Suicide prevention advocate Leslie Weirich shares the heartbreaking story of losing her 20-year-old son, Austin, and how she turned unimaginable grief into a mission to save lives. This powerful conversation explores mental health, resilience, warning signs, the 3–3 Challenge, QPR training, and the importance of normalizing conversations about suicide.
⚠️ Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide.
When Leslie’s doorbell rang at 2:30am on World Suicide Prevention Day, her life changed forever. Her son Austin was a high-achieving college athlete, scholar, and leader. What followed was devastating — but also transformative.
In this deeply moving episode, Leslie shares:
🎓 Why even the brightest, highest-achieving teens can silently struggle
🚩 The quiet warning signs parents and loved ones sometimes miss
🧠 How brain development shapes impulse control in young adults
💔 How unhealthy relationships can intensify mental health challenges
📱 The 3–3 Challenge: Three People. Three Places. A simple practice that saves lives
🛟 How QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) empowers everyday people to step in with courage
🤝 The healing power of peer mentoring and shared stories
❤️ How compassion, empathy, and truly listening can make the difference between despair and hope
Leslie has spoken on military bases across the country and has helped connect countless individuals to life-saving support. Through her nonprofit, Leslie’s Hope, she is fostering mental health awareness, resilience, and suicide prevention education nationwide.
This is an episode every parent, coach, teacher, leader, and friend needs to hear.
🧠 Resources Mentioned
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.): Call or text 988
Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255
If you or someone you love is struggling, please reach out. You are not alone.
💬 What’s one way you create safe space for honest mental health conversations? Share below — your voice might help someone feel less alone.
❤️ If this episode moved you, please like, subscribe, and share. One share could save a life.
PRODUCER: Melanie Scroggins of Scroggins Creative.
Original music composed and produced by Brent Johnson.
🎤 THIS EPISODE’S SPONSOR PARTNER: JENNIFER’S VOICE
Jennifer Clark is a multi-award nominated female voice over talent who specializes in TV/radio/digital commercials, web videos, corporate training, eLearning, TV narration and documentaries. She has voiced projects for brands like Apple, Walmart, Pinterest, Walgreens, Advent Health, NASA, PBS, Sam’s Club, Hilton, LEGO, and Starbucks. Jennifer is a trusted and seasoned voice talent, who brings the sound of humankindness® to everything she voices. Need professional voice over for your media projects? Let the sound of humankindness share your story!
Check out her work and get in touch at https://jennifersvoice.com.