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Empathy For The Devil
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Today, the name “Sid Vicious” is practically synonymous with punk, nihilism and self-destruction. But before Sid, there was a young boy named Simon John Ritchie whose peripatetic childhood was marked by neglect, instability and drugs.
As bassist of the Sex Pistols, Sid’s rise to fame was driven not by musical talent but by his anarchic persona and darkly violent streak - “a living circus” as his fellow band member once described him. He was celebrated for his worst and pushed into the spotlight with little to no duty of care, eventually dying of an overdose at only 21 years old.
In this episode, Matt takes us on the complex and shockingly short journey of Sid Vicious - or rather, Simon John Ritchie. Drawing on his experience as a mental health professional, Matt offers a more compassionate perspective on the infamous punk icon, revealing a sad but all too familiar tale of exploitation and spectacle at the expense of vulnerable individuals.
Today’s ‘One For The Road’ is the Youtuber Mary Spender. First and foremost a brilliant musician, she also publishes fascinating video essays on her experience of the music industry. Do check out her channel - https://www.youtube.com/maryspender
Content Warnings: drug addiction, overdose, childhood neglect, childhood abandonment, animal cruelty, self-harm, death by stabbing
If you or someone you know has been affected by the themes in this episode, there are some useful organisations on Attune’s website that can be of help: www.we-are-attune.com/podcast
Attune, as a dedicated provider of mental health and well-being services, is committed to delivering holistic support and resources. With its team of skilled professionals, Attune excels in recognising and responding to the intricate needs of people and teams in talent-based industries.
You can learn more about Attune through our website: https://www.we-are-attune.com/
Follow Attune on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_are_attune/#
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@weareattune
and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-attune/
Empathy For The Devil is produced by Message Heard
Listen to more Message Heard shows through our website: https://messageheard.com/
Follow Message Heard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/messageheard/mycompany/
and Twitter: https://x.com/messageheard?lang=en-GB
This is a Message Heard Production
Producer and Editor - Emma Werner
Senior Producer - Harry Stott
Executive Producer - Sandra Ferrari
Videographer - Ethan Judd
Sound and Mix Engineer - Lizzie Andrews
Production Coordinator - Kirsty McLean
Filmed at ID Studios
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Empathy For The Devil Season 2 is brought to you in partnership with London Records.
Check out their podcast ‘Hit That Perfect Beat - The London Records Story’, a deep dive into the legendary label behind some of the most iconic hits of the last 50 years, featuring illuminating interviews with artists such as Bananarama, Allsaints and many more.
Few artists embody the term “iconoclast” more than Sinead O’Connor. A voice of rebellion, she spoke truth to power and stood for what she believed in, regardless of personal and professional cost.
As a survivor of unspeakable trauma herself, Sinead denounced child abuse in the catholic church on live television years before the world was ready to hear it. And though this infamous act saw her blacklisted from TV networks and venues, she maintained that it put her career “back on the right track”. She was, and always would be, a protest singer - never a pop star.
A new Sinead-devotee, Sam returns to tell us the story of the fearless feminist icon with compassion and admiration. Together with Matt and Chula, she reflects on how the media portrayal of Sinead O’Connor had insidiously fed her own pre-conceptions and unconscious biases.
This week’s ‘One For The Road’ is the seminal feminist book ‘Women Who Run With The Wolves: Contacting the Power of the Wild Woman’ by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Find it here:
https://www.waterstones.com/book/women-who-run-with-the-wolves/clarissa-pinkola-est-s/9781846046940
Content Warnings: physical, emotional and sexual child abuse, childhood neglect, early loss of a parent, mental health, depression, suicide, child loss.
IMPORTANT: Alcohol withdrawal happens once an individual is physically dependent/chemically addicted and can be fatal and should only be attempted with medical guidance/assistance. The most serious form of withdrawal is called delirium tremens, or DTs. People with severe withdrawal symptoms or DTs should always have a drink if they need it while professional help is sought. If in doubt, call 999.
If you or someone you know has been affected by the themes in this episode, there are some useful organisations on Attune’s website that can be of help: www.we-are-attune.com/podcast
Attune, as a dedicated provider of mental health and well-being services, is committed to delivering holistic support and resources. With its team of skilled professionals, Attune excels in recognising and responding to the intricate needs of people and teams in talent-based industries.
You can learn more about Attune through our website: https://www.we-are-attune.com/
Follow Attune on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_are_attune/#
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@weareattune
and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-attune/
Empathy For The Devil is produced by Message Heard
Listen to more Message Heard shows through our website: https://messageheard.com/Follow Message Heard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/messageheard/mycompany/ and Twitter: https://x.com/messageheard?lang=en-GB
This is a Message Heard Production
Producer and Editor - Emma Werner
Senior Producer - Harry Stott
Executive Producer - Sandra Ferrari
Videographer - Ethan Judd
Mix Engineer - Lizzie Andrews
Production Coordinator - Kirsty McLean
Filmed at ID Studios
___
Empathy For The Devil Season 2 is brought to you in partnership with London Records.
“See to live is to suffer, but to survive well that’s to find meaning in the suffering”. This is what American rapper DMX tells us in his brutally honest autobiographical song “Slippin’”.
It is difficult to overstate the trauma of DMX’s childhood - and the transformative power of the music he created out of it. Born Earl Simmons, his start in life was marked with abuse, poverty, ill health and abandonment. Funneled into youth institutions - and then into youth incarceration, his early years paved the way for lifelong struggles with mental health, drug addiction and criminality.
Yet in spite of - or perhaps because of - these experiences, DMX rose to become one of the defining rap artists of the late 90’s and early 00’s, making history as the first artist ever to have his first five albums hit number one in the Billboard charts. A captivating MC, DMX will be remembered for his disarmingly soul-searching lyrics, his emotionally charged performances and his very public, ultimately losing battle with his inner demons.
In this episode, Chula Goonewardene - Clinical Director and Co-Founder of Attune - takes a compassionate dive into the life and checkered career of DMX, informed by his role as a psychotherapist. As the team reflect on the personal and systemic challenges that DMX faced, they discuss his unique ability to channel pain and vulnerability into some of the most powerful rap ever produced.
This week’s ‘One for the Road’ is ‘The Zen of Recovery’, a book Chula was introduced to by his sponsor during his own recovery journey. Written by dharma teacher Mel Ash, this book explores the AA Twelve Steps within the context of Buddhism and Zen practice. You can find it here: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Zen-of-Recovery-by-Mel-Ash/9780874777062
Content Warnings: childhood parental abuse, abandonment trauma, drug use, addiction, overdose, youth incarceration, institutional racism, mental health.
IMPORTANT: Alcohol withdrawal happens once an individual is physically dependent/chemically addicted and can be fatal and should only be attempted with medical guidance/assistance. The most serious form of withdrawal is called delirium tremens, or DTs. People with severe withdrawal symptoms or DTs should always have a drink if they need it while professional help is sought. If in doubt, call 999.
If you or someone you know has been affected by the themes in this episode, there are some useful organisations on Attune’s website that can be of help: www.we-are-attune.com/podcast
Attune, as a dedicated provider of mental health and well-being services, is committed to delivering holistic support and resources. With its team of skilled professionals, Attune excels in recognising and responding to the intricate needs of people and teams in talent-based industries.
You can learn more about Attune through our website: https://www.we-are-attune.com/
Follow Attune on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_are_attune/#
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@weareattune
and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-attune/
Empathy For The Devil is produced by Message Heard
Listen to more Message Heard shows through our website: https://messageheard.com/
Follow Message Heard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/messageheard/mycompany/ and Twitter: https://x.com/messageheard?lang=en-GB
This is a Message Heard Production
Producer and Editor - Emma Werner
Senior Producer - Harry Stott
Executive Producer - Sandra Ferrari
Videographer - Ethan Judd
Audio and Mix Engineer - Lizzie Andrews
Production Coordinator - Kirsty McLean
Filmed at ID Studios
Prince was perhaps one of the most accomplished, innovative and prolific artists of the last century. Through his seemingly limitless talent and electrifying performances, he transcended every genre and pushed every norm. With a catalogue of 40 studio albums, multiple film scores, not to mention a wealth of unreleased material, Prince’s musical legacy is staggering.
But his story is also one of inescapable contradictions. Offstage, he was softly-spoken and private - a stark contrast to the flamboyant, over-the-top artist audiences witnessed on stage. Though known for his unabashed sexuality and explicit lyrics, he espoused strict religious beliefs and even enforced a swear jar to discourage profanities around him. And despite his lifelong public shunning of any drugs or alcohol, Prince tragically passed away from an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2016 - leaving the world in disbelief.
Sam Parker - CEO and Co-Founder of Attune - returns for the first time this season to tell the story of Prince Rogers Nelson, a complex genius on a relentless search for perfection. With an empathetic approach shaped by her experience as a mental health practitioner, coach and former artist manager, she explores the man behind the purple icon - and the forces that may have contributed to his shocking and devastating death.
This week’s ‘One for the Road’ as chosen by Sam comes from The Artist himself. ‘The Beautiful Ones’ is Prince’s sadly unfinished autobiography - an intimate and illuminating memoir full of previously unseen photos and handwritten notes. You can find it here: https://www.londonreviewbookshop.co.uk/stock/the-beautiful-ones-prince
Content Warnings: baby loss, miscarriage, substance use, addiction, overdose
IMPORTANT: Alcohol withdrawal happens once an individual is physically dependent/chemically addicted and can be fatal and should only be attempted with medical guidance/assistance. The most serious form of withdrawal is called delirium tremens, or DTs. People with severe withdrawal symptoms or DTs should always have a drink if they need it while professional help is sought. If in doubt, call 999.
If you or someone you know has been affected by the themes in this episode, there are some useful organisations on Attune’s website that can be of help: www.we-are-attune.com/podcast
Attune, as a dedicated provider of mental health and well-being services, is committed to delivering holistic support and resources. With its team of skilled professionals, Attune excels in recognising and responding to the intricate needs of people and teams in talent-based industries.
You can learn more about Attune through our website: https://www.we-are-attune.com/
Follow Attune on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_are_attune/#
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@weareattune
and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-attune/
Empathy For The Devil is produced by Message Heard
Listen to more Message Heard shows through our website: https://messageheard.com/
Follow Message Heard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/messageheard/mycompany/ and Twitter: https://x.com/messageheard?lang=en-GB
This is a Message Heard Production.
Producer and Editor - Emma Werner
Senior Producer - Harry Stott
Executive Producer - Sandra Ferrari
Videographer - Ethan Judd
Audio and Mix Engineer - Lizzie Andrews
Production Coordinator - Kirsty McLean
Filmed at ID Studios
___________
Empathy For The Devil Season 2 is brought to you in partnership with London Records.
Website: londonrecords.co.uk
We are kicking off Empathy For The Devil Season 2 with perhaps our most requested artist - Amy Winehouse. A once-in-a-generation talent, Amy burst onto the scene in the mid-2000’s with an inimitable soulful voice and deeply emotive lyrics. She shone brightly then flamed out right in front of our eyes, receiving an appalling lack of empathy as she became consumed by her addictions.
Her story is a tragic tale of a would-be jazz club singer who found herself thrust into the machine industry, coming of age under the weight of fame and in the unforgiving public eye.
Matt Thomas - Creative Lead and Co-Founder of Attune - guides us through the first episode of the season, and examines the harsh criticism and cruel mockery (often laced with thinly veiled misogyny) which Amy endured right when she needed help the most. Taking a kind and compassionate approach, he unpacks the modern tragedy of a unique talent taken far too soon, remembering just how fortunate we were to hear that extraordinary voice.
This week’s ‘One For The Road’ is the podcast ‘A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs’, written and presented by Andrew Hickey. It’s a brilliantly researched, eye-opening look at the history of rock from the swing era to the end of the millennium. Find it on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Content Warnings: substance use, addiction, alcoholism, alcohol poisoning, depression, eating disorders, bulimia.
IMPORTANT: Alcohol withdrawal happens once an individual is physically dependent/chemically addicted and can be fatal and should only be attempted with medical guidance/assistance. The most serious form of withdrawal is called delirium tremens, or DTs. People with severe withdrawal symptoms or DTs should always have a drink if they need it while professional help is sought. If in doubt, call 999.
If you or someone you know has been affected by the themes in this episode, there are some useful organisations on Attune’s website that can be of help: www.we-are-attune.com/podcast
Attune, as a dedicated provider of mental health and well-being services, is committed to delivering holistic support and resources. With its team of skilled professionals, Attune excels in recognising and responding to the intricate needs of people and teams in talent-based industries.
You can learn more about Attune through our website: https://www.we-are-attune.com/
Follow Attune on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_are_attune/#
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@weareattune
and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-attune/
Empathy For The Devil is produced by Message Heard
Listen to more Message Heard shows through our website: https://messageheard.com/Follow Message Heard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/messageheard/mycompany/ and Twitter: https://x.com/messageheard?lang=en-GB
This is a Message Heard Production.
Producer and Editor - Emma Werner
Senior Producer - Harry Stott
Executive Producer - Sandra Ferrari
Videographer - Ethan Judd
Audio and Mix Engineer - Lizzie Andrews
Production Coordinator - Kirsty McLean
Filmed at ID Studios
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Empathy For The Devil Season 2 is brought to you in partnership with London Records.
Website: londonrecords.co.uk