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

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]

The Hardcore Therapist 145.5- Are You Communicating, or Are You Auditioning to Be Understood?

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2255460/fan_mail/new] Are you communicating—or performing a perfectly polished version of yourself in hopes of being understood? In this episode, I explore how overexplaining can become a form of emotional begging, especially when fear of rejection, conflict, or being misunderstood takes over. I break down the difference between healthy communication and self-abandonment, why therapy language can sometimes hide our real feelings, and how to express needs and boundaries with more clarity and less panic. You do not need a courtroom defense for your feelings. You are allowed to be clear, direct, and honest without auditioning for empathy. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2255460/support]

The Hardcore Therapist 145- Creech (Rebelmatic and Creaturenomics)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2255460/fan_mail/new] Today’s guest on The Hardcore Therapist Podcast is Creech also known as Creature or Creaturenomics. He’s the lead vocalist and frontman for the NYC hardcore punk/funk band Rebelmatic, known for intense, growling vocals and high-energy live shows that pull from NYHC, punk, and hip-hop. But that’s just one lane. He’s also a multimedia artist working across visual art, music, literature, and gaming building out Creaturenomics, a world that takes internal experiences like anxiety, identity, and all the messy parts of being human and turns them into something you can actually see. *Creech was having some internet issues throughout the interview.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2255460/support]