Going There with Dr. Mike

Latest Episodes:

Ian Sweet's Jilian Medford on Confronting Trauma Feb 23, 2021

Show notes

Jilian Medford of Ian Sweet joins the show this week to discuss the effects that early trauma had on her mental health. She shares how the effects of her trauma expressed itself in different symptoms, particularly more steady anxiety, anger, or panic.

The Los Angeles singer-songwriter talks about the search for the right therapy and how the COVID pandemic has complicated that already difficult process. She also revisits the years she spent struggling to find the best combination of treatment for her.

Presented by Consequence of Sound and Sound Mind Live, Going There with Dr. Mike is a new interview podcast series in which clinical psychologist and life coach Dr. Mike Friedman talks with musicians about the crossroads where music and mental health meet.

Pentatonix's Kevin Olusola on the Need for Foundational Healing Feb 16, 2021

Show notes

Kevin Olusola of Pentatonix joins the show this week to discuss the effects stereotypes can have on mental health. He talks about the racism and anti-immigrant bias that his own parents faced and the psychological traumas he witnessed through his family. He explains how those traumas and the stereotypes he faced on his own were triggered watching the murder of George Floyd.

Later in the conversation, the singer-songwriter/producer introduces the concept of “foundational healing”, a societal healing that needs to occur to confront and address the damaging effects that stereotypes have on mental health and well-being.

Jason Isbell on the Politics of Mental Health Feb 09, 2021

Show notes

Jason Isbell joins the show this week to discuss his struggle with alcoholism. The singer-songwriter explains how he's attained years of sobriety following his addiction, which was, in part, triggered by the stress and pain from years of touring. He shares how he's had the opportunity to engage in rehabilitation, the 12-step program, and therapy.

The Grammy-winning artist also describes his thoughts on tackling the mental health crisis on a public level, including how different economic and political systems may influence our sense of self-worth. He goes on to describe some of the changes we would need to make as a society to optimize, rather than damage, our mental health and well-being.

Bully's Alicia Bognanno on Living with Bipolar II Disorder Feb 02, 2021

Show notes

Alicia Bognanno of Bully joins the show this week to discuss her struggle with Bipolar II disorder. The singer-songwriter explains how she experiences both hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes that were marked by paranoia and anxiety.

During these episodes, Bognanno says she would feel as if someone else had “taken the wheel.” The Sub Pop artist shares how she's learned to manage her Bipolar II with a range of strategies, including medication, therapy, exercise, and, of course, music.

Julien Baker on Living with Depression and OCD Jan 19, 2021

Show notes

Julien Baker joins the show this week to discuss her experience struggling with depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The singer-songwriter shares how depression often feels like a giant hole and the ways OCD manifests into perfectionism.

Elsewhere, Baker talks about the various methods she uses to cope with her depression and OCD, including exercise and even substance use. She particularly discusses how music has helped her understand, experience, and express her emotions.

Dispatch on Coping with Stress and Embracing Humanity Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

Dispatch's Brad Corrigan and Chad Urmston joins the show this week to discuss their personal experience of coping with anxiety and depression, in addition to their experiences with bandmate Pete Heimboldt’s struggle with depression.

The Location 13 indie rockers also share how mental illness can cause stress on one’s social system, be it family, friends, or their professional network, and why we need a culture of empathy and humanity to get the support we need.

Local Natives' Taylor Rice on the Useless Slog of the Pandemic Jan 05, 2021

Show notes

Local Natives singer-songwriter Taylor Rice joins the show this week to discuss his experience of coping with anxiety and depression during the pandemic. Many of us have lost loved ones, the opportunity for work, and the ability to see our friends and family amidst these times. Taylor wrestles with these feelings of loss, and how these stressors have impacted his overall emotional well-being.

The Sour Lemon artist goes on to talk about how we're so focused on getting through each day that we often don’t take the time to really acknowledge and mourn the loss of the life at hand. Instead, Taylor cites how he copes with the pattern of what he calls "useless slogging," where we often go on auto-pilot, not really paying attention to what we are feeling or how we’re doing.

Open Mike Eagle on Living with the Mental Scarring of Trauma Dec 15, 2020

Show notes

Open Mike Eagle joins the show this week to discuss his experiences coping with trauma. The Chicago artist explains how trauma can occur in someone’s life through many pathways. Sometimes it's caused by a specific event (e.g. an assault or plane crash); in other cases, it's the result of an ongoing series of events (e.g. racial discrimination).

Coming off his new album Anime, Trauma, and Divorce, Open Mike Eagle also explains how trauma can result in what he describes as “mental scarring.” Thjs scarring can manifest not only in how we process information, but also in the emotional and behavioral responses that we exhibit to stressful situations in our life.

The Thirsty Fish member later talks about how the stigma of mental illness can undermine our recovery from traumatic events. He stresses how we can challenge that stigma by promoting a culture of empathy rather than pass judgment. That way people who suffer from trauma or other mental health issues can get the care they need.

Brian "Head" Welch on Living with Depression, Addiction, and Self-Hatred Dec 08, 2020

Show notes

Brian “Head” Welch joins the show this week to discuss his struggle with mental illness. The Korn guitarist shares how a history of bullying resulted in extreme self-hatred and isolation that stayed with him throughout much of his early life. As time went on, this self-hatred contributed to an ongoing struggle with depression, which he describes as a “darkness."

The Love and Death founding member also explains that, as a child, music was one of the only things that brought him joy, and how his commitment to play music brought him to Los Angeles, where he eventually joined Korn. As the band found success as the pioneers and champions of nu metal, Welch had developed a habit of using crystal meth.

Welch explains the vicious cycle of using crystal meth and how withdrawal brought a depressive state even worse than his depression. Welch describes how he connected to a sense of spirituality as part of his recovery, which he continues to explore and express on Love and Death’s new album, Perfectly Preserved.

Cherie Currie on Living with Trauma Dec 01, 2020

Show notes

Cherie Currie joins the show this week to discuss her experience with trauma and post-traumatic stress. The Runaways vocalist explains how she was the victim of two separate sexual assaults as a teenager, and describes how she experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress, including anger and hostility, pervasive distrust, and emotional detachment.

The Neon Angel author recalls how she initially coped with the traumatic events, including taking pills to help her escape the difficult emotions. She later explores other forms of coping, including channeling her anger into standing up against bullies, seeking therapy, and eventually becoming a drug and alcohol counselor to help others.

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