CHECK YOUR HEAD: Mental Help for Musicians

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Mari Fong interviews Jared Watson of Dirty Heads and Dave Schools of and the Neal Casal Foundation and Widespread Panic. Jared Watson shares how his hard partying ways with Dirty Heads ("Lay Me Down," "Stand Tall") descended into alcohol and drug abuse. He recollects his wake up call when rushed to the hospital, barely able to move from his tour bunk bed. Depression and anxiety followed, with his road to recovery being a remarkable one. Their latest album, 'The Best of Dirty Heads' features the single "Rage" with Travis Barker and Aimee Allen of The Interrupters.
Next, we have Dave Schools of Widespread Panic talk about Neal Casal, a musician who died from mental illness in 2019, and the Neal Casal Music Foundation. Dave explains the mental rigors of being a touring musician and the foundation's mission to improve the lives of others also battling mental illness. The tribute album 'Highway Butterfly: The Songs of Neal Casal' is out now, with 41 incredible musicians singing the songs of this beloved musician.
“Be brave, ask for help, and be persistent in finding the mental help that you need.” For free and affordable solutions for mental health and addiction recovery, visit: http://checkyourheadpodcast.com/

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Mari Fong interviews Sal Rodriguez of WAR and Jeff Duke, Founder of Christ Powered Recovery. Sal Rodriguez shares how music, drinking alcohol and parties were part of his lifestyle growing up which led to an addiction to cocaine and selling LSD as a teen. His obsessive-compulsive behaviors made it hard to stop using but eventually found his solutions through Christ Powered Recovery and the 12 steps. Multi-platinum selling band WAR celebrates their 52nd anniversary in 2021.
Next, we have Sal Rodriguez's mentor and founder of Christ Powered Recovery, Jeff Duke, who shares his knowledge on why the program worked for Sal and how to prevent relapse with our mood disorders and addictions. With 26 years of sobriety, Jeff shares common trials and tribulations of recovery and how a better life is waiting for you on the other side.
“Be brave, ask for help, and be persistent in finding the mental help that you need.” For free and affordable solutions for mental health and addiction recovery, visit: http://checkyourheadpodcast.com/

* Donate to our mission at checkyourheadpodcast.com or on our patreon.com page. Every dollar is appreciated, every listener is appreciated.

• THANK YOU for following us on social media @checkyourheadpodcast
• Watch and subscribe to our YouTube Channel: checkyourheadpodcast.youtube

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Mari Fong interviews Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live, SNL, Portlandia, Bandleader/Drummer for Late Night with Seth Meyers, Big Mouth, Los Espookys) and Keren Clark (Psychotherapist, Dialectical Behavior Therapy) interviews, Part 1. Fred Armisen on his 8 YEARS IN THE PUNK BAND TRENCHMOUTH, the DIFFICULTIES OF TOURING with a band, taking left turns in life, BATTLING STAGEFRIGHT, his favorite Death Metal band, my Clash tshirt, on Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo and David Byrne of Talking Heads, SURVIVING TERRIBLE SHOWS, working with friends like Carrie Brownstein and Maya Rudolph, and THE HARDEST PART ABOUT BEING A DRUMMER. Psychotherapist KEREN CLARK talks more on DBT OR DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY, radical acceptance, GAINING EMOTIONAL MUSCLE, improving relationships with others, approaching difficult but importance conversations, being mindful and practicing gratitude.
“Be brave, ask for help, and be persistent in finding the mental help that you need.”
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Mari Fong interviews Brian Wheat of Tesla and expert Karl Shallowhorn, mental health educator, speaker, coach and author of “Leadership Through the Lens of the 12 Steps.” Brian Wheat of Tesla shares how he overcame bulimia, addictions, and lives successfully with panic attacks, depression.

Brian Wheat’s autobiography entitled, Son of a Milkman: My Crazy Life with Tesla, tells how he survived and thrived through 39 years recording and performing with Tesla and touring with Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Poison and other iconic hair metal bands. Brian talks about his mother’s mental health issues, the one person who turned his life around, and how his autoimmune disease affects him mentally and physically. Brian shares the unexpected benefits he found from therapy and medication.

Next, Mental Health First Aid Educator and expert Karl Shallowhorn shares his own journey with bipolar disorder and addiction and what finally led him to believe he could live a life without drugs. Karl talks about the “addictive personality” and how love and fear can be key motivators for change. Using the 12 Step Program for controlling addiction and how to live a life beyond your wildest dreams.

“Be brave, ask for help, and be persistent in finding the mental help that you need.”
For free or affordable mental help, visit: http://checkyourheadpodcast.com/

* DONATE to our mission at checkyourheadpodcast.com or on our patreon.com page. Every dollar is appreciated, every listener is appreciated <3

• THANK YOU for following and liking us on social media @checkyourheadpodcast
• Watch and subscribe to our YouTube Channel: checkyourheadpodcast.youtube

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Mari Fong interviews Jordan Benjamin (grandson), then Mari Fong (Life Coach for Musicians) talks with Kat Jensen. Jordan Benjamin AKA grandson shares his story of living with symptoms of bipolar, his manic episodes, and his family history of bipolar and other mood disorders. His ADHD-like impulsivity as a youngster, acting out in school, his relationship with pot and other substances.

What does grandson keep in his mental health toolkit? The importance of finding creative outlets, his experience with meditation, the dichotomy of emotions, and the power of manifestation. Being an activist with his charity the XX Resistance Fund and how you can participate in positive social change. grandson’s debut album Death Of An Optimist dropped on December 2020 and his single, “Dirty” currently #9 on the Billboard Charts. We share a clip of grandson’s “In Over My Head.”

Mari talks with Kat Jensen on how to deal with life when it gets overwhelming and we feel “in over our heads.” What it means to “catastrophize” with ways to resolve it, and the proven, positive mental and physical effects of CBD oil.

“Be brave, ask for help, and be persistent in finding the mental help that you need.”

For free or affordable mental help, visit: http://checkyourheadpodcast.com/

* DONATE to our mission at checkyourheadpodcast.com or on our patreon.com page. Every dollar is appreciated, every listener is appreciated <3

• THANK YOU for following us on social media @checkyourheadpodcast
• Watch us on YouTube: checkyourheadpodcast.youtube

Support the show