Drumming can be more than music — it can be focus training. For a lot of people with ADHD, rhythm is one of the few places the brain finally locks in.
In this episode of Beat The Mental Health Out Of It! (AKA “BTMHOOI!”), host Nicholas Wichman (“The DEFECTIVE Schizoaffective”) and co-host Tony Medeiros (“IndyPocket”) sit down with world-class drummer and content creator Jay Fenichel, founder of The Drummers Almanac, to talk ADHD/ADD, attention, creativity, and why structured practice can act like “psych first aid” when your brain is scattered.
We get into how rhythm builds attention through repetition that doesn’t feel like punishment, and how drumming can become a coping tool without turning into another source of shame. Jay shares burnout-proof teaching and practice mindsets that build intrinsic motivation (wanting to do it) instead of obligation (forcing yourself to do it). We also talk realistic boundaries for creators and parents, balancing goals vs. life hacks, and knowing your desired outcome before you chase a pursuit.
We also touch on content creation in the TikTok era: platform limits, pressure to perform, and how algorithms can mess with creators’ mental health and motivation.
Whether you’re a drummer, a parent of a kid with ADHD, an educator, or just trying to stay regulated in a noisy world, this episode is packed with tools you can actually use.
In this episode, we talk about:
Guest links:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jayfenichel?_r=1&_t=ZT-92K0KLuqQ6R
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thedrummersalmanac?si=Ynk3dGx77NVovgTm
HEY DRUMMERS: try a 5-minute metronome focus drill (60–80 BPM, 3×1-min singles w/30s rest). Post your before/after focus rating in our Discord, “The Struggle Bus”. (link below)
Beat The Mental Health Out Of It! (AKA “BTMHOOI!”) is a candid mental health podcast rooted in lived experience: schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia spectrum psychosis, BPD, PTSD, trauma recovery, coping skills, and dark humor that helps make serious mental illness more understandable and human.
Hosted by Nicholas Wichman (“The DEFECTIVE Schizoaffective”) with frequent co-host Tony Medeiros (“IndyPocket”), we cover psych wards, psychiatric medication, disability, religious trauma, good therapy, bad therapy, and practical real-world coping — plus the societal and relationship issues that shape mental health every day. The goal isn’t just “fighting stigma.” It’s education, clarity, and honest conversation.
We interview everyone from everyday people to public figures, clinicians, and professionals, because mental health struggles don’t care who you are. If you’re willing to share your story or expertise, we aim to offer a safe, judgment-free space where you can speak openly — and still have some fun while doing it.
New episodes drop every other Monday at 6am EDT.
Want community and support? Join our Discord, “The Struggle Bus”: https://discord.gg/emFXKuWKNA
All links (TikTok, YouTube, Streaming, etc.): https://linktr.ee/BTMHOOI
Podcast cover art by Ryan Manning
