On this episode, Brian Jost (Forcing Smiles) sits down with Shannon Thompson, aka. Rap Mahomez (hip-hop artist, emcee, beatmaker, and lyricist from Minneapolis, MN) as they discuss their music, mental health, their creative processes, and the reasons behind using their voices to make art. Brian and Shannon were high school classmates and haven’t seen each other for about 32 years! You will find Rap Mahomez on most streaming platforms. Also, please visit…

Conversation recorded 3/13/2025. Introduction recorded 3/14/2025.

Brian Jost / Forcing Smiles:  https://forcingsmiles.com/

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/c/forcingsmiles

Read or listen to Brian Jost’s memoir: “Grounded by Bipolar Disorder; One Pilot’s Landing” (available in print, e-book/kindle, and audiobook). Click HERE to find the book on Amazon and Audible.

SUICIDE AND CRISIS HOTLINE (phone) – Dial 988.  More info:  https://988lifeline.org/

Mental health resource (education, support, advocacy, public awareness):  NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness):  https://nami.org/

Mental health resource (Men’s-only mental health support groups): Face It Foundation: https://www.faceitfoundation.org/

Recorded 02/23/2025. My new psychiatrist warned me of the dangers of THC for someone like me who has experienced psychosis as part of bipolar disorder type 1. Also, I practice a few songs from my September 2024 album “Making Room” which I find myself wanting to forget.

All music, lyrics, voices, full podcast production by Brian Jost, aka. Forcing Smiles.

https://forcingsmiles.com/home

Read or listen to Brian Jost’s memoir: “Grounded by Bipolar Disorder; One Pilot’s Landing” (available in print, e-book/kindle, and audiobook). Click HERE to find the book on Amazon and Audible.

SUICIDE AND CRISIS HOTLINE (phone) – Dial 988.  More info:  https://988lifeline.org/

Mental health resource (Men’s-only mental health support groups): Face It Foundation: https://www.faceitfoundation.org/

Mental health resource (education, support, advocacy, public awareness):  NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness):  https://nami.org/

Progress continues with Brian Jost’s unfinished 2004 song “I Guess I Will.”

For more music, blog posts, and other info, please visit:

Read or listen to Brian Jost’s memoir: “Grounded by Bipolar Disorder; One Pilot’s Landing” (available in print, e-book/kindle, and audiobook). Click HERE to find the book on Amazon and Audible.

Episode 19 intro recorded:  01/09/2025

All music, lyrics, and recordings by Forcing Smiles / Brian Jost.

SUICIDE AND CRISIS HOTLINE (phone) – Dial 988.  More info:  https://988lifeline.org/

Mental health resource (education, support, advocacy, public awareness):  NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness:  https://nami.org/

New song parts captured for “I Guess I Will.” Zoom H2n MP3 64k (about 15 minutes), then WAV 48k/24b (about last 3 minutes). Note… the Wav was up front before intro on separate track with a bit of chorus and reverb.

For more music, blog posts, and other info, please visit:

Read or listen to Brian Jost’s memoir: “Grounded by Bipolar Disorder; One Pilot’s Landing” (available in print, e-book/kindle, and audiobook). Click HERE to find the book on Amazon and Audible.

Episode 19 intro recorded:  01/09/2025

All music, lyrics, and recordings by Forcing Smiles / Brian Jost.

SUICIDE AND CRISIS HOTLINE (phone) – Dial 988.  More info:  https://988lifeline.org/

Mental health resource (education, support, advocacy, public awareness):  NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness:  https://nami.org/

Brian Jost practices piano and tries to re-learn “I Guess I will” as his kids get ready to leave for school.

For more music, blog posts, and other info, please visit:

Read or listen to Brian Jost’s memoir: “Grounded by Bipolar Disorder; One Pilot’s Landing” (available in print, e-book/kindle, and audiobook). Click HERE to find the book on Amazon and Audible.

Episode 19 intro recorded:  01/09/2025

All music, lyrics, and recordings by Forcing Smiles / Brian Jost.

SUICIDE AND CRISIS HOTLINE (phone) – Dial 988.  More info:  https://988lifeline.org/

Mental health resource (education, support, advocacy, public awareness):  NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness:  https://nami.org/

This version (Cloverleaf Mix) of “I Am Afraid” (written January 2009 by Forcing Smiles/Brian Jost) was performed and recorded in March 2024 by Brian Jost partially at Cloverleaf Audio-Visual in St. Paul, MN, and was mixed and mastered by Matt Ebso (Cloverleaf owner).

For more music, blog posts, and other info, please visit:

Read or listen to Brian Jost’s memoir: “Grounded by Bipolar Disorder; One Pilot’s Landing” (available in print, e-book/kindle, and audiobook). Click HERE to find the book on Amazon and Audible.

Episode 19 intro recorded:  01/09/2025

All music, lyrics, and recordings by Forcing Smiles / Brian Jost.

SUICIDE AND CRISIS HOTLINE (phone) – Dial 988.  More info:  https://988lifeline.org/

Mental health resource (education, support, advocacy, public awareness):  NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness:  https://nami.org/

Continuation of episodes 15 and 17. Brian works on his recently rediscovered 20+ year-old song, “I Guess I Will,” written and originally recorded in the later part of 2004 while living in a cabin rental in Barnum, MN, when I was working in Duluth, between living in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington.

For more music, blog posts, and other info, please visit:

Read or listen to Brian Jost’s memoir: “Grounded by Bipolar Disorder; One Pilot’s Landing” (available in print, e-book/kindle, and audiobook). Click HERE to find the book on Amazon and Audible.

Episode 18 recorded:  01/08/2025

All music, lyrics, and recordings by Forcing Smiles / Brian Jost.

SUICIDE AND CRISIS HOTLINE (phone) – Dial 988.  More info:  https://988lifeline.org/

Mental health resource (education, support, advocacy, public awareness):  NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness:  https://nami.org/

Brian works on his recently rediscovered 20+ year-old song, “I Guess I Will,” written and originally recorded in the later part of 2004 while living in a cabin rental in Barnum, MN, when I was working in Duluth, between living in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington.

For more music, blog posts, and other info, please visit:

Read or listen to Brian Jost’s memoir: “Grounded by Bipolar Disorder; One Pilot’s Landing” (available in print, e-book/kindle, and audiobook). Click HERE to find the book on Amazon and Audible.

Episode 17 recorded:  01/07/2025

All music, lyrics, and recordings by Forcing Smiles / Brian Jost.

SUICIDE AND CRISIS HOTLINE (phone) – Dial 988.  More info:  https://988lifeline.org/

Mental health resource (education, support, advocacy, public awareness):  NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness:  https://nami.org/

“Devil Said” was written and recorded by Brian Jost (Forcing Smiles) likely towards the end of 2004 (no later than December 2004) while Brian was living in a cabin in Barnum, MN, when he was working in Duluth, between living in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington.

Brian plans on re-recording “Devil Said”  for his 2nd album “Letting Barnum Be,” before releasing album #3, “The Other Side.”

For more music, blog posts, and other info, please visit:

Read or listen to Brian Jost’s memoir: “Grounded by Bipolar Disorder; One Pilot’s Landing” (available in print, e-book/kindle, and audiobook). Click HERE to find the book on Amazon and Audible.

Conversation between Brian, Jimmy, Bob, and Carl recorded:  01/06/2025

All music, lyrics, and recordings by Forcing Smiles / Brian Jost.

SUICIDE AND CRISIS HOTLINE (phone) – Dial 988.  More info:  https://988lifeline.org/

Mental health resource (education, support, advocacy, public awareness):  NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness:  https://nami.org/

This song, “I Guess I Will,” was written and recorded in the later part of 2004 while living in a cabin rental in Barnum, MN, when I was working in Duluth, between living in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington.

I plan on re-recording “I Guess I Will”  for my 2nd album “Letting Barnum Be,” Before moving on to album #3, “The Other Side.”

For more music, blog posts, and other info, please visit:

Read or listen to Brian Jost’s memoir: “Grounded by Bipolar Disorder; One Pilot’s Landing” (available in print, e-book/kindle, and audiobook). Click HERE to find the book on Amazon and Audible.

Conversation recorded:  01/05/2025

All music, lyrics, and recordings by Forcing Smiles / Brian Jost.

SUICIDE AND CRISIS HOTLINE (phone) – Dial 988.  More info:  https://988lifeline.org/

Mental health resource (education, support, advocacy, public awareness):  NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness:  https://nami.org/