From NBA All-Star to Mental Health Advocate: James Donaldson’s Story (ep 139)

About this episode

Dana Jones interviews former NBA All-Star James Donaldson about his journey to becoming a mental health advocate after facing personal challenges.

In this episode of The Pain Free Athlete Podcast , Dana Jones speaks with former NBA All-Star James Donaldson about the turning points that shaped his life on and off the court. James shares how a career-ending injury, emergency heart surgeries, major personal losses, and a mental health crisis led him to become a powerful advocate for suicide prevention and emotional honesty. They discuss the pressure athletes face to perform, the stigma around asking for help, and why men in particular often struggle to speak openly about what they’re going through. James also talks about the value of journaling, surrounding yourself with a trusted inner circle, and finding the right support before things reach a crisis point. James also shares the story behind his book, Celebrating Your Gift of Life , and explains how he uses writing, counseling, and community outreach to help others. He closes by discussing his blog, Standing Above the Crowd , and how he continues to spread awareness about mental health and suicide prevention through daily content. About James James Donaldson is a former NBA All-Star, entrepreneur, author, and community leader who enjoyed a 20-year professional basketball…

People in this episode

Host: Dana Jones

Guest: James Donaldson

Topics covered

• mental health
• athlete advocacy
• suicide prevention
• emotional honesty
• journaling
• support systems

Keywords

• NBA All-Star
• mental health
• suicide prevention
• emotional honesty
• journaling
• support systems
• James Donaldson

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Seattle SuperSonics, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Utah Jazz

Books & works: Celebrating Your Gift of Life, Standing Above the Crowd

Places: Washington State

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