Show Notes
What if the thing you’ve spent years hiding… could become the thing that changes your life?
For over 10,849 days, David silently battled panic attacks and anxiety while building a successful corporate career. No one knew. Not his colleagues. Not his friends. Not even his family.
Then, in 2016, he made one decision that changed everything: he spoke up.
Today marks nearly 10 years since David first broke the silence around his mental health, a moment that transformed not only his own life, but the lives of thousands of people he has helped since.
This episode is about vulnerability, burnout, kindness, self-compassion, and the courage to stop pretending you’re okay when you’re not.
And honestly? I think every teenager, parent, leader, and employee needs to hear this conversation.
🔥 What You’ll Learn
• Why vulnerability can become your greatest strength • The hidden signs of burnout most people ignore • Why “it’s okay not to be okay” matters more than ever • How self-compassion improves performance and creativity • The mental health framework everyone should know • Why kindness changes careers, teams, and lives • How David rebuilt his life after decades of silence
David Beeney is a mental health speaker, therapist, workplace wellbeing advocate, and the author of Breaking the Silence.
After spending over 36 years silently struggling with panic attacks and anxiety, David made it his mission to normalize conversations around mental health and help workplaces create cultures built on empathy, support, and openness.
Today, he speaks globally on burnout, leadership, vulnerability, and wellbeing.
In this episode: 00:00 – Why This Conversation Matters 02:10 – The Turning Point That Changed David’s Life 05:40 – Living 10,849 Days in Silence 08:20 – Why Vulnerability Makes You Stronger 12:00 – The Truth About Panic Attacks 17:10 – How Anxiety Secretly Shaped His Career 21:00 – Burnout & The “Boiling Frog” Story 27:00 – The Early Signs People Ignore 31:30 – Sleep, Exercise & Mental Wellbeing 35:10 – The Power of Kindness & Good People 39:00 – Supporting Friends Through Mental Health Struggles 41:40 – Breaking the Silence Book Story 43:00 – Advice for Teenagers Today 45:00 – The Story of Ben 48:50 – Final Message to Anyone Struggling
If this episode touched you in any way, share it with someone who needs to hear it.
And if you’re struggling silently right now:
Please remember, you are not weak for opening up. You are human.
Subscribe to The SMARTA Podcast for more conversations that challenge, inspire, and remind us what truly matters.
More from The SMARTA Podcast
What if failing publicly is the single fastest way to build the exact life you want?
What if waiting for permission is the exact thing keeping you from the life you actually want? Today, I am sitting down with the incredibly disciplined 20-year-old entrepreneur and copywriter, Jay Yang. At just 16, Jay realized that following the traditional path was leading him toward a life he did not want. He stopped waiting for permission and started taking action. We talk about how his permissionless mindset helped him land opportunities with massive entrepreneurs like Noah Kagan, Alex Hormozi, and Tyler Denk before he even finished high school.
What if the four massive crises facing humanity right now are actually your greatest opportunity to completely reinvent your future, and you have way less time than you think to act?
What if the most prestigious college degree in the world is actually a quarter-million-dollar trap holding you back?
What if everything you have been taught about finding the "perfect" career path is not entirely true?