Season 3 of the Going There podcast continues today with Bartees Strange helping launch our focus on BIPOC Mental Health Month. The Farm to Table artist joins host Dr. Mike Friedman for a discussion about the concept of validation and why it it 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. (Something he's clearly proven them wrong about, as he's recently announced his first-ever headlining tour, tickets for which can be found here.)

Listen to Bartees Strange discuss mental health from the perspective of a BIPOC artists in the episode now. Then make sure to like, review, and subscribe to Going There with Dr. Mike wherever you get your podcasts.

Season 3 of Going There is brought to you by the fine folks at The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, who never stop working to create a future where disease is a thing of the past.

Going There is presented in partnership with Sound Mind Live. Sound Mind Live builds community and open dialogue around mental health through the power of music, partnering with a coalition of artists across genres advocating for improved mental health support and outcomes.