Crisis resources (U.S.): Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. If in immediate danger, call 911. Outside the U.S., search your country’s suicide hotline.

Topic: Healing after suicide—grief that’s angry, guilty, complicated…and hopeful.

I bring back Steven Kalas to walk us through what survivors actually face. We talk about the implicit family pact—we don’t give up—and how suicide shatters that, why guilt can feel “safer” than helplessness, how to forgive the right person for the right thing, and how to turn a broken heart into service without sentimentalizing the truth.

You’ll learn:

Why suicide grief is uniquely complicated (anger + guilt, both valid)

How to separate real ownership from false guilt

What honest, non-sentimental compassion sounds like

Practical ways to forgive, remember, and move forward

How vulnerability and community interrupt isolation

Need help or want to talk?

• Steven Kalas: stevenkalas57@gmail.com | (702) 845-7993

• DM me on IG @DrRichardLow

• Join our FB community: Next Level Dentist: Rising Beyond Burnout (anonymous posting available)

We can’t change the past, but we can change how we live, how we show up for each other, and how we break isolation—today.

Trigger & Explicit-Language Warning:

This conversation contains strong language and detailed discussion of suicide, depression, faith, and trauma experienced by first responders. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (U.S. & Canada) or visit 988lifeline.org for free, confidential support.

In this deeply raw episode, Dr. Richard Low sits down with his mentor and friend Kyle Carnahan—founder of Superhuman Fathers and a former firefighter who has witnessed hundreds of deaths—to talk about suicide, identity, faith, and redemption.

Kyle and Richard go all-in on what it really means to walk through darkness as a man, husband, and father. They discuss:

• What firefighters really see when suicide hits close to home

• Why so many high-performing men—especially dentists—feel trapped in success

• How Kyle helped Richard out of the darkest season of his life

• The link between authenticity, discipline, and spiritual transformation

• What to say (and not say) when someone you know is suicidal

• How Jesus and radical honesty can reframe even the darkest story

This is not a polished conversation. It’s real, unfiltered, and meant for men ready to stop hiding, start healing, and lead with courage.

00:00 Trigger Warning and Introduction

00:56 Meet Kyle Carnahan

01:38 Joining Superhuman Fathers

02:34 Personal Transformations and Struggles

06:13 The Dark Side of Dentistry

06:37 Kyle's Unfiltered Perspective

08:26 The Journey to Authenticity

13:18 Kyle's Personal Story

25:55 The Birth of Superhuman Fathers

34:46 Addressing Suicidal Thoughts with Tough Love

36:09 The Importance of Responsibility and Purpose

37:55 The Power of Christianity in Overcoming Darkness

38:31 Reframing Negative Stories Through Faith

40:56 The Unique Struggles of Dentists

44:28 The Role of Authenticity in Healing

46:17 The Concept of Unworthiness and Redemption

49:26 Personal Struggles and the Path to Transformation

51:35 The Power of Vulnerability and Support

55:13 Intervening in Suicidal Situations

01:02:11 Embracing Trials and Trusting in God

01:07:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This episode is a practical, compassionate walkthrough of what to say and do when someone hints at suicide—especially in high-stress clinical settings. Counselor and spiritual leader Steven Kalas joins me to unpack clear steps you can use right away: how to make the covert overt, ask direct safety questions, assess plan → means → intent, remove access to means, and when/how to request a welfare check. This is education for prevention and immediate help—not sensational content.

You’ll learn

The exact phrasing to turn vague comments into a real conversation (“Are you going to kill yourself tonight?”)

How to quickly gauge plan, means, and intent—and what to do at each level

Scripts for setting loving boundaries (“I can’t carry this alone; your spouse has to know by Sunday”)

What not to do (no promises of secrecy, no graphic method talk)

How dentists can act as gatekeepers for colleagues and team members under pressure

If you’re in crisis or supporting someone who is:

U.S.: Call or text 988 (24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)

Canada: Call or text 988 (24/7)

UK & ROI: Samaritans 116 123 (24/7)

Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7)

If you’re elsewhere, search your country’s suicide/crisis hotline. If someone is in immediate danger, call local emergency services now.

Disclaimer: This content is for education and support. It’s not medical, psychological, or legal advice. Seek professional care when needed.

Guest: Steven Kalas — counselor, author, spiritual leader

Host: Richard Low, DDS — Next Level Dentist