Going There with Dr. Mike

Musician Luke Jenner, founding member of The Rapture, joins host Dr. Mike Friedman on  Going There with Dr. Mike to explore the profound experience of hopelessness, particularly in the context of coping with a family member's mental illness. The conversation begins with Luke unpacking the lyric, "I've seen no way out since I was a boy," and his journey of trying to save his mother, who lived with bipolar disorder and eventually died by suicide. The episode explores the intense internal battle of feeling unlovable, the weight of a family member's mental health struggles, and the various outlets—including bas...

On this archival episode of Going There with Dr. Mike, Dr Mike revisits a conversation with Singer-songwriter Alessia Cara to share her struggle with anxiety and insomnia.

The “Scars to Your Beautiful” artist explains how she has struggled with insomnia throughout her life, and the vicious cycle by which her habitual sleeplessness is both fueled by and exacerbates her anxiety. In particular, she discusses how her catastrophic negative thoughts -- about frightening topics such as death -- will cause anxiety and keep her up at night. The resulting fatigue from poor sleep makes her vulnerable to future anxiety a...

Musician Petey USA joins host Dr. Mike Friedman on Going There with Dr. Mike, to explore the debilitating experience of "the yips"—a sudden, unexplained loss of skill—and how that concept can apply to our mental health. The conversation begins with Petey’s experience of feeling that his brain was the source of his struggles, creating "self-inflicted" and "made up" barriers that held him back. The episode explores the intense internal battle between a traditional life path and a more authentic one, and how our own programming can trap us in a cycle of indecision and self-doubt.

The...

On this archival episode of Going There with Dr. Mike, Dr Mike revisits a conversation with Musician Sarah Barthel of Phantogram who shares her struggle with devastating and traumatic loss in her life.

The Phantogram singer has been a fantastic mental health advocate over the years, and has been very forthcoming and outspoken about how she not only lost her sister, Becky, when she committed suicide, but also had previously lost her father to cancer, and coped with her mother and other friends having the disease. What the “You Don’t Get High Anymore” artist describes is years of...

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 reso...

On this archival episode of Going There with Dr. Mike, Dr Mike revisits a conversation with Future Islands frontman Samuel T. Herring who shares 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 have 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...

Singer, songwriter, and frontperson of the Grammy-nominated rock band My Morning Jacket, Jim James, joins host Dr. Mike Friedman on Going There with Dr. Mike to explore the profound challenge of trusting oneself while living with depression. Dr. Mike welcomes Jim to discuss his lifelong journey with what he calls an "error in his programming," a deep sadness that has been with him since consciousness. The conversation centers on how this depression can sever the connection to our inner truth and lead to a desperate search for external validation. My Morning Jacket's self-titled album provides a resonant backdrop to t...

On this archival episode of Going There with Dr. Mike, Dr Mike revisits a conversation with Indie rocker Samia where she shares her struggle anxiety led and how it led to her dealing with an eating disordered behaviors.

Throughout her life, the Scout musician experienced anxiety, where her mind would focus on scary possibilities – things that could go wrong that she could not control. This sense of loss of control was exacerbated by both her having suffered sexual abuse and the subsequent judgment and invalidation she experienced from others when she shared her traumatic event.

Samia d...

Singer-songwriter and frontperson of The Beaches, Jordan Miller, joins host Dr. Mike Friedman on Going There with Dr. Mike to explore the often-overlooked but significant mental health challenge of boredom. Dr. Mike welcomes Jordan to discuss her personal journey with the highs and lows of being a professional musician, where intense moments on stage are contrasted with long, isolating periods of waiting. The conversation centers on how this boredom can become a gateway to anxiety, depression, and unhealthy coping mechanisms. The Beaches' album, No Hard Feelings, provides a raw and honest backdrop to the discussion, which delves into how...

On this archival episode of Going There with Dr. Mike, Dr. Mike revists a talk with Singer Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage to discuss his struggle with anxiety and depression.

Also a member of Times of Grace, the musician explains that while he faces depression, anxiety is the “beast” with which he most struggles. Despite years of success, Leach says he often experiences “impostor syndrome,” which both contributes to and worsens his anxiety.

The “Far from Heavenless” singer talks about how he sees building his mental health as an ongoing process, and how he's put in so much time and...

Singer-songwriter Bishop Briggs joins host Dr. Mike Friedman on Going There with Dr. Mike to explore the profound and transformative nature of grief. Dr. Mike welcomes Bishop to discuss her personal journey following the loss of her sister, Kate, to ovarian cancer in 2021. The conversation centers on the societal pressure to “return to normal” after a life-altering event and challenges the idea that healing is a linear process. Bishop’s album, Tell My Therapist I’m Fine, provides a raw and honest backdrop to the discussion, which delves into how we can cope with unimaginable loss and find a new way...

On this archival episode of Going There with Dr. Mike, Dr. Mike revists a panel that featured Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance, Julien Baker, and DeathbyRomy, who shared stories of their own mental health battles, dealing with isolation, and how meaningful social connections are more important than ever during the pandemic. 

Listen to them chat about all of this and more in the new episode of Going There with Dr. Mike. Then make sure to like, review, and subscribe to the show, presented by the Consequence Podcast Network and Sound Mind Live, wherever you get your podcasts.

Singer-songwriter ROSIE and Maddie Friedman of Backline join host Dr. Mike Friedman on Going There with Dr. Mikefor its first-ever live episode, recorded at the Sound Mind Mental Health Music Festival, to explore the often-misunderstood concept of sensitivity. Dr. Mike welcomes ROSIE to discuss her personal and musical journey with sensitivity, from it feeling like a childhood burden to becoming a "superpower" in her songwriting, and how this theme resonates in her song "Big Heart" from the album What Scares Me The Most. This special episode, kicking off Season 6, delves into reframing sensitivity as a vital tool for self-understanding...

On this archival episode of Going There with Dr. Mike, singer and actor Mackenzie Ziegler, otherwise known as Kenzie, opens up about her personal mental health journey. Listen to Kenzie talk about the importance of managing relationships and the trap of people-pleasing.

Kenzie dives into how growing up in the spotlight ultimately informed the ways she began to understand her mental health. The artist discusses putting such experiences and emotions into her art before dissecting behavioral patterns she's recognized in herself she believes inhibits self-care, like overly people-pleasing.

In particular, she reveals how addressing her s...

Charity Rose Thielen and Kenny Hensley of The Head and The Heart join Going There with Dr. Mike as  Consequence Podcast Network and Sound Mind Live kick off Season 6. The artists – known for hit singles like "Rivers and Roads," "Another Story," and "Lost in My Mind," and their new album Aperture featuring the single "Time With My Sins" – dive deep into the complex relationship between creative collaboration, the music industry, and mental health.

Speaking with Dr. Mike, Charity and Kenny explore their personal and collective journeys, including the supportive "welcoming energy" of the Seattle music scene that fostere...

Going There with Dr. Mike from Consequence Podcast Network and Sound Mind Live returns May 20th! But, before that, we are dropping an archival episode to revisit one of our favorite conversations with Yungblud.

Going There's return perfectly coincides with Sound Mind Live's 7th Annual Music Festival for Mental Health on Sunday, May 18th! This free Brooklyn street festival celebrates Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year, we'll feature a live taping of Going There with ROSIE and additional artists! Don't miss out – snag your free tickets now at Sound Mind Live's website.

Find out more at the ...

Just in time for Mental Health Awareness Month, the acclaimed podcast Going There with Dr. Mike from Consequence Podcast Network and Sound Mind Live returns for its much-anticipated sixth season!

Kicking off May 20th, Season 6 of Going There finds licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Mike Friedman as he once again goes there with an incredible lineup of musicians, bravely sharing their stories so we can move the mental health conversation forward. Early guests including The Head and The Heart, Bishop Briggs, ROSIE, and The Beaches, and more fostering profound connections and offering relatable hope to listeners navigating their own...

On this archival and finale episode of the Going There podcast, 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 disc...

On this archival episode of the Going There podcast, Vic Mensa discusses the importance of vulnerability when it comes to our mental health journeys. Listen to the artist talk about his own struggles and how he combats them.

Mensa has been a long-time mental health advocate. In addition to tackling related themes in his art, he also founded the SaveMoneySaveLife non-profit, which is designed to promote mental health and environmental justice.

As a warning in case this topic is triggering for you, suicidal ideation is discussed during the conversation. If you are struggling with suicidal t...

For the final episode Going There with Dr. Mike Season 5, Until the Ribbon Breaks’ Pete Lawrie-Winfield joins to talk about the link between anxiety and the devastating cycle of addiction. Listen to the important conversation now.

The songwriter and musician discusses the temptation of soothing feelings of anxiety with alcohol or other substances, as well as the ultimate pit of addiction that occurs as a result for many. Lawrie-Winfield explores examples from his own mental health journey and showcases how such instances have changed both him as a person and his work as an artist.

Listen...

On this archival episode, Jewel joins the Going There podcast to discuss her personal mental health journey and how she learned to accept the changing tides of wellness. Listen to her insights now.

The iconic singer-songwriter shares what she believes to be the cornerstone of her mental wellbeing -- emotional impermanence. Through childhood stories and oceanic metaphors, Jewel explores the importance of remembering that bouts of anxiousness and depression are as impermanent as everything else. She talks of "buckling herself in" to try and weather such difficult times, coming out the other end curious about what she can...

Violinist, songwriter, dancer, and all-around polymath Lindsey Stirling stops by the Going There podcast to talk with Dr. Mike about her mental health journey, including opening up about her experience with anorexia nervosa. Listen to the vulnerable, important conversation.

Lindsey Stirling, whose new album is called Duality, discusses her history with the eating disorder, exploring the factors that contributed to its development and how it continued to spiral. She talks about subconsciously longing for a sense of control and how restricting her body weight became a way to capture such control. Ultimately, Stirling explains how she came to r...

On this archival episode, indie pop band MUNA join Going There to discuss the potentially harmful effects rigid, binary thinking can have on our mental health and well-being. Listen to their insights now.

The trio of Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson explore how the skills of love and acceptance are vital to our mental health journey, especially as we work on the things that we would like to change. The band talks about how being more loving and accepting towards ourselves gives us the power to pursue such changes. Whether it's exploring and improving our gen...

This week on Going There with Dr. Mike, singer and actor Mackenzie Ziegler, otherwise known as Kenzie, opens up about her personal mental health journey. Listen to Kenzie talk about the importance of managing relationships and the trap of people-pleasing.

Kenzie dives into how growing up in the spotlight ultimately informed the ways she began to understand her mental health. The artist discusses putting such experiences and emotions into her art before dissecting behavioral patterns she's recognized in herself she believes inhibits self care, like overly people-pleasing.

In particular, she reveals how addressing her strained re...

In this archival episode, Lzzy Hale of Halestorm discusses how her fame doesn't preclude her from having mental health issues. Listen to her thoughts on this throwback episode of Going There with Dr. Mike.

The Grammy Award-winning hard rocker discusses how "all the monsters feed on each other," meaning that different mental health issues can exacerbate the other. She explains the struggles she's had with depression and panic, including the guilt she often feels for struggling even though she has a wonderful and successful life.

Listen to Lzzy Hale chat about all of this and mor...

This week on Going There with Dr. Mike, songwriter and producer Aaron Lee Tasjan opens up the importance of perspective, awareness, and how he healthily processes his anxiety by communicating directly with it. Listen now.

Tasjan dives into the intersection of his art and the realities of his mental health, touching on songs like "Out of My Mind" from 2016's Silver Tears. Through such conversation, he reveals how he learned to deal with negative or anxious emotions.

Listen to Aaron Lee Tasjan chat about all of this and more in the new episode of Going There...

In this archival episode, indie folk artist (and former Consequence Cover Star) Faye Webster joins Going There with Dr. Mike to speak about her struggle with isolation and depression. Listen to the insightful throwback episode now.

The singer-songwriter shares her experience of isolation during the pandemic, something to which many of us can relate. She talks of diving into her art as a coping mechanism, as well as the results of such a decision.

Listen to Faye Webster chat about all of this and more in the new episode of Going There with Dr. Mike. 

Then...

jxdn (pronounced "Jaden") is an American singer-songwriter who rose to fame on TikTok before launching his music career in 2020. His debut single, "Comatose," became a hit and was followed by collaborations with artists like Iann Dior and a debut album, Tell Me About Tomorrow. Merging rock, pop-punk, and emo rap, jxdn's music appeals to fans of various genres. With a massive social following and new album When The Music Stops dropping on June 28th, 2024, jxdn is a rising star to keep an eye on.

On the episode of Going There with Dr. Mike, jxdn discusses the emotional...

In this archival episode, Julien Baker joins Going There with Dr. Mike to discuss her experience struggling with depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The singer-songwriter shares how depression often feels like a giant hole and the ways OCD manifests into perfectionism.

Elsewhere, Baker talks about the various methods she uses to cope with her depression and OCD, including exercise and even substance use. She particularly discusses how music has helped her understand, experience, and express her emotions.

Listen to Julien Baker chat about all of this and more in the new episode of Going There wi...

This week on Going There with Dr. Mike, The Lumineers’ Jeremiah Fraites goes deep into his mental health journey, diving into his relationship with negative space and staring down the void. Listen to the songwriter and multi-instrumentalist share his experience.

Fraites, a founding member of The Lumineers, talks vulnerably about his struggle with existential dread and the search for meaning. Ultimately, he shares how he turned that turmoil into a coping strategy, teaching himself how to interpret uncertainty and emptiness as a somewhat liberating force instead of a crushing one.

Listen to Jeremiah Fraites chat abou...

Musician Mary Lambert shares her struggle with bipolar disorder on the latest episode of Going There with Dr. Mike.

The Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter speaks with Dr. Mike Friedman about how she experienced both manic episodes -- in which she seemed more elated, energized or grandiose -- and depressive episodes where she had no energy and was unable to do even basic tasks. These episodes often felt like they come out of nowhere, leaving her feeling trapped by a biological process over which she had no control.

The singer-songwriter has been a long-time mental health activist. Tal...

To wrap up Mental Health Awareness Month, singer-songwriter Marcus King joins Going There with Dr. Mike for and honest, open conversation. Listen to the artist talk about his experience with being bipolar, his coping strategies, and more.

King talks with Dr. Mike about his battle with feelings of "terrible hopelessness" in regards to his life and the world, detailing the ways he identifies such feelings and how he combats them. To that point, the artist explains how important it was for him to develop a vocabulary to address his mental health, one that allows him to adequately desc...

On this encore episode of Going There, Dr. Mike speaks talking with singer-songwriter and musician Noah Kahan. One review of Noah’s music said that he has “become one of the most recognizable forces in acoustic indie-pop … thanks to his alpine voice and sucker-punch-to-the-heart lyrical style.” Noah just began a North American tour, including playing the Austin City Limits Music Festival in October. Then Noah begins a European tour in November.

Be sure to check out Noah Kahan's new song "Dial Drunk" with Post Malone. Check out Noah Kahan’s music, tour info, and merch at https://noahkahan.com/t...

This week, Chelsea Lee and Max and Spencer Ernst, otherwise known as the band SHAED, join Going There with Dr. Mike for a frank conversation about vulnerability and staying true to yourself. SHAED is known for hit songs such as "Trampoline," as well as their songs "Everybody Knows I'm High" and "Melt."

Speaking with Dr. Mike, the members of SHAED explore the idea of finding a sense of purpose and authenticity when they don't feel like they fit in and how they developed their own sense of purpose and authenticity on their mental health journey.

...

Yungblud joins Going There with Dr. Mike to help Consequence Podcast Network and Sound Mind Live kicking off Season 5. The artists aka Dominic Richard Harrison - known for hit singles like "Parents," "Lowlife," and "The Funeral" - dives deep into the complex relationship between identity and mental health.

Speaking with Dr. Mike, Yungblud explores his personal struggles with depression, anxiety, and insomnia, and how he approaches his mental health in a way that allows him to feel better while staying true to himself. He shares coping mechanisms like creative expression, exercise, focused breathing, and reaching out for so...

Great news for Mental Health Awareness Month! Consequence Podcast Network and Sound Mind Live are thrilled to bring back Going There with Dr. Mike for a brand new season. This insightful podcast continues its mission to bridge the gap between music and mental health, featuring in-depth conversations about mental health journeys with your favorite artists.

Going There with Dr. Mike tackles mental health stigmas head-on. Hosted by Dr. Mike Friedman, a licensed clinical psychologist, the show features candid conversations with a star-studded lineup of musicians including Jason Isbell, Gerard Way, Jewel, and many more. Across three seasons...

On this episode of Going There, Dr. Mike speaks with Grammy-nominated Roc Nation Hip Hop artist, singer-songwriter, and actor Vic Mensa. You may know Vic from songs like Reverse and Liquor Locker. Vic is the founder of the artist collective Save Money which includes fellow artists such as Chance The Rapper. Vic has been described as a “storytelling great” and “impeccably self-reflective and honest. He has also been a long-time mental health advocate, including founding the SaveMoneySaveLife non-profit designed to promote mental health and environmental justice. Vic has a new album dropping September 15th called Victor, including the new single B...

On this episode of Going There, Dr. Mike speaks talking with singer-songwriter and musician Wrabel. Wrabel's music is a "refined, masterfully written and cathartically performed collection that recounts love, heartbreaks, personal discoveries, and devastating realizations." He’s also been featured performing on songs with artists such as Afrojack, Marshmello, and Kesha, and has been a songwriter for songs performed by Pink, Adam Lambert, and Backstreet Boys, among others. Wrabel has a new EP out called Chapter of Me that includes the single “Happier.” Check out all of Wrabel’s music, tour, and merch info at wrabelmusic.com.

On this epi...

On this episode of Going There, Dr. Mike speaks talking with singer-songwriter and musician Noah Kahan. One review of Noah’s music said that he has “become one of the most recognizable forces in acoustic indie-pop … thanks to his alpine voice and sucker-punch-to-the-heart lyrical style.” Noah just began a North American tour, including playing the Austin City Limits Music Festival in October. Then Noah begins a European tour in November.

Be sure to check out Noah Kahan's new song "Dial Drunk" with Post Malone. Check out Noah Kahan’s music, tour info, and merch at https://noahkahan.com/tour/.

On this episode of Going There, Dr. Mike speaks with singer, songwriter, and musician Kristine Meredith Flaherty, otherwise known as the multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated artist K.Flay. You may know K.Flay from songs such as “High Enough” and “Blood in the Cut.” Her music has been described as “inimitable storytelling … personable and colorful. Neither an escape from reality nor a shun of the fantastical. Instead, it’s a playful frolic into what makes us simply human.” Be sure to check out K.Flay's new songs "Raw Raw" and "Shy," which are out now and K.Flay's new album MONO is out Sept 15t...