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Safe In Sound
Tune in to hear how music can be both a mirror and a medicine — helping us feel less alone, rediscover what moves us, and learn to use sound as a coping skill.Welcome to a space where music and mental health meet. Safe in Sound is a podcast with host Jeremy Houtsma, a licensed mental health counselor, that dives deep into the emotional stories behind the songs that shaped a generation — exploring how artists, therapists, and record label owners navigate mental health in the music industry.
Each episode blends raw conversation and reflection, connecting the nostalgia of 2000s emo music with real, modern-day mental health experiences. Whether you’re a longtime fan of bands like Minus the Bear, Further Seems Forever, or Taking Back Sunday, or simply someone who finds healing through music, you’ll find honesty, connection, and hope here.
Tune in to hear how music can be both a mirror and a medicine — helping us feel less alone, rediscover what moves us, and learn to use sound as a coping skill.
Episodes
25 episodes
Stacy Hilt: Coalesce, The Casket Lottery and dealing with Bi-Polar II disorder
Stacy Hilt is a founding member and bass player for the bands Coalesce and The Casket Lottery, both of which have had a remarkable impact on the music scene. In this episode, we go over a myriad of topics about his life. We explore ...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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1:50:36
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Jake Snider of Minus the Bear: Menos el Oso 20 year anniversary, guitar gear and mental health
Join us for an exclusive conversation with Jake Snider, founding member, guitarist, and lead singer of Seattle’s iconic indie rock band Minus the Bear. With their groundbreaking sophomore album Menos el Oso turning 20 yea...
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Season 2
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Episode 209
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1:37:41
Chris Higdon: Kentucky's own Falling Forward, Elliott and Mirrorless
25 Years ago False Cathedrals by Elliott was released into the world. A blend of electronic sampling, swelling, and atmospheric guitar sounds mixed with haunting vocals made the album one of the most regarded and masterful albums of the scene.&...
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Season 2
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Episode 208
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2:18:53
Brian Carley: Penfold and the NJ Scene
Brian Carley is the lead singer and guitarist for the band Penfold. Penfold started in 1995 in Livingston, NJ, as bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and Mineral were making their impact on the scene. Playing shows on weekends while attendin...
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Season 2
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Episode 206
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1:28:04
Damon Atkinson: Braid. Hey Mercedes Sobriety and Anxiety
Damon Atkinson is a legendary drummer in the mid-west emo scene. Damon started playing for the influential band Braid in 1997 and would go on to help write and record Braid's most critically acclaimed albums in the scene, Frame and Canvas...
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Season 2
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Episode 205
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2:06:24
Chad Neptune: Strongarm & Further Seems Forever
My guest is Chad Neptune of the legendary hxc band Strongarm and Further Seems Forever. Join us as we dive into the history of both bands as well as the ups and downs of being in two of the scene's most iconic bands. We discuss Chad's relations...
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Season 2
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Episode 204
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1:51:39
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Jason Trabue: Hopesfall, The Casket Lottery and Tour and Production Manager for Jimmy Eat World, Garbage and A Perfect Circle
Jason Trabue has been a drummer for band like Hopesfall, The Casket Lottery and Vedera. He currently is the Tour and Production manager for Jimmy Eat World, Garbage and A Perfect Circle. His music career in the scene is vast. Listen as we talk ...
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Season 2
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Episode 203
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1:53:54
Joe Marro: The Early November, Band Management and The State of the Music industry
Joe Marro is the former guitarist and keyboard player for The Early November from 2002 to 2007 and again from 2011-2017. He also played in HelloGoodbye from 2011 to 2018. In this episode, we talk about the fuzzy timeline of The Early November's...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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1:44:20
All Things Minus the Bear With Cory Murchy
Join me as I talk all things Minus the Bear with bass player and founding member Cory Murchy. We talk about Cory's love of ska music, forming Minus the Bear, a painful back injury that threatened to sideline him and what he is doing now.
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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1:18:14
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Orion Walsh: Slow Coming Day, grief and the journey toward healing
Orion Walsh is a solo musician the lead singer of Slow Coming Day. With the bands album Farewell to Familiar turning over 20 years old recently and a string of reunion shows coming in April it only seemed appropriate to have Orion o...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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1:24:43
Jeff Jenkins: Codeseven, Gatekeeping and the Art of Selling Out
Jeff Jenkins is a paranormal enthusiast, believer and also happens to be the lead singer of North Carolina Melodic Post-Hardcore indie outfit Codeseven. Jeff takes us on his journey of musical love from the womb, to the rise , demise and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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1:23:59
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Johnny Smrdel: Hardcore, Beloved and the advent of Advent.
Johnny Smrdel is the bass player for the gone-to-soon band Beloved, as well as the hardcore outfit Advent. Listen as Johnny takes us through his early love affair with music as a kid in a single parent household to his inclusion in the ha...
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1:28:35
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Talking Shai Hulud's legacy, reunion and beyond with vocalist Geert van der Velde
Shai Hulud has a special place in hardcore history. With the 20th anniversary of the band's trailblazing album "That Within Blood Ill-Tempered" and the thrilling announcement of their reunion at Furnace Fest 2024, my guest today is the vocalist...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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1:02:38
Joe Morin: Edison Glass and the art of adapting to change
When the mic goes live, it's not just about the podcast voice—it's about the echoes of old friendships and the music that's been the soundtrack to our lives. Reunited with Joe Morin of Edison Glass, we wade through the laughter, the struggles o...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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1:54:58
Jolie Lindholm: The Rocking Horse Winner/The Darling Fire
As a first for the Podcast, I am excited to welcome Jolie Lindholm lead singer of The Rocking Horse Winner and The Darling Fire. Listen as Jolie talks about her time in Florida's rising music scene as one of the few female-fronted bands i...
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1:31:05
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Ryan Parrish: Hopesfall, The Satellite Years 2.0, Music and Connection
On October 15, 2002, Hopesfall released a seminal album called The Satellite Years. 21 years later the band remixed and remastered the album. Ryan Parrish was a driving force in the formation, songwriting, and touring force th...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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1:43:34
Jake Brown from 238, Moments in Grace, En Masse and Isya.exe
Challenging the status quo and diving headfirst into the colorful world of music, our episode today resonates with the influential beats of Jake Brown, a creative force behind bands 238, Moments in Grace and Isiya dot exe. A small-town mu...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:33:01
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Unraveling the Power of Community and Music with Jeremy Gould
Strap in as we explore the intricate dance between faith and music, a narrative that is deeply personal to Jeremy. He speaks candidly about the challenges and triumphs he faced in merging these two worlds, providing a unique perspective that's ...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:24:58
Steve Lamos: American Football, Jazz and the power of the Midwest emo scene.
American Football is perhaps one of THE most influential bands in the scene, especially when it comes to Midwest Emo. Steve Lamos is the founding member, drummer, and trumpet player for the band but Steve is also an accomplished professor and a...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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1:46:02
Zach Gehring: MAE/ Demons
Zach Gehring is the guitarist most known for his work in the MAE and his other band Demons but there is so much more to Zach than just the music he creates though. Zach is currently getting his PhD, while being a Dad and a musician. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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2:05:14
Jimmy Stadt: Polar Bear Club, Shy Tooth
Jimmy Stadt was the lead singer of the band Polar Bear Club and the current singer and musician of the band Shy Tooth. In 2013 Polar Bear Club called it quits, leaving Jimmy with a difficult transition into "civilian life." Jimmy and I ta...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:35:02
Jason Gleason: Further Seems Forever, ActionReaction, Old Wives
Jason Gleason is perhaps one of my favorite lead vocalists for any band in the scene. Having seen him twice when he was in Further Seems Forever, his stage presence and crowd participation were unmatched. Jason and I talk about How to Start a F...
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1:54:37
Josh Hagquist :The Beautiful Mistake
Josh Hagquist from The Beautiful Mistake talks about his own history in the scene and his band The Beautiful Mistake. Josh and I also talk about the importance of working on yourself and the healing that can come from that.
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:04:03
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Joe Musten:Beloved/Advent/The Almost
In this episode, we talk with Joe Musten. Joe is the drummer for the band Beloved and at times, The Almost, as well as lead singer in the band Advent. We talk about the rise and fall of Beloved, and their reunion at Furnace Fest, as well as his...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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1:22:08
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