CHECK YOUR HEAD: Mental Help for Musicians

Mari Fong interviews contemporary classical pianist RIOPY and Dr. Benjamin Miller, PsyD and President of Well Being Trust.  Pianist and composer Jean-Philippe Rio-Py (RIOPY), who wrote the score for award-winning films The Shape of Water and The Danish Girl, grew up in a cult where he was physically and emotionally abused until his escape. As a child, he survived by escaping to the piano, where he could quiet his mind from his OCD, anxiety and depression. RIOPY shares his unique solutions for recovery along with a clip of "Sweet Awakening," an instrumental off his latest album, Bliss.   
 
Next, mental health expert, President of Well Being Trust, and musician Dr. Benjamin Miller talks about the power of music and the power of meditation in healing both our minds and our souls. Well Being Trust is a philanthropy dedicated to advancing the mental, social and spiritual health of the nation at wellbeingtrust.org.

“Be brave, ask for help, and be persistent in finding the mental help that you need.” For free and affordable solutions for mental health and addiction recovery, visit: http://checkyourheadpodcast.com/

* Donate to our mission at checkyourheadpodcast.com or on our patreon.com page. Every dollar is appreciated, every listener is appreciated.

• THANK YOU for following us on social media @checkyourheadpodcast
• Watch and subscribe to our YouTube Channel:  checkyourheadpodcast.youtube

Say hello and give us feedback! We love hearing from our Superhero fans ❤️🤘

Support the show

CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with our mission to educate, normalize, support, and provide mental health and addiction recovery solutions for the music industry. Participate in our mission and become a CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast Superhero! 

Feel good when you make a donation to our cause, knowing we're fighting the good fight to improve and save lives for musicians and music fans worldwide. Donate on our website, where we also provide the largest online list of free and affordable mental and addiction recovery solutions on  http://checkyourheadpodcast.com

Follow Us! On social media @checkyourheadpodcast and Watch & Subscribe on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@checkyourheadpodcast5174

You rock and we love you at checkyourheadpodcast.com ❤️🤘

The information shared during this interview is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any individualized medical concerns.

Mari Fong interviews Nina Ljeti and Jacob Loeb of Kills Birds, and Johanna Kandel of the National Alliance For Eating Disorders.  Nina and Jacob of the band Kills Birds share their  pandemic challenges, depression solutions, Nina's toxic relationship recovery, and the story behind Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters inviting the band to record their latest album, "Married," at his studio and as an opening act for the Foos. We play a clip of their single, "Rabbit" inspired by Nina's abusive relationship.

Next, we have mental health expert Johanna Kandel, founder and CEO of the National Alliance For Eating Disorders and author of "Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder." A former ballerina and 10-year survivor of eating disorders, Johanna gives recovery advice, how The Alliance can help, and their "Not One More" Weekend,  Feb. 25-27, 2022, which features advocates like singer-songwriter Demi Lovato as a part of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

“Be brave, ask for help, and be persistent in finding the mental help that you need.” For free and affordable solutions for mental health and addiction recovery, visit: http://checkyourheadpodcast.com/

* Donate to our mission at checkyourheadpodcast.com or on our patreon.com page. Every dollar is appreciated, every listener is appreciated.

• THANK YOU for following us on social media @checkyourheadpodcast
• Watch and subscribe to our YouTube Channel:  checkyourheadpodcast.youtube

Say hello and give us feedback! We love hearing from our Superhero fans ❤️🤘

Support the show

CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with our mission to educate, normalize, support, and provide mental health and addiction recovery solutions for the music industry. Participate in our mission and become a CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast Superhero! 

Feel good when you make a donation to our cause, knowing we're fighting the good fight to improve and save lives for musicians and music fans worldwide. Donate on our website, where we also provide the largest online list of free and affordable mental and addiction recovery solutions on  http://checkyourheadpodcast.com

Follow Us! On social media @checkyourheadpodcast and Watch & Subscribe on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@checkyourheadpodcast5174

You rock and we love you at checkyourheadpodcast.com ❤️🤘

The information shared during this interview is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any individualized medical concerns.

Mari Fong interviews Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers with Kerri Abernathy, Marriage & Family Therapist and Addiction Specialist.  Schultz shares how a family member's severe alcoholism and  mood disorders affect him and his wife and the lives of other family members. The muse for The Lumineers's song "Gloria," this woman was sent to the ER 99 times in one year due to her alcoholism. Finding help with an addiction specialist and creating healthy boundaries for your own mental health.  Listen to The Lumineers's single "Brightside" off their new album of the same name.

Next, we have Marriage & Family Therapist and Addiction Specialist Kerri Abernathy who shares her own experience as a recovering alcoholic, and her professional advice what you can do to protect yourself from the alcoholic's ongoing drama. How to help the addict while also helping yourself, and the importance of the alcoholic experiencing the harsh consequences of addiction.

“Be brave, ask for help, and be persistent in finding the mental help that you need.” For free and affordable solutions for mental health and addiction recovery, visit: http://checkyourheadpodcast.com/

* Donate to our mission at checkyourheadpodcast.com or on our patreon.com page. Every dollar is appreciated, every listener is appreciated.

• THANK YOU for following us on social media @checkyourheadpodcast
• Watch and subscribe to our YouTube Channel:  checkyourheadpodcast.youtube

Say hello and give us feedback! We love hearing from our Superhero fans ❤️🤘

Support the show

CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with our mission to educate, normalize, support, and provide mental health and addiction recovery solutions for the music industry. Participate in our mission and become a CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast Superhero! 

Feel good when you make a donation to our cause, knowing we're fighting the good fight to improve and save lives for musicians and music fans worldwide. Donate on our website, where we also provide the largest online list of free and affordable mental and addiction recovery solutions on  http://checkyourheadpodcast.com

Follow Us! On social media @checkyourheadpodcast and Watch & Subscribe on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@checkyourheadpodcast5174

You rock and we love you at checkyourheadpodcast.com ❤️🤘

The information shared during this interview is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any individualized medical concerns.

Mari Fong is interviewed by musician Kat Jensen on living with depression and hormone balance recovery with Dr. Gary Donovitz, founder of BioTE, a customize bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.  We begin the 3rd season of the CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast with your host Mari Fong sharing how hormone imbalance and stress were triggers for bouts of depression and anxiety throughout her life.  After finding the right antidepressant and hormone pellet therapy, Fong finally recovers and appreciates life more than ever. Musician Kat Jensen interviews.

Next, we have international speaker, author and 20 year researcher on bioidentical hormone therapy, Dr. Gary Donovitz. A board-certified OBGYN, Dr. Donovitz shares the risks and benefits of hormone optimization, how hormones can affect our mental and physical health, and the difference with BioTE, a customized hormone pellet therapy for both men and women.
 
“Be brave, ask for help, and be persistent in finding the mental help that you need.” For free and affordable solutions for mental health and addiction recovery, visit: http://checkyourheadpodcast.com/

* Donate to our mission at checkyourheadpodcast.com or on our patreon.com page. Every dollar is appreciated, every listener is appreciated.

• THANK YOU for following us on social media @checkyourheadpodcast
• Watch and subscribe to our YouTube Channel:  checkyourheadpodcast.youtube

Say hello and give us feedback! We love hearing from our Superhero fans ❤️🤘

Support the show

CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with our mission to educate, normalize, support, and provide mental health and addiction recovery solutions for the music industry. Participate in our mission and become a CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast Superhero! 

Feel good when you make a donation to our cause, knowing we're fighting the good fight to improve and save lives for musicians and music fans worldwide. Donate on our website, where we also provide the largest online list of free and affordable mental and addiction recovery solutions on  http://checkyourheadpodcast.com

Follow Us! On social media @checkyourheadpodcast and Watch & Subscribe on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@checkyourheadpodcast5174

You rock and we love you at checkyourheadpodcast.com ❤️🤘

The information shared during this interview is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any individualized medical concerns.

Mari Fong interviews Katelyn Tarver, singer-songwriter and actress, and Dr. Adi Jaffe, psychologist, addiction specialist, and author of The Abstinence Myth.

Katelyn Tarver shares her story and solutions for living with anxiety and teen self-doubt, growing up in the spotlight as a young girl. Katelyn was only 16 when her first EP was released, followed by 5 more EPs before winning NBC's "Songland" in 2019.  Katelyn was only 14 when she first debuted on television, often feeling overwhelming fear and nervousness throughout her career.  

Next, we have Part 2 of the interview with expert Dr. Adi Jaffe, Ph.D, psychologist and author of the book,The Abstinence Myth.  Dr. Jaffe shares the importance of finding the root causes of addiction and how therapy can be essential to longtime recovery and sobriety. He explains his unique approach with the IGNTD program.

“Be brave, ask for help, and be persistent in finding the mental help that you need.” For free and affordable solutions for mental health and addiction recovery, visit: http://checkyourheadpodcast.com/

* Donate to our mission at checkyourheadpodcast.com or on our patreon.com page. Every dollar is appreciated, every listener is appreciated.

• THANK YOU for following us on social media @checkyourheadpodcast
• Watch and subscribe to our YouTube Channel:  checkyourheadpodcast.youtube

Say hello and give us feedback! We love hearing from our Superhero fans ❤️🤘

Support the show

CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with our mission to educate, normalize, support, and provide mental health and addiction recovery solutions for the music industry. Participate in our mission and become a CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast Superhero! 

Feel good when you make a donation to our cause, knowing we're fighting the good fight to improve and save lives for musicians and music fans worldwide. Donate on our website, where we also provide the largest online list of free and affordable mental and addiction recovery solutions on  http://checkyourheadpodcast.com

Follow Us! On social media @checkyourheadpodcast and Watch & Subscribe on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@checkyourheadpodcast5174

You rock and we love you at checkyourheadpodcast.com ❤️🤘

The information shared during this interview is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any individualized medical concerns.

Mari Fong interviews singer-songwriter James Arthur and Dr. Adi Jaffe, mental health and addiction specialist, author of The Abstinence Myth: A New Approach For Overcoming Addiction Without Shame, Judgment, Or Rules.
 
James Arthur shares how living with depression and panic attacks along with a troublesome childhood led him to a life of partying out of bounds. Winning the X Factor UK in 2012 and his hit single, “Say You Won’t Let Go” took his fame into the stratosphere, yet controversies made fame a rocky road. James Arthur shares his real-world solutions for mood disorders and addiction recovery. We play a clip of “Emily” from his new album, It’ll All Make Sense In The End.

Next, mental health and addiction specialist Dr. Adi Jaffe explains his unique recovery perspective from his book,The Abstinence Myth. Dr. Jaffe also shares his story of hardcore addiction and the trials of his recovery which helped him develop his personalized recovery plan called IGNTD.

“Be brave, ask for help, and be persistent in finding the mental help that you need.” For free and affordable solutions for mental health and addiction recovery, visit: http://checkyourheadpodcast.com/

* Donate to our mission at checkyourheadpodcast.com or on our patreon.com page. Every dollar is appreciated, every listener is appreciated.

• THANK YOU for following us on social media @checkyourheadpodcast
• Watch and subscribe to our YouTube Channel:  checkyourheadpodcast.youtube

Say hello and give us feedback! We love hearing from our Superhero fans ❤️🤘

Support the show

CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with our mission to educate, normalize, support, and provide mental health and addiction recovery solutions for the music industry. Participate in our mission and become a CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast Superhero! 

Feel good when you make a donation to our cause, knowing we're fighting the good fight to improve and save lives for musicians and music fans worldwide. Donate on our website, where we also provide the largest online list of free and affordable mental and addiction recovery solutions on  http://checkyourheadpodcast.com

Follow Us! On social media @checkyourheadpodcast and Watch & Subscribe on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@checkyourheadpodcast5174

You rock and we love you at checkyourheadpodcast.com ❤️🤘

The information shared during this interview is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any individualized medical concerns.

Mari Fong interviews Sal Rodriguez of WAR and Jeff Duke, Founder of Christ Powered Recovery.  Sal Rodriguez shares how music, drinking alcohol and parties were part of his lifestyle growing up which led to an addiction to cocaine and selling LSD as a teen. His obsessive-compulsive behaviors made it hard to stop using but eventually found his solutions through Christ Powered Recovery and the 12 steps. Multi-platinum selling band WAR celebrates their 52nd anniversary in 2021.
 
Next, we have Sal Rodriguez's mentor and founder of Christ Powered Recovery, Jeff Duke, who  shares his knowledge on why the program worked for Sal and how to prevent relapse with our mood disorders and addictions. With 26 years of sobriety, Jeff shares common trials and tribulations of recovery and how a better life is waiting for you on the other side.
 
“Be brave, ask for help, and be persistent in finding the mental help that you need.” For free and affordable solutions for mental health and addiction recovery, visit: http://checkyourheadpodcast.com/

* Donate to our mission at checkyourheadpodcast.com or on our patreon.com page. Every dollar is appreciated, every listener is appreciated.

• THANK YOU for following us on social media @checkyourheadpodcast
• Watch and subscribe to our YouTube Channel:  checkyourheadpodcast.youtube

Say hello and give us feedback! We love hearing from our Superhero fans ❤️🤘

Support the show

CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with our mission to educate, normalize, support, and provide mental health and addiction recovery solutions for the music industry. Participate in our mission and become a CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast Superhero! 

Feel good when you make a donation to our cause, knowing we're fighting the good fight to improve and save lives for musicians and music fans worldwide. Donate on our website, where we also provide the largest online list of free and affordable mental and addiction recovery solutions on  http://checkyourheadpodcast.com

Follow Us! On social media @checkyourheadpodcast and Watch & Subscribe on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@checkyourheadpodcast5174

You rock and we love you at checkyourheadpodcast.com ❤️🤘

The information shared during this interview is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any individualized medical concerns.

Mari Fong interviews Michael Murphy, lead singer of Written By Wolves, and musician health expert Kat Jensen. Michael Murphy shares his story and solutions for anxiety and depression, where his goal to always be “the best” started to have a negative affect on him and his family. Michael explains why songwriting is easier than traditional therapy, and how making lists has worked wonders for him. We play a clip of “Help Me Through the Night” inspired by Michael’s anxiety. Written By Wolves dropped the “The Collab Project” EP made as a mental health initiative featuring collaborations with Kellin Quinn of Sleeping with Sirens, Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D. and more. 

Next, Mari Fong, Life Coach for Musicians, and Kat Jensen, singer-songwriter formerly of Love Toyz, talk about the dangers of perfectionism and how it can be tamed to work for you, not against you. How perfectionism can creep into a musician’s life and wreak havoc on their mind, body, spirit and relationships. How mistakes show you the way to achieving your goals.
 
“Be brave, ask for help, and be persistent in finding the mental help that you need.” For free and affordable solutions for mental health and addiction recovery, visit: http://checkyourheadpodcast.com/

* Donate to our mission at checkyourheadpodcast.com or on our patreon.com page. Every dollar is appreciated, every listener is appreciated.

• THANK YOU for following us on social media @checkyourheadpodcast
• Watch and subscribe to our YouTube Channel:  checkyourheadpodcast.youtube

Say hello and give us feedback! We love hearing from our Superhero fans ❤️🤘

Support the show

CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with our mission to educate, normalize, support, and provide mental health and addiction recovery solutions for the music industry. Participate in our mission and become a CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast Superhero! 

Feel good when you make a donation to our cause, knowing we're fighting the good fight to improve and save lives for musicians and music fans worldwide. Donate on our website, where we also provide the largest online list of free and affordable mental and addiction recovery solutions on  http://checkyourheadpodcast.com

Follow Us! On social media @checkyourheadpodcast and Watch & Subscribe on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@checkyourheadpodcast5174

You rock and we love you at checkyourheadpodcast.com ❤️🤘

The information shared during this interview is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any individualized medical concerns.

Mari Fong interviews country singer-songwriter Chase Bryant and Sweet Relief Musicians Fund Executive Vice President of Development & Artist Relations, Aric Steinberg. Chase Bryant shares his solutions for anxiety, depression and imposter syndrome recovery. After skyrocketing to fame, Chase Bryant found himself quickly playing with country superstars like Tim McGraw where the stress of fame took his toll and led him to a suicide attempt. Slowing his life down, being true to himself, and therapy have soothed his soul and helped calm his mood disorders. 

Next, Aric Steinberg of Sweet Relief Musicians Fund talks about how this 501(c)3 nonprofit can help musicians and others working in the music industry with financial assistance, especially during this pandemic. Sweet Relief and the CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast partner for the Add-A-Buck Program where artists donate $1 for each ticket sold to benefit musicians and their mental health. Aric shares how easy it is to apply for Sweet Relief assistance.

“Be brave, ask for help, and be persistent in finding the mental help that you need.” For free and affordable solutions for mental health and addiction recovery, visit: http://checkyourheadpodcast.com/

* Donate to our mission at checkyourheadpodcast.com or on our patreon.com page. Every dollar is appreciated, every listener is appreciated.

• THANK YOU for following us on social media @checkyourheadpodcast
• Watch and subscribe to our YouTube Channel:  checkyourheadpodcast.youtube

Say hello and give us feedback! We love hearing from our Superhero fans ❤️🤘

Support the show

CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with our mission to educate, normalize, support, and provide mental health and addiction recovery solutions for the music industry. Participate in our mission and become a CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast Superhero! 

Feel good when you make a donation to our cause, knowing we're fighting the good fight to improve and save lives for musicians and music fans worldwide. Donate on our website, where we also provide the largest online list of free and affordable mental and addiction recovery solutions on  http://checkyourheadpodcast.com

Follow Us! On social media @checkyourheadpodcast and Watch & Subscribe on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@checkyourheadpodcast5174

You rock and we love you at checkyourheadpodcast.com ❤️🤘

The information shared during this interview is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any individualized medical concerns.

Mari Fong interviews singer-songwriter Cap Carter and USC's Director of Belonging and Loneliness Expert, Cat Moore. Cap Carter shares his solutions for depression and addiction recovery having experienced a painful childhood and the difficult divorce of his parents. Cap’s single “Relapse,” started out as an exit song but became the song that saved his life.  Addiction recovery with the 12-step program helped resolved connections with his father and begin a new chapter in his musical career. 

Next, we have loneliness expert and USC’s Director of Belonging, Cat Moore who guides us in how to make friends and lasting connections even during tough separations such as the pandemic. Cat shares the 5 components of making meaningful relationships and ways to feel like you belong wherever you go in life. 

“Be brave, ask for help, and be persistent in finding the mental help that you need.” For 125+ free or affordable solutions for mental health recovery, visit: http://checkyourheadpodcast.com/

* Donate to our mission at checkyourheadpodcast.com or on our patreon.com page. Every dollar is appreciated, every listener is appreciated <3

• THANK YOU for following us on social media @checkyourheadpodcast
• Watch and subscribe to our YouTube Channel:  checkyourheadpodcast.youtube

Say hello and give us feedback! We love hearing from our Superhero fans ❤️🤘

Support the show

CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with our mission to educate, normalize, support, and provide mental health and addiction recovery solutions for the music industry. Participate in our mission and become a CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast Superhero! 

Feel good when you make a donation to our cause, knowing we're fighting the good fight to improve and save lives for musicians and music fans worldwide. Donate on our website, where we also provide the largest online list of free and affordable mental and addiction recovery solutions on  http://checkyourheadpodcast.com

Follow Us! On social media @checkyourheadpodcast and Watch & Subscribe on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@checkyourheadpodcast5174

You rock and we love you at checkyourheadpodcast.com ❤️🤘

The information shared during this interview is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any individualized medical concerns.