My Morning Jacket’s Jim James on How the Gift of Self-Love Led Him to Sobriety: Podcast

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Jim James has been peppering My Morning Jacket’s music with words of wisdom for two and a half decades. His insights might be even more impactful, however, as he speaks with powerful honesty on the latest episode of Going There with Dr. Mike. In this powerful episode, the rocker speaks openly about his struggles with depression and alcoholism, and how learning the art of self-love led to significant lifestyle changes. Listen to the full episode above or wherever you get your podcasts, and watch a clip from the episode below.

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James emphasizes the importance of seeking help and giving oneself permission to do the necessary “work” to address mental health challenges. He candidly discusses his extensive experience with therapy, having seen “50 therapists over the course of my life” to find the right fit. It took until the last five or so years, during which he began working with EMDR and psychedelic therapies, that he was able to give himself “the gift that nobody can take away, and that’s self-love.”

“I started to realize I’ve been spending most of my life hating being on this horse named Jim. I wanna get the fuck off of it. I want to drink it off. I want to drug it off… I want to get off this thing ’cause I don’t like it,” James says. “And I had this realization… What if you try to treat Jim with love and kindness and treat Jim with respect? Try to go the other way, and let’s try and take care of Jim… I’m the caretaker for this lifetime, however long it may be, of this being named Jim, and if I can wake up enough, I can realize that like it’s my sacred duty to try and love this person. Because if I can do that, then I can be of greater service to the world and I can be more kind to other people and I can serve other people and I can serve the world better because I’m not so busy trying to destroy this vehicle, this body that I’m in this lifetime.”

My Morning Jacket fans know James has long been something of a wellness guru in his lyrics, but it takes on a whole new poignancy hearing him speak so openly about his personal experiences. Take a listen to Jim James on Going There with Dr. Mike above, and watch a clip below (or via YouTube). You can also join James in his celebration of self-love by getting tickets to My Morning Jacket’s upcoming tour dates, which include a number of special shows marking the 20th anniversary of their album Z.

Those in need of mental health assistance can also check out the Sound Mind Live resources page for a list of helplines, community programs, therapy links, and more.

Going There is created in partnership between the Consequence Podcast Network and Sound Mind Live. This season is brought to you by Johnson & Johnson, who believes that health is everything. Their strength in healthcare innovation empowers them to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through their expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, they are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com, on the @JanssenUS and @JNJInnovMed on X.