In honor of Mental Health Action Day on May 15, 2025, the CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast is proud to partner with MTV’s Mental Health Action Day to launch its Season 5 premiere episode, featuring singer/songwriter and mental health advocate Jewel, and licensed therapist Dr. Ryan Dusick, LMFT—former drummer of Maroon 5 and author of the memoir and podcast Harder to Breathe.
After a short hiatus, the CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast returns to the airwaves as a 2X “People’s Choice” Podcast Award winner (2024 & 2021).
Musical guests on past episodes include: The Lumineers, Fred Armisen (SNL, Portlandia), Killswitch Engage, Lindsey Stirling, Grouplove, James Arthur, grandson, Sal Rodriguez of WAR, The Revivalists, Emilio Castillo of Tower of Power, Clarke (Guns N’ Roses), Dirty Heads, Amos Lee, Seether, and the iconic Linda Ronstadt—with more to come.
Each episode pairs musical guests with top mental health experts such as:
- Dr. Dan Reidenberg (SAVE.org, suicide prevention expert)
- Dr. Ish Major (named on “America’s Top Psychiatrist” list, TV’s Marriage Boot Camp)
- Tim Ringgold, MT-BC, Music Therapist and author of Sonic Recovery: Harness the Power of Music to Stay S.O.B.E.R.
When I first heard the news in 2017 that Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslave) had lost his life to suicide, the news hit me hard,” says host Mari Fong, who covered Cornell as a music journalist. “Then when Chester Bennington (Linkin Park) took his own life, and soon after AVICII (Tim Bergling) did the same, I just couldn’t believe it. These were artists whose music brought me so much joy—how could they be living in so much pain? I knew I had to do something that could actually make a difference.”
That “something” was becoming an advocate for musicians and their mental health. Fong began raising funds by hosting music events and partnering with charities to address the growing crisis of suicides, substance abuse, and mental health challenges in the music industry.
Having personally experienced depression and anxiety, Fong brings real-world understanding and compassion to her mission.
“The darkness and hopelessness of depression, and the irrational fears that come with anxiety, were real battles for me,” says Fong. “But when I finally found solutions that worked, a better, happier life was on the other side.”
“Musicians can often lose their way, not know where to turn, or give up on finding help. I want to give them hope, encourage persistence, and provide both real-world and professional solutions. That way, everyone can choose their own path to recovery.”
About the Podcast
The CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast is where notable musicians and experts share their stories and solutions for mental health and addiction recovery. It’s also home to the largest online listing of free or affordable resources for mental health and addiction support at checkyourheadpodcast.com.
The podcast is proudly partnered with the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, a nonprofit providing assistance to musicians in need. Sweet Relief recently launched a Mental Health Fund, with Mari Fong serving as its Mental Health Ambassador.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Mari and the CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast,” says Aric Steinberg, Executive Vice President of Development & Artist Relations at Sweet Relief. “Mari has been a longtime friend and ally to our music community. She’s done an amazing job with the podcast, and she truly cares about the health and well-being of musicians. We’re grateful to be part of the solution and to help shine a light on the mental health issues facing our industry.”
About Mari Fong
Mari Fong is the Executive Producer and Host of the CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast.
With over 25 years of experience in music journalism and healthcare, Fong has interviewed a wide range of artists including Chester Bennington (Linkin Park), Ozzy Osbourne, Paul McCartney, Aerosmith, The White Stripes, The Strokes, Green Day, System of a Down, and David Bowie.
She was featured on Today, I’m Brave, a nonprofit that highlights extraordinary changemakers, and served as Executive Producer for Sirius XM’s The Inner Circle with Neil Strauss. Fong has also partnered with nonprofits such as Homeless Healthcare Los Angeles and the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance, raising funds for mental health and addiction recovery.
Listen to the CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast:
Website: checkyourheadpodcast.com
Available on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | All Podcast Platforms
