The Mel Robbins Podcast

You Can Make a Difference: Remarkable Story To Inspire You to Do Something Big | Mel Robbins Podcast

Order your copy of The Let Them Theory 👉 https://melrob.co/let-them-theory 👈 The #1 Best Selling Book of 2025 🔥 Discover how much power you truly have. It all begins with two simple words. Let Them. — In today’s episode, author and entrepreneur Lorenzo Lewis tells you the amazing story of how he is changing the lives of over 3 million people a year. His story is so inspiring, and I wanted you to meet Lorenzo because I know he’ll #inspire you to think bigger about making a difference in your community or the world at large. Lorenzo had no funding, influence, or experience. He just had a simple idea and a very big heart. And that’s all you need to make the world a better place. When Lorenzo was born, the odds were already stacked against him: his mother gave birth to him while she was in jail. His father died in prison. He was raised by his aunt and uncle. As a child, he struggled with anger, anxiety, and depression and was labeled a problem. You’ll hear about the defining moment when Lorenzo made the decision to turn his life around. He graduated from college and started working in health and human services. That was where, at the age of 24, he had an idea about creating a mental health movement that is now changing millions of lives. “The Confess Project” was born. Lorenzo’s #nonprofit trains barbers and beauticians to be mental health advocates for the men, women, and children who are sitting in their chairs. Now 3,000 mental health advocates across the country are changing the lives of over 3 million people a year. It’s an absolutely incredible story. Today, you will learn: - The incredible solution Lorenzo thought of to make therapy accessible and easy for underserved and represented communities - How to give yourself permission to pursue that big idea - The revolutionary Harvard study that explains why you feel so comfortable telling your hairdresser about everything - Why you have all the power and tools you need to make a difference - How working from home has increased loneliness (and why you feel like you have nobody to talk to) - The 4 things you can say to someone who is having a bad day (steal this from Lorenzo’s playbook) - Why now is the right time to take action on that project you are thinking about I can’t wait for you to meet, learn from, and be inspired by Lorenzo. His story is proof that it’s never too late to change your own life and that when you see a problem you want to solve, lean into it. You’ll not only help other people; you’ll surprise yourself with how much of a difference you can make. Xo, Mel In this episode: 00:00 Intro 05:54 How do you start a nonprofit when you have no idea how? 08:44 Black-owned hair shops are an integral part of black communities. 15:08 Lorenzo is on a mission to close the vulnerability gap. 17:26 Kids get labeled as bad behavior when we should be treating mental health. 21:45 Unmet mental health needs are sometimes expressed as anger. 29:19 The moment Lorenzo proved that he keeps his word. 33:32 Stories of people not being supported mentally and emotionally. 39:26 When your therapist doesn’t look like you, it can be a barrier to connection. 44:38 So how do you come up with an idea that’s never been done before? 50:18 What does it mean to be vulnerable and why is that important? 52:06 The 4-part therapeutic formula of The Confess Project is one we can all use. 59:01 The surprising Harvard research that drove this nonprofit's mission. 1:08:12 When you believe in your dream and make it happen. — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

Mel RobbinshostLorenzo Lewisguest

Oct 2, 20231h 17mWatch on YouTube ↗

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

From Prison Birth To Barber Chairs: Revolutionizing Community Mental Health Access

Mel Robbins interviews Lorenzo Lewis, founder of The Confess Project, a nonprofit that trains barbers and beauticians as frontline mental health advocates in Black communities. Born in jail to incarcerated parents and later incarcerated himself, Lorenzo describes how unresolved grief, depression, and anxiety shaped his youth until a pivotal courtroom moment pushed him to change course. After working in a hospital and witnessing the gap between mostly white clinicians and patients of color, he realized barbershops and salons—trusted, historic hubs in Black communities—were ideal places to normalize and support mental health. The Confess Project has now trained over 3,000 barbers in 35 states, reaching more than three million people annually with practical listening, validation, and stigma-reducing skills.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Lived experience can become your most powerful qualification to help others.

Lorenzo turned his history of incarceration, grief, and misdiagnosed behavioral issues into the foundation of a mental health movement, illustrating the idea that you are best equipped to help the person you used to be.

Representation and cultural relevance are critical in effective mental health care.

With only about 4% of licensed therapists being Black, many patients of color don’t feel seen or understood, which fuels distrust and low engagement with traditional mental health services.

Barbershops and salons are underused but ideal platforms for mental health support.

Historically central to Black social, economic, and civil rights organizing, these spaces already host intimate, cross-class conversations and long-term relationships, making them trusted venues for emotional support.

Simple conversational skills can dramatically improve everyday mental health support.

The Confess Project teaches four skills—active listening, validation, positive communication, and stigma reduction—that any person can use to respond more helpfully when someone opens up about a struggle.

Nonjudgmental, consistent relationships can be life-saving in moments of crisis.

Barbers trained by The Confess Project have helped clients get into rehab, improve family relationships, and in some cases directly prevented suicide by recognizing warning signs and connecting people to care.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

You are best equipped to help the person you used to be.

— Mel Robbins (quoting Ed Mylett and applying it to Lorenzo’s story)

A child who does not feel warm from the village will burn it down.

— Lorenzo Lewis

I remember saying, if I could get out of this, I don’t ever want to experience this again.

— Lorenzo Lewis, on his turning point in juvenile detention

It’s the perfect way of doing a grooming session—making someone feel good on the outside and on the inside.

— Lorenzo Lewis, describing The Confess Project model

This Confess Project helps keep people alive and keep them going until the professional help arrives.

— Mel Robbins

Lorenzo Lewis’s life story: incarceration, trauma, and personal turnaroundStigma, shame, and access barriers in mental health, especially for Black menHistorical and cultural role of Black barbershops and salons as community hubsThe Confess Project’s model of training barbers/beauticians as mental health advocatesCore advocacy skills: active listening, validation, positive communication, stigma reductionEvidence and impact: Harvard research, suicide prevention, and community outcomesEmpowering ordinary people to act on their calling and create social change

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