Above & Below

In this episode of Above and Below, host Sonya Bohmann and co-host Zulq Malik sit down with Ben Jump, a safety technician, former tradesman, and comedian from New York, for an honest conversation about mental health, jobsite culture, and the real-world challenges facing construction workers today.   Drawing from his experience as a carpenter, welder, and precaster, Ben shares what life on the road can feel like, including loneliness, pressure, and the coping habits many workers develop while away from home. He also opens up about losing both a friend and a colleague to suicide and how those experiences strengthened his commitment to prevention and peer support.   The conversation explores everything from camaraderie and workplace recognition to postvention planning and the importance of simply checking in on one another. Along the way, Ben reminds us that laughter, connection, and community can be powerful tools in supporting mental health.   This episode is a candid reminder that prevention starts with conversation and that no one should have to carry their struggles alone.

In this special episode of Above and Below, we bring you the powerful recorded conversation from Stronger Than the Silence: The Road to Recovery Begins with a Voice.   Produced by CIASP and the Turner Foundation, in cooperation with SAFE Project, this conversation explores the realities of substance use, recovery, and mental health within the construction industry through honest, personal storytelling and meaningful dialogue.   Listeners will hear firsthand perspectives on the challenges many workers face, the stigma that too often keeps people silent, and the importance of creating workplaces where recovery and support are possible. This conversation is a reminder that behind every struggle is a person, and that recovery begins when we are willing to listen, speak up, and stand beside one another.   Whether you work in construction, lead a team, or care about someone in the industry, this episode offers hope, insight, and a powerful call to action: recovery starts with a voice.

In this episode of Above and Below, host Sonya Bohmann and co-host Zulq Malik are joined by Fred Mills, founder of The B1M, the world’s largest video platform for construction, reaching millions of people each month.   Fred shares how he built a global media brand to change the perception of construction—and what led him to use that platform to speak openly about his own mental health journey. Behind the success, Fred opens up about his experience with depression, the pressure of leadership, and the turning point that led him to seek help and ultimately help others.   The conversation explores the growing movement around mental health in construction, the importance of authenticity in leadership, and why the industry must move beyond awareness and into action. From jobsite culture to global impact, this episode highlights how real change happens when people are willing to speak up.   With millions reached through his work and hundreds of thousands raised for mental health initiatives, Fred’s message is clear: we are only just getting started.