E11 | From Pro Sports to a Mental Health Crisis: Eric Kussin’s Wake-Up Call
Eric Kussin had what most people would call a dream life: a high-profile career in pro sports (NBA, Chicago Sky, and Phoenix Suns), a luxury car parked outside his South Beach apartment, and a rising trajectory with the Florida Panthers. But beneath the surface, Eric was silently spiraling. When a mental health crisis hit, it nearly ended everything — and forced him to completely rethink what wellness, success, and self-awareness really look like.
On this episode of the For Good podcast, Joseph “JoJo” Simmons sits down with Eric for a raw conversation about how sports culture, high-pressure environments, and emotional suppression can collide in dangerous ways. Eric opens up about his breakdown, his search for healing beyond traditional treatments, and how it all led to the creation of the Same Here movement, a global campaign rooted in storytelling — and beyond that, the launch of 5in5 Inc. and Regional Psychiatry. Together, they form a growing ecosystem of mental health advocacy, education, and care that goes far beyond a nonprofit model. Eric shares how he’s building real infrastructure for healing across communities, schools, and businesses.
Together, they explore:
- Why gut health, trauma, and stress are major mental health factors
- How sports culture teaches men to hide pain until it explodes
- Why the “1 in 5” mental health stat is harmful and outdated
This one’s for anyone who’s ever looked like they had it all together — while falling apart inside.
Follow Eric’s Mission at: https://samehereglobal.org/ or on Instagram @samehere_global, https://5in5inc.com/, SameHereScale on Google Play
SameHereScale on Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/samehere-scale/id1564682569
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