August 31, 2025 • 30 mins
On this 8-31-25 episode of CAROLINA Focus with Sharon Thorsland and Ed Billick
Guest - Michael F. Lamma, EVP and COO, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. More than 49,000 people are lost to suicide each year in the United States, that is an average of 134 people each day. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) works to help people better understand suicide, give them the tools to help others in crisis and address a leading cause of death. One of the ways AFSP brings communities together is through the Out of the Darkness Community Walks, a nationwide series of events designed to raise awareness and encourage participation in suicide prevention efforts. These walks give people the opportunity to honor loved ones lost to suicide and show support for programs that save lives. Discussion w/Ed
Guest Matt Siegel, Director of Marketing and Entertainment talking the Carolina Renaissance Festival, it's history, the event and upcoming job fair w/Sharon
Little Heros Blood Drive Promo. Continue with Matt Siegel, Director of Marketing and Entertainment talking the Carolina Renaissance Festival w/Sharon
Panther's Coach Dave Canales - post roster pair down press conference and Sharon's thoughts on the Panther's roster and prediction of this coming season
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, good morning Carolina.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
As you're listening to Carolina Focus on News Talk eleven ten,
ninety nine to three, WBT, Mixed Moto seven nine, and
Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ. All these available as
a podcast over there at WBT dot com. Carolina Focus
is our public affairs show along with Sharon Thorsland.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
I'm at Billick. Let's get started, folks.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Good morning Carolina Focus, our public affairs show and a
serious topic. You know, tomorrow is the start of September,
September one, and September is suicide Prevention month. With us.
Today on Carolina Focus, we have Mike Lama. Mike is
the executive vice president and COO of American Foundation for
(00:41):
Suicide Prevention. Good morning, Mike, and welcome to Carolina Focus.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Good morning ed. It's good to be here.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Tell us a little about yourself and then we'll get
deep into the topic here.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Okay, Well, personally, I live in New Jersey, work out
of our national office in New York City. I've been
with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for twenty one years.
I have two adult daughters, one lives in New York
City and one just moved to Charlotte, so I have
(01:14):
a special interest in the Charlotte market. She just move
there and starts working about another week.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Great, her first name is Hannah. Hannah, welcome to the
Queen City. That's great to hear. Mike. Let's talk this topic,
and it's a heavy topic. I've been a Sunday morning.
It's a perfect time. Suicide and those that take their
lives forty nine thousand folks a year. I was reading, Mike,
(01:40):
one hundred and thirty four people a day. That is
just that's unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Yeah, it's really Those numbers are really sobering, and it's
one of the leading causes of death in the United States,
and most people aren't aware of that. And you know,
I guess from a matter of hopeful side is that
in many cases suicide can be prevented, and we just
(02:08):
have to get more information and education out there in
the hands of people who are struggling.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I think all of us, I know all of us,
including myself. I had a good fraternity brother, I had
some family members. It really impacts the people that are
left behind in such a very harmful and hurtful way.
Those memories never fade. Your role, what kind of work
are you guys doing to help us in this matter?
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Well, the Foundation has several core functions. One is we
are the largest private funder of research into why people
take their lives, and that's a critical part of our
work because what we've learned over the years from the
research we've funded is different ways that we can can
(03:03):
help to prevent suicide. For example, a long time ago,
people thought, we don't ever mention the word suicide to people,
We don't ever talk to someone about suicide because we're
afraid that we be planting the idea in their mind,
when really the truth is it's exact opposite. Talking to people,
(03:24):
asking them how they're doing, asking if they've considered taking
their lives. Those are really important steps we can take
to help prevent suicide and encourage people to get help.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
You know, I can't imagine someone getting in such a
dark place where that's an option, but of course it
is for many people. What are some of the triggers,
if you will, mike that that gets people to that point.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
Well, typically it's underlying mental health issues, depression, bipolar disorder,
substance abuse, all the things are oftentimes contributing factors to
why people take their lives. It's interesting because people get
(04:11):
when they get in those dark places, they don't think
as rational as they normally would, and they think the
world would be a better placed without them. They don't
really want to die, but they don't want to suffer anymore.
And oftentimes if we can have a conversation with them,
if we can direct them to get help, we can
(04:31):
turn that around and save their lives.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
I would think in a situation where that does occur,
do they then fall back into that frame of mind.
I'm just trying trying to understand the thought process here,
or once they're see that there's hope. I don't know.
It seems like it's a very fragile topic.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
It is, but typically when people are in that moment
thinking of about taking their life, if we can get
them past that moment, then typically they don't go back there.
I mean, there's always exceptions, but typically if we can
get them past that moment, we can save their lives.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Give us some give us some behaviors family friends that
we as listeners here on Carolina focus or need to
be aware of. Boy, there's something going on there. You
give us array of those kind of behaviors.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Well, typically when people start acting differently, if people say
things like, well, the world will be better off without
me and it and people say that you know that
life's not worth living. But then less obvious things sleeping more,
(05:54):
sleeping less than usual, giving away possessions, things like that,
and you know, and it's you know. What we tell
people is if you think someone might be struggling, ask them,
just check in how are they doing? You don't have
to be a medical professional, just as a friend, as
(06:18):
a colleague, just simply ask someone how they're doing.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
You know, how are you?
Speaker 4 (06:25):
And you know, and even ask them are you thinking
of hurting yourself? And those are really important conversations to
have and all of us can play a role in
that and have a major impact in saving people's lives
and reducing the suicide rate.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
You know, you may save yourself. Well, that's really none
of my business to probe like that, but it really
is your business, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Well, And especially if it's someone you know that you're
close to, that you know, then it is you know,
making sure they're okay. You know, if someone had a
physical injury, you wouldn't hesitate to ask them how they're doing.
So we want to encourage that same type of thinking
when it comes to mental health, and that's one of
(07:09):
the major challenges we face is getting people to think
of mental health the same way they do physical health.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
That's an excellent point. Someone breaks a leg or something,
Hey can I run to the store for you? Can
I pick up something for you? Hey? What else can
I do?
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Hey?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Can I cut your grass?
Speaker 5 (07:24):
All right, but.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
When it comes to those mental things, we tend to
walk on eggshells when really we should. We should.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
That's exactly right, amazing.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
We're talking with Mike Lama. He's the executive vice president
and COO of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Mike, I
understand in this month of September coming out, you're doing
these Out of Darkness Walks. What are those? Okay?
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Well, out of the Darkness Walks are our walkathon events
that we do in four hundred cities across the country.
They kick off in September and actually run through about
the middle of November, and those events serve multiple purposes. One,
(08:13):
it's our largest fundraiser, but two, it's an important way
to bring people together, to raise awareness, to reduce stigma,
to connect people who've lost someone with other people who've
lost someone. In the early days of doing the walks,
I remember going to the walks and people would come
(08:34):
up to me and say thank you all for doing this,
because we never knew that there were other families that
went through something like this, and we felt so isolated
and alone, and to be able to come out and
see hundreds and thousands of people walking for this cause
totally reduced that sense of isolation and bought people together.
(09:00):
They are a great way to raise awareness about the
cause and to educate people, and also to help with
our advocacy efforts to let people know what kind of
work we're doing to help change policies that would impact
the suicide rate.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Yeah, it's not a topic that comes up in social
gatherings or in parties or neighborhood gatherings at all. That's
a wonderful thing. How here in Charlotte, here into Carolina's
how do we find out when it's going to be held?
Where do we go?
Speaker 4 (09:29):
Okay, Well, that the easiest thing to do is to
go to our website afsp dot org backslash walks and
that will take you to our walk page and you
can enter in where you're located and we'll help you
find a walk. The Charlotte Walk is on Saturday, November first,
(09:53):
but we have walks all throughout North Carolina and South
Carolina and all over the country, so you can go
to that page and find a walk that's convenient for
you to attend. We don't require people to raise money.
You can just come and attend if you want, but
we encourage people to register, and we encourage people to
(10:16):
try to raise money because it's actually a whole lot
easier than you think it is. You know, all of
us are kind of like intimidated about asking people for money,
but in this digital age, you can simply send out
a few emails, make some social media posts and you'd
be surprised how easy it is to raise money. And
what usually happens when people do that is they hear
(10:37):
from people they've known for a long time who make
a contribution to them and they say, I've never told
you this before, but you know, my younger brother died
from suicide ten years ago and I've never talked about
it before. So you find that happens a lot so people.
It's a great way. As I said, besides raising money,
(10:59):
we're raising awareness reaching out to people and connecting people.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
I'm sitting here thinking, Mike, and I'm saying to myself, well,
this is part of the grieving process, you know, knowing
people that live with this for the rest of their
lives a loved one they don't have a chance to
share and their thoughts and never going to forget, of course,
but this definitely helps alleviate or reduce the pain. I
(11:24):
would think it.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Is definitely a part of the healing process for many people,
coming together and meeting other people, and not just people
who lost someone, but people who who are personally struggling
or who have a family member who's personally struggling, and
oftentimes it's very powerful for those two groups to meet
(11:47):
each other. And it's all part of that the healing process,
of the education, process of learning and our walks. While
we certainly commemorate those we've lost, we try to make
them hopeful events. This is what we're all about. We're
(12:07):
trying to bring hope to people that we can by
educating people, providing them with information that we can save lines.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
You speak of the materials and information it's out there.
Give us the website again. As we're talking with you
here on Carolina Focus.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
Yeah, it's a f SP dot org. And if you
want to go the easiest way to find about our
walks is go to that website slash walks, a f
SP dot org slash walks, and that will take you
right to our walks page. But if you just go
to a f SP dot org, that's our homepage, which
(12:50):
is loaded with all types of information. And whether you
have lost someone, whether you have a family member who's
struggling in you don't know what to do, you want
to get involved, you want to join your local chapter,
you want to become an advocate, to help us, lobby
for policies that impact suicide. Any of those things are
(13:16):
ways to get involved and and and you can find
all that information on our website.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
So I'm listening here on Carolina Focus and we're talking
to Mike Lama, and I know somebody. I need to
call somebody. I mean, he just gave me the website
locally suicide prevention hotlines. Where do I go to find
some of this? I need to call somebody today and
get some home.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Yeah, Well, the quickest and most effective and easiest way
to do it is to have them call our nine
to eight eight number. That's a national helpline number, and
you can call there and whether you are personally struggling
or if you want to call on behalf of someone
to find out information, you can call that number nine
(14:08):
eight eight and you'll be connected. Are operators all over
the country that are trained to answer and answer you
questions and give guidance.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
So this is the number, just nine eight eight, like
nine to eleven, nine eight eight. I did not know that. Yes, Well,
a heavy topic here this morning on Carolina Focus. Michael
Lama's with us. He's with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Mike,
as we wrap this up and we talk about the
(14:39):
all the darkness walks, what other tidbits, What are the
kind of things you might have mentioned, But what are
the kind of new learnings do we have and help
in helping people that are struggling.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Well, the one thing we know is that there are
some groups that are higher risk than other groups. We
know that, for example, we know that members of the
LGBTQ plus community is a higher risk than the general population.
(15:10):
We know that many traditionally underserved populations have higher risk
than others. But we also know that one of the
highest risk groups is males, middle aged males in rural areas.
So it's important that we and if you see, if
(15:33):
you go to our website, you see we have various
information and programs designed to reach those very diverse communities.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
So amazing, amazing, Mike, I want to thank you for
your time this morning, September of suicide prevention months. Me
being a Christian guy, we've got to pray for people
that are struggling, but just as much we need to
pray for ourselves so we can reach out and how
the courage to reach out and help those that need
our help.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Your thoughts, Yeah, I agree one hundred percent, all of us.
You know, we just need to if we think someone
is struggling, if they're not, if they're acting different when
they normally do, just ask them as a friend, as
a colleague, are you doing okay? And find out if
(16:28):
they are struggling. If they are, oftentimes just the fact
if someone talking to them and reaching out to them
will help them get through that moment. But also we
have lots of information available. We can also you know,
connect them with the nine eight eight number, and so
there's a lot each of us can do help prevent suicide.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Give us that web address one more time.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Yeah, it's a f sp dot org slash walks and
that will take you to our page to register for
a walk. Find a walk near you and register, and
we encourage you to sign up and participate. We think
you'll find it a very positive experience and also go
(17:19):
to our web page to get more information.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Mike, congrats on the work you're doing and best wishes
going forward. Glad you were able to join us this
morning on a Carolina Focus. Then, oh, by the way,
on a positive note, we'll open arms and welcome your
daughter to our wonderful city here.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
Okay, well, great, Thank you so much, Ed. I've enjoyed
talking with you and appreciate you devoting time to this
important issue.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Excellent discussion there, folks, and remember the number nine eight
eight nine eight eight suicide Prevention hotline. All right, stay
with us, we got a lot more coming up right
here on Carolina Focus.
Speaker 6 (18:02):
Good morning, everyone, and thanks so much for joining us
here on Carolina Focus. I'm Sharon Thorsland. Well, I know
a lot of you are anxiously awaiting the fall, not
just for the weather, but because it is the Renaissance
festival that is going to be coming up a little
bit later this fall. It is the thirty second edition
of the Renaissance Festival here in the Charlotte area, and
(18:23):
they've got a lot of work to do to get
that production going. And joining me this morning is Matt Siegel.
He is the director of Marketing and Entertainment for the
Renaissance Festival. Matt, thanks so much for joining us this morning.
Speaker 5 (18:36):
Thank you, Sharon. I really appreciate the opportunity.
Speaker 6 (18:38):
Now I understand people actually might have recalled your name
because you've been on with us before talking about the
auditions for the festival and for the entertainers and the
amount of people that you bring in and the different
acts that you have. This time we're talking about something
a little different. This is a job fair you have
coming up for all the people it takes to put
(18:59):
on the festival. Tell us about when that is and
wor's coming up?
Speaker 7 (19:03):
What does that entail?
Speaker 5 (19:04):
Sure? You know, it truly takes a village who throw
this fabulous costume party that we host every fall. So
we have three hundred positions still available. These are jobs
that are the unsung heroes of the overall production. They
are ticket takers, box office, personnel, safety services, food and beverage, concessions, sanitations,
(19:32):
and much more. And so those opportunities. We're going to
make it easy for folks to apply and get hired
by hosting a job fair on Saturday, September sixth, from
ten am to two pm.
Speaker 6 (19:46):
Now, three hundred positions. That's a lot of people. And
now I understand that that's not even like everybody, right,
how many people, including the entertainers, including everyone, how many
people does it take to put on the festival?
Speaker 5 (20:00):
I would say a good safe estimate it's about fourteen
hundred people every day are on site working to host
the giant show that we put on every Saturday and Sunday,
and that starts on October fourth and runs until November
twenty third, So it's a total of eight consecutive weekends.
It's a huge crew. Now, these are just these are employees,
(20:23):
they're artists, their performers, they're volunteers, they're also vendors and merchants.
It's a very large crowd of folks to host the
event and produce the event. Wow.
Speaker 6 (20:35):
Now for the job fair that's coming up on Saturday
the sixth, what do people need to do to apply?
Do they just show up at the festival location or
how do they what do they do and what specific
things do they have to do to get employed here?
Speaker 5 (20:52):
Yeah? Great, that's a great question. So all the details
are online at renfestinfo dot com. But yes, at ten
am the gates at the job at the Renaissance Festival
Fairgrounds and Huntersville, North Carolina, we're gonna open those gates.
Come on out, bring your ID and then be prepared
to fill out some applications, meet on hand with all
(21:14):
of our various department heads and streamline the interview and
application and hiring process all and one fail swoop.
Speaker 6 (21:27):
So now if you come out there and yeah, you
get hired, do you get hired on the spot? Do
you have to wait and find out or how do
they do that?
Speaker 5 (21:34):
We will be hiring people on the spot.
Speaker 7 (21:37):
Okay.
Speaker 6 (21:37):
And then do you commit to every weekend then that
the festival is there or is there any flexibility for folks?
Speaker 5 (21:44):
There is flexibility. It really depends on which job you're
applying for. But yes, they are part time positions available,
full time positions available. You know, it really is the
great big side hustle for the falls and especially with
if you think about it about like the holiday season
(22:04):
being around the corner. If you're looking for some extra
income on the side, the Renaissance Festival is a place
to work because a lot of these positions are Saturdays
and Sundays only, So if you're working Monday through Friday,
you can pick up some extra work on Saturdays and Sundays.
Speaker 6 (22:18):
Okay, So there could be some other positions that have
some other some other days during the week available, not
just the Saturday Sunday.
Speaker 5 (22:27):
Oh yes, yeah, there's also Monday through Friday opportunities available. Wow.
Speaker 6 (22:31):
Wow, that's just so many things. And you said you've
got three hundred still open. I know that you've got
some just some really cool entertainers. And we've talked before
about the things that you can see at the Renaissance Festival.
Speaker 7 (22:43):
What are some of the coolest jobs that are available
right now?
Speaker 6 (22:46):
And you said, you know, ticket takers and sort of
the regular kind of stuff you would associate that with.
Speaker 7 (22:51):
But what are some of the other jobs, maybe some.
Speaker 6 (22:52):
Of the more really cool, like interesting ones that are available.
Speaker 5 (22:56):
Sure, so the ticket takers is actually really fun because
you are are literally the first impression that you get
to give to the audience as they're arriving, and it
is a costume position that you you know, you're there
at the front gate at the village gates as the
gates swing open with the trumpet, fanfare and the music,
and there's a lot of entertainment that's ongoing all around
(23:18):
you all throughout the day, So as you're scanning tickets
and greeting patrons and letting them into the village, you're
also being entertained while the day goes on. So that's
a really fun position. And then you know, if you're
an outgoing individual, if you really like the public and
you're looking for like a public facing position, safety services
is really good. The box office ticket sellers is another
(23:41):
really good fun position. Safety services is great because you're
roaming the village and you're in a yellow T shirt
that we provide. It's got a big red cross and
you're holding up a large flag, and it's essentially allowing
and informing the public that you're there to help them.
You're a customer service person. You're there to aid for,
(24:02):
you know, any questions that you may have or for example,
if you are seeking out the water fountain to refill
your water, or it's just sort of a public facing
safety position and they're keeping there's sort of the eyes
and ears on the audience to make sure that everybody
is being safe. So it's a cool fun position as well.
Speaker 7 (24:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (24:25):
How about with some of the events, like with the
jousting and things like that, are there jobs like affiliated
with that or some of those are the falconry and
all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 5 (24:37):
Yeah, we're still looking for stage group personnel. We're looking
for Tilt crew members, individuals that are the rabble rousers
at the joust. They're like the cheerleaders at the jous
to help get the crowd all excited. And what's really
exciting and new this year is the festivals offering VIP
seating at the joust. So all seating at the Houstice free,
(25:01):
but with these VIP seats, it's reserve seating that's in
the shade and it's immersive and interactive. There's details online
at runfestinfo dot com and these seats are limited and available.
They're exclusive you'll have during the show, the royals will
be interacting with you, and the nights will come by
and interact with you as well while you're in the
(25:22):
seating section. So it's really fun.
Speaker 7 (25:24):
Oh that sounds really fun.
Speaker 6 (25:25):
Well, while we're on that topic, besides the jobs, to
tell us what else is going on with the festival
this year. I know that every year there seems like
there's something new, and then there's of course all the
all the old favorites. So what can people be on
the lookout for this year? Besides, like you were saying
in the VIP seating at the Joustein.
Speaker 5 (25:41):
Sure, so you know you mentioned the auditions earlier. Those
are hosted in June, and every year we do our
annual audition process and what we're looking for during that
is new characters to add to the village to interact
with the public, because it really is a storybook village.
It's twenty five acres long with castles, cottage, kitchens, and pubs,
(26:02):
and we have hundreds of costume characters that are roaming
the village bringing it to life. And so every season,
every year, we're bringing out and adding new characters to
help bring that village to life. So we've got a sportswallower,
we have magicians, we've got new musicians. It's really exciting.
So definitely definitely expect something new around every corner when
(26:26):
you come and attend the festival. This fault.
Speaker 6 (26:29):
Now, I know when we spoke with you, Ostar, you're
telling us about all these entertainers, But where do they
come from? And it seems that they come from all
over the country.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
Right, Yeah, you know, we're we're hosting folks that are
touring professionals, traveling the country ten months out of the year.
A lot of them even performed out of the country
at various events. And these are folks that you've seen
on television from America's Got Talent and you know on
the Ellen DeGeneres Show, the variety artists, musicians, performers, et cetera.
(27:01):
So it's really super exciting and it is. The Renaissance
Festival really is a unique, one of a kind entertainment
venue unlike any other in the Carolinas. It's super exciting.
And then for the villagers that are roaming or also
sometimes on stage, we're pulling in artists and actors and
performers that are throughout the Southeast United States. For example,
(27:25):
Queen Isabella, who is the superstar of the show, the
entire village celebration and festivals being thrown in her honor,
she's actually an actress that lives in Atlanta, and she
comes up every Saturday and Sunday from Atlanta to perform
this world.
Speaker 6 (27:41):
And we're saying, this is this thirty second annual Carolina
and Resident Renaissance Festival.
Speaker 7 (27:48):
Didn't get started?
Speaker 6 (27:49):
I mean, it's obviously been around for a long time
and it's been a big hit with everyone around here,
but who actually sort of came up with the idea
and how did they get it going?
Speaker 5 (27:56):
Sure, so it started in nineteen ninety four. The founder
and producer is Jeffrey Siegel, who's still engaged in the
festival to this day. And he has a background and
circus performances, the circus arts. He was a graduate of
the Ringland Brother Clown College. He was a professional clown
(28:18):
himself and performer, and he got started in the world
of renaissance festivals in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and as a performer,
and he really enjoyed it so much that he kind
of worked his way into management and ended up ultimately
operating and managing that festival from the very start. And
(28:40):
he decided in nineteen ninety four that he wanted to
open up a Renaissance festival of his own, and he
looked all around the country for a cool site to
do that at, and he landed on Charlotte, North Carolina,
and he met with travel and tourism professionals here and
a variety of different landowners and found the property in
(29:01):
Huntersville through their help, and the rest is history, and
the festival has been rocking and rolling ever since. Wow.
Speaker 6 (29:10):
So do they actually own that property?
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Is that?
Speaker 5 (29:12):
I mean?
Speaker 6 (29:12):
Does that sit there year round with all of the
buildings and stuff that we see on there when you
come out there other weekend.
Speaker 7 (29:18):
Is are those there permanently?
Speaker 5 (29:20):
So? Yes, the festival is owned by Jeffrey and a
separate investment group. The land is and therefore the festival
activity is the primary activity that happens on that property,
with the exception in the off season and for about
six or seven months leading up to when the festival
(29:42):
utilizes the property at its peak operation. The property is
also used for farming.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
We'll pick up the rest of the interview with Matt
Siegel right after the break right here in Carolina Focus
Well, good morning Carolina.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
As you're listening to Carolina Focus on News Talk eleven ten,
ninety nine to three, WBT, Mixed Moto seven nine, and
Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ. All these available as
a podcast over there at WBT dot com. Carolina Focus
is our public affairs show along with Sharon Thorsland.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
I'm at Billick. Let's get started, folks.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Good morning Carolina Focus, our public affairs show and a
serious topic. You know, tomorrow is the start of September,
September one, and September is suicide Prevention month. With us.
Today on Carolina Focus, we have Mike Lama. Mike is
the executive vice president and COO of American Foundation for
(00:41):
Suicide Prevention. Good morning, Mike, and welcome to Carolina Focus.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Good morning ed. It's good to be here.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Tell us a little about yourself and then we'll get
deep into the topic here.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Okay, Well, personally, I live in New Jersey, work out
of our national office in New York City. I've been
with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for twenty one years.
I have two adult daughters, one lives in New York
City and one just moved to Charlotte, so I have
(01:14):
a special interest in the Charlotte market. She just move
there and starts working about another week.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Great, her first name is Hannah. Hannah, welcome to the
Queen City. That's great to hear. Mike. Let's talk this topic,
and it's a heavy topic. I've been a Sunday morning.
It's a perfect time. Suicide and those that take their
lives forty nine thousand folks a year. I was reading, Mike,
(01:40):
one hundred and thirty four people a day. That is
just that's unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Yeah, it's really Those numbers are really sobering, and it's
one of the leading causes of death in the United States,
and most people aren't aware of that. And you know,
I guess from a matter of hopeful side is that
in many cases suicide can be prevented, and we just
(02:08):
have to get more information and education out there in
the hands of people who are struggling.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I think all of us, I know all of us,
including myself. I had a good fraternity brother, I had
some family members. It really impacts the people that are
left behind in such a very harmful and hurtful way.
Those memories never fade. Your role, what kind of work
are you guys doing to help us in this matter?
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Well, the Foundation has several core functions. One is we
are the largest private funder of research into why people
take their lives, and that's a critical part of our
work because what we've learned over the years from the
research we've funded is different ways that we can can
(03:03):
help to prevent suicide. For example, a long time ago,
people thought, we don't ever mention the word suicide to people,
We don't ever talk to someone about suicide because we're
afraid that we be planting the idea in their mind,
when really the truth is it's exact opposite. Talking to people,
(03:24):
asking them how they're doing, asking if they've considered taking
their lives. Those are really important steps we can take
to help prevent suicide and encourage people to get help.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
You know, I can't imagine someone getting in such a
dark place where that's an option, but of course it
is for many people. What are some of the triggers,
if you will, mike that that gets people to that point.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
Well, typically it's underlying mental health issues, depression, bipolar disorder,
substance abuse, all the things are oftentimes contributing factors to
why people take their lives. It's interesting because people get
(04:11):
when they get in those dark places, they don't think
as rational as they normally would, and they think the
world would be a better placed without them. They don't
really want to die, but they don't want to suffer anymore.
And oftentimes if we can have a conversation with them,
if we can direct them to get help, we can
(04:31):
turn that around and save their lives.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
I would think in a situation where that does occur,
do they then fall back into that frame of mind.
I'm just trying trying to understand the thought process here,
or once they're see that there's hope. I don't know.
It seems like it's a very fragile topic.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
It is, but typically when people are in that moment
thinking of about taking their life, if we can get
them past that moment, then typically they don't go back there.
I mean, there's always exceptions, but typically if we can
get them past that moment, we can save their lives.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Give us some give us some behaviors family friends that
we as listeners here on Carolina focus or need to
be aware of. Boy, there's something going on there. You
give us array of those kind of behaviors.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Well, typically when people start acting differently, if people say
things like, well, the world will be better off without
me and it and people say that you know that
life's not worth living. But then less obvious things sleeping more,
(05:54):
sleeping less than usual, giving away possessions, things like that,
and you know, and it's you know. What we tell
people is if you think someone might be struggling, ask them,
just check in how are they doing? You don't have
to be a medical professional, just as a friend, as
(06:18):
a colleague, just simply ask someone how they're doing.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
You know, how are you?
Speaker 4 (06:25):
And you know, and even ask them are you thinking
of hurting yourself? And those are really important conversations to
have and all of us can play a role in
that and have a major impact in saving people's lives
and reducing the suicide rate.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
You know, you may save yourself. Well, that's really none
of my business to probe like that, but it really
is your business, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Well, And especially if it's someone you know that you're
close to, that you know, then it is you know,
making sure they're okay. You know, if someone had a
physical injury, you wouldn't hesitate to ask them how they're doing.
So we want to encourage that same type of thinking
when it comes to mental health, and that's one of
(07:09):
the major challenges we face is getting people to think
of mental health the same way they do physical health.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
That's an excellent point. Someone breaks a leg or something,
Hey can I run to the store for you? Can
I pick up something for you? Hey? What else can
I do?
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Hey?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Can I cut your grass?
Speaker 5 (07:24):
All right, but.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
When it comes to those mental things, we tend to
walk on eggshells when really we should. We should.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
That's exactly right, amazing.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
We're talking with Mike Lama. He's the executive vice president
and COO of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Mike, I
understand in this month of September coming out, you're doing
these Out of Darkness Walks. What are those? Okay?
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Well, out of the Darkness Walks are our walkathon events
that we do in four hundred cities across the country.
They kick off in September and actually run through about
the middle of November, and those events serve multiple purposes. One,
(08:13):
it's our largest fundraiser, but two, it's an important way
to bring people together, to raise awareness, to reduce stigma,
to connect people who've lost someone with other people who've
lost someone. In the early days of doing the walks,
I remember going to the walks and people would come
(08:34):
up to me and say thank you all for doing this,
because we never knew that there were other families that
went through something like this, and we felt so isolated
and alone, and to be able to come out and
see hundreds and thousands of people walking for this cause
totally reduced that sense of isolation and bought people together.
(09:00):
They are a great way to raise awareness about the
cause and to educate people, and also to help with
our advocacy efforts to let people know what kind of
work we're doing to help change policies that would impact
the suicide rate.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Yeah, it's not a topic that comes up in social
gatherings or in parties or neighborhood gatherings at all. That's
a wonderful thing. How here in Charlotte, here into Carolina's
how do we find out when it's going to be held?
Where do we go?
Speaker 4 (09:29):
Okay, Well, that the easiest thing to do is to
go to our website afsp dot org backslash walks and
that will take you to our walk page and you
can enter in where you're located and we'll help you
find a walk. The Charlotte Walk is on Saturday, November first,
(09:53):
but we have walks all throughout North Carolina and South
Carolina and all over the country, so you can go
to that page and find a walk that's convenient for
you to attend. We don't require people to raise money.
You can just come and attend if you want, but
we encourage people to register, and we encourage people to
(10:16):
try to raise money because it's actually a whole lot
easier than you think it is. You know, all of
us are kind of like intimidated about asking people for money,
but in this digital age, you can simply send out
a few emails, make some social media posts and you'd
be surprised how easy it is to raise money. And
what usually happens when people do that is they hear
(10:37):
from people they've known for a long time who make
a contribution to them and they say, I've never told
you this before, but you know, my younger brother died
from suicide ten years ago and I've never talked about
it before. So you find that happens a lot so people.
It's a great way. As I said, besides raising money,
(10:59):
we're raising awareness reaching out to people and connecting people.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
I'm sitting here thinking, Mike, and I'm saying to myself, well,
this is part of the grieving process, you know, knowing
people that live with this for the rest of their
lives a loved one they don't have a chance to
share and their thoughts and never going to forget, of course,
but this definitely helps alleviate or reduce the pain. I
(11:24):
would think it.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Is definitely a part of the healing process for many people,
coming together and meeting other people, and not just people
who lost someone, but people who who are personally struggling
or who have a family member who's personally struggling, and
oftentimes it's very powerful for those two groups to meet
(11:47):
each other. And it's all part of that the healing process,
of the education, process of learning and our walks. While
we certainly commemorate those we've lost, we try to make
them hopeful events. This is what we're all about. We're
(12:07):
trying to bring hope to people that we can by
educating people, providing them with information that we can save lines.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
You speak of the materials and information it's out there.
Give us the website again. As we're talking with you
here on Carolina Focus.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
Yeah, it's a f SP dot org. And if you
want to go the easiest way to find about our
walks is go to that website slash walks, a f
SP dot org slash walks, and that will take you
right to our walks page. But if you just go
to a f SP dot org, that's our homepage, which
(12:50):
is loaded with all types of information. And whether you
have lost someone, whether you have a family member who's
struggling in you don't know what to do, you want
to get involved, you want to join your local chapter,
you want to become an advocate, to help us, lobby
for policies that impact suicide. Any of those things are
(13:16):
ways to get involved and and and you can find
all that information on our website.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
So I'm listening here on Carolina Focus and we're talking
to Mike Lama, and I know somebody. I need to
call somebody. I mean, he just gave me the website
locally suicide prevention hotlines. Where do I go to find
some of this? I need to call somebody today and
get some home.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Yeah, Well, the quickest and most effective and easiest way
to do it is to have them call our nine
to eight eight number. That's a national helpline number, and
you can call there and whether you are personally struggling
or if you want to call on behalf of someone
to find out information, you can call that number nine
(14:08):
eight eight and you'll be connected. Are operators all over
the country that are trained to answer and answer you
questions and give guidance.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
So this is the number, just nine eight eight, like
nine to eleven, nine eight eight. I did not know that. Yes, Well,
a heavy topic here this morning on Carolina Focus. Michael
Lama's with us. He's with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Mike,
as we wrap this up and we talk about the
(14:39):
all the darkness walks, what other tidbits, What are the
kind of things you might have mentioned, But what are
the kind of new learnings do we have and help
in helping people that are struggling.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Well, the one thing we know is that there are
some groups that are higher risk than other groups. We
know that, for example, we know that members of the
LGBTQ plus community is a higher risk than the general population.
(15:10):
We know that many traditionally underserved populations have higher risk
than others. But we also know that one of the
highest risk groups is males, middle aged males in rural areas.
So it's important that we and if you see, if
(15:33):
you go to our website, you see we have various
information and programs designed to reach those very diverse communities.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
So amazing, amazing, Mike, I want to thank you for
your time this morning, September of suicide prevention months. Me
being a Christian guy, we've got to pray for people
that are struggling, but just as much we need to
pray for ourselves so we can reach out and how
the courage to reach out and help those that need
our help.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Your thoughts, Yeah, I agree one hundred percent, all of us.
You know, we just need to if we think someone
is struggling, if they're not, if they're acting different when
they normally do, just ask them as a friend, as
a colleague, are you doing okay? And find out if
(16:28):
they are struggling. If they are, oftentimes just the fact
if someone talking to them and reaching out to them
will help them get through that moment. But also we
have lots of information available. We can also you know,
connect them with the nine eight eight number, and so
there's a lot each of us can do help prevent suicide.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Give us that web address one more time.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Yeah, it's a f sp dot org slash walks and
that will take you to our page to register for
a walk. Find a walk near you and register, and
we encourage you to sign up and participate. We think
you'll find it a very positive experience and also go
(17:19):
to our web page to get more information.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Mike, congrats on the work you're doing and best wishes
going forward. Glad you were able to join us this
morning on a Carolina Focus. Then, oh, by the way,
on a positive note, we'll open arms and welcome your
daughter to our wonderful city here.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
Okay, well, great, Thank you so much, Ed. I've enjoyed
talking with you and appreciate you devoting time to this
important issue.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Excellent discussion there, folks, and remember the number nine eight
eight nine eight eight suicide Prevention hotline. All right, stay
with us, we got a lot more coming up right
here on Carolina Focus.
Speaker 6 (18:02):
Good morning, everyone, and thanks so much for joining us
here on Carolina Focus. I'm Sharon Thorsland. Well, I know
a lot of you are anxiously awaiting the fall, not
just for the weather, but because it is the Renaissance
festival that is going to be coming up a little
bit later this fall. It is the thirty second edition
of the Renaissance Festival here in the Charlotte area, and
(18:23):
they've got a lot of work to do to get
that production going. And joining me this morning is Matt Siegel.
He is the director of Marketing and Entertainment for the
Renaissance Festival. Matt, thanks so much for joining us this morning.
Speaker 5 (18:36):
Thank you, Sharon. I really appreciate the opportunity.
Speaker 6 (18:38):
Now I understand people actually might have recalled your name
because you've been on with us before talking about the
auditions for the festival and for the entertainers and the
amount of people that you bring in and the different
acts that you have. This time we're talking about something
a little different. This is a job fair you have
coming up for all the people it takes to put
(18:59):
on the festival. Tell us about when that is and
wor's coming up?
Speaker 7 (19:03):
What does that entail?
Speaker 5 (19:04):
Sure? You know, it truly takes a village who throw
this fabulous costume party that we host every fall. So
we have three hundred positions still available. These are jobs
that are the unsung heroes of the overall production. They
are ticket takers, box office, personnel, safety services, food and beverage, concessions, sanitations,
(19:32):
and much more. And so those opportunities. We're going to
make it easy for folks to apply and get hired
by hosting a job fair on Saturday, September sixth, from
ten am to two pm.
Speaker 6 (19:46):
Now, three hundred positions. That's a lot of people. And
now I understand that that's not even like everybody, right,
how many people, including the entertainers, including everyone, how many
people does it take to put on the festival?
Speaker 5 (20:00):
I would say a good safe estimate it's about fourteen
hundred people every day are on site working to host
the giant show that we put on every Saturday and Sunday,
and that starts on October fourth and runs until November
twenty third, So it's a total of eight consecutive weekends.
It's a huge crew. Now, these are just these are employees,
(20:23):
they're artists, their performers, they're volunteers, they're also vendors and merchants.
It's a very large crowd of folks to host the
event and produce the event. Wow.
Speaker 6 (20:35):
Now for the job fair that's coming up on Saturday
the sixth, what do people need to do to apply?
Do they just show up at the festival location or
how do they what do they do and what specific
things do they have to do to get employed here?
Speaker 5 (20:52):
Yeah? Great, that's a great question. So all the details
are online at renfestinfo dot com. But yes, at ten
am the gates at the job at the Renaissance Festival
Fairgrounds and Huntersville, North Carolina, we're gonna open those gates.
Come on out, bring your ID and then be prepared
to fill out some applications, meet on hand with all
(21:14):
of our various department heads and streamline the interview and
application and hiring process all and one fail swoop.
Speaker 6 (21:27):
So now if you come out there and yeah, you
get hired, do you get hired on the spot? Do
you have to wait and find out or how do
they do that?
Speaker 5 (21:34):
We will be hiring people on the spot.
Speaker 7 (21:37):
Okay.
Speaker 6 (21:37):
And then do you commit to every weekend then that
the festival is there or is there any flexibility for folks?
Speaker 5 (21:44):
There is flexibility. It really depends on which job you're
applying for. But yes, they are part time positions available,
full time positions available. You know, it really is the
great big side hustle for the falls and especially with
if you think about it about like the holiday season
(22:04):
being around the corner. If you're looking for some extra
income on the side, the Renaissance Festival is a place
to work because a lot of these positions are Saturdays
and Sundays only, So if you're working Monday through Friday,
you can pick up some extra work on Saturdays and Sundays.
Speaker 6 (22:18):
Okay, So there could be some other positions that have
some other some other days during the week available, not
just the Saturday Sunday.
Speaker 5 (22:27):
Oh yes, yeah, there's also Monday through Friday opportunities available. Wow.
Speaker 6 (22:31):
Wow, that's just so many things. And you said you've
got three hundred still open. I know that you've got
some just some really cool entertainers. And we've talked before
about the things that you can see at the Renaissance Festival.
Speaker 7 (22:43):
What are some of the coolest jobs that are available
right now?
Speaker 6 (22:46):
And you said, you know, ticket takers and sort of
the regular kind of stuff you would associate that with.
Speaker 7 (22:51):
But what are some of the other jobs, maybe some.
Speaker 6 (22:52):
Of the more really cool, like interesting ones that are available.
Speaker 5 (22:56):
Sure, so the ticket takers is actually really fun because
you are are literally the first impression that you get
to give to the audience as they're arriving, and it
is a costume position that you you know, you're there
at the front gate at the village gates as the
gates swing open with the trumpet, fanfare and the music,
and there's a lot of entertainment that's ongoing all around
(23:18):
you all throughout the day, So as you're scanning tickets
and greeting patrons and letting them into the village, you're
also being entertained while the day goes on. So that's
a really fun position. And then you know, if you're
an outgoing individual, if you really like the public and
you're looking for like a public facing position, safety services
is really good. The box office ticket sellers is another
(23:41):
really good fun position. Safety services is great because you're
roaming the village and you're in a yellow T shirt
that we provide. It's got a big red cross and
you're holding up a large flag, and it's essentially allowing
and informing the public that you're there to help them.
You're a customer service person. You're there to aid for,
(24:02):
you know, any questions that you may have or for example,
if you are seeking out the water fountain to refill
your water, or it's just sort of a public facing
safety position and they're keeping there's sort of the eyes
and ears on the audience to make sure that everybody
is being safe. So it's a cool fun position as well.
Speaker 7 (24:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (24:25):
How about with some of the events, like with the
jousting and things like that, are there jobs like affiliated
with that or some of those are the falconry and
all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 5 (24:37):
Yeah, we're still looking for stage group personnel. We're looking
for Tilt crew members, individuals that are the rabble rousers
at the joust. They're like the cheerleaders at the jous
to help get the crowd all excited. And what's really
exciting and new this year is the festivals offering VIP
seating at the joust. So all seating at the Houstice free,
(25:01):
but with these VIP seats, it's reserve seating that's in
the shade and it's immersive and interactive. There's details online
at runfestinfo dot com and these seats are limited and available.
They're exclusive you'll have during the show, the royals will
be interacting with you, and the nights will come by
and interact with you as well while you're in the
(25:22):
seating section. So it's really fun.
Speaker 7 (25:24):
Oh that sounds really fun.
Speaker 6 (25:25):
Well, while we're on that topic, besides the jobs, to
tell us what else is going on with the festival
this year. I know that every year there seems like
there's something new, and then there's of course all the
all the old favorites. So what can people be on
the lookout for this year? Besides, like you were saying
in the VIP seating at the Joustein.
Speaker 5 (25:41):
Sure, so you know you mentioned the auditions earlier. Those
are hosted in June, and every year we do our
annual audition process and what we're looking for during that
is new characters to add to the village to interact
with the public, because it really is a storybook village.
It's twenty five acres long with castles, cottage, kitchens, and pubs,
(26:02):
and we have hundreds of costume characters that are roaming
the village bringing it to life. And so every season,
every year, we're bringing out and adding new characters to
help bring that village to life. So we've got a sportswallower,
we have magicians, we've got new musicians. It's really exciting.
So definitely definitely expect something new around every corner when
(26:26):
you come and attend the festival. This fault.
Speaker 6 (26:29):
Now, I know when we spoke with you, Ostar, you're
telling us about all these entertainers, But where do they
come from? And it seems that they come from all
over the country.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
Right, Yeah, you know, we're we're hosting folks that are
touring professionals, traveling the country ten months out of the year.
A lot of them even performed out of the country
at various events. And these are folks that you've seen
on television from America's Got Talent and you know on
the Ellen DeGeneres Show, the variety artists, musicians, performers, et cetera.
(27:01):
So it's really super exciting and it is. The Renaissance
Festival really is a unique, one of a kind entertainment
venue unlike any other in the Carolinas. It's super exciting.
And then for the villagers that are roaming or also
sometimes on stage, we're pulling in artists and actors and
performers that are throughout the Southeast United States. For example,
(27:25):
Queen Isabella, who is the superstar of the show, the
entire village celebration and festivals being thrown in her honor,
she's actually an actress that lives in Atlanta, and she
comes up every Saturday and Sunday from Atlanta to perform
this world.
Speaker 6 (27:41):
And we're saying, this is this thirty second annual Carolina
and Resident Renaissance Festival.
Speaker 7 (27:48):
Didn't get started?
Speaker 6 (27:49):
I mean, it's obviously been around for a long time
and it's been a big hit with everyone around here,
but who actually sort of came up with the idea
and how did they get it going?
Speaker 5 (27:56):
Sure, so it started in nineteen ninety four. The founder
and producer is Jeffrey Siegel, who's still engaged in the
festival to this day. And he has a background and
circus performances, the circus arts. He was a graduate of
the Ringland Brother Clown College. He was a professional clown
(28:18):
himself and performer, and he got started in the world
of renaissance festivals in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and as a performer,
and he really enjoyed it so much that he kind
of worked his way into management and ended up ultimately
operating and managing that festival from the very start. And
(28:40):
he decided in nineteen ninety four that he wanted to
open up a Renaissance festival of his own, and he
looked all around the country for a cool site to
do that at, and he landed on Charlotte, North Carolina,
and he met with travel and tourism professionals here and
a variety of different landowners and found the property in
(29:01):
Huntersville through their help, and the rest is history, and
the festival has been rocking and rolling ever since. Wow.
Speaker 6 (29:10):
So do they actually own that property?
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Is that?
Speaker 5 (29:12):
I mean?
Speaker 6 (29:12):
Does that sit there year round with all of the
buildings and stuff that we see on there when you
come out there other weekend.
Speaker 7 (29:18):
Is are those there permanently?
Speaker 5 (29:20):
So? Yes, the festival is owned by Jeffrey and a
separate investment group. The land is and therefore the festival
activity is the primary activity that happens on that property,
with the exception in the off season and for about
six or seven months leading up to when the festival
(29:42):
utilizes the property at its peak operation. The property is
also used for farming.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
We'll pick up the rest of the interview with Matt
Siegel right after the break right here in Carolina Focus
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Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
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