Cale remembers his thoughts: musician Cale Tyson on rehab, recovery & our neighborhood feeling like high school...

·1 hr 17 min·5 clips

After vowing to quit, Cale went out for 'happy hour' and ended up doing cocaine all night.

The episode opens with host Katie introducing her neighbor and friend, musician Cale Tyson, noting his openness about addiction and rehab. They begin by discussing their Highland Park neighborhood in Los Angeles, comparing it to a high school campus where everyone knows each other. Cale reflects on his tendency to immerse himself in communities and then pull away. He describes his high school years in Fort Worth, Texas, as an 'artsy emo kid' who also partied with jocks, feeling he never fit perfectly into one crowd. The conversation shifts to friendship dynamics and the undefined nature of those relationships compared to romantic ones. They delve into the role of social media, with Cale sharing how Instagram validation affected his mental health and creativity. He references reading 'The Artist's Way', which helped him realize he was making art for validation rather than enjoyment. Cale then details his addiction journey, starting with panic attacks at age 24-25 that led to using alcohol and Xanax to regulate anxiety. He recounts a pivotal Zoom call with a psychiatrist who questioned his 40-50 drinks per week, which he initially dismissed. After a relapse following a failed attempt to detox, Music Cares offered to fund a 30-day rehab stay. Cale describes his time in rehab in Pasadena, where he initially felt out of place until hearing someone share a similar story at a meeting in Silver Lake. He discusses how sobriety reduced his anxiety and improved his songwriting, leading to five new songs he considers his best work. Cale also talks about his book, a collection of morning pages and photographs, and his philosophy of releasing work without overthinking results. The episode concludes with Cale recommending 'Motel Chronicles' by Sam Shepard and emphasizing the importance of doing what makes you happy without worrying about validation.

As heard by us

A warm kitchen-table conversation about panic, addiction, sobriety, and the pull of validation.

A kitchen-table conversation with a musician opens into a steady account of panic attacks, drugs, rehab, and the relief of sobriety. The episode ties that recovery story to the pressure of validation, giving the guest space to explain how drinking moved from fun into a way of…

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a candid recovery story told with the warmth of two neighbors talking at a kitchen table.

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