Justin Goodman on Suicide Prevention, Bipolar Disorder & Workplace Mental Health

What happens when someone risks their friendship to save your life? In this powerful conversation, Justin Goodman sits down with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to share how surviving addiction, bipolar disorder, and a suicide attempt led him to change how we show up for each other—especially at work.

Trigger Notice

This episode includes discussions of suicide, addiction, and mental health crises.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone.
Call or text 988 (U.S. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
Find global support: https://findahelpline.com

Awards & Downloads Line

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 4x award-winning podcast — including the 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award (Best Mental Health Podcast), and the 2026 NYC Podcast Awards Audience Choice Award (Best Hosts) — with over 4.5 million downloads and counting.

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Mental Health Quote

“You can’t save everybody—and it’s not your job to carry their pain, only to help them through it.” — Justin Goodman

Episode Description

Justin Goodman’s story is one of those that stays with you. Not because it’s polished—but because it’s real.

From being bullied as a kid to living with chronic pain and developing an addiction to painkillers, Justin found himself in a place where he didn’t want to be anymore. What changed everything wasn’t a grand plan—it was one person paying attention and stepping in at the exact right moment.

In this conversation, Justin opens up about being misdiagnosed for years before finally learning he was living with bipolar disorder. He talks about how the wrong medication made things worse, how hard it was to find stability, and what it actually took to rebuild his life from the inside out.

But what makes this episode hit differently is what Justin chose to do with that experience. Through Project 55, he’s helping everyday people learn to recognize when someone is struggling, have real conversations, and step in before things reach a breaking point.

Because the truth is, most people don’t get help when they need it. And most workplaces still don’t know how to respond when someone is clearly not okay.

This episode is a reminder that you don’t need to be a therapist to make a difference. Sometimes, you just need to notice—and care enough to act.

Keywords: Justin Goodman, suicide prevention, bipolar disorder, workplace mental health, addiction recovery, mental health awareness, Project 55, depression, crisis support, employee wellbeing, burnout, anxiety, leadership, stigma, emotional wellness

Meet Our Guest — Justin Goodman

Justin Goodman is an entrepreneur and mental health advocate, and the founder of Project 55, a nonprofit focused on improving workplace mental health outcomes. After surviving addiction, a suicide attempt, and years of misdiagnosed mental health challenges, Justin now helps people learn how to recognize and respond to mental health struggles before they escalate.

Connect with Justin:
Website: https://project55.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/project55/

Key Takeaways

• Most people struggling with mental health never get help—and that gap is bigger than we think
• You don’t have to be a professional to support someone who’s hurting
• Misdiagnosis can delay healing, but the right tools can change everything
• Workplaces often miss the signs because no one is trained to look
• Feeling seen and valued can interrupt even the darkest thoughts

 

Actionable Items

• Check in on someone who feels “off” instead of assuming they’re fine
• Practice asking direct, compassionate questions—even if it feels uncomfortable
• Identify one person in your life you can be honest with when things get heavy

 

References Mentioned

• Project 55: https://project55.org
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org
• Global Crisis Support: https://findahelpline.com

 

Important Chapters

• 00:01:00 – Justin’s career path and how he found purpose in mental health advocacy
• 00:02:30 – Chronic pain, addiction, and reaching a breaking point
• 00:03:40 – The intervention that saved his life
• 00:05:00 – Bipolar diagnosis and the impact of getting it wrong first
• 00:07:00 – Why workplaces struggle to support mental health
• 00:10:00 – The E.A.G.E.R. framework and how to help someone in crisis
• 00:20:00 – The truth about not being able to save everyone
• 00:31:00 – Daily habits that help Justin stay grounded

 

Closing CTA

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#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #SuicidePrevention #BipolarDisorder #WorkplaceMentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #EndTheStigma #MentalHealthSupport #LeadershipMatters #EmotionalWellness #BurnoutRecovery #CrisisSupport #Project55 #JustinGoodman #GLDNPR

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If You Need Support, Reach Out

If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

• United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
• Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
• Worldwide: Find a Helpline
• Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub

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