LZ introduces his podcast “You Are Beautiful,” born from pandemic isolation, weight gain, and his Achilles rupture, and welcomes Melissa Etheridge. 

Etheridge says she learned “mirror work” during chemotherapy for breast cancer 22 years ago, training herself to say “Hello, gorgeous” and define beauty from within. They discuss oneness, choosing one’s feelings, and course-correcting negativity through gratitude and staying general rather than focused on life’s details. Etheridge describes a major awakening after over-consuming cannabis edibles, later followed by her breast cancer diagnosis, which propelled study of spirituality and plant medicine. She speaks about son Beckett’s opioid addiction and death in May 2020, emphasizing, “I cannot get sick enough to make a sick person well.” 

Etheridge recounts her musical beginnings in Kansas, coming out, early women’s-bar circuit, discovery at Pasadena’s Vermie’s, the “Bring Me Some Water” breakthrough, her bald 2005 Grammy performance during chemo, and writing her new album “Rise,” including “Call You.” They discuss advice for LGBTQ people and parents, and she advises LZ for his upcoming duet with Kelly Clarkson, then sings a snippet of “I Wanna Come Over.”

Timestamp Menu: 

  • 00:00 Welcome You Are Beautiful
  • 01:07 Why This Podcast Exists
  • 03:03 Melissa Mirror Work
  • 05:01 Oneness Gratitude Reset
  • 09:16 Advice For Angry Mornings
  • 13:44 Awakening Cancer And Cannabis
  • 18:15 Loss And Loving Through Addiction
  • 24:51 Leavenworth Roots First Guitar
  • 27:10 Coming Out And Early Career
  • 29:51 Finding Work in LA
  • 30:12 Underground Women’s Scene
  • 30:48 Label Pressure and Coming Out
  • 32:36 Breakthrough Single Origins
  • 36:07 Chemo and Grammy Comeback
  • 39:38 Awards and Artistic Purpose
  • 40:57 Songwriting Process and Inspiration
  • 43:18 Rise Album and Personal Loss
  • 46:13 Strength, Identity, and Community
  • 48:29 Advice for LGBTQ People and Parents
  • 52:16 Duet Prep and Stage Confidence
  • 55:06 Romance, Stalker Song, and Farewell



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