PUP's Zack Mykula on Confronting the "Rigged" System of Stage Fright

Drummer for the acclaimed punk band PUP, Zack Mykula, joins host Dr. Mike Friedman on Going There with Dr. Mike to explore the debilitating experience of stage fright and its roots in generalized anxiety. Dr. Mike welcomes Zack to discuss his lifelong struggle with performance anxiety, which began with his very first show where he was "wrapped with fear." The conversation centers on the intense internal conflict between the body’s survival instinct and the mind’s desire to perform, and how this anxiety can be a rational, protective response to high-stakes situations. PUP's intense, high-energy music provides a resonant backdrop to the discussion, which delves into how we can learn to manage these powerful feelings by understanding their origins in our past.

The conversation delves into Zack’s candid experience with navigating his mental health, from the physical "armoring" and strain injuries caused by tension, to the exhausting internal battle of feeling trapped on stage. Zack openly shares the specifics of his healing journey, including the transformative power of therapies like DBT and IFS and the profound insight of learning to validate his own feelings rather than resisting them. The episode explores the long road from self-invalidation to self-compassion, the paradox of being unable to accept praise, and the universal challenge of accepting the person we are, anxiety and all.

Listen to Zack Mykula of PUP talk with Dr. Mike about stage fright, anxiety, self-talk, and more. Then, make sure to follow Going There with Dr. Mike via your favorite podcast provider to hear all the new episodes from Season 6. You can also follow the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our shows.

Season 6 of Going There with Dr. Mike is brought to you by Johnson & Johnson who believes that health is everything. Their strength in healthcare innovation empowers them to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through their expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, they are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com, on the JanssenUS and JNJInnovMed on X.