I Lived Like A Zombie, Then Built A Nonprofit | Ep 385

Dec 28

The first minutes set a tone of gratitude and urgency. We hear how a show that aimed for 300 episodes now approaches 400 because quitting never felt like an option. That persistence becomes the doorway to the core theme: the fragile line between living on the edge and choosing to live with intention. Justin revisits adolescence and early adulthood with stark honesty—bullying, two rounds of braces, and a deep discomfort that mutated into risk. He overdosed on cold pills. He crashed a car after days without sleep. He walked home from clubs in brutal cold. Each memory is a vivid reminder that survival isn’t guaranteed and that the myths of invincibility and endless nights can turn a life into a coin toss.

From that lived chaos, the story pivots to a turning point in November 2017: asking for help and stepping into a psych ward group where names and reasons hit like a mirror. The insight is practical and human. Recovery rarely begins with a grand plan; it starts with surrender and the relief of telling the truth out loud. Justin explains the mental load that grief brings, especially after his grandmother’s death near his wedding and his father’s passing in 2024. Anxiety tightened travel into narrow hallways, sleep became a battleground, and guilt tangled with celebration. The message for listeners is precise: mental health support is not a luxury, it is the foundation. Therapy, rest, and a circle of people who care can turn survival into stewardship.

That stewardship blossoms as the mission of Voices for Voices. The nonprofit’s goal is both audacious and concrete: help at least three billion people access mental health resources, including a future facility offering free evaluations, long-term care, and support for families. The vision directly responds to a hard truth: even with insurance, hospital bills can be overwhelming. The episode outlines multiple ways to strengthen the cause—donations, subscriptions, and sharing clean, transparent content—while also highlighting the publishing arm that elevates new authors and mental health stories.

A standout moment is the celebration of nine-year-old author Ryan Solomon and the electric feeling that comes from helping someone achieve a dream. That moment illustrates how meaning compounds when we invest in others. The show’s ecosystem—TV, podcast, publishing, production, gaming—exists to meet people where they are and keep content authentic. Justin contrasts financial giving with other forms of service: time, listening, and presence. The nursing home vignette, where residents spend days without visitors, exposes a quiet crisis of loneliness and calls us to widen our definition of care.

Throughout, the narrative stays grounded: no heroics, no polish, just a person who nearly didn’t make it to 40 reflecting from age 44 on why he did. Gratitude replaces bravado. Agency replaces drift. The practical takeaway is as clear as any SEO headline: mental health recovery, resilience, community support, and purpose-driven service can transform a life. Share the message, support the mission, and be the person who answers when someone needs to talk. Every day is borrowed. Use it to build something that outlives the fear.

Chapter Markers

0:00 Gratitude And Milestones

1:46 Near-Death Teen Years Revealed

5:27 The Windsor Trip And Car Crash

12:04 Choosing Help After Rock Bottom

18:19 Grief, Family, And Perspective

29:00 Nursing Homes And Loneliness

39:00 Purpose Through Service

47:24 Celebrating Young Author Ryan Solomon

54:00 Why Voices For Voices Exists

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I Lived Like A Zombie, Then Built A Nonprofit | Ep 385

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