From Personal Loss to Saving Lives: A Therapist’s Fight Against Suicide and Addiction

Summary

Living Your Legacy Podcast: From Personal Loss to Saving Lives

Host: Kira Brinton (on behalf of Rudy Mawer)
Guest: Lindsay Taylor – Purpose-led therapist, author, and clinical director
Date: March 9, 2026
Main Theme:
An empowering conversation tracing Lindsay Taylor’s transformation from devastating personal loss to her vocation saving lives through therapy, with a compassionate focus on suicide and addiction. This episode illuminates the power of shared pain, resilience, and finding purpose in serving others during their darkest hours.

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Episode Overview

Lindsay Taylor shares her journey from losing her son to addiction to becoming a clinical leader and “Soul Soldier” for those facing suicidal ideation and addiction. The discussion highlights the transformative power of pain, the necessity of deep compassion, and the profound impact a therapist who has “walked in the darkness” can have on healing others.

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Key Discussion Points

Personal Loss as Purpose (00:00–01:45)

• Lindsay opens up about the transformative experience of losing her son to addiction.
• The loss shaped her unique ability to sit with others in deep pain and offer genuine compassion.

  “I think I've walked my own pain and my own darkness to just have that next level of understanding and compassion.”
  — Lindsay Taylor [00:10]

• Emphasis on hope: Showing people that “rising above” tragedy is possible (00:16).

Origins of Their Connection (02:07–03:14)

• Lindsay and Kira recount how they connected through a Facebook ad and webinar, despite having never met.

  “Every morning I pray and ask that my angels will go out with my Facebook ads. And find the people who need to write their books.”
  — Kira Brinton [02:48]

• Their relationship begins in community and is spiritually affirmed.

The Island Retreat & Sacred Moments (03:15–04:13)

• Lindsay recalls a transformative retreat (“the island”) that deepened her sense of purpose.

  "The most sacred experience in my life."
  — Lindsay Taylor [03:15]

• Encounters with “3 rainbows at significant moments,” which she calls “tender mercies” — spiritual confirmations connected to her son and her sense of mission (04:03–04:13).

Depth of Compassion Through Lived Experience (04:14–06:40)

• Kira highlights Lindsay’s rare ability to guide people in suicidal crises, stemming from both professional skill and personal grief.
• Lindsay describes never expecting to become a therapist specializing in suicide prevention:

  “I always say this path chose me. I didn’t choose it, but that makes it even more sacred and more meaningful.”
  — Lindsay Taylor [05:20]

• She believes that authentic understanding comes from “having been in the cave” herself, enabling deep connection and healing for her clients [06:14–06:40].

The Soul Soldier Movement & Book (06:41–08:25)

• Lindsay’s upcoming book: "The Rise of a Soul Soldier"
• Origins: During a book workshop, Kira read Lindsay's story back to her. The emotional resonance inspired the “Soul Soldier” identity.

  “Here you are, returning to the battlefield every single day…but even you were doing that while you were going through your own pain and darkness.”
  — Kira Brinton [07:52] “I’m a soldier, like, on this battleground called life. And that’s where that was born. That’s where I got Soul Soldier.”
  — Lindsay Taylor [08:12]

The Power and Importance of This Work (08:26–09:27)

• Kira honors Lindsay: “There are very few who can sit with people” in suicidal darkness and fewer still who know how to guide them out.

  “You will help those who struggle because they are soldiers. They aren’t weak. They're actually the strongest fighters on the planet.”
  — Kira Brinton [08:48]

• Lindsay’s mission: To help “lead them to their greater selves” and spark a movement of soul soldiers.

A Call to Action & Spreading Hope (09:28–10:11)

• Kira encourages listeners to share the episode so “this is the message that no one wants to talk about” finally reaches those who need it most.

  “This is how we bring light into the corners and the crevices of humanity.”
  — Kira Brinton [10:01]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Compassion and Connection:
  “When you're able to sit with people and understand on the deepest level, I think that that's when healing can take place…they see that hope and healing is possible.”
  — Lindsay Taylor [00:16]

• On Purpose:
  “I always say this path chose me. I Didn’t choose it, but that makes it even more sacred and more meaningful because…God has provided every step of the way.”
  — Lindsay Taylor [05:20]

• On Shared Pain:
  “I've been in the cave as well.”
  — Lindsay Taylor [06:14]

• On Inner Strength of Those Struggling:
  “They aren't weak. They're actually the strongest fighters on the planet. They have to fight every day to live.”
  — Kira Brinton [08:49]

• The Origin of ‘Soul Soldier’:
  “I was like, I'm a soldier, like, on this battleground called life. And that's where that was born.”
  — Lindsay Taylor [08:12]

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Important Timestamps

• 00:00–01:45: Introduction, Lindsay’s personal tragedy, and philosophy of compassion
• 02:07–03:15: How Lindsay and Kira connected; spiritual approach to outreach
• 03:15–04:13: Description of life-changing retreat and “tender mercy” moments
• 04:14–06:40: Lindsay’s path to specializing in suicide and addiction; personal and professional intersection
• 06:41–08:25: Genesis of the ‘Soul Soldier’ movement and book through emotional storytelling
• 08:26–10:11: Kira’s tribute, call to action, and vision for spreading hope

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Summary

This emotional episode of Living Your Legacy highlights Lindsay Taylor’s journey from heartbreaking loss to passionate healer, shining a light on suicide, addiction, and the soul’s resilience. Lindsay’s story blends clinical expertise and lived experience, inviting listeners to become “soul soldiers” in the battle against despair. With memorable exchanges and calls to action, this episode is both a tribute to human tenacity and a rallying cry to spread hope to those who need it most.

Transcript

[Kira Brinton]

You lost your son to addiction. You bring something that most people don't, which is the deepest level of compassion.

[Lindsay Taylor]

I feel like everything happens for a reason. And I think I've walked my own pain and my own darkness to just have that next level of understanding and compassion. And when you're able to sit with people and understand on the deepest level, I think that that's when healing can take place. Because those people feel heard and then they see that hope and healing is possible. Like when they see that you have risen ab of that, they're like, I can do that too.

[Narrator]

Lindsay Taylor is a purpose led therapist, speaker, author and podcaster dedicated to guiding people through life's toughest battles. With over a decade of clinical experience and service as clinical director at a suicide treatment center, she helps individuals and families navigate grief, addiction and crisis toward healing and hope.

[Lindsay Taylor]

I continued meeting people in their pain even when I was going through my own deepest depths of darkness. And I was like, I'm a soldier. Like on this battleground called life.

[Sam]

It spans the globe like a super high as cold Internet. Elvis Preston. I agree. Today Apple is going to reinvent the Mars. It's not over until I win. The Living youg Legacy podcast. For those who live to leave a legacy that's extraordinary. The impossible has been. Oh, that is sensational. Open Chicago with the lead Usain Paul is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dream.

[Kira Brinton]

Welcome back to my season of Legacy makers. My name is Kira Brinton and I'm so excited over the moon to introduce you to the one and only Lindsay Taylor. Lindsay. I mean, how did we get here?

[Lindsay Taylor]

Oh, my God. That is the question. That is the big question. Yeah, it has. Yes.

[Kira Brinton]

You jumped in to my world like September or August.

[Lindsay Taylor]

August.

[Kira Brinton]

August.

[Lindsay Taylor]

Maybe it was September. I don't know.

[Kira Brinton]

Yeah, I feel like it was right before the island.

[Lindsay Taylor]

It was.

[Kira Brinton]

Which is crazy because you. We didn't know each other.

[Lindsay Taylor]

Right.

[Kira Brinton]

And I did an Instagram live with a friend and you saw it. Is that how it felt? No.

[Lindsay Taylor]

So how did this happen? So I had seen you previous on a. On a podcast episode, but I. It was a Facebook ad, actually, that. Because I hadn't started following you. I just saw you on a podcast. So like, I had heard of you.

[Kira Brinton]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Taylor]

But it was a Facebook ad that drew me in.

[Kira Brinton]

Interesting. So did you come to a webinar? Yes. Oh, my gosh. It's crazy. Yeah, I love it. I love hearing how. So every morning I pray and ask that my angels will go out with my Facebook ads. And find the people who need to write their books. Like, so my angels found you, brought you here, and I feel so deeply inspired by you. You came to the island. Let's talk about that for a second. How was that for you on the island?

[Lindsay Taylor]

Oh, my gosh. The most sacred experience in my life.

[Kira Brinton]

Yeah, truly.

[Lindsay Taylor]

You know, I. I set out to do this work, I. I say to, you know, save people's lives, change people's lives. And it's actually, I'm just the vessel. It's really not me, but that is my whole mission. And in the process of doing this work, every single time I sit with people, my life has changed. And it was the same on the island, like, going to the island. Here I was, you know, to bring forward this. This deep, sacred work and message. And I'm changed in the process as well.

[Kira Brinton]

And I remember, you know, I just went to the island a week ago and we saw one rainbow. But when you were on the island.

[Lindsay Taylor]

3.

[Kira Brinton]

3.

[Lindsay Taylor]

And at very meaningful moments. So it was like moments of significance,

[Kira Brinton]

too, which is such a. What would you call it? What do you call that?

[Lindsay Taylor]

Like, I've been calling it a tender mercy.

[Kira Brinton]

Oh, I love that.

[Lindsay Taylor]

Yeah.

[Kira Brinton]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Taylor]

Like it's a message from God and.

[Kira Brinton]

And from your son. And that's why I really. There are so many people who. They write books because they've been taught things and they've read all the books and they've had all the trainings. And you do have all the trainings and all the things, but because you also know great loss. You lost your son to addiction. You bring something that most people don't, which is the deepest level of compassion.

[Lindsay Taylor]

Yeah.

[Kira Brinton]

And you can sit with people in the depths of darkness because you've had to sit there as well. And that's why I think you've been chosen to do this work, because you have both. You have the skills to help people with suicide ideation, which it's like the one thing that no one knows how to help. And he has, like, the greatest plague on the planet. And you also know the depths of the darkness. So talk to me a little bit about what that brings up for you.

[Lindsay Taylor]

Yeah. You know, it's interesting because I never set out when I first started in my career, it was really to go into child welfare to help kids in foster care. And so never once would I have said that I, A, was going to be a therapist, B, specializing in helping people struggling with suicidal ideation. Like, that was not on my radar. So I always say this path chose me. I Didn't choose it, but that makes it even more sacred and more meaningful because it really has been given to me as something that I'm meant to walk with people in. And God has provided every step of the way how I am supposed to bring light to lives that need it. And so, yeah, it's been a journey getting here professionally. But then personally, yeah, I feel like everything happens for a reason. And I think I've walked my own pain in my own darkness to just have that next level of understanding and compassion. Like, hey, I've been there, too. Like, I've been in the cave as well. And when you're able to sit with people and understand on the deepest level, I think that that's when healing can take place, because those people feel heard, and then they see that hope and healing is possible. Like, when they see that you have risen above that, they're like, I can do that, too.

[Kira Brinton]

Yeah, I feel this. What is the name of your book?

[Lindsay Taylor]

The Rise of a Soul Soldier.

[Kira Brinton]

I love that. The Rise of the Soul Soldier. And I believe that many people's lives will be saved with this book. I believe that many people's lives will be saved with your episode. And what I see for you is this expansive movement, a movement of waking up the soul soldiers. And I remember a time when we were channeling your book that this came through. Remind me about it, because it's a little foggy.

[Lindsay Taylor]

Yeah. Oh, my gosh. It was deep. You had. First of all, it was the very first time I had ever heard my words or my story read back to me. So you were reading my book out loud to me as we were going through editing it, and you were crying through the first several chapters. And I just remember after the hardest chapter, you paused and you were in tears. And you're like, lindsay, I don't know how you're still standing. And you're like. And here you are, returning to the battlefield every single day, sitting with people in their darkness, in their pain. And yet even you were doing that while you were going through your own pain and darkness. And I did. I never stopped. Like, I continued meeting people in their pain even when I was going through my own deepest depths of darkness. And it was in that moment that I felt like this whoosh, like, right into my soul. It was like you spoke the life, like, the purpose right into my soul. You were the vessel for that. And I was like, I'm a soldier, like, on this battleground called life. And that's where that was born. That's where I got Soul Soldier. And the name of the book was born.

[Kira Brinton]

I remember that. That was a powerful moment. I am. There are no words. I don't really have words, you know, just honor you. Because I know. Ah, damn. I know the darkness of suicide. I know it. And there are very few who can sit with people in it. And there are very few who know how to help people through it. And so I just see you as a walking angel on this planet. I see you as a leader of light. And you will help those who struggle because they are soldiers. They aren't weak. They're actually the strongest fighters on the planet. They have to fight every day to live. And you get to help lead them to their greater selves. So I honor you. This episode is going to be extraordinary. I'm also so excited that you get to be on my TV show. We get to bring you on to the island again in a few weeks.

[Lindsay Taylor]

Yeah.

[Kira Brinton]

And bring the next book forward. So congrats on your work, my dear. Thank you for everyone. I really invite you to watch her episode but also share it because this is the message that no one wants to talk about. And those who are struggling with suicide ideation or addiction, they. They need a message like this to just pop into their world. So if someone you know is struggling, or if you don't know anyone who's struggling, post it on your Facebook. Like, get it into people's worlds. This is how we bring light into the corners and the crevices of humanity. So with that, enjoy this, share this, and I hope it brings you the light you need.

[Sam]

Sam.