Breakdowns & Breakthroughs

For years, Sam believed he was simply battling depression . He was called lazy, struggled to keep jobs, couldn't understand why everyday life felt so much harder than it seemed for everyone else, and spent a decade believing he was broken. Then came an ADHD diagnosis. In this incredibly honest episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs , we're joined by Sam , vocalist of Sleuth Gang , as he opens u...

Our First Ever Live! 🤘 We finally took Breakdowns & Breakthroughs live... and yes, we were all over the place! In this relaxed first livestream, we officially welcome Chris "Coop" Cooper to the Breakdowns & Breakthroughs team before diving into a chat about Download Festival 2026. We talk about: 🤘 Coop's journey into heavy music 🎸 First albums, first gigs and guilty pleasu...

Episode 9: Tiny Humans & Emotional Damage (Part 2) Nobody is a perfect parent, despite what social media might have us believe. In Part 2 of Tiny Humans & Emotional Damage, Chris and Mari continue their honest conversation about the realities of parenting, co-parenting, mental health, and the emotional weight that comes with raising children in today's world. We explore parenting guilt...

Episode 8: Tiny Humans & Emotional Damage (Part 1) Nobody tells you that parenting can be the most rewarding thing you'll ever do... and also the thing that leaves you questioning your sanity because someone cried when you opened their banana. In this episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, Chris and Mari get brutally honest about the realities of parenthood that social media rarely sho...

Episode 7: Why People Use Weed Why do people use cannabis? For some, it's about relaxation. For others, it's sleep, anxiety, chronic stress, overstimulation, pain management, or simply finding a way to switch off after a difficult day. In this episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, we have an honest and balanced conversation about cannabis, mental health, neurodiversity, and the reason...

Episode 6: The Songs That Saved Us In this episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, Mari shares the music that shaped her life, from discovering metal music in Brazil to becoming a passionate fan of bands like Slipknot and exploring the wider world of heavy music. We discuss how music can influence identity, provide emotional release, and help people navigate difficult periods of life. From song...

Episode 5: Cancer Changed Everything In this powerful episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, Mari is joined by Amy and Sally from Mosh Against the Malignant to share their personal experiences of cancer, treatment, recovery, and the lasting impact it has on mental health. Amy opens up about the life-changing stroke she suffered as a result of chemotherapy, while Sally discusses her battle with...

Episode 4: Music & Mental Health In this episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, we explore the powerful connection between music and mental health, and why heavy music, metalcore, rock, and alternative music can be such a lifeline for people struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, ADHD, and emotional overwhelm. We discuss how music helps us process difficult emotions, regulate our men...

In this episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, Chris, Mari, and guest Mark Smith explore the realities of living with ADHD as an adult. We challenge the popular idea that ADHD is a "superpower" and discuss the everyday struggles that often go unseen, including burnout, executive dysfunction, emotional regulation, forgetfulness, impulsivity, and chronic overwhelm. Mark shares his pers...

In this episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, we explore the rise of the manosphere, toxic masculinity, men's mental health, and the growing challenges facing young men today. Inspired by the recent Louis Theroux documentary, we discuss why so many men feel isolated, angry, disconnected, or unsure where they belong. We look at the impact of "man up" culture, emotional suppressio...

In the first episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, we talk openly about ADHD, neurodiversity, mental health, anxiety, emotional regulation, and what it's like trying to navigate a world that often isn't designed for neurodivergent people. We share our own experiences with feeling misunderstood, struggling to fit in, masking, burnout, and the impact these challenges can have on relatio...

Our host Chris talks about his childhood and how it was different from other children..

Prior to our launch you can see exclusive behind the scenes material as we plan our episodes prior to our launch. Join hosts Mari & Chris discuss & plan their first episode.

A snippet of one of our meetings prior to podcast launch. Our host Marilia Fraga speaks on the research that Heavy Metal music actually calms emotions.