State Of Mind with Maurice Benard

Adrian Alvarado: Flipping My Script on Loss, Identity, Survival, and Healing

Actor and author Adrian Alvarado sits down with Maurice to talk about his memoir Flipping My Script—a powerful story of losing his mother at fourteen, growing up without a father, and fighting through generational trauma to rebuild his identity. Adrian opens up about domestic violence, grief, art as therapy, and the long road toward healing and forgiveness. This is a raw, honest conversation that will stay with anyone who has ever rebuilt themselves from the ground up.
Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! 
Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book!Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital
Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.comState of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production: Anthony CammarataAudio/Video/Editorial: Anthony CammarataPodcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato 

Raven Bowens: Resilience, Mental Health, and Finding Purpose

Actress Raven Bowens joins Maurice for a powerful, wide-ranging conversation about resilience, mental health, and the unexpected turns that shape a life. Raven opens up about a childhood spent moving from city to city, the grief of losing her first love, and the struggle to find stability while chasing her dream. She also shares how her acting journey led her to Days of Our Lives and why her greatest fulfillment now comes from rebuilding a school in Nigeria. A raw, honest, and deeply hopeful episode that reminds us why purpose and connection matter.
Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! 
Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book!Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital
Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/
X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.comState of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production: Anthony CammarataAudio/Video/Editorial: Anthony CammarataPodcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato 

Larry Romano: From Donnie Brasco to King of Queens and the Breakthroughs That Saved Him

Maurice sits down with actor and musician Larry Romano (Donnie Brasco, King of Queens, The Thin Red Line, Sleepers) for a raw, wide-ranging conversation about creativity, identity, and the inner battles most people never see. Larry opens up about studying under Al Pacino’s acting coach, navigating depression, rebuilding after setbacks, and how family, music, and discipline shaped his resilience. It’s an honest, emotional, and unexpectedly inspiring look at artistry, mental health, and what it really takes to survive the industry — and yourself.
Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! 
Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book!Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital
Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/
X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.comState of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production: Anthony CammarataAudio/Video/Editorial: Anthony CammarataPodcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato 

Genie Francis & Jonathan Frakes: Panic, Patience, and the Truth About Love

In Part 2 of their conversation on State of Mind, Genie Francis (General Hospital) and Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek: The Next Generation) open up about the hidden side of their 40-year relationship: social anxiety, deep lows, the “riverbank” metaphor that changed everything, and the small decisions that saved their marriage. Maurice creates space for a rare, honest look at survival, compassion, and what it means to stay when things get hard. Powerful, vulnerable, and unforgettable.
Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! 
Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book!Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital
Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/
X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.comState of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production: Anthony CammarataAudio/Video/Editorial: Anthony CammarataPodcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato 

Jeffrey Vincent Parise: GH Villainy, Reinvention, and the Fight for Inner Peace

General Hospital favorite Jeffrey Vincent Parise opens up about the real story behind his life—far beyond Carlos, the villains, and the unforgettable on-screen moments GH fans remember him for. He and Maurice dig into Parise’s battles with anxiety, the dark seasons that reshaped him, and the practices that helped him rebuild from the inside out, including yoga, meditation, and deep shadow-work. This conversation blends nostalgia, vulnerability, and the kind of mental-health honesty that reminds fans why State of Mind exists in the first place.
Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! 
Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book!Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital
Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/
X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.comState of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production: Anthony CammarataAudio/Video/Editorial: Anthony CammarataPodcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato 

Genie Francis: Childhood Fame, Trauma, and Becoming Laura Spencer (Part 1)

This episode is Part 1 of Maurice Benard’s deeply personal conversation with Genie Francis. Together, they go back to the beginning: Genie’s early rise as a fourteen-year-old on General Hospital, the whirlwind fame of Laura Spencer, and the emotional toll of growing up on television.
Genie opens up about isolation, arrested development, perfectionism, and the generational anxiety that shaped her life long before she understood it. Maurice reflects on how her experiences intersect with his own mental-health journey, creating one of the most honest and revealing dialogues ever shared on State of Mind.
Part 1 covers Genie’s early career, the pressures of live TV, the explosive Luke & Laura years, and the hidden struggles behind her iconic performances. Part 2 drops November 23, when Genie is joined by her husband, Jonathan Frakes, for an intimate and powerful follow-up conversation.
Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! 
Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book!Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital
Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/
X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.comState of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production: Anthony CammarataAudio/Video/Editorial: Anthony CammarataPodcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato 

Richard Taite on Addiction, Fentanyl, and Fixing Treatment

Founder of Cliffside Malibu and Carrera Treatment, Richard Taite joins me to unpack addiction, the fentanyl crisis, and why most centers fail patients. We dig into his “love call” philosophy, what great treatment actually looks like, and how homelessness and veteran care intersect with mental health. It’s raw, practical, and full of takeaways for families seeking real help.Listen to Maurice's recent appearance on Richard Taite's Podcast:We're Out of Time 
Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! 
Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book!Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital
Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/
X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch:https://www.mbstateofmind.comState of Mind Production Team: Host & Editorial: Maurice Benard Executive Producer: Paula Benard Director of Production: Anthony CammarataAudio/Video/Editorial: Anthony CammarataPodcast Consultant: Aaron Calafato 

General Hospital Pioneers, Part 2 | Jackie Zeman and Kin Shriner: Fame’s Peak, Party Lore, and Stamos, Demi & Springfield

Maurice, Kin, and Jackie pick up where they left off—at the height of GH mania. They share stories about the wild 1980s, breakout stars like Rick Springfield, Demi Moore, and John Stamos, and the reality behind the show’s unprecedented success. The conversation takes a deeper turn into mental health, the Sonny–Scotty feud, and Bobby’s wisdom about love and forgiveness. Recorded before her passing, this episode now stands as a heartfelt tribute to Jackie Zeman’s light, legacy, and unforgettable presence.

General Hospital Pioneers, Part 1 | Jackie Zeman and Kin Shriner: The Gloria Monty Era and How GH Changed Daytime TV

Maurice Benard sits down with GH icons Jackie Zeman and Kin Shriner for a joyful, behind-the-scenes look at the show’s 1970s reboot. They remember live-to-tape mayhem, early fame, and how Gloria Monty’s fearless vision turned General Hospital into a cultural phenomenon. Funny, fast, and full of heart, this conversation captures Jackie’s warmth, humor, and pioneering spirit—shared now in loving memory of her life and legacy following her passing in May 2023.

John York: Faith, Bipolar Q&A, and 30 Years of General Hospital

We're resharing on of Maurice's most popular interviews. In this conversation Maurice sits down with John J. York for a rare, wide-open conversation that starts with GH memories and turns into a deep dive on faith, mental health, and finding peace. They talk candidly about mania vs. anxiety, why staying on medication matters, and how prayer and routine helped John through life’s pivots. You’ll also hear gratitude for executive producer Frank Valentini’s leadership, Chicago family stories, and a light nod to John’s “Playgirl cover” and Werewolf days. It’s honest, warm, and quietly powerful—proof that connection is the point.
Video Versions of State of Mind available on YouTube! Watch! 
Read Maurice’s New York Times Bestselling Book!Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital
Follow Maurice on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauricebenard/
X: https://twitter.com/mauricebenard
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MauriceBenard/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbstateofmind/ State Of Mind Merch: https://www.mbstateofmind.com