I believe depression can come from a crisis of identity. Every human being has the free will to believe as they choose and be whom they choose. If I am chronically anxious and/or depressed it may be thay my beliefs and identity are not serving me well. Medication should only be used as a last resort. Learning good coping skills will go a long way. Answering the question "who am I" correctly may be the biggest discovery of one's life. 

Mark is a singer songwriter living in PIttsburgh who was featured on the Conan O'Brien Show at 20 years old, wrote music for Sony in Nashville, founded the successful band Giant Lion, currently works at Urban Impact, and runs a recording studio in Bellevue called the Sound Castle. Mark shares some of his insights on how to manage anxiety utilizing his imagination. We delve into some spiritual topics and he shares the Conan O'Brien story. Listen to this episode and you'll also hear some of Mark's original music from his album River Beds, a collection of songs about Pennsylvania, and songs from his band Giant Lion. You can find Mark's music on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/5OUWU7eaufRFrvnm45PHdo and Giant Lion at https://open.spotify.com/artist/3biW1mvxM8j8csp3yiTckQ  

Original singer songwriter selections by Steven Lein: Slow Down Love - about a girl who runs and runs and gets burned out & Crash Land - A challenge to husbands to jump off the metaphorical cliff of vulnerability into the sea of intimacy. Stories about two passionate lovers who are drawn together by providence in Los Angeles and a ballerina who dances at the end of the world.  

Do you have anxiety? Do you ever panic? Artistic expression is just one of many ways to cope with worry and fear. Listen to a story about Ethan - who took the risk of his life and lost everything. Two original songs - Can't Stop with You and Strong & Courageous will touch your heart with the feelies.

Time is a treacherous foe. Memories are its desired plunder. Growing old is difficult. Memories aid us in the coping process. The freedom to walk down familiar streets, or visit nostalgic locations is a blessing. What a tragedy it can be to live so far from where you grew up - unable to feed yourself with reminders. Thus, memories can slowly starve and die. California is a song about moving away - about regret and resilience told through song and letters between Steven and California.

Adventure Song is about backpacking through Europe. Music helps us cope with the difficulties we experience in life. In this episode Steven shares how the selection Adventure Song helped him cope with drug addiction. A selection of spoken word digs deeper into themes we all wrestle with like aging, friendships lost, and gleaning the best from our past memories. Steven also opens a window into his songwriting process.

A story told through original music and spoken word. Steven Lein, a songwriter from Southern California tackles the theme of redemption. When we betray those we love should we ever hope to be forgiven?