CHECK YOUR HEAD: Mental Help for Musicians
Award-winning "People's Choice" CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast is where notable musicians and experts share stories and solutions for mental help and addiction recovery. Music journalist Mari Fong dives deep with her interviews to provide real-world solutions from artists like The Lumineers, Fred Armisen, Lindsey Stirling, David Archuleta, Killswitch Engage, Grouplove, Margaret Cho, King Iso, and Linda Ronstadt, paired with world-renown experts who provide their best medical and professional solutions.
You'll hear inspiring interviews that may shock you, educate you, make you laugh, and always entertain you. We're also a 501c3 nonprofit with our mission to normalize the conversations on mental health and addiction, educate and encourage others to receive help, and provide a variety of free and affordable solutions on checkyourheadpodcast.com to improve and save the lives of musicians and music fans worldwide.
LISTEN on all podcast platforms, WATCH on CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast's YouTube Channel, SUBSCRIBE on our socials @checkyourheadpodcast, and DONATE on checkyourheadpodcast.com. You rock and we love you Superheroes! ❤️🤘
Episodes
67 episodes
Nick Hexum, 311: Anxiety & Addiction Recovery with Brandon Jay, Altadena Musicians, Podcasthon Special!
Mari Fong interviews Nick Hexum of 311 and Brandon Jay of Altadena Musicians for a special episode for Podcasthon, focusing on nonprofits and those who do good in this world.For our featured musician, I’m excited to have singer-songwrite...
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Season 6
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Episode 3
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47:48
King Iso: Managing Schizoaffective & Bipolar II with Scott Fears, MD, PhD (Amae Health), Part 2
Mari Fong interviews King Iso and expert Scott Fears, MD, PhD on schizoaffective and bipolar II disorder with addictions, Part 2.He’s a rapper who’s turned his lifelong battles with mental health and addiction into life-saving music, ama...
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Season 6
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Episode 2
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1:05:51
*Season 6, King Iso: Managing Schizoaffective & Bipolar II with Scott Fears, MD, PhD (Amae Health), Part 1
Mari Fong interviews King Iso and expert Scott Fears, MD, PhD on schizoaffective and bipolar II disorder with addictions, Part 1.He’s a rapper who’s turned his lifelong battles with mental health and addiction into life-saving music, ama...
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Season 6
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Episode 1
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1:00:27
Linda Ronstadt "Reboot": Living w/ Parkinson's & PSP with Dr. Ish Major (Psychiatrist, Relationship Expert)
Mari Fong interviews Linda Ronstadt (singer-songwriter) & Dr. Ish Major (Psychiatrist, Relationship Coach, “Marriage Boot Camp”). Linda Ronstadt talks about her Mexican heritage and traditions in the documentary, <...
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Season 5
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Episode 8
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55:39
Trapper Schoepp: Opioid Addiction & Mania Recovery with Bill Taylor, The Phoenix
Mari Fong interviews singer-songwriter Trapper Schoepp and expert Bill Taylor of The Phoenix. Today's featured musical guest, Trapper Schoepp, boosted his career after discovering old lyrics of an unfinished song writt...
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Season 5
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Episode 7
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1:01:40
Fred Armisen (Portlandia, SNL) "Reboot" : Conquering Stage Fright & Mastering the Art of "Who Cares?" w/ Keren Clark (DBT Therapist), Part 1
CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast "Reboot": Mari Fong interviews comedian and musician Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live, Portlandia, Trenchmouth, and more) and Keren Clark (Psychotherapist, Dialectical Behavior Therapy), Part 1. Fred Armisen...
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Season 5
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Episode 6
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48:26
Black Stone Cherry (Chris Robertson) "Reboot": Living with Bipolar & Panic Attacks with Carly Hester (NAMI)
CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast "Reboot" with Chris Robertson of Black Stone Cherry and Carly Hester of NAMI, Philadelphia for Suicide Awareness Month, September 2025, Chris Robertson of Black Stone Cherry shares his story of havin...
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Season 5
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Episode 5
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53:27
Lzzy Hale (Halestorm): Alcoholism & Depression Recovery with Dr. J. Stuart Ablon (Harvard Medical School)
Mari Fong & Kat Jensen interview Lzzy Hale of Halestorm and expert J. Stuart Ablon, Ph.D., Harvard Medical School. Today's featured guest just came back from playing with Metallica, Slayer, Lamb of God and the great Ozzy Osbourn...
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Season 5
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Episode 4
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1:08:05
Margaret Cho: Surviving Opioid Addiction & Rehab with Kandace Kuwahara, Infinite Love Rescue
Mari Fong interviews musical guest Margaret Cho and Kandace Kuwahara of Infinite Love Rescue. Margaret Cho gives a no-holds-barred interview talking about opioid addiction (such as Vicodin, Oxycontin, Percocet, Heroin and more) and ...
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Season 5
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Episode 3
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58:13
David Archuleta: Managing Suicidal Thoughts & Anxiety Attacks with Thom Keenan-Hunt, LGBTQ Psychotherapist
Host Mari Fong interviews pop singer/songwriter David Archuleta and psychotherapist Thomas Keenan-Hunt. David's story begins as a devout Mormon that includes a message from above that helped him move past his suicid...
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Season 5
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Episode 2
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1:03:33
*Season 5, Jewel: Child Abuse & Shoplifting Addiction Recovery with Therapist Ryan Dusick (Maroon 5)
Welcome to the premiere episode of our fifth season of CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast, the podcast where notable musicians and experts share their stories and solutions for mental help and addiction recovery. I’m your host, Mari Fong, and today...
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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56:58
Sammi Doll (Kat Von D, IAMX) "Reboot": Living w/Depression & ADHD with Mari Fong & Kat Jensen
CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast "Reboot" of Sammi Doll (Kat Von D, IAMX, Bullet Height, solo artist) with Mari Fong & Kat Jensen speaking on Depression & ADHD Recovery for Mental Health Awareness Week, May 12-18, 2025.Mari Fong interview...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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1:03:00
While She Sleeps (Sean Long) "Reboot": Panic Disorder & Agoraphobia Recovery with Therapist Andrea Vassilev (DBSA)
CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast "Reboot" of While She Sleeps (Sean Long) & Therapist Andrea Vassilev (DBSA) speaking on Panic Attacks & Agoraphobia Recovery for Mental Health Awareness Month, May 2025.Mari Fong interviews guitarist Sean ...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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54:39
Tower of Power (Emilio Castillo) "Reboot": Drug & Sex Addiction Recovery with Tim Ringgold (Music Therapist, Sonic Recovery)
CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast "Reboot" of Tower of Power (Emilio Castillo) & Tim Ringgold (Music Therapist, Sonic Recovery) speaking on Drug & Sex Addiction Recovery for National Counseling Awareness Month, April 2025.Mari Fon...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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1:05:33
The Lumineers (Wesley Schultz) "Reboot": Alcoholism & Mood Disorders Affecting Families w/Kerri Abernathy (Therapist & Addiction Specialist)
CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast "Reboot" of The Lumineers (Wesley Schultz) & Kerry Abernathy (Therapist & Addiction Specialist) speaking on Alcoholism & Mood Disorders Affecting Families for Alcohol Awareness Month, April 2025.Mari F...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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1:02:02
WAR (Sal Rodriguez) "Reboot": Alcoholism & Multi-Drug Addiction Recovery w/Jeff Duke (Christ Powered Recovery, AA)
CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast "Reboot" of Sal Rodriguez (WAR) & Jeff Duke speaking on Alcoholism & Multi-Drug Addiction recovery for Alcohol Awareness Month, April 2025.Mari Fong interviews Sal Rodriguez of WAR and Jeff Duke, Founder o...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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55:31
Katelyn Tarver "Reboot": Living w/Anxiety & Teen Self-Doubt w/Dr. Adi Jaffe (Psychologist, The Abstinence Myth)
CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast "Reboot" of Katelyn Tarver speaking on Anxiety & Teen Self-Doubt for World Teen Mental Health Day, celebrated on March 2, 2025.Mari Fong interviews Katelyn Tarver, singer-songwriter and actress, and Dr. Adi Ja...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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1:00:52
Lindsey Stirling "Reboot": Anorexia Nervosa Recovery with Dr. Christina Wierenga (UCSD Eating Disorders Center)
CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast "Reboot" of Lindsey Stirling & Dr. Christina Wierenga speaking on Anorexia Nervosa recovery for Eating Disorders Awareness Week, 2025.Mari Fong interviews Lindsey Stirling, singer-songwriter, violinist,...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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57:45
CHECK YOUR HEAD Afterparty with Mari Fong & Kat Jensen: Seether w/Dr. Dan Reidenberg, Living w/Depression & the Aftermath of Suicide
You’re invited to the CHECK YOUR HEAD Afterparty where Mari Fong and Kat Jensen take best lessons from each episode and talk about how to ease them into our daily lives. For September 2024 which is Suicide Prevention and Recovery Mont...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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25:55
*Season 4, Seether (Shaun Morgan, Corey Lowery) "Reboot": Living w/Depression & the Aftermath of Suicide w/Dr. Dan Reidenberg (SAVE.org)
CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast "Reboot" for September 2024 for Suicide Prevention and Recovery Month. Next episode, listen to CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast Afterparty where Mari Fong and Kat Jensen talk about best lessons from each episode and how to ease t...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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1:13:11
Zac Barnett (American Authors): Bipolar Support with Chris Bullard (Sound Mind Live)
Mari Fong interviews Zac Barnett of American Authors and Chris Bullard, former touring musician and founder of Sound Mind Live. Zac Barnett of American Authors shares about caring for his mother with bipolar disorder and the importance of being...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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51:07
Jared Watson (Dirty Heads): Alcoholism & Depression Recovery w/Dave Schools (Neal Casal Music Foundation)
Mari Fong interviews Jared Watson of Dirty Heads and Dave Schools of and the Neal Casal Foundation and Widespread Panic. Jared Watson shares how his hard partying ways with Dirty Heads ("Lay Me Down," "Stand Tall") descended into alcohol and dr...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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56:40
Amos Lee: Agoraphobia & Panic Attack Recovery w/Dr. Melissa Boudin (PsyD, Choosing Therapy)
Mari Fong interviews singer-songwriter Amos Lee and Dr. Melissa Boudin, psychologist and Clinical Director of Choosing Therapy. Amos Lee spent his life coping with anxiety and panic attacks which led him to be agoraphobic at the tender age of 1...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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54:19
Matt Brandyberry (From Ashes to New): Living w/Panic Attacks w/Eva Marie (Psychotherapist, Eva Under Fire)
Mari Fong interviews Matt Brandyberry of From Ashes to New and Eva Marie AKA Amanda Lyberg, psychotherapist and lead singer of Eva Under Fire. Matt Brandyberry shares his story what led to his personal breakdown which triggered panic atta...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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1:02:47
RIOPY: Childhood Trauma & Abuse Recovery w/Dr. Benjamin Miller (PsyD, Well Being Trust)
Mari Fong interviews contemporary classical pianist RIOPY and Dr. Benjamin Miller, PsyD and President of Well Being Trust. Pianist and composer Jean-Philippe Rio-Py (RIOPY), who wrote the score for award-winning films The Shape of Wat...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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56:04