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The Loop We Don’t See; Jamie Brickhouse on Alcohol & Depression
Manage episode 507888608 series 3607567
In this September 2025 episode, in the midst of Suicide Awareness Month, I’m widening the lens from life after loss to awareness and advocacy. (BUT...We are NOT taking the preachy "prevention" angle that comes at us non-stop in Sept., I promise!) Writer/storyteller Jamie Brickhouse—a self-described SAS (suicide attempt survivor)—joins me to unpack the alcohol–depression loop, the suicidal mind, and the “why” questions so many of us carry after suicide loss.
What to Expect
- Jamie’s candid story and what shifted in the aftermath. He is an SAS & had lost 4 close friends to suicide.
- The alcohol ↔ depression cycle: how it feeds on itself & how he interrupted it.
- Why feature an attempt survivor on a show about life after suicide loss—& how awareness supports advocacy and lived legacy.
- Understanding the suicidal mind: distorted thinking, ambivalence, & signs we often miss.
- How & why, Jamie uses his platform now as a survivor and advocate.
- Clear takeaways & closing messages worth sticking around for.
- Links below to connect with Jamie & keep learning.
About Jamie:
"Called “a natural raconteur” by the Washington Post, Jamie Brickhouse is a writer, comedic storyteller, and TEDx speaker. He is the author of Dangerous When Wet: A Memoir of Booze, Sex, and My Mother, has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Daily Beast, Salon, and Huffington Post. A six-time StorySLAM champion of The Moth, he has appeared on PBS’s Stories from the Stage, The Moth Podcast, recorded voices on Beavis and Butthead, and tours the country with four award-winning solo shows. A two-time suicide attempt survivor and alcoholic in recovery for 16+ years, Jamie’s TEDx talk about his lived experience and the intersection of alcoholism, depression, and suicidality that is part personal narrative and part calls to action has nearly 100k views. Jamie also tells a true story in high heels every day on TikTok where he has over six million views, one million likes, and 75,000 followers."
Connect with Jamie:
(If you only pick one --- PICK HIS TEDX TALK hands down --- but it's all fabulous!)
http://www.jamiebrickhouse.com/
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📞 Need help now? If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial 988 in the U.S. & Canada, or text HOME to 741741.
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