mental health
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The music business needs a hug…and a punch to the gut.
As someone who cares deeply about mental health, wellness and supporting people in need, my intentions with this letter come from the purest place of love and empathy. But if I’ve learned anything from my time in the music industry — it’s to be direct. Today, I’m calling for more consistent, accessible personal and professional development support for the people who keep the music industry’s wheels turning. These include things like leadership and communication training, adaptability and resiliency coaching and a basic understanding of emotional intelligence. We cannot have a healthy industry inhabited by healthy humans without the intersection of mental health and professional and personal development. We need to move beyond just checking boxes for things that look good on paper, but do not actually impact those owning the day-to-day operations of our business. It’s unsustainable long-term. What good are resources if the business itself doesn’t support their use? How can we seriously promote wellness while maintaining conditions within the workplace that undermine it? The need to invest in both our well-being and create healthier work environments is becoming dire as we navigate unprecedented mergers and acquisitions, rampant layoffs due to our ever-evolving business, and an increasingly competitive landscape that shows no signs of slowing down.
To start, we could benefit from operating with less ego and more empathy. Leaders can always strive to be better decision-makers and communicators, with a focus on humility and understanding for their teams and partners. They hold the power to make change, but also face immense pressure, and we need to support them in guiding the industry. We also need more people who genuinely care about human growth, and are equipped to fight for changing outdated systems.
These precursors are required to address what our artists are expressing on stage at award shows and what professionals are discussing off the record over dinner. I can’t speak for everyone, but I can speak for the hundreds of people I’ve met over the past five years, including those who attend our jump.global Annual Summit, where we host open forums on these critical topics. Yes, we’re good at calling this all “mental health,” and to some extent, it fits under that umbrella. But it’s so much more than that. It’s dealing with the real-life effects of endless company reorgs, constant performance critiques, burnout from the grind, lack of healthy work-life boundaries and an industry that prioritizes making money without making sure its people are happy with their personal growth.
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These aren’t new revelations. The industry has long been criticized for its broken promises and dehumanizing culture, but we’ve reached a tipping point. People are mentally and physically exhausted, overwhelmed by constant fatigue and the whiplash of relentless demands. They are caught between morning meditation and breathwork sessions, only to be thrown into the chaos of endless emails and unclear paths to advancement. It’s real, and it’s widespread, impacting every part of our personal and professional lives. The music industry must embrace the people who have always been its heart and soul — artists, fans and workers alike. It’s time to nurture the relationships that sustain it, offering the support, care, and recognition that has often been overlooked, and ensure that everyone involved feels valued, heard, and connected. It needs to become so systemic that it’s as common as composing an email or pitching a release. Are we truly listening to the feedback of our teams as much as we are to the charts? If we put people over profit, we can turn this around — but without this shift, we risk burning out the very people who keep this industry alive.
This sentiment is echoed by the coaching community I’ve turned to for my own research and development. “When mental, physical and emotional health are prioritized as part of the fabric of an organization, company culture changes, people get more creative, productivity increases, communication improves, performance gets stronger,” says Marni Wandner, board-certified health coach, executive coach and 22-year music industry vet. “I work with both executives and artists, most of whom are trying to prevent burnout, or recover from it. When people are at their best, the whole industry benefits – and the way we take care of ourselves and each other affects the wellbeing and success of the artists.”
Outside of overall health, It’s important to note how much leadership training plays such a crucial role in all of this. “When we develop our leaders and prepare them well, they can manage their teams effectively and compassionately. We can create better work cultures, retain talent in the industry, reduce burnout and improve performance,” Tamara Gal-On and Remi Harris, UK-based coaches and Co-Founders of the Music Leaders Network, share in a joint statement.
Effective communication has also been identified as a crucial component of strong leadership. Tracey Pepper, a veteran media and public-speaking coach and certified personal coach, shares, “I work with high-level executives every week who are expected to inspire and motivate their teams, whether it’s sharing ideas or delivering feedback, but who have never sought support around developing their communication style. Yet, how they interact with colleagues and co-workers has a significant effect on company culture and, in turn, productivity. Being aware of how you’re impacting others by how you speak to them is a game-changer in leadership.”
I ask nearly everyone I meet about this disconnect, and the consensus is clear: our industry doesn’t necessarily lack awareness of how important professional and personal development resources can be, it lacks the time for people to properly dedicate themselves to it because of how intense and fast-paced their jobs can be. Without an immediate ROI, development often feels like a “luxury” that companies and people can’t afford or something we save for an end-of-year planning session. But what if we stopped viewing it that way and started treating it as the necessity it clearly is?
While I applaud any music company with Learning & Development programs already in place, I hope the journey doesn’t stop after one-off grants, seminars or annual workshops. We need to create ongoing learning environments where professionals are empowered with the tools to thrive personally and professionally. The strength of the business lies not just in the artists we promote or the music we create, but in the culture we nurture within our teams. Developing strong, emotionally intelligent humans that work in music isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s critical for the long-term success and sustainability of the industry. “What is emotional intelligence?” is a fun one to type into ChatGPT, and then compare back to the music business.
Of course, there has been discussion and debate over whose responsibility it is to provide tools in these areas. To be fair, I think it’s everyone’s collective responsibility. Thankfully, generous programs and organizations are already leading the charge to end stigmas and provide essential resources, research and guidance. Again, while much of the headlines focus on mental health, a lot of them work intersectionally through all the areas I mentioned. Backline, Music Industry Therapist Collective, Music Health Alliance, MusiCares, Amber Health, Keychange and numerous coaches and therapists are making a lasting impact and creating meaningful, sustainable change in the industry. We owe a lot to these organizations, as well as those leading ongoing efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion, gender parity, fighting ageism and supporting neurodivergent education.
That said, there is always more that can be done and this is an invitation for all of us to do our part if you are not already. While innovating and commercializing music, we must also dismantle outdated systems and create forward-thinking support for both creatives and the workforce. As we work to heal the world with music, we must first extend that same care to those who make it all possible. Through compassion, empathy and kindness, we can do this.
We are all human, and no matter our title, company, or paycheck we all can, and will, benefit from these changes. To the artist managers who just lost their biggest client, the marketing directors struggling to juggle 20 releases, the people who have devoted their lives to a role only to see it eliminated, the CEO who ascended the corporate ladder only to be knocked back down and to anyone who has ever felt unseen, unsupported, or confused by the industry they love … I see you. This is why we need systemic change that supports you consistently, not just when it becomes impossible to ignore. Whether it’s implementing a new way to foster open communication within your department or simply gifting a coaching session to a colleague – we can all work together to shape more resilient cultures.
So, dear music business humans, I hope you’ll accept this hug and pass it on to the friends you’ve made along the way, the teams you manage, the interns you inspire, the artists you collaborate with and those you’ve yet to meet. To all of the music business-at-large, the gut punches may feel like love taps, but I promise you they carry enough weight to impact your bottom line — today or tomorrow.
With immense love, gratitude and concern,
Nick Maiale
Nick Maiale is the founder & CEO of jump.global – an agency solution for music executives and companies looking to grow their influence through B2B trade marketing, conferences & panels, international relations, college mentorship and more. He is studying to become a certified executive coach with a mission to bring more personal and professional development events, such as the jump.global Annual Summit, to the music business masses.
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Alvin Poussaint, a psychiatrist who applied his studies to assist those within the civil rights movement, passed away on Monday (Feb. 24). Among Dr. Alvin Poussaint’s accomplishments, he was also instrumental as a consultant for several television series throughout his career.
Dr. Alvin Poussaint was born on May 15, 1934, in East Harlem, New York. As a studious child, Poussaint’s love of reading translated into his study and love of the sciences in high school. After entering Columbia University, Poussaint earned a pharmacology bachelor’s degree in 1956. He then entered Cornell Medical School and was reportedly the only Black student admitted that year and earned his M.D. in 1960. This experience shaped Poussaint’s worldview and was a continuance of the racism he experienced in high school and undergrad.
Poussaint would go on to become the chief resident at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute but left the role in 1965 to join the Medical Committee for Human Rights as its Southern Field Director in Jackson, Miss. Poussaint completed his residency in 1964 at UCLA, earning an M.A. degree. Poussaint focused his efforts at the time on working to dismantle racial segregation, arguing that racial bias was detrimental to the mental health of the Black community. While working for the committee, Poussaint and his colleagues administered care to those working in the civil rights movement, many of whom endured physical violence and mental warfare under the guise of segregation.
In 1967, Poussaint became a faculty member of Tufts Medical School where he served as the director of the school’s psychiatry program situated in a low-income housing project. He also used his time in the role to illustrate that race relations in the nation still needed to improve despite the strides made at the time. In 1969, Poussaint left Tufts and joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School, where he remained for the rest of his career as a professor and associate dean of student affairs. Even in those hallowed halls, Poussaint never put civil rights on the back burner and continued to champion the movement.
During the 190s, Poussaint was known as a media consultant for scripts for Black sitcoms, including The Cosby Show and A Different World among others. His role was to ensure that what was depicted onscreen truly mirrored the real lives of Black families and students along with highlighting the positives of Black family life. Government agencies such as the White House, the Department of Health, and the FBI also sought guidance from Poussaint.
Poussaint did have his fair share of critics, especially those who thought his assessment of racism as a mental health condition instead of a divisive systemic practice that placed Black people under its weight. While well-meaning, some believed that putting racism in the same realm as a mental health disorder discredited the very real racism Black and non-white people faced across the country.
Dr. Alvin Poussaint is survived by his wife, Dr. Tina Young Poussaint, with whom he had a daughter. His first marriage to Ann Ashmore ended in 1988 and the pair had a son. According to his spouse, Poussaint passed away in his Chestnut Hills, Mass. home.
Poussaint was 90.
[h/t The History Makers & The New York Times]
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Universal Music Group (UMG) and Nashville-based non-profit Music Health Alliance (MHA) are expanding their relationship to launch the Music Industry Mental Health Fund, which will provide comprehensive, high-quality outpatient mental health resources for music industry professionals across the United States, it was announced Thursday (Feb. 13).
The new partnership, which builds upon the healthcare access program launched by UMG and MHA in April 2021, will provide a range of mental health services, including individualized recommendations for mental health professionals; grants to help offset costs; and funding resource recommendations to ensure continuity of care through additional financial and mental health support. Clients from UMG and beyond will have access to MHA’s team of advocates, with initial inquiries receiving a response within 24 hours.
“Music Health Alliance possesses the comprehensive resources necessary to address the full spectrum of mental health needs for music industry professionals,” said MHA founder/CEO Tatum Hauck Allsep in a statement. “This includes financial assistance, a continuum of care for both mental and physical health, and wraparound services such as psychiatric support, facilitation of intensive outpatient and inpatient programs, and data collection. MHA’s holistic approach ensures a long-term commitment to the health, well-being, and sustainability of the music industry workforce.”
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Services will be open to current and former music professionals, including those outside of UMG.
“We have been working on ways to establish a streamlined pathway for mental health access, funding and care planning,” said UMG chief impact officer Susan Mazo. “Growing and continuing our partnership with Tatum and the Music Health Alliance was the most natural way to ensure continuous and effective mental health support for anyone working in our industry.”
In addition to the expanded services, MHA offers a full spectrum of mental health and healthcare advocacy services, including dental care resources via the Richard M. Bates SMILE Fund, group health services, healthcare advocacy and confidential guidance. MHA, which boasts more than 32,000 members from across the music community, also offers individual/family healthcare insurance, senior care support via Price Legacy Fund and vision care resources.
According to UMG and MHA, the entities’ earlier healthcare access program, which provides a healthcare concierge to clients, has served nearly 1,000 clients to date and saved them more than $12.5 million in healthcare costs.
Ariana Grande was put through the ringer as a young star — and now that she’s older, she’s advocating for change in the entertainment industry so that the people who follow in her footsteps have an easier time.
On the latest episode of WTF With Marc Maron posted Monday (Feb. 10), the singer-actress said that therapy should be a “non-negotiable” part of record-label contracts for young signees, while reflecting on the whiplash of finding fast fame as a Nickelodeon actress-turned-pop star in the early 2010s. “I was 19 when all of that nonsense started happening to me,” she began of the immediate public scrutiny she faced in the spotlight. “It started when I was so young with my body or rumors about my relationships or about my team or about my mom or about people I love. There was just no limit.”
“It’s so important that these record labels, these studios, these TV studios, these big production companies make [therapy] a part of the contract when you sign on to do something that’s going to change your life in that way, on that scale,” Grande continued. “You need a therapist to be seeing several times a week.”
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Adding that big entertainment companies “should be responsible for protecting” young creators from the mental turmoil that’s almost guaranteed when they become globally famous in a short period of time, the Wicked star again said that counseling “should be non-negotiable” in contracts. “To be an artist, you are a vulnerable person with your heart on your sleeve,” she said. “So the same person who is meant to do art is the exact same person who is not meant to deal with that s–t.”
Grande’s comments echo what she previously said on Penn Badgley’s Podcrushed in June, when she revealed that she was “reprocessing” her time on the shows Victorious and Sam & Cat after allegations of sexual harassment and toxic workplace conditions from other former child stars came to light in the documentary Quiet on Set. At the time, the Oscar nominee said, “I think that the environment needs to be made safer if kids are going to be acting, and I think there should be therapists … I think there should be parents allowed to be wherever they wanna be.”
The topic is also newly prevalent considering Chappell Roan’s much talked-about best new artist speech at the 2025 Grammys, which sparked debate between the Midwest Princess — whom Charli XCX, Halsey and Noah Kahan later backed up — and former music industry executive Jeff Rabhan. In her speech, Roan had called on labels to “offer a livable wage and healthcare” to signees, “especially for developing artists.”
Later, after Rabhan called her take “wildly misinformed” in an op-ed published in The Hollywood Reporter, Roan clapped back by donating $25,000 to funds for struggling artists and wrote on Instagram Sunday (Feb. 9), “Sharing my personal experience at the Grammys wasn’t meant to be a crowdfunded bandaid but a call to action to the leaders of the industry to step up, help us make a real change and protect their investments in a sustainable way.”
Listen to Grande open up about the importance of therapy for young stars below.
Ariana Grande has a lot of gratitude for Thank U, Next. While reflecting on her career in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter‘s Awards Chatter podcast, the singer-actress opened up about the therapeutic powers her smash 2019 album had during a “dark” period in her life.
Of writing and recording Thank U, Next over the span of two weeks just a few months after her previous album, Sweeter, dropped in August 2018, Grande said on the episode posted Monday (Feb. 3), “I think I needed it.”
“I was doing so much therapy, and I was dealing with PTSD and all different kinds of grief and depression and anxiety,” she continued. “I was, of course, treating it very seriously, but having music be a part of that remedy was absolutely contributing to saving my life. They were dark times, and the music brought so much levity.”
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It’s not the first time the “Yes, And?” singer has opened up about pouring herself into the Thank U, Next creative process. Around the time she was making the album, she publicly dealt with the grief of losing ex-boyfriend Mac Miller, who died in September 2018, as well as the heartbreak of her split from ex-fiancé Pete Davidson the following October. Months prior, Grande’s Manchester concert was targeted by a deadly terrorist attack, after which she struggled with PTSD.
“[Thank U, Next] poured out with urgency, and it was made with urgency,” she added on Awards Chatter. “It was a means of survival. The label understood that, but they were also very hesitant to stop Sweetener dead in its tracks and move onto an album so quickly … I just said, ‘I don’t really care about the formula. I don’t want to play by the rules at this moment, because this is what I need for my soul.’ It felt really healing and freeing.”
The album ended up spending two weeks atop the Billboard 200, with its title track leading the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 1 for a total of seven weeks. Grande performed songs from both LPs on her subsequent Sweetener World Tour in 2019 — during which time she started hearing “murmurs” that her favorite Broadway musical, Wicked, was in talks to get the live-action treatment in Hollywood, she told Awards Chatter.
Flash forward more than half a decade, and Grande is now Oscar-nominated for her portrayal of Glinda in Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the show. After the academy unveiled its nominees in late January, the “We Can’t Be Friends” artist wrote on Instagram, “i’m humbled and deeply honored to be in such brilliant company and sharing this with tiny ari who sat and studied Judy Garland singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow just before the big, beautiful bubble entered.”
“i don’t quite have all my words yet, i’m still trying to breathe,” she added of her best supporting actress nod at the time. “but thank you. oh my goodness, thank you.”
Jewel is defending her polarizing choice to perform at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Inauguration Day ball while apologizing to those whose feelings she may have hurt in the process. In an Instagram video posted Friday (Jan. 24), the singer/songwriter explained that her appearance at the politician’s “Make America Healthy Again” event four days prior had […]
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Donald Trump will officially become the 47th President of the United States on Monday, January 20, but there are far better ways to spend your time than watching the convicted felon’s second inauguration. Set to officially start at noon, we have some suggestions, for the sake of your anxiety and stress levels, that will make for a far more enjoyable day than watching the Grifter in Chief reassume power,
For example, it is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a federal holiday, which means plenty of people fortunate enough to be employed might have the day off. That means folk will be home, turning on their TV’s and perhaps noting that all the major networks will be broadcasting the inauguration. While there are those curious, and pro-MAGA, readily tuning in to see who continues to kiss the ring and hear newscasters ultimately sane wash convicted felon Trump, millions of folk ain’t trying to hear or see all that.
Here’s a list of activities to keep you busy while next wave of lies, gaslighting and corruption kicks off for another four years. Just saying.
1. Get more more familiar with the late, great Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. represents the best of what humanity has to offer, and the Civil Rights leader was instrumental in getting the the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But in 2025, many on the far right would dismiss him as “woke,” which is now often a replacement for the n-word on the lips of those who seek a thinly veiled alternative to the slur. Today would be a good time to study up on the full spectrum of Dr. King’s vision, and how close we or have not come to achieving it. Start at the King Center, and go down the rabbit hole.
2. Watch NBA on MLK Day Games
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Speaking of, the NBA on MLK Day schedule of games, with an emphasis on honoring Dr. King’s legacy, has become a proper event over the years. 2025’s lineup features eight games of NBA action including the Wolves vs. Grizzlies at 2:30 pm ET and the Celtics vs. Warriors at 5 pm ET, both on TNT. Kicking off at noon, same as the inauguration (hint, hint) are the Mavs vs. Hornets, if you have NBA TV.
3. Let’s Organize
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Spring cleaning does not have to wait until the Spring. It has been exhaustively reported that decluttering and organizing your home or office space all kinds of mental health benefits to aid any anxiety, stress and generally boost your mood. And you don’t even need to take any drugs to [loses signal.
4. Watch ‘The Twilight Zone’ on streamers
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Watching The Twilight Zone marathon is a staple of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. It just hits different at the top of the year considering the series is readily available on Prime Video (Seasons 1 – 5), Pluto and other streaming services. And if the black and white OG version is a little too vanilla—Jordan Peele’s update, which was only a short-lived two seasons, it well worth a binge watch (also on Prime).
5. Log Off
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Contrary to popular believe, the world will not end if you don’t check in your various social media timelines (Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, Spill…you’re off Xitter, right, soon?). Of course, this does not mean, for example, to go AWOL from the job that pays, to fail to feed your children or other such examples of handling your business and responsibilities. But it’s safe bet the world will go on if you simply log off for a spell, trust.
6. Listen to Black women.
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Hey, if Michelle Obama can skip the inauguration, so can you.
Lily Allen just gave fans another update on her mental health, shutting down rumors that she’s been using drugs.
On the latest episode of her Miss Me? podcast posted Thursday (Jan. 9), the 39-year-old singer told co-host Miquita Oliver that she’s “really not in a good place” lately. “I know I’ve been talking about it for months, but I’ve been spiraling and spiraling and spiraling and it’s got out of control,” she continued.
Noting that she’s having trouble feeling “interested in anything,” Allen detailed how panic attacks have forced her to leave events and hangouts with friends early. “I just can’t concentrate on anything except the pain that I’m going through,” she added.
That said, the “Smile” singer revealed that she’ll be taking an extended break from the podcast — but not for any other reason that might be gleaned from the “vicious rumors” Allen said she’s seen about herself in recent weeks. “I do want to reassure people, because there will be speculation … I’ve not relapsed,” she told listeners.
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Allen has been open in the past about her struggles with addiction. She got sober in 2019 and, the following year, married her husband, Stranger Things star David Harbour.
And despite what might be circulating online, Allen affirmed that she still hasn’t looked back since. “I know there’s been some horrible blind items on the internet about me being found by my husband in a crack den being surrounded by men,” Allen said on Miss Me? as Oliver laughed in disbelief. “I don’t know who’s spreading these vicious rumors, but that’s not true.”
Allen’s latest update comes a few weeks after she said on a December episode of the podcast that she’d been “going through a tough time over the last few months” as her eating had “become a real issue.” The English singer-songwriter has also previously opened up about being diagnosed with ADHD in 2023 and struggling with PTSD after delivering a stillborn son named George in 2010.
The podcaster is also Mom to daughters Ethel and Marnie, whom she shares with ex-husband Sam Cooper. On the latest episode, she also touched on how she’s been leaning on her family unit during her difficult period, telling Oliver, “We are a support network for each other and encourage each other to talk about our feelings, but I think the main thing is telling them we’re going to get through it and be fine.”
If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health or substance abuse disorders, reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration‘s national helpline 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for confidential treatment referrals and information. If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating or an eating disorder, you can contact the ANAD helpline at 1 (888) 375-7767 or the National Alliance for Eating Disorders at 1 (866) 662-1235.
Listen below.
Lily Allen has long been an open book about her mental and physical health, but in a new chat on her and Miquita Oliver’s Miss Me? podcast, the “LDN” singer said that she’s currently going through a rough patch that she was initially reluctant to discuss with her therapist.
“I don’t think that I lie in therapy, but I do often not talk about things I should be talking about,” the singer said in this week’s episode. “It’s not intentional. I’ve been going through a tough time over the last few months and my eating has become a real issue.” Allen said her eating issues have been going on for almost three years, but she only recently opened up about them to her therapist.
“She was like, ‘Why haven’t you mentioned it before?’” said Allen, who tagged her creative pursuits as a form of “performative therapy,” because she finds it easier to sing about those things than to have “honest, vulnerable” conversations with people she cares about. “It’s not because I have been lying about it. It’s just because it hasn’t seemed at the top of the list of important things that I needed to talk about. But obviously it is.”
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Acknowledging that she sometimes struggles to paint the “big picture” when looking at her mental health — which, she noted, might have to do with her ADHD diagnosis — Allen said, “My body and my brain are two very separate things to me. I know a lot of people feel those two things are very connected to each other, but for me, it’s very different. I spend a lot of time in my head, and not a lot of time thinking about my body.”
Allen then got very candid about her current state of mind and the ways that has manifested physically. “I’m really not in a great place mentally at the moment, and I’m not eating. But I’m not hungry,” she said. ” I obviously am hungry, but my body and brain are so disconnected from each other that my body… the messages of hunger are not going from my body to my brain. I’m not avoiding food, I’m just not thinking about it because I’m so in my head. My body’s like, a few steps behind me.”
Allen, 39, married Stranger Things actor David Harbour in 2020 and has two daughters, ages 13 and 10, with her ex-husband Sam Cooper.
Oliver reminded her pod partner and lifelong friend Allen — who said that she did family therapy when she was young when her mom went tor rehab and then returned to therapy as an adult to deal with the initial rush of fame –that her awareness of what’s going on in her body is one step toward healing, a message the singer appreciated. In 2021, Allen opened up about her long battle with addiction, which she said started in school whens she turned to drugs and alcohol to deal with the resentment she felt from her classmates when she dropped out to pursue music.
Allen revealed her ADHD diagnosis in 2023, saying it “sort of runs in my family,” after sharing that she was suffering from PTSD after a stillbirth in 2010.
In July, Allen revealed that she had begun selling pictures and videos of her feet on OnlyFans, later saying that just a few months in she was earning more with her toes than her music streams. “imagine being and artist and having nearly 8 million monthly listeners on spotify but earning more money from having 1000 people subscribe to pictures of your feet,” she wrote in October.
Listen to the episode below (food discussion begins at 9:55 mark).
If you or someone you know are struggling with disordered eating or an eating disorder you can contact the ANAD helpline at 1 (888) 375-7767 or the National Alliance for Eating Disorders at 1 (866) 662-1235.
One of the most refreshing things about Jelly Roll and wife Bunnie XO‘s relationship is how open the country couple have been about their struggles and strife. Whether it’s the singer’s battles with addiction and obesity, Bunnie’s scary misdiagnosed aneurysm earlier this year or her battles with anxiety and depression after getting sober, both have been an open book with their fans.
Now, on the latest episode of her Dumb Blonde podcast, Bunnie discussed her longtime battle with OCD. “You guys have heard me talk about it on the podcast numerous time, but let’s discuss obsessive compulsive disorder,” Bunnie, 44, said on the NSFW episode. “I know some people joke about being a little OCD, but as someone who’s actually living with OCD, I’ll be the first to tell you it’s not a laughing matter.”
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She added, “It isn’t just being tidy or organized. OCD is actually having disturbing, unwanted thoughts that cause you overwhelming anxiety because they just feel so wrong, and you really don’t wanna be thinking about them.” The Mayo Clinic defines OCD as a “pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears known as obsessions. These obsession lead yo to do repetitive behaviors, also called compulsions.” Those compulsions can become so pervasive that they interfere with daily activities and can cause distress.
Bunnie described her OCD in similar terms. “It’s also repetitive physical or mental behaviors you do to try to make the anxiety from those thoughts go away,” she said. “But that just doesn’t work in the long run, and they just keep coming back. The idea that OCD is only about handwashing and organization is a complete misconception. OCD can latch on to anything, but it often focuses on the things we care about most, our relationships, religious beliefs, our hobbies and passions in an attempt to make the distress from their unwanted thoughts go away.”
The podcaster said she calls her OCD traits her “rituals,” which can be “incredibly time-consuming and exhausting.”
It’s not the first time Bunny has discussed her OCD diagnosis. Back in August 2023, she wrote in an Instagram post, “When I started this tour I was soooo scared, because as you all kno, I battle severe anxiety. Sobriety opened up a whole Pandora’s box of anxiety, OCD & depression j never knew j had until I had to stop covering up all the pain w/ pills & alcohol. I didn’t kno how I would feel on the bus, in the crowds or even just traveling everyday again because I hadn’t done a full tour w/ the hubby since 2019.”