TikTok influencer Chris Olsen talks on psychological well being, new espresso model

Over 400 UT college students gathered to hearken to TikTok star and entrepreneur Chris Olsen talk about his journey as a content material creator and advocate for psychological well being and his new espresso model on the College Union on Wednesday, hosted by the Scholar Endowed Centennial Management.

Olsen first gained recognition on TikTok through the pandemic, going viral for his “flying for espresso” collection, during which he brings espresso to different creators, celebrities and politicians like Vice President Kamala Harris, Meghan Trainor and Austin Butler. He’s additionally identified for documenting his journey via remedy and sobriety. Throughout his speak, Olsen mentioned his profession as a content material creator in addition to his new espresso model, Flight Gasoline.

“What’s actually thrilling concerning the app is a few folks have discovered me for very various things after they wanted various things of their life,” Olsen stated throughout his speak. “Perhaps you wanted to see the remedy movies, or possibly you simply wanted to chuckle and watch me cling on to a pole.” 

The Scholar Endowed Centennial Management chosen Olsen to talk after representatives from completely different scholar organizations nominated and advocated for a number of visitor audio system. Throughout final 12 months’s occasion, SECL hosted Hank Inexperienced, a science content material creator. 

Saylor Dement, the SECL consultant for spirit group Texas Sweethearts, stated she advocated for Olsen due to his openness about his psychological well being and former substance points. 

“I actually appreciated him speaking about his substance misuse and being so weak along with his private tales,” Dement stated. “It’s tremendous necessary to offer folks that area that they’ll talk this stuff.”

Olsen has documented his journey to sobriety and his experiences in remedy on TikTok, ceaselessly posting movies of his classes to over ten million followers. 

“These remedy movies particularly, I believe they’re there for fun, however they’re additionally there to make you are feeling not alone,” Olsen stated. “Whether or not I’m going via one thing that you simply relate to, or possibly you’ve been frightened of going to remedy and also you notice that right here’s what remedy could be, and it’s actually not a scary factor.”

Olsen stated he struggled with substance misuse in faculty, and went to rehab after his faculty roommate advised him he couldn’t be in her life if he didn’t search assist. He stated that dialog was extraordinarily troublesome on the time, nevertheless it saved his life.

“When you’ve got a buddy who you’re actually apprehensive about, or if there’s anybody in your life that you simply’re apprehensive about, the largest concern you’ve gotten is the confrontation with them,” Olsen stated. “That will likely be extraordinarily onerous, but when they get to the opposite aspect in the best way that you simply’re praying that they do, then they’ll thanks.”

Radio-television-film freshman Dylan Recker stated she appreciated Olson’s honesty about his psychological well being journey. 

“To me, he’s this humorous man and (makes) these foolish movies, nevertheless it was cool to see him speak about how simply because his life appears so excellent on social media, he goes via loads of hardships identical to a traditional particular person,” Recker stated.

Olsen additionally mentioned the way forward for his espresso model Flight Gasoline, whose title was impressed by his flying for espresso collection. 

“It’s been actually thrilling, it’s so much to tackle, as a result of I’m actually working a enterprise,” Olsen stated. “I’m the true definition of girlboss.”