In this must-watch episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, we sit down with Sherry James—mental health advocate, CXO of Phoenix Speaks Inc., founder of 2020 Lives Changed, and host of Creating Mental Wealth—for a raw, emotional, and inspiring conversation that will stay with you long after the video ends.
** This episode contains some very traumatic experiences, please take time for yourself if you are affected by this conversation, pause and come back when you are ready. **
🎙 Timestamps & Viral Moments:
00:00 – Intro
02:37 – Born at a funeral: The start of an unimaginable journey
06:02 – A generational cycle of trauma, and her grandfather’s unseen fight to rescue her
13:20 – From teenage motherhood to supporting her daughter’s path to nursing
22:10 – Co-parenting redemption: Breaking family chains
28:39 – Raising a creative son: Music, photography, and chess dreams
35:16 – Behind the scenes of the artist management business: Pre-streaming struggles
41:13 – A Christian rapper’s rejected deal that turned into a YouTube empire
46:59 – Life after a stroke: “I have red bottoms to wear—I will walk again.”
53:44 – 💰 Mental Wealth: A life-changing reframing of emotional health
💡 Sherry reveals how her Mental Wealth philosophy helps people treat emotional resilience like a bank account—assigning value to joy, reframing trauma as growth, and cutting “mental withdrawals” to preserve peace.
🧠 You’ll also hear how:
Her traumatic childhood shaped her mission.
She navigated abuse, addiction, and loss—and still chose love.
She raised two thriving kids across generations, one in nursing and one an emerging creative.
She blends AI with Carl Jung’s Red Book to help Gen Z discover their identity.
🔥 Game-Changing Insight: Sherry’s upcoming project “I Am AI” teaches students to uncover their shadow selves through AI and Jungian psychology—bridging the gap between tech, mental health, and identity exploration.
💬 Top Quote:
“Your mental wealth is the only wealth that truly matters.”
❤️ Why Watch?
If you’re a creative, a survivor, a parent, or just someone trying to navigate this chaotic world, Sherry’s resilience will move you—and her wisdom will guide you. Whether you're battling burnout or building something beautiful out of pain, this episode will empower you to heal out loud.
👇 Join the conversation:
🌐 What’s your “mental wealth” deposit today?
💭 Have you reassessed your story as a strength?
📢 Don’t forget to:
✅ LIKE
✅ SUBSCRIBE
✅ HIT THE BELL
✅ SHARE with someone who needs to hear this message
Connect with Sherry: https://phoenixspeaksinc.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjamespmp/
#MentalHealth #SherryJames #ArtistRecovery #TraumaSurvivor #CreatingMentalWealth #BlackWomenHealing #MentalWealthBank #PodcastInterview #ArtistSupport #HealingOutLoud #AIAndMentalHealth #RedBook #PhoenixSpeaks
Always remember, Listen to your Heart and Be Kind to Your Mind! -Rich Wright
Follow us here: https://www.theartistrecovery.com
Join the Community: https://www,artrecroom.com
Listen Weekly at: https://www.artistrecoverypodcast.com
Connect:
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!