087: The Mental Health Comedian with Frank King087: The Mental Health Comedian with Frank King
You're Sober! Now What?
Frank King shares candid stories about lifelong depression, suicidal thoughts and how comedy, routine and purpose help him stay alive. The conversation also touches on addiction, entrepreneurship and practical tips for shaping a TEDx talk from lived experience.
1:09:23•5 Apr 2021
Suicide, Stand-Up Comedy and Finding Purpose with Frank King
Episode Overview
- Suicidal thoughts are often about ending pain rather than wanting to die, and many people experience them without realising they’re not alone.
- Simple, consistent routines—diet, exercise, sleep, meditation and appropriate medication—can make daily depressive cycles more manageable.
- Viewing suicide as "selfish" ignores how many people feel they’re a burden and believe their death would relieve others from harm.
- Knowing and respecting your own bio-rhythms and energy patterns can help you schedule work and self-care in ways that support mental health.
- A strong TEDx idea needs a clear, passionate focus, a memorable title and concise takeaways so organisers can see the value in 12–18 minutes.
“Most suicides, not all, but most are not about killing yourself, but just simply ending the pain.”
What emotional and inspiring tales of recovery are out there? This conversation with Frank King, "the mental health comedian", brings together raw honesty, dark humour, and practical support for anyone dealing with depression, suicidal thoughts, or life after addiction. Frank shares how chronic suicidal ideation has shaped his life, career, and purpose, describing it as "still my superpower" and the flip side of his creativity.
He talks openly about generational depression and suicide in his family, what it was like to be "married and miserable, insurance and miserable", and how choosing stand-up comedy over staying stuck helped him stay alive. You’ll hear him joke that he learned you "don't try marriage, you try grape nuts", while also explaining the very real pain behind those laughs.
The episode spends a lot of time on everyday tools for living with mental illness: diet, exercise, sleep, meditation, medication, and a self-care routine he compares to a car owner’s manual. Frank describes his three-day depressive cycles, how he uses "gamification" to get out of bed, and why knowing your own rhythms matters when the rock and hill of mental illness show up every morning.
For people in recovery, his discussion of the link between addiction and suicide will strike a chord. He frames both as attempts to "kill the pain", and challenges the idea that suicide is selfish, explaining how many see it as a way to stop hurting others. There’s also plenty here for entrepreneurs, as Frank talks about "suicide, the secret of my success" and how many business owners are driven by being in the wrong life and needing to risk everything.
On top of the mental health conversation, Frank breaks down how to craft a strong TEDx idea, title, and application, stressing the importance of passion and clear takeaways. If you’re curious how humour, honesty, and simple daily habits can support long-term recovery, why not give this one a listen and see what resonates for you?
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