This year for our 2020 I’m Listening broadcast we came together with artists and athletes not only to empower listeners to have open conversations around mental health, but to demonstrate that talking about mental health is a tool that can truly save lives.
We’ve carved out some of the most touching and memorable moments from the conversations we had with our I’m Listening Class of 2020 and share their most powerful messages. From DJ Khaled to Demi Lovato to Bon Jovi, each of these artists know that it's okay to not be okay.
To catch the full I'm Listening broadcast, listen to the podcast here, and read a few words of wisdom from our favorite artists below.
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Guns N Roses’ Duff McKagan
“It’s safe, it’s okay to talk about and it happens to a lot more of us than we know. If we’ve got each other’s back then we’re good. Talk is totally key.”
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Katy Perry
Katy, on her new album Smile: "I say to myself, I don’t know if I’m going to be depressed again, I don’t know if I’m going to go through it, but I have this touchstone to remind me that I came out the other end. I lived.”
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Lewis Capaldi
“You can be perfectly sound… you don’t have to have depression or anxiety… to go to a therapist. You may just be someone who like, you need to kind of off-load… and share with someone.”
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Luke Combs
"It's been a huge part of my life. A couple ways to maintain my mental health is making myself aware to the things I know I'm prone to."
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Alanis Morissette
Morissette on the tools she uses to be there for someone struggling with their mental health: "First I would just sit with them and let them know I’m not going anywhere and then I would sit in silence with them for as long as they wanted. Then eventually if someone begins to feel safe enough, they might risk telling me in this case what’s actually going on for them. Mentally, thoughts, physically, emotionally, psychically, spiritually.”
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DJ Khaled
"I tell my team and myself everyday… let's embrace these blessings, let's be great but grateful. Nobody can’t tell you that you’re not the best.”
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Cage The Elephant’s Brad Shultz
“Writing music and using music as a therapeutic avenue was very big for us. Songs that we had written previously that not necessarily dealt with the loss of some of the friends we had pass away after we recorded those songs, they kind of reshaped and took new form to us.”
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Jon Bon Jovi
“It’s been an interesting time because we all had to stop running on the treadmill. We all had to stop chasing things just for the sake of chasing them. The pandemic forced us all to reevaluate life and what that meant. There’s a new simplicity and there’s a new complexity.”
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Demi Lovato
"It's really important for me to stay positive and centered. It's just important that we keep a positive headspace."
For more mental health content, special edition artist interviews, resources, and more head to Imlistening.org. During a time where we need compassion more than ever, I’m Listening is here to provide us all with a few hours filled with kindness, community, and support.
RADIO.COM’s I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-8255.
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