Mental Notes with Matt
Mental Notes with Matt is a real talk podcast about the messy, meaningful work of being human. Hosted by Matt, a father, performer, and mental health advocate, each episode explores themes like reinvention, grief, creativity, and self-compassion, through raw reflections and honest conversations.
Please remember that this podcast is a space for sharing personal stories and insights from my own lived experience with mental health. I am not a licensed therapist, medical doctor, or mental heal…
Recent Episodes
1
April 18, 2026
Michael Borrelli - The Only Thing Sobriety Guarantees
Season two opens with a reunion nearly 20 years in the making. A photo appeared on Matt's phone — two young actors at the Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, clearly happy, clearly free, clearly drinking. He sent it to his old friend Michael Borrelli. Michael's response changed everything: I'm sober now. Nearly 20 years.In this episode, Matt — six months alcohol-free himself — sits down with actor, director, and filmmaker Michael Borrelli to talk about what s
Nov. 17, 2025
Nicholas Kemp - The True Meaning of Ikigai
In this deeply reflective conversation, Matt sits down with author and ikigai researcher Nicholas Kemp to explore the true meaning of the Japanese concept of ikigai — a word often misunderstood, oversimplified, and misapplied in Western culture.Rather than a Venn diagram, a career formula, or a secret to longevity, Nicholas explains that ikigai is an emotional experience — the feeling that life is worth living. It’s found in small moments, meaningful connections, personal agency, and the quiet
17
Nov. 3, 2025
Stewart Pearce - The Magnetic Voice
In this episode of Mental Notes with Matt, I sit down with Stewart Pearce, world-renowned voice coach and master sound healer. Stewart has worked with some of the world’s most recognized performers, leaders, and visionaries, including Princess Diana, to help them unlock the deeper resonance of their voice.I first met Stewart over twenty years ago while studying at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London as part of my acting conservatory program. He was my voice teacher then, and even in that sho
16
Oct. 20, 2025
Ron Millkie - The Ones Who See Us First
In this episode of Mental Notes with Matt, I sit down with my very first acting teacher, Ron Millkie. While many may know him as Officer Dorf from the original Friday the 13th, I know him as the person who saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself.Ron was the first person to invite me into the world of professional acting, and this conversation is a chance to not only honor that legacy but also explore what it means to live a life in the arts—with all its twists, setbacks, and unexpe
15
Oct. 6, 2025
Ezra Dewolfe - ADHD Tools
In this episode of Mental Notes with Matt, I sit down with Ezra Dewolfe, founder of ADHD Tools, a platform helping thousands of late-diagnosed adults reframe their ADHD not as a flaw to manage, but as a strength to harness.Ezra’s work stands out because it goes beyond surface-level hacks and quick fixes. His mission is to help people with ADHD, especially entrepreneurs, creatives, and leaders, thrive by understanding the root causes behind their challenges and designing systems that truly wo
14
Sept. 22, 2025
The Actor’s Approach to Compelling Communication with Michael Cinquino
Show NotesWhat does it mean to lead with presence, empathy, and authenticity?In this episode of Mental Notes with Matt, I sit down with Michael Cinquino — actor, educator, and creator of the Communication Dynamics Lab (CDL) — to talk about how high sensitivity can be a superpower and why the skills of performance belong everywhere from the stage to the boardroom.Michael shares his journey from actor and photographer, to becoming a coach and professor helping leaders and team