This week on The Write Brain, we sit down with for a real, unfiltered conversation about creativity, childhood, and what it means to be honest in your work.
We talk about growing up, school, family dynamics, and the early signs of feeling different — long before there was language for it. The conversation naturally moves into creativity as a place of refuge, songwriting as truth-telling, and the complicated relationship between vulnerability, shame, and connection.
we open up about the creative process, the emotional cost of honesty, and how writing songs has changed over time — especially in environments where collaboration, expectations, and success can blur the original reason you started.
This isn’t a how-to or a highlight reel. It’s a conversation about being human, staying present with discomfort, and letting the work say what you can’t always explain.
Toward the end, we ask a question we always come back to on The Write Brain: what would you say to your younger self — or to a younger creative who’s struggling in the same ways you once did?
Thanks for being here.
What is The Write Brain?
The Write Brain is a podcast that explores the intersection of mental health and the music industry. Hosted by singer/songwriter Ellis Melillo and functional neurologist Dr. Robert Melillo, each episode features intimate conversations with musical artists about their mental health journeys. With insights from Dr. Melillo on brain health and Ellis' personal experiences, the show uncovers the challenges musicians face in balancing creativity, performance, and well-being. Tune in for powerful stories of resilience, healing, and creative expression.