I interviewed the guy who started the Dudes Helping Dudes Facebook page! His name is Stephen Cramer and he's also the founder of Athens mental health festival Brain Aid! We talked about his struggle with depression, the effect his mother's mental illness had on him, and his multiple projects to try to break the stigma on mental health awareness! You can check out the Dudes Helping Dudes Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/285985468085333/ You can check out Brain Aid here: https:/...
Sep 15, 2019•1 hr 45 min
Chad Cochran is a photographer from Cleveland, Ohio, who does amazingly intimate portraits of Americana artists. Chad has recently begun a series he calls "I Didn't Want to Tell You" where he asks artists whose photos he has taken how mental health has affected their lives, then shows the photos with the text attached. You can see some examples of this work in the Fall 2019 Wellness Issue of 'No Depression' magazine. I am releasing this episode in mid-week because it's Americana Fest in Nashvill...
Sep 09, 2019•1 hr 25 min
For Episode 27 I spoke with Christian Lembach, singer and guitarist for the noise rock band Whores. We talked about the death of his father when he was still very young, the debilitating car crash he experienced a few years later, his addiction to IV drugs, and his eventual recovery. You can hear Whores here: https://whores.bandcamp.com/ Here is the Andrew WK advice column I referenced towards the end of the interview: https://dangerousminds.net/comments/andrew_wk_on_the_power_of_dreams...
Sep 08, 2019•2 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Episode 26 is Part 2 of my interview with Sterling Roig. In this episode. we cover everything that happened to him after being let go from the James Hall Band, including living through 9/11 in NYC, briefly joining and then leaving the band Varispeed, having his first experiences with hospitalization, developing an emotional block against playing drums, and more. Sterling went though a lot, these last few years, and I'm really proud of this talk.
Sep 01, 2019•1 hr 19 min
Way back last spring, I interviewed my old friend Sterling Roig in his apartment outside New York City. Sterling and I hadn't been in the same room together in over 20 years, but we were both soldiers in the post-Nirvana wars waged by capitalism vs. art. Sterling struggled with anxiety and sadness through those years, and we talk about that in pt. 1 of this two part interview. The reason I broke this one into two parts is because our original conversation ranged over four hours, and I had to cho...
Aug 25, 2019•1 hr 57 min
For Episode 24 I interviewed Lincoln Barr, a singer/songwriter originally from Mississippi, formerly from Seattle, now living in South Carolina. Lincoln's work is moody, meditative, and thoughtful. He's done soundtracks and albums of songs about his struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts stemming from the violence he experienced in childhood. You can check out his album 'Cruel Dream: Music Inspired by the Film The Past is Never Dead' here: https://lincolnbarr.bandcamp.com/album/cruel-dr...
Aug 18, 2019•1 hr 50 min
For Episode 23, I interviewed Tim Midyett, bass player from the enormously influential band Silkworm, baritone guitar player for the band Bottomless Pit, and now front person for the band Mint Mile. Tim and I talked about the death of his best friend, Michael Dahlquist, drummer for Silkworm, and the death of his friend Jason Molina. You can check out the documentary about Silkworm here: http://buy.couldntyouwait.com/ You can hear Bottomless Pit here: https://bottomlesspit.bandcamp.com/ You can h...
Aug 11, 2019•2 hr 13 min
Bill Mallonee is an extraordinarily gifted singer/songwriter, originally from Athens, now living outside Taos, New Mexico. Bill and I have known each other for almost 30 years and have collaborated a few times, shared many stages, and gone through many of life's tribulations as friends and comrades. I've always admired Bill's extraordinary talent and his commitment to being a man of faith, even while most of us in his circle of friends were staunchly agnostic. Bill's lyrics are fantastic, his co...
Aug 04, 2019•1 hr 50 min
Mike Dickinson is the head of Chicken Ranch Records, a label out of Austin, Texas. Chicken Ranch has been a going concern for the better part of two decades, and has artists such as Five Eight, Flat Duo Jets, Thee Idles, Starlings TN, Mr. Lewis and the Funeral 5, and more. Chicken Ranch Records can be found here: http://chickenranchrecords.com You can see video from the Chicken Ranch/Five Eight trip to India here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IMTSc6CGTo Komorebi is here: https://youtu.be/Aiu...
Jul 28, 2019•1 hr 46 min
I sat down with Buick Audra and Jerry Roe from Friendship Commanders in the sunny kitchen of their Nashville home. I first saw Friendship Commanders when our bands played together earlier this summer. I have been a devoted fan ever since. Both Buick and Jerry survived difficult, unusual childhoods and found each other as adults. Together they have created an artistic and romantic partnership of mutual trust and protection. We talked about surviving and thriving, recording with Steve Albini, the ...
Jul 21, 2019•1 hr 29 min
Ryley Walker is a guitarist and singer/songwriter, originally from Rockford, IL. He lived in Chicago for the better part of a decade, and has now relocated to NYC. He has an incisive, brilliant wit and he came to my attention through his sharp and funny twitter presence. Digging into his work revealed to me that he is also a thoughtful, gifted, and brilliant musician. We talked about drugs, sadness, the isolation of touring, and his suicide attempt in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. His websi...
Jul 14, 2019•1 hr 43 min
Thor Harris was one of the inspirations for starting this podcast. Thor has been the drummer for Shearwater, the Swans, Thor and Friends, Amanda Palmer, Hospital Ships, Xiu Xiu, Angels of Light, Bill Callahan, Lisa Germano, and a dozen other bands. He's a carpenter, a plumber, a painter, a sculptor, a writer, and a has been an outspoken advocate for getting the help you need if you're suffering from depression. He's written and illustrated a book called Ocean of Despair, a firsthand account of s...
Jul 07, 2019•1 hr 54 min
For Episode 17, I interviewed Richard Salino, an audio engineer working out of Studio G in Brooklyn, a cancer survivor, and a dear friend of mine. Richard talks about how he collapsed on a subway platform from a brain tumor, less than 24 hours after asking his girlfriend to be his wife. We discuss that, his treatment and subsequent recovery from stage 4 melanoma. Richard has asked me to make his contact information available to anyone struggling with cancer or who has a loved one who is sufferin...
Jun 30, 2019•2 hr
For Episode 16 I spoke with Patrick Nehoda, a singer/songwriter/guitarist living in Nashville, TN! Patrick is a former wilderness firefighter from Northern California. We talked about nearly being overrun by a forest fire while he was working a fireline, and how that affected his decision to play guitar and write songs for a living instead. We also talked about the death of his mother and how he's coping with that. You can hear Patrick's music on Bandcamp! https://patricknehodamusic.bandcamp.com...
Jun 23, 2019•1 hr 23 min
For Episode 15 I talked to Boo Ray, a fantastic singer/songwriter/guitar-picker from Nashville! We talked about drugs, sadness, addiction, and trying to get better. It's a good one. We met up in his living room in Nashville, Tennessee, drank about a million cups of coffee and got down IN IT. Thanks, Boo! You can hear Boo's music here: https://booraymusic.com/ And here's the Crash and Ride Spotify Playlist for this week! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7sOzwkHgg328GBUm7yjGY4...
Jun 16, 2019•1 hr 42 min
For Episode 14 I spoke with Sam Paulsen, guitarist in Man or Astroman? and guitarist for Mean Queen. She was also the guitarist for the incredible noise rock band We Versus the Shark. We talked about how she copes with the anxiety and insomnia that has been part of her life since she was very young! We talked about her other career as a nurse! We also reveal some VERY exciting news here for the first time! Check it out! Check out We Versus The Shark here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1r4l4XR...
Jun 09, 2019•1 hr 35 min
Episode 13 is the second part of my interview with Josie Cool. In the first episode we talked about the death of her father and grandmother, her decision to transition, and her life as a trans woman. In this episode, we talk about her thoughts of suicide, self-destructive stage antics, and trying to live a life of self-acceptance. You can hear Teacup Gorilla here: https://teacupgorilla.bandcamp.com/releases Ersatz Robots Bandcamp page is here: https://ersatzrobots.bandcamp.com/releases Great Ame...
Jun 02, 2019•1 hr 43 min
Episode 12 is part 1 of my interview with Josie Cool. Josie is a trans musician from Denver, Colorado. Josie is the guitarist in Teacup Gorilla and a brand new band called Altar Girls. She's also the drummer in the all-trans band Ersatz Robots. She is formerly the guitarist in Great American Housefire. We covered so much ground in our interview that I decided to break it into two parts! Part 2 will be released at 12:01AM on June 2nd, 2019! You can hear Teacup Gorilla here: https://teacupgorilla....
May 26, 2019•1 hr 52 min
I interviewed Susie Ulrey from the band Pohgoh! She's a guitarist and singer/songwriter who is living with Multiple Sclerosis. She's a huge inspiration to me as she continues to create great art and thrive despite living with a disease that robs her of her mobility and peace of mind. After our interview, she sent me this fantastic poem and I asked her if I could include it in the show notes: The Thing Is | Ellen Bass to love life, to love it even when you have no stomach for it and everything yo...
May 19, 2019•1 hr 43 min
While I was on tour with Pinky Doodle Poodle two weeks ago, I was able to sit down with my good friend Evan Rowe. Evan has survived PTSD, depression, anxiety, electro-convulsive therapy, and multiple inpatient stays. Evan and I share a lot of common history and this one hit me right in the heart. Evan and I talk about finding something that finally worked to quell his worst impulses and how grateful we both are to have found bandmates and partners in life who will stick by us through the worst o...
May 12, 2019•1 hr 53 min
While I was at SXSW back in March I spoke with Jonny 8 Track! Former drummer for Spiritualized, now a solo artist! We talked about growing up in a small, grey English town! We talked about struggling with the ups and downs of working as a musician! It was a good talk! You can check out Jonny's work here: https://news.chickenranchrecords.com/tag/jonny-8-track/ You can check out the whole Bialetti struggle here, if you were curious about what I was ranting about in the intro: https://www.telegraph...
May 05, 2019•1 hr 9 min
Gus Engstrom is a musician and promoter from Charlotte, NC. He's an old friend and a good soul! He plays in the band Power Take Off and has long been a promoter and supporter of the Southeastern noise rock and punk scene. Gus had a late-life outburst of anxiety attacks and has spent years combating his anxiety and learning to manage it. We talk about that, about being a single parent, about being punk in drublic in the South, and more! You can hear Power Take Off here: https://power-take-off.ban...
Apr 28, 2019•1 hr 46 min
For Episode 7 I interviewed Anthony Aparo! He's an insanely talented singer/songwriter from Atlanta! I met him when I mixed a record he made when he was barely 18 years old! It's still pretty great! He's now a producer and engineer in his own right! He plays almost every instrument! Sort of like Prince, but white and depressed! You can check out an upcoming single from his band Improvement Movement here: https://chunklet.bandcamp.com/album/jan3-b-w-i-know You can also hear more Improvement Movem...
Apr 21, 2019•1 hr 56 min
Noelle Shuck is guitarist and vocalist for the Athens, GA-based punk band SheHeHe. We had a great conversation about punk rock, looking out for your friends and comrades who might be depressed, and about sexism in music. It was one of the more lighthearted interviews we've done, I had a really nice time talking to Noelle! You can check out SheHeHe's music on their Bandcamp page: https://shehehe.bandcamp.com/music SheHeHe is playing in Athens on May 12th at the Hi-Lo Lounge. I will see you there!...
Apr 14, 2019•1 hr 14 min
This is a heavy one. Grant and I both toured constantly in the '90s, and we really treasured the times our paths would cross on the road. We met while he was living in New Orleans, and we've been in touch almost constantly ever since. Grant is the bassist for Pleasure Club, Ballroom Dance is Dead, and a dozen other projects. He's an engineer and producer, and a good friend. He's dealt with suicidal ideation since he was just a kid, and chronic depression, fatigue, and anxiety his entire life. We...
Apr 07, 2019•1 hr 42 min
It's our special April Fools edition of Crash and Ride, our interview with Faiz Razi! Faiz contacted me specifically asking if we could do an episode on Imposter Syndrome. Faiz is one of the most accomplished men I know, and yet somehow feels inadequate and is haunted by a sense that his achievements are hollow and fraudulent. We also talk about being a brown person in the largely white world of indie rock, and what being culturally Muslim in America means in 2019. Here are some of the bands and...
Mar 31, 2019•1 hr 41 min•Season 1Ep. 4
March 24, 2019 - 9:51pm, EasternTime: Phil Smith is one of the co-hosts of the fantastic podcast The Drummers Weekly Groovecast. He's also an outstanding musician and teacher. He's MY drum teacher. When I told him I was doing a podcast about mental health and musicians, he said "I really want to come talk to you," which surprised me, because he always seemed to be one of the most upbeat and together guys in the room. Now I know the whole story, and man, was it illuminating. Our interview got int...
Mar 25, 2019•1 hr 31 min
March 16, 2019 - 11:35pm, Central Time: Tierney Tough is the bassist, vocalist, keyboard player, and half of the amazing writing team that drives the Orlando band The Pauses. We took a break from hurtling from gig to gig at South by Southwest and had a great conversation. We talked about hired gun gigs, dealing with loneliness, how much we love dogs, and so much more.
Mar 25, 2019•1 hr 28 min
This is the first Crash and Ride interview. We talked with Jake Cregger of the bands Triac, Multicult, and the Arkaics. We talked about how music saved his life, about stress eating, and about not spending all day watching Charlie Chaplain films in your pajamas if that's something that triggers your anxiety. This is the first Crash and Ride interview. We talked with Jake Cregger of the bands Triac, Multicult, and the Arkaics. We talked about how music saved his life, about stress eating, and abo...
Mar 25, 2019•1 hr 47 min
