Monsters In The Mirror

Chapters

• 1:47 Welcome And Setting The Tone
• 2:23 Why Shinedown And Why “Monsters”
• 3:33 Song Playthrough Break
• 5:04 Lyric Analysis And Ownership
• 6:40 Shadow Self And Internal Battle
• 8:28 The Numbers Behind The Struggle
• 10:56 Radical Honesty And Recovery
• 12:24 Personal Note And Sign-Off
• 12:54 Vulnerability As Real Strength

Transcript

SPEAKER_02: 1:47

Hello everyone. Welcome back to Heal Out Loud Wasai. I really, really hope you guys had a great week. It's a little bit warmer today for me. It's about 34 degrees. Pretty shameful though, right? It's been so cold that 34 degrees seems warm to me. So, hope you guys enjoyed the episode last week. This week we will be talking about a little bit more darker subject. I'm really hoping that you come away with something from this video. Or not video, but podcast. I don't know why I said video. That comes later on in March, I believe. But today we will step into the dark. Not for shop value, not for drama, but for honesty. We'll be talking about Shinedown's monsters. I'm gonna sit down with them real quick. Because the real monsters, they don't live under the bed, they live in our heads. So let's jump onto the band a little bit real quick, and then we'll jump into the song, and then we'll do some talky-talky stuff. Shinedown was formed in 2001 in Jacksonville, Florida. And from the beginning, their sound carried emotional weight. But as the band evolved, especially by the time they released, attention attention in 2018, something shifted. The album became a journey, not just musically, but psychologically. So we're gonna play the song and then we'll be back for more talkie talkie stuff. His voice is so amazing, Brent Smith. But anyway, so when Brent Smith opens up, My Monsters Are Real and they're trained how to kill, there's no like metaphorical softness there, no vague poetic distance. These monsters are addiction, self-destruction, anger, depression, the voice that says you're not enough. And here's what makes it even more powerful He doesn't say the monsters, he says my monsters, because ownership changes everything. Another part of the lyric that I really, really enjoy, and and because you know I love words, is there's no coming back from or there's no coming back in a laugh that's just how I feel. This indicates that terrifying, tangible, persistent nature of mental illness or addiction. And that when he says, Leave your weapon on the table, wrapped in burlap, barely able, call a doctor, say a prayer, choose a guy you think is fair. This suggesting needs for surrender and finding help to manage that struggle. Psychologically, though, we all carry what Carl Jung or Hung called the shadow self. The parts of us we repress, the traits that we hide, the impulses we don't want to admit belong to us. And the more we suppress them, the louder they get, unfortunately. But that's why the song resonates on a level deeper than just rock aggression. It's not about fighting the world, it's about confronting yourself. And statistically, that fight is way more common than people realize. And just the United States, like just here, it's nearly one in five adults experience mental illness each year. And around one in six adults will struggle with substance use disorder. Anxiety disorders affect over 40 million people annually, and suicide remains one of the leading causes of death for adults under 45. You know, I've been in dark places too, so I understand. And I want you to know that you're not alone at all. But those numbers aren't abstract. Those are your coworkers, your friends, your family, maybe even you. So when that chorus hits you, and he says, I'll never fight again, and I'll never pretend, it doesn't feel like a surrender, right? It's like exhausting or exhaustion, exhausting, exhaustion meeting your truth. Because finding your own mind every day really is exhausting. I know it it is for me, and you know, other people struggle with it as well, especially as you try to find meaning in your life as a collector. Recovery experts often talk about radical honesty as the first step towards change. You can't treat what you won't admit exist, and you can't heal what you won't look at. It doesn't work that way. But monsters is that moment, that breaking point where someone says, Okay, this is who I've been, and I'm done pretending I'm gonna cut out all the extra, you know, BS facing myself. What makes Shine Down different is that their aggression is aimed inward, not in self-hatred, but in self-confrontation. Brent Smith has spoken publicly a lot about sobriety and growth. When you hear the song in that context, it transformed. It's not theatrical darkness, it's a lived experience, and a lot of you can relate to that. When there's something very powerful about vulnerability and rock music, historically, the genre has leaned on being a badass bravado, toughness, invincibility, right? But this is strength through exposure and confrontation. Research consistently shows that people who openly acknowledge their struggles are more likely to seek help, support, and recover. Sorry, banana. Vulnerability isn't weakness, it's a turning point. And that might be the most rebellious thing a rock band can say in 2026. And for YouTube, that I'm struggling and I'm working on it. The music video though, chef's kiss, because it reflects the chaos, it's so intense, it's surreal, but it's also a little visually overwhelming. Mirroring what anxiety or addiction can feel like internally. I really recommend you guys check out the video, it's really dumb well. Um, but yes, addiction can feel loud because when you're in it, it's like that. And so can anxiety. It's so relentless and it's unforgiving. But here's the part I think that matters most. This song doesn't glorify the monsters, it doesn't romanticize destruction, it exposes it, and exposure is the first crack in shame. And sometimes you need some shame to move forward, some shame to become better. You know, I'm becoming a better person every day. I really try to, but we all have our monsters, so you know it'd be like that. But if this episode does hit close to home for you, you are not alone. And there are real resources available that are free 99. So you can call or text 988, you can visit their lifeline, theirlifeline.org for chat support if you're not into like talking to person. And there's also the SAMHSA national helpline. That is 1-800-662-4357. But if you're in immediate danger, call 911. But back to our segment, monsters isn't about being broken, it's also about recognizing that being human means carrying shadows and choosing to face them instead of letting them run the show. That's important. The statistics tell us the struggle is widespread, but the song and music itself reminds us that we're not isolated in it. And maybe the most important takeaway from this song is that your monsters are real, and so is your ability to confront them, punch them in the dick if you got to, make peace with them. So I'll leave you with this. What would change in your life if you stopped pretending and started facing what's already there? Again, I'm sigh. Thank you for listening. Keep facing the music, keep being yourself. Make sure that you take care of each other and yourself. Be good to yourself. There's only one of you. And have a great week. I'll see you next time. Bye, guys.