Hardcore Humanism Dr. Mike talks with Sydney and Noah Sierota of the indie-pop band Echosmith about their creative process. They uncover the powerful intersections of anxiety, outside expectations, and how their faith gives them a bigger purpose amongst these struggles which ultimately shapes their artistry. Together, they navigate the challenging emotions of feeling "cracked" and reveal how embracing their flaws has led them to discover the light in both their creative journeys and life as a wh...
Aug 01, 2023•47 min
Hardcore Humanism Dr Mike talks with Tom Higgenson of the Plain White T's about finding the magic in songwriting, specifically in relation to their new song "Spaghetti Tattoo" and renowned hit "Hey There Delilah." They discuss ways in which Tom is able to embrace the present moment and draw inspiration from his experiences, enriching the songwriting process. On the Hardcore Humanism Podcast, we talk with artists such as Tom to hear their stories of their authentic life so that we can learn from ...
Jul 18, 2023•53 min
Hardcore Humanism Dr Mike talks with grunge legend Mark Arm about Mudhoney’s new album Plastic Eternity and how Mark addresses existential issues in his life and music. On the Hardcore Humanism Podcast, we talk with artists such as Mark to hear their stories of their authentic life so that we can learn from their experience as we embark on our own purpose-driven journey. Hardcore Humanism Newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/GBmf0iU/HardcoreHumanismSignUp Instagram: https://www.ins...
May 09, 2023•37 min
Hardcore Humanism In this episode, Dr. Mike talks with Brent Smith of multi-platinum, chart topping hard rock band Shinedown. They discuss Shinedown’s new song “A Symptom of Being Human,” Brent’s struggle with anxiety and addiction and what it means to be invited to the “lunatic ball.” Clinical psychologist and life coach, Dr. Mike Friedman talks with musicians who have broken free from societal and cultural expectations and have overcome obstacles to pursue their passion and purpose. Let their ...
Mar 22, 2023•52 min
Hardcore Humanism Shaun Morgan of Seether talks about his struggles with early family relationships, people pleasing, depression and addiction. Shaun also shares what he means when he says that he's learned to "empty his marbles" as a way of building his emotional health and strong relationships. On the Hardcore Humanism Podcast, we talk with artists such as Shaun to hear their stories of their authentic life so that we can learn from their experience as we embark on our own purpose-driven journ...
Mar 14, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Today we are talking with musician, singer and songwriter Adam Darski, otherwise known as Nergal, founding member of the extreme heavy metal band Behemoth about embracing our uniqueness and finding new ways to express our authentic selves. In the Hardcore Humanism therapy and coaching program, our goal is to utilize principles of humanistic psychology to empower you to find your purpose, work hard to achieve that purpose and build a supportive community so that you can lead a fulfilling and auth...
Aug 02, 2022•50 min•Season 3Ep. 5
On the Hardcore Humanism Podcast, we talk with artists who have overcome obstacles as they pursue their authentic life so that we can learn from their experience as we embark on our own purpose-driven journey. And one of the most challenging issues that we can face on this journey is how we understand and develop ourselves as individuals, as compared to how we understand and develop ourselves as being part of a community. Today we are talking with singer, songwriter, guitarist and music Ph.D. Dr...
Jul 06, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 4
What's up Hardcore Humans! Max Cavalera talks with Dr. Mike about the effect that hardcore punk had on his life, particularly the concept of straight edge on his path to sobriety. Max also shares how his passion for music motivated him throughout his life. It motivated him as a fan of hardcore and heavy metal music to go see shows. It motivated him and his brother to form a band that helped spawn a new style of music when thrash was not yet an established genre. And they worked to develop their ...
Jun 13, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 3
What’s up Hardcore Humans! In today’s episode, Dr. Mike talks with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Ann Wilson of the legendary band Heart about how to cope with feelings of emptiness. Prior to our discussion, Ann had posted on social media a quote from poet Anais Nin about not being able to live in any of the worlds offered to her – that she had to create one of her own. This concept is really at the core of the Hardcore Humanism philosophy which is about peeling away the layers of expectati...
May 03, 2022•33 min•Season 3Ep. 2
What’s up Hardcore Humans! This is the first episode of Season 3 and we are talking with four-time Grammy-nominated musician, singer, songwriter, actress and author, Jewel. In this episode, we talk about relationships and Jewel shares how she deals with those that are disappointing and sometimes damaging. Jewel is someone who has been very open about having faced extreme hardship in her relationships. She has talked about growing up with a father who was an alcoholic and physically abusive. She ...
Apr 07, 2022•35 min•Season 3Ep. 1
What’s up Hardcore Humans! We are wrapping up Season 2 of the Hardcore Humanism Podcast with a special bonus episode where we talk with Jerry Cantrell -- founding member, musician, singer songwriter of the rock band Alice In Chains. In Hardcore Humanism therapy and coaching we want you to apply principles of humanistic psychology to your life so you can find your purpose, work hard to achieve it, and build a community around you who will support your most authentic and purpose-driven life. And w...
Oct 22, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Welcome to another episode of the Hardcore Humanism Podcast. Today we are talking with a fantastic and inspiring husband wife team, Rick Allen and Lauren Monroe. Many of you know Rick as the drummer for the legendary rock band Def Leppard. Rick is also a visual artist – check out his website RickAllen.com for his upcoming showcases in collaboration with the Wentworth Gallery. And Lauren is a spiritual healer as well as an artist and musician – you can check out her new album Under The Wolf Moon ...
Jul 27, 2021•58 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Welcome to another episode of the Hardcore Humanism Podcast. Today we are talking with musician, podcaster and activist Rain Phoenix. Rain is the founder of Launch Left – a creative space for artists which includes among other things a record label and podcast. The goal of LaunchLeft is to empower creative artists by providing them a platform and opportunity to shine. Rain is also a musician - her 2019 album River was inspired by the tragic death of her brother River Phoenix in 1993. And that br...
Jul 19, 2021•48 min•Season 2Ep. 19
This week on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast, we are talking with Joe Mulherin, also known as nothing, nowhere. Joe recently released the album Trauma Factory, which has gotten great reviews, including a cool review from Pitchfork saying the album “glows with conviction and sometimes uncomfortable honesty.” And in October Joe hits the road with a tour of the United States, so check out shows near you. Now there are many physical and emotional health benefits to leading a purpose-driven life. And i...
Jul 12, 2021•53 min•Season 2Ep. 18
What’s up Hardcore Humans! This week on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast, we are talking with John Joseph. Many of you know John as the lead singer of the legendary New York Hardcore band Cro-Mags -- including their seminal hardcore album Age of Quarrel -- and more recently as the lead singer of Bloodclot! John is also an Ironman competitor and an author. In his book, Evolution of a Cro Magnon, he describes how he overcame abuse, incarceration, homelessness and addiction to build the life he wanted...
Jul 05, 2021•56 min
What’s up Hardcore Humans! This week on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast we are talking with musician, singer and songwriter Amy Lee of Evanescence. Many of you know Evanescence for their powerful songs such as “My Immortal,” “Going Under,” and of course my favorite “Bring Me To Life.” Now one of the things that I’ve always enjoyed about Amy’s music in Evanescence is how she has written about and explored darkness in her music. She’s tackled difficult themes such as death, addiction and depression ...
Jun 28, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Today on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast we are talking with the musician, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur and philanthropist Linda Perry. Now, many of you know Linda as the leader of the band Four Non-Blondes and their big hit “What’s Up.” And for years, Linda has also been a prolific songwriter for other artists, writing hit songs like “Get The Party Started,” which was performed by Pink and “Beautiful” performed by Christina Aguilera. Linda has been such an accomplished songwriter that in 2015 ...
Jun 21, 2021•26 min•Season 2Ep. 15
This week on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast, we are talking with the man, the myth, the legend, George Clinton of Parliament Funkadelic. It is hard to overstate Clinton’s influence on music. With a music and stage show so innovative and with an impact on so many genres -- everything from Hip Hop to funk to psychedelic and rock music - it’s easy to see why they were given the 2019 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition to Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic keeping the funk rolling by playin...
Jun 14, 2021•47 min
What’s up Hardcore Humans! This week on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast we are talking with musician, singer songwriter Tim Booth of the band James. James has a new album out now called All The Colours of You. And one of the themes addressed in this album is how we understand and cope with existential angst or fear of death. And this fear can be such a powerful force in people’s lives, to the point where it’s overwhelming. In the worst cases it can cause us to worry constantly, panic and even fall...
Jun 07, 2021•55 min•Season 2Ep. 13
This week on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast we are talking with musician, singer and songwriter Tim McIlrath of the punk rock band Rise Against. Rise Against is known for being very outspoken on a range of social justice issues such as animal rights and environmentalism. One of the themes of their new album Nowhere Generation is the disparities that exist in our society. There are intense disparities that exist in this world for people based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and econo...
Jun 01, 2021•37 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Today we are talking with Grammy Award winning musician, singer and songwriter Shawn Colvin. You may know Shawn from some of her hit songs such as “Sunny Came Home.” And Shawn has a new live album out called Dragon Clouds, a recording of a 1994 Los Angeles show. Shawn will also be touring in 2022 to mark the 30th anniversary of her debut album Steady On. Now on a personal note, it was wonderful to get the chance to talk with Shawn again. Shawn was actually one of the first artists I ever intervi...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 3 min
This week on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast we have Grammy Award winning musician, singer, songwriter and producer Paula Cole. You may know Paula from some of her greatest hits such as “Where Have All The Cowboys Gone” and “I Don’t Want To Wait.” And Paula has a new album out May 21st called American Quilt that you can preorder now. One of the most important principles of humanistic psychology is the fundamental value of human beings and the hope that they will self-actualize, meaning that they f...
May 17, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 10
This week on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast we are talking with musician, vocalist and songwriter Myles Kennedy. You may know Myles best as the lead vocalist and guitarist for the hard rock band Alter Bridge, as well as the vocalist on all of guitar legend Slash’s solo records. And now Myles has his own solo album out on May 14th called The Ides of March. One path to leading a healthy and happy life is the ability to identify and pursue our purpose. And ideally, a purpose-driven life can be fulfi...
May 11, 2021•31 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Today on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast, we are talking with musician, vocalist and songwriter Nancy Wilson - founding member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted band Heart. Heart gave us such amazing songs as “Magic Man,” “Barracuda,” “Crazy On You,” “Never,” “Alone” and “These Dreams.” And now Nancy is coming out with her first solo album titled You And Me. The title track on the album, “You and Me,” is Nancy’s tribute to her late mother, Lois, who struggled with Alzheimer’s. During our ...
May 04, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Today on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast, we are talking with Adam Weiner – vocalist, musician and songwriter for the band Low Cut Connie. During quarantine, Adam and Low Cut Connie have been live streaming a show called Tough Cookies, a combination of a talk show, concert series and support group for people during the pandemic. And the show has been so successful and had so many great performances that they are putting out an album of the cover songs they performed during the broadcast called Tou...
Apr 27, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 7
This week on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast we are talking with Marc Labelle, vocalist of the hard rock band Dirty Honey. In 2019, Dirty Honey became the first unsigned band ever to be #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart with their song “When I’m Gone.” In our discussion, Labelle talks very specifically about his purpose and what has guided a lot of his decision making, which is a passion for music. There is mounting evidence that people who have a strong sense of purpose experience improved ...
Apr 20, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 6
This week on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast, we talk with musician, vocalist and songwriter William Duvall. Many people know Duvall as a member of the legendary rock band Alice in Chains. Duvall has been in the band for over a decade, during which time they put out albums such as Black Gives Way To Blue, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, and Rainier Fog. But before he joined Alice In Chains, Duvall was in several previous bands, including being a founding member of the Atlanta hardcore punk rock band...
Apr 13, 2021•41 min•Season 2Ep. 5
What’s up Hardcore Humans! Today on the Hardcore Humanism Podcast we are talking with Sean Long – guitarist and founding member of the metalcore band While She Sleeps. Metalcore is an intense genre of music that combines heavy metal and hardcore punk. While She Sleeps has been making fantastic metalcore music for 15 years, and they have a new album coming out called Sleeps Society. The album includes the track, “You Are All You Need,” a song that Loudwire just raved, “is more proof that While Sh...
Apr 06, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 4
What’s up Hardcore Humans! Today on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast we talk with Hip Hop artist Hopsin. As an artist he has written, performed, and produced many singles, mixtapes and albums, including the “Ill Mind of Hopsin” song and video series. Hopsin is also the founder of the record label and merch line Undercover Prodigy. During this conversation, we talk with Hopsin about how he charted his own path to becoming an independent artist and entrepreneur. And specifically, we talk with Hopsin ...
Mar 30, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 3
This week on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast we talked with Neil Fallon – founding member, vocalist and songwriter of the legendary rock band Clutch. In a review of Clutch’s album Book of Bad Decisions (2018), Rolling Stone describes Clutch’s music as “bluesy, riff-centric hard rock with hints of psychedelia and punk, topped off by the gravelly roar of wildly charismatic front man Neil Fallon.” And yet as compelling as Clutch’s music is, one of the most striking qualities of the band is that Clutc...
Mar 23, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 2
