Going There with Dr. Mike

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. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

Future Islands frontman Samuel T. Herring joins the show this week to share how he fell into the very dangerous and very common cycle of depression and addiction. Herring explains how this struggle has led to suicidal thoughts, a dependency on cocaine, and self-isolation, all of which has led to further depression and disconnection. The As Long As You Are vocalist and songwriter states how he was able to explore his deepest and most frightening emotions by allowing himself to “touch the bottom” of his darkness. This, in turn, led him to accept his own negative feelings, helped him connect with people, and also express his love for others as part of his ongoing recovery. 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.

311 singer-songwriter Nick Hexum joins the show this week to discuss how he copes with anxiety. In particular, Hexum explains how he often falls prey to “future tripping": an unfortunate habit that finds him getting anxious about events that may happen in the future as opposed to focusing on improving life in the here and the now. The Voyager artist also describes his intense coping regimen that includes therapy, focusing on how to understand and tolerate negative emotions, and working to find healthier and more adaptive ways of thinking. Because, for Hexum, mental health is a verb – an ongoing and active process that requires time and dedication. 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.

Shamir joins Dr. Mike Friedman on the series premiere of Going There to discuss his journey living and coping with bipolar disorder. The Las Vegas artist digresses on how bipolar often feels like he's trapped in his moods, thoughts, and behaviorisms, likening the condition to a method actor who can’t get out of character. The Accidental Popstar Records founder and owner shares how being limited creatively triggered an episode of depression and revisits a manic episode so intense that he needed to be hospitalized. Later in the discussion, Shamir explains how he copes on a daily basis by surrounding himself with the utmost supportive people. Presented by Consequence of Sound and Sound Mind Live, Going There 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.

Sound Mind Live and Consequence of Sound present Going There. Hosted by licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Mike, the weekly series aims to create a safe space for musicians to have honest, healthy conversations about mental health. Each episode covers the experience of artists and creatives as it pertains to specific issues, be it depression, anxiety, addiction, whatever they bring to the table. In the end, the goal is to de-stigmatize these topics and learn from each other. So, join us at the crossroads where music and mental health meet.