An Episode About the Grind, Singer Zayna Youssef of Sweet Pill, and YOU

Episode 261

25th May 2026

Her band was about to set out on a huge tour but canceled it because of a health crisis.

Episode notes

Yes, the episode is about a rock singer but it’s also about any of us who grind away for the benefit of our work and the detriment of ourselves. The sudden cancellation of the band Sweet Pill’s extensive tour promoting their sophomore album Still There’s a Glow came as a shock to fans and the press. But it makes total sense given that singer Zayna Youssef had been working herself into the ground with writing, recording, designing merch and album covers and backstage passes, and everything else she could think of to make her band an even bigger success than what their first album brought. Some things she didn’t do: be kind to herself, give as much are to herself as she did the new album, or savor the success they had already had. The result was a mental and physical crisis point, a running out of gas on the part of the whole band that made them slam the emergency brake on the prospect of going out on a long tour and working even harder. In a very candid and often very funny interview, Zayna tells us how things got to this point, what she’s learned about the grind that can lead to better outcomes down the road, what her new album is ultimately about, and how the now-rescheduled tour will be different.

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In this episode...

Guests

  • Zayna Youssef

About the show

Join host John Moe (The Hilarious World of Depression) for honest, relatable, and, yes, sometimes funny conversations about mental health. Hear from comedians, musicians, authors, actors, and other top names in entertainment and the arts about living with depression, anxiety, and many other common disorders. Find out what they’ve done to address it, what worked, and what didn’t. Depresh Mode with John Moe also features useful insights on mental health issues with experts in the field. It’s honest talk from people who have been there and know their stuff. No shame, no stigma, and maybe a few laughs.

Like this podcast? Then you’ll love John’s book, The Hilarious World of Depression.

Logo by Clarissa Hernandez.

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