Brian Ritchie from Violent Femmes talks about how mental health was approached when he was starting out, the impact of breaking big early on his identity as a young musician, how he manages his mental health and lots more.

Donita Sparks of L7 talks about her experiences with mental health, the band's evolution and her frustration at the reaction to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade as the founder of Rock For Choice, a pro-choice concert series that featured everyone from Nirvana to Pearl Jam, Rage Against The Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Donita also discusses her proud role in empowering trans individuals as their saviours out of the speakers in the opening segment of this week's episode.

Donita's interview is followed by a deep and intimate conversation with War On Women's Shawna Potter. War On Women is an outspoken feminist band from Baltimore who speak truth to power. Shawna shares her journey to finding her purpose in a new role as an intimacy coordinator for film and television. Shawna highlights the impact of representation in cinema and the challenges women face in the industry. She also shares her experiences with mental health as a neurotypical individual, and the dramatic differences between the Australian and American healthcare systems. Shauna advocates for therapy and self-care routines to maintain mental health, stressing the importance of persistence and consistency.

What does depression feel like? Artists including Corey Taylor (Slipknot), B Real (Cypress Hill), Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Jessica Pimentel, Devin Townsend, Jake Duzsik (Health), Connie Sgarbossa (Seeyouspacecowboy) and Kyle Anderson (Brand of Sacrifice) reflect on their experiences of depression and darkness. They also share the coping mechanisms that have helped them get through it.

Lindsay Schoolcraft is a Canadian singer, harpist, keyboardist and music producer who is an established solo artist who also spent seven years with Cradle of Filth. In this episode, she discusses her mental health journey and reflects on her time with Cradle of Filth, noting the challenges of dealing with narcissistic individuals and the strain on her mental health. Lindsay emphasises the importance of setting boundaries and the transformative power of therapy. She also shares her creative process, including what to expect from her new album and the influence of her autism. Lindsay also touches on the support from her friend Xenoyr (Ne Obliviscaris) and why it is so important to remember that's for you won't go by you.

Jake Duzsik of LA industrial band HEALTH explores his experiences with mental health, creativity and illness plus "DSMV," the song they named after The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - a volume where all of us in the mental health club are included. We talk about how their desolate music may be connecting right now because of the bleak world we currently inhabit, what it’s like to live with obsessive compulsive disorder, the evils of big tech and its psychological manipulation, working with Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails, what happens after addiction and lots more.

B Real from Cypress Hill discussed his own mental health experiences and the challenges of expressing vulnerability in aggressive environments like gang life and hip hop. B Real also shared his journey with cannabis, initially using it casually but later becoming an advocate. He highlighted the organic integration of cannabis themes in their music. B Real also touched on magic moments from the making of Black Sunday, his musical evolution, the struggles of being an icon, and his upcoming projects, including new music from Cypress Hill and collaborations with other artists.

Jessica Pimentel (extreme metal band Brujeria, Netflix's Orange is the New Black) shares her long history with Tibetan Buddhism and how to directly apply it to your life to elevate your mental health and combat depression and suffering. She also explores her creative life as a musician, actor and artist in general.

This week’s episode features Kyle from Canadian deathcore band Brand of Sacrifice, Sean from Australian metal band Make Them Suffer and Sam from British band Asking Alexandria, interviewed at Knotfest and Good Things Festival in Sydney, Australia.

The three-part conversation delves into the stigma surrounding male mental health in the music scene, personal experiences with addiction and the impact of sobriety on emotional regulation and creative expression. We also reflect on how therapy can help reconnect you with your inner voice and provide moral clarity. 

The discussion also touches on the role of music in addressing mental health issues, the community aspect of the music industry, and the responsibility artists have in using their platform to raise awareness and support.

John Joseph first came to prominence as the singer for NYC hardcore band CRO-MAGS. Now an established writer, Ironman, athlete, plant-based living advocate and all-around creative, John joins Tim and Christina to discuss his journey from foster care to finding music, overcoming addiction and achieving creative success and physical feats like a series of Ironman events.

John’s book “The PMA Effect” explores how a Positive Mental Attitude can arm you to combat the challenges of the “enemy mind” and empower you to take real action daily towards your goals. He highlighted the significance of humility, service, and action in personal growth. John also discussed his new book "Destroying Monsters" and his commitment to a plant-based lifestyle. What’s the message of this show? Resilience, focus on daily behaviours in the right direction, and the dangers of ego in creative and personal endeavours. Get psyched to complete your next project after this podcast.

This is the second episode featuring John Joseph. For an in-depth exploration of his book, “Destroying Monsters,” check out Episode #9.

Music has the power to transform our lives. The extremely charismatic Benji Webbe of Skindred chats to Tim and Christina about the importance of positivity, projection, and choice in shaping mental health and wellbeing (especially while writing music during a pandemic). Benji also shares the very personal experience of losing his parents at a young age and the importance of appreciating relationships. As Christina says, every day could be our last ... expressing love and gratitude is essential. In the second half of the episode, Tim and Christina continue to reflect on "happiness as a choice" even in the face of suffering. We spoke about the impact of negative energy and the importance of self-awareness and perspective. We also delve into our own traumatic experiences and how they became transformative opportunities (even when they hurt).