Host Jason Schreurs and lifelong punk rock troubadour Cactus Vella chat about his history in punk and dealing with personal struggles along the way. Whether it was anxiety, panic attacks, or substance misuse, Cactus has always leaned on punk rock to help him cope and eventually stabilize.http://cactusvellamusic.comFeatured song clips:Public Mess - …

Host Jason Schreurs and clinical social worker Eli Nowak of Break to Broken talk about the freedom and empowerment he felt after opening his own practice. Using an eclectic approach to mental health, Eli encourages his clients to search for identity and individuality. http://breaktobroken.bandcamp.comFeatured song clips:Beat to Broken - "Normalcy" …

Host Jason Schreurs and Tara Hahn of California ska punk band Half Past Two talk about advocating for disabled people, not only those close to her but also within the punk scene. Tara also talks about using difficult emotions and subjects in her music as a way of catharsis, something she shied away from in previous years.http://halfpasttwoska.comFe…

Host Jason Schreurs recaps episodes 91-100 of Scream Therapy. If you missed any of these episodes, it's time to catch up!THE SCREAM THERAPY BOOK is now available! Scream Therapy: A Punk Journey through Mental Health is a memoir-plus that has been heralded by New York Times best-selling authors. Like the podcast, it links the community-minded punk r…

Host Jason Schreurs celebrates episode 100 with punk activist and therapist Sascha Altman DuBrul. Returning to the podcast since his last appearance in 2021, Sascha is the podcast's first repeat guest. Sascha talks about the Internal Family Systems Model (IFS). He explains how IFS allows us to distinguish between different parts of ourselves that n…

Host Jason Schreurs and Early Riser vocalist/guitarist Kiri Oliver discuss her social anxiety and how it affects her in social situations and finding connections. Punk rock helps, like playing in bands and watching live shows, but the socializing part is where she struggles. Over the years, she's learned some valuable tips for setting boundaries.ht…

Host Jason Schreurs brings Holly Minto of Crawlers onto the podcast to talk about intimacy and mental health. Holly explains that she had a turning point in her early 20s, after a mental health crisis, when she realized that she wasn't a side character in her love life. And how she found a "new normal" in her life and relationships. http://crawlers…

Host Jason Schreurs welcomes Anberlin guitarist Christian McAlhaney to the podcast to talk about being a touring musician with a family at home. Christian stresses the importance of staying connected to loved ones and of mutual mental health support between road and home. http://anberlin.comFeatured song clips:Anberlin - "Decoder" from Vega (Equal …

Host Jason Schreurs brings Adam Eckhoff of Oh, Are They? onto the show to talk about anxiety and ways to acknowledge the self-doubt and other difficult emotions that come along with it. Adam explains some of the tools he uses when his anxiety interferes with his creative process and everyday life. http://oharethey.bandcamp.comFeatured song clips:Oh…

Tommy Meehan of Squid Pisser, Cancer Christ, and now the mighty GWAR joins host Jason Schreurs to talk about screaming and playing guitar from behind a mask. Tommy explains that it can be a liberating experience and a way to explore different parts of yourself. And damn fun, too. http://squidpisser.bandcamp.comhttp://cancerchrist.bandcamp.comhttp:/…

Host Jason Schreurs discusses the overwhelming power of anxiety with Christopher Lee Lewis, a singer-songwriter and former member of The Kinison. His worries affect every facet of his everyday life. Christopher says being creative and making music is the best way to calm his anxiety and keep him in the present.https://christopherleelewis.bandcamp.c…

Host Jason Schreurs talks to MakeWar's Jose Prieto about his history with panic attacks and how's learned to cope with them. The attacks are terrifying when they are happening, but Jose says one of the ways to manage them is to embrace them. They always pass, he says. http://makewarband.com Featured song clips:MakeWar - "Enemy" from A Paradoxical T…

Valerie Knox of The Anti-Queens joins host Jason Schreurs to talk about attention deficit hyperactivity and how it was under-diagnosed in female persons during the 90s. After recently being diagnosis with ADHD herself, Valerie went on a deep dive to figure out why her condition was missed earlier in life. http://antiqueens.comFeatured song clips:Th…

Host Jason Schreurs and Rid of Me vocalist and bassist Itarya Rosenberg discuss suicidal ideation and how confronting the concept of death makes him appreciate the positive things around him. Itarya explains how making noise and writing songs for the band has saved his life. Literally.http://ridofme.bandcamp.comFeatured song clips:Rid of Me - "Hell…

Host Jason Schreurs recaps episodes 81-90 of Scream Therapy. If you missed any of these episodes, it's time to catch up!THE SCREAM THERAPY BOOK is now available! Scream Therapy: A Punk Journey through Mental Health is a memoir-plus that has been heralded by New York Times best-selling authors. Like the podcast, it links the community-minded punk ro…

Host Jason Schreurs welcomes Chris Broach of Braid to the podcast to talk about his attention deficit hyperactivity and how it affected his personal and musical life. Diagnosed in his 30s, Chris looks back on his younger years of playing music and touring with a lens of acceptance, responsibility, and ownership.http://chrisbroach.comFeatured song c…

Host Jason Schreurs is joined by Elijah Scarpati of "trans slut rock" duo, Um, Jennifer? Elijah talks about how transitioning affected his mental health in positive ways through the validation of identity, but also presented a new set of challenges, both internally and externally. http://umjennifer.bandcamp.com Featured song clips:Um, Jennifer? - "…

Host Jason Schreurs welcomes Missouri addictions counsellor and solo punk musician Kelly Betz to the podcast. Kelly talks about his own drug and alcohol misuse and how he was able to get and stay sober. Kelly's work with youth and adults with addiction issues has been from a lived experience and through a punk-ethics lens.http://kellybetz.bandcamp.…

Host Jason Schreurs is joined by Tim Anderl of Sweet Cheetah PR and Records to talk about his model of helping folks in the punk scene promote their music and projects in exchange for volunteer work and donations. Instead of charging his friends for PR work, Tim volunteers his time in a "pay it forward"-style punk endeavour.Instagram: sweetcheetahp…

Joseph Lekkas of Palm Ghosts guests on episode 86. Host Jason Schreurs talks to Joseph about how his work in the music business caused his anxiety to skyrocket into panic attacks and social anxiety. After recuperating from a horrible bout of agoraphobia and depression, Joseph was able to return to creating and recording his own music, a much-needed…

Host Jason Schreurs welcomes Mean Bikini vocalist Milli Lyman to the podcast to talk about their life with Tourette's, an often misunderstood neurological condition. Milli talks about the physical and vocal tics they have dealt with their whole life, as well as attention deficit hyperactivity, and how both conditions have given them the opportunity…

Hey, you may be wondering why this is episode 84.5 instead of episode 85. And why it’s a re-airing of episode 25 with Rosie Richeson from 2020.Just as I finished episode 85, it was brought to my attention by the enough. podcast that my originally scheduled guest was harbouring a sexual predator and abuser. My scheduled guest’s bandmate has been acc…

Host Jason Schreurs is joined by Paddy Farr, a psychotherapist from Eugene, Oregon. Paddy is the creator of LCBH Punk, a punk band formed at a mental health clinic with its outpatients as the musicians. The band is used to express concerns with the mental health system and forge community amongst its members.Featured song clips:LCBH Punk - "Hospita…

Seb Alvarez, vocalist of meth. and a concert promoter based in Chicago, talks to Scream Therapy host Jason Schreurs about his recent bipolar diagnosis and how it has changed his outlook toward music and life. Seth talks about the validation he's found in being able to put a name to his condition and take steps to stabilize his mental health.http://…

On this episode of Flex Your Head, Nelson from Nelson and host Jason Schreurs gush about Bad Religion's 1990 landmark melodic punk album, Against the Grain. From the thesaurus-busting lyrics to the patented "oohs aaahs" and spur-of-the-moment guitar solos, this album is a stone-cold classic.https://badreligion.comFeatured song clips:Bad Religion - …

On Flex Your Head episode 18, host Jason Schreurs is joined once again by Drue Swalwell, this time to talk about Fugazi's latest (final?) album, The Argument. Is this the pinnacle of Fugazi's signature sound, the grand opus of all of the band's grand opuses? We try to find an answer to the eternal question: how and why is The Argument so utterly am…

On Flex Your Head episode 17, host Jason Schreurs and guest Donald Kennedy talk about the legendary '80s punk rock, smart-ass, satirical album, Frankenchrist, by Dead Kennedys. This is the album that struck fear in the hearts of the dreaded Parents Music Resource Centre and sent Tipper Gore into a tizzy. And, look, there's groundbreaking punk rock …

Andrew White of Garrison and the Portland DBT Institute joins host Jason Schreurs to discuss a form of therapy that has a lot in common with the ethos of punk rock. Andrew has devoted his career to dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) because of its non-hierarchal approach and a focus on self-regulating skillshttp://garrison.bandcamp.comhttp://pdbti…

Host Jason Schreurs is joined by Brond Goyos León of Just Friends to talk about embracing a wide range of emotions through her band's music. Brond explains how using sadness, anger, and, of course, happiness and celebration, helps her to be a whole person.http://jfcrewfanclub.comFeatured song clips:Just Friends - "Zaza in the Sun: -)" from Gusher (…

Host Jason Schreurs recaps episodes 71-80 of Scream Therapy. If you missed any of these episodes, it's time to catch up!THE SCREAM THERAPY BOOK is now available! Scream Therapy: A Punk Journey through Mental Health is a memoir-plus that has been heralded by New York Times best-selling authors. Like the podcast, it links the community-minded punk ro…

Scream Therapy podcast host Jason Schreurs welcomes Get Out of Your Head's Brian Sachetta to the show to talk about his book series and mental health coaching. Brian explains that each person needs to find approaches that work to help their anxiety and depression. Also, metal saved his life! http://getoutofyourhead.comFeatured song clips:Unearth - …

Host Jason Schreurs talks to author Andrew Thorp King about his book Failure Rules! The 5 Rules of Failure for Entrepreneurs, Creatives, and Authentics. Andrew, who also runs Thorp Records and Sailor's Grave Records, explains how he embraces failure as a learning tool and a way to work towards a better life. http://andrewthorpking.comFeatured song …

Host Jason Schreurs welcomes Josh Scogin of '68 (not to mention the Chariot and Norma Jean) to talk about how he deals head-on with strong emotions and pivots them into creative output. He also talks about finding freedom in music and performing live.http://theband68.comFeatured song clips:'68 - "Removed their Hats" from Yes, and... (Pure Noise Rec…

Destroy Boys guitarist/vocalist Violet Mayugba guests on the latest episode to talk about eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, commonly known as EMDR, and the effect it has had on dealing with her trauma. EMDR has helped Violet replace triggering events, sounds, and even smells, with new, solutions-focused thoughts and actions. ht…

Writer and DC punk/hardcore veteran Seth Lorinczi joins host Jason Schreurs to talk about how some people join the punk scene as a way to rebuild a "broken contract" with a world that failed them. Seth also talks about how, for him, punk is an orientation rather than an attitude or style of dress. https://sethlorinczi.comFeatured song clips:Circus …

Kansas singer/songwriter Yasmin Nur comes onto the podcast for Episode 75. She talks to host Jason Schreurs about how music helps her control her self-harming thoughts and actions. Yasmin had her eyes opened by 90s alt rock and punk bands featuring powerful women. The music changed her life and helped her find a healthier and more stable path.http:…

Host Jason Schreurs is joined by Bill Wilson of Blackout! Records, an influential creative force in the New York hardcore scene. Bill struggled with physical and mental health issues throughout his life and found a support system in loud, heavy, aggressive bands like Sheer Terror and Breakdown. Bill says the hardcore scene got him through his tough…

Host Jason Schreurs and lowheaven guitarist Alex Pley talks about his experiences with support groups and how they are so important to a mental wellness plan. Alex has attended and facilitated support groups and is also a a mental health professional who works in group therapy. The punk scene and support groups have a lot in common, according to Al…

Host Jason Schreurs and Chamber vocalist Jacob Lilly talk about the many benefits of heavy music like hardcore, punk, and metal on emotional and mental stability. Jacob recounts finding bands like the Acacia Strain and Rotting Out when he was in his teens and how it formed his identity and gave him the community he needed. He's been putting on show…

Host Jason Schreurs brings registered psychologist Bobbi Ballard onto the podcast to talk about the struggles that musicians and other creative types face in their art. She explains how burnout and creative block are connected and what plays into performance anxiety.http://ballard-phd.comFeatured song clips:The Raincoats - "Fairytale in the Superma…

On Flex Your Head episode 16, host Jason Schreurs welcomes back Donald Kennedy to try and understand the enigmatic album Do Dallas by Welsh pranksters Mclusky. We talk about how band leader Andy Falkous swears the band was never popular, and we kinda agree. It didn't stop the unhinged trio from making better albums than the Pixies. christianfitness…

Host Jason Schreurs recaps episodes 61-70 of Scream Therapy. If you missed any of these episodes, it's time to catch up!THE SCREAM THERAPY BOOK is now available! Scream Therapy: A Punk Journey through Mental Health is a memoir-plus that has been heralded by New York Times best-selling authors. Like the podcast, it links the community-minded punk ro…

Host Jason Schreurs welcomes Brutal Youth screamer Patty O'Lantern to the podcast to talk about finding authenticity. Patty has attended many weekend retreats where he's been able to discover the direction he wants to take in his life. From there, he's become a life coach and mentor to help other people shift out of "default mode" and bring their t…

Host Jason Schreurs and Casey Cavaliere of The Wonder Years discuss the relationship he and his band have with their listeners, including fielding intense conversations about mental health and drug and alcohol misuse. Casey talks about setting boundaries with fans while providing the best support he can given the circumstances.http://thewonderyears…

On this episode, host Jason Schreurs welcomes Tina Rushing of Punk Rock Saves Lives, a non-profit organization that provides mental health and harm reduction resources at punk shows and festivals, as well as community events. Tina talks about how doing mental health advocacy work within the punk scene has been mutually enriching between her organiz…

On this episode, Karen Marie Hernandez of Cosmic Kitten joins host Jason Schreurs to talk about the struggles she faced as a youth in foster care and living in group homes. Karen spent her childhood in a neglectful household, and a teen in the government care system, all the while dealing with mental health struggles and medication side effects. Pl…

Rock 'N Healthy Lifestyles podcast host and chiropractic doctor Jennifer Palladino comes on the podcast for episode 66 to discuss the glory days of the New York and London punk scenes and her formative years within them. Jennifer discusses how mental health and addiction issues were or weren't talked about and addressed during a time when the subje…

Scream Therapy welcomes Annie Kuchenmeister, vocalist and guitarist of Loki's Folly, to talk with host Jason Schreurs about living on the autism spectrum and its effects on her mental health. Annie discusses why punk rock has helped her find calmness in her life, and how she loves to scream, of course!http://lokisfolly.comFeatured song clips:Loki's…

Negative Blast screamer Raineir Pesebre joins me on episode 64 to talk about how his life changed when he discovered punk as a Filipino army base kid. Raineir discusses how writing and playing punk rock allows him to articulate his anger, frustration, and vulnerability and come out the other side with positive energy.http://negativeblast.bandcamp.c…

On episode 63, I talk to writer B. Sonenreich about how she has returned to the punk scene after psychotic episodes because it's a place where she's understood and validated. B. talks about using the punk rock ethos as inspiration to find her authentic writing voice and be present in her art and life.merigoldindependent.com/bsonenreichFeatured song…