Beyond Entertainment: The Psychology of Performers and Live Experiences

 

Wit & Reason with alex and DR. Alexis

Performers do more than entertain. Whether comedians, musicians, theater artists, or athletes, they challenge the status quo, spark joy, and reflect the struggles we all face. In this episode of Wit and Reason with Alex & Dr. Alexis’ Therapy or Trash series, we dive into the psychology of touring, the resilience of live performers, and the ways audiences benefit from their courage to show up on stage.

Through stand-up comedy, indie theater, music, and even BMX stunts, we reveal how performers help us laugh, think, and connect more deeply with ourselves and each other.

Resources from the Show

  • Access Mental Health Therapy and Coaching

  • Keep on Actively Learning and Growing: Trainings & On-Demand Courses

  • Listen to Dr. Alexis’ Mental Health Lessons & Meditations: Aura Health Guest Pass

  • Reviewed Content - Creator Credits:

    Stand-Up- @standup on TikTok

    Taylor Tomlinson- @taylortomlinsoncomedym on TikTok

    Nathan Ramos- Park- @nathanramospark on TikTok

    Papi Vercase- @papibeenpimpin on TikTok

    Emeka Emezie- @emekaemeziie on TikTok

    For da Masses- @fordamasses on TikTok

    Caroline Kole-@carolinekole on TikTok

Host

Dr. Alexis Moreno - Wit & Reason

ALEXIS MORENO, PSYD, MA, MS - SHE/HER

PSYCHOLOGIST, HEALTH CORRESPONDENT, Speaker, & Founder

Dr. Alexis (she/her) utilizes the powerful impact awareness, education, & opportunity have on mental health. She mindfully creates fun & supportive experiences for her speaking and media audience and private clients to safely explore their true values, learn new healthy practices, & take action steps toward living authentically.

She has a Doctorate in Clinical Community Psychology, a Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy, & a Bachelor of Science in both Television Broadcasting & Psychology. With over 16 years of experience in media & psychology, she aims to make mental health relatable & accessible for all through her coaching, consultation, & media outreach.

Dr. Alexis provides media, speaking, & mental health consultation services.

Alex Honigman - Wit & Reason

Alex Honigman, LICSW, MA- HE/ HIM

Clinical Director, Speaker, Therapist, & Executive Coach

Alex (he/him) enjoys the relationship between the psyche and society. Having never wanted to pick a side in the nature versus nurture debate, he pursued degrees in both Psychology and Sociology and finally a Master’s of Social Work with an emphasis on clinical interventions. He has worked as an educator for non-profits and lecturer for Universities. Starting as a therapist for survivors of trauma, moving on to perpetrators, and spending significant time as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at a Forensic State Hospital. Alex continues to emphasize culture as a key component to effective therapy and the changing of systems (organizations and businesses). Whether this be through music, film, tv, art, comics, games, memes or other aspects of popular (or sometimes unpopular) culture. Utilizing an individual’s cultural values to make for a more meaningful individualized therapeutic intervention.

Airing Weekdays on 96.3 HD4 DC Radio

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Episode Transcription

Alex: Today we are talking about laughter as therapy, comedy as community and performers as the unsung heroes of our wellbeing

Dr. Alexis: because the truth is we all borrow strength from people who get on stage, share their stories and remind us. That even life's hardest stuff can be lighter when we laugh together.

Alex: Good posting was good

Wit and reason with Alex and Dr. Alexis, where real talk meets real growth, diving deep into relationships and breakthroughs. Live insights, expert advice, and your voice in the mix. Let's build better lives together.

Dr. Alexis: Very excited. Who excited? We are on the West coast.

Alex: Yeah,

Dr. Alexis: we're in California.

Yep. And more specifically, we're gonna be up in Big Bear Mountain.

Alex: Yeah. Big Bear.

Dr. Alexis: Right. Oh yeah. Did you used to go there as a kid?

Alex: I grew up going to Big Bear, so yeah,

Dr. Alexis: we're both from LA so yeah.

Alex: So I grew up going there, but I had never been to Lake Fest.

Dr. Alexis: Oh. So apparently, and I've never been to Lake Fest either, but apparently it's an annual festival that they do.

Yep. And it's all kinds of wellness on extreme, all weekend long.

Alex: I can you, this is wellness. Everything is wellness like more to do

Dr. Alexis: really is, I mean if you think about it like Sure Big Bear Lake Fest is. Sure. Yeah. There's like a lot of competition and then there is, you know, some drinking, if you choose to do that.

You don't have to.

Alex: Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: But they have like paddle boarding and canoeing and swimming and yeah.

Alex: Those speedboat competitions.

Dr. Alexis: What are the, they're not bicyclists, but they're like the cyclists that do wild things. Game mixers. Yeah, sure. So they have that going on. There's comedians and there's even an arm wrestling competition.

Alex: There's an arm wrestling competition, which is amazing. How much more

Dr. Alexis: wellness can you get than that? Yeah. And then music I've, and then they have like live performances. Live

Alex: performances. So is a big festival of Blake and the big Last fest is actually the newest part of that. Yes. So when excited to see all the comedians up there, which will be really

Dr. Alexis: great.

Yes. And so in honor of all of the performers mm-hmm. That are going to be. Out and about, out of their comfort zone

Alex: by a lake on a mountain in the wilderness of big

Dr. Alexis: touring and performing For our benefit.

Alex: Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: And for theirs. 'cause I, there's a lot of competitions going on up there.

Alex: Sure.

Dr. Alexis: I don't know what the winning prizes are, but in honor of all of them, all of the performers, we are dedicating our show to entertainment, to performers, whether that be

Alex: musician, entertainer, or,

Dr. Alexis: I mean.

Is that podcast? Yeah, that's They're all performers. Yeah,

Alex: yeah, yeah.

Dr. Alexis: And they're live and they're traveling, and so there's a lot of discomfort that comes with being on the road. Yeah. We know that personally. Yeah. As people that work on site and show up on a location, and it's tough. It could be very uncomfortable.

Well,

Alex: there is a whole psychology around being on tour, but I don't know if I even get into that now, but it is amazingly complex.

Dr. Alexis: Well, you're teasing it. What can you give us a little,

Alex: well, okay.

Dr. Alexis: One liner or something about it at least, and then we could do a whole show about it. When,

Alex: when your job is the only, the only single thing that is the same.

Yeah. Everywhere you go. That is a little depersonalizing, and so you feel less and less like yourself and the work you're doing becomes more and more emphasized, so you kind of lose yourself in your, say, tour or production or whatever else, which is why you get all sorts of strain and frustration and difficulties and exhaustion.

Exactly. And burnout.

Dr. Alexis: Yes, and then people try to self-medicate or get some kind of quick fix while they're on the road to just feel better or maybe not even feel better to just like

Alex: not feel as bad

Dr. Alexis: serve, but yeah,

Alex: not

Dr. Alexis: feel as bad and manage and just keep on doing what they need to be doing. Yeah. So yeah, there's a lot that goes into us.

So we're gonna be diving into entertainer mental health and wellbeing, and then maybe even a little bit about like. Why this all matters.

Alex: Yes.

Dr. Alexis: And it's not just about their passions and purpose, because obviously that's a big motivating factor for them, but for all of us as the audience, what a great benefit we get from performers doing their thing.

Alex: Yep. Sharing their

Dr. Alexis: gifts and skills with us from doing crazy Loops on your bike two. Paddle boarding. Mm-hmm. That is very difficult to arm wrestling and, and giving us funny jokes. Telling us funny stories.

Alex: I mean Yeah. And

Dr. Alexis: all the way to instruments and, and singing.

Alex: I mean, yeah. And this goes back historically too, so there Yeah.

That's really cool.

Dr. Alexis: Yes, exactly.

Alex: Under the human condition.

Dr. Alexis: And so. Our question out for all of you. I like this question, right? Yeah. Because you don't have to be a performer. Yeah. Well, to answer this is 'cause I'm sure all of us Yeah. Have consumed some kind of live per live performance, right? Yeah. So what's a live performance that lifted your spirits?

Or left you thinking about life

differently,

Dr. Alexis: right?

Alex: Yeah,

Dr. Alexis: yeah. That, that left you thinking different about your life. So if you're joining us here on our weekly livestream recording of our DC radio show. Leave it in the comments. If you're listening to our pristine, finalized, clean and edited version that's broadcasted through DC radio, you can find us @witandreason.com slash dc radio.

Leave us the comment there or wherever you get your podcast. Yep,

we all those places,

Dr. Alexis: put our shows out there as well, so. Let us know. We love to hear your stories and what your experiences are and how you relate to the, the stuff that we're talking about.

Alex: Yeah. Well, so do you have an answer?

Dr. Alexis: That's what I was gonna ask

Alex: you.

Do you have an

Dr. Alexis: answer? Oh my gosh. A live performance that lifted my experience. I mean, you know, I love comedy.

Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: And so, I mean, there, it's hard to just like choose one, but as far as like a genre's concerned, comedy is really like my go-to, to lift up my spirits. Particularly political current events.

Okay. Kind of comedy because if I'm like feeling down and stressed about the state of affairs and I listen to a comedian just like so eloquently express everything that my mind is struggling,

Alex: that's very with.

Dr. Alexis: In such a fun and creative and pointed way, I feel seen. I feel heard. Mm-hmm. And there's like a sense of relief Oh that that is like, yes, this is that absurd.

And this person put my internal struggle into words creatively and then shared it with all of us in a way where it's like we get to appreciate the absurdity and all laugh together. We should that. Yeah. Comedy is my, my go-to that. Helps me think about things differently or how I wanna like express myself.

Alex: Wonderful. What about you? I have a lot of answers.

Okay.

Alex: I, I know right mean. I do love comedy. I love music and live music is been something really I absolutely adore. But the thing that comes to me very quickly is like indie theater. Oh, very quickly thinking about it like indie theater ends up being really one of the things that like I've noticed makes me think or do things differently.

Yeah. So there's like two things that came to mind and they're very odd. Okay. Number one was a comedian who also did mime, A full on mime story. Yeah. Yeah. Amazingly talented miming in la. This was years ago and they were the most. Introspective, bizarre, edgy, mime I've ever seen in my life that went through like the gamut.

There was even like, there was like depression and like attempted suicide.

Like

Alex: my I my, it was intense, was for a mime,

but this was funny.

Alex: It was great. It was funny, it was introspective, it was weird. Loved it. And then to

Dr. Alexis: clarify, if the person's miming, that means there's like no

Alex: speech. Nope, whatsoever. It was great.

Also, the other thing that I thought of was another one, one person show. Yeah. It was all of Hamlet done as one person all using. Simpson character voices with a projection screen in which you saw the characters, the level

Dr. Alexis: of talent. Okay, yes. That's required for these. So the

Alex: reason why I think of something like that is number one, it challenges the status quo.

Challenges, yes. When you think of this theater. Yeah. It challenges the way in which we look at the world or how we engage in the aesthetic. Yeah. It also then did some weird, wonderfully talented things. Like the voices were wonderful. The, the mining was brilliant. I mean, that is not something that should come out of your mouth.

That's memorable for sure. And yet it is memorable, interesting. And challenges something. I love the idea of challenge. I love the idea of like taking something, turning it on its head, doing something that you want to do with it. Something that is interesting and personalized to you. Yeah. That you believe in.

So I love that. That's what I love.

Dr. Alexis: I believe it. Yeah,

Alex: so, so it made me think about life. It made me think about having differently, it made me think about myself. I loved it. It was great. Really,

Dr. Alexis: between a miming comedian that goes. Deepened. It was planned.

Alex: If I dark, if I knew your name, I would throw it out there in a second.

I apologize for, so wonder

Dr. Alexis: where, do you remember where?

Alex: It was a theater in LA. This had to been 20 12, 20 20 14, 20 12.

Dr. Alexis: Yeah. If any of you're familiar with this. Performance. Brilliant. Perform. He's brilliant. He was great. Fi find us somewhere. One more comments. I,

Alex: I was on the spot, so I will actually look this up.

Okay. If I find it, I will put, it'll,

Dr. Alexis: we'll, we'll tag it in in our show notes.

Alex: Brilliant.

Dr. Alexis: Yeah. In our

Alex: description. Even though one person, Hamlet of those Simpson voices, that's also, it was fantastic. I saw the Barklay in Irv Van Irv. I remember that one. Okay. Yeah. So, yeah. Anyway,

Dr. Alexis: well, I'm excited. I'm excited for the music.

I'm excited for the comedy and I, I hope all of our performers get up there. Into the mountains, safe and sound and have a, a wonderful experience. I'm really looking forward to Me

Alex: too. Me too. To seeing

Dr. Alexis: everyone.

Alex: Yeah, me too. I'm really excited. So first up, a reminder that comedy doesn't just entertain, it reframes struggles into something we can laugh at because

Dr. Alexis: when depression meets height envy, you get a punchline that makes us laugh and.

Reflect at the same time like your, your silent, miming comedian.

And, uh, apparently I have clinical depression, which was news to me. 'cause I always just thought I was chill. But turns out you can be medically chill. I've threateningly chill.

Dr. Alexis: That is the concern. Yes.

It's funny too. My, my friend, he also has clinical depression, but the thing is, my friend's six five, so.

It's not the same. I don't wanna be ashamed, but like how tall people, okay. I'm five nine, dude, I'm so jealous of tall people. It's just hard for me to care about their problems. My friend, he'll come to me. He is like, yeah, man, going through a lot of issues. I'm like, yeah, bro, just step over them. Whatcha are you talking to

Dr. Alexis: sometimes?

What funniest lines are Really just pain wearing a disguise.

Alex: I know. No, I mean, it's funny because like, I'm not. Exactly. A tall person, five, their old. I

Dr. Alexis: ask if we can relate.

Alex: Thanks Harvey. Um, but I think it helps, like reduce shame, helps normalize the experience. I mean, it, it's funny because yeah, we, those of us who are.

Vertically challenged. Do you're, you're vertically challenged. Yeah, sure. Why not? But let's, you're at the

Dr. Alexis: same height. I'm slightly taller than you.

Alex: Same. You make things up. Alright. But still, I think there's something there that it normalize the experience. So that's kind of cool. Humor does that really well.

I love it for that.

Dr. Alexis: Yeah. Yeah. And that's what I, what I really appreciate about standup comedians is because they're telling a story in a really creative way and they're sharing in many times their own personal experiences. They've somehow figured out the art of talking up the stuff that we typically, and by we, I mean society pushes under the rug.

Alex: Like depression. Yeah. Or,

Dr. Alexis: or things that have been stigmatized. Since, like forever.

Alex: Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: Right. And for a lot of people, even just to, to acknowledge that like, yeah, yes, I'm diagnosed with major depressive disorder. You know, or, or have mental health challenges. Just saying that alone. To their loved ones or friends or support system is challenging and vulnerable enough.

Yeah. As I'm sure a lot of you listening can imagine and relate to. Imagine just like doing that. You're like, I'm gonna do on a stage in front of a bunch of strangers. Yep. With camera is recording me. Yep. And just let the whole world know that I suffer from depression and uh, here's some funny thoughts I have about

Alex: it.

Yep. Right. That's very fair.

Dr. Alexis: Well, also finding that balance of, of recognizing that this is a very serious. Condition. Yeah. A lot of people struggle with it. It can be fetal, like a lot of mental health conditions for the people who are suffering with them. And so also kind of like writing that very delicate balance of like, how do I talk about my depression,

Alex: but make it funny.

Make people laugh. Yeah. But make it funny. Right. But make it funny. Yes. Talk about this thing, but make it

Dr. Alexis: funny. And sometimes, I mean like comedians. Sometimes they'll hit that mark and other times it's a hot freaking cringe ma mess.

Alex: Okay, so worries. All right, so next Taylor Tomlinson shows how knowing your diagnosis and who shares it can shift perspective, so

Dr. Alexis: right, because nothing feels better than realizing you are not alone.

And yes, role models matter. Getting the type of role model Wick, I'm

so glad I know that I'm bipolar now. I mean, I have the right meds. I got a mood ring. I'm handling it. When I first found out it was a very tough pill to swallow, and I've swallowed a lot of pills because when you first find out something like that, you're like, oh man, am I gonna tell anybody?

Mm-hmm. Should I tell anybody? Mm-hmm. And if I do tell people, am I hot and or talented enough? To be an inspiration. That great. You are Taylor. Like if we tap thing and someone else has that thing and they find out I have it too, are they gonna feel good or bad with that information? 'cause when I got diagnosed, they started listing names.

They were like, you know, who else is bipolar? Selena Gomez. And I was like, that does make me feel better. She is very pretty. Oh,

Alex: so room.

Dr. Alexis: Oh my gosh. Yeah. Turns out representation. Is therapeutic. Yeah,

Alex: definitely. There's a

Dr. Alexis: term

Alex: therapeutic milieu. When you're in good company, you'll feel a little bit better about that.

You go, oh, hey look, they have it too. I feel a little bit

Dr. Alexis: better. So that little disclaimer being when you're in good company, comedian, myself, all. If

Alex: you are in bad company and you may feel better about yourself going. Oh, well, they don't have it together, but I do. So Fantastic. We we go. I

Dr. Alexis: made my

good,

Alex: I made this look good.

Yeah, I right. I have

got some other stuff going on that we've talked about on this show,

Alex: but that's what I like. It's normalizing. It's important that you can see the fact that. Successful people. Everyday people can live with these diagnoses. Do things. Engage with things. Yeah. That's why I love it. It's great.

Dr. Alexis: Exactly. And what do you like from what Taylor was describing as far as, or have you heard people kind of like talk about that as well? Especially as a therapist where they're like, yeah, I'm seeing more people talk about it. Yeah. Publicly and in the spotlight and, well,

Alex: the less, the more we talk about it, the less shame you have, the less you feel like you're alone.

Yeah. The more it normalizes this idea, we talk these things up. And we all feel included and there's an important way to feel included in all of these things. It's very, it's very, um, therapeutic, but it's also very validating. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Looking for that word. And it helps

Dr. Alexis: normalize Yeah.

Alex: These experiences

Dr. Alexis: as well

Alex: and globalize it because it's not just like, oh, here's my little screwed up little world of this thing. It's like, no alone in everywhere, everywhere. So,

Dr. Alexis: and then particularly with, uh, with comedians, and now more and more celebrities are starting to kinda like pick up on this, um, and now influencers is that it doesn't, when you're in the spotlight like that, it doesn't have to be all pristine.

No. You know, it doesn't have to be like. A look at me, I'm a celebrity. I am gorgeous and I'm, I'm very successful in functioning top-notch all the time. And I ha and I have this mental health condition.

Alex: Well, I think, think if I

Dr. Alexis: could do it, you could do it right. I

Alex: think what a lot of people doesn't have to be like that kind of, I think know.

It's a really good point. But I think what a lot of people see and pick at is when people put on that facade of perfection, they love to see a fall. And there's reasons why, because it does something to us where we're like, that doesn't feel right or feel okay. Mm-hmm. You want to know that people have the same struggles as you regardless of where they are in life.

Yeah.

Alex: And how successful they're, or whatever else. Like you still use the restroom. You still have to

eat. You still, we're still

Alex: using, go to the market. Oh my goodness. Look at you. Go, you're human. So that.

Dr. Alexis: And then finding that balance now between trying to be perfect all of the time and then eventually crashing.

Alex: Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: Right. Um, Britney Spears's brand comes to mind. Mm-hmm. Um, in regards to that, and I say brand specifically because that's just the way that she was presented mm-hmm. To all of us. Mm-hmm. And so we're moving away from, from the all or nothing kind of pendulum swing to just like that. Hey, on the daily celebrities and people on the spotlight are talking more about just like their day-to-day struggles.

Yep. And challenges and social media. Yep. Helps us kind of normalize a lot of that. Yeah. And brings all that to the forefront. I think it allows, it gives us opportunities to seem more authentic. It's,

Alex: it's a really important to have authentic conversations, and I think you've done for too long this like perfectionism type of thing and like idealism kind of thing and let him burn.

I think

Dr. Alexis: that's how, I mean now more and more with social media. I, I think that's running out. We saw a little flicker of that come up again with influencers trying to maintain that. Perfect. Don't do it. Don't do it. But for the most part, I think people aren't really attracted to that anymore. Nope, don't do it.

And so just. Be real. So we have Nathan Ronaldos Park, and he brings us a deeper truth. You can live your dreams and still rediscover joy along the way.

Alex: And it's, it's not just about accolades, it's about fighting the spark that keeps you going. So what him? I

don't really know how to say this without sounding like an wolf side, but I did succeed beyond my wildest dreams and still really don't have anything to show for it.

Like certainly financially, I have nothing to show for it. I've worked on multiple movies that have gone number one in the world, animation, live action comedy, dramedy, romance. My own movies have gone number one in number two on Prime. I've worked on the. Biggest dream projects from Mickey Mouse Club.

Disney for five years. Yeah. I've had songs chart on Billboard and be on top 10 lists of best written songs of the year. I've won a national writing competition. I won Ohio Idol at 18. It was a nationally competitive jump roper. Cool. I met that story showcase on Peacock on a show. I helped get Kelly Clarkson's talk, show pilot Greenland by being the first person she ever interviewed on the show as her super fan.

I've been in Broadway workshops of shows. I've worked all over the United States, and so it's so interesting to like see people come on here and be like, I'm turning 40 and I have nothing to show for it. Because it is this like security versus getting to live your dreams. Dichotomy. Yeah. Where it's like I don't have any retirement saved up.

Yes, I've worked my socks off to like do the things I've done, but this industry like isn't kind. Mm-hmm. And doesn't care about you. And so just, I often think I'm just like, man, it would've been really nice to just like have. Some security in life.

Alex: Yeah.

And if you're feeling like you are stuck and you want to just pursue your dreams, like it isn't too late to ever do that.

Just like I'm like, for me, maybe it isn't too late if I just pursue something that's reliable and secure, because like jumping from gig to gig is so exhausting. Mm-hmm. I don't know, maybe this is like, I'm not fishing for competence at all, but I'm just like. It's not great over here either. It really isn't because also to do what you love means almost to destroy what you loved about it.

It's hard for me to feel that spontaneous spark that I used to have when I wanted to write or sing or dance or do anything. But I think life is just about that continual rediscovery of like why we love to live.

Dr. Alexis: Well, I like that last line.

Alex: I think the last line is the most important line because it's like joy is the best metric of success.

Dr. Alexis: Right. And that could also be hard though, because the road or the journey that the, the mess that is a career in, in any kind of performing arts or entertainment. May not even feel joyful.

Alex: Yeah, very true. A lot of the time. Very true.

Dr. Alexis: You know? True. Especially if, if your ability to get work to experience that joy is limited.

Alex: Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: No, no, no. I

Alex: mean, that's the thing, it's, it's really difficult, especially when we see all these things as barriers. We let go of these things because. Like, oh, the things we love because we're told we can't do it, or there's no money in it, or whatever else. There's lack of stability. And so we emphasize a lot of stability there.

And sometimes it does take that lack of stability to actually go and pursue some of those things. Mm-hmm. And as he also pointed out, mm-hmm. You do have to destroy a bit of what you love about it because you're engaged in the both the work itself and the job, the business of it. You don't think that it came with emails and other obnoxious things you don't wanna have to deal with.

Just all and a lot of heartbreak and a lot of, and a lot of like cut downs in those moments. So it makes sense. But it's also then continually rediscovering that love. And I think that's a really important part. 'cause you have to constantly rediscover that love. You don't think being a therapist for 20 years doesn't come with a lot of like, oh, that's kind of exhausting.

Yeah. But at the same time you get to go, oh, how do I rediscover the love of being a therapist?

Dr. Alexis: Right. And then what about like, mixing it up a bit too, because you did mention like, I wish I had a. A little bit more stability. Yeah. Or, or set myself up for some kind of balance there. Yeah. With like a creative career and maybe the side hustle of mm-hmm.

More stable career. Right. Yeah. Or something that could, that could give you consistent funding and finance. 'cause unfortunately that's like a real aspect of our society.

Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: You know, I mean, we, we need money to, to pay for housing and food and water and electricity. Very true. And get our basic as needs met.

So obnoxious. I am in the wrong timeline.

Alex: It's not waste of time. Right? I mean, I think there's, there's the things we give up, there's what we emphasize. 'cause I mean, then you're told like white picket fence, that type of stuff. You know, the, the house stuff. Yeah. Like buy a house and live a life and do this thing That not the

Dr. Alexis: kind of

Alex: fence.

That's my

Dr. Alexis: vibe.

Alex: I know, but that's the stereo. That's the thing. Yeah. That's the, that's the same. But like the idea is that there is, we're told that you have to own a home and do this thing and do this thing. You have to advertise it. Sure. Mm-hmm. But what's the cost and what does that look like? What are you giving up along the way?

So there is, what is the balance between those two I think is very important.

Yeah.

Alex: Because if you lived a life from which you're satisfied around all these different things, like, I don't know about buying a house.

Dr. Alexis: Mm-hmm. Say more about that.

Alex: Meaning like, what are you trading?

Dr. Alexis: Yeah.

Alex: Hopefully you're successful in what you're doing, but if you're pursuing what you love, there's gonna be a bit of a struggle there.

But if you're satisfied regarding that struggle and you're engaged in that thing, that's the life that you wanna live. It's too short to sit around and go, okay. Right. And settle. Like, do you wanna settle?

Dr. Alexis: Yeah. And, and we talk about this. On our show, even our last one about like values. Yeah. You know, and, and yes, there is this cookie cutter way of how our lives are supposed to be.

I wouldn't even say necessarily just here in the States or Western culture, westernized culture, but even like globally. Yeah. Like you're born, you go to school and you go to college, you find someone, and then you know, heteronormative, you get married, get pregnant. Have a kid, raise those kids, continue working throughout, retire, and maybe get some fun freedom at the end of your life

while also navigating

Dr. Alexis: medical challenges of, of your geriatric years and then you die.

Alex: That's true. And like

Dr. Alexis: that's the cookie cutter. Not that like the vast majority of the world and human population is just, not even questioning, but like

Alex: Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: Rolling with,

Alex: well, as I mentioned from the beginning, yeah, the things that have inspired me and things that challenge or change the status quo. So that might be a little bit why I love the things mimes.

Just a mind, just

a, just a mind. I'm

Alex: just a lot, just a lot. Just intense mining. It was just really vivid storytelling. Thema thema

Dr. Alexis: a, a comedic ma among a bunch of Normies. Yeah.

Okay.

Dr. Alexis: Yeah, so the goal is, and this. There's a lot of, um, mental health and, and psychological studies to back this up is to really find what is meaningful to you.

Mm-hmm. Um, I suggest do that as early as possible in your life so that way you don't have to blow up a longstanding life, like once you hit your midlife crisis and divorce a barner and like, well, I mean, abandon your kids and, yeah. So we'll, so move to an island somewhere. Like ideally you could figure this out, like.

In your twenties, early twenties. No, but the whole, and you can continue to, to explore and discover what's important to you along the way while still trying to, to navigate all of your roles and responsibilities based off all the decisions you've made up to that point.

Alex: Sure. But I think, I think midlife crises come from people repressing the things that actually made them human and brought them joy.

Ideally, we can

Dr. Alexis: avoid all that. Well, sure. But I think

Alex: the thing is there's nothing wrong. People hitting those things later in life either, but you don't have to. You also don't have to blow up your life to do it. And if you notice that you're pressing, you're repressing yourself, you're pushing yourself down, you're making yourself smaller, you're engaging those things.

Yes, that's your warning sign to shake that up and change the dynamic. Because I think that's the issue that you come, you were told to swallow all of that, take it, and then you ruptured and you blew up your life. Yeah. And you went back to the state in which you felt at one point in time that you had a choice.

Which is why like midlife crisis cars are always like the car you want when you're 20. Yeah. And there, yeah. So anyway, but like the idea is Exactly. That's what

Dr. Alexis: I'm saying. Like ideally we could prevent all that stuff from happening. Sure. If you find yourself at that stage of life and you've just been following status quo and other people's expectations of you.

Figuring out how to incorporate more of what your interests are

Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: In your life, you know, while, while maintaining your integrity and values as well would be awesome. And it's unfortunate. I mean, like, like the creator said, for a lot of people, they don't choose those routes because there, there are challenges.

Yeah. Along the way there. Financial strain, there's, he started off like, I don't have anything to show for it. Yeah. Lack a

Alex: safety net. And

Dr. Alexis: then he, and then he goes on to like list. Like all of these accomplishments, including a jump rope competition.

Yeah, a competitive prober for you. Jump rope, jump roping is very difficult.

I know you can't do it. No, I'm terrible with it. I'm awful with self disclosure. Thanks for outing Meina. Let me horribly, I

Dr. Alexis: already did during social media and, and during quarantine years when we were very bored. That's, we had a, we had our own in, in our own small apartment in DC on jump rope competition.

That's

Alex: two of us. Yeah, that's true. You did win that. I

Dr. Alexis: probably gonna

Alex: win this person. No, not at all. I don't think so at all, but, all right, so this one is short but powerful. When trauma turns funny, it shows the human capacity to adapt

Dr. Alexis: is finding laughter after hardship, resilience in action. I like

that.

After like 7, 8, 9, traumatic experiences, everything just becomes funny after that, right? Like you get so used to it, it's not even traumatic anymore, it's just that's short and power. Like yeah,

Dr. Alexis: I feel this so much and 'cause sometimes laughing isn't minimizing, it's. It's surviving.

Oh, true.

Dr. Alexis: And we know this on a very personal note.

Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: I feel like in, in our, what, eight years going on? Eight years of marriage. Yeah. Now we've gone through a lot. I've gone through a lot, and I, I appreciate you riding my sense of humor with me because I, I definitely only feel comfortable letting it fully out with you because my sense of humor can get very dark.

Alex: Sometimes you chose the right person for that. So I go very dark all the time. So that's, that's where that I live in that, that makes me laugh. Yeah. Um, but, but it makes sense. I think there, it holds a place like dark humor is resilient. Sometimes you need to laugh because why cry at one point in time?

Like sometimes you have to. Yeah. Yeah. You can also cry, but there's sometimes that moment where you can just laugh. Kind and the absurdity of it or the of the, you're just tired.

Dr. Alexis: Yeah.

Alex: And so, yeah, I like it. It's laughing is also a great outlet. Even in tragedy or whatever else. I know it sounds bad to be laughing at these things, but sometimes you just gotta laugh.

Dr. Alexis: But I appreciate about dialectical behavioral therapy or DBT, is that it distinguishes the difference between. Like long-term coping skills you wanna have and utilize, and then what they call distress tolerance skills. Yeah. And the difference is that when we're. Crisis mode. There are more things that we can do in the short term to alleviate some of that pain and suffering and weight of it all.

And so yes, taking that break and enjoying something funny,

Alex: you know, yeah.

Dr. Alexis: Is gonna be beneficial in that short term. And the thing that I tell my clients though is that like. This is short term though. We do need to come back and actually like work on the issue, right? We don't wanna use taking breaks as a long-term solution to any mental challenge or, or crisis or problem or stress that we're experiencing in our life or relationships.

But it does help just. Turn things down a bit and just give you a fricking break, you know?

Alex: Yeah. I mean that's why if you look at, there's things like laughing yoga.

Dr. Alexis: Yeah.

Alex: There are like, yeah. Laughing yoga, you go there, you laugh hysterically. Uh, with I, I've heard

Dr. Alexis: of laugh therapy 'cause I've always been really into positive psychology.

Alex: Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: But. How does la Do you know how laughing yoga works?

Alex: Yes. You all, you're all sitting there and you start laughing and it becomes contagious and you force a laugh to start and like you just

ha ha, ha ha, ha ha. And

Alex: then all of a sudden it becomes real. And I laughing tell

Dr. Alexis: because it's still

Alex: laughing.

Completely quick, really quick because we have a room full of people doing it. Oh. And work just

Dr. Alexis: like two of us. And a camera. You could

Alex: try and the mic. But I feel like we just feel really creepy and weird. A little cringe. Um, no, don't do that. But the thing is, you start really fully laughing. Yeah. And while you're doing that, you're also doing yoga moves and that's also in your table.

That's what I literally, like, how does yoga get into the

Dr. Alexis: mix of it? And then, I mean, downward dog is always funny. Yeah.

Alex: So, so the absurdity of while doing all of those things together really helps somebody like. Process some things. Right. And I mean even, even in like, you'll notice that a lot of people will laugh a lot while retelling stories or Yeah.

Things that are traumatic for them. Mm-hmm. And because you have to hold back some of those tears. And sometimes laughter is a replacement of crying at the moment. Yeah. And that's also okay because it allows you to process your story. Mm-hmm. Because do you really need to cry yourself through that?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. And that's okay. And so I love the idea of laughter being this outlet and this tool for processing what your body needs to process.

Yeah. I

Alex: think it's really important to people to laugh and that we've always found ways to laugh. Like from day one, the history of humans.

Includes laughter,

Dr. Alexis: even humans, under the worst imaginable circumstances. Yep. Found ways to, to heal through, through those positive interactions. Mm-hmm. And creating memories together. And connecting and, and laughing.

Alex: Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: You know, and enjoying life.

Alex: Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: Finding some way to enjoy life.

Alex: Expression has been a unified, entertainment has been a unifying factor.

So that's why kinda going back historically, you had people traveling and playing music, putting on theater, la any type of laughter or jokes or whatever else. I mean, the history of like clowning and clowns were people who did pratfalls and wonderful acrobatics. They weren't just like Yeah. Wearing a nose.

Yeah. But like the timing and all these other things, everything had some aspect of this, like whether, and we've looked for it everywhere and we've needed it everywhere. And music has been in, I mean, there's not a culture. Somebody can find this. Is there a culture that doesn't have music? I don't think so.

I think every culture has created some form of music, shape or form or something where they're able, engaging and

Dr. Alexis: storytelling.

Alex: Storytelling is important aspect too.

Dr. Alexis: And trauma or acting. Sure. Maybe with the storytelling. Yep. I think that's the interesting part is that it seems like storytelling. I mean, I wasn't around back in the beginning of human times, obviously.

Thanks.

Alex: Why did we do that? Alright. I

Dr. Alexis: doing great. All right. But it seems like. Storytelling has evolved. From campfires and maybe shadows and drawings to now we have comedians who are storytellers. Mm-hmm. We have, you know, actors and, and, um, and even some poetry. Mm-hmm. You know, like there's, it's evolved in so many ways where we can find different ways to connect to that.

Sense of expression.

Alex: Well, and also holding back to the cultural, like relevancy and roots of something too. Yeah. So you have all of the dance, they can dance from places and spaces and everything else. Yes. Yeah. I just think there's a lot of wonderful things and when it comes to building that with other people and creating that experience with others, we need.

Creativity. Yeah. To spark joy, to engage. So I don't know. I always think that's a really important human aspect of healing.

I agree.

Dr. Alexis: Yeah.

Alex: So the next creator reframe success beautifully. It's not a destination, it's daily progress,

Dr. Alexis: and that progress is worth celebrating just as much as the day wins.

I don't know who needs to hear this, but you need to have fun.

People fail to realize is that there's no real destination, that there is going to be no point where you say, I've finally made it. Because even when you get there, you realize that there's more within you and that it's a constant push and pull of trying to get better. What you have to realize is that you have to be grateful for where you're exactly at right now.

You're exactly where you need to be, the different trials and tribulations and failures and successes in your life. Have led you to the exact point of life that you need to be at. Rather than questioning this, just understand that this is where I need to be right now. 'cause if we're able to change our perspective, we're able to realize how far we've come from who we used to be, and that alone itself is success.

I think sometimes we need to change our outlook on success rather than looking at it as a destination, looking at it as our progress, because if we fail to realize that we're going to be constantly wanting to get better. We're always going to feel like we're not enough. We're always going to feel like we're not going to be able to get to exactly where we need to be, but in reality, we have to realize that even in making those steps, even in taking those different progresses to get there, that we are where we need to be.

Success is not a destination. It's a continuous process, so learn to enjoy. Learn to enjoy exactly where you're at and learn to enjoy just trying to be better each and every single day because that in itself is success.

Alex: I like that one. I like that a lot. Progress deserves a standing ovation. Always give yourself the credit you deserve.

Always kind of see this for what it is. Uh, we just, yeah,

Dr. Alexis: I'm very good at celebrating anything ever. I love any excuse. To celebrate.

Alex: That's true. And

Dr. Alexis: so, and the celebrations doesn't have to be like big, like bottle service. Let's go.

Alex: Why say you're gonna say that's like

Dr. Alexis: a big celebration. Okay. Right? Sure.

Pop the champagne.

Alex: Yeah. Throw

Dr. Alexis: some confetti, have some air.

Alex: No, no more confetti or glitter.

Dr. Alexis: It doesn't have to be like big, massive celebrations like that, though. We should probably do more of that in our lives. It could be something like, like taking that moment of appreciation Yeah. And really acknowledging it and sharing it with your friends and incorporating it in, into your, your daily life.

Alex: I think it's important to have touchstones, like we need to be mindful.

Dr. Alexis: Yeah.

Alex: Because a lot of times things pass by and we then dismiss it. 'cause as a couple of. We'd look at our lives and we go, I have, I have nothing to show for it. Right. You have everything to show for it. You've lived it. Yeah. You've engaged with it.

Even if you have nothing monetarily or materialistically. Mm-hmm. You had a life that you've lived and that is something to show. Its memories. And that's the intangible things that are the most important is that is what you've lived.

Yeah.

Alex: And I think those moments in between where you are truly mindful allow for you to both be really, I think, grateful.

Yeah. But also you get to reflect more like it kind of really, truly honor yourself in a process and reflect in that process.

Dr. Alexis: It, it does force you to be more intentional. Yeah. You know, in your day-to-day life and what you are acknowledging within yourself and how you're navigating that and how you are sharing that with other people and making those connections with others and, and bringing in your support systems and as well.

Yeah. And

Alex: how much time do you spend on a giving thing? Yeah. And for you to like not celebrate it. And so the other one, I mean like this could be for like anything though. Like if you really like a book and you read this book and you read the whole series and you're really excited about it, that celebrate, go have, go do something with it.

Go engage in the thing. I think somebody I was talking to recently was going on a Lord of the Rings tour in New Zealand and that sounds so cool. They love Lord of the Rings, so they read the whole thing and they're like, all right, cool. I'm going to go do this thing in Use Zealand now.

That's a reward.

Alex: Give yourself a little more. It doesn't have to be that big. It could just be like, I'm gonna go and, but some people are like, okay, reward's gonna be

Dr. Alexis: like, I'm gonna take a break or I'm gonna rest. You know, like that. That's your standard self-care. Yes. We're talking

Alex: Reward should be something which is outside of what you're nor Yes.

Dr. Alexis: Yeah.

Alex: It should be extra.

Dr. Alexis: And it doesn't have to be until completion. It could, it could be like the progress you're making along the way. And that's what I really appreciate about this video as well. Is that like, especially if you're engaged in long-term big projects, yes. That might take years to complete.

Don't make yourself miserable For all the years, it is

Alex: so unhealthy for people to have that type of like lifestyle or mindset. 'cause if you are constantly doing something that has no small reward along the way mm-hmm. It, it is really detrimental because we lose sight of that and the people who hold onto those things.

Yes, great. You can endure wonderful. But along the way, you also don't reset your value set and, and take stock of what you're, where you're at and what you're doing, right? So by the time you're done, you may not actually like what you did anyway. Oh man. Which is really a big problem for a lot of people who set their like 10 year goals or 10 year plans.

And then they, 10 years later, they go, Ooh, that's where I was then. Not now.

Dr. Alexis: Yeah. I think about poor kids in grad school and so celebrate everything along the way. I'm also thinking about like, like, uh, productions. Mm-hmm. Film, television. I mean, like, it's just nonstop hustle. And I think that's part of the challenge with, with being more progress oriented versus like completion, because Sure.

You finish something now I gotta move on to the next thing.

Yep.

Dr. Alexis: And then you kind of forget, like I work so hard just to just accomplish this milestone.

Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: And then you, you end up developing, or you may already have this negative bias. Mm-hmm. In your mind, this negative kind of filtering. And that's something we talk about in cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT, where my mind does this and I.

Visual. It's like anything positive doesn't really sink in and get internalized. Yeah. Anything positive that happens just kind of bounces off and then gets deflected or minimized or ignored. And then all, all you're left with is like all the challenge and the struggle and the pain, and then there's more and more and more and endless.

Well,

Alex: and then our reward system's bizarre, right? Yeah. So a lot of times they're like, that's a wrap and something like people get food or drinks or whatever else. Mm-hmm. So what you're gonna do is satiate the thing. That you are feeling, which is the exhaustion by drinking to escape. Right. Or eating so you don't feel anything.

Dr. Alexis: Yeah. And

Alex: that's about it. Or

Dr. Alexis: feel better.

Alex: Feel better in that moment. In the moment. Yeah. But that's the thing, it's usually to not feel, usually just feel full and exhausted.

Dr. Alexis: Oh no, I eat to feel good.

Alex: Well, yeah, but you're not talking about overeating. That's not the, I'm not talking, I'm talking about the imbalanced stuff.

Gotcha. Yeah. And so the idea is that like a lot of times we do things to not feel anymore anyway. Yeah. Because we're, we're. Rewarding our exhaustion with something that allows us not to feel or to escape.

Right.

Alex: And so that's really scary because we get into these habits or, or behaviors in which we're constantly chasing escape as the reward, which is why you have so much different types of the quote unquote addictions that are out there in the world.

Yeah. Like you look at phone addiction, video game addiction, pornography, addiction get like gambling, addiction. Those aren't addictions. In that they do not actually cause withdrawal.

Dr. Alexis: Right. The brain response is very different than

Alex: But your compulsion to do them, your compulsion to do them. Yeah.

Behaviorally driven is in intense. Right, and the reason why, because we constantly move towards escape as part of our reward and reward function. Does it work? And so we do need to kind of consciously give ourselves some credit. So I appreciate that greatly. Yeah. I like the reminder

Dr. Alexis: and we'll talk more about like some tips and everything on, on how to navigate this, um, especially for performers, entertainers.

Where the hustle is very real. The competition is no joke. And it just almost seems, I think of like Alice in Wonderland, chasing that, chasing that white rabbit that's just fricking running all over the place. All kinds of crazy, right?

I'm like, for rare point and date,

Dr. Alexis: we're always late. It's always fresh.

Fresh and wait. Entertainment. Right. So finally we get a peak at the comedy world itself. Mm-hmm. Is it all support or is there competition too?

Alex: Spoilers, uh, hard work always wins. Respect, even in a competitive field. So.

Dr. Alexis: They always seem so friendly, don't they?

Right. I think in the com comedy community, from what I've seen from a far, if you didn't know anything about comedians, right, you would think everybody's like supportive of every oth other comedian.

There's this big comradery. Yeah. And everybody's just hoping everybody else does great. Yeah. I don't think that's the case, is it? No it's not. No way. It's not. It seems like it's on the surface. I think there's comradery amongst certain. People in certain, if you're friends with them, if you're actually like close and you celebrate your friend's victories and you're like, oh, that's.

You know what I mean? Like there's, or there's also this thing where like, you don't even have to be friends, but if you're like, you know, he's a good guy and you hear good news, you're like, good for that guy. Mm-hmm. He's a good guy. I like that guy. I will say hard work always. Yes. Trumps even the personality in our business should be like, yeah, but they totally grind.

They've been grinding at us so hard. 22 years. I think the time comedians get real nasty is when you're like, what? Was that the end of that clip?

Alex: Yeah. I wanna

know what it was. I

Alex: thought Will,

Dr. Alexis: what causes someone to say like that?

Alex: What, yeah.

Dr. Alexis: I mean,

Alex: thoroughly from a psychological

Dr. Alexis: perspective, I, I wouldn't expect comedians to, to be all, gee golly, we're all best friends and family,

Alex: right.

Dr. Alexis: It's very, it can be very cutthroat. Yeah. And competitive, right?

Alex: Well, so solidarity is complicated, but ever speaks louder than envy, right? So, yeah. I think there's some, there's a lot to that. I think there's a lot to the fact that we do root for people. We see as hardworking. We do root for people in which we think are good people, I think, and that are for, for our friends.

But there's also that little scratch of an nature of a thing when it talks about success because there is this level of. I want the same breaks as you have. I want the same thing that you have. I want what you have. Mm-hmm. And because there's only limited amount of room at the table, it feels like you're sometimes getting scraps.

And that's gonna be very scary. And it eventually feels very feral. Right. And that's where it becomes doggy dog. Right. So,

Dr. Alexis: yeah. Yeah. And that's the really tough part. Is that like it with stamp comedy specifically, like you're all. Watching each other. Yeah. You can't help but compare. Mm-hmm. And contrast.

And then you see people have, have the dream gig or mm-hmm. Get to go on tour or maybe even working at this harder and longer and had more personal challenges and professional challenges along the way. And you're wondering like, well, why them? Why not me? Yeah. And when will it be my turn?

Alex: That's the thing that people have a hard time understanding.

It's not because you're not deserving, it's because the series of events that line up just right, like a lock and a Tumblr have not hit for you and it may never hit. Unfortunately. That's the hard part of that. Yeah. You do it because you love it. You can do your chip away at it. You love it. You keep on trying to write combination of things 'cause you love.

That's really hard. You have to do it for the love of doing it. And we think that if you're a good person, like we do love karmic universality type of stuff, where you think, oh, the world's gonna pay out because I did good things, unfortunately. Doesn't. I wish that was the way it worked. It's a But it's a thing.

Yeah.

Alex: And I think that's really hard because no matter what you do, no matter how good you are, even you may not be recognized for, I always think of artists for this. Yeah. Actual, like, artists. Artists, um,

Dr. Alexis: think musicians and,

Alex: yeah. Well, I think, I know

Dr. Alexis: so many talented people and you know,

Alex: they always talk about like, ven Gogh was bride broke or whatever, and you're like, yeah, so did all these other people.

And it was really hard because they only were appreciated for what they created after their death because.

Dr. Alexis: And all of the, the people we don't know. Mm-hmm. And all the creations we don't know.

Alex: And I've missed out on

Dr. Alexis: Yeah. And there was, I forget who was talking about it, but someone was mentioning that they live near a cemetery and they would see all of the different names and, and think about all the different lives that have passed.

Yeah. And all of the opportunities that weren't taken because. Of a number of things. Fear, you know, an anxiety. Mm-hmm. Um, yeah. Cultural pressures to, to live this certain type of life and not engage in the arts or

Alex: discrimination.

Dr. Alexis: Right. Exactly. Not, not having the ability to, and, and this person was reflecting on the cemetery and thinking about like, all of the things that we have missed from all of those people who have passed because of all of those reasons.

Yep. And. It. It is so incredibly, I think just admirable. Yeah. You know that there are people out there that are giving it their all and keep on chipping away and trying to navigate this industry in entertainment and, and comedy and. The arts. Mm-hmm. Um, that is, like you said, so competitive.

Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: And that could feel so isolating.

And so finding that balance of finding your people within your industry, 'cause they're going to get it, and also having your support systems outside of the industry to even maybe just take a break from that, that world, that association. Yeah. That world, that pressure. And just completely disassociate.

Just take a, take a break. And so that way your life is

Alex: contribute to other realms of your life. Yes.

Dr. Alexis: Good morning. Your life isn't just all in this one area. Yeah. And even more importantly, that your whole identity isn't all in this one.

Alex: Yeah.

Dr. Alexis: Um,

Alex: hooked on one thing, one,

Dr. Alexis: one skill that, that you have this one area of your life or passion.

Just wanna ask for itself. Yeah. That is very dangerous. So either way, you do wanna have this. Fulfilled generalized life. Yeah. So yes, find your people in your industry, even comedians. There's some, some true good hearted comedians out there that are supportive of one another. Um, and then also find your friends and family outside.

Competitive world as well. I

Alex: love that. So before we celebrate the big last fest, let's honor the quiet courage that keeps shows alive. Uh, this creator says that many performers and working creators feel and rarely emit in public.

Dr. Alexis: If you have ever kept showing up for work, family, or art, while exhausted.

This one is your permission slip, to be honest, and to choose practices that refill your energy. We'll talk about burnout,

and I'm by no means the authority on it, but I'm burnt out as a musician, writer, artist, anybody Musically, adjacent. You know, this industry is taxing and it. Tests you every second of every day, mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, it's hard.

So I'm out here posting my silly little tiktoks, acting like everything is fine, but I'm not. I'm tired. I am stressed. I am worried all the time. And I just wanted to say that if you also feel that way,

Dr. Alexis: you're not alone. I appreciated the sincerity. Yeah. And the openness with it all. Yeah. Naming the hard things.

Uh, is that sounding ovation? And even for this one too. Yeah. I think for all of 'em that everyone's talked about,

Alex: these things are hard. These things are real. I think that's what I love about all the, the stuff that we showed tonight. Yeah. I think all of them falling, finding its way into something very therapeutic and you kind of human, and I think that's, uh, the hard part.

Like how do you keep your human.

Dr. Alexis: Right, and recognizing that you are human. Yes, you may be a professional performer and entertainer and or professional anything surgeon,

Alex: anything,

Dr. Alexis: right? And the professional what other basketball player, athlete, like, yes, sure, you may be, you know, a full, a intense parent with a lot of little ones.

At the end of the day, regardless of what your roles and responsibilities are, you're human. And it, as annoying as it may be, to radically accept us human being are high maintenance. We have a lot of needs. Social, physical, emotional, psychological, and so carve out that time to take care of you. It doesn't have to be an hour a day.

It could just be even within those brief moments, transitioning from from a set. And going to the next gig or in between takes you, you deserve that. You need it.

Alex: I agree. I'm, you caught me at a moment where I'm like, yes, entirely. Yes. I was wondering where your mind was going. No. 'cause I'm like, no, you're saying everything that I want, that I take.

I think that's what's really important about all of the, the things in around entertainment, all the pressures, all the ways in which we communicate.

Yeah.

Alex: And the normalization that happens by talking these things up. Like these creators did. So I, I do appreciate all that. So,

Dr. Alexis: so leave a comment with one practice that reliably restores you after a long day.

We'd love to hear from you. And if a performer's work has helped you lately, tell them because that gratitude is fuel, because it's not easy for. Anyone out there trying to do anything, especially in competitive industries and And

Alex: parts. Yeah. And any vulnerability that invites healthier habits is therapy.

So I'm gonna go for a big.

Dr. Alexis: Right. All, all of our, all of our media today. Yes. Right.

Alex: Well, I think we chose that for a reason. We want you to have all the best therapy here. So, yeah.

Dr. Alexis: So, um, I'll thank you so much to all of the creators as well, because they provided a lot of. Therapeutic vibes out there into social media, which is very much needed

Alex: and shaming any place or space where you're creating that vulnerability.

That would be the trick.

Dr. Alexis: Yes. Yes, exactly. So I don't know what the comment section looks like for those. If they're like, oh, you're weak for needing to sleep or

Alex: to talk, or Right to do. Or someone's

Dr. Alexis: judging you for talking about your depression or bipolar, or saying like, oh, it's not real. You know, that kind of nonsense.

Hear out there. Yeah, that would be trash. Everything everyone said today is. Beautiful, helpful, healthy, therapeutic. Excellent. Right? You agree? Yeah. Choosing recovery keeps art alive. One, we gave a few along the way, but let's go ahead and leave everybody with a roundup of top five tips, Alex. All right. Top five.

All right.

Alex: So I would say use laughter as a healthy distressed tolerance school, uh, tool. I would say remember role models, uh, normalize mental health challenges. So really if you're a role model. Normalize it. If you look at the, uh, people who are as role models, they should be people who would normalize our humanities.

So keep that in mind. Redefine success as joy and growth. Not just checking the box or achievements or acquiring things. Celebrate progress and presence. Just not, uh, not just milestones. So. Every little step along the way deserves your celebration, deserves your joy, deserves that moment and deserves to be a mindful thing in and of itself.

Dr. Alexis: Tell I'm Alex. Talent number five,

Alex: support performers and respect the effort behind their craft. So TV support, live things, just like we're gonna do at Lake Fest. The Big Bear and big Laugh fest at Big Brother. I'm so

Dr. Alexis: excited to meet all the comedians for Big Laugh Fest. That's one of my favorite distress tolerance skills.

Take a break. Let me zone out and then just say everything I've been thinking and make it funny. That's awesome. Thank you very much. That's all I ask for. Okay. So remember, the goal is not to power through forever. The goal is to perform with joy and finish with enough left for the rest of your life.

Alex: Yeah, for

Dr. Alexis: every other aspect of your life that you have going on.

So

Alex: thank you to the creators whose scripts remind us that humor heals, connection matters, and successes about joy, not just results.

Dr. Alexis: And also thank you to our listeners, remember to comment, to subscribe, and leave us a review. It truly helps us keep sharing these conversations.

Alex: And as always, gratitude to DC Radio and our producers, Jessica Sturgis and Shane Lewis.

Music by Tri- Tachyon. We'll see you next time for more therapy or trash,

Dr. Alexis: live stream recording every Tuesday, 6:00 PM Pacific. You have to do that part because my brain is like, not 9:00 PM either West coast East. I know, that's why it's like, why's it different oceans? Uh, and then follow us on social media because we'll keep on posting clips of all of our shows and then wherever you get your podcasts, if you can't listen to us on DC radio.

You can find all of our archive shows wherever you get your podcast as well. Just search wit and reason with Alex and Dr. Alexis.

Alex: Thanks for joining.

Dr. Alexis: Have fun. We will.

 
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