Mikey Tableman is a mental health advocate, spoken word poet, and the founder of A Mind’s Pursuit. His story is not theory. It is survival. He lived through anxiety, depression, manic disorder, addiction, and a suicide attempt in 2018. He now uses honesty, structure, and art to help people move from isolation to action. If you are struggling, this conversation gives you language, tools, and hope.
He spent years building a public image in hospitality and entertainment. Private jets. Major events. Celebrity rooms. The highlight reel looked perfect. Inside, he felt empty and alone. That conflict sits at the center of his work. He knows how it feels to smile for a camera and hate the person behind the smile. He knows the cost of silence. He chose a different path and invites you to do the same.
Who Is Mikey Tableman?
Start with the facts. Mikey Tableman is a creator and a builder. He leads a nonprofit (A Mind’s Pursuit). He hosts a fast-growing (Chaos Controlled) podcast. He writes and performs poetry that puts words to feelings many people cannot voice. He speaks on stages and in rooms where people need straight talk and practical steps. He brings the same version of himself online and in person. No pose. No act.
He makes one promise: he will tell the truth. He will name the dark seasons and the choices that pulled him forward. He will show you a daily system that holds when the world does not. He will remind you there is a way through. His work is built on that foundation.
The Highlight Reel vs. the Hidden Battle
During his nightlife career, Mikey Tableman delivered unforgettable experiences. He filled rooms. He brought people together. On social media, it looked like a dream. Inside, he felt broken. He tried to carry it alone. He kept repeating, “I’m fine.” The pressure to be strong and silent pushed him to a breaking point. Many men know that script. Rage is allowed. Tender feelings are not. That script almost cost him his life.
His turning point began when someone close to him refused to accept “I’m fine.” She found him after his attempt. The dam cracked. The truth poured out. He saw the pain in the eyes of people who loved him. He understood, at last, how his choices would echo in their lives. He still rejects shaming words around suicide, but he now sees the full ripple effect. That awareness helped him choose a new path.
The First Honest Conversation
Honesty saved his life. He spoke. He told the truth to the safest person he knew. He did not give a perfect speech. He simply let it out. That moment broke the isolation. It created room for support to show up. He learned a hard rule: people cannot help if they do not know. You must give them the chance to stand with you.
“You’re a human being. You’re allowed to feel that.” He repeats that line often. Pain is not weakness. Feelings are real. Denial multiplies the cost. Naming your reality is not defeat. It is the first step toward change.
Choosing Help: Rehab, Recovery, and Community
After a psychotic break shaped by medication issues and self-medication, Mikey Tableman checked himself into rehab and then into sober living. He simplified everything. He used a flip phone and limited contacts. He built a small circle and let people in. His boss paid him during rehab. Friends drove him to lunch and checked in often. Early nights out were dry by choice of his crew. Respect and love, not pressure.
He marks “a little over two years sober” at the time of the interview. Sobriety is not a badge to flash. It is a daily decision. It influences every part of his schedule. It shapes who stands close to him and how he spends time. He still produces festivals and large events while he builds his mission work. He does both with clear boundaries. That is the reality of many founders. Fund the dream while you grow the dream.
A Mind’s Pursuit: A Nonprofit Built for Real Conversations
A Mind’s Pursuit exists to reduce stigma and create safe spaces where people can tell the truth. The team includes committed volunteers and creative partners. The focus is culture. Rooms where judgment drops. Rooms where people breathe, speak, and feel seen. The format is simple: real stories, practical tools, and community care. The result is empathy. People leave lighter and more hopeful than they arrived.
Mikey does not claim to be a clinician. He does not present a cure. He shares what worked for him and offers space for people to test what might work for them. That clarity builds trust. It also keeps the mission grounded in lived experience.
The Alchemy Events: Turning Pain Into Power
“Alchemy” is the right word. At these events, artists share a struggle story, then share their art. Poetry. Music. Painting. Performance. The order matters. People hear the backstory, then watch the transformation. Pain becomes a piece. Shame becomes a song. The room shifts from silence to connection. The point is not perfection. The point is movement.
Attendees describe these nights as safe, warm, and real. You do not need to be “somebody” to belong. You need to show up and be honest. That atmosphere sticks with people. It primes them to have deeper conversations with their friends and families long after the event ends.
Chaos Controlled: A Podcast That Grew Up With Its Host
The Chaos Controlled podcast launched in 2021 with co-host Danny J Gomez. It started as a nightlife show with wild stories. It became something else. As guests opened up, the show pivoted to human stories. Vulnerability replaced bravado. The format found its rhythm: a safe space, direct questions, slow pace, and long-form honesty.
During Season 2, Mikey Tableman stepped back for rehab. Releases slowed. The audience stayed. Season 3 resumes with a weekly cadence. The show now carries more weight. Listeners get ready for shifts and long nights by hearing people name fear, doubt, and growth. The numbers reflect strong traction: more than 5,100 subscribers and over 215,000 total views across episodes at the time of the interview. The metric that matters more: people write to say an episode helped them get through a night they were dreading.
Men’s Mental Health: “Conversations with the Boys”
Mikey Tableman and his team also produce a men’s roundtable called “Conversations with the Boys.” The format is simple and strong. A small group meets, shares openly, and protects confidentiality. Listeners often say, “I wish I could talk to my friends like this.” Many men were taught to silence everything but anger. This series resets that script. It gives language and a pattern to repeat at home.
Mikey notes that suicide is a leading cause of death among young adult men. He treats that reality with care. The goal is not stats. The goal is culture. The roundtable proves that a different culture is possible. It starts with one honest hour and a rule that nothing shared gets used against you later.
My Manic Maze: Book, EP, and Visual Album
My Manic Maze is a memoir-in-poems. The work traces bipolar diagnosis, anxiety, depression, impostor thoughts, addiction, and a suicide attempt. Each chapter expands a scene, a decision, and a lesson. The poem sits at the core. The book adds context and candor. A companion EP and visual album mirror the emotional arc. The first single is planned for November, with a full release targeted for September 2026. The aim is precise: give people the words they need when they cannot find their own.
People who hear Mikey Tableman perform often say the same thing: his lines capture feelings they have struggled to explain for years. That is the point. Art bypasses defenses. It reaches places a lecture cannot. The book and album extend that reach into bedrooms, buses, offices, and waiting rooms. Wherever someone needs a lifeline, a page or track can meet them there.
Daily System: How Mikey Tableman Builds Order Into Every Day
Mikey’s system is practical and repeatable. It starts before he looks at a phone.
- Morning hour for self: A guided meditation the moment he wakes up. Journaling his intentions and gratitude. Stretching. Coffee. Reading a few pages. Music that lifts his mood. No email. No social feeds. This hour sets the tone.
- Gym: Movement to reset his nervous system and build energy for the day.
- Midday reset: A 30-minute meditation window to slow down, reduce noise, and return to baseline.
- Breathwork: He is certified to teach. He leans on it personally. Breathing well improves focus and calm. He uses it when anxiety spikes or pace accelerates.
This framework is not complicated. That is the strength. When life gets loud, simple wins. You can copy it today. Pick a meditation track, write three sentences of gratitude, move your body, and take a 30-minute pause mid-shift. Repeat tomorrow.
Community, Boundaries, and the Reality of Building
Mikey Tableman runs events and festivals while he grows his “A Mind’s Pursuit” nonprofit and the “Chaos Controlled” podcast. That mix takes energy and planning. He blocks time. He sets expectations. He says “no” when needed. He surrounds himself with people who respect recovery and protect his peace. Early on, friends skipped drinks when he was around. That solidarity mattered.
He credits his support system often. A boss who paid him during rehab. Friends who called and visited. A team that carried the load when he needed rest. He also names the risk of isolation. You cannot receive care you never allow. Speak up. Let people in.
Art and Authentic Influence
“Influencer” is a label Mikey Tableman avoids. He asks a clear question: what are you influencing? He prefers a different standard—live in alignment. Be the same person online and offline. Share wins and losses. Refuse the polished mask. That approach builds trust. People feel safe enough to open up. They can tell when a person is fronting and when a person is real.
The entertainment world has its share of staged moments. Rented cars. Borrowed planes. Filters on filters. Mikey Tableman does not dwell there. He points out the difference and moves on. His focus is simple: help people live lives they are proud of when the camera is off.
If You Feel Alone Right Now
Mikey Tableman’s counsel is direct:
- Your feelings are valid. Do not let anyone dismiss them.
- You are not alone. Many people feel what you feel and made it through.
- Hold on. Think of life like a pendulum. If it can swing this far low, it can swing high.
Make three moves today:
- Text one trusted person and say, “I need to talk.”
- Journal for ten minutes without editing yourself.
- Do five minutes of box breathing to calm your body.
One more step: say out loud one need you have. Food. Sleep. A walk. A call. Start there. Action beats isolation.
Speaking, Workshops, and Creative Formats
Mikey Tableman speaks to companies, campuses, creator groups, and communities. He uses mixed formats: keynote talks with spoken word moments, breathwork segments, panels, and men’s circles. The goal is not to impress. The goal is to help rooms relax, tell the truth, and leave with clear actions.
Audiences include hospitality and entertainment teams, leaders seeking a healthier culture, recovery groups, and student communities. Takeaways are specific. Language to name what you feel. A morning system you can follow. A template for your own roundtable. A reminder that real strength looks like honesty.
Five Lessons From Mikey Tableman You Can Use Today
- Speak up once sooner than you think you should. Do not wait for a perfect moment. Say, “I’m not okay.”
- Protect the first hour of your day. Meditation. Gratitude. Movement. No phone. Small wins stack fast.
- Swap doom-scroll for breathwork. Five minutes of focused breathing will change your state.
- Start a monthly circle. Set two rules: honesty and confidentiality. Keep it simple. Keep it going.
- Turn pain into a piece. Write a poem. Record a track. Paint a canvas. Share it with one person.
Milestones and Momentum
- 2018: suicide attempt becomes a turning point. The choice to live sets recovery in motion.
- Rehab and sober living build a foundation. Support shows up. Boundaries hold.
- A Mind’s Pursuit forms a core team. Events bring people together without judgment.
- Chaos Controlled launches in 2021. The show pivots to vulnerability. Season 3 rolls out weekly.
- Audience impact: 5,100+ subscribers and 215,000+ total views at the time of the interview.
- My Manic Maze takes shape: book, EP, and visual album aligned around a single poem. First single planned for November. Full release targeted for September 2026.
Why This Story Matters Now
Many people today hit their limit in private. They look stable on the surface and feel broken underneath. They think no one would understand. They fear being judged. They fear letting others down. They decide to carry it alone. That choice is a trap.
Mikey Tableman rejects that path. He chose to speak. He chose to ask for help. He built a system to anchor his mornings and reset his days. He built rooms where people tell the truth and breathe easier. He built a show that holds space for tears and laughter. He built art that reaches people where they live. He keeps going.
“If it was this bad, it can get that good.” That line captures his message. The pendulum can swing. You can start before you feel ready. You can take one step today. Text a friend. Write the first sentence. Sit still and breathe for five minutes. Walk outside and feel the sun. Book a conversation. Share your story with one person who will hold it well.
Begin Again
Mikey Tableman says, “Every day offers a choice. Honesty over image. Action over avoidance. Community over isolation. You do not need a massive plan to change. You need a small move you can repeat.” Mikey Tableman’s life shows what happens when you stack those moves. He went from silence to speech. From burnout to breath. From chaos to care. From a room built for show to rooms built for healing.
Let this be your nudge. Start a morning routine that belongs to you. Create a simple circle with one friend. Share one true thing this week. Write one page. Perform one piece. Ask for help. Offer help. Protect the people you love by telling them what is real.
Mikey Tableman will keep using his voice, his daily system, and his art to open doors for others. You can do the same in your world. If you needed a sign, this is it. Breathe in. Breathe out. Take the next step. Begin again.