Episodes

  • The Kids Are Alright (Part Two)

    The Kids Are Alright (Part Two)

    · Mind Wide Open

    In the second edition of this special episode, Lily interviews a panel of six of her closest friends and peers to discuss what mental health looks like in their generation. They dive into the unique pressures they face within their age group, intergenerational trauma, social media, anxiety, depression, and diverse personal stories and experiences. An episode full of radical vulnerability and profound self-reflection, this conversation is illuminating for listeners of all ages.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired DECEMBER 7, 2020

    Mewael Habtai is an aspiring actor, writer, and entrepreneur and student at UCLA. He is active on Tik-Tok with over 100k followers. He is an aspiring screenwriter and poet as well as being a DJ.

    Julia Kong is a Los Angeles based, Burmese-Chinese actress, model, and artist. Her self-expression is dedicated to healing, empathy, and providing a safe space on the internet for vulnerability. Social: @juliaakong

    Daniel Nzanga (Matondo) is a rapper, DJ, and graphic designer from Seattle, Washington. IG and Twitter: @youngmatondo

    Flora Medina is studying fashion design and merchandising at Drexel University. She is a survivor of suicidal ideation and self-harm and is passionate about mental health and helping others who share similar experiences. She hopes to combine her love for photography and design with her passion for socio-economic equality and liberation. IG: @theflomedina

    Tyra Popovich is a student, musician, and visual artist at Pitzer College and is passionate about increasing access to arts education for low-income communities of color. Mental illness has significantly impacted her family and she is eager to have and participate in open conversations around mental health. Instagram: @tnicpo

    Nathan Nzanga was born and raised in Seattle and is a first-generation Congolese-American. storyteller with a whole lot of love to share. Recognizing the power in his pen, Nathan is a storyteller with "a whole lot of love to share". Nzanga speaks of universal truth taking his audience on an invigorating ride reflective of his journey through life’s ups and downs. Sonically, Nathan wears all of his musical influences on his sleeve, blending hip-hop with elements of folk, R&B, soul, gospel, and musical theatre. Nathan Nzanga is a multi genre artist referring to himself as a SoulPop Storyteller. www.nzangamusic.com

  • Brittany Snow and Jaspre Guest

    Brittany Snow and Jaspre Guest

    · Mind Wide Open

    Actress Brittany Snow and publicist Jaspre Guest share their mental health-focused letter-writing project, September Letters. Brittany opens up about her struggles with an eating disorder and Jaspre talks anxiety; they take a deep dive with Lily into the intersection of the metaphysical world and mental health, how to cope with mental health challenges during the holidays, and how feeling seen can change your life.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired DECEMBER 1, 2020

    Female founded by Brittany Snow and Jaspre Guest, September Letters launched in September 2020. They wanted to create a platform that not only raised mental health awareness but provided support for those in need through the power of letter writing.ᐧBrittany Snow is an actor, director and has been an activist in the mental health space for over a decade. Jaspre Guest is the founder and CEO of Noise 784 a PR / branding agency and Happy Noise a good vibes brand. Brittany and Jaspre became friends over their shared passion for breaking the stigma with mental health and their love for their dogs.

    Website: https://septemberletters.com/

    Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/SeptemberLetters/_created/

    Instagram: @septemberletters

    Brittany Snow, Co-Founder September Letters, Actor and Director

    Brittany Snow's Instagram: @brittanysnow

    Jaspre Guest, Co-Founder September Letters, Founder and CEO of Noise 784 & Happy Noise

    Jaspre Guest's Instagram: @jaspre

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  • Mason Spector

    Mason Spector

    · Mind Wide Open

    Mason Spector, Madhappy Clothing company founder and creator, joins Lily to discuss their shared passion for openness around mental health. Mason shares his struggles with addiction and how he infuses mental health into both his work and personal life. Mason and Lily also discuss how their families of origin impact their views on their own mental health, what makes a healthy coping mechanism, and Madhappy's mental health initiative, The Local Optimist.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired NOVEMBER 23, 2020

    Mason Spector is a 26-year-old Los Angeles native and co-founder of the clothing company Madhappy. Madhappy’s mission is driven by creating impactful products and experiences that make people feel optimistic and drive conversations around mental health. What started as his mom hand-sewing stitches onto sweatshirts in her home, turned into a new age brand, merging clothing with real causes. Mason has dedicated his career to bringing awareness around mental health and expanding the platforms on which it is discussed. After struggling with addiction, Mason is now over 2 years sober and an advocate in the addiction recovery community. He is a member of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2020, a proud college dropout, and a certified life coach in addition to his work on Madhappy and the Local Optimist.

  • Matt Pinfield and Allison Hagendorf

    Matt Pinfield and Allison Hagendorf

    · Mind Wide Open

    It's all smiles with music industry pioneers Matt Pinfield and Allison Hagendorf as they chat with Lily about all things music and mental health. Matt, legendary MTV VJ, and Allison, Spotify's Head of Rock, have been best friends for years; they dive into Matt's battle with drug addiction, him hitting bottom, and how Allison supported him as he began his recovery journey. The trio have a candid conversation about the state of mental health and recovery within the music industry, Matt's longtime relationship with Lily's parents, and Allison's expertise in physical fitness.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired NOVEMBER 16, 2020

    Matt Pinfield grew up loving all things radio which led to visits to the local AM station WCTC in New Brunswick at the age of ten, where he would sit in with the patient and supportive night jock, giving him the chance to learn everything he could about being a DJ and being on the radio. When Matt turned sixteen, he had his first chance to do a real live radio show on the Rutgers University radio station WRSU, where he would later become promotions director and music director. He also did summer shows on Princeton University’s WPRB in the early ’80s. Now with real on-air experience, Matt looked to the next level, which was getting a job at a commercial radio station.

    Matt got that chance in 1984, as a weekend/overnights/fill-in jock at WHTG- FM in Asbury Park NJ in 1984. He embraced the opportunity he had been given, and soon enough he secured a regular midday slot, quickly followed by the coveted afternoon drive. Matt’s reputation as the most knowledgeable and respected music personality at the station led to a dramatic increase in listenership and helped put WHTG on the national map as one of the first alternative music stations anywhere, leading to the worldwide alternative music revolution to come in the early 90s.

    His next promotion took him to the position of Music Director at WHTG. During his tenure, his talent and personality were recognized by his peers and he was awarded the Gavin Award for Commercial Alternative Music Director of the Year back to back in ’92 and ’93, the first time anyone who was not in a major market had won the award. In early 1994, he was promoted to Program Director at WHTG.

    With his talent, personality and unmatched enthusiasm for music now making waves on a national level, he was approached by MTV, and they quickly recognized Matt was the right person to join their global brand. In ‘93, Matt did his first on-air MTV hosting on the show “120 Minutes” as a fill- in. Although he didn’t get hired as the permanent host at that time, it was clear that this would be inevitable when a permanent slot opened up. No one knew the alternative music scene more thoroughly, or was respected more by the artists.

    In January of ’95, Matt was named Manager of Music Programming for MTV, and was one of the committee of 10 who picked and programmed the videos and created specials for the channel in one of their most influential periods. Just months later, Matt was asked to start hosting “120 Minutes”, the cutting edge alternative music program on MTV.

    Due to his vast musical knowledge and relatable delivery, MTV research soon showed he was MTV’s most loved and respected VJ. This quickly led to a dramatic expansion of his on-air responsibilities to include over the next 5 years over 15 regular shows, over 100 specials, and used his style as the template for the original MTV2 (M2), where he became that channel’s first VJ.In the spring of ’96. Howard Stern suggested that WXRK in New York City flip format from Classic to Modern Rock and asked them to hire Matt.

    Although they wanted him to do afternoon drive, because of his growing MTV schedule, he ended up doing a 4-hour free form New Music/Classic show called “The Buzz” which ran until the station changed format in the mid-2000s. Pinfield continued to do the show when he left MTV to move to LA in 2000 to broadcast from K-ROCK LA’s studios. Matt’s move to LA was to host and write the USA network TV show “Farmclub.com” which was on TV from 2000-2001 where A-list artists played live alongside unknowns who uploaded their music to the show’s website. Interscope CEO and show creator Jimmy Iovine said, “it was a great show and idea…think Myspace and Facebook but way ahead of its time, when no one had broadband.”

    When the show finished, Matt moved back to NYC and was named Vice President of A&R and Artist Development for Rock at Columbia Records where he signed and oversaw the making of many gold and platinum records
    between 2001-2006.

    Matt continued hosting “The Buzz” on WXRK, New York, and was then hired to do the first weekly music interview show in HD by Marc Cuban for HDNET. “Sound Off With Matt Pinfield” lasted 4 seasons and featured interviews with artists from every music genre-Rock, Pop, Country, Hip-Hop, Jazz, and
    R&B.

    In May of 2008, Matt started doing morning drive for WRXP in NYC, a new station that fused modern and classic rock and remained with the station until it changed ownership and format in June 2011. In July 2011, MTV brought back Matt’s signature show and changed the name to “MTV2’s 120 Minutes With Matt Pinfield”. The show’s return met with praise from over 250 publications and websites including The NY Times, The LA Times, Entertainment Weekly and Hollywood Reporter. The show aired weekly on Fridays.

    Matt has continued to host radio shows and specials for SiriusXM since 2003 on the Lithium, First Wave, Left Of Center (now SiriusXMU), and Volume channels. In 2014,
he was elected to the Board of Governors of the Recording Academy and Grammys where he worked to help pass legislation on artists’ songwriting and performance fair royalties compensation. He remained on the board until he moved to San Francisco to do the morning show on legendary rock station KFOG during 2016-17.

    Matt is the host of the classic rock history syndicated weekend radio show “Flashback” for Cumulus Radio Networks which airs on over 200 stations in the U.S. and Canada including KLOS in Los Angeles and KSAN in San Francisco. He also produces “The Hivecast with Matt Pinfield” which is a free podcast through iTunes and MTVHIVE.COM. Matt started a live streaming show to benefit MusiCares for the COVID-19 pandemic, called “In A Lonely Place with Matt Pinfield” featuring conversations with artists as diverse as Foster The People and Yungblud.

    Allison Hagendorf is the Global Head of Rock at Spotify, host of the brand new show on Spotify called Rock This, with Allison Hagendorf as well as a national television host/live announcer and music journalist. She is the official host of the world’s most famous New Year’s Eve celebration, Times Square New Year’s Eve, seen by more than a billion television viewers across the globe. Allison also serves as the Live Announcer for both the MTV Video Music Awards and MTV Movie Awards, and is the host of Refinery29’s “Be A Badass” series, The CrossFit Games Live Show, and The X Games Live on ABC and ESPN.

    Allison began her entertainment career in A&R at Sony Music’s Columbia Records and Epic Records. She recruited new talent globally, and oversaw the album production for many artists including metal band, Lamb of God, whose single “Redneck” received a Grammy nomination for “Best Metal Performance.”

    Hagendorf then transitioned from working with bands in the studio to interviewing them on-camera. She hosted the live primetime music competition show on The CW Network, “The Next,” which was executive produced by hip-hop icon Queen Latifah, and featured superstar mentors: Gloria Estefan, Joe Jonas, Nelly, and John Rich. Allison also became the main host on Fuse, hosting numerous shows including “Top 20 Countdown” and “Grammys Live,” and traveled with Fuse across the country covering national music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Warped Tour, SXSW Music Festival, and Lollapalooza.

    She also hosted the first-ever live television broadcast of both The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and The Stagecoach Festival for AXS TV and co-hosted “Music Fridays” with supermodel, Chrissy Teigen, on MSG Network. Additionally, Allison has hosted a variety of shows on both VH1 and The Cooking Channel.

    Allison is also a health/wellness coach who has inspired thousands in her dual role as rock n roll expert and health advocate. She ascribes to positivity, knowing yourself, exercise, self-care, and emotional intelligence.

    She is the mother to son, Cole Hendrix, just six months old and married to health advocate, Brian Jaffe. They make their home in Los Angeles.

  • Susan Silver

    Susan Silver

    · Mind Wide Open

    A year after launching Mind Wide Open in honor of her dad, the late Chris Cornell's, 56th birthday, Lily fittingly finishes the Mind Wide Open series with a poignant and heartfelt conversation with her mother, Susan Silver. Legendary music manager of bands such as Alice in Chains and Soundgarden, Susan speaks candidly with Lily about the immense love and loss they have experienced. Susan opens up about her relationship with Lily's dad, her loved ones that have faced addiction, raising a child who struggles with mental health, and the self-care tools she uses to stay grounded amidst hardship.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired JULY 20, 2021

    Susan Silver is an American music manager, best known for guiding the successful careers of rock bands Soundgarden (1986-2010), Alice in Chains (1988 - present) and numerous other incredible artists. She is the owner of Silver Management and co-owns the legendary Seattle club, The Crocodile. Susan is the proud mother of college student, Lily Jean Cornell-Silver, and is an honored member of an extended family of Seattle-based musicians, colleagues, and friends with whom she has worked for over four decades.

    Today, Silver’s time and energy are also focused on providing connection and support to young, local artists and non-profit organizations that bring health services and art opportunities to youth and women. These include: ArtsCorps, The Residency Project, The Vera Project, Road Recovery, YouthCare, Every Mother Counts, Mary’s Place and Hedgebrook. Her previous service work includes Board positions with One Reel, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, MusiCares, National Academy of Recording Artists and Sciences (NARAS), and the Seattle-based Westside School.

    Silver also continues to share her experiences as a music manager, business owner and promoter at industry conferences and community events around the country, including SXSW, Foundations Forum, Music West, Rockrgrl Conference, NW Area Music Association (NAMA), National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). In Nov 2019 she interviewed Gloria Steinem at the Paramount Theater.

  • Dr. Christine Yu Moutier

    Dr. Christine Yu Moutier

    · Mind Wide Open

    Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, chief medical officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), joins Lily to shed the stigma around discussions of mental health and suicide. After losing colleagues to suicide, Dr. Moutier dedicated herself to fighting this leading cause of death. She explores why stigma exists and how it's being reduced, what to do if you or a loved one is in crisis, and how she navigates her own mental health in an intense field.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired JULY 13, 2021

    Dr. Christine Yu Moutier (pronounced You Moo-tee-ay) knows the impact of suicide firsthand. After losing colleagues to suicide, she dedicated herself to fighting this leading cause of death. A leader in the field of suicide prevention, Dr. Moutier joined AFSP in 2013 as Chief Medical Officer, and it’s through her passion and commitment that we see a lasting impact via research, education and support to communities across the U.S.

    She has testified before the U.S. Congress and provided multiple Congressional briefings on suicide prevention, presented to the White House, spoken at the National Academy of Sciences, co-anchored CNN’s Emmy Award winning Finding Hope suicide prevention town hall, and has appeared as an expert in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time magazine, The Economist, The Atlantic, the BBC, CNN, NBC, CBS and other print, radio and television outlets.

    Throughout her career she has focused on training healthcare leaders, physicians, and patient groups in order to change the culture surrounding mental health, fighting stigma and optimizing care for those suffering from mental health conditions. In addition to co-founding AFSP’s San Diego Chapter, Moutier co-led a successful suicide prevention program for medical faculty, residents, and students, which featured AFSP’s groundbreaking Interactive Screening Program.

    Since earning her medical degree and training in psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, Moutier has been a practicing psychiatrist, professor of psychiatry, dean in the UCSD medical school, and medical director of the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit at the VA Medical Center in La Jolla, treating diverse patient populations from Asian refugees to veterans to corporate and academic leaders. She also served as co-investigator for the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression study (STAR*D), a large National Institute of Mental Health trial on the treatment of refractory depression.

    Moutier has authored Suicide Prevention, a Stahl's series handbook, articles and book chapters for publications such as the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Lancet, Academic Medicine, the American Journal of Psychiatry, the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Depression and Anxiety, and Academic Psychiatry.

    You can follow Dr. Moutier on Twitter at @cmoutierMD.

  • Harold Owens

    Harold Owens

    · Mind Wide Open

    As any artist knows, mental health and creativity often have an intimate relationship. Harold Owens is a certified addiction and recovery specialist and the senior director at MusiCares; part of his life's work is to provide access to mental health resources for music industry members and their families. He shares his expertise on the inextricable connection between addiction and mental health and the remarkable story of reclaiming his own life. Harold also discusses his personal relationship with Lily's dad and the importance of advocacy.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired NOVEMBER 9, 2020

    For the past 31 years, Los Angeles born and raised, Harold Owens has specialized in the field of addiction and recovery. In 1996 he became the Program Director for the Exodus Treatment Center in Marina Del Rey, CA where he worked extensively with clients from entertainment, law, and business in recovery. Mr. Owens has served as a consultant for the State of California’s Impaired Physicians Program, implementing substance abuse treatment strategies for physicians who were either mandated to or volunteered to undergo substance abuse treatment.

    Since 1999, he has been at the MusiCares Foundation, the charity arm of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (GRAMMY Organization). As senior director of the MusiCares/MAP Fund, he is responsible for the implementation of all aspects of its addiction recovery programs including treatment services, case management, and provider contracts. He is also a frequent moderator and panelist at a number of national music industry conferences that address the problems of addiction in the music and entertainment communities.

    In October 2001 and again in 2006, Harold received Official Commendations from Mayors’ James Hahn and Antonio Villaraigosa for Outstanding Service in the Field of Addiction Recovery.

    Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Harold serves on the boards of a number of non-profit charity organizations including Miriam’s House, The Promises Foundation, and most recently, Rwanda Rocks the first music school for children and teens in Kigali, capital of Rwanda.

  • Mitul Desai

    Mitul Desai

    · Mind Wide Open

    Mitul Desai teaches us that you don't have to be a mental health professional to be a mental health advocate. A former Senior Advisor in the U.S. State Department under President Obama, Mitul and and Lily explore mental health on a systemic level and in the corporate world. They discuss how mental health has played an important role in both Mitul's personal and professional lives, delving into his experiences having a brother with schizophrenia and being a board member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired OCTOBER 26, 2020

    Mitul Desai is Senior Advisor for Digital Innovation at Fountain House, a 70-year-old organization that pioneered a community-based mental illness recovery model now serving over 100,000 individuals around the world. Mitul is also an active advisor and investor in the mental health tech space. Prior to Fountain House, he spent five years at a global payments technology firm, leading cross-functional teams across product management, data services, and digital strategy. From 2010-2013, Mitul served in the Obama Administration as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. State Department, where he designed and built public-private partnerships. He began his career in the health care industry, first as a patent attorney at leading law firms and the pharmaceutical firm Merck, and later as a Wall Street analyst at the investment bank Piper Sandler. Mitul has a B.A. in chemistry and philosophy from Rutgers University and a J.D. from the Boston University School of Law. He is a member of the Schizophrenia International Research Society and serves on the Boards of NAMI-NYC and Firefly, CUNY’s Public Health Innovation Accelerator.

  • Alexi Pappas

    Alexi Pappas

    · Mind Wide Open

    I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship! Olympic athlete, filmmaker, and award-winning author Alexi Pappas and Lily forge a fast connection in their discussion of losing parents to suicide, befriending pain, and creating art. Lily and Alexi explore the duality of beauty and terror that comes with the similarities between them and their late parents. They also discuss Alexi's struggles with severe post-Olympic depression, and how practicing self-care is a necessary superpower, not a weakness.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired JUNE 22, 2021

    Alexi Pappas is an award-winning writer, filmmaker, and Olympic athlete. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Runner’s World, Women’s Running, Sports Illustrated, The Atlantic, and Outside, among other publications, and she has been profiled in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, New York,
and Rolling Stone. Pappas co-wrote, co-directed, and starred in the feature film Tracktown with Rachel Dratch and Andy Buckley. Most recently, she co-wrote and starred alongside Nick Kroll in Olympic Dreams, the first non-documentary-style movie to ever be filmed at the Olympic Games. A Greek American, Pappas holds the Greek national record in the 10,000-meters and competed for Greece in the 2016 Olympics. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

    Dubbed a “renaissance runner” by the New York Times, Alexi Pappas competed (and broke records) for Greece in the 2016 Rio Olympics and was training for Tokyo when the pandemic hit. As a writer, she has built a supportive community on social media with her free-spirited persona and inspirational poems. She is also an actress and filmmaker, co-creating and starring in the films Tracktown (with Rachel Dratch and Andy Buckley) and Olympic Dreams (with Nick Kroll), the latter of which was filmed at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics as part of their Artists-in-Residency program and premiered at SXSW ’19 with distribution from IFC Films.

    Pappas’ latest artistic feat is an empowering, funny and fearless memoir-in essays: BRAVEY: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and Other Big Ideas (The Dial Press Hardcover; On Sale January 12). Pappas candidly opens up about what she has learned about confidence, self-reliance, and mental health, including her struggles with post-Olympic depression and how her mother’s suicide when she was four-years-old altered the course of her life and set her on a journey to self-actualization.

    BRAVEY is filled with personal stories that span from Pappas’ early search for female role models, to her ongoing fight to pursue both her athletic and creative dreams, to learning about motherhood from a chance meeting with Maya Rudolph, who wrote the foreword to the memoir. Pappas’ charm and go-after-it attitude are evident throughout, as she reveals her honest and entertaining reflections on each touchstone moment and the valuable lessons she learned along the way—foremost among them, how to be brave.

  • Nadya Tolokonnikova

    Nadya Tolokonnikova

    · Mind Wide Open

    Musician, artist, and activist Nadya Tolokonnikova of the Russian punk rock band, Pussy Riot joins Mind Wide Open. An inspiration to Lily for many years, Nadya discusses her mental health experience being imprisoned in Russia, the delicate balance between activism and self-care, and the necessity of being active in social justice.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired OCTOBER 19, 2020

    Musician, author, artist, and activist Nadya Tolokonnikova, is a Russian conceptual artist, musician and political activist. She is a founding member of the punk feminist music group Pussy Riot, who have a history of political activism. Nadya was famously arrested with Pussy Riot for their protest performance at the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, after which she was jailed in harsh conditions for 22 months. Nadya’s prison letter exchange with Slavoj Zizek “Comradely Greetings” was published in 2013, and her most recent book Read & Riot: A Pussy Riot Guide to Activism was released in 2018. Both books are first person accounts of Nadya’s ongoing activism.

    Instagram - www.instagram.com/nadyariot/

    Pussy Riot’s music and educational videos – www.youtube.com/c/wearepussyriot

    Pussy Riot’s clothing line – https://pussyriot.store

    Support Pussy Riot on Patreon! – www.patreon.com/pussyriot

    Subscribe to Nadya’s Instagram – www.instagram.com/nadyariot/

  • Alua Arthur

    Alua Arthur

    · Mind Wide Open

    In a culture that fears death, Alua Arthur calls for us to ask the question, “What must I do to be at peace with myself so that I may live presently and die gracefully?” Alua is a death doula and founder of Going with Grace, an end-of-life planning organization. Grace and Lily explore the realities of death and loss: that it is inevitable, and doesn't have to be scary.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired JUNE 8, 2021

    Alua Arthur

    Founder of Going with Grace, Death Doula, Ordained Minister, Recovering Lawyer, Perpetual Seeker of nothing to be found

    "Alua Arthur is a death doula, recovering attorney, and the founder of Going with Grace, an end-of-life planning and death doula training organization that exists to support people as they answer the question, “What must I do to be at peace with myself so that I may live presently and die gracefully?” Going with Grace works every day to improve and redefine the end-of-life experience for marginalized communities. Alua was a keynote speaker at EndWell 2019, and has been featured in the LA Times, Vogue, Refinery29, The Doctors, and InStyle. She is inspired by the gift of LIFE itself and is always on the quest for the best donuts!"

    Website: www.goingwithgrace.com

    Instagram: @going_with_grace

  • Alicia Bognanno

    Alicia Bognanno

    · Mind Wide Open

    Musician Alicia Bognanno, also known as Bully, gets real about her bipolar II diagnosis. She speaks openly on a stigmatized disorder, discussing the relief of being able to "name it to tame it" and shedding light on the importance of vulnerability. She and Lily connect through their sensitivity, creativity, and love of music.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired OCTOBER 12, 2020

    Alicia Bognanno

    www.bullythemusic.com

    A very old saying goes that no one saves us but ourselves. Recognizing and breaking free from the patterns impeding our forward progress can be transformative — just ask Bully’s Alicia Bognanno. Indeed, the third Bully album, SUGAREGG , may not ever have come to fruition had Bognanno not navigated every kind of upheaval imaginable and completely overhauled her working process along the way.

    “There was change that needed to happen and it happened on this record,” she says. “Derailing my ego and insecurities allowed me to give these songs the attention they deserved.”

    SUGAREGG roars from the speakers and jumpstarts both heart and mind. Like My Bloody Valentine after three double espressos, opener “Add It On” zooms heavenward within seconds, epitomizing Bognanno’s newfound clarity of purpose, while the bass-driven melodies and propulsive beats of “Where to Start” and “Let You” are the musical equivalents of the sun piercing through a perpetually cloudy sky.

    On songs like the strident “Every Tradition” and “Not Ashamed,” Bognanno doesn’t shy away from addressing “how I feel as a human holds up against what society expects or assumes of me as a woman, and what it feels like to naturally challenge those expectations.”

    But amongst the more dense topics, there’s also a lightheartedness that was lacking on Bully’s last album, 2017’s Losing . Pointing to “Where to Start,” “You” and “Let You,” Bognanno says “there are more songs about erratic, dysfunctional love in an upbeat way, like, ‘I’m going down and that’s the only way I want to go because the momentary joy is worth it.’”

    The artist admits that finding the proper treatment for bipolar 2 disorder radically altered her mindset, freeing her from a cycle of paranoia and insecurity about her work. “Being able to finally navigate that opened the door for me to write about it,” she says, pointing to the sweet, swirly “Like Fire” and slower, more contemplative songs such as “Prism” and “Come Down” as having been born of this new headspace. Even small changes like listening to music instead of the news first thing in the morning “made me want to write and bring that pleasure to other people.”

    An unexpected foray into the film world also helped set the table for Sugaregg when Bognanno was asked to write songs for the 2019 movie Her Smell , starring Elisabeth Moss as the frontwoman of the fictional rock band Something She. “It got me motivated to play music again after the last album,” she says. “I loved reading the script and trying to think, what music would the character write? People asked if I’d play those songs with Bully but the whole point was for them to not be Bully songs. It was nice to get my head out of my own ass for a second and work on a project for someone else,” she says with a laugh.

    A highly accomplished engineer who ran the boards herself on the first two Bully albums, Bognanno was ready to be free “from the weight of feeling like I had to prove to the world I was capable of engineering a record, and wanted to be content knowing for myself what I can do without needing the approval of others to validate that.”

    So for SUGAREGG , she yielded recording and mixing responsibilities to outside collaborators for the first time and trekked to the remote Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls, Minn., an unexpected return to her home state. Behind the console was John Congleton, a Grammy-winner who has worked with everyone from St. Vincent and Sleater-Kinney to The War on Drugs and Modest Mouse. “Naturally, I still had reservations, but John was sensitive to where I was coming from,” Bognanno says. “He was very respectful that I’d never worked with a producer before.”

    The studio’s rich history (classics such as Nirvana’s In Utero, PJ Harvey’s Rid of Me and Superchunk’s Foolish were recorded there) and woodsy setting quickly put Bognanno’s mind at ease. Being able to bring her dog Mezzi along for the trip didn’t hurt either. “I had never tracked a record in the summer, so waking up and going outside with her before we started each day was a great way to refresh,” she says.

    SUGAREGG features additional contributions from longtime touring drummer Wesley Mitchell and bassist Zach Dawes, renowned for his work on recent albums by Sharon Van Etten and Lana Del Rey. Dawes and Bognanno met at Pachyderm to work on parts just two days before tracking, “but it ended up being so much less stressful than I had expected and I loved it,” she says. “Zach wanted to be there to help and make my vision happen.”

    With 14 songs on tape, Bognanno and friends left Pachyderm thinking SUGAREGG was done. But once back home in Nashville, she realized there was more to be written, and spent the next five months doing exactly that. Moving to Palace Studios in Toronto with Graham Walsh (Alvvays, METZ, !!!), Bognanno and Mitchell recorded “Where to Start” and “Let You,” which proved to be two of the new album’s key tracks.

    Ultimately, SUGAREGG is a testament that profound change can yield profound results — in this case, the most expressive and powerful music of Bognanno’s career. “This is me longing to see the bigger picture, motivated and eager for contentment in the best way,” she says. “I hope the happy go lucky / fuck-it-all attitude shines through some of these songs because I really did feel like I was reentering a place I hadn’t been to in a while and was excited to be back there.”

  • Coach Carla Wilcox

    Coach Carla Wilcox

    · Mind Wide Open

    Coach Carla Wilcox, a dear friend and boxing coach of Lily's, teaches us how to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. One of the most difficult things about processing grief, trauma, or change of any kind can be being present with the emotions that arise. Coach Carla, a professional boxer, public speaker, and founder of Seattle Boxing Gym, is a shining example of sticking with yourself in times of immense hardship. She shares her thoughts on spirituality, staying next to your heartbeat, and centering and externalizing through movement.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Coach Carla Wilcox is a heart-centered coach that utilizes the art and practice of boxing to help clients tap into their unique greatness. She started her boxing career in 1996 and turned professional in 2000 and competed for the International Female Boxers Association (IFBA) World Flyweight Title in Seoul, Korea in 2003.

    Coach Carla is the founder of the Seattle Boxing Gym and presented at the TEDxRainier in Seattle in 2010. After an auto accident in 2011, she entered into a three-year rehabilitative sabbatical. The short film of her healing journey was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Network's Super Soul Sunday in 2014.

    In 2016 she co-created HEARTBEAT X, and in 2019 appeared in Nate Gowdy’s portrait and storytelling series, “The American Superhero Project”. She has been featured on NPR, New Day Northwest, Pacific Northwest Magazine, the Seattle Times and is certified in Lifestretch and Thai Yoga Stretch.

    Coach Carla’s private client list includes musicians, artists, business and community leaders as well as families. She is a motivational speaker and has provided team-building sessions for leadership teams at Nike, Amazon, Hedgebrook, the Seattle Girls School, the Midwest Transplant Network, the Maniilaq Association of Northwest Alaska and Morgan Stanley.

    IG @coachcarlaboxer

    Twitter @coachcarlaboxer

  • Fantastic Negrito

    Fantastic Negrito

    · Mind Wide Open

    Musician and visionary Fantastic Negrito takes a deep dive into the themes of mental health that permeate his music. A self described "recovering narcissist," he and Lily discuss the years he spent on tour with Lily's dad, how he creates art for the greater good, and the many lives he's lived in one.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired OCTOBER 5, 2020

    When you listen to Fantastic Negrito, you’re invited to hear the story of life after destruction. Each song is a real story about a musician from Oakland who experienced the highs of a million-dollar record deal, the lows of a near-fatal car accident that left him in a coma and is now in the midst of a rebirth that took him from the streets of Oakland to the world stage.

    The narrative of this man is as important as the sound because the narrative is the sound. Songs born from a long hard life channeled through black roots music. Slide guitar, drums, piano. Urgent, desperate, edgy.

    Negrito burst on to the national radar by winning the inaugural NPR Tiny Desk contest in 2015 and has since won Grammys for his first two albums: The Last Days of Oakland (2017) and Please Don’t Be Dead (2019). His third album, Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?, arrived in the summer of 2020 and includes features from fellow Tiny Desk winner Tank (Tank and the Bangas) and Bay Area legend E-40.

    fantasticnegrito.com

  • Frankie Jonas

    Frankie Jonas

    · Mind Wide Open

    The youngest Jonas brother, Frankie Jonas, and Lily have an unfiltered conversation about learning when to ask for help, their main takeaways from years of therapy, and what life looks like when you didn't think you'd still be here. Frankie also talks about practicing radical vulnerability on his TikTok accounts, where he both shares and receives valuable advice on mental health and wellbeing.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired MAY 11, 2021

    Frankie Jonas

    “Don’t Sleep On the Fourth Jonas Brother,” warns The Cut – and no truer words have ever been spoken. Frankie Jonas, the youngest of the Jonas family, has arrived in the eyes of Gen-Z. An influencer in his own right, his unfiltered personality has caught the attention of TikTokers worldwide, curating unhinged content for his 1.9 MILLION followers. A current Ivy League student of Columbia University, his sheer genius jumbled with his off-kilter sense of humor results in "nihilistic, chaotic, and entropic" videos, the 20-year-old explains, while also empowering viewers to be their true authentic self and embrace the weird parts in all their glory. Cutting through his unpredictable stunts, self-deprecating jokes, and everything NSFW in-between, Jonas at-heart is a master creator and ready to prove himself as such. With his eyes fixed to dominate both the fashion and entertainment industry, he’s squashed his hesitation about being in the public eye and is quite arguably, “Now the Most Famous Jonas,” hails PAPER Magazine. With top-tier spotlights on the Zach Sang Show, TikTok’s #ForYou Podcast with Brittany Broski, The Kelly Clarkson Show, E! News, and notably hosting TikTok’s Labyrinth Runway Finale, “The Cult of Frankie Jonas” waits with bated breath to see what he’ll do next.

  • David Kessler (Part Two)

    David Kessler (Part Two)

    · Mind Wide Open

    In the second installment of this interview, David Kessler, the world's foremost expert on healing after loss, joins Mind Wide Open to discuss grief and what he has coined as the sixth stage of grief: finding meaning. Lily and her mom, Susan Silver, have turned to his work for support for many years, making for a poignant and full circle conversation between Lily and David.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired SEPTEMBER 29, 2020

    David Kessler is the world’s foremost expert on healing after loss. His experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life, even after life’s tragedies. He is the author of six books, including the new bestselling book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. He co-authored two books with Elisabeth Kubler Ross, including On Grief and Grieving where he helped her adapt the 5 stages for grief. His first book, The Needs of The Dying received praise from Saint (Mother) Teresa.



    David’s personal experience as a child witnessing a mass shooting while his mother was dying in a hospital inspired him to begin his journey. For most of his life, David has taught physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders about the end of life, trauma, and grief. However, despite his vast knowledge on grief, his life was turned upside down by the sudden death of his twenty-one-year-old son. It moved him to write his newest book, Finding Meaning.

    
He is the founder of www.grief.com where you can find free resources to help after loss. The new paperback edition of Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief was released this September and includes an afterword that addresses the pandemic and other current events.

    
In 2020, David’s wisdom has gone viral. His interview with Brene Brown is the #1 Podcast in the world. The audio of Finding Meaning has been submitted by Simon and Schuster for consideration as a Best-Spoken Word GRAMMY nomination.

  • Gary Gulman

    Gary Gulman

    · Mind Wide Open

    Sometimes life is so fucked up that all you can do is laugh about it. Comedian Gary Gulman shares his experiences with major depression and mental health with great candor and humor. He and Lily also delve into his HBO special on the same topic, "The Great Depresh."

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired APRIL 27, 2021

    Over 25 years in comedy, Gary Gulman has established himself as an eminent performer and peerless writer. His most recent standup special for HBO, “The Great Depresh,” is a universally acclaimed, tour de force look at mental illness, equal parts hilarious and inspiring.

    A product of Boston, Gulman has been a scholarship college football player, an accountant, and a high school teacher. He has made countless television appearances as both a comedian and an actor.

    He is currently writing a memoir for Flatiron Books, tentatively titled “K Through 12.”​

    Twitter @GaryGulman

    IG @GaryGulman

  • David Kessler (Part One)

    David Kessler (Part One)

    · Mind Wide Open

    David Kessler, the world's foremost expert on healing after loss, joins Mind Wide Open to discuss grief and what he has coined as the sixth stage of grief: finding meaning. Lily and her mom, Susan Silver, have turned to his work for support for many years, making for a poignant and full circle conversation between Lily and David.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired SEPTEMBER 28, 2020

    David Kessler is the world’s foremost expert on healing after loss. His experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life, even after life’s tragedies. He is the author of six books, including the new bestselling book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. He co-authored two books with Elisabeth Kubler Ross, including On Grief and Grieving where he helped her adapt the 5 stages for grief. His first book, The Needs of The Dying received praise from Saint (Mother) Teresa.



    David’s personal experience as a child witnessing a mass shooting while his mother was dying in a hospital inspired him to begin his journey. For most of his life, David has taught physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders about the end of life, trauma, and grief. However, despite his vast knowledge on grief, his life was turned upside down by the sudden death of his twenty-one-year-old son. It moved him to write his newest book, Finding Meaning.

    
He is the founder of www.grief.com where you can find free resources to help after loss. The new paperback edition of Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief was released this September and includes an afterword that addresses the pandemic and other current events.

    
In 2020, David’s wisdom has gone viral. His interview with Brene Brown is the #1 Podcast in the world. The audio of Finding Meaning has been submitted by Simon and Schuster for consideration as a Best-Spoken Word GRAMMY nomination.

  • Dr. Niobe Way

    Dr. Niobe Way

    · Mind Wide Open

    Over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the topic of connection is at the forefront of most of our minds. Professor and developmental psychologist Dr. Niobe Way joins Lily to delve into the fundamentals of vulnerability and human connection and how to cultivate the most meaningful relationships possible. They also discuss Dr. Way's work studying the “crisis of connection” in young people, specifically adolescent males.

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired APRIL 13, 2021

    Niobe Way Ed. D., is Professor of Developmental Psychology and the founder of the Project for the Advancement of Our Common Humanity at New York University (PACH). She is also past President of the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA) and co-director of the Center for Research on Culture, Development, and Education at NYU. Her work focuses on the intersections of culture, context, and human development, with a particular focus on social and emotional development and how cultural ideologies influence developmental trajectories.

    The Listening Project, her current project with Joseph Nelson, Hirokazu Yoshikawa, David Kirkland, and Alisha Ali, aims to foster curiosity and connection in and outside of middle school classrooms across New York City. In addition, she created and teaches a core course for undergraduates at NYU called The Science of Human Connection. The course describes her theoretical and empirical framework developed over three decades and discussed in her latest co-edited book The Crisis of Connection: Its Roots, Consequences, and Solution (NYU Press). Dr. Way has also authored nearly a hundred journal articles and books, including Deep Secrets: Boys’ Friendships and the Crisis of Connection (Harvard University Press) and Everyday Courage: The Lives and Stories of Urban Teenagers (NYU Press).

    Her research has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and numerous foundations including The National Science Foundation, The William T. Grant Foundation, The Einhorn Family Charitable Trust Foundation, and The Spencer Foundation. She is a contributor to Huffington Post, Psychology Today, and her research is regularly featured in mainstream media outlets (e.g., New York Times, NPR, Today Show, NBC). Examples include Two Cheers for Feminism!and Guys, We Have A Problem: How American Masculinity Creates Lonely Men.

  • Louis Knight

    Louis Knight

    · Mind Wide Open

    20-year-old singer-songwriter and American Idol contestant Louis Knight discusses his struggles with mental health as well as his song "Change," which was written about the suicide of his close friend. Louis and Lily swap experiences with mental health, suicidal ideation, and losing a close friend to suicide. Louis also speaks to the power of music for our wellbeing as a partner of The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

    For more information, guest bios, and resources, go to www.mindwideopenproject.com

    Find Lily on Instagram @lilycornellsilver

    Originally aired SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

    Louis Knight is a British-born, Philadelphia-based pop singer-songwriter. With a writing style that reflects his raw emotion, Louis’ music unabashedly speaks plainly about his own deeply personal experiences about love, loss, and hope.

    
Louis (pronounced “Louie”) knew early that he wanted to write and sing music. Louis has a close relationship with his father John Surie – a marketing executive. Louis attributes his musical ability as coming from his father John who fronted a band in London in the 70’s and 80’s. Both Louis and his father were featured prominently on American Idol during the 2020 season.

    
His first official single was released in July 2019. “Just Kiss Me” became an instant Summer anthem that garnered significant praise from listeners. Following the release of the music video, Popdust stated, “This music video marks the beginning of an era for Knight.”
    
Louis released his first EP, titled “Small Victories”, gained critical praise and validated his ability to connect with his audience.

    
From that EP, his song “Change” is regarded as his most influential song to-date. About “Change”, Philadelphia Weekly wrote “…it’s a stunning example of Knight’s ability to translate his emotions and experiences into meaningful pop songs for the masses.”

    Louis’ philanthropic efforts include partnering with The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to help carry the message of hope to those that continue to suffer.

    www.louisknightmusic.com

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