Ep 159: From Loss to Leadership: The Scott Sippel Foundation’s Fight for Suicide Prevention
Description
RG Stitt and Greg Harpster join us from the Scott Sippel Foundation—an organization born from tragedy that’s now raised nearly $600,000 for mental health and suicide prevention. We talk about honoring their friend Scott, why local boots-on-the-ground efforts matter, and how a community sporting clays event became a powerful engine for change.
You’ll hear:
- How the Foundation identifies smaller, volunteer-driven groups so more funds reach real programs
- Why rural areas need tailored mental health support, and what’s working
- This year’s focus on LEEK, a veterans outdoor program, and other beneficiaries over the years
- Practical ways to tend your own mental health, from daily walks to simple breathing practices learned at Outdoor Odyssey
- How the firearms community quietly shows up to save lives
Chapters
00:00 – Cold Open: Glitches & Getting Live
00:55 – Welcome Back + Today’s Guests
02:25 – WTTA’s Early Days & First Connection to Scott Sippel Foundation
05:08 – Intros: RG Stitt & Greg Harpster
07:11 – What the Foundation Funds & Why Local Matters
09:18 – Building Crisis Lines in PA (Penn State region)
13:29 – Rural Realities: Suicide vs. “Gun Violence”
15:29 – Counterintuitive? Guns, Community, and Prevention
21:00 – Remembering Scott: Stories, Friendship, and Loss
27:34 – Aftermath & The Questions No One Can Answer
31:06 – Spotting Subtle Signs in Hindsight
37:55 – From Grief to Action: Launching the Clay Shoot
41:26 – Organic Growth: Community, Word of Mouth, Full Rosters
42:51 – Sponsors That Show Up (ammo, firearms, food, more)
49:42 – Event Logistics, Timing, & Volunteer Hustle
57:42 – Where to Learn/Donate: scottsippelfoundation.org
58:35 – How We Tend Our Own Mental Health (walks, breathing, mindset)
1:02:41 – Open Invite & Closing Thanks