On this archival episode of Going There with Dr. Mike, Dr Mike revisits a conversation with Bartees Strange. The Farm to Table artist joins host Dr. Mike Friedman for a discussion about the concept of validation and why it is so critical for maintaining strong mental health and emotional well-being.

Strange explains how he experienced the damaging effects of invalidation when dealing with racism, often feeling that some people in his life would either directly or inadvertently invalidate that experience. As an example, he describes growing up in Oklahoma and witnessing violence against black people and fearing violence against himself. When others told him he'd be "fine" or "safe," it didn't reassure him -- it only made him feel more frightened.

He also discusses the feelings of invalidation that came when others told him following his love of music was not a valid choice.

Listen to Bartees Strange talk with Dr. Mike about all this and more. Then, make sure to follow Going There with Dr. Mike via your favorite podcast provider to hear all the new episodes from Season 6. You can also follow the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our shows.

Season 6 of Going There with Dr. Mike is brought to you by Johnson & Johnson who believes that health is everything. Their strength in healthcare innovation empowers them to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through their expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, they are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com, on the JanssenUS and JNJInnovMed on X.