Jim James on Relinquishing Control and Making Peace with Death

Please Note: This episode discusses heavy themes, including suicide and mental health struggles. If you are experiencing distress, please utilize the free, confidential resources below. United States & Canada: Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. International: Find free, immediate support lines specific to your country at https://findahelpline.com If you are in the music industry, you can contact Backline: Call 855-BLINE99 or text 254-639 Please prioritize your well-being. Help is always available. Fans like me know Jim James as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of My Morning Jacket, as well as through his solo work. This week, Jim stops by the show to promote his new solo album Wowed Out and for a frank conversation about mental illness, his path to sobriety and how he copes when depression derails his day. We also talk about his experience with EMDR, parts work and psychedelic therapies, and why sleep is still a challenge for both of us. September is Recovery Month as well as Suicide Prevention Month, and I’m grateful to Jim for his candor in discussing all of the above. 00:00:00 Normalizing therapy and finding the right practitioner 00:04:44 Processing trauma with EMDR and parts work 00:09:33 Unlearning control issues to become a better collaborator 00:14:19 Overcoming toxic competition in the music industry 00:19:08 Shifting from aggressive ambition to collective gratitude 00:23:56 Sitting with depression and learning to accept dark emotions 00:28:45 Mental health hotlines and building personal support networks 00:33:30 Reframing suicidal ideation as a manageable health condition 00:38:15 Generational cycles and destigmatizing therapy for children 00:43:02 Navigating depressive episodes and responsibilities 00:47:51 Chronic sleep struggles and nighttime anxiety on tour 00:52:39 Letting go of creative outcomes and surrendering to the universe Topics: Shopping for the right therapist EMDR therapy, trauma healing, and parts work Genetic predisposition to high alcohol tolerance Sitting with depression daily and treating it with compassion Understanding mental illness & how to talk about it Overcoming industry competition Open dialogue on suicidal thoughts Crisis hotlines and learning to dialogue about depression Managing chronic insomnia and sharing sleep routines Releasing creative control and surrendering to universe #JimJames #MyMorningJacket #DepressionAwareness#AlcoholismRecovery #EMDRTherapy #MentalHealthMatters #SuicidePrevention #SelfCompassion #InsomniaRelief #MusicianMentalHealth New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098