Two mothers from Idaho are turning personal tragedy into a message of hope. Bradee Gordo and Kenzie Erikson, both survivors of intense mental health struggles, have launched a podcast and apparel brand called Just Stay, aimed at supporting those grappling with mental illness.
Their journey began from deeply personal pain. Gordo lost her teenage son, Eliah, to mental health struggles last summer. For Erikson, surviving postpartum psychosis meant being hospitalized and confronting unthinkable thoughts. Despite their grief and trauma, both women have found purpose in sharing their stories publicly.
“We named it after the words that saved us,” Erikson explained. “There were times I truly believed my only option was to not be here anymore. But hearing other people talk about their darkness gave me hope. It reminded me I wasn’t alone.”
The two never intended to become podcasters, influencers, or brand owners. In fact, they admit they had to Google how to even begin. But after a heart-to-heart over lunch, when Gordo floated the idea, Erikson’s immediate response was, “What?”—and from that moment, they knew they had to do it.
“We didn’t have a choice,” Gordo said. “We sit down, say a prayer, and start talking because this isn’t coming from us—it’s bigger than us.”
The Just Stay podcast and apparel line quickly began to make an impact. Students began listening, parents reached out, and orders for apparel bearing messages like “Just Stay” and “The World Needs You” started rolling in. Their reach was deeper and broader than they ever imagined.
Though the pair initially thought their message would primarily resonate with women in their 30s to 50s, they were astonished to find a strong connection with high schoolers.
“It blows me away,” Erikson said. “When I was their age, I don’t think I would have had the courage to open up like that.”
Each message from a teenager, they say, feels sacred—a glimpse into the hidden emotional burdens so many are carrying behind curated social media posts and polite smiles.
Two teens closely connected to the project, Cam Eysser and Clay Sutton, were Eliah’s classmates and friends. They now listen to the podcast to process their grief and wear the Just Stay apparel to honor his memory.
“I wear my shirt every week,” Sutton shared. “Someone even asked me about it in an airport, and it gave me a chance to share what it means: that you’re needed, that you matter, that even if you’re struggling—Just Stay.”
Eysser echoed that sentiment, emphasizing how the podcast reminds listeners that no matter how dark things feel, they are not alone.
“This podcast reminds people they have a place in the world,” he said. “Even in your darkest times, when you feel trapped, there is a community around you. There are people who love you, and they will help however they can.”
After Eliah’s passing, both Eysser and Sutton have become more empathetic and emotionally aware. While Eysser still struggles with the belief that he could have done more, he finds peace in believing that Eliah is still watching over those he loved.
“Eliah had it all,” Gordo said. “He was captain of the baseball team, had friends, a girlfriend, a loving family. But depression doesn’t care about any of that.”
That reality fuels their mission: to offer real conversations and practical tools. Gordo emphasizes that if they ever make money from this venture, it will go directly to a nonprofit that supports mental health solutions.
In the meantime, the two women continue their podcast—raw, imperfect, and deeply human. They cry during most episodes. They fumble with audio equipment. But they show up anyway, because they know someone out there might need to hear them.
“We’re here to be human,” Gordo said. “And if that helps someone ‘Just Stay’ one more day, it’s all worth it.”
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