{"id":7812,"date":"2025-08-10T10:16:39","date_gmt":"2025-08-10T16:16:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whyamipod.com\/?p=855"},"modified":"2025-08-10T10:16:39","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T16:16:39","slug":"why-am-i-ben-e-wood-music-mental-health-and-the-ghosts-that-inspired-an-album","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gregsowell.com\/?p=7812","title":{"rendered":"Why Am I Ben E. Wood \u2013 Music, Mental Health, and the Ghosts That Inspired an Album"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-offset-key=\"5ljb8-0-0\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-857\" src=\"https:\/\/whyamipod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/thumbnail-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" srcset=\"https:\/\/whyamipod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/thumbnail-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/whyamipod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/thumbnail-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/whyamipod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/thumbnail-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/whyamipod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/thumbnail-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/whyamipod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/thumbnail.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"5ljb8-0-0\">\n<p class=\"Type__TypeElement-sc-goli3j-0 gfMYqC\" data-slate-node=\"element\" data-encore-id=\"type\" data-slate-fragment=\"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\">Canadian musician Ben E. Wood joins Why Am I to talk about his fourth album, the haunting creative process behind it, and the deeply personal journey through mental health challenges that shaped it. We discuss making art in recovery, what it\u2019s like to \u201cwrite an album with ghosts,\u201d the importance of local arts, and how to support friends who may be struggling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Type__TypeElement-sc-goli3j-0 gfMYqC\" data-slate-node=\"element\" data-encore-id=\"type\" data-slate-fragment=\"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\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/16.0.1\/72x72\/1f517.png\" alt=\"&#x1f517;\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\" \/> Don\u2019t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that chase the story behind the person.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"5ljb8-0-0\"><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"5ljb8-0-0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/creators.spotify.com\/pod\/profile\/whyamipod\/episodes\/Why-Am-I-Ben-E--Wood---Music--Mental-Health--and-the-Ghosts-That-Inspired-an-Album-e36m67m\">Podcast episode on Spotify here<\/a>.<\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"5ljb8-0-0\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/creators.spotify.com\/pod\/profile\/whyamipod\/embed\/episodes\/Why-Am-I-Ben-E--Wood---Music--Mental-Health--and-the-Ghosts-That-Inspired-an-Album-e36m67m\/a-ac3j45d\" width=\"400px\" height=\"102px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"5ljb8-0-0\">Youtube version here:<\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"5ljb8-0-0\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/s1ewYy-n0NI?si=pHGSlSBGi-Zk6_5u\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"5ljb8-0-0\">\n<div class=\"DK2WGA7X3rKos2v1AABBD _20x9t-BL2SDh7lOGEew66E\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"97ugl\" data-offset-key=\"b0nt9-0-0\">\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"b0nt9-0-0\">\n<p class=\"Type__TypeElement-sc-goli3j-0 gfMYqC\" data-slate-node=\"element\" data-encore-id=\"type\">Please show them some love on their socials here:<\/p>\n<p data-slate-node=\"element\" data-encore-id=\"type\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/themadhatteroffact\/\">https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/themadhatteroffact\/<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/weakoldbaby.bandcamp.com\/album\/farewell-strange-hotel\">https:\/\/weakoldbaby.bandcamp.com\/album\/farewell-strange-hotel<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/weakoldbaby.bandcamp.com\/\">https:\/\/weakoldbaby.bandcamp.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" data-offset-key=\"b0nt9-0-0\">\n<p class=\"Type__TypeElement-sc-goli3j-0 gfMYqC\" data-slate-node=\"element\" data-encore-id=\"type\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\">If you want to <\/span><strong style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\">support the podcast<\/strong><span style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\"> you can do so via <\/span><a style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/whyamipod\">https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/whyamipod<\/a><span style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\"> (this gives you access to <\/span><strong style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\">bonus content including their Fantasy Restaurant!<\/strong><span style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Canadian musician Ben E. Wood joins Why Am I to talk about his fourth album, the haunting creative process behind it, and the deeply personal journey through mental health challenges that shaped it. We discuss making art in recovery, what it&rsquo;s like to &ldquo;write an album with ghosts,&rdquo; the importance of local arts, and how [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-podcast"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregsowell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregsowell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregsowell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregsowell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregsowell.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7812"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/gregsowell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7812\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7871,"href":"https:\/\/gregsowell.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7812\/revisions\/7871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregsowell.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregsowell.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregsowell.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}