explores some of the subtle mistakes we make when trying to help: Assuming “I am fine” means everything is fine Trying to solve someone’s pain in one conversation Telling people their feelings are wrong Giving advice they did not ask for Pushing someone to talk before they are ready Invading the spaces where they feel safe Trying to change their perspective instead of understanding it Forgetting that sometimes the most important thing we can do is simply stay Watch the full conversation with Jason Reid and discover what not to do when someone is silently struggling. Behind “I’m Fine”: The Conversations We Need to Have | Jason Reid on What Not To Do
Jason is the founder of TellMyStory.org, a nonprofit he launched after the suicide of his 14-year-old son in 2018. The foundation is dedicated to educating and empowering parents with practical, up-to-date resources to better recognize and support their children’s mental health struggles. Through its sister organization, Mental Wellness Media, Jason produces documentary films and educational programs that spark honest conversations between parents and kids and encourage families to share their stories. He has spoken openly about his experience in two TEDx talks and through the documentaries Tell My Story and What I Wish My Parents Knew, using his platform to reduce stigma and strengthen communication around youth mental health. Tell My Story – Official Home Page Our Story (About the Foundation & Jason’s Mission) Tell My Story Card Game (Communication Tool) Become a supporter of this podcast: The Trauma Therapist
In this episode, I sit down with Jason Reid — founder of Tell My Story Foundation, producer of the documentary films Tell My Story, What I Wish My Parents Knew, and Shift, author of seven books, Iron Man athlete, and a father who lost his 14-year-old son Ryan to suicide in 2018 while on vacation with his wife.
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.
Watch the full video here:
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.
