State Of Mind with Maurice Benard

State Of Mind
  • 4.8 (276)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

State of Mind with Maurice Benard is a leading mental health podcast dedicated to open conversations about emotional wellness and resilience. Hosted by Emmy Award–winning actor and New York Times bestselling author Maurice Benard (Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital), the show explores every aspect of mental health, from bipolar disorder and anxiety to everyday struggles with purpose, relationships, and hope. Through honest, heartfelt discussions with guests from all walks of life, State of Mind reminds listeners that no matter what you’re going through—you’re not alone.

  1. Clancy Brown on SpongeBob, The Penguin, Shawshank Redemption, Anxiety, and Acting

    2D AGO

    Clancy Brown on SpongeBob, The Penguin, Shawshank Redemption, Anxiety, and Acting

    Maurice Benard sits down with acclaimed actor Clancy Brown for a wide-ranging conversation about anxiety, mental health, acting, family, grief, and resilience. Known for unforgettable roles in The Shawshank Redemption, John Wick, SpongeBob SquarePants, and The Penguin, Clancy opens up about the nerves that have followed him throughout his career, how he learned to work through them, and the personal experiences that shaped him long before Hollywood knew his name. The conversation moves from Clancy’s childhood in Ohio and the loss of his sister, to his mother’s artistic journey, to the emotional realities of performing under pressure. Along the way, Maurice and Clancy talk candidly about bipolar disorder, auditioning, soap operas, family, and what it really takes to endure in a creative life. It is a soulful, funny, and surprisingly moving episode about vulnerability, craft, and staying human in the middle of it all. Show your support: Follow SOM, tap 5 stars, & share this episode with someone who needs it. Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch!  Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book! Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital Follow Maurice on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/ X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.com State of Mind Production Team:  Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard  Executive Producer: Paula Benard  Director of Production: Anthony Cammarata Audio/Video/Editorial: Anthony Cammarata Podcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato

    1 hr

  2. MAR 4

    Maurice Benard’s Birthday Episode | Dominic Zamprogna on Friendship, Life & General Hospital

    In this special birthday episode of State of Mind, the tables turn as Dominic Zamprogna (Dante on General Hospital) takes over the host chair to interview Maurice Benard. Maurice opens up about his life, career, and lifelong journey with bipolar disorder—from his early days chasing acting dreams, to his first manic episode and time in a mental institution, to becoming one of daytime television’s most iconic actors as Sonny Corinthos. The two longtime friends share stories from their years working together, discuss the pressures of fame, ego, mental health, and finding peace as you get older. Maurice also speaks candidly about medication, anxiety, and why helping others with mental health struggles has become his true purpose. Plus, heartfelt birthday messages from friends, co-stars, and family celebrating Maurice’s impact both on and off screen. This episode is honest, funny, emotional—and a powerful reminder that peace of mind is the greatest gift of all. Show your support: Follow SOM, tap 5 stars, & share this episode with someone who needs it. Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch!  Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book! Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital Follow Maurice on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/ X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.com State of Mind Production Team:  Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard  Executive Producer: Paula Benard  Director of Production: Anthony Cammarata Audio/Video/Editorial: Anthony Cammarata Podcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato

    1h 15m
  3. Kelly Thiebaud: Starting Over at 40, Therapy, and Rebuilding After Losing Everything

    FEB 22

    Kelly Thiebaud: Starting Over at 40, Therapy, and Rebuilding After Losing Everything

    In this episode of State of Mind, Maurice Benard sits down with actress Kelly Thiebaud for a raw, funny, and surprisingly deep conversation about what it really means to start over. Kelly opens up about growing up in a small town, being a sports kid turned model, and how the modeling world messed with her relationship to food, her body, and her self-worth. She shares what it was like moving to Los Angeles at 17, experiencing an early heartbreak that shaped how she viewed love, and why she didn’t fully step into acting until later in life. Maurice and Kelly also get real about mental health: therapy, bitterness, anxiety, medication decisions, and the pressure of having to “perform” when you’re privately falling apart. Together, they talk about learning to be alone, rebuilding after blowing up your life, and treating your past not as proof you’re broken—but as information that helps you grow. Show your support: Follow SOM, tap 5 stars, & share this episode with someone who needs it. Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch!  Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book! Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital Follow Maurice on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/ X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.com State of Mind Production Team:  Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard  Executive Producer: Paula Benard  Director of Production: Anthony Cammarata Audio/Video/Editorial: Anthony Cammarata Podcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato

    52 min
  4. Jonathan Jackson on Prayer, Panic, and the Healing Power of Beauty

    FEB 21

    Jonathan Jackson on Prayer, Panic, and the Healing Power of Beauty

    In this episode of State of Mind, Maurice Benard sits down with actor, musician, and longtime friend Jonathan Jackson for a deeply personal conversation about what happens when the mind feels steady but the body doesn’t. They talk about preparation, performance, and those moments when anxiety shows up physically even when you “should” be fine. Jonathan shares how faith shapes his work and his life, why he resists the word “performing,” and what he’s learned about trauma, prayer, and the surprising idea that beauty can reach people when logic can’t. Maurice opens up about a difficult season, the power of friendship, and the kind of support that doesn’t just comfort you, it pulls you back toward the light. Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch!  Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book! Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital Follow Maurice on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/ X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.com State of Mind Production Team:  Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard  Executive Producer: Paula Benard  Director of Production: Anthony Cammarata Audio/Video/Editorial: Anthony Cammarata Podcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato

    53 min
  5. Michael Easton: Anxiety, Grief, and the Hard Work of Healing

    FEB 20

    Michael Easton: Anxiety, Grief, and the Hard Work of Healing

    Actor, writer, director, and voice actor Michael Easton joins Maurice Benard on State of Mind for a rare, deeply honest conversation about what it really takes to heal. Michael shares what it was like growing up between Belfast and the U.S., moving constantly, and carrying the hidden weight of childhood fear and instability into adulthood. From there, the conversation opens up into the stuff most people avoid: anxiety, grief, loss, and the long process of bringing buried pain to the surface so it can finally move. They talk about surrender, therapy, meditation, the difference between suppressing pain and processing it, and why real healing often starts when someone is willing to sit with you in the dark. Later, Michael reflects on his path into acting, the early years of his career, and the strange moments that come with visibility, identity, and being seen. The episode closes with a powerful tribute to Kamar de los Reyes, and what his life and passing changed in Michael forever. Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch!  Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book! Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital Follow Maurice on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/ X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.com State of Mind Production Team:  Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard  Executive Producer: Paula Benard  Director of Production: Anthony Cammarata Audio/Video/Editorial: Anthony Cammarata Podcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato

    34 min

  6. FEB 9

    Arthur S. Brown: Faith Through War (WWII, Discipline, and Radical Gratitude at 101)

    On this State of Mind, Maurice sits down with Art Stratton Brown, a remarkable 101-year-old World War II veteran (and Josh Swickard’s grandfather) whose energy, clarity, and gratitude feel almost impossible to believe. Art takes us from a tough Chicago childhood and early leadership instincts to combat training, frontline battles in Italy and France, and the daily realities of war — fear, loss, survival, and the moments that never leave you. What unfolds is ultimately a conversation about resilience, faith, discipline, and how gratitude and purpose can shape a life, even after witnessing the darkest parts of humanity. Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch!  Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book! Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital Follow Maurice on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/ X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.com State of Mind Production Team:  Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard  Executive Producer: Paula Benard  Director of Production: Anthony Cammarata Audio/Video/Editorial: Anthony Cammarata Podcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato

    49 min
  7. Josh Swickard: Taking the Fear Out of Anxiety (Breathwork, Faith, and Don’t Waste the Pain)

    FEB 2

    Josh Swickard: Taking the Fear Out of Anxiety (Breathwork, Faith, and Don’t Waste the Pain)

    Josh Swickard—an actor who’s starred in films that have reached #1 on Netflix and on General Hospital—opens up about anxiety attacks he didn’t understand until they hit him, and how breathwork helped him reframe the symptoms and take away the fear. The conversation moves through anger, calm, parenting, and faith, landing on a powerful idea: don’t waste the pain—use it to help others keep moving forward. Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch!  Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book! Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital Follow Maurice on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/ X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.com State of Mind Production Team:  Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard  Executive Producer: Paula Benard  Director of Production: Anthony Cammarata Audio/Video/Editorial: Anthony Cammarata Audio Podcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato

    28 min
  8. Medina Ali: From Combat Sports to Pro Wrestling, Discipline, and Mental Strength

    JAN 13

    Medina Ali: From Combat Sports to Pro Wrestling, Discipline, and Mental Strength

    Maurice Bernard sits down with wrestler Medina Ali for a powerful conversation about discipline, mental strength, and resilience. Medina shares how her background in combat sports shaped her mindset, and what happened when she was unexpectedly contacted by WWE and thrown into the world of professional wrestling without prior experience. They talk about bullying, culture, family expectations, fear, and why physical movement has always been her form of therapy. Plus, Maurice opens up about anxiety, hypnosis, and finally getting back on a plane after years of fear. Medina Ali on Instagram!  Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch!  Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book! Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital Follow Maurice on Social Media:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/ X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.com State of Mind Production Team:  Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard  Executive Producer: Paula Benard  Director of Production: Anthony Cammarata Audio/Video/Editorial: Anthony Cammarata Audio Podcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato

    46 min
See All (100)

4.8
out of 5
276 Ratings

About

State of Mind with Maurice Benard is a leading mental health podcast dedicated to open conversations about emotional wellness and resilience. Hosted by Emmy Award–winning actor and New York Times bestselling author Maurice Benard (Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital), the show explores every aspect of mental health, from bipolar disorder and anxiety to everyday struggles with purpose, relationships, and hope. Through honest, heartfelt discussions with guests from all walks of life, State of Mind reminds listeners that no matter what you’re going through—you’re not alone.

Information

You Might Also Like