We Sound Fine on the Air: What Podcasters and Broadcasters Don’t Talk About Enough

I got this from a fellow podcaster yesterday …

Hey, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but our podcast friend [REDACTED] is no longer with us. I received an email from him at 9:00 this morning saying he had ended his life. I believe he wrote it days ago and scheduled it to go out this morning. I called my job. Police responded immediately and found him exactly as he said they would.

[REDACTED]'s wife has been informed. In accordance with his wishes, there won't be a funeral or memorial service. I wanted you to hear it from a friend rather than via social media or another public way.

I'm on an out of town trip. I'm shocked and very sad, but I'm okay. Feel free to reply, but I may not respond tonight. Take care.

Two years ago, I had a period of my life that a therapist later described as “instant hell.” In other words, I didn’t “descend into hell,” I just found myself there.

I had to force myself to get out of bed each day. I wasn’t eating. And it felt like my life was over.

It happened instantly.

I had a couple of hours each evening, where my body and mind would somehow regulate itself and things would feel “normal.”

Each time, I thought, “I’m out of this. Things will be OK tomorrow.”

They weren’t. The next day, or even if I woke up in the middle of the night, the depression was back.

After a couple of weeks of this, I knew I was in trouble.

The solution to “getting out” of a mental health situation is complicated. The first step for me was talking to a professional. By that I mean a real therapist … not a “life coach” who went to a weekend seminar or “faith-based counselor” who’s going to blame everything on “The Devil.”

Get someone who’s a licensed mental health professional with real clinical training, accountability, and experience handling situations like this.

“Getting out” requires work. You’re going to have to look at some things you’ve ignored and get real with yourself. You’re going to have to make some changes.

But change is possible. And on the other side of hard times is something great, even better than you expected.

One of the big changes that happened with me is an explosion of empathy.

Several years ago, a broadcasting co-worker chose to die by suicide. It was difficult for everybody on the team. Lots of unanswered questions and “If only I would have …” thoughts.

I wasn’t suicidal. But as I was lying in bed a couple of years ago, I suddenly had this new connection to what he must have been going through … and my anger and resentment around the situation was gone.

He had a classic “FM radio” voice and had spent over 40 years in broadcasting, working at some of the biggest stations in the country. I had listened to him as a kid.

He was a legend.

Was a legend. He found himself in a changing business that might not be there tomorrow … or have a place for him even if radio did survive.

He was worried about his future.

I got it.

And I get why he and my friend mentioned above chose suicide.

You have other options.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Crisis Text Line - If you are in crisis, text CONVO to 741741 in the US for free, confidential, 24/7, support.

TrevorLifeline - The Trevor Project's free and confidential phone support for LGBTQ youth is available 24/7. Call 1 (866) 488-7386.

If you’re hurting right now, please make the call or send the text. You don’t have to solve your whole life today. It will still be there tomorrow, and I hope you will be too.