State Of Mind with Maurice Benard

Maurice Benard welcomes his son Joshua Benard back to State of Mind for a deeply personal conversation about music, acting, anxiety, depression, family, and the creative life. After a powerful performance at The Hotel Cafe, Joshua opens up about finding his identity as a songwriter, moving from songs rooted in pain to music that also makes room for joy. He and Maurice talk honestly about sleep, depression, bipolar disorder, what it feels like to watch a parent struggle with mental health, and why openness can be both necessary and complicated. The conversation also moves into creativity, performance, artistic influences, acting versus music, Chris Martin’s unforgettable advice to “don’t stop,” and Joshua’s perspective on pain as something that cannot always be measured or ranked. The episode closes with an intimate live acoustic performance from Joshua. Support Resources:🆘 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call, text, or chat 988 for 24/7 free, confidential support.📘 "Nothing General About It" Autobiography: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062973371 (Disclaimer: This program is intended strictly for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. It does not constitute formal medical advice, clinical diagnosis, or mental health treatment protocols.) Follow SOM, tap 5 stars, & share this episode with someone who needs it. Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book!Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/ X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.comState of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production & Video: Anthony CammarataPodcast Strategy Consultant: Aaron Calafato Audio Consultant: Ken Wendt

Actor, writer, director, and voice actor Michael Easton joins Maurice Benard on State of Mind for a rare, deeply honest conversation about what it really takes to heal. Michael shares what it was like growing up between Belfast and the U.S., moving constantly, and carrying the hidden weight of childhood fear and instability into adulthood. From there, the conversation opens up into the stuff most people avoid: anxiety, grief, loss, and the long process of bringing buried pain to the surface so it can finally move. They talk about surrender, therapy, meditation, the difference between suppressing pain and processing it, and why real healing often starts when someone is willing to sit with you in the dark. Later, Michael reflects on his path into acting, the early years of his career, and the strange moments that come with visibility, identity, and being seen. The episode closes with a powerful tribute to Kamar de los Reyes, and what his life and passing changed in Michael forever. Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book!Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/ X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.comState of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production: Anthony CammarataAudio/Video/Editorial: Anthony CammarataPodcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato

Josh Swickard—an actor who’s starred in films that have reached #1 on Netflix and on General Hospital—opens up about anxiety attacks he didn’t understand until they hit him, and how breathwork helped him reframe the symptoms and take away the fear. The conversation moves through anger, calm, parenting, and faith, landing on a powerful idea: don’t waste the pain—use it to help others keep moving forward. Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book!Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/ X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.comState of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production: Anthony CammarataAudio/Video/Editorial: Anthony CammarataAudio Podcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato

Retired LAPD veteran Manny Santoo rarely does interviews, but on State of Mind he opens up about a life shaped by the streets—air support helicopters, high-risk nights during the LA Riots, and what police work teaches you about fear, adrenaline, and restraint. The conversation turns deeply personal as Manny shares the story of his daughter Bella, who is autistic and mostly nonverbal, and how his family learned to communicate through letter boards and unwavering patience. Along the way: faith, grief, true-crime fascination, and the moments that change a person’s entire outlook.If you're having thoughts of self-harm or suicide: call, text 988, or start a live chat with Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It's free and confidential. You'll reach someone who is trained to listen and support you. Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book!Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/ X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.comState of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production: Anthony CammarataAudio/Video/Editorial: Anthony CammarataPodcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato

For the first time publicly, Chris McKenna opens up about his bipolar diagnosis and the mental health journey that reshaped his life and career. In this deeply personal episode of State of Mind, the General Hospital actor tells Maurice Benard what it was like living undiagnosed for decades, the breaking point he faced during the pandemic, and the treatment that helped him find stability and clarity. After breaking on State of Mind, Chris McKenna’s story was subsequently featured on The Story Is with Elex Michaelson on CNN, bringing the conversation to an even wider national audience. Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book!Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/ X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.comState of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production: Anthony CammarataAudio/Video/Editorial: Anthony CammarataPodcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato

On this episode of State of Mind, Maurice sits down with Emmy-winning actress Sharon Case—known to millions as Sharon Newman from The Young and the Restless—for an unfiltered conversation about mental health, acting, and the real emotional truth behind portraying bipolar disorder on screen. Sharon opens up about her early life, unexpected path into daytime TV, her work with complex storylines, and the rising awareness around depression and suicide since the pandemic. This is an honest, surprising, deeply human conversation that fans of both daytime drama and mental-health advocacy will not forget. Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book!Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/ X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.comState of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production: Anthony CammarataAudio/Video/Editorial: Anthony CammarataPodcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato