Occupy The Void with Xtina

Luke Severeid is a comedian with heavy metal running through his veins and increasingly making its way into his sets. In this far-ranging conversation, we talk about wrangling ADHD as a creative person, the strange dopamine economy of stand-up, and his new double special exploring everything from heavy music to empathy, blasphemy and our broken brains. We also get into whether nu-metal's resurgence is connected to the male loneliness crisis, why heavy metal might actually be good for us, finding community in an increasingly atomised world, the dark forces shaping modern life and one undeniable truth: looksmaxxers wouldn't be so mental if they could grow a beard.

What happens when two people with loud brains, big feelings and years of surviving their own minds sit down and compare notes? Artist Caroline Harrison and host Christina Rowatt talk about the overlap between creativity, neurodivergence, depression, burnout and the exhausting effort of trying to function in a world that often feels too loud. From masking and emotional flooding through to the weird guilt of rest and the danger of tying your worth to productivity, the conversation moves through the messier corners of being human without trying to neatly resolve any of it. Together, they unpack the tension between art and mental illness, the invisible labour of "holding it together" and why creating something meaningful can sometimes feel like the only thing keeping the lights on.  

Mel Bampton has spent over thirty years on Australian radio. She is an author, yoga practitioner and accomplished music journalist who began her career at triple j in Brisbane. In this conversation, Mel reflects on producing the radio series and book Off The Record, travelling the world to interview legendary producers like Steve Albini and Michael Beinhorn. She also shares inside stories from her time as a key figure behind Soundwave Festival, once Australia's largest touring music event. We explore the power of music and how it shapes identity, emotion and behaviour, along with the mental health impact of building a life in the industry. This is a conversation about creativity, psychology and what happens when music becomes more than something you listen to.

Brian Ritchie from Violent Femmes talks about how mental health was approached when he was starting out, the impact of breaking big early on his identity as a young musician, how he manages his mental health and lots more.

Donita Sparks of L7 talks about her experiences with mental health, the band's evolution and her frustration at the reaction to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade as the founder of Rock For Choice, a pro-choice concert series that featured everyone from Nirvana to Pearl Jam, Rage Against The Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Donita also discusses her proud role in empowering trans individuals as their saviours out of the speakers in the opening segment of this week's episode. Donita's interview is followed by a deep and intimate conversation with War On Women's Shawna Potter. War On Women is an outspoken feminist band from Baltimore who speak truth to power. Shawna shares her journey to finding her purpose in a new role as an intimacy coordinator for film and television. Shawna highlights the impact of representation in cinema and the challenges women face in the industry. She also shares her experiences with mental health as a neurotypical individual, and the dramatic differences between the Australian and American healthcare systems. Shauna advocates for therapy and self-care routines to maintain mental health, stressing the importance of persistence and consistency.

What does depression feel like? Artists including Corey Taylor (Slipknot), B Real (Cypress Hill), Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Jessica Pimentel, Devin Townsend, Jake Duzsik (Health), Connie Sgarbossa (Seeyouspacecowboy) and Kyle Anderson (Brand of Sacrifice) reflect on their experiences of depression and darkness. They also share the coping mechanisms that have helped them get through it.

Lindsay Schoolcraft is a Canadian singer, harpist, keyboardist and music producer who is an established solo artist who also spent seven years with Cradle of Filth. In this episode, she discusses her mental health journey and reflects on her time with Cradle of Filth, noting the challenges of dealing with narcissistic individuals and the strain on her mental health. Lindsay emphasises the importance of setting boundaries and the transformative power of therapy. She also shares her creative process, including what to expect from her new album and the influence of her autism. Lindsay also touches on the support from her friend Xenoyr (Ne Obliviscaris) and why it is so important to remember that's for you won't go by you.  

Jake Duzsik of LA industrial band HEALTH explores his experiences with mental health, creativity and illness plus "DSMV," the song they named after The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - a volume where all of us in the mental health club are included. We talk about how their desolate music may be connecting right now because of the bleak world we currently inhabit, what it's like to live with obsessive compulsive disorder, the evils of big tech and its psychological manipulation, working with Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails, what happens after addiction and lots more.

B Real from Cypress Hill discussed his own mental health experiences and the challenges of expressing vulnerability in aggressive environments like gang life and hip hop. B Real also shared his journey with cannabis, initially using it casually but later becoming an advocate. He highlighted the organic integration of cannabis themes in their music. B Real also touched on magic moments from the making of Black Sunday, his musical evolution, the struggles of being an icon, and his upcoming projects, including new music from Cypress Hill and collaborations with other artists.

Jessica Pimentel (extreme metal band Brujeria, Netflix's Orange is the New Black) shares her long history with Tibetan Buddhism and how to directly apply it to your life to elevate your mental health and combat depression and suffering. She also explores her creative life as a musician, actor and artist in general.