Welcome to another episode of EZ Conversations with your host Furkhan Dandia. I was honoured to speak with the resilient Frank King in this week's episode. In this interview, Frank King, a professional comedian and former writer for Jay Leno, shares his journey from discovering his comedic talent in fourth grade to becoming a mental health speaker and advocate.
He discusses his early career, including writing jokes for 'The Tonight Show,' his transition to corporate comedy, and his struggles during the financial crisis 2008. Frank delves deeply into his battles with major depressive disorder and chronic suicidal ideation, explaining how these challenges have shaped his life and career. He emphasizes the importance of self-care, resilience, and open conversations about mental health. His story illustrates how his comedic and mental health experiences have intertwined, leading him to help others through humour and speaking engagements.
Frank King, Suicide Prevention Speaker, was a writer for The Tonight Show for 20 years and has been a speaker and comedian for 38.
He’s shared the stage with comedians Jeff Foxworthy, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, Dr. Ken Jung, Ellen DeGeneres, Dennis Miller, and Bill Hicks, as well as entertainers Lou Rawls, The Beach Boys, Randy Travis, and Nancy Wilson.
His speech on Suicide Prevention is informed by his lifetime battle with Depression and Suicidality, and he has turned that long, dark journey of the soul into 12 TEDx Talks, sharing his lifesaving insights with colleges, corporations, and associations.
On top of all of that, he has survived 2 aortic valve replacements, a double bypass, a heart attack, and losing to a puppet on the original Star Search and has lived to joke about it all.
Check out Frank's work online: www.mentalhealthcomedian.com
Timestamps:
04:32 Introduction and Welcome
05:13 Frank's Journey to Comedy
06:33 Life on the Road and Writing for Jay Leno
09:01 Transition to Corporate Comedy and Personal Struggles
11:23 Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
15:39 Balancing Comedy and Mental Health
18:37 Resilience and Support Systems
22:20 Understanding Suicidal Ideation
29:56 Acceptance and Self-Care Strategies
30:53 Building a Resilient Self-Care Plan
32:59 Bodybuilding as a Form of Self-Care
35:02 The Mental Health Benefits of Consistency
46:24 Addressing Suicidal Ideation
50:12 Breaking the Stigma Around Mental Health
58:21 Final Thoughts and Resources
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