CINCINNATI — When the Bengals beat Kansas City to make it to the Superbowl in 2022, it was the best of times for fans and sports reporters like Brandon Saho. 

What You Need To Know

  • Cincinnati sportscaster Brandon Saho created The Mental Game podcast to talk about mental health

  • Saho is launching a tour of 30 states in 30 days starting in January

  • Saho battled depression and considered suicide before seeking treatment 

“One of my favorite days of my life is when McPherson kicks that ball through in Kansas City,” Saho said. “I rushed down to the field. I can remember Coach Taylor, for some reason, hugging me at the 50-yard line like I helped them win the game. But he just knew that it meant something to me. And he was fired up to be going to the Super Bowl.”

But later that night, it was the worst of times for Saho.

“I remember that night being in my hotel room really, really drunk, crying and suicidal, when I'm accomplishing everything professionally and personally that I've ever wanted to do,” Saho said.

Depression he’d battled since his teen years was getting worse, even as his career got better.

“The big day was St Patrick's Day 2022, where I called my ex and I said, I'm walking to the bridge to jump off and give her credit for staying on the phone with me, making sure my cousin, who was like my brother, came and picked me up, took me to their house, he said. "And that's where, you know, my mom was there. My dad was on the phone. And I just told them, ‘I can't live anymore. I don't know how to.’"

He checked into the Lindner Center of Hope and got inspired to start a new career: creating a podcast that tackles the topic of depression head-on: The Mental Game.

“My goal is to help people realize that it's OK to ask for help, that we can get through these moments, and that those feelings are temporary,” Saho said.

He’s quickly scored interviews with some big names, from Bengal Sam Hubbard to former NFL player and actor Terry Cruz,  He says many athletes are no longer shying away from talking about mental health.

“It's really cool when I step into an NFL locker room or I talk to guys on a Major League Baseball team and they open up about how much they're coached on mental health. It's completely changed in the last five years.”

Now, Saho’s becoming a coach; and his message isn’t just for elite athletes.

“This message and what we're doing, it can help every single person because all of us struggle. It doesn't matter if you're 14, you're 80, you're white, black, male, female, wherever you live, wherever you're from,” Saho said. 

He’s about to take that message on the road: a 30-day tour to 30 states starting in January.

“I'm a big dreamer and it's going to be a grind, but it's going to be really, really cool and special,” Saho said. “It's almost like a door-to-door salesman approach. I put out the cities, I put out the dates, and I said, ‘If you want me to come to your school work game, I'll be there.’”

He’ll finish the tour here in Ohio and he’s grateful to be able to share what he’s learned with the people of his home state.

“I think for me, being from Ohio is something I'm super proud of,” Saho said.  “I just can't thank those people that said something to me at a game, at a bar, in passing on the street when I was going through my lowest of lows. They had no idea. But the people from my hometown helped keep me here. And I'm so proud to be able to base The Mental Game here and do whatever I can to help anyone in Ohio.”