In this episode of Mania & Melancholy, John Henry sits down with comedian Josh Beaver to dive deep into the comedy grind. John opens up about his catastrophic bombing experience at Kill Tony that left him questioning everything, his time in the Austin comedy scene, and why he ultimately moved back to Denver.

They explore the challenges of networking in comedy, the comparison trap that plagues every comic, and how social media has changed both comedy and society. Josh shares stories from the road, discusses his approach of "saying yes to everything," and reflects on finding the balance between ambition and enjoying the process.

The conversation also touches on Josh's struggles with substances, his observations about different comedy scenes across the country, and the importance of developing authentic material based on personal experiences. Plus, they get into some wild tangents about UFC fighters, poker, pool, and why everyone seems to be on their phones constantly.

A raw, honest conversation about the ups and downs of pursuing comedy while trying to stay grounded in an increasingly digital world.

Brian Scott reveals how years of undiagnosed bipolar II and head trauma shaped his journey—and how embracing treatment helped him rebuild a life grounded in purpose, discipline, and love.

In this candid and deeply personal episode, lifelong martial artist and friend Brian Scott shares his journey toward understanding and managing bipolar disorder. Known for his decorated fighting career—including multiple world titles in Doce Pares Eskrima and a background in Muay Thai and BJJ—Brian opens up about a side of his life rarely seen on the mats.

Key points covered in this conversation:

• Early signs of bipolar disorder: Brian recounts a childhood of high achievement mixed with dramatic mood swings, long periods of sleeplessness, and unexplained depressions—years before any diagnosis.
• Athletics as coping and camouflage: His intense focus on martial arts, music, and competition helped mask deeper mental health struggles and fed delusions of grandeur during undiagnosed hypomanic phases.
• Head trauma and self-medication: A traumatic brain injury at the height of his fighting career marked a turning point, worsening symptoms and leading to increased substance use.
• The long path to diagnosis: Despite years of behavioral issues, it wasn’t until the isolation and stress of COVID in 2020 that Brian was finally diagnosed with bipolar II—highlighting how easily the disorder can go undetected.
• Treatment, medication, and responsibility: Brian discusses the life-changing impact of finding the right psychiatrist and medication, the importance of sleep, and learning not to externalize his struggles onto loved ones.
• Masculinity, vulnerability, and suicide prevention: The episode closes with a reflection on the martial arts community’s resistance to vulnerability, and Brian shares the impact of losing several close friends to suicide.

Brian’s openness offers insight into how high performers can unknowingly live with mental illness for decades, and why self-awareness and accountability are crucial for recovery.

In this longform, unfiltered conversation, John Henry sits down with Denver comedian Ethan Everhart for an expansive and deeply personal discussion about stand-up, and the American experience. The first half of the episode centers on the grind of Denver’s comedy scene—bombing at open mics, producing local shows, navigating comedy politics, and developing an act while managing bipolar disorder.

From there, the episode takes a sweeping turn into historical analysis. Ethan, a middle school history teacher, leads a rigorous conversation on Civil War memory, the Lost Cause, slavery, Abraham Lincoln’s moral calculus, and the legacy of Reconstruction. The two also explore topics like Native American resistance, Roosevelt-era politics, the influence of empires, and how education shapes historical understanding.

In the final third, they shift to modern politics: RFK, Trump, immigration, the culture wars, male identity, and the state of discourse in the U.S. It’s a marathon of humor, honesty, and critical thought—rooted in friendship and curiosity.