The Hardcore Therapist

The Hardcore Therapist 148- Ryan Smith (Rain the Shining)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2255460/fan_mail/new] Today I’m joined by Ryan Smith, the musician behind Rain the Shining. Rain the Shining is Ryan’s Baltimore-based music project, blending guitar-driven indie rock with roots in hardcore and punk. His music carries that tension between reflection and resistance — songs about time, memory, disappointment, injustice, and trying to make something honest out of what life gives you. His album In a Haze of Younger Days looks at what it means to meet your younger self and sit with who you’ve become, and his newer single “Take a Seat” leans into a more direct protest energy. I’m really excited to talk with Ryan about hardcore, songwriting, mental health, creativity, and what it means to keep making art as life changes. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2255460/support]

The Hardcore Therapist 147.5- For Lou Koller: When a Band Becomes Part of Your Story.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2255460/fan_mail/new] In this tribute episode, I reflect on the death of Lou Koller of Sick of It All and what it means when a band becomes woven into the story of your life. I share memories of seeing Sick of It All throughout several decades in Detroit and explore how music can hold our grief, identity, community, and connection to younger versions of ourselves. This episode is about legacy, the emotional impact artists can have on people they never personally meet, and the importance of telling people what they mean to us while we still have the opportunity. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2255460/support]

The Hardcore Therapist 147- Chris LaPointe (Wake of Humanity)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2255460/fan_mail/new] Today I’m joined by Chris LaPointe, vocalist of Wake of Humanity, a Washington state vegan straight edge hardcore band rooted in animal rights, environmental justice, human justice, and resistance. Wake of Humanity is part of the New Age Records family, which makes this conversation especially meaningful because The Hardcore Therapist Podcast has also been connected with and supportive of New Age Records. So this feels like one of those moments where the hardcore community overlaps in the best way — music, values, activism, and mental health all in the same conversation. For more than a decade, Wake of Humanity has used hardcore as a vehicle for conviction, writing songs that speak to injustice, accountability, and the urgency of staying awake in a world that can make people want to shut down. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2255460/support]

The Hardcore Therapist 146.5- What do you do when you love your parents but feel deeply divided by their political beliefs?

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2255460/fan_mail/new] In this episode, I talk about navigating political differences without abandoning your values, your emotional regulation, or your sense of self. I explore the difference between disagreement and dehumanization, how to set boundaries without overexplaining, and why you cannot argue someone into emotional maturity. I also share practical language for ending harmful conversations, preparing for family gatherings, protecting your children, and deciding what level of contact allows you to remain emotionally safe. Because staying respectful does not mean staying silent, and protecting your peace is not the same as betraying your values. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2255460/support]

The Hardcore Therapist 146- Frank Bach (Monk LA)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2255460/fan_mail/new] Today on The Hardcore Therapist, I’m joined by Frank Bach, vocalist of the Los Angeles hardcore band Monk. Frank’s work sits at a really interesting intersection of hardcore music, mindfulness, creativity, and self-inquiry. Monk brings the intensity and urgency of punk and hardcore, while also making space for reflection, awareness, and spiritual practice — which is not something we always talk about openly in this scene. Frank is also a designer based in Los Angeles, and his creative life seems to bridge both structure and chaos, noise and stillness, aggression and awareness. I’m really excited to talk with him about hardcore, mindfulness, creativity, emotional regulation, and what it means to stay awake and connected in a world that constantly pulls us out of ourselves. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2255460/support]