You probably know Michael Rosenbaum from his days playing Lex Luthor on the TV show, Smallville. A role he played for nearly the entire run of the series. The Castle High School and Western Kentucky graduate has also worked on several other TV shows and movies both in front of and behind the camera. These days he’s hosting not one, but two podcasts, Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum and In Love which he co-hosts with Chris Sullivan, who plays Toby on NBC’s This is Us. 

I’m a big fan of Inside of You, not only because of the guests Michael speaks to, which has included some of his former Smallville cast mates, Jennifer Love-Hewitt, Jon Cryer, Macauley Caulkin, and more over its 85 episodes (and counting), but because of the discussions they have. It’s not all about their next project, or what they’re doing now, it’s about life. The home life they had growing up, both good and bad, and the mental struggles they deal with including anxiety, depression, and inadequacy just to name a few. Michael himself is also very open about his struggles during each episode and has said in many episodes the podcast has become like therapy for him. An opportunity to talk things out with others who have dealt with similar issues.

It’s real conversations about things everyone can relate to in some way, myself included. I rarely talk openly about this, but I often wrestle with many of the same issues as these celebrities. I watch as co-workers come up with really great ideas and wonder why I can’t do the same which quickly spirals into me thinking I suck at my job. I’ll sometimes wake up sweating in the middle of the night because my mind has created some wild, worrisome, work-related scenario that I have convinced myself will happen even though the chances of it playing out are slim to none. Through listening to the podcast, I’ve found comfort in the fact other people who, on the outside, give the appearance that they have it all together because they’re big Hollywood stars, are really no different than you and I, and it’s helped me deal with my own issues tremendously.

In our 30-plus minute conversation, Michael and I also talked about his new band, Left on Laurel, in which he serves as rhythm guitarist and lead singer. They recently released their debut album, Saved by the Ground, featuring 10 tracks whose sound I can best describe as mostly rock with a hint of country, not only in the style, but the stories each song tells.

Check out the full conversation in the player on the website link below. And be sure to check out Michael’s podcasts pretty much anywhere podcasts are available, including the Inside of You website. AND, don’t forget to give Saved by the Ground a listen wherever you stream music, or download it through the Inside of You store.