I Lost My Brother to Suicide — He Was the Happiest Person I Knew - Advice Unfiltered S2 Ep 35

He was loved by everyone. Bernard's baby brother DQ ran seven businesses, held a patent, was the most-requested bartender in the area — and he still lost his battle with depression and suicide on May 18th of this year.

This is a special episode. September is Suicide Awareness Month, and Chris and Tony sit down with Bernard — brother of DQ, 20-years-sober founder of Q Effect Coaching — for one of the most honest, hardest conversations this show has ever had.

In this episode:

• Who DQ really was — the guy who showed up for 15 minutes after a 2-hour drive because "you don't not invite David"
• The hidden toll nobody saw: two hours of sleep a night, running businesses, and why "successful" and "struggling" are not opposites
• Bernard's 14-year meth addiction, rock bottom, and getting sober on October 6, 2006 — 20 years this fall
• "I want you to laugh more than you cry" — the message Bernard carries from his brother
• What to actually say to someone who's grieving a suicide loss, and to someone who's thinking about hurting themselves
• Tony's own story: a suicide attempt at 19, and the doctor who told him "you're going to have to figure this out"
• Why men need other men to break the stigma — and why "strong men, please stop posturing" might be the realest line of the episode
• Bernard's community work — from Allied Forces to Q Effect — and the four pillars of personal growth, health, business, and community
• A hard, honest take on the Lindsey Clancy case and why "both things can be true"

This one will make you want to call somebody. Do it.

💛 If you or someone you know is struggling: call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), 24/7 — you are not alone, and reaching out matters more than you know.

🚶 THIS SATURDAY — The Out of the Darkness Walk at Bar A (where DQ worked and where his memorial was held). Nearly 3,000 people are expected. Help us build a team to walk in DQ's honor — link and details in Bernard's bio: @dquisnj / Q Effect.

🔥 ADVICE UNFILTERED — The only podcast with the balls to go raw and do it live. New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe so you never miss one.