Rock & Roll, ADHD, and Anxiety with Musician Harley Olivia

What happens when a neurodivergent flight attendant trades jet lag for guitar riffs and finds better mental health in the process? In this inspiring and wildly relatable episode, Canadian alt-rock singer-songwriter Harley Olivia joins Gabe Howard to share how embracing her creativity helped her manage ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and why ignoring your passions could make your mental health worse.

From performing onstage to coping with social anxiety, Harley opens up about how she feels singing “rewired” her nervous system, why creative expression can be therapeutic, and how she finally gave herself permission to pursue music full-time, even when the world told her she was “making a mistake” (a song lyric and a true story!).

Listener takeaways:

• why ignoring your creativity can worsen ADHD and depression
• the truth behind the “tortured artist” myth
• practical ways to channel anxiety into creative energy

Whether you’re an aspiring artist, a mental health advocate, or simply trying to reconnect with what fuels you, this conversation will leave you inspired to follow your calling — no matter how unconventional it seems.

“When I wrote that song, that was right before I finally made the leap to quit the airline and really focus on my music. Things sort of came to a head at that point of the most depressed, the most anxious, the most chaotic. I feel so bad for my family because I'm like, should I quit? I don't know, should I quit? They’re like, just quit! You want to! Make the decision! But the hardest thing about quitting was, like you were saying, leaving that stability. It's not like I was jumping into an already established music career.”  ~Harley Olivia

Our guest, Harley Olivia, is a neurodivergent, Toronto-based alt-rock artist crafting an energetic blend of rock and pop music. With infectious melodies, powerhouse vocals, and relatable lyrics about mental health and self-empowerment, Harley Olivia has carved out a bold and charismatic presence in the music scene.

Formerly a globe-trotting flight attendant with over 50 countries visited and 8,000 hours in the air, Harley Olivia decided to swap the skies for the stage. Since then, she has released her debut EP “Hiding Little Pieces”, showcased at festivals like Canadian Music Week, NXNE, VENUEXVENUE and was crowned the winner of both the Jack Daniel’s Supporting Act Competition and Gussapolooza's Rising Sun Award in 2024. Harley has also received multiple Ontario Arts Council grants for her next EP, as she continues to collaborate and perform with JUNO Award-Winning Producer Siegfried Meier.

Riding a wave of momentum, Harley Olivia commands the stage with her exhilarating performances, earning her opportunities to open for artists like SUMO CYCO, Softcult, Skye Wallace and Terra Lightfoot. For fans of Paramore, LØLØ and Garbage, Harley Olivia delivers a strong shot of dopamine that will get even the shyest of wallflowers moving their feet!

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

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