Always Hope
Always Hope is a podcast for people walking through the heavy parts of life. Through honest conversations, raw stories, and practical encouragement, we help listeners discover that no matter their past, their pain, or their circumstances—there is always hope.
Always Hope
Hope & Heavy Metal
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A parent can be there one day and gone the next, and when you’re a teenager that kind of loss can reshape everything. We talk with Ryan and Gavin Jeffries, two high school cousins who turned friendship, family, and heavy music into a way to keep moving forward. Gavin shares what it was like losing his mom at age 10 and how the shock of grief collided with the strange, disconnected early COVID world. Ryan reflects on watching it happen from the outside, then growing closer through the aftermath.
From there, we get into the music that helped them survive and the band they’re building now: Mental Pleasures. We dig into doom metal, punk energy, and classic heavy influences, plus why lyrics matter even when a song doesn’t sound “sad.” They explain how music can feel like therapy, how it helps you understand who you are, and why creating original songs, sometimes inspired by horror movies and psychological themes, gives them a place to put real emotion. If you care about teen mental health, coping with grief, and music as a healthy outlet, this conversation hits hard in the best way.
We also talk about everyday pressure at school: fitting in, dressing the “right” way, and the pull toward drinking, smoking, or doing reckless stuff just to look cool. Ryan and Gavin share how they draw boundaries, stay positive, and find a “north star” in family, faith, and mentors, without shutting out good advice. If you’ve ever felt alone for liking what you like, you’ll leave with practical hope and a reminder that being different can be a strength.
If the story helps you, subscribe for more local stories of resilience, share this with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review so more people can find it. What song has helped you get through a hard season?
Well, hey guys, welcome to Always Hope Podcast. Thanks for having us. Yeah, super stoked that you guys we were finally able to get it to record. I'm sitting here with Ryan Jeffries and Gavin Jeffries. And man, they are a couple students at the high school that I work
Welcome And Why Hope Matters
SPEAKER_03at. And we were just talking about life one day. And you know, found out that each of you guys have kind of been through some things. And the heart of what we do here to always hope is we tell stories, mostly local people, and we try to communicate the idea that hey, no matter what you're going through, there's always hope.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And so that's kind of heart. But before we get to some of that stuff, kind of tell us who you guys are and kind of what you do and like the whole music bit and all that kind of good stuff. Go ahead, Ryan.
SPEAKER_01Well, I play bass in the band. And so me and Gavin, we wanted to get the band going for years and years. And it was like first brought up in like sixth grade or something. And I remember I wanted to play guitar, but at that time,
Starting A Band And Finding Roles
SPEAKER_01Gavin also wanted to play guitar. So he pretty much like it wasn't really forced, but it's kind of like peer pressure to just play bass. Yeah. And so I was like, okay, I'll play bass. And then I like looking for a bass and then having to do research on basses and see how they play. I was like, okay, okay. So I got into the bass, and I don't happier with bass now. Yeah. And I've always played bass until I think my freshman year, I got my first guitar and I started playing guitar. And so yeah, it's back and forth on guitar and bass, but yeah. Which one do you like the best? I think guitar is really fun to play because you can do all sorts. But bass, I feel like it's like I don't know. I feel like when I learn something on guitar, it's cool. But when I feel like I play something on bass, it's like I feel like I'm accomplishing because I play bass in the band, so I'm like, ooh, I can play this. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Yeah. So my oldest son, he plays the uh the bass, and he's really, really good. He plays in for the worship team over at Cerlike and Omaha. Yeah. And I remember like there's basic bass playing, just like there is with any other craft, really. There's basic, and then you can get more advanced. And man, he's doing some slapping and some working his way up and down the frets uh these days, and he's super, super talented. But I think a lot of it's just putting in the work for it, just like everything else.
SPEAKER_05I'd say bass is the hardest thing to play.
SPEAKER_03Really? People say it's the easiest, but yeah, you have to have not a lot of patience. Yeah, yeah. So tell us a little bit more about what you do for the band, Gav.
SPEAKER_05Well, right now I'm the vocalist. All right.
SPEAKER_03What's the name of the band again?
SPEAKER_05Mental Pleasures. Mental Pleasures. It's kind of been messy because I've been the drummer, guitarist, and I went back to drums, but I think I'm gonna stay as the vocalist and just been practicing, singing,
Building A Sound In Doom Metal
SPEAKER_05screaming, all kinds of stuff, trying to get better at it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So what type of band is this, guys?
SPEAKER_01Well, we're kind of off and on trying to find our sound, but I think we're stick to this type of drone of metal called doom. And like it's pretty much like Black Sabbath, and bands like that, it has more instead of like an extreme type of sound, it sounds more powerful and real, yeah. Yeah, a little mix of that, a little bit of punk, and then just like traditional heavy metal, groove metal, and yeah, like Pantera.
SPEAKER_03So here's a little sample of what you guys actually do. Good stuff. So you you two are cousins, right? Yeah. Your sophomores, your bandmates. How has your relationship kind of shaped who you guys are?
SPEAKER_01Well, on my end, I feel like since like
Cousins As Bandmates And Conflict
SPEAKER_01obviously I've known him since like forever, but like I feel like we're always close, and so like when we were little, we were always friends, and even to now we're really good friends, like aside from being cousins, but I feel like that's also given us the comfortability of like if there's something like music-wise or something that we're not too happy about, we're like comfortable, like being like like we're not afraid to like make each other upset, pretty much. Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_05Like, yeah, yeah, we used to fight all the time to let you know.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah. What are some struggles that you guys have been through? I know you guys talked about you know you battle each other sometimes, you're not afraid to like disagree. But as cousins and as friends, there are things that kind of kind of bond you, right? There's kind of things that you things that you kind of go through where like your relationship grows. So as you guys are two teenage guys, so both sophomores in high school. What are some things that you guys have been through that you would say have bonded your relationship both as cousins and friends?
SPEAKER_05I would say when it's when I lost my mom in 2020.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_05Me and Ryan were really close right after that because I had really no one to talk to besides my dad and other family members.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_05So that and then music's helped me
Losing A Mom And Living Through It
SPEAKER_05with that too.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. So how old were you when you lost your mom?
SPEAKER_05I was 10 years old.
SPEAKER_0310. And is it all right to ask how how she passed? It was just natural causes. Really? Mm-hmm. Just woke up, didn't wake up. Yep. Wow. That's uh that's tough. Mm-hmm. You remember the day?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I was my aunt was knocking on pounding on the door.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_05And I just saw my mom on the bed and it was terrified me.
SPEAKER_03So yeah.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, it was scary.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And where were you around that time, Ryan? I remember I remember and not the moment happened, but a little afterwards, my mom found out and she was getting ready for work and she found out. And I don't know, it was I mean, I was it like a school day.
SPEAKER_05No, this is when COVID happened.
SPEAKER_03Oh shoot, yeah. So the world was entirely different than when it right when no, it was right when school ended.
SPEAKER_05It was it was like June 30th is when it happened. Yeah, it was like summertime though.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, wow. But yeah, I remember my mom. I mean, I was at the age where I could understand that, but I didn't understand what she was upset about. So when I found out, I was like, oh wow. Because like it was just crazy. Because you would never like in a million years think that's the first person, right? Because yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03So your aunt was relatively pretty healthy. Your mom was I mean, it was your mom Gavin.
SPEAKER_05So she was she was losing a lot of weight. She was I think she lost about 80 pounds.
SPEAKER_03So that's that's crazy. So over like these last five or six years, what has kind of helped you guys like through that?
SPEAKER_01Well, like Gavin said, music. Like Gavin's always been into music, but I feel like lately and like
How Music Turns Into Therapy
SPEAKER_01and pretty much that around that time is when I really started getting into music. Because like before then I liked music, but I never understood it. And I would always just listen to whatever's popular because it's easier to listen to, or not easier to listen to, but easier to find. Sure. But like around that time I'd hang out with Gavin more, and so just being around them, his dad always playing music. So like I definitely got into bands, like I had different phases, and then leading up to now, I'm into all sorts of stuff. But I started out with like bands like ACDC, Black Sabbath, stuff like that, and then I got into more like Queen stuff like that, sixth grade, like Queen and lots of like sixties folk, and then it was like seventh grade, I started getting into more heavy metal, yeah, and then lately, or not lately, but like last year, I started getting into more old, like 80s pop, and so just it was it. I was in a weird phase where I was like, I don't really know what to classify myself because I listen to all this stuff, and from everywhere I hear, like people who are into punk or metal, they're like, Oh, we don't listen to this. But I'm like, Why not?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, why not? There's so many good stuff. Yeah, you used a phrase that I thought was super interesting just a second ago when you said I didn't really understand music. Yeah, like what do you mean by that?
SPEAKER_01I meant like obviously I was aware of music, but like music is music is could be arc for some people, and it could be really helpful to people. And at that time I just thought it was oh, people only make music to listen to it and like it. It wasn't until I got into the music I liked that I was like, this is sort of like for the people it was written for, like the types of people that listen to those bands, it's like I'm trying to think of the word, but like like the word that comes to my mind is therapy.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah. Is that what you're thinking?
SPEAKER_01A little yeah, a little bit, and like I feel like music also helps you understand who you are as a person.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah. That's cool about you, Gab. How's uh how do how do you how do you understand music?
SPEAKER_05I think lyrics is a big part of it. I like lyrics that have a meaningful to things and just listening to music with my dad ever since I was born. Because I've listened to all kinds of music to pop metal, yeah, 80s glam stuff, and just all kinds of stuff.
SPEAKER_03So you mentioned whenever you lost your mom that music was kind of the thing that kind of helped you. What explain that a little bit more? What was it that really grabbed a hold of you and kind of helped you through those hard times?
SPEAKER_05There's a lot of like not like sad bands, but like heavy metal, like what do you call it?
SPEAKER_02Even Sevenfold.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, stuff like that. Yeah. Alternative metal.
SPEAKER_02What was the name?
SPEAKER_03Even Sevenfold. Okay.
SPEAKER_05They've helped me through a lot.
SPEAKER_03They're the reason why I wanted to start a band, and so I'll I like I wouldn't know their music if you played it now, but I'll have to check them out sometime. Yeah, they're pretty good. What is it about their music? Is it like is it the lyrics? Is it the the package?
SPEAKER_05Everything about it, just yeah. They got a lot of punk, sad, groove riffs, and the lyrics really helped me too with a lot of stuff. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I think one thing about Avenge Sevenfold that I like is like Avenue's like they had like deep lyrics, but they're not really sad songs. Like those songs are really helpful because they have really deep lyrics, but all the songs, you wouldn't you wouldn't know that unless you read the lyrics because they're super like upbeat, like party songs.
SPEAKER_03All right, so my kids listen to this band um called Dayseeker. Yeah, lead singer's name is Rory Rodriguez. Um, my granddaughter, she's actually named Rory.
SPEAKER_02Oh wow.
SPEAKER_03So that's how much they like this band. So I get some of the concepts you guys are talking about.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03But they have an acoustic version. They do a lot of metal, like you guys are talking about, but they have an acoustic version that's uh really, really, really good. And there's a song called Neon Grave that man, it's like it's pretty powerful. It's a guy talking about I think he's losing his dad or has lost his dad or whatever.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And so when you were talking about Ryan, how you really didn't understand music, yeah. I think over the years, and I'm a lot older than you guys, I'm 53 years old, right? So I think over the years I've I've learned to understand music a lot more because these guys, like these people who create music, it's I mean, some of them, man, they're just looking for like the next hit, right? Yeah, some of the guys who perform don't even write some of the stuff that they do. So, you know, I don't know what y'all think about that, but the artist, like you guys are talking about, yeah. You know, the people like Dayseeker and some of those guys who give you the feels. Man, it's it's like their life's work. Yeah, you know, it's not just about the money. No, okay. So have you guys gotten any original pieces or yeah, we got a couple. Tell me about tell me about what went into some of your original music.
SPEAKER_05Horror movies, yeah.
SPEAKER_01I was just about to say, yeah, yeah, music aside, one big thing that me and Gavin, like since we were like yeah, real little, like watch scary movies, and so yeah, we're trying to write the song that in the production called Maniac, and it's because I mean I read it because there's a movie called Maniac, but like the character in that movie,
Advice On Identity And Peer Pressure
SPEAKER_01he's like he's crazy, it's a scary movie, but like it's very psychological, and like if you turn off the sound and you just watch the movie, like all the gore and everything in that movie, if you take all that out and just show the scenes where it's him alone, it's a very psychological movie, and it's like in some ways I could see how some people could relate to that in a song, right?
SPEAKER_03Mm-hmm. Yeah, interesting. So, have you written any music that has kind of dealt with your loss of your mom? Like, has there been any therapy for you on that Gavin that's been meaningful for the long run?
SPEAKER_05Not really, I kind of write my own songs that have a meaningful to me and stuff. Yeah, that's what I try to do. I I keep it out of the band a little bit until they like something that I write. But lyrics, I can't write lyrics to save my life.
SPEAKER_03That's Levi. So you're kind of the music guy, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, Levi is the is the lyrics guy. Yeah, he writes lyrics and he'll show me lyrics that he writes, and I'm like, oh, this is really good. And then he'll like you see those two lines? Well, that means this, and then this. And so he like puts a whole thought, like he'll write down what he thinks sounds good, but he'll put thought into it, like what words like not only sound good, but like mean perfectly to what it it is, yeah.
SPEAKER_03So I want to kind of go back to what you guys kind of experienced together with you know, like the loss of your aunt and your mom. And if there are like some teenagers or some people listening that have gone through some loss, what would you like what would your words be to them? How would you help them deal with going through that same type of thing?
SPEAKER_01For me, I like in elementary school, like I didn't like I had friends, but I didn't really fit into like what was ever popular or like what was like I didn't know, and I didn't really care for it, but like all the kids that like everyone hung out with, I wanted to hang out with them so I could feel cool. And so even in middle school, I kind of but like once I got into the music and I watched more of the movies, I was like, I really love this, but like not a lot of people do, and so I was kind of like upset about that. But then more in the past like five, six years, I realized, well, if they don't like that, that's cool. I like it, if they have a problem with it, that's cool. I just don't hang out with me, yeah. Or like I don't like and like I met friends that like they don't know the same stuff as me, and I don't know the same stuff as them, but like pretty much basically like someone that's like struggling with that. If you like something and you think it's like it's your world, don't care what anyone else says, like it's your go after it, right? Just so short, just do what you want.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I think that's really important. As like I don't care if you're 15 or if you're 55, actually, because there are as you get older, I don't know if those pressures change. Yeah, like everybody wants to be in the in-crowd, everybody wants to be liked, you know, those types of things. But I think when you've really find those that thing that you're passionate about that you can go after, it doesn't really matter what anybody else thinks, right? Just uh just run after it.
SPEAKER_01Like if you really pay attention to like what you like, and then you just that's your whole life, it'll be a lot easier to find people who are into that same stuff, and then that's your crowd. Yeah, like um that's your people, like the way I dress and stuff. I was always like, ooh, I like that, but like I know people are gonna give me crap for it. But like now it's like I already put thought into like what it is. Yeah, like who cares? Like, yeah, I put thought into it and I think it's pretty cool, and all my friends say it's cool too.
SPEAKER_05So people in this school, they give me crap about the miss the music I listen to and the way I'm dressed. I'm just like, I don't this disrespect you, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and like no offense to everyone else, but like like school, like when I go out in public, I just noticed that there's a whole lot of people that are like kind of like the same. Yeah, like everyone dress the same, everyone dresses the same, they all say they like the same thing, and I'm like, do you really though? Like, like I think there's a lot of people that are afraid to show what they are because I've talked to so many people that like I would never imagine they like that stuff, but like they do, and they're just afraid to show it, like to be different, yes, and and I feel like I was I was like that too, but like I feel like hanging out with like Levi and Haley, like really getting it together, like they're into the same stuff as me, and I've like gotten more comfortable. They're just like, Well, it's not like I'm completely alone, yeah. Like I I got my friend group, my family that supports everything I do, and you know, if even if I didn't have that, I still like it, and it's fun.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, uh yeah, uh go ahead, Gav, you were gonna say something.
SPEAKER_05I know a lot in the schools people want you to like what they like, yeah, and that's a big problem I see too.
SPEAKER_02That's yeah, that's another like yeah.
SPEAKER_03I uh I think you guys are great kids. You know, you're you're amazing, and the way you just kind of explain why you do what you do, I think it's gives a lot of a lot more depth to you know who I who I see you guys as. So that's uh that's pretty cool stuff. Life throws things at you didn't ask for, right? And that's definitely part of your story. But how do you think the things you've been through, either loss, band, you know, the experiences that you have, how do you think that has changed how you see the world?
SPEAKER_05I mean, music's helped me and family's helped me, been supportive. I think you just gotta stay to yourself and be passionate about it. You can't let let anyone bring you down, because if you let people bring you down, you're gonna have problems later in the future.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_05So I think for a lot of people, they just need to worry about themselves, kind of, not worry about what this other group is doing and what they're wearing, what they look like.
SPEAKER_03What's the unhealthy side of that? Like there's a there, I think there's a healthy side to staying like true to yourself, but is there an unhealthy side to that?
SPEAKER_05You're not talking to anyone, yeah, staying by yourself and yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03So I as I think of that question, like what's the unhealthy side of staying true to yourself? It would be being resistant to any type of outside influence or voice or coaching. Yeah, I think that could be a side, but I don't know that I see that within you guys. But how do you guys protect yourself from staying true to who you are, like both with your music, your choice of like entertainment with the movies and those types of things? Is there a line that that it's like you guys say,
Staying True Without Shutting People Out
SPEAKER_03Hey, I'm not crossing this line? And like, what is that?
SPEAKER_05I see a bunch of people just like drinking, doing a bunch of bad stuff. I keep myself away from that because I've done I've messed up before and that stuff, and I regret it, but I just keep myself away from there. I think other people should too, and not be peer pressured, try to look cool and do that stuff.
SPEAKER_03Gotcha.
SPEAKER_01That's peer pressure is a big thing with like you gotta stick to yourself. If you're not sticking to yourself, then you're it'll be a lot easier for people to peer pressure you into stuff. And like what I've noticed is like everyone thinks like kids, I realize, like notice at school and stuff, and then they'll post, like, oh, they got they drink and they smoke and stuff like that, and they like oh, they had a blast. Like what I noticed is like if you're true to yourself with the stuff you like, you'll have a more fun, like fun, and you'll feel a lot better of yourself, you'll feel happy with the stuff you got. Yeah, and like what you're into, and like things coming up, but but like people who do all that, I feel like it's just bringing them down more and more, and they don't even realize it.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I think it's easy to fall into some of that stuff for sure. Yeah. I didn't necessarily have much of a issue with that kind of stuff. I probably fell into the peer pressure of you know looking the right way or whatever. But one of the things that kind of changed my entire life was when I was 14, 15 years old years old, somewhere around there. Jesus changed my life in ways that I can't even hardly explain anymore. And I think being true to yourself for me as I got older was staying true to that. Like there's for me, that's like my north star, right? And so you guys are what 15 years old? 16 years? Yeah.
SPEAKER_02No, actually. I was six, I just turned 16 last weekend.
SPEAKER_03So you're 16, how old are you, Gav? 15, turned 16 in May. And this may be a deep question to ask you guys, but like, is there a North Star where you're just like, okay, this is my guiding principle. This is the way that these these this is the one thing or two things that I see driving me for the next 10, 15 years. You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_05It's like family. Yeah. Like my dad, he's helped me through a lot of stuff. I think. If I didn't have him, I don't know where I would be right now.
SPEAKER_03So that's good.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I gotta say the same.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01If you have something that really means something to you, nine times out of ten, it's gonna mean something to you down the line. And so, like, if you're positive about that and like you know that's your thing, it'll and it's that's what I noticed too. Like, there's all sorts of people that I like kind of look up to. And if you follow that and like obviously you're not you're not living for them, but like you can you kind of see them as like a mentor, mentor like yeah, kind of, yeah.
SPEAKER_05You gotta be positive with yourself too. Yes, I noticed with a lot of kids at this school, they're negative on each on
North Stars Family Faith And Positivity
SPEAKER_05their selves and bringing themselves down, which I just stay positive, I don't let anything get in my way. Yeah, even kids try to bring me down, I'm just like whatever.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I can I can attest to that. You guys are two of the most positive people in the school.
SPEAKER_05So even when I'm mad, I don't bring other people into it. Yeah, because that's how drama starts.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Yeah. Any parting words to like people who, if you know, 15, 16-year-old young dude is listening to this podcast somewhere in Florida, like what's a what do you want him to leave with?
SPEAKER_05Just stay positive, don't stay busy, just stay to yourself, don't have people try to peer pressure you and try to get you into drugs and stuff, because I've seen a lot of that.
SPEAKER_01Like, if you gotten this far, then there's no doubt you can get further.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. That's good. Mm-hmm. All right, guys. Well, hey uh, thanks for being on the podcast. Yeah, thanks for having us. And those of you guys out there listening, remember no matter what you're going through, there's always hope.
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