From Psychosis to Eurovision: Turning Pain Into Power with X. ARI | Harder to Breathe Podcast
Release Date: 07/22/2025
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info_outlineHow do you turn your deepest pain into your greatest power? In this episode of The Harder to Breathe Podcast, we sit down with the unstoppable X ARI—a bold musical artist, fierce mental health advocate, and a true psychosis survivor whose story will leave you breathless.
From surviving bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, and multiple hospitalizations, to becoming a globally recognized queer songwriter and performing alongside K-pop and Eurovision acts—X ARI shares how she reclaimed her life through radical self-acceptance, love, music, and healing. 🎶💜
In this powerful interview, ARI opens up about:
* Navigating a dysfunctional family, mental illness, and spiritual awakening
* Finding love and coming out as a queer, Jewish woman amidst rising antisemitism
* The emotional and medical rollercoaster of finding the right diagnosis and treatment
* Using creativity and resilience to manifest the life she dreamed of
💬 What part of ARI’s journey resonated with you the most? Let us know in the comments! 👇
📌 Timestamps
(02:40) – Dysfunctional Families and The Bear
(12:45) – The Depression That Creeps Up on You
(15:25) – A Cocktail of Diagnoses & The Power of Drive
(27:10) – “Something Was Not Right in My Family”
(29:30) – From Sleep Paralysis to Psychosis
(44:50) – Becoming the Advocate She Never Saw
(55:40) – Surviving the Hospital
(58:45) – A Surprise from the Spirit Guides: Coming Out
(1:07:05) – The Intersection of Queerness and Mental Health
(1:12:30) – POLITICAL DEEP DIVE: Navigating Hate as a Queer, Jewish Woman
(1:28:00) – From Eurovision to K-Pop: ARI's Music Career
(1:34:33) – The Story Behind Her Hit Song “Next to You”
🎧 Listen to the full episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Let’s break the stigma—one story at a time. 💥
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