Want to be a guest or know someone would be a great fit? I am looking for military vets, active duty, military brats, veteran service orgs or anyone in the fitness industry

The number that stops us in our tracks: every 11 minutes, a life is lost to suicide in the United States. That reality fuels this deep, practical conversation with Tony DeMeio—coach, entrepreneur, media producer, and the founder of Helping Heroes USA—about what actually helps veterans, first responders, and their families when the weight feels unbearable. Tony didn’t wear the uniform, and that became a strength. Decades of listening—on bikes, in workshops, and across thousands of interviews—taught him how to earn trust without trying to “one‑up” someone’s story, and how compassion plus attention can interrupt a deadly spiral.
We trace Tony’s winding path from UCLA’s Rose Bowl win to building Duraflex Sports Products and beyond, and we land where his work matters most: suicide prevention strategies anyone can learn and use. You’ll hear how isolation quietly sets the stage, why warning signs like giving away cherished items or sudden financial organizing can signal acute risk, and how access to firearms changes outcomes. We get specific about reducing means, rallying the right mix of friends and peers, and starting tough conversations with presence instead of judgment. Tony also shares how faith and a one‑day‑at‑a‑time mindset help people move through moments that feel impossible, and why the “victim–persecutor–rescuer” loop keeps so many stuck.
If you’ve ever thought “I don’t know what to say,” this episode offers a better script—and the confidence to use it. We talk about building “support angels,” recognizing risk factors like grief, job loss, divorce, and PTSD, and creating simple, reliable routines that pull people out of isolation. Our goal is clear: fewer families haunted by “If I had only known.” Explore free workshops and resources at helpingheroesusa.org and SilentBattle.life, share this with someone who checks in on others, and help us grow a community that listens first. If this resonated, follow the show, leave a review, and tell us: who will you check in on today?

https://www.helpingheroesUSA.org

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