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, discover what moves us, and learn to use sound as a healing mechanism.
Episodes
Matt Pryor is the lead singer of the iconic band The Get Up Kids. Matt has been touring as a musician for over 30 years, and while the life of a touring musician may seem like the greatest gig ever, for Matt, it has been full of ups and downs. After finding himself lonely, depressed, and anxious on tours in his later years, Matt realized he had been turning to alcohol to self-medicate. After finding himself in the ER, at risk for a...
Erin Tate is the former drummer for Minus the Bear. For 14 years, Erin played, wrote, and created with Minus the Bear, but after alcohol and substance use took over his life, he hit rock bottom. Erin lost everything: his marriage, his kid, and his band. After getting sober through AA, Erin has tried to make amends for the harm he has caused and keep himself accountable. Erin is now the site manager for a permanent supportive ...
In this episode, Jim Ward and I talk about Jim's music career, his non-profit "You Rock," and how anxiety, ADHD, and substance use have all affected his life. We also go over Jim's views on his own therapy journey, and how careful he is not to talk about mental health as some badge of honor he wears.
Bailey Pope is a comedian, social media personality, and lover of music. Listen as Bailey talks about growing up Christian, discovering punk, emo, and hardcore, and taking the brave step into living into who she truly is even when it cost her everything.
Dan Weyandt is the lead singer for the band ZAO. Behind that powerhouse of vocals is a Dad, Husband, Tattoo artist, and someone who suffers with severe anxiety, panic, and OCD. This episode is less about his band ZAO and more about Dan as a person and his struggle with his own mental health. Through the interview, listen as Dan and I discuss the anxiety that binds us and the ways we deal with it.
Rachael Dietkus is a social worker, designer, and founder of Social Workers Who Design, an organization that helps and teaches designers to create from a trauma-informed lens. Rachael was also a part of the late 90's and early 2000's Midwest emo scene, as part of the skate scene and playing violin in the band Very Secretary with Braid's first drummer, Roy Ewing. Listen as we talk about Rachael's time in the band and her career as a...
In this episode, I'm joined by Dan Didier, drummer for the legendary Midwest emo band The Promise Ring. Dan sits down with us for a conversation that’s equal parts funny and refreshingly honest as we dive into drumming, recording, and the creative process behind the kit.
We also get into something deeper — how playing drums became an outlet for managing anxiety and stress, and the role music can play in mental health. D...
Ben Jorgensen is the lead singer and guitar player for Armor For Sleep. Ben and I chronicle his journey through his younger years as he was awakened to the NJ punk scene, his journey in vulnerability in songwriting and overcoming failure.
In this episode of Safe In Sound, I’m joined by Andy Squyres for a real, honest conversation about faith, identity, and what happens when the Christian story you were handed starts to fall apart.
We talk about disrupting the Christian narrative, stepping outside of the “safe” version of belief, and what it means to enter the uncomfortable space—the darkness—without rushing to fix it, explain it away, o...
Knox Burnett is a friend and colleague practicing trauma therapy out of Seattle, Washington. In this episode, Knox and I talk about how music and therapy correlate to provide healing in one's own life.
Greg Swinehart, the former drummer of the band the Pale Pacific, has performed with Fair and Rose Blossom Punch. In this episode, we explore Greg's life and music career as well as his journey into finding out what helping people really means.
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Bob Nanna is the lead singer and guitarist behind Braid, Hey Mercedes and the City on Film. In this episode, Bob discusses his childhood in Chicago, his adoption, the search for his birth parents, and how music served as an outlet for his emotions and his journey to therapy.
It is hard to sum up the work of Chad Johnson in a snippet. Chad had an enormous impact on the post-hardcore and emo scene in the early 2000's and therefore the scene even to this day. Band like Underoath, Hopesfall, Further Seems Forever all got their start on either Chad Johnson's Takehold Records or put out songs on splits or compilations under Chad. Chad also did A&R for Tooth and Nail in the early 2000's, helping bands on ...
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 his introduction to music and his ventures into Krishna Core, how growing up in a lower socio-economic status affected his life and mental health, his time with the Casket Lottery fo...
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 years old, the band is celebrating with a long-awaited comeback tour.
In this episode, Jake opens up about the legacy of Minus the Bear, their influence on the emo and math rock scenes, and the ev...
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. My guest today is Chris Higdon, the lead singer of the bands Falling Forward, Elliott, and Mirrorless.
In this interview, we start with Chris's background, growing...
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 attending college during the day, Penfold's work ethos was unmatched. They were a mainstay in the NJ DIY scene that led to bands like Saves The Day, Thursday, My Chemical Romance and A...
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. After Braid's demise Atkinson went on to help form Hey Mercedes with two of the other founders of Braid.
Listen as we got through Damon's time in his youth, where he fi...
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 relationship with each of the singers on Further Seems Forever 4 albums and how each change brought its unique challenges.
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