Michael Chiasson, speaker and author of Things We Wish Our Parents Knew, has spent years helping young people share their truth and help parents hear it. In this episode of The Hope & Health Podcast, Mathew Embry talks with Michael about mindset, resilience, and how conversations about purpose, emotion, and connection are vital to health and wellness at every age.
Mathew: Can we talk about going into schools and dealing with young people — seeing trauma at such a young age and the steps you take to help them?
Michael: Yeah, it’s real. I’ve noticed that in the schools that call us now. We typically work with junior high and high school — that’s been our main area.
But recently, even elementary schools — and not just the older grades, but the younger ones — have started reaching out and asking us to come speak. I said, “You know we usually work with junior high and high school… why are we coming?”
And what I’ve found is that the amount of pain, hurt, and trauma showing up at earlier ages is staggering. I’m not a professional in that area, but I see what we see.
Our first approach is always to make sure they’re seen. That they feel seen. I’m not there to speak down to them — I’m there to create a moment with them. We do it together.
Even if it’s just for a short time, for someone experiencing trauma, being part of that shared moment can matter. We want to fix things — to make trauma logical — but how we react to life isn’t always logical.
Sometimes something simply moves you. That’s what we try to create: moments that move people. Because moments create movements.
And sure, people can say, “You just do events and move on,” but connection happens in those environments. Sometimes a student will come up after and say, “You have no idea what I’ve been going through. You have no idea I didn’t know if tomorrow would even be reality for me.”
That’s who we show up for. When that happens, our team makes sure that support is there if they choose to receive it.
Now that it’s become more accepted to talk about trauma, the next step is: what do we do about it? And that’s where our project started — with a simple question.
Mathew: Let’s talk about the unique practice you do with young people — because I’ve seen it in action.
Michael: This came out of me wanting to know whether what we were doing was actually helpful — for both the kids who were doing okay and the ones who were struggling.
Since they didn’t pay to come see me, we didn’t have an easy way to measure that. So during a break at one event, I grabbed some paper and pens and wrote at the top:
“Things I Wish My Parents Knew.”
That phrase came from this realization that from the very beginning of our lives, we come from someone — that connection is built in. Sometimes it’s complicated or painful, but it’s always there.
So I told the students: “You don’t have to write anything. It’s anonymous. Don’t put your name. But if anything today has been helpful, I’d love to know what you wish your parents knew.”
Mathew: So you simply hand out paper and let them write whatever comes to mind?
Michael: That’s it. Usually during a break — time they could be hanging out with friends. But so many would come up, grab paper, and start writing.
That’s when I realized — there’s an exchange happening here. Something valuable. And I told them: “Your story might not fix your situation, but it might help someone else who’s going through the same thing. Because of you, someone else might feel seen.”
Mathew: What kinds of things do they write? Are they calls for help, or are they positive too?
Michael: It’s everything.
From: “I wish my parents knew how much they mean to me,” “I wish they knew how much I see them struggling,”
To: “Your divorce really impacted me,” “I’ve been struggling for a long time and hide in my room because I don’t want you to see me as a failure.”
And then there are light ones like, “I just wish my parents knew I don’t like carrots.”
It’s the whole range of emotion. We also ask optional questions like age, so we can see trends. You start to notice patterns and recurring themes. And if we assume kids will “just figure it out,” they probably will — but if we can step in earlier with hope, direction, and connection, we can make a real difference.
Mathew: How did you bring this together with parents?
Michael: Every school that invited us in got a complimentary parent night. We’d share the top things we were hearing from students.
I’d say, “Even if only one parent shows up, we’ll still do it.” The goal isn’t to tell anyone how to parent — I’m in that stage myself — but to share what’s been entrusted to us.
The biggest recurring themes?
That disconnect is powerful to explore.
Mathew: I’ve seen parents read these letters — it’s emotional and often shocking. What’s that experience like for them?
Michael: I think it’s deeply eye-opening — and heart-opening.
Many parents realize for the first time that their child’s silence wasn’t defiance, it was fear or confusion. Some kids even wrote that they couldn’t ask for help because they didn’t want their parents to think it reflected badly on them as parents.
When parents read these letters, it’s like holding up a mirror. It’s not meant to make them feel bad — it’s meant to help them start.
One thing I’ve learned:
“Our kids, and even we as adults, only share what’s permitted and allowed to be talked about.”
If we don’t create that permission, the truth stays hidden.
Michael: I brought a few letters today. Here’s one from a 17-year-old girl:
“I wish my parents knew I don’t want to pursue the career they want for me. I hate disappointing them, so I do everything they want me to do.”
And another, from a 17-year-old boy:
“I feel like I have no direction, and I’m terrified to go through life blind.”
When parents read these, they realize they’re not alone — that other families are struggling too. That shared understanding creates breathing room.
Mathew: You also talk a lot about decision and choice — that those words are key when facing crisis.
Michael: Absolutely. One of my favorite reminders is:
“Your track record for getting through bad days is 100%.”
From the day you were born to today, you’ve already proven you can survive hard things.
The most powerful thing in the world is a mind made up. When you truly decide to do something, you stop making excuses — you find a way. And you always have the ability to change your mind.
Mathew: I was diagnosed with MS at 19, and I never thought that would lead to where I am today — that my greatest hardship would become my greatest strength. Do you think everyone’s trauma can become their strength if they channel it right?
Michael: Yes. The setback becomes the setup.
It’s never easy, but like you said, sometimes what breaks us becomes what builds us. And if someone can heal themselves — whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually — their story naturally heals others.
The best way I can be a good husband, father, or friend is to be the best version of me. And that’s ongoing work. But it’s a gift to recognize that healing yourself helps everyone around you.
Mathew: For people watching who need motivation to change their life — what’s the first step?
Michael: Ask yourself honestly: What do you really want?
Get brutally honest about that. Because once you know, you can change your mind, refine it, and chase it.
We often answer that question based on what we’ve seen others do — what they have, what they’ve accomplished. But I’d encourage anyone to start dreaming again.
Even if it feels impossible, write it down. Look back in five years — you’ll be amazed at how much you’ve accomplished.
Mathew: Michael, thank you so much for speaking with us today, and congratulations on the work you’re doing. We live in a world that needs inspiration and motivation.
And for those watching — Michael also has a book out:
Things We Wish Our Parents Knew — full of insight, inspiration, and hope.
