They Told Me to "Kill Myself" at 12 Years Old

About this episode

Kati Morton interviews Justin Wren about his struggles with mental health, addiction, and his journey towards recovery and helping others.

Whether you are struggling with depression, addiction, or seeking motivation, Justin’s story is a roadmap for anyone feeling lost in the dark. "I was the youngest heavyweight in the country, and I was losing the only fight that mattered." In this powerful episode Kati speaks with Justin Wren for a raw conversation on mental health, resilience, and the recovery journey. Justin pulls back the curtain on a life of extreme highs and devastating lows, from the "merciless" bullying he faced as a child in Texas to the secret OxyContin addiction that haunted his professional MMA career. We dive deep into the "living nightmare" of substance abuse, where Justin managed a massive intake of pills while fighting on the world’s biggest stage. He shares the heartbreaking moment he hit rock bottom after missing his best friend's wedding and the moment in Tulum that gave him a second chance at life. Justin also discusses his work with Fight for the Forgotten, his nonprofit dedicated to providing clean water and land rights to the Mbuti Pygmy people in Uganda and Eastern Congo. He shares the beautiful, life-altering lessons he learned about community, grief, and Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) that…

People in this episode

Host: Kati Morton

Guest: Justin Wren

Topics covered

• mental health
• resilience
• substance abuse
• addiction
• community
• Post-Traumatic Growth

Keywords

• depression
• bullying
• OxyContin
• MMA
• Fight for the Forgotten
• Mbuti Pygmy

Sponsors

Function Health, Warby Parker

Mentioned in this episode

Products: OxyContin, Function Health, Warby Parker

Books & works: Ask Kati Anything

Places: Texas, Tulum, Uganda, Eastern Congo

More episodes of Ask Kati Anything

• How to Spot Toxic Friendships & Make Adult Friends · June 11, 2026 · 1h 1m
• Rewriting Your Family Blueprint: Hypervigilance, Weaponized Worry, and Reclaiming Your Energy with Alison Canavan · June 5, 2026 · 1h 36m
• Why Over-Giving is Ruining Your Health & Relationships · May 28, 2026 · 55 min
• Food Noise, GLP-1s, and Why You Keep Starting Over with Dr. Rachel Goldman · May 21, 2026 · 1h 6m
• When to leave a relationship, starting therapy with CPTSD, shame spirals, healthy love, inner child work · May 14, 2026 · 51 min
• Escaping Narcissistic Circles: A 4-Step Filter for Your Life · May 7, 2026 · 1h 18m