The 10 Ninety Podcast

Mason Sawyer
  • 4.8 (166)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Mason Sawyer, originally from West Jordan, Utah, is a devoted father and advocate for resilience. He enjoyed a successful basketball career, highlighted by achievements such as Utah All-State, winning a State Championship, and playing college ball at Utah Tech, formerly known as Dixie State. Mason married his high school sweetheart, Kortni Atkinson, whose warm spirit and commitment to family made her the heart of their home. An incredible mother and dedicated nurse, Kortni worked as a home and hospice caregiver in her final months, always trying to comfort others. Together, they raised three children: Riggins, who mirrored his mother's positivity and had a knack for making friends wherever he went. His infectious enthusiasm and heartfelt approach to life meant that he lived fully in each moment, often claiming that each day was either the best or worst of his life. Franki, their adventurous daughter, was just two years old but packed her short life with joy and excitement. Known for her powerful scream and the adorable wrinkle in her nose when she smiled, she brought boundless energy and laughter to their family. Tragically, on July 25, 2021, Mason's life changed forever when he lost Kortni, Riggins, and Franki in a devastating car accident. He also lost his older brother, Race, and his nephew, Rider. Race was an amazing father, husband, and role model to Mason, while Rider was a talented actor and performer with a remarkable sense of empathy for his age. Now focused on raising his surviving son, Blue, Mason draws strength from the 10/90 Principle, emphasizing that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond. He shares his journey and message of resilience through his podcast, The10ninety, and as a public speaker, inspiring others to find hope and purpose in adversity. Mason's story is one of love and perseverance, honoring the beautiful legacy of Kortni, Riggins, Franki, Race, and Rider as he builds a life filled with meaning and positivity.

  1. 2D AGO

    #175 - Matt Blanchard and Brad Coleman

    In this episode of The 10 Ninety Podcast, Mason talks with Brad Coleman and Matt Blanchard—two friends and spinal cord injury survivors—about the life-altering moments that put them in wheelchairs and the long road to acceptance. Brad recounts his motorcycle accident and the search-and-rescue effort that saved his life, while Matt shares how a car crash and, years later, a second accident with a drunk driver changed everything. Together, they open up about the realities of paralysis: learning to walk again, losing and regaining hope, navigating relationships, and the daily frustrations and small victories that come with adapting to a new normal. The conversation digs into what actually helps—like humor, community, and showing up for each other—and what doesn't, from toxic positivity to unhelpful comparisons. Brad and Matt discuss pain management, mental health, and the importance of purpose, as well as the challenges of asking for help and redefining masculinity. Honest, unfiltered, and fiercely human, this episode is a testament to resilience, vulnerability, and the power of connection in the face of life's hardest turns.

    1h 26m

  2. 12/29/2025

    #174 – Sarah Chippendale and Megan "Peg Leg Meg" | 10 Ninety x They're Chronically Unbalanced

    In this episode of The 10 Ninety Podcast, Mason sits down with the hosts of The Chronically Unbalanced, Sarah Chippendale and Megan "Peg Leg Meg", for a wide-ranging conversation about living with bodies and lives that don't go according to plan. Sarah shares her experience being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at 19, how relapses work, what MS actually does to the nervous system, and how treatment, fear, and uncertainty have shaped her adulthood and parenting. Megan opens up about losing her leg in a lawnmower accident just one week after her wedding, the trauma of the injury, the reality of relearning how to walk with a prosthetic, and the anger, grief, and resilience that followed. Together, they discuss the role of dark humour in surviving hard seasons, how identity shifts after medical trauma, what it means to rebuild a sense of purpose, and why life is never about what happens to you—but how you respond when everything falls apart.

    1h 34m

  3. 12/22/2025

    #173- Brit Del Toro

    In this episode of The 10 Ninety Podcast, Mason talks with Brit Del Toro about losing her infant son, Zeppelin, the ripple effects of that tragedy on her marriage and mental health, and the support and judgment she faced while navigating postpartum depression and grief. Brit also shares the recent loss of her husband, Troy, who struggled with addiction, bipolar disorder, and chronic pain before taking his own life. Together, they discuss the stigma around suicide, parenting through trauma, and the daily effort it takes to stay present for her children while rebuilding a sense of purpose. Brit's honesty offers insight into the realities of grief and the strength it takes to choose hope one day at a time.

    1h 50m

  4. 12/17/2025

    #172 - Katie Derouen and Dawn Simmons

    In this episode of The 10 Ninety Podcast, Mason sits down with Dawn Simmons and her daughter, Katie Derouen, from Louisiana. Dawn and Katie lost three members of their family—Lindy Rae Simmons (20), Christopher Simmons (17), and Kamryn "Kam" Simmons (15)—in a 2021 head-on collision caused by a wrong-way drunk driver, John Christopher Lundy. Dawn shares what she remembers from the night of the crash, the extent of her injuries, and what it was like waking up in the hospital and learning her children were gone. Katie walks through the unthinkable reality of identifying each of her siblings at different hospitals, navigating chaos, confusion, police reports, and the long hours of not knowing who survived. Together, they talk about grief timelines, survivor guilt, community support, faith, anger, and the complicated "what if" spiral that follows catastrophic loss. They also discuss the differences between a mother's grief and a sibling's grief, how holidays and birthdays have changed, and how losing three children at once creates a grief experience unlike anything they'd ever imagined. Dawn and Katie now speak across the country—at schools, hospitals, recovery programs, and safety trainings—sharing their story to help prevent impaired driving and to honor the legacy of Lindy, Christopher, and Kamryn. Their work through the Simmons 3 Foundation continues to impact thousands of students and families. It's a heartbreaking conversation and a powerful reminder that life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% what you're going to do about it.

    1h 56m

  5. 12/09/2025

    #171 - Tara Jackson

    In this episode of The 10 Ninety Podcast, Mason talks with Tara Jackson about losing her brother Robert at a young age and how that loss has shaped her life over the past two decades. Tara opens up about the long-term reality of grief, the impact on family relationships, and the constant balance between remembering and moving forward. Mason and co-host Sarah Chippendale join the discussion as they explore cultural differences in how we support one another through pain, the stigma around mental health, and the importance of getting help when life feels overwhelming.

    1h 1m

  6. 12/01/2025

    #170 - Holly O'Malley | 10 Ninety and Chronically Unbalanced

    Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% what you're going to do about it. In this crossover with Chronically Unbalanced, Mason, Sarah, and Megan sit down with Holly O'Malley, who grew up as "Summer's little sister" in a town that never forgot a fatal car accident. Holly talks about Sundays at the cemetery, losing her mum at 11, watching her dad slowly die from brain cancer, and what it does to your sense of self when grief is all you've ever known. This episode is blunt, darkly funny at times, and painfully honest about not wanting to be here—and staying anyway.

    1h 5m

  7. 11/18/2025

    #168 - Coop and Annalise

    In this episode of The 10 Ninety Podcast, Mason talks with Coop (Michael Cooper) and his wife Annalise Cooper from Australia about losing both of Coop's parents, Faye and Neil Cooper, just five months apart after Faye's double lung transplant. They walk through the brutal hospital moments, the decision to remove life support, and the shock of Neil's stage-four cancer diagnosis that came before they'd even finished paying for the first funeral. Together they talk about anger, feeling robbed, raising their two girls without their grandparents, men learning to talk about grief, and the small things that help—music, therapy, quitting drinking, and letting other people in. This conversation is a raw, honest look at love, loss, and how you keep moving when life refuses to let up.

    57 min

  8. 11/14/2025

    #167 - Blue Sawyer

    In this episode of The 10 Ninety Podcast, Mason hangs out with his son, Blue, right before their big trip to Australia. They talk about surviving a 20-hour flight, Blue's morning routine, school life, favorite sports, and whether he'd rather give up candy or his iPad. Blue also tells the wild story of a kid giving him a $100 bill at school to apologize for making fun of his haircut, and they wrap things up with his top three movies and what he wants to be when he grows up. A fun, easy hang with Blue before the adventure begins.

    13 min
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4.8
out of 5
166 Ratings

About

Mason Sawyer, originally from West Jordan, Utah, is a devoted father and advocate for resilience. He enjoyed a successful basketball career, highlighted by achievements such as Utah All-State, winning a State Championship, and playing college ball at Utah Tech, formerly known as Dixie State. Mason married his high school sweetheart, Kortni Atkinson, whose warm spirit and commitment to family made her the heart of their home. An incredible mother and dedicated nurse, Kortni worked as a home and hospice caregiver in her final months, always trying to comfort others. Together, they raised three children: Riggins, who mirrored his mother's positivity and had a knack for making friends wherever he went. His infectious enthusiasm and heartfelt approach to life meant that he lived fully in each moment, often claiming that each day was either the best or worst of his life. Franki, their adventurous daughter, was just two years old but packed her short life with joy and excitement. Known for her powerful scream and the adorable wrinkle in her nose when she smiled, she brought boundless energy and laughter to their family. Tragically, on July 25, 2021, Mason's life changed forever when he lost Kortni, Riggins, and Franki in a devastating car accident. He also lost his older brother, Race, and his nephew, Rider. Race was an amazing father, husband, and role model to Mason, while Rider was a talented actor and performer with a remarkable sense of empathy for his age. Now focused on raising his surviving son, Blue, Mason draws strength from the 10/90 Principle, emphasizing that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond. He shares his journey and message of resilience through his podcast, The10ninety, and as a public speaker, inspiring others to find hope and purpose in adversity. Mason's story is one of love and perseverance, honoring the beautiful legacy of Kortni, Riggins, Franki, Race, and Rider as he builds a life filled with meaning and positivity.

Information

  • Creator
    Mason Sawyer
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    174
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022
  • Show Website
    The 10 Ninety Podcast

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