In episode 259, I speak with award-winning speaker, author, recording artist and former international athlete, Jason Blyth. As a musician, Jason has recorded with world-class Hollywood producers, while as an athlete; he is a multiple Inline Speed Skating national champion and international medalist who has also placed in the top 10 at the Junior World Championships. Today Jason focuses on sharing his message of hope, through his remarkable testimony of overcoming hardship and abuse. Having lived through severe childhood trauma and abuse, Jason has earned the ability to speak with authority on the topics of resilience, overcoming adversity, mental health, discipline, and faith. Jason’s signature message leave audiences inspired to take greater responsibility for their lives, and know they have the power to change, no matter the circumstances of their past. This is an inspirational podcast, not to be missed.
Jason Blyth's home, full of violence and volatility, caused an atmosphere whereby he was petrified as a child. The result meant he spent much of his childhood living with his grandparents and many years of countless visitations to psychiatrists. His first visit at just 33 months old. He left “home” a broken youth. Physically and emotionally abused, a life full of trauma, he spent the next fifteen years searching for a connection, a place in the world and a place he could feel a sense of worth.
Sadly, this only resulted in more destruction in his life, and those he associated with. Nonetheless, in those early years he had a small light that shone and he became a world class inline speed skater. He won multiple national championships, representing New Zealand on the international stage for a period of six years. As a gifted athlete, Jason played soccer in New Zealand’s National Youth League, as well as winning many swimming titles, triathlons, and the list goes on. This provided an outlet for survival as he continued to battle with the scars of his childhood. Sport taught him discipline, which Jason attributes to becoming necessary for his survival.
He left home at fifteen, and by sixteen, he had dropped out of school. Jason quickly entered a life of depression, full of anxiety and anger. He would give up on his skating at seventeen years, and instead indulged in drinking and partying to excess. It wouldn’t be long before Jason began building a career in music, which eventually would lead him to travel to Hollywood, to record music with world class producers. Desperate to please, succeed and belong, he found himself engulfed in a world of darkness that he had never experienced before.
He found himself mixing in the occult, where he was following some of the most prominent leaders in the time. It almost cost him everything, including his life. By 2018, Jason’s life had completely collapsed, he had actually gone from bad to worse. Having lost all hope, he checked himself into a psychiatric ward and then celebrated his 30th birthday in rehab.
During this time, Jason began to read an instruction book on life and how best to deal with its challenges. He had plenty, so it needed to be a good book… it needed to hold good news for this young man.
He began to read the bible. From there everything (and we mean everything) changed.
Jason is now unrecognisable as a person, compared to his former life. Through God’s amazing grace, Jason has overcome the destructive habits, and behaviours that had him chained to a position devoid of hope and life.
Jason is now focused on sharing his life story to give hope to those who are struggling. Showing through his experience, not just theory, that people can have hope. Showing that they can change and can lead fulfilling lives in this very challenging world.
To find out more about Jason, Click Here
My website is www.andrewjobling.com.au