Today, I sit down with Thomas Brown—an artist, author, and mental health advocate—whose 7,000-mile bicycle journey across America helped him process the loss of his brother to suicide and build a new life centered around hope, creativity, and healing. Mr. Brown joins me to share the story behind 2012: A Bicycle Odyssey, his memoir documenting the ride, the grief, and the growth that followed.
We explore how Mr. Brown’s codependency, depression, and existential crisis led him to walk away from toxic relationships and embrace the unknown. His cross-country ride, done in partnership with his friend Zach—who also lost his brother to suicide—became a mission to meet survivors, learn from their stories, and bring national attention to suicide prevention resources. Mr. Brown walks us through the planning, pain, and profound moments of synchronicity that shaped the journey—from beginning at the Golden Gate Bridge to ending at a creative retreat in New York. Along the way, Mr. Brown also falls in love, and he shares the poetic nature of life through this part of the story.
We also discuss the power of self-awareness, art as a healing tool, and the difference between being influenced and being inspired. Mr. Brown explains how healing doesn’t come from trying to make sense of suicide—it comes from honoring the pain, staying present with it, and eventually choosing to be a student of the experience instead of a victim of it.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
http://www.risephoenix.org/
Website: https://coupleonukes.com
Exodus, Honor Your Heart, & Thrive Alcohol Recovery: https://www.coupleonukes.com/affiliates/
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*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.
