Come Back To Earth | Music & Mental Health

J.D. Murgolo | Story House Studio
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Music Interviews
  • Updated Weekly

What does it cost to make music, and what does it give back? Come Back to Earth is a weekly music interview podcast where host J.D. Murgolo sits down with musicians and songwriters to explore mental health, creative survival, and the stories hidden behind the songs. We go beyond the stage to uncover the wounds, turning points, and hard-won hopes that shape an artist's life. Through honest conversations about the creative process, music and mental health, and what it means to keep going, this is a show where the music is the doorway — and the soul is the destination. Because the most important thing an artist makes isn't the record. It's the decision to come back to themselves.

  1. Brittney Jenkins: Bending Instead of Breaking — Generational Trauma, Identity & Healing Through Music

    Jun 26

    Brittney Jenkins: Bending Instead of Breaking — Generational Trauma, Identity & Healing Through Music

    Some stories don’t change. We do. In this episode, J.D. sits down with Brittney Jenkins to discuss her song 'Bend to Break' from her album 'Faultlines'. Brittney explores themes of identity, distance, generational trauma, and the power of reframing the past after growing up in a conservative North Carolina community and building a life in the UK. This conversation covers music as a tool for healing, the artist's creative process, and the strength required to bend instead of break. Key topics include:- Generational trauma and identity- Music and mental health- The creative process of songwriting- Healing through storytelling Go backstage HERETheme music by: Lincoln Parish --- From the Studio This episode is part of Come Back To Earth, produced by Story House. We believe story is a tool for meaning-making, not just performance. Leave a voice message or reflection The Letterbox I read every letter. If something in this episode landed for you, or raised something you're still sitting with, I'd love to hear it. Story House 370 Mallard Loop Dr.Clayton, NC 27527 Find the House Long-form writing and studio notes: https://story-house.beehiiv.com/Support this work: http://storyhousestudio.org/community Presence over persuasion. Consistency over frequency. http://storyhousestudio.org

    36 min
  2. Joe McLeod: Songwriting Through Grief and the Weight of Becoming the Protector

    Jun 12

    Joe McLeod: Songwriting Through Grief and the Weight of Becoming the Protector

    Grief doesn’t always arrive as tears. Sometimes it arrives as instinct, the sudden, sharp reflex to call someone who isn’t there anymore. I’m sitting down with Canadian folk-pop songwriter Joe McLeod to talk about his single, “ARROWS” the first release from his upcoming album TORN. Written over years of reflection following the loss of his father at age 22, “ARROWS” explores the weight of becoming the protector. From writing in solitude on an acoustic guitar to intimate house shows in Switzerland, this conversation explores loss not as a one-time event, but as a lifelong reshaping.  In This Episode: Navigating the loss of a parent in early adulthood.Understanding grief as an evolving process, not a destination.The journey of writing alone versus the energy of the studio.Creating a shared, present-moment refuge for the audience.Go backstage HERETheme music by: Lincoln Parish --- From the Studio This episode is part of Come Back To Earth, produced by Story House. We believe story is a tool for meaning-making, not just performance. Leave a voice message or reflection The Letterbox I read every letter. If something in this episode landed for you, or raised something you're still sitting with, I'd love to hear it. Story House 370 Mallard Loop Dr.Clayton, NC 27527 Find the House Long-form writing and studio notes: https://story-house.beehiiv.com/Support this work: http://storyhousestudio.org/community Presence over persuasion. Consistency over frequency. http://storyhousestudio.org

    38 min
  3. Emilie Thorsby: Songwriting, AI in Music, and the Human Touch

    May 29

    Emilie Thorsby: Songwriting, AI in Music, and the Human Touch

    Some songs are written during the day. Others are built in the quiet hours, when no one is watching, when exhaustion meets inspiration, and when something inside refuses to let you sleep. I’m joined by Danish pop artist Emilie Thorsby to talk about her single, “Late Night”—a vibrant celebration of hardworking musicians in an era increasingly shaped by AI and automation. From global radio play (including a surreal first spin in Uganda) to studio sessions fueled by disco beats and live saxophone, Emilie shares why she believes in breath over perfection and live performance over simulation. This is a conversation about the craft of songwriting, the ethics of AI in the music industry, and the simple truth that some things can’t be generated, they can only be lived. Go backstage HERETheme music by: Lincoln Parish --- From the Studio This episode is part of Come Back To Earth, produced by Story House. We believe story is a tool for meaning-making, not just performance. Leave a voice message or reflection The Letterbox I read every letter. If something in this episode landed for you, or raised something you're still sitting with, I'd love to hear it. Story House 370 Mallard Loop Dr.Clayton, NC 27527 Find the House Long-form writing and studio notes: https://story-house.beehiiv.com/Support this work: http://storyhousestudio.org/community Presence over persuasion. Consistency over frequency. http://storyhousestudio.org

    26 min
  4. Lavender Fire: Songwriting as a Path to Self-Acceptance and LGBTQ+ Identity

    May 15

    Lavender Fire: Songwriting as a Path to Self-Acceptance and LGBTQ+ Identity

    Some songs are written to be heard. Others are written to be seen. I’m joined by singer-songwriter Lavender Fire to discuss her debut album, From Shadows to Light. Her work is a four-year journey of reclaiming parts of herself and stepping fully into her identity. Built primarily around piano and voice, the album traces a profound arc from self-realization to radical self-acceptance. Connect with Lavender Fire HEREGo backstage HERETheme music by: Lincoln Parish --- From the Studio This episode is part of Come Back To Earth, produced by Story House. We believe story is a tool for meaning-making, not just performance. Leave a voice message or reflection The Letterbox I read every letter. If something in this episode landed for you, or raised something you're still sitting with, I'd love to hear it. Story House 370 Mallard Loop Dr.Clayton, NC 27527 Find the House Long-form writing and studio notes: https://story-house.beehiiv.com/Support this work: http://storyhousestudio.org/community Presence over persuasion. Consistency over frequency. http://storyhousestudio.org

    36 min
  5. Alex Loeb: The Courage of Direct Expression

    May 1

    Alex Loeb: The Courage of Direct Expression

    Growth isn’t always about finding a voice; often, it’s about the decision to stop softening the one you already have. Today, we sit with Germany-based artist Alex Loeb to explore the shift from genre-controlled narratives to the raw clarity of direct expression. Connect with Alex Loeb HEREGo backstage HERETheme music by: Lincoln Parish

    38 min
  6. Charlie Void: The Alchemy of Musical Reinvention and Autonomy (Encore)

    Apr 17

    Charlie Void: The Alchemy of Musical Reinvention and Autonomy (Encore)

    What happens when the song you’re singing no longer fits the person you’ve become? Growth isn’t always a loud breakthrough; sometimes it is the quiet act of stepping out of the center to see the entire picture. Today, we sit with returning guest Charlie Void to explore the messy, honest alchemy of reinvention. We follow the thread from being dropped by a label to finding a new rhythm with Golden Factory Records in Florence. This is a meditation on the shift from being a "pop artist" to becoming a producer, and the autonomy found in a 15-track album that finally feels like home. Whether you are navigating a career transition or seeking artistic autonomy, this conversation is an invitation to trust your own timeline. The Thread of This Conversation: The "Threshold" of leaving the center to find your perspectiveShaping EDM and Pop sensibilities into an honest body of workThe Mental Health of the independent artist: Moving beyond marketabilityWhat it means to create music that simply "needs to exist"Stewardship of your own art after a major industry shiftConnect with Charlie Void HEREGo backstage HERETheme music by: Lincoln Parish --- If this episode sparked a memory, a question about the craft, or a story you’d rather speak than type, come sit at our table. You can leave a voice note for the studio at: https://www.speakpipe.com/FragileMoments

    32 min
  7. Anthony Church: Instrumental Music as Creative Resilience

    Apr 3

    Anthony Church: Instrumental Music as Creative Resilience

    In this episode of Come Back to Earth, J.D. reflects on how a familiar melody can suddenly sound different when something within us shifts. He sits down with artist and producer Anthony Church to explore his creative evolution from a background beat-maker to a front-facing artist releasing instrumental music. In This Episode: Finding your voice through the discipline of daily practice.Shifting from producer to artist: The journey of creative autonomy.Melody-first composition and creating an emotional atmosphere.Creativity as resilience and nervous system regulation.Why certain songs meet us differently as we move through different seasons of life.Connect with Anthony Church and his music HEREGo backstage HERETheme music by: Lincoln Parish --- If this episode sparked a memory, a question about the craft, or a story you’d rather speak than type, come sit at our table. You can leave a voice note for the studio or explore our resources for creators at: https://www.speakpipe.com/FragileMoments

    35 min
  8. Eric Harrison: The Joy of Making Music and Building Community

    Mar 20

    Eric Harrison: The Joy of Making Music and Building Community

    What if music wasn't an escape, but a way to stay present? We explore the joy of making music and how songs build a music community when we need it most. Not every song is written to last forever. Some are written simply because they feel good in the moment—because they sound like a crowded room when you’re alone, or because they make the silence feel a little less heavy. In this episode, J.D. reflects on the first time music felt like true company: not as a performance to be judged or an escape to another world, but as a grounding presence. We are joined by New Jersey-based singer-songwriter Eric Harrison to discuss his latest album, Bittersweet. Eric shares the story behind his anthem “Sal’s Place,” a tribute to the sweaty basements and wobbly decks where the joy of music is found in its purest form. Together, they explore the rare honesty that comes from creating art simply because you love it, and how a shared melody can foster a deep sense of music community. This conversation is an invitation to value nostalgia without bitterness and to rediscover the joy of making music for the sake of the craft itself. Join us as we discuss why some songs don't need to change your life, they just need to keep you company. Connect with Eric Harrison and his music HEREGo backstage HERETheme music by: Lincoln Parish --- If this episode sparked a memory, a question about the craft, or a story you’d rather speak than type, come sit at our table. You can leave a voice note for the studio or explore our resources for creators at: https://www.speakpipe.com/FragileMoments I listen to every note personally during my Friday stewardship hours. No pressure to be polished, just be human.

    35 min
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About

What does it cost to make music, and what does it give back? Come Back to Earth is a weekly music interview podcast where host J.D. Murgolo sits down with musicians and songwriters to explore mental health, creative survival, and the stories hidden behind the songs. We go beyond the stage to uncover the wounds, turning points, and hard-won hopes that shape an artist's life. Through honest conversations about the creative process, music and mental health, and what it means to keep going, this is a show where the music is the doorway — and the soul is the destination. Because the most important thing an artist makes isn't the record. It's the decision to come back to themselves.

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