CHECK YOUR HEAD: Mental Help for Musicians

Mari Fong interviews Zac Barnett of American Authors and Chris Bullard, former touring musician and founder of Sound Mind Live. Zac Barnett of American Authors shares about caring for his mother with bipolar disorder and the importance of being a mental health support for those you love. American Authors will be playing at the upcoming Music for Mental Health concert on May 21, 2022, hosted by the...

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...

Mari Fong interviews singer-songwriter Amos Lee and Dr. Melissa Boudin, psychologist and Clinical Director of Choosing Therapy. Amos Lee spent his life coping with anxiety and panic attacks which led him to be agoraphobic at the tender age of 10 years-old.  Lee shares his panic attack recovery tools, and also how to best support someone with mood disorders.  We'll also play a clip of his sing...

Mari Fong interviews Matt Brandyberry of From Ashes to New and Eva Marie AKA Amanda Lyberg, psychotherapist and lead singer of Eva Under Fire.  Matt Brandyberry shares his story what led to his personal breakdown which triggered panic attacks, anxiety and depression. The pros and cons of competitiveness. From Ashes to New's single and latest album "Panic" is an insight to these mood...

Mari Fong interviews contemporary classical pianist RIOPY and Dr. Benjamin Miller, PsyD and President of Well Being Trust.  Pianist and composer Jean-Philippe Rio-Py (RIOPY), who wrote the score for award-winning films The Shape of Water and The Danish Girl, grew up in a cult where he was physically and emotionally abused until his escape. As a child, he survived by escaping to the piano, where he...

Mari Fong interviews Nina Ljeti and Jacob Loeb of Kills Birds, and Johanna Kandel of the National Alliance For Eating Disorders.  Nina and Jacob of the band Kills Birds share their  pandemic challenges, depression solutions, Nina's toxic relationship recovery, and the story behind Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters inviting the band to record their latest album, "Married," at his studio...

Mari Fong interviews Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers with Kerri Abernathy, Marriage & Family Therapist and Addiction Specialist.  Schultz shares how a family member's severe alcoholism and  mood disorders affect him and his wife and the lives of other family members. The muse for The Lumineers's song "Gloria," this woman was sent to the ER 99 times in one year due to her al...

Mari Fong is interviewed by musician Kat Jensen on living with depression and hormone balance recovery with Dr. Gary Donovitz, founder of BioTE, a customize bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.  We begin the 3rd season of the CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast with your host Mari Fong sharing how hormone imbalance and stress were triggers for bouts of depression and anxiety throughout her life.  After f...

Mari Fong interviews Katelyn Tarver, singer-songwriter and actress, and Dr. Adi Jaffe, psychologist, addiction specialist, and author of The Abstinence Myth. Katelyn Tarver shares her story and solutions for living with anxiety and teen self-doubt, growing up in the spotlight as a young girl. Katelyn was only 16 when her first EP was released, followed by 5 more EPs before winning NBC's &quot...

Mari Fong interviews singer-songwriter James Arthur and Dr. Adi Jaffe, mental health and addiction specialist, author of The Abstinence Myth: A New Approach For Overcoming Addiction Without Shame, Judgment, Or Rules.   James Arthur shares how living with depression and panic attacks along with a troublesome childhood led him to a life of partying out of bounds. Winning the X Factor UK in 2012 and...

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 ste...

Mari Fong interviews Michael Murphy, lead singer of Written By Wolves, and musician health expert Kat Jensen. Michael Murphy shares his story and solutions for anxiety and depression, where his goal to always be “the best” started to have a negative affect on him and his family. Michael explains why songwriting is easier than traditional therapy, and how making lists has worked wonders for him. We...

Mari Fong interviews country singer-songwriter Chase Bryant and Sweet Relief Musicians Fund Executive Vice President of Development & Artist Relations, Aric Steinberg. Chase Bryant shares his solutions for anxiety, depression and imposter syndrome recovery. After skyrocketing to fame, Chase Bryant found himself quickly playing with country superstars like Tim McGraw where the stress of fame to...

Mari Fong interviews singer-songwriter Cap Carter and USC's Director of Belonging and Loneliness Expert, Cat Moore. Cap Carter shares his solutions for depression and addiction recovery having experienced a painful childhood and the difficult divorce of his parents. Cap’s single “Relapse,” started out as an exit song but became the song that saved his life.  Addiction recovery with the 12-ste...

Mari Fong interviews Anna Gevorkian and Shaunt Sulahian of Satellite Citi on OCD and PMDD with Chris Trondsen, M.S., AMFT, APCC, OCD Specialist & Therapist. Satellite Citi share solutions for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or  OCD and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder or PMDD. Shaunt Sulahian talks about his late OCD diagnosis and the havoc it wreaked on his life along with the ERP therapy that t...

Mari Fong interviews David Shaw of The Revivalists and solo artist, and Farid Hashemi, Wim Hof Certified Instructor. David Shaw shares his story of growing up with fears, insecurities and “not feeling good enough” which led to anxiety and drug and alcohol addiction. One long night of drinking led to a fateful night that shocked and scared the hell out of David, making him decide on getting clean a...

Mari Fong interviews musical guest Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage, Times of Grace and The Weapon, and suicide prevention expert Dr. Dan Reidenberg of SAVE.org. Jesse Leach talks about how a toxic relationship triggered his anxiety and depression, how he came to realize the abuse, and what it took  for him to finally break away.  Jesse talks about his mental health solutions which include therapy...

Mari Fong interviews singer-songwriter Winona Oak and Richard "Wolfie" Wolf, meditation expert and author of In Tune: Music as a Bridge to Mindfulness .  Swedish songstress Winona Oak was a 12-year-old when her panic attacks and anxiety began, triggered by her hormonal cycle (PMDD or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder). Winona  eventually became agoraphobic but help from loved ones along wi...

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...

Mari Fong interview s Ruby Carr and Natalia Panzarella of Bahari. Mari Fong (Life Coach for Musicians) and musician Kat Jensen discuss the Bahari interview, the benefits of journaling, and the medication naloxone or Narcan for the use of stopping an opioid overdose.  Natalia and Ruby share their story and solutions for bipolar, panic attacks and depression . The duo talks about how they bonded by...

Mari Fong interviews Nick Petty of The Happys and Sally Anne Gross , author of Can Music Make You Sick? Measuring the Price of Musical Ambition and 30-year veteran of the music industry. Nick Petty shares his story of growing up with major depressive disorder, anxiety and ADHD.  Nick symptoms started as a child. He took medication for his conditions but things got worse after his parents divorced....

Mari Fong interviews Hannah Hooper of Grouplove and Hallie Lincoln & Hilary Gleason of Backline . Hannah Hooper shares her story of battling stage fright and recovery, while finding self-love and empowerment. Grouplove’s surprise 5th album, This Is This ,  represents evolving, healing and a way to vent your emotions from the frustrations of the pandemic. A clip of their single "Deadline&q...

Mari Fong interviews guitarist Sean Long of While She Sleeps and Andrea Vassilev of DBSA, San Gabriel Valley. Sean Long share his story and solutions for recovery for anxiety, panic attacks, panic disorder and agoraphobia. While She Sleeps’s single “Nervous” off their new album Sleeps Society is based on Sean’s mental health journey and admits the song is the most important one he’s ever written. ...

Mari Fong interviews pop singer-songwriter Gabbie Hanna and Cat Moore, USC Director of Belonging. Gabbie Hanna shares her story and solutions for anxiety, bulimia, depression and more. Growing up in a dysfunctional family and raised by narcissistic parents, Gabbie had a tough time making friends and connecting with others.   During a dark, lonely period of her life, Gabbie started posting videos o...

Mari Fong interviews Chris Robertson of Black Stone Cherry and Carly Hester of NAMI, Philly and Clinical Social Worker. Chris Robertson shares his story of being manic depressive or bipolar disorder with anxiety and panic attacks along with his solutions for recovery. *Warning: Suicide and suicidal ideation is discussed. Listener discretion is advised.   Having recently dropped their album "T...