The Hardcore Healing Podcast

There’s something about endings that make you tell the truth a little more honestly.And for the final episode of Season 1 of Hardcore Healing, that’s exactly what this conversation felt like.Raw. Grounded. Real in a way that doesn’t try to impress you; but instead invites you back into yourself.I sat down with Molly Day (you might know her as moveswithmolly on IG), and what unfolded wasn’t just a conversation about movement… it was a conversation about coming home to your body.Because if we’re being honest, most of us don’t actually live there.We live in our heads.We override signals.We push through discomfort.We disconnect; and then wonder why we feel off, anxious, inflamed, or exhausted.Molly’s work exists in that exact space: the space between disconnection and awareness.She brings a completely different energy to the wellness world- one that isn’t about intensity, punishment, or aesthetics.It’s about listening and slowing down enough to notice:* where you’re holding tension* how you’re moving through your day* what your nervous system is actually asking forAnd in a culture that rewards doing more, pushing harder, and ignoring your body until it forces you to stop… that kind of awareness is a powerful tool.In this episode, we talk about movement in a way that goes far beyond workouts.We talk about:* why so many people feel disconnected from their bodies* how chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation show up physically* the subtle ways we abandon ourselves in everyday life* and what it actually looks like to rebuild trust with your bodyNot through extremes, but through consistency, curiosity, and small shifts that compound over time.And honestly?It felt like the perfect way to close out this season. Because if Season 1 has been about anything, it’s been about this: Healing isn’t about becoming someone new.It’s about returning to yourself…with more awareness, more honesty, and a little more compassion than you had before.If you’ve been following along this season, thank you.If this is your first episode, welcome.And if your body has been trying to get your attention lately… this one is for you.How to connect with Molly:YouTube: Moves With MollyIG: moveswithmolly This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hardcorehealingpod.substack.com

There’s a version of the music industry we all see; the lights, the adrenaline, the chaos, the catharsis.And then there’s the version most people never talk about:The crash after the show.The silence in the green room.The nervous system can never truly rest.In this episode of Hardcore Healing, I sat down with Jess Coale, also known as therocknrollritualist, to talk about something the industry desperately needs but rarely prioritizes: intentional care.Jess didn’t start here.Like a lot of people who end up doing deeply meaningful work, her path wasn’t linear. She came from the aesthetics world, an industry rooted in transformation, but often focused on the external. Over time, her work evolved into something much more profound: creating rituals, ceremonies, and spaces that help people come back into their bodies.Especially the ones who live most of their lives outside of them.What struck me most in our conversation wasn’t just what Jess does but why it matters so much right now.Because touring doesn’t just demand energy. It dysregulates it.Late nights.Constant travel.High stimulation.Performance pressure.Very little true recovery.We would never expect an athlete to perform at a high level without a recovery team.So why do we expect that from artists and crew?Jess is helping redefine that standard.Through sound healing, meditation, and intentional ceremony, she’s creating moments for people to pause, process, and reconnect; not as an afterthought, but as an essential part of performance longevity.This isn’t “woo.”This is nervous system work. This is sustainability. This is what it looks like to actually care for the humans behind the art.And maybe the most powerful part?These small rituals don’t have to be elaborate or perfect. They just have to be intentional.A breath before stepping on stage.A moment of stillness after stepping off.A practice that reminds you, “hey, you’re a person before you’re a performer.”This conversation felt like a glimpse into what the future of the music industry could look like.One where care teams aren’t optional.Where recovery is built into the culture.Where artists don’t have to burn out to be successful.And where we stop treating nervous system regulation like a luxury and start recognizing it as the foundation for everything.If you’re in the music space; artist, crew, creative, this one’s for you.And if you’re not?You might still need this more than you think.How to stay in touch with Jess:Booking: https://www.therocknrollritualist.com/therebelsanctuaryWebsite: www.therocknrollritualist.comIG: @therocknrollritualist and @therebelsanctuary This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hardcorehealingpod.substack.com

In this episode of Hardcore Healing, I sit down with therapist and mental health advocate Taylor Palmby for a deeply honest conversation about the relationship between music and mental health.We talk about the ways music becomes more than just sound — how it holds our grief, reflects our inner world, and gives us language for emotions we don’t always know how to express.Taylor shares her personal journey navigating depression, anxiety, and the loss of a close friend, and how those experiences shaped both her life and her work as a therapist. We explore the importance of community, the need for safe spaces to be seen and heard, and why healing was never meant to happen in isolation.This conversation is a reminder that music doesn’t just connect us, it helps us process, survive, and sometimes even come back to ourselves.How to find Taylor:IG: @taylorpalmbyWebsite: https://www.heal-yeah.com/Booking link: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/taylor-palmby-new-york-ny/906175 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hardcorehealingpod.substack.com

One of the things that fascinates me most about the music industry is how much the human body is asked to do - and how rarely we talk about it.When we think about live music, we think about the sound, the energy of the crowd, the lights, the performance. But behind every show is a body that has to keep up with the demands of touring: long travel days, late nights, heavy gear, repetitive movements, and the physical intensity of performing night after night.For this episode of Hardcore Healing, I sat down with Dr. Chris Meadows from Roc Doc Chiropractic, someone who has made it his mission to help musicians stay healthy enough to keep doing what they love.Chris’s path into this work didn’t start on tour buses and backstage floors. Like many chiropractors, he began in a more traditional clinical setting, treating patients with a variety of conditions, including scoliosis. But over time, his work started to expand into something bigger as he began connecting with artists and touring professionals who needed care in environments where healthcare isn’t always easy to access.Anyone who has spent time around touring musicians knows the reality: when you’re constantly on the road, finding consistent care can be incredibly difficult.That gap is what led Chris to build Roc Doc Chiropractic, a mobile network of providers designed to bring care directly to artists and crews while they’re on tour. Instead of waiting for injuries to get bad enough to stop a show, the goal is to help musicians stay ahead of the physical wear and tear that naturally comes with performing.During our conversation, we talked about some of the most common injuries musicians experience on tour and once you start thinking about the mechanics of performing, the patterns become pretty clear.Neck and low back pain are incredibly common across the board, often from travel, long sets, and the cumulative stress of performing.Guitarists and bass players frequently deal with forearm and shoulder strain from the repetitive nature of playing and the weight of their instruments.Drummers, on the other hand, tend to feel the impact lower in the body; ankles, knees, and hips taking the brunt of the constant motion required to keep a set moving.But what stood out most in this conversation wasn’t just the injuries themselves, it was the focus on prevention.Because while the music industry has historically been built around pushing through exhaustion, more and more artists are starting to recognize that longevity requires something different.Dr. Chris talked about some of the simple but powerful habits that can help musicians stay healthier on the road: staying hydrated, eating regular meals when possible, taking time to stretch daily, and prioritizing rest whenever the schedule allows.None of these things sound groundbreaking. But when you’re living the chaos of touring, even the basics can make a huge difference in how the body holds up over time.For me, conversations like this are exactly why Hardcore Healing exists.Because behind every performance are people whose bodies are carrying the weight of the work. And the more we can talk openly about how to support those bodies - whether through chiropractic care, movement, recovery, or simply better habits on the road - the more sustainable this industry becomes for the people inside it.Dr. Chris is someone doing that work in a real and tangible way, making sure the artists and crews behind the music have the support they need to keep going.And sometimes, keeping the show on the road starts with something as simple as helping the body keep moving.How to connect with Dr. Chris:Email: [email protected]: rocdocchiroText: 502-974-0570 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hardcorehealingpod.substack.com

In this episode of Hardcore Healing, Erin sits down with Madeline Hartley from Backline to talk about mental health in the music industry and the growing movement to support the people behind the scenes.Backline is a nonprofit dedicated to connecting music industry professionals and their families with mental health resources, therapy referrals, and crisis support designed specifically for life in the music world.Madeline shares insights into the unique pressures faced by artists, crew members, and industry workers - from demanding schedules and constant travel to the emotional toll of creative work.The conversation explores how music can be both deeply healing and incredibly demanding, why stigma around mental health still exists in many creative spaces, and how organizations like Backline are helping shift the culture toward greater care and sustainability.Madeline also discusses B-Line, Backline’s crisis hotline, which provides immediate support for music industry professionals who need someone to talk to.Topics we cover include:• Mental health challenges in the music industry• Breaking stigma around therapy and asking for help• Substance use and coping in high-pressure environments• The importance of boundaries and empathy in care• Building stronger support systems for artists and crewsIf you’ve ever wondered what real mental health support in the music industry looks like, this conversation offers an honest and hopeful look at how the culture is changing.How to connect with Madeline and Backline Services:Instagram: mad.lef and backline.careWebsite: https://backline.care/In crisis? Utilize B-LINE by Backline, the first U.S.-based, 24/7 mental health and crisis support line specifically for the music industry. Accessible via phone (855-BLINE99) or text (254-639) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hardcorehealingpod.substack.com

In this episode of Hardcore Healing, Erin interviews Daniel Rinaldi, a licensed mental health counselor who transitioned from a career in music to supporting artists' mental health. They discuss the importance of connection, the hidden struggles of creatives, and the innovative Soundcheck Sesh initiative designed to provide mental health resources on tour. Daniel shares insights on emotional longevity, the challenges of identity in the music industry, and the need for accessible support for artists. The conversation emphasizes breaking the stigma around mental health and the importance of community in fostering well-being within the music scene.How to find and connect with Daniel:IG: danielrinaldilmhc Website: www.danielrinaldilmhc.comReach out to him directly for more information surrounding SNDCHK SESH., a modern support system designed for artists and crews without adding another body to the bus. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hardcorehealingpod.substack.com

What if your body wasn’t breaking down…What if it was begging you to stop pretending you’re fine?In this first episode of Hardcore Healing, Dr. Erin Ventoso shares the personal journey that sparked the creation of the podcast and the deeper mission behind it.Erin opens up about years of chronic pain, hormonal symptoms, anxiety, and her ongoing experience with suspected endometriosis, along with the emotional toll of feeling dismissed, disconnected from her body, and pressured to keep functioning like nothing was wrong.She speaks candidly about what it looks like to be passionate, driven, and high-performing while silently burning out… and how healing often begins when you stop trying to “fix yourself” and start learning how your body actually works.This episode is also a love letter to the heavy music community. Erin reflects on how the alternative scene became a place of belonging, expression, and emotional release - and why wellness conversations in this space matter more than ever.Hardcore Healing exists to normalize nervous system care, recovery, movement, breathwork, and sustainable health practices for people who live loud, love hard, and give everything to what they do.Because you shouldn’t have to choose between your passion and your body. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hardcorehealingpod.substack.com

Tour life doesn’t care if your body is tired. The show still happens.In this episode of Hardcore Healing, Erin talks with Dr. Elle Biegel aka The Metal Chiro about what it looks like to support musicians in an industry that pushes people past their limits.From her roots as an aspiring ballet dancer to becoming a chiropractor embedded in the heavy music world, Dr. Elle shares how movement, recovery, and nervous system regulation can change everything for artists on the road.They dive into the real connection between pain, performance, and mental health and why it’s time the music scene normalized wellness as much as it normalizes pushing through.You can find and work with Dr. Elle on Instagram at @themetalchiro, her current website: www.b2bchiropractor.com, or text her directly to inquire about her services at 917-789-4014. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hardcorehealingpod.substack.com