Learning You Don't Have to Earn Love with Alana Springsteen

About this episode

Alana Springsteen discusses her journey of self-discovery and the impact of her music on her mental health.

What if the songs you've been writing were actually thetherapy you desperately needed? What if the version of you that felt like the black sheep your whole life was the one who would help the rest of us feel less alone? Alana Springsteen has been performing since before she knewwhat performing cost her. She signed her first publishing deal at 14, earned a gold record before she turned 25, CMT's Next Women of Country, and has shared stages with Keith Urban and Tyler Hubbard — all while quietly carrying a version of herself she hadn't yet figured out how to put down. Her sophomorealbum, I Hope This Helps , is the result of what happened when she stopped grinding and started digging. Miles and Alana go deep into the fear woven into her faith,the people-pleasing that had her questioning “why,” the EMDR session that surfaced a memory from four years old, and the eating disorder she kept hidden until she was finally ready to let her mom in. This is a conversation about what it costs to become who you were always meant to be and the honesty aboutthe journey to get there. In this conversation, you'll learn: How to Tell the Difference Between Faith and Fear How Performing for Love Slowly…

People in this episode

Host: Miles Adcox

Guest: Alana Springsteen

Topics covered

• self-discovery
• mental health
• music therapy
• identity
• people-pleasing
• childhood memories

Keywords

• Alana Springsteen
• music therapy
• identity
• people-pleasing
• EMDR
• mental health
• self-discovery
• childhood memories

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: I Hope This Helps

More episodes of Human School

• How to Rewire Your Brain for Peace, Creativity, and Purpose with Dr. Martha Beck · September 8, 2026 · 1h 48m
• "I Had to Learn to Live Again" — Amy Grant on Starting Over at 65 · September 3, 2026 · 1h 49m
• Overcoming Self-Judgment and Walking Through Grief with Judah & the Lion · August 25, 2026 · 1h 32m
• Stress Is Trying to Protect You — Here's How to Listen · August 18, 2026 · 10 min
• Finding Success Without Losing Yourself: Larry Fleet on Fame, Fatherhood, and Staying Grounded · August 11, 2026 · 2h 9m
• Is Certainty Making Us Lonely? with Miles Adcox · August 4, 2026 · 17 min