The New Groundbreaking Podcast
what our listeners are saying
“Hauntingly addictive! Told in an engaging, dramatic and compelling way that doesn’t undermine the significance of the issues of mental health. Anxiously awaiting the remaining episodes”
“Sean’s story is an important one. The story he tells is compelling and very entertaining! Excited already for the 2nd season.”
“In years of working in the industry, I’ve seen countless people suffering, but not once were their issues addressed like this podcast is setting out to do. This is more than a podcast. This show is a lifeline!”
“This is the new podcast I’m obsessing over. It’s a mental health journey wrapped in a true crime story wrapped in a tale from the theatre. I’m devouring it. And so should you!”
Stage Combat: A Mental Health Story
Welcome to the new, groundbreaking podcast series about a leading actor who experiences a mental health crisis at one of the most powerful theatres in the country: The Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut.
In 2019, Sean Hayden thought he had booked the role of his dreams at the prestigious Goodspeed in its production of “Billy Elliot, The Musical.” As he drove over the Connecticut river and laid his eyes on the fairy tale Opera House for the first time, Sean had no idea what would be looming behind its doors.
“Stage Combat: A Mental Health Story” takes the listener into the insular world of the theatre industry in which the unspoken rule is, “You are not supposed to speak up. Or there will be consequences.” If you thought all the drama happens on stage, wait until you hear what happens after the curtain closes in this immersive listening experience.
In a unique format, each episode is followed by a short “post-show talk back” with Sean and a mental health professional. Together they unpack the issues presented in the episode in provocative conversations about mental health and the theatre industry.
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About Sean
Sean Hayden is the CEO of Haywood Productions and a veteran actor of two Broadway national tours and theatre productions on stages across the U.S.
His op-ed about men and mental health appeared in The Economic Times. He provides thought leadership on how employers can support the mental health of their employers and has been featured on Talk Radio Europe, HR Future (South Africa), Canadian Occupational Safety, HR.com , and Wellness Wellbeing Professional (UK).
He resides in New York City.