For years, Sam believed he was simply battling depression. He was called lazy, struggled to keep jobs, couldn't understand why everyday life felt so much harder than it seemed for everyone else, and spent a decade believing he was broken.

Then came an ADHD diagnosis.

In this incredibly honest episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, we're joined by Sam, vocalist of Sleuth Gang, as he opens up about growing up feeling different, losing his dad at just 21, living with undiagnosed ADHD, masking his way through life, and finally understanding the person he'd always been.

We discuss:
🎙️ Growing up being labelled "lazy"
🧠 Adult ADHD and late diagnosis
💔 Grief, depression and emotional processing
🎭 Masking and creating different identities
🎵 How music became both an escape and a home
🤘 Finding belonging in the metal community
⚡ The reality of ADHD beyond social media stereotypes
🎸 Life as the frontman of Sleuth Gang

This is one of our most raw conversations yet—about identity, loss, creativity, and what happens when the answer you've been searching for finally arrives.

If you've ever felt misunderstood, different, or like you were fighting a battle nobody else could see, this episode is for you.

🎧 Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0QBxPs5p2xW8RsW6B2GxaK?si=ZMfBUnjjSnKfUa0WWxdwOw

▶️ YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@SleuthGang

🎵 TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@sleuth_gang

📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/sleuth_gang/

🎙️ Breakdowns & Breakthroughs is where heavy music meets mental health. Every week we have honest, unfiltered conversations about ADHD, neurodiversity, grief, anxiety, addiction, parenting, music, and everything in between.

Whether you're a lifelong metalhead, navigating your own mental health, or simply looking for real conversations without the filters, you're in the right place.

Turn it up. Let's talk. 🤘

Check out Sleuth Gang

Our First Ever Live! 🤘

We finally took Breakdowns & Breakthroughs live... and yes, we were all over the place!

In this relaxed first livestream, we officially welcome Chris "Coop" Cooper to the Breakdowns & Breakthroughs team before diving into a chat about Download Festival 2026.

We talk about:

• 🤘 Coop's journey into heavy music
• 🎸 First albums, first gigs and guilty pleasures
• 🔥 Parkway Drive's incredible live show
• 🎪 Our Download Festival highlights
• 🎤 Festival vs arena gigs
• 🧠 The connection between heavy music, neurodiversity and mental health
• 🤔 Can you separate the art from the artist?
• 🍻 Funny festival stories and questionable behaviour in the campsites...

No script. No plan. Just three friends talking about the music they love.

If this is your first time here, welcome to Breakdowns & Breakthroughs a podcast where heavy music meets honest conversations about mental health, neurodiversity and life.

Turn it up. Let's talk. 🖤

Episode 9: Tiny Humans & Emotional Damage (Part 2)

Nobody is a perfect parent, despite what social media might have us believe.

In Part 2 of Tiny Humans & Emotional Damage, Chris and Mari continue their honest conversation about the realities of parenting, co-parenting, mental health, and the emotional weight that comes with raising children in today's world.

We explore parenting guilt, separation and divorce, breaking generational cycles, childhood trauma, and the pressure many parents feel to get everything right. From custody arrangements and co-parenting challenges to the constant mental load carried by mums and dads, this episode shines a light on the struggles that often happen behind closed doors.

Mari shares her experiences of mental health, therapy, and learning to parent differently from previous generations, while Chris discusses the challenges of co-parenting, navigating judgement, and staying focused on what matters most: your child's wellbeing.

We also talk about self-care, emotional resilience, and why looking after yourself isn't selfish—it's one of the most important things you can do for your children.

Whether you're a parent, step-parent, grandparent, co-parent, or simply someone trying to break unhealthy patterns from the past, this episode is a reminder that struggling doesn't make you a bad parent. It makes you human.

Topics discussed:
• Parenting and mental health
• Co-parenting after separation
• Divorce and family life
• Parenting guilt
• Single parenthood
• Breaking generational trauma
• Childhood experiences and parenting styles
• Self-care for parents
• Emotional resilience
• Raising happy, healthy children

Episode 8: Tiny Humans & Emotional Damage (Part 1)

Nobody tells you that parenting can be the most rewarding thing you'll ever do... and also the thing that leaves you questioning your sanity because someone cried when you opened their banana.

In this episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, Chris and Mari get brutally honest about the realities of parenthood that social media rarely shows.

We discuss parenting stress, sleep deprivation, parental burnout, co-parenting after separation, raising autistic children, parenting twins, losing your identity, and the constant pressure to be the "perfect" parent.

From emotional overload and relationship challenges to the guilt that seems to come with every parenting decision, this is a raw, funny, and relatable conversation about the chaos of raising tiny humans while trying to protect your own mental health.

If you've ever hidden in the kitchen for five minutes of peace, Googled whether you're doing this parenting thing right, or wondered why silence suddenly feels suspicious, this episode is for you.

Because parenting is magical... and occasionally emotional damage.

Topics discussed:
• Parenting and mental health
• Parental burnout
• Sleep deprivation
• Co-parenting after divorce
• Single parenthood
• Raising autistic children
• Parenting twins
• Family life and relationships
• Emotional wellbeing
• The realities of modern parenting

Episode 7: Why People Use Weed

Why do people use cannabis?

For some, it's about relaxation. For others, it's sleep, anxiety, chronic stress, overstimulation, pain management, or simply finding a way to switch off after a difficult day.

In this episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, we have an honest and balanced conversation about cannabis, mental health, neurodiversity, and the reasons so many people turn to weed as a coping tool.

We explore the relationship between cannabis and anxiety, ADHD, autism, stress, emotional regulation, and sleep, discussing both the potential benefits and the risks. Drawing from personal experiences and current research, we examine the difficult questions many people face when using cannabis regularly:

Is this helping me heal, or helping me avoid?

Where is the line between relief and dependence? Between self-care and self-medication? Between switching off and escaping?

This isn't a debate about whether cannabis is good or bad. It's an open conversation about why people use it, what role it plays in their lives, and how we can make informed choices without shame or judgement.

Topics discussed:
• Cannabis and mental health
• Weed and anxiety
• ADHD and cannabis use
• Autism and sensory overwhelm
• Cannabis and sleep
• Stress management
• Emotional regulation
• Self-medication and coping mechanisms
• Dependence vs relief
• Neurodiversity and mental wellbeing

Episode 6: The Songs That Saved Us

In this episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, Mari shares the music that shaped her life, from discovering metal music in Brazil to becoming a passionate fan of bands like Slipknot and exploring the wider world of heavy music.

We discuss how music can influence identity, provide emotional release, and help people navigate difficult periods of life. From songs that helped us through heartbreak, stress, anxiety, and personal struggles, to the tracks that instantly transport us back to childhood memories, this conversation explores why music means so much to so many people.

Mari reflects on her first live music experiences, the excitement of discovering new bands, and the role music has played throughout her journey as a parent, friend, and mental health advocate.

We also reveal a few guilty pleasures, discuss the songs that never fail to lift our mood, and explore how music can create powerful connections between family members across generations.

Whether you're a lifelong metal fan, a music lover, or someone who has ever found comfort in a particular song, this episode is a celebration of the soundtrack that helps us survive life's toughest moments.

Topics discussed:
• Metal music and identity
• Slipknot and discovering heavy music
• Music and mental health
• Emotional regulation through music
• Live music experiences
• Family memories and music
• Parenting and shared musical interests
• Nostalgic songs
• Guilty pleasure music
• The songs that shaped our lives

Episode 5: Cancer Changed Everything

In this powerful episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, Mari is joined by Amy and Sally from Mosh Against the Malignant to share their personal experiences of cancer, treatment, recovery, and the lasting impact it has on mental health.

Amy opens up about the life-changing stroke she suffered as a result of chemotherapy, while Sally discusses her battle with aggressive breast cancer and the challenges of rebuilding life after treatment. Together, they share honest stories of fear, resilience, humour, friendship, and the realities of surviving cancer as a young adult.

We explore the emotional toll of a cancer diagnosis, the anxiety and depression many patients experience during and after treatment, and why peer support communities can be just as important as medical care.

We also discuss the role of music, identity, and connection in recovery, alongside practical conversations about symptom awareness, trusting your instincts, and seeking support when life feels overwhelming.

Whether you're living with cancer, supporting a loved one, working in healthcare, or simply wanting to better understand the human side of illness, this episode offers a raw and inspiring conversation about survival, hope, and finding strength through community.

Topics discussed:
• Cancer and mental health
• Breast cancer
• Chemotherapy side effects
• Stroke caused by cancer treatment
• Anxiety and depression
• Cancer recovery and survivorship
• Peer support communities
• Mosh Against the Malignant
• Music and healing
• Living beyond cancer

Episode 4: Music & Mental Health

In this episode of Breakdowns & Breakthroughs, we explore the powerful connection between music and mental health, and why heavy music, metalcore, rock, and alternative music can be such a lifeline for people struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, ADHD, and emotional overwhelm.

We discuss how music helps us process difficult emotions, regulate our mental health, and find comfort during life's toughest moments. From heartbreak and grief to anger and anxiety, we share our personal experiences of using music as a form of emotional release and self-expression.

We also challenge the common misconception that heavy music is harmful, exploring why aggressive-sounding music can actually help listeners feel calmer, more understood, and less alone.

Whether you're a lifelong metal fan, someone who uses music to cope with stress, or simply curious about the relationship between music and wellbeing, this episode offers an honest conversation about why the right song can sometimes say what words cannot.

Topics discussed:
• Music and mental health
• Heavy music and emotional regulation
• Metalcore and mental wellbeing
• Anxiety and stress management
• ADHD and music
• Depression and coping strategies
• Emotional release through music
• Music therapy
• Self-expression and identity
• Finding community through music