Episode Details

Mari Fong interviews Jared Watson of Dirty Heads and Dave Schools of Widespread Panic on the Neal Casal Foundation.

Jared Watson of Dirty Heads on Alcoholism Recovery with the Neal Casal Music Foundation “Reboot” for Alcohol Awareness Month

“I would sit on my couch and say, ‘I’m not drinking today’ and five minutes later, my body would get up and walk to the fridge,” Jared Watson of Dirty Heads said about his battle with alcoholism. “There’s me saying, ‘Don’t do this,’ and there’s my brain and body saying, ‘We need this right now, pal.’” Hear how Watson escaped his hard partying ways and now says, “I didn’t become less fun or less creative. Everything just got better.” Catch Dirty Heads on tour with 311 and stay tuned for their next album, 7 Seas, dropping June 12, 2026.

Watson shares how his hard partying ways with Dirty Heads ("Lay Me Down," "Stand Tall") descended into alcohol and drug abuse. He recollects his wake up call when rushed to the hospital, barely able to move from his tour bunk bed. Depression and anxiety followed, with his road to recovery being a remarkable one. Their album, 'The Best of Dirty Heads' features the single "Rage" with Travis Barker and Aimee Allen of The Interrupters.
 
Next, we have Dave Schools of Widespread Panic talk about Neal Casal, a musician who died from mental illness in 2019, and the  Neal Casal Music Foundation.  Dave explains the mental rigors of being a touring musician and the foundation's mission to improve the lives of others also battling mental illness. The tribute album 'Highway Butterfly: The Songs of Neal Casal' is out now, with 41 incredible musicians singing the songs of this beloved musician.   

CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. THANK YOU for supporting our mission to improve and save the lives of musicians and music fans by providing free and affordable recovery solutions at www.checkyourheadpodcast.com. 

Every dollar is appreciated, every listener is appreciated. For the largest online list of free and affordable mental and addiction recovery solutions, visit:  http://checkyourheadpodcast.com

Follow Us! On social media @checkyourheadpodcast and Watch & Subscribe on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@checkyourheadpodcast5174

You rock and we love you at checkyourheadpodcast.com ❤️🤘

The information shared during this interview is for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any individualized medical concerns.

Say hello and give us feedback! We love hearing from our Superhero fans ❤️🤘

Support the show

Say hello and give us feedback! We love hearing from our Superhero fans ❤️🤘

Support the show

CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with our mission to educate, normalize, support, and provide mental health and addiction recovery solutions for the music industry. Participate in our mission and become a CHECK YOUR HEAD Podcast Superhero! 

Feel good when you make a donation to our cause, knowing we're fighting the good fight to improve and save lives for musicians and music fans worldwide. Donate on our website, where we also provide the largest online list of free and affordable mental and addiction recovery solutions on  http://checkyourheadpodcast.com

Follow Us!