Support Life And Music has launched the second season of its acclaimed SLAM: Music Survival Guide series, featuring a new round of conversations from across the musical spectrum. The guests include superstars, influencers, industry VIPs, authors, and more! Each show features uplifting talks about mental health in the music life.
Support Life And Music (S.L.A.M.) was founded as a nonprofit in 2025 by veteran journalist, Jack Mangan, to fight back against music industry tragedies from substance misuse, depression, and suicide. S.L.A.M. is saving music lives through storytelling, media, research, expertise, and inspiration.
S.L.A.M. has made a powerful impact in its first 20 months:
Season 1 of the “SLAM: Music Survival Guide” podcast featured 55 episodes of conversations with musicians of all levels, music industry VIPs, authors, and more. Season 2 will be even more exciting, having launched on August 27th with the SLAM Awards episode!
In its first 20 months, S.L.A.M. published 43 articles, essays, reviews, and thinkpieces, including 7 D.R.E.A.M. (Data, Research, Education, Awareness, Music) reports.
S.L.A.M. has had official appearances at numerous in-person events, including Arizona Bike Week, Phoenix International Jazz Festival, MIM’s Celebrate Soul, and more.
Support Life And Music is here to improve musician mental health and seriously reduce music industry tragedies.
Watch the Season 2 Trailer Below:
The SLAM: MSG second season opened with the 2026 SLAM Awards honoring the music industry’s mental health superheroes! This star-studded, blockbuster first-of-its-kind online event features music, presentations, acceptance speeches, and more, paying tribute to music industry stars and VIPs who’ve inspired mental health positivity through advocacy, action, social media, writing, music, and/or just through their own personal stories.
Hosted by superstar Cathy Rankin, the show features speeches from an incredible class of honorees. The full list includes:
Michael Alago (Legendary record label executive and artist. Subject of the acclaimed documentary: "Who the F**k is That Guy?", author of "I Am Michael Alago.")
John Bambino (VP Artist Management for In De Goot Entertainment)
Dani Cutler (Scene Mom Says, ex-KWSS Radio DJ)
Rob Halford (Hall of Fame singer for Judas Priest, author of "Confess" and "Biblical")
Amy Sciarretto (Trendsetting music publicist, founder of Atom Splitter PR)
Darryl "DMC" McDaniels (Rap/Hip-Hop pioneer, author of "Ten Ways to Not Commit Suicide")
Pamela Parks (Headity Artist Management)
Jason McMaster (Iconic singer from Dangerous Toys, co-host of Talk Louder podcast)
Dr. George Musgrave (aka Context, a Rapper who's worked with Rihanna, Ed Sheeran, others. He co-wrote a groundbreaking clinical paper on musician mental health)
Dr. Dorian Lamis (Psychologist, author, and professor who co-wrote the clinical paper, "Musicians, the music industry, and suicide: epidemiology, risk factors, and suggested prevention approaches," with George Musgrave.)
Marc Lopes (Singer with Let Us Prey, ex-Metal Church)
Featuring music videos and performances from:
Chuck Tomasi - Technorama
Garrett James and the Wanderers - Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Center
Jack Mangan - S.L.A.M.
Cathy Rankin
And guest presentations from:
Jose Mangin - SiriusXM
Todd La Torre - Queensryche
Mark Pruett - The Whiskey Network
Michael Stackpole - Author
David Ellefson - Kings of Thrash, ex-Megadeth
Burton C. Bell - Solo artist, ex-Fear Factory
Dobber Beverly - Oceans of Slumber
Ben Wells - Black Stone Cherry
Monte Conner* - Nuclear Blast Records
Evo Terra - Simpler Media
Dr. Sheila Dee - Simpler Media
"Metal Dave" Glessner - Talk Louder
Jonathan Jacobs - Rawkstars
Ari Jacobson - Backline
Hilary Gleason - Backline
Debbie Watson - Nuci's Place
Rob Dukes - Exodus
*Monte Conner’s testimonial read by Jack Mangan
The host segments were primarily filmed at Technorama Studios, engineered by Chuck Tomasi, with post-production by Vincent Desiderioscioli of YoVinny Productions. The 2026 SLAM Awards Show is sponsored by All Access VIP Adventures.
Watch the 2026 SLAM Awards HERE
Support Life And Music is here to improve musician mental health and seriously reduce music industry tragedies.