Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of The Hardcore Therapist Podcast, I spoke to Drew Maxey. He is a high school English teacher, comic book writer for DC under the name DrewXdeficit, and frontman for the St. Louis hardcore bands, Good Grief, Like Heaven and Time and Pressure. He’s also straight edge and brings a fierce, thoughtful voice to everything he does—on stage, in the classroom, and on the page.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever landed a promotion, finished a project, or reached a milestone only to think, “They must have made a mistake…I don’t really deserve this”? That nagging self-doubt is called imposter syndrome, and in this episode of The Hardcore Therapist, I explores why it shows up, how family dynamics and perfectionism feed it, and why high achievers and creatives are especially vulnerable. In this 20-minute conversation, you’ll learn what imposter syndrome really is (and isn’t), how therapy modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Schema Therapy can help reframe those thoughts, and practical tools you can use right away — from keeping a success journal, to naming imposter thoughts, to practicing self-compassion. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I really good enough?” this episode will remind you that you are not a fraud, and you are not alone.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Today on The Hardcore Therapist,  I’m sitting down with someone who blends creativity with deep compassion — Alison Mennor AKA FAST ALI. Ali is an accomplished artist and founder of Lost & Found Tattoos, and you may know her from the late '90s/early 2000s New Jersey Hardcore band Fast Times. Alongside her art and music, Ali dedicated her time to providing  nipple tattoos for breast cancer survivors — a powerful way of helping people heal. 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Today, we’re diving into a relationship pattern that so many of my clients — and honestly, me in my past life too — have found themselves stuck in. It’s being with someone who is emotionally unavailable… and somehow finding yourself doing 80% of the work to hold things together while they coast at 20%.

Now, if you’ve ever been the one chasing texts, planning dates, initiating deep talks, and being the emotional glue… only to realize they’re just kind of along for the ride… this is going to hit home for you.

And here’s the thing — this pattern isn’t just about them. It’s also about why you stay, why you keep over-functioning, and what needs to shift so you don’t get pulled into it again. So today, I’m breaking down the signs of emotional unavailability, why we fall into the 80/20 trap, and what you can start doing differently… starting now

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

This episode of The Hardcore Therapist, I had the chance to talk to Joe Nelson, co-founder of Trust Records, is a pivotal figure in the hardcore punk community whose roots in the scene run deep. A former vocalist for bands like Triggerman and member of seminal acts including Ignite, Nelson brings decades of lived experience and passion to his work preserving the legacy of punk’s formative years. With Trust Records, he’s made it his mission to honor and reissue influential albums from the genre’s golden era—ensuring that the stories, ethics, and sounds of hardcore remain accessible to new generations. 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Can an algorithm truly support your mental health—or are we just outsourcing intimacy? In this episode of The Hardcore Therapist, I  takes a deep dive into the world of AI mental health apps like Woebot, Wysa, and Replika.

We’ll explore the research behind these tools, the appeal of 24/7 emotional support, and the potential risks of replacing real human connection with artificial “empathy.” Sarah shares insights from her clinical practice, including how AI can sometimes help—and how it can dangerously fall short.

Whether you're curious about digital therapy, using these tools yourself, or supporting someone who is, this episode will help you think critically about where tech ends and true healing begins

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of The Hardcore Therapist I spoke to Dr. Kate Quinn i a UK-based clinical psychologist and co-director of Heavy Metal Therapy, a community project that uses heavy music to support mental health. A lifelong metalhead, Kate created HMT to challenge stigma and show how metal can help people process emotions like anger, grief, and loss. Through her clinical work, public speaking, and her podcast The Church of HMT, Kate advocates for embracing difficult feelings and finding healing through music.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of The Hardcore Therapist, I breaks down one of the most misunderstood dynamics in relationships: the difference between emotional intimacy and emotional enmeshment. If you’ve ever wondered whether your deep connection with someone is healthy—or if it’s crossing into codependent territory—this episode is for you.

We’ll explore:

• The key signs of emotional enmeshment
  
  
  
• What real intimacy looks and feels like
  
  
  
• Why those of us with trauma or attachment wounds often confuse the two
  
  
  
• How to begin untangling yourself without losing connection

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Today on The Hardcore Therapist, we’re joined by Rebecca Lore—better known as The Hardcore Cheerleader. From her early days on the sidelines as a high school cheerleader to her lifelong passion for movement, dance, and self-expression, Rebecca shares how she channels energy, joy, and authenticity into everything she does. We dive into her commitment to the straight edge lifestyle, being a mom, work life balance and everything in between.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of The Hardcore Therapist Podcast, I explores the psychology behind crowd killing in the hardcore scene. Why does it happen? What emotional and cultural forces drive it? And how is it pushing people out of a community built on connection and catharsis? From toxic masculinity to trauma responses, I try to breaks down the mental health impact of pit culture — and how we can reclaim hardcore as a space for expression without harm.

Support the show