The Hardcore Therapist

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In this episode of The Hardcore Therapist Podcast, Sarah sits down with Shi (pronounced “Shur”), guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the New York City punk band SCARBORO. For over a decade, SCARBORO has been part of the modern NYC hardcore and punk scene, blending melodic hardcore energy with raw, honest lyrics about mental health, resilience, activism, and the realities of adulthood within punk culture.

Shi shares the story behind the band, the evolution of the New York punk scene, and how music can become a space to process identity, struggle, and personal growth. The conversation dives into the creative process, the emotional side of songwriting, and what it takes to keep creating in a scene that is constantly changing.

If you’re a fan of punk rock, hardcore music, DIY culture, and honest conversations about mental health and creativity, this episode is for you.

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 In this birthday episode,I reflects on the year I stopped blaming myself for feeling exhausted, sluggish, inflamed, and unlike myself.  I shares her personal hormone replacement therapy journey, the self-blame and frustration that pushed me to seek better medical care, and the privilege involved in accessing a concierge doctor. This episode explores the connection between hormones, mental health, sleep, shame, inflammation, and self-advocacy while also looking ahead to a new year of partnerships, speaking, education, and continued growth.

This episode is not medical advice and does not replace therapy or care from a qualified healthcare provider.

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Today's guest on The Hardcore Therapist is Mike Egan, a contemporary artist known for his bold, symbolic paintings that explore themes of death, spirituality, and the human experience. Before becoming a full-time artist, Mike worked in the funeral industry as an embalmer and funeral director, an experience that deeply shaped the imagery and perspective in his work. His art blends folk, punk, and spiritual influences to create pieces that invite us to confront mortality and reflect on what it means to be alive.

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In this episode, wI explore the gap between insight and behavioral change.

Drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Behavioral Activation, and Exposure-based models, I break down why understanding your patterns is not enough and why behavior is the mechanism that actually rewires them.

I discuss:

• how avoidance and reassurance reinforce anxiety
• why change often feels worse before it feels better
• and how small behavioral shifts create long-term change

If you feel stuck despite doing the “work,” this episode will help you identify where change actually needs to happen.

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Today’s guest is someone who has lived multiple lives—and I mean that in the real sense of the word.

I’m joined by Evan Seinfeld, best known as the frontman of Biohazard, a band that helped define hardcore and crossover culture with a sound and message that was raw, aggressive, and rooted in real-life experience.

But Evan’s story doesn’t stop with music.

He’s also built a path in fitness, personal development, and mentorship through programs like Mantorship and Full Metal Fitness, where he focuses on discipline, identity, and helping people take ownership of their lives.

And what makes this conversation interesting for me—and for this show—is that we’re not just talking about music or business.

We’re talking about:

• what it actually takes to evolve across different phases of your life
• how identity shifts when you move from one world into another
• the role of discipline, structure, and mindset in mental health
• and what it means to take responsibility for who you are, especially when life doesn’t hand you an easy path

Because whether it’s music, fitness, relationships, or personal growth—there’s always a mental and emotional layer underneath it that people don’t always see.

https://evanseinfeld.com/

https://wolfpack.mantorship.com/sign_up

https://www.fullmetal.fitness/

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In this episode of The Hardcore Therapist, I break down why understanding your patterns isn’t enough and why your nervous system is actually driving your reactions in real time.

If you’ve ever thought:
 “I know what I’m doing… so why can’t I stop?”
 this episode will connect the dots.

I talk about:

• Why your brain goes “offline” when you’re triggered
• The real reason overthinking doesn’t fix anxiety
• How your nervous system responds to perceived threats
• What regulation actually looks like (not what Instagram tells you)
• How to catch reactivity earlier and interrupt patterns
• Why the pause is the most important skill you’re not using

This isn’t about being calm all the time.
 It’s about learning how to not react the same way when it matters most.

Because once you regulate your system…
 your insight finally has somewhere to go.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy.

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On this episode of The Hardcore Therapist, I was  honored to speak to Jason Hamacher — drummer of the influential post-hardcore band, Frodus, Battery, and Good Clean Fun and a sound artist whose work goes far beyond the stage. Jason has spent years traveling and documenting rare and endangered sacred music, including ancient liturgical chants from Christian communities in the Middle East. His work sits at the intersection of hardcore, history, spirituality, and cultural preservation. Today we’re going to talk about music, meaning, and what it’s like dedicating your life to capturing sounds and stories that might otherwise disappear.

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You’re in therapy.
 You’re self-aware.
 You understand your patterns.

So why are you still anxious?

In this episode of The Hardcore Therapist, I break down one of the most frustrating experiences in mental health—doing “everything right” and still feeling stuck.

This isn’t a motivation problem.
 And it’s not that you’re not trying hard enough.

The reality is: insight does not equal change.

We talk about:

• Why anxiety persists even when you understand your triggers
• The gap between awareness and real-life behavior change
• How your nervous system overrides logic in the moment
• Why overthinking actually reinforces anxiety
• The role of “resistance” (inspired by The War of Art) in keeping you stuck
• What it actually looks like to interrupt patterns in real time

If you’ve ever thought, “I know what’s going on, so why can’t I change it?”—this episode is for you.

Because healing doesn’t happen from thinking differently.
 It happens from responding differently when it matters most.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy.

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Tim McMahon is best known for his work in bands like Mouthpiece, Search, Hands Tied, Face the Enemy, and Triple Threat — projects that helped define a generation of East Coast hardcore with urgency, conviction, and emotional depth. But Tim’s impact goes beyond stage dives and singalongs. His lyrics have always wrestled with identity, integrity, self-examination, and what it means to grow up without growing cynical.

Today we’re talking about longevity, staying grounded in your principles, how the scene shapes identity, and what it means to keep doing the internal work long after the amps are turned down.

I’m honored to welcome Tim McMahon to The Hardcore Therapist.

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In this episode of The Hardcore Therapist, I break down what’s really happening beneath the surface when your partner gets triggered—and why it’s not as simple as “communicating better.” When your partner gets triggered, it’s not about winning, fixing, or proving your point—it’s about creating enough safety for the moment to settle.

This is not about fixing your partner or walking on eggshells.
 It’s about understanding what’s happening and responding in a way that creates safety—so real communication can actually happen.

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “What just happened?” or “I didn’t even do anything,” this episode is for you. 

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