As part of a series of conversations with professionals and scholars in the field of mental health and well-being in media industries and professions, in this episode I sit down with Jeordie Shenton, programmes lead of UK-based Tonic Music for Mental Health, and PhD reseacher on Substance Use Amongst Working Musicians at the University of Portsmouth.

In our interview, we focus on musicians and music workers as people with agency and occupational resilience, rather than as victims of either their own passion or the exploitative nature of the cultural and creative industries. We discuss the ‘stress bucket’ of professionals in the music industry, managing your public and private self, and the perfect storm that the industry faces between rising costs, the role of streamers and AI, closing down of (smaller) venues and record stores, and so on. Still, we end on a positive note! And we’re geeking out on (our) research...

FYI: all the interviews in this ongoing series are also available as a YouTube playlist. Please have a look, leave a comment, and get in touch!

These interviews in part support the publication of my book (titled: Well-Being and Creative Careers: What Makes You Happy Can Also Make You Sick, out now with Intellect Books) on health, well-being and happiness in media work, and to showcase and celebrate the work so many people around the world are doing to advocate and promote these issues in media workplaces.