During the 2021 I’m Listening broadcast, Audacy banded together with our hosts Carson Daly and Dr. Alfiee M. Breland-Noble, plus numerous artists and athletes, not only to empower listeners to share their own mental health stories, but to capture anecdotes, tools, and tips that further the idea that talk has the power to save lives.
In case you missed these conversations, hear our full podcast of the 2021 I’m Listening broadcast now
Looking at how music intersects with mental health, guests such as Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Doja Cat, Machine Gun Kelly, Demi Lovato, Normani, Carly Pearce, Shakira, Justin Bieber, Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kevin Love, Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, Nelly, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, Darius Rucker, Jack Antonoff, and more spoke openly about their own journeys and demonstrated that prioritizing mental health is crucial to all.
Check out our favorite quotes from artists in this year's I'm Listening class.
Lizzo
"I want to let people know like even when you have dropped the number one song in the world and everything looks like it should be going great, you’re still allowed to have emotions and your emotions are valid.”
Normani
"I’m allowing myself the opportunity now to be human and to also speak to somebody. I started therapy, which was one of the best decisions that I personally could have made for myself."
Billie Eilish
“What is happy? I feel like I spent a lot of time thinking about happiness and the word 'happiness,' and how it fluctuates… Happier Than Ever doesn’t mean 'happier' than you’re ever going to be, it means 'happier' than you were before.”
Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons
"I think part of being a friend is listening. First and foremost, just listening….I might not have the answers but I might say, ‘well why don’t you go see this therapist.’”
Lil Nas X
“Well, of course, it’s like probably the most important thing in your career, is maintaining your strong mental health.”
Nelly
“Me and my kids, we’ve sat down with someone to talk. It wasn’t personal, more so family…I needed to be able to communicate better with them...it’s me trying to get them to understand this is not easy…and trying to change the generational sequence of our family.”
Carly Pearce
“My duty is to just be a human being...if that inspires somebody or makes somebody want to look at me as a role model, then that’s amazing, but at the end of the day I’m just like everybody else, I just have a microphone.”
To keep up with the artists that create music that feeds our minds and keeps the I’m Listening initiative powered, check out Audacy’s I’m Listening Mental Health Mix. With tracks from Billie Eilish to Carly Pearce to Pearl Jam, this Exclusive Station keeps your mood in mind. Listen now!
Audacy is committed to supporting the health and success of the communities that are the heart of its business. I’m Listening aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741. You can also find more resources here.
For more mental health content, special edition artist interviews, resources, and more head to Imlistening.org. 365 days a year, I’m Listening is here to provide us all with moments of kindness, community, and support.