Featuring Meghan Trainor

with her about her new album, Treat Myself. We also talked about falling in love, anxiety, her surgeries that she went through, and we talk about a lot in this episode. So I hope you guys enjoy it. You guys, Megan's your right. I am so excited that you're on my podcast. I'm I'm freaking out. Yeah, I'm freaking out, your young legend. I want to talk to you about so many things today, but I want to start with your new album and Treat Myself. First of all, the title have you seen

Parks and Rack? Um? Okay, so you know the episode Treat Yourself. I've like, I think so yes, because that's the first thing that I thought of it when I thought of the album. Because Treating Yourself, it's honestly, it's not talked about enough, it's not it's not. Yes, amen, you're so smart it scares me. Um. Yeah, I loved how everyone was for a while. I was like treat yourself that whole phase, and I wanted to flip it on myself, and I was like, I'm gonna treat myself.

And because I wrote a song called Treat Myself, it's not on the album, but it's out there already, so I wanted to put new songs on the album. But yeah, I I went through a phase of Um. I was like diagnosed with panic disorder and it was like when you get panic attacks all the time, panic attacks are don't even get it's career so young and you've had them. Mine hit at like five, I've had at since, like

I don't remember like intense really yeah, I've had. I've been lucky to have only a few panic attacks, but when I have, it's like an out of a body experience. Yeah. When I was younger, I would only have like maybe a handful, and I'd be an anxious kid and I always like picked the skin off my fingers, but nothing like this. This was like my body was like we

need to break. It's scared. I don't know if this happens to be like I've had to miss school sometimes, like the last year when my anxiety was really bad, like it was crippling. Yeah, crippling, that's what I say. I can imagine if I had this in high school, I'd be like I need a week, Like I needed months to recover from this, and it took a lot. But um, my therapist actually said when I started going in and being like I don't have much to talk about I'm feeling right now, she was like, look at

your transformation. Remember when you first came in here and you were vibrating and shaking and like crying all the time, and now you're like, what's up, girl? Like all happy. She was like a lot of people are talking about UM, are opening up to their stories of their panic, but like you've accomplished it, like you crushed it. And that's really important to acknowledge because I feel like, you know,

you go through therapy, which is great. If you don't go, you gotta gotta even if you don't have anxiety, I just recommend going learned about yourself. These interviews are great therapy for me, honestly, great, Let's talk about your story. I mean, yeah, I mean, that's how treat myself came up because my therapist was like, you should treat yourself, You should do something for you because of this hard work you did. How did you treat yourself? Wail? I

did a lot. I started um taking more time for myself and speaking up for myself and saying no, you know, and it's so hard, and I just like I want to make everyone proud and work really hard and that At some point, your body, like my mind, I was like, I'm happy, I have the love of my life. I'm doing great, my career is awesome, I have all my dreams, and my body was like dang, dang, dang, this isn't okay or too it's too much for us. We gotta stop.

Did you realize did you realize it was anxiety? At first? No? I had no idea. I was like very uneducated. I knew I heard will say like, oh I've had panic attacks, and I didn't know it could physically cripple you like that. So I thought like I was losing my mind. Like I was like, oh, this is like probably schizophrenia, or like I need to be in an asylum home and like really looked at for a long time, and and

I was spooky. It was very scared. Um bodied association where you like leave your body from that, I was like, okay, this is it. My brain is done, like it's giving up. But all it was was my chemicals were imbalanced. And so finally when a doctor told me that, I was like, that sounds like what's happening, and um, it can be fixed. It can be fixed. And I was like, hallelujah, this is it. Thank you so much. And he saved my life. And every time he calls my doctor, I'm like, you

save my life. I love you. I think that's what's so great. And you know, you talk about how you had that vocal surgery so you literally couldn't talk and express what you were feeling, which that just adds an entire layer because one of the things that they say is to talk about your feeling things, get off your chest, and you literally couldn't. I think that's what started at all, because I had to cancel a bunch of shows, and you know, like canceling anything in this industry that could

be your whole career, that's it. They're like we won't play you anymore, or like we're not going to support you anymore. And it was a matter of like my throat was bleeding, or like I can't physically do it because I need to go get surgery. Yeah, it really hurts, like a bad sore throat. And sometimes you can like I don't want to be gross. You can like taste

blood and this is too much. And it was my second surgery, so I was like, obviously I'm not learning from my mistakes or I'm still working too much and um pushing myself too much. And by the second time, I had to vocal rest like three weeks before the surgery to make it stop and the like. It was like months of me trapped inside my head. Dave stresses me out, like not talking, how do you do it? How do you do I don't do vocal or I just the thought of it freaks. I have a phone

app called like big or Text to Speech. I have two of them, and I'm like, but I can't even hum. I can't like when I got the surgery. You can't sneeze, you can't cough, you can't laugh, that's not okay. I was like, they have to figure something else out to make that easier. I was I would tell people like it's like you're a dancer and both your legs are broken for a minute, and you're like, and that's your career. This is my life, Like it's singing songs and writing songs.

How am I supposed to write a song if I can't like record the vocal down, how am I supposed to translate it to someone else and have them sing it? Like I was thinking of the worst of the worst. So I think that's what started my brain to go extra and then I had to reel it back in. And now we do a lot of hot yoga. We treat ourselves. We I worked out the morning. Yeah, I love hot yoga. Really. I know a lot of people are scared of it, but I would. I've never done

regular yoga. I went right to hot yoga. I got this, you got the hot He's kind of like nice and cozy in the beginning. For me, I don't know. I'm cold right now. I'm wearing my husband sweatshirt. Well, I actually I want to talk to you about this album because I don't know where to start with this other than saying that I am obsessed with your voice because it is so versatile. You can literally do anything. There

is there's something about it that's just magical. And I love the diversity on this album because you get a little bit of everything, and I think lyrically it's great. And a song that I just really related to it was another Opinion, whoa Wow, Okay great. I was worried

about that one. Why because I wrote it so long ago and a lot of these songs I red like there was a new session and a new and that was an old one, like how long I saved Like the first round of writing songs for the album, I wrote about like three albums worth of material and that was in like the first batch, So you're that album four ready to roll. But my brothers were the ones that were like another opinion is very special and if

you don't bring this back, you're making a mistake. And I was like okay, And I haven't been playing it in playbacks because I was like nervous. I don't know, because I love it. But that makes me so happy that you like it. Well, it's not just it's the message behind it, because especially just being in this age of social media, you know, everyone just opinions, and I can't imagine because you have are written about a lot, you have a big following. You know, are there any

misconceptions people have about you? I read a lot of stuff, like a lot of creative um insults. Then I'm just like, wow, that was you thought this through. Um. A lot of them are like just like is she still trying? Like is she's still here? Or like didn't she die? Like something like bizarre like that, Like I guess I left for too long And people are like, no, we're done with her. And I'm like, oh, she called me back. Here she is, So they're like, I'm still alive. I'm

doing very well. Thank you, thriving. I'm in love. Tell me what that's like. It's so awesome. You're so young, but I know, I like first fell in love for the first time ever. I think it was your age. Really yeah, it was just one. There's only one other dude that I was like, that was love pretty sure. Everything else was like Okay, can you describe it for someone who's ever been in love? Put in words? You're

a songwriter? Yeah, Um, when they when your other, when the person leaves the room, there's something about you that feels like less complete that you're like missing them. It's it's a weird, like all day long. I miss you, like even though we're in the same room, but I'm working over here, so I can't talk to you. What I miss you like that stuff like that. And I even asked my dad. I was like, because he was married three times, and I was like, what was what

was mom? Like? Why was she the one that you stuck with forever? And he was like when she would when she would leave the building or leave the room, I missed her so much that I felt like something was wrong and it's not gonna be okay until she comes back. And I was like, I have that same exact thing. That's when you know. And that's like when people are like you just know when you know. I think that's it. And he married a spy kid, which I dude, of course I did. From the second movie.

We have his outfit framed. My parents did this. We're Christmas that's one Christmas. Yeah, they're the greatest. Um. Yeah, they framed his outfit because it was like sitting in our garage and I was like, this is important, like we should do something with this, and they stole it from us and framed it without us knowing, and it was like the best surprise ever. Where is it right in our living room, hung up right next to like the Spike Kids poster. And my dad was like, we're

stick of seeing Megan everywhere. We want to see you. That's hysterical, it's great. Wow. Do you remember the first time you met him? Yeah? I was actually um a songwriting out here in Los Angeles. I was like, god, I was a eighteen nineteen so it's all about that base come out by now. Yeah. No, I was just

a baby songwriter. And I was at this really nice, crazy fancy party for songwriters because we were like rooting for this team and we were like, there are friends and like the song in a community is like so tight. I feel like sometimes you like know everyone and it's it's very nice because we're all like trying to support each other. So I was at this party and him and his friends came and crashed our party, and I was like, oh my god, it's Spike. It's like I

love that I was your first react dude. I and I like never my night nearest to bother a celebrity or walk up to them and like say anything, Um, lasting I want to do is ask for a picture or any of that, Like how am I gonna know. My whole life, I've been like this, but I I was having a good time and I went up to him and was like, hey, he's Spike Kids and he was like yeah, and I was like, oh my god, words to your the person you spent the rest of your life with. Then I didn't see him for two years.

It was like one night he remembered my name, I remembered Spike Kids. I called my parents and was like, I met Spy Kids. And then two years later I was like pop star Megan Trainer with um my first two albums out, and I got set up on a date by Kloie Morettz and she was like this guy and I put him in Instagram and was like, oh my god. I was like, oh my God. Like Spike Kids, I was like, it's him. I hope he doesn't remember

me because I made a fool of myself. Okay, he remembers and it was sweet and he loves telling that story because I'm like, no, we met on the first date with my friends and it was great, and he's like, no, we met at a party two years before. That was the song after You on your album Inspired. I want to talk about that it is, dude, It's incredible. Thank you. I love that song. It likes different. Yeah, it's like it's that timeless music. That's like timeless, timeless. That's every song.

I'm trying to make this like last forever, you know. And I'm petrified of death, so I want to live on forever music. Oh my god. Same, that's like my one fear I'll never get over, I think. But yeah, after you, I kept writing all these love songs and I was like, my dad made fun of me and was like, what is this the Darryl album? Like this is like too many, too much love? And I was like,

you're right, not everyone has found their whole mate. I needed to relate to everyone because that's our stu power as a songwriter. And and so I was like, okay, how can I flip this? And I was like, okay, you have all of me and you could destroy me, Like this is the best thing, and if it's taken away, I'm done. Like there's a carving in my heart that a whole there, and no one else will fit that

puzzle piece. And I always called each other like you're my missing puzzle piece because the best he just went and got me lunch. He takes care of me. It's crazy. So when you're writing this album, what was your creative process? Like? Mostly like just right as much as you can and may the best song win. And I would write with new people, and I would find people I loved, like Mike Sabbath. You're gonna love his music when it finally

comes out hopefully one day. Um, but I'm just seeing what he's done with like your music, it's in tune. He also was on the Lizzo album. He was on a Little Mixes album. He's a wizard. He's a wizard, um, but he's I've met new people and this was the first time. Like for my first album, they were like, here's one person right with them and that's it. And I was like okay. And then the second album, I found people that like the new people that I loved writing with, and I was like, I'm gonna do the

whole thing with you and that's it. And this time I was like, I want to write with as many people as I possibly can and find all the producers I possibly can. And I'm a creature of habits. So once I liked someone, I was like, it's you. For the next three months, and then I'd find a new one to be like it's you, which is great because my album is like all over the place. And that's how I like him, because I want some random person to pick it up and at least like one song,

you know. I mean, I like all the songs and the us just the probability it's probably in your face. It's gonna hit somebody somewhere, you know. The collaborations. Let's talk about the collaboration. Okay. First of all, Lennon Stella, Oh my god, thank you for saying I think she's pinning credibly underrated artists underrated her on Nashville. Did you ever watch that show? She I went to the c m A. Is like my first year was all about Base.

They wanted to perform in c m A. And I was like, this is nuts because I was in Nashville for a year writing songs for everyone, and then Nasical flats cut and then I was on stage with Miranda and was singing a song and sing it all about the Base, and I was like, well, what's going on? And Um I saw Lennon and her younger sister Um and they were at the carpet and I was like I love you girls, and they were like, such a good show. It's such a good show. And they've been

music on that show. They've been singing forever together, and I was like, they're gonna be superstars, like everyone needs to watch out. And now she's finally been singing and I'm like, she's amazing every song. We listened to her nozop all day long. She's beautiful and yeah, we went to her show the same place some Sasha Salon had a show, which is so crazy because they're like right

next to each other. They're both so underrated. They're superstars in my eyes and have hits for days well, and it's like that's the things where I'm like, I don't understand why this isn't like the biggest song in the world, or like why the whole world isn't playing this NonStop? Yeah, well let's see. You also have Nicki Minaj, just like crazy, like the range of people you have Nicki Minaj, you have Lenin Sell, you the Pussycat dog a J. Mitchell,

Like there there is not a wider range. I know I'm very random, but it's also yeah, I'm I'm random with like the people. It's just really the people I meet and who I'm loving and who I can get on a song is really it too, because like you dream for everything, I like, I wish every song had to collab. Every time I'm writing a song, I'm like, yo, you know who'd be crazy on this? Sam Smith like and we just like dream that would be there's just your I'm just thinking together put it on. Yeah, I

want to collab with everybody. I'm definitely not that artists or songwriter that's like this is me, my whole album, me by myself. No, I want everyone to sing with me. And I love voices. I love songwriters, like Nikki is a songwriter and her verses like out of this world

and it's my favorite part of the entire album. I'm pretty surely like I sing that her just her rap every every day, once a day and yeah, it's like with breakfasts are in every head when I walk in the world, like everything she said it was so good, and I tried to make it a point when I saw her, I was like, your songwriting skill is out of this world and it is such a gift to the world, and thank you for putting it on my song and letting me have this because this was like

bucket list times twelve and she was like, wow, that's cool. Like I was like, I wrote this song and she was like we're songwriters and we high fives and I was like, this is that's your life? Isn't that crazy? That just crazy? When did this? I'll start when did all of that Base come out? Two thousand fourteen? I was nineteen years old, so six years ago, and now you're doing a song with Nicki Minaj? Like what? My mom and I bawled our eyes out after the video,

like for hours, all about that base. Um for that yeah, but then on the only other video we bawled our eyes out on just like that, Like the base was nice to meet you with Nikki because it was we were so exhausted. It was like six am to two am, and I ended with dancing, so I was just like beat. And then I was so overwhelmed by every individual who was on set because that video took like a hundred people on set to help with lighting, with like outfits,

with designs, and it was over. It was like a treatment that I wrote, which was crazy, so crazy because like your creative concept. Yeah, so you're like looking around and you're like this, My dreams are like being put together by hundreds of strangers that I'm meeting today. So at the very end, I was so tired and I was so happy and grateful, I started weeping. There's video and pictures still come out. It's embarrassing, and I just go around everyone I go, I'm sorry, thank you, because

I would like make sure everything was perfect. And I was like if I was annoying, but it's like, it's like your dreams and my mom was bawling, was like, you have a song when Dickie Manaj. I mean, it's crazy, Like just saying that out loud, it's unbelievable. It's unbelievable. And you know, I really want to talk more about just the process of writing songs because I know you're a songwriter. So it's kind of like a force of habit. Yeah, like it's like another reflex. Yeah, it's like a reflex.

So in twenty nineteen alone, how many songs do you think you wrote? Just like an es, I don't know, you know, we should figure that out though. It's a great question together. There's so many. And then the thing with me is that if I have a session, I finished a whole song. It's not like I've never I've never been like, let's start this and then we'll write the next verse in two weeks and then we'll come back to it. Like I can't handle that. I need

it now, you know, I have no patience. So I bet if we look at the calendar and we see if I had a session, that that'd be a song for each day. So in three years, I mean, it's a lot. It's a lot of songs. And I also have been writing for movies in between it all, and I've um, I wrote like a half a Christmas album already that just like randomly happened this year because we were feeling extra extra extra Christmas. It was great. So

we always right, we write all the time. And now my older brother is a songwriter officially because he's been doing this full time and he was never confident enough to say it. But now we'll be talking, we're like, yo, that's a crazy song, and then we'll a writing is what a fun family bonding time? Yeah, they're my best friends. They live in my house really, my older brother and my younger brother and my husband and my four dogs.

That could be a reality show in it a lot of people are like, you need a show that be very entertaining. I mean, it's crazy to think how far you've come just in the last six years. And a question that I've been asking some of my guests, and they all have different responses, is what would you tell your younger self, Because you know, I'm seventeen and I'm still trying to get through high school. You are accomplished so much that you'll probably what's your goals? Um Like,

are you talking dream interviews? Are just life? And then if we're talking drinks like dream interviews oprah Lin, Manuel Miranda and Michelle Obama, Lynn is like on my list, like dream this is easy. Like that's when my friend taught me on the chrembill this morning. She was like she's like this is easy. I was like, this is so hard. She's like, no, no, no, If you just go, oh, this is easy. I started running twice as fast as I was running, and I was like, oh, yeah, this

is easy, like you want it. That was like the best example of like I want it to be better at this, I'm gonna just do it. Just do it. Like anything that was ever an opportunity that I could do, I was like, yeah, okay, sure and did it like they came. I always wanted to be a superstar of pop star, like sing my own songs on stage. I was like, that's so cool. But I was so shy and so insecure. And then when they said who's singing

the song all about that bass? We'll just sign her, I was like, okay, sure, do you want to something crazy in twenty I think it's I went to I Think You're Meet and Greet and jingle Ball for all about that bass and my friend and I made a poster I was and I think it fifth grae Star Helpful circules were in l A, New York. Oh my god, yeah, I think that. I was so scared then, really yeah, because I didn't perform like I used to, Like I'm used to performing with my guitar in front of like

twenty people, like at a beach. Was that like your first? That was my first? They threw me out there and was like yo, and I was like okay, And I was like twenty thousand people those arenas, that's twice as big as the population on the album. I mean on the island that I'm from. That's crazy. I'm from an island. That's half amount of people. And I actually also heard you perform I think at the I Heart Music Festival in Vegas, like right after all about I saw and

I was like, she's good. I remember it. A ukuleles hold up. Fifties cent went right before me, alright right after I was young. I remember, was like, why am I opening fifties? And then Hillary Duff announced my name and I was like, that's it. That's like my bucket list dreams. I can die happy. I like Duf too. Oh yeah, yeah. I love her. She'll never know and I tell everyone now that my um no, I did tell her this my alias or whatever your secret word.

I managed hates this my secret name at hotels when I'm trying to hide and be like, it's not me. Is Lizzie McGuire that find me best? And they? But it was actually sad sometimes in the very beginning, when people didn't really know that I sang the songs, they were like, is Hillary here? And I was like, no, give me my salad, like oh my god, yeah, maybe like can we get a picture with her? And I was like, you know that that is I told her that.

She's like, that's bizarre. I still do it. They're like miss McGuire, I'm like, yes, Oh my goodness, that is incredible. Yeah all right, so you asked me about my dreams. I wanted yours. Yes. Oh sorry, god, I go so are off topic? Um uh five years from now, you've already done. I'm having babies. I want to be a mom my whole life. But I have we thought of names. Oh, I have names, but Nicki Minajha told me not to

tell anyone. Tell me after. She's like, don't tell me, and I was like okay, She's like I have my names and I'm not telling anyone. I was like, great, okay. So kids, kids, a farm of kids, a lot of them. Um. I don't know how do it pregnancy, but we'll say um. Also on the treblege, my friend was like, do it for your kids, and I was like, let's go. And you know that's a really good motivational attack, dude, right, Like I want to be the healthiest pregnant person ever.

You know. I want my doctor to be like, wow, everything is a okay for you. Yeah, but I also want that's the time where I can be like I can have whatever I want and no one can say and I mean, yeah, I mean I can, I can. I don't know. I guess I could be like I'm still hungry because that's what I do now. But it's just like weird earls, Like like last night he gave me something that helps you sleep, like meltona or whatever, and it tasted so bad and I was like, I

need salt vinegar chips now. He laughed so hard. He's like, it's like ten pm, and I was like, but I need them, but like it will get the taste out of my mouth with this problem. Yeah, so maybe when I'm pregnant, I could be like, you know what round three please? You know, yeah, I just have as many salt and vinegar chips as I love them. Is there a dream venu that you have in our venue? Yes? I want UM. I mean I grew up near Um the Garden. I'm like, what is the place that I

really want to sell out? I want to um one bucket list, which I don't know if I'll achieve, but I have to and I'm gonna achieve. It is selling out Arenas like a tour of Arenas surprise that hasn't already happened. I know it's because my team has been very smart and very safe, whether like let's do a tour that we know we'll sell out and we can do two rounds at the same place, and it was like they were like many arenas, so I felt really good.

But I've been gone for so long that I'm not trying to go out there and be like, let's do an arena tour catch up to ease yourself back. So I'm like going on tour with More and five. I'm opening for them, which I'm side excited, so excited, and i just love all their songs. They have so many hits, so it's just gonna be a show of likes and like a really good time. And it's so funny the reactions I get of like a lot of my fans

are like, oh my goodness, I'm coming. I'm so going to be there, And I'm like, Okay, are you guys stopping by New York? Yeah, We're going everywhere. I'm pretty sure, right, Oh yeah, We're doing like four stadiums, which is like what I'm gonna be spoiled. I'm gonna be in that arena life, so I'll be like, okay, so it's a good practice. Yeah, alright, like all that's how we do it. And touring in Arenas is it's very nice and I'm

gonna be spoiled. It's gonna be great. I'm surprised because you have anxiety that doesn't give you know, the hardest

part is the physical exhaustion of it. Touring for me has been very tough so far, like when the last tour or I had to get surgery after, but it was also like I toured and then we jumped right into promo again, so it's like I never stopped and we made sure this round like in the middle of tour um the murmuron five is taking a big fat break like two weeks or something off, and I was like, this is gorgeous. I would love that as well, So like I'm going to go home and rest and then

we'll go right back on tour and do it again. Yeah, it's so much better, and I know like what my body is capable of doing. I know I have to work out, eat healthy, and go to bed, which will be easier since I'm an opener now and I'm not late at night. I love I love sleep, I love in night. When we can do that, that's everything. Some days work like after the music video we got home at too, and then your brain is just awake till four, you know, when you're too tired to go to sleep. Yeah, well,

thank you for telling I love you. I could talk to you forever. I'm so good at this. Really, I couldn't s get all when I was your age. I still struggle because I don't read books. Children, Go read books. Yes, it'll make you sound smarter or audible. I like it. That's nice. My husband does that? Really? Still too lazy? Nice? Unless it's doctor pil. I love doctor Phil. I love you. Thank you for letting me be on this. It's great. I'm so excited. I'm honored. I hope you guys enjoyed

this episode with Megan Trainer. It was so great just getting to talk to her and make sure you listen to her a new album, treat myself, and make sure you follow her on her social switches. Megan Underscore Trainer and follow me on Instagram, which is it's Sammy J I T S S A M M Y j A y E. And if you're feeling a little snazzy, you can always follow the podcast account which is Sammy j Dot. Let's be real I think you're gonna want to follow

that because it's some really fun giveaways coming. So I'm just saying bye, guys,