Jason Prinzo – a mental health advocate, public speaker, and living testament to the power of resilience and self-transformation. Born and raised on the west side of Cincinnati, He lived through a number of physically and emotionally traumatic events. These experiences essentially laid the foundation for much of the mental health challenges he would face later in life.
By all accounts Jason was “successful”. Especially considering the hand he was initially dealt as a kid and a lack of formal education. Jason had a thriving career in the music industry having held executive roles at Warner Bros. and Capitol Records before starting my own marketing and promotion company. The problem was – he wasn’t able to enjoy any of it. Depression, anxiety, anger, and imposter syndrome violently chewed at his very core. He woke up every morning wondering if it would be the day that everything he had worked for would be taken away.
As a public speaker, Jason now fearlessly stand before audiences to tell his story, and how he lives and deals with mental health challenges on a daily basis. Jason is fortunate to be in a situation where he can not only shed light on the realities of mental illness (and the devastating impact it can have on both individuals and the workforce) – but also share the transformative potential of seeking help.
His goal is to challenge the many misconceptions surrounding mental health – as well as foster empathy, promote self-care – and inspire individuals to embark on their own paths of coping and discovery.
2 topics · no fee, no honorarium, no mileage
Review available topics below. Use the “Request This Free Speech” button and fill out the contact form. Jason contacts you to discuss the details of the request.
Breaking the stigma surrounding men and their emotional well-being, Jason encourages open conversations about men’s mental health and self-worth. Society often teaches men to suppress their emotions, leading to silent struggles with mental health issues. In this extremely vulnerable keynote, Jason discusses how childhood trauma and an absent father led to years of internal struggles with masculinity, anger issues and fear of abandonment.
After decades of hiding his mental illness, Jason finally came clean to the people around him. The result was shocking. Dozens of his male friends and co-workers began confiding in him about their emotional struggles. From professional athletes to members of the Chicago Police Department, where Jason speaks monthly, these men were suffering in silence. Honest and raw, Jason explores the unique challenges men face, including the pressure to have it all together in order to appear strong and the link between mental health and professional success.
The talk provides practical tools for managing stress, building resilience, and fostering supportive environments at work and home. With a focus on breaking outdated narratives, this keynote empowers men to prioritize their mental health and seek the help they deserve.
In this powerful keynote, Jason explores the reality of mental illness including, anxiety, depression and suicide while offering practical strategies for managing mental health. Deeply personal, honest and insightful, Jason shares his story of overcoming years of childhood trauma that led to decades of struggles with depression, anxiety and eventually teetering on the edge of suicide.
Equal parts personal and educational, Jason leaves audiences inspired by his journey along with useful and actionable ways to maintain our mental health while shattering the stigma behind mental illness. Ultimately, this talk is a call to normalize conversations around mental health and empower individuals to take control of their well-being.
From a group that booked Jason as a guest speaker
Honest, Raw and Gripping
R.J. Curtis President CRS/CMA Board Member
We’ve had many different angles talking about mental health issues, but we’ve never had someone who connected so well. I had so many people come up to me later in the day telling me how much session that impacted them, and how relatable it was.
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