Reed Byers on how a single hug can make a difference

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Reed Byers, founder of the One Billion Hugs movement. Reed shares how his mission to connect a billion people through hugs came from his own battles with mental health and loss. He tells me about a day when wearing a free hugs shirt at Tudor’s Biscuit World turned a bad moment into one of hope and connection, inspiring him to turn that feeling into a movement. He says that even in a world where we’re constantly online, people are more disconnected than ever, and physical touch can make a real difference. At the Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention, Reed explains that events like this help start life-saving conversations and show people how to get involved. He’s already sold over 100 shirts, given hundreds of hugs, and recruited ambassadors to help spread the message. As we wrap up, Reed reminds me that one small gesture—a hug—can be enough to change a life.