The OFFICIAL SITE to Americas #1 Youth Motivational Speaker!

A Conversation with Isabella

One of the greatest things about my work as a youth motivational speaker is that I get to plant seeds, give hope and inspire young people. One of the most challenging things is that sometimes I get to help, but I might not know the end result of the work I do. Thankfully, I know […]

Too Stressed and Overwhelmed

It was an honor to speak at a Marine Corps Ball on a Saturday night, but was it too much for someone who lives with mental illness and needs balance and boundaries? It was a very stressful day, but was it really all that stressful considering what many people deal with in their lives? Living […]

Staff Development: Talking Teens & Mental Health

When the phone rings or I get an email from a school community requesting me to come and speak to students about teen mental health awareness or suicide prevention, I get excited. For more than two decades, I’ve been speaking in the educational market – talking to teens about leadership, character, self-esteem, mental health and […]

Jarrid Wilson Suicide: I’m Angry and Disappointed

In September, Harvest Christian Fellowship associate pastor, mental health advocate and author Jarrid Wilson made the forever decision to end his life by suicide at only 30 years old. Before I go any further, I want to send my thoughts and prayers to his wife and sons – to his family, followers and fans. It […]

A Memorable Day at The Meadows – A Psychiatric Hospital

Jeff Yalden has been speaking in education and to school communities for the past 28 years. He started in 1992 while stationed at Cecil Field Naval Air Station Marine Barracks. One day, a phone call came into the office asking if a Marine would be available to come down to Apopka High School in Apopka, […]

JEFF YALDEN RETURNS TO ATCHISON, KANSAS

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jeff will be on hand all day tomorrow, April 3, for students, parents, community members, and recent graduates. For details, contact Atchison High School at (913) 367-4162. Hey Atchison Community – A lot of people in the community and parents have reached out to me and shared with me the latest loss. First […]

TEEN SUICIDE: THE “WHY” BEHIND THE EPIDEMIC

My name is Jeff Yalden. Many know me as a youth motivational speaker. For 26 years now, this has been my passion. Since 1992, I have presented to more than 4000 live audiences at schools, colleges and mental health organizations in this country and around the world – and it is an absolute joy to […]

A WHIRLWIND DAY IN RURAL OHIO

Newcomerstown, Ohio is a small rural community just north of Appalachia. I was invited to spend the day with Newcomerstown Exempted Village Schools and heard that nearly 80 percent of the students there were receiving free or reduced lunches. I hear that stuff all the time but have never let that influence how I look […]

Attitude of Gratitude: Day 14

In Episode 60 of The BOOM Podcast, mental health speaker and Amazon bestselling author Jeff Yalden encourages you to bring the BOOM into your life – whether it’s a factor or an effect – but if you can align that BOOM with a purpose, and that purpose makes you happy every day, even better. Day […]