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HARNESSING THE POWER OF STORIES TO CULTIVATE EMPATHY & UNDERSTANDING, INSPIRE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS, AND HELP PEOPLE FEEL LESS LONELY.
I KNOW LONELY PROJECT
Weaving its way through our stories, loneliness is a shared human experience. These experiences form the narratives we share. And listening to the stories of others forms connection. Neuroscience has found that our brains are shaped by stories. Stories move us toward empathy. Stories connect us together.
Stories remind us that we are not as alone as we may feel.
Carter Andre-Van Lith
April's story:
When a severe softball injury abruptly shifted her identity as a top-performing athlete, Carter found herself in the depths of loneliness and isolation. At her darkest point, she found herself unrecognizable, overwhelmed by the changes in her life and struggling mentally. Leaning on her family for support, Carter began the process of rediscovery, exploring new hobbies and passions that helped her rebuild her sense of self and find purpose.
loneliness, athlete, sports injury, bullying, overcoming adversity, mental health struggles
story Themes:
View her story >
story Themes:
loneliness, foster care, single parent household, mentorship, juvenile detention
Growing up in and out of the foster care system, Zach’s childhood was marked by loneliness. With his first brush with the justice system at age eight, he spent much of middle and high school in juvenile detention. It was when he met his mentor, Jackson, that Zach began to believe he had the potential for a future. Now, as a young adult, Zach is rebuilding his life and wants to use his story to inspire hope in other kids.
Zach Ballard
november's story:
View his story >
story Themes:
anxiety, loneliness, COVID, mental health, perfectionism, seeking help, therapy/counseling
Beth has always been a perfectionist, and anxiety has woven itself into her life story. The loneliness she felt during the COVID lockdowns led her to seek help from her school counselor, Mrs. Goetz, who became a vital part of her support system. Inspired by this experience, Beth now aspires to become a school counselor herself. Through her story, she hopes to remind others that it’s okay to ask for help.
Beth Okamoto
December's Story:
View her story >
story Themes:
loneliness, terminal illness, resilience, art & creativity, community
Growing up as a minority in her town, Haile often faced a deep loneliness and isolation when she became a target for racism from her peers. It wasn’t until she got to college that she finally experienced a sense of belonging with her college volleyball team. This transformative experience ignited her passion for advocacy, and now she's sharing her story in hopes to remind us that everyone deserves a place where they belong.
Malachi castilote
January's story:
View his story >
story Themes:
loneliness, being the outsider, influencer, fame and success
Ben’s journey began with a deep-seated belief that he was always an outsider, feeling disconnected from those around him. However, his life took a significant turn when he was given the opportunity to become ABC's The Bachelor. Through this experience, he learned the power of vulnerability and began to share his story, discovering that it’s often our loneliness and deepest pain that forge the strongest connections with others.
ben higgins
february's story:
View his story >
Haile Watson
march's story:
Growing up as a minority in her town, Haile often faced a deep loneliness and isolation when she became a target for racism from her peers. It wasn’t until she got to college that she finally experienced a sense of belonging with her college volleyball team. This transformative experience ignited her passion for advocacy, and now she's sharing her story in hopes to remind us that everyone deserves a place where they belong.
loneliness, belonging, racism, overcoming adversity, inclusion
story Themes:
View her story >
Owen Bischoff
May's story:
Owen has always been passionate about friendship and shares his story to highlight that these connections don’t have to be complicated. By taking just a few minutes to check in, he showcases the transformative power of reaching out. His mission is to inspire others to nurture their relationships, demonstrating that meaningful connections can flourish without unnecessary complexity.
loneliness, athlete, friendships, reaching out, being a good friend, connection & belonging
story Themes:
Nevaeh & Obediah Carranza
june's story:
Close-knit siblings, the duo behind the band Zero Reasons, are dedicated to spreading a powerful message: there are zero reasons to not be yourself. Growing up in a military family with frequent moves, they’ve found that their strongest support comes from each other and their music. Through their songs, they advocate for youth, tackling essential topics such as suicide prevention, mental health, anti-abuse, and anti-bullying.
loneliness, mental health advocates, close sibling bonds, military family, music,
story Themes:
Kamyrn Fowler
July's story:
Amid the challenges of the COVID lockdowns, Kamryn felt a deep responsibility to advocate for her peers who were struggling in silence. Recognizing the need for open dialogue, she launched a survey to give voice to their experiences and foster understanding. Kamryn is a firm believer in the power of safe spaces and strives to advocate for environments where individuals can share their struggles and find solace in connection.
loneliness, mental health advocates, making a difference, student-led change, safe spaces,
story Themes:
Carter Andre Van Lith
When a severe softball injury abruptly shifted her identity as a top-performing athlete, Carter found herself in the depths of loneliness and isolation. At her darkest point, she found herself unrecognizable, overwhelmed by the changes in her life and struggling mentally. Leaning on her family for support, Carter began the process of rediscovery, exploring new hobbies and passions that helped her rebuild her sense of self and find purpose.
story Themes:
loneliness, athlete, sports injury, bullying, overcoming adversity, mental health struggles
view her story
Zach Ballard
Growing up in and out of the foster care system, Zach’s childhood was marked by loneliness. With his first brush with the justice system at age eight, he spent much of middle and high school in juvenile detention. It was when he met his mentor, Jackson, that Zach began to believe he had the potential for a future. Now, as a young adult, Zach is rebuilding his life and wants to use his story to inspire hope in other kids.
story Themes:
loneliness, foster care, single parent household, mentorship, juvenile detention
view zach's story
Beth okamoto
Beth has always been a perfectionist, and anxiety has woven itself into her life story. The loneliness she felt during the COVID lockdowns led her to seek help from her school counselor, Mrs. Goetz, who became a vital part of her support system. Inspired by this experience, Beth now aspires to become a school counselor herself. Through her story, she hopes to remind others that it’s okay to ask for help.
story Themes:
anxiety, loneliness, COVID, mental health, perfectionism, seeking help, therapy/counseling
view beth's story
Malachi castilote
Diagnosed at 18 with a rare terminal illness, Malachi is the oldest living child in the United States receiving treatment for Batten's Disease CLN2. Facing the challenges of his condition, he turned to art & the community around it as an outlet for coping with the loneliness that often accompanies his journey. Despite the challenges life has thrown his way, Malachi shares a message of resilience: it’s possible to walk through hard things with a smile on your face.
story Themes:
loneliness, terminal illness, resilience, art & creativity, community
view malachi's story
BEN HIGGINS
Ben’s journey began with a deep-seated belief that he was always an outsider, feeling disconnected from those around him. However, his life took a significant turn when he was given the opportunity to become ABC's the Bachelor. Through this experience, he learned the power of vulnerability and began to share his story, discovering that it’s often our loneliness and deepest pain that forge the strongest connections with others.
story Themes:
loneliness, being the outsider, influencer, fame and success
view ben's story
Haile Watson
Growing up as a minority in her town, Haile often faced a deep loneliness and isolation when she became a target for racism from her peers. It wasn’t until she got to college that she finally experienced a sense of belonging with her college volleyball team. This transformative experience ignited her passion for advocacy, and now she's sharing her story in hopes to remind us that everyone deserves a place where they belong.
story Themes:
loneliness, athlete, belonging, racism, overcoming adversity, inclusion
view haile's story
Owen Bischoff
Owen has always been passionate about friendship and shares his story to highlight that these connections don’t have to be complicated. By taking just a few minutes to check in, he showcases the transformative power of reaching out. His mission is to inspire others to nurture their relationships, demonstrating that meaningful connections can thrive without unnecessary complexity.
story Themes:
loneliness, athlete, friendships, reaching out, being a good friend, connection & belonging
Nevaeh & Obediah Carranza
Close-knit siblings, the duo behind the band Zero Reasons, are dedicated to spreading a powerful message: there are zero reasons to not be yourself. Growing up in a military family with frequent moves, they’ve found that their strongest support comes from each other and their music. Through their songs, they advocate for youth, tackling essential topics such as suicide prevention, mental health, anti-abuse, and anti-bullying.
story Themes:
loneliness, mental health advocates, close sibling bonds, military family, music,
Kamyrn Fowler
Amid the challenges of the COVID lockdowns, Kamryn felt a deep responsibility to advocate for her peers who were struggling in silence. Recognizing the need for open dialogue, she launched a survey to give voice to their experiences and foster understanding. Kamryn is a firm believer in the power of safe spaces and strives to advocate for environments where individuals can share their struggles and find solace in connection.
story Themes:
loneliness, mental health advocates, making a difference, student-led change, safe spaces
Chris Cruz
Kelly Lemon
Mike Elavsky
Apuroopa Kavikondala
Kevin Berthia
Tyler Bjork
Abbi Hamlin
Sammy Vasquez
Lorie LeDoux
MEET our season 2 storytellers
Coming from a childhood of adversity, Chris shares how he began striving for success by pursuing money, position, and relationships. But it was only when he gained understanding for the value of his story that he feels he was able to truly find success.
chris cruz
story Themes:
Loneliness, adverse childhood, success, single parent household, mindset, immigrant, resilience
View his story >
A near fatal car accident changed everything for 12 year old Kelly. After losing the use of her right arm, Kelly’s story shares how she’s continued to push through the impossible in order to pursue her dreams as a one-armed photographer and business woman.
Kelly Lemon
story Themes:
Loneliness, physical disabilities, bullying, community, perseverance, chronic pain, mindset
View her story >
In his 100 years of life, Mike has a wealth of wisdom to share. Whether it was his time serving in World War II, his years as a farmer, or his career as an educator, Mike shares that generosity, friendship, and connection is what makes life rich.
Mike Elavsky
story Themes:
Loneliness, veteran, friendship, generosity, grief and loss
View his story >
As an ambitious high school student, Apuroopa is a 5x self-published author and mental health advocate. She shares about her experience with friendships, being the “new kid” and how fostering connections and a positive mindset changes everything.
Apuroopa Kavikondala
story Themes:
Loneliness, friendship, mental health, being a positive influence in the world, family, mindset
View her story >
As a suicide attempt survivor and someone who has lived with depression, Kevin has taken his pain and now uses it for the purpose of helping others. As a suicide prevention advocate, he shares how one man changed his life by uttering the words “Hey, wait a minute” and standing with him for 92 minutes on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Kevin Berthia
story Themes:
Loneliness, suicide, mental health, depression, adoption, therapy,
self-awareness
View his story >
Understanding the deep hurt that comes from bullying and feeling unseen, Tyler shares his story of loneliness. His story explains how where we feel seen, where we feel accepted and where we feel belonging are often the places we can be the most authentic.
february's story
Tyler bjork
story Themes:
Loneliness, bullying, LGBTQIA+, feeling unseen, finding belonging, serving others
View his story >
As a young athlete, Abbi struggled with a severe eating disorder. As she shares her story, she hopes to shed a light on the loneliness of eating disorders and remind others that there is hope and healing even when things feel dark.
March's story
Abbi Hamlin
story Themes:
Loneliness, disordered eating (anorexia), athlete mental health, friendship, hope, therapy, physical health & nutrition
View her story >
Coming from a Mexican-American family of ten, Samael (Sammy) shares how he's experienced loneliness as a high school student while embracing a society that is not tied to his culture of origin. He's realized his story is just beginning and he's determined to write a good one.
sammy Vazquez
story Themes:
Loneliness, discovering your story, family, vulnerability, planning for the future, cultural differences
View his story >
When her story took a different direction than she expected, Lorie found herself alone at the darkest point in her life. A friend reaching out during a moment of crisis ended up changing the trajectory for her. Her hope is that her story will give others hope that there is light even when you can’t see it.
Lorie LeDoux
story Themes:
Loneliness, suicide, depression, divorce, military, being the strong friend
View her story >
Lorie ledoux
When her story took a different direction than she expected, Lorie found herself alone at the darkest point in her life. A friend reaching out during a moment of crisis ended up changing the trajectory for her. Her hope is that her story will give others hope that there is light even when you can’t see it.
story Themes:
Loneliness, suicide, depression, divorce, military, being the strong friend
view lorie's story
chris cruz
Coming from a childhood of adversity, Chris shares how he began striving for success by pursuing money, position, and relationships. But it was only when he gained understanding for the value of his story that he feels he was able to truly find success.
story Themes:
Loneliness, adverse childhood, success, single parent household, mindset, immigrant, resilience
view chris' story
kelly lemon
A near fatal car accident changed everything for 12 year old Kelly. After losing the use of her right arm, Kelly’s story shares how she’s continued to push through the impossible in order to pursue her dreams as a one-armed photographer and business woman.
story Themes:
Loneliness, physical disabilities, bullying, community, perseverance, chronic pain, mindset
view kelly's story
mike Elavsky
In his 100 years of life, Mike has a wealth of wisdom to share. Whether it was his time serving in the World War II, his years as a farmer, or his career as an educator, Mike shares that generosity, friendship, and connection is what makes life rich.
story Themes:
Loneliness, war/veteran, friendship, generosity, grief/loss
view mike's story
Apuroopa Kavikondala
As an ambitious high school student, Apuroopa is a 5x self-published author and mental health advocate. She shares about her experience with friendships, being the “new kid” and how fostering connections and a positive mindset changes everything.
story Themes:
Loneliness, friendship, mental health, being a positive influence in the world, family culture, mindset
view APUROOPA's story
kevin berthia
As a suicide attempt survivor and someone who has lived with depression, Kevin has taken his pain and now uses it for the purpose of helping others. As a suicide prevention advocate, he shares how one man changed his life by uttering the words “Hey, wait a minute” and standing with him for 92 minutes on the Golden Gate Bridge.
story Themes:
Loneliness, suicide, mental health, depression, adoption, self-awareness
view kevin's story
tyler bjork
Understanding the deep hurt that comes from bullying and feeling unseen, Tyler shares his story of loneliness. His story explains how where we feel seen, where we feel accepted and where we feel belonging are often the places we can be the most authentic.
story Themes:
Loneliness, bullying, LGBTQIA+, feeling unseen, finding belonging, serving others
view tyler's story
abbi hamlin
As a young athlete, Abbi struggled with a severe eating disorder. As she shares her story, she hopes to shed a light on the loneliness of eating disorders and remind others that there is hope and healing even when things feel dark.
story Themes:
Loneliness, disordered eating (anorexia), athlete mental health, friendship, hope, therapy, physical health & nutrition
view abbi's story
sammy vasquez
Coming from a Mexican-American family of ten, Samael (Sammy) shares how he's experienced loneliness as a high school student while embracing a society that is not tied to his culture of origin. He's realized his story is just beginning and he's determined to write a good one.
story Themes:
Loneliness, discovering your story, family, vulnerability, motivation, planning for the future, cultural differences
view sammy's story
Kealani Yamamoto
Mario Gonzalez
Mac & Hailey Potts
Vik
Chopra
Danny Rigsby
Mariah
Paz
Ethan
Wall
Izzy
Boring
Lyndsey Sprinkle
MEET our season 1 storytellers
KEA YAMAMOTO
Meet Kealani Yamamoto. Kea’s story shares about her experience being diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a young teenager and learning to thrive on the other side of her diagnosis. She was a superstar athlete and runner in high school and college. Now she runs a small business, where she shares her love for the outdoors and art through custom jewelry pieces.
story Themes:
Bipolar disorder, friendship, in-patient treatment
View her story >
Mario Gonzalez
Meet Mario Gonzalez. He is a creative who loves photography, filmmaking, and documenting people and stories. Losing one of his parents at 13 years old deeply impacted his life, but he has learned the importance of seeking out community and mentorship. Now as a first generation high school graduate and a senior in college, Mario reflects on the decisions— and more importantly, the people— that shaped him into who he is today.
story Themes:
Drugs, grief, anxiety, depression, mentorship
View his story >
VIK CHOPRA
My name is Vik! I am a gay and formerly incarcerated film-maker. I believe that connection is essential for grounding into our true, authentic selves. There was a time in the not so distant past that I almost lost my life to addiction. But today, my life is a blessing, as I am deeply connected with some of the most amazing people who inspire me and make me...me!
story Themes:
Addiction, crime & illegal acts, incarceration
View his story >
MAC & HAILEY POTTS
Meet Mac and Hailey Potts. Mac & Hailey Potts grew up as musicians and music connected them. They ended up getting married and now they both do music full time. Mac is a blind recording artist and Hailey is a music teacher. While they have started a family and now have three kids, they still love to connect with each other and others through music!
story Themes:
Physical disability, fitting in, interests and hobbies
View their story >
Danny Rigsby
I'm Danny Rigsby! Ever since I was a little kid, I have played basketball and I currently play basketball in college. From the outside, I sometimes looked like I had it all together, but there have been plenty of times I felt lonely. Everyone at times is lonely. But you have to reach out to people you trust and they will give you support. Life is a marathon and you have to keep on running until the end.
story Themes:
Adoption, Racism, Overcoming Adversity, Suicide Loss
View his story >
Mariah Paz
I am Mariah! I am a high school junior and used to be a mean girl. Since then, I have learned to see people for who they really are and build relationships with them. I have experienced some difficult times in my life, but finding connection with others has helped me through those hard times. I love wrestling for school. And I enjoy connecting with my community while working at my Aunt’s coffee shop!
story Themes:
Bullying, suicide, abuse, fitting in, runaway
View her story >
Ethan wall
Meet Ethan Wall. Ethan is a pianist and high school basketball player currently pursuing a college degree in music. Growing up in a small town, he learned not to judge a book by its cover and connect with people that were outside of his normal friendship circles.
story Themes:
Loneliness, isolation, physical health challenges, mental health challenges, depression
View his story >
Izzy Boring is mental health advocate and college basketball player and student. A hard piece of her story has been losing her boyfriend to suicide during her senior year of high school, her journey since has been learning to pick up the pieces while leaning on her support system. She believes in seeking out little joys in life and wants to remind others that it's okay not to be okay.
Izzy Boring
story Themes:
Loneliness, suicide loss, mental health, grief
View her story >
LYNDSEY SPRINKLE
I am Lyndsey. I am a recovery addict and ex-convict. I have gone from a life of active addiction, a prison sense, ego and pride to a life of recovery, redemption, and a fulfilling career. I enjoy traveling throughout the states and sharing my experience, strength and hope to show individuals anything is possible if you reach out and connect with those around you.
story Themes:
Loneliness, physical injury, isolation, drugs and substance abuse, incarceration, recovery
View her story >
KEA YAMAMOTO
Meet Kealani Yamamoto. Kea’s story shares about her experience being diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a young teenager and learning to thrive on the other side of her diagnosis. She was a superstar athlete and runner in high school and college. Now she runs a small business, where she shares her love for the outdoors and art through custom jewelry pieces.
story Themes:
Bipolar disorder, friendship, in-patient treatment
view kea's story
Mario Gonzalez
Meet Mario Gonzalez. He is a creative who loves photography, filmmaking, and documenting people and stories. Losing one of his parents at 13 years old deeply impacted his life, but he has learned the importance of seeking out community and mentorship. Now as a first generation high school graduate and a senior in college, Mario reflects on the decisions— and more importantly, the people— that shaped him into who he is today.
story Themes:
Drugs, alcohol, grief, loss of parent, anxiety, depression, mentorship
view mario's story
VIK CHOPRA
My name is Vik! I am a gay and formerly incarcerated film-maker. I believe that connection is essential for grounding into our true, authentic selves. There was a time in the not so distant past that I almost lost my life to addiction. But today, my life is a blessing, as I am deeply connected with some of the most amazing people who inspire me and make me...me!
story Themes:
Drinking, drugs, addiction, homelessness, illegal acts, suicide
view vik's story
MAC & HAILEY POTTS
We are Mac and Hailey Potts! We both grew up as musicians and music connected us. We ended up getting married and now we both do music full time. Mac is a blind recording artist and Hailey is a music teacher. We started a family with two kids (and one on the way), but we still love to connect with each other and others through music!
story Themes:
Physical disability, fitting in, interests and hobbies
view their story
Danny Rigsby
My name is Danny. Ever since I was a little kid, I have played basketball and I currently play basketball in college. From the outside, I sometimes looked like I had it all together, but there have been plenty of times I felt lonely. Everyone at times is lonely. But you have to reach out to people you trust and they will give you support. Life is a marathon and you have to keep on running until the end.
story Themes:
Adoption, Race, Racism, Injuries, Suicide, Making someone proud
view danny's story
Mariah Paz
Meet Mariah Paz. Mariah identified as a mean girl in school. Since then, she has learned to see people for who they really are and build relationships with them. From losing a close friend to suicide to struggling with her own mental health to becoming a teen mom, her story hasn't been easy. However she has found finding connection with others has helped her through those hard times.
story Themes:
Bullying, suicide, abuse, fitting in, runaway
view Mariah's story
Ethan wall
Meet Ethan Wall. Ethan shares about the experience that led to inspire his mom, Kristin Wall to start Only7Seconds. Growing up in a small town, he's learned not to judge a book by its cover and how to connect with people that were outside of his normal friendship circles. Ethan is currently working as a graduate assistant as he pursues his master's degree at Northwest University.
story Themes:
Loneliness, friendships, physical and mental health challenges, depression
view ethan's story
Izzy Boring
Izzy Boring is mental health advocate and college basketball player and student. A hard piece of her story has been losing her boyfriend to suicide during her senior year of high school, her journey since has been learning to pick up the pieces while leaning on her support system. She believes in seeking out little joys in life and wants to remind others that it's okay not to be okay.
story Themes:
Loneliness, suicide loss, mental health, grief
view izzy's story
LYNDSEY SPRINKLE
Lyndsey Sprinkle is a recovery addict and ex-convict. After experiencing a near-fatal car accident in high school, Lyndsey found herself caught up in a lifestyle of addition, Now with a career helping other addicts in recovery, Lyndsey has found hope on the other side of addiction. She wants to use her story and experiences to remind others that it's okay to ask for help.
story Themes:
Loneliness, physical injury, isolation, drugs and substance abuse, incarceration, recovery
view lyndsey's story
As part of the I Know Lonely Project, we release a monthly podcast featuring a candid conversation with each storyteller along with a bonus episode from a special guest. Hosted by executive director, Luke Wall.
APPLE PODCASTS
GOOGLE PODCASTS
AMAZON
SPOTIFY
+ Read More
Meet Carter Andre-Van Lith. When a severe softball injury abruptly shifted her identity as a top-performing athlete, Carter found herself in the depths of loneliness and isolation. At her darkest point, she found herself unrecognizable, overwhelmed by the changes in her life and struggling mentally. During her recovery, Carter began the process of rediscovery as […]
April 1, 2025
+ Read More
Meet Haile Watson. Growing up as a minority in her town, Haile often faced a deep loneliness and isolation when she became a target for racism from her peers. It wasn’t until she got to college that she finally experienced a sense of belonging with her college volleyball team. This transformative experience ignited her passion […]
March 1, 2025
I know lonely,
SO, WHAT's YOUR STORY?
share your story with us!
