It started with a student refusing to put their phone away.

Chris Valli was a teacher, father, husband, and community man. On paper, everything looked “fine.” But beneath the surface, he was juggling too much, teaching by day, musical theatre by night, a strained marriage, and a growing sense of disconnect within himself.

And then, in one moment of exhaustion and reactivity, it all came crashing down.

A classroom incident.
An investigation.
Public headlines.
A lost job. A lost identity.

But that wasn’t the end.

In this raw and honest episode of Baskets of Knowledge, Chris opens up about his downward spiral, the toll of unacknowledged mental health, and what it means to slowly rebuild a life, not with perfection, but with purpose.

We explore what happens when you lose everything you thought defined you and the surprising tools that can help you find your way back. Things like:

Honest conversations
Creative expression
Connection with others
And yes, putting the phone down

This episode isn’t about blame. It’s about truth.

It’s about learning how to sit with discomfort long enough to hear what your life is trying to tell you.

Key Lessons from Chris:

Burnout doesn’t scream, it whispers until you break.
Vulnerability isn’t a breakdown, it’s a breakthrough.

Cellphones are more than distractions. they’re often emotional shields.
You can’t pour from an empty cup, look after your wellbeing first.
Your story is still yours, even if others try to rewrite it.

Now, Chris is telling his story on his terms, with courage, clarity, and the hope that it might reach someone else who's quietly falling apart.

His upcoming book Put the Phone Away isn’t about screens, it’s about presence.
It's about what happens when you're forced to stop scrolling, stop performing, and start healing.

Today, Chris is a writer, a partner, a father.
But more importantly, he's someone who's done the work to face himself.

If you've ever felt like you're just holding it together… this episode is for you.

And maybe, just for a moment, "Put the Phone Down"

Enjoy

Prajesh and Tane