[live music playing] We live during a time where being a human can feel really scary and overwhelming.

And I just think creating any tiny space and time where people can step out of that and feel connected on any level, plays a really large and important role.

[live music playing] I'm Emma Hill, and I am the Director for Spenard Song Circle.

I grew up here in Alaska in a village called Sleetmute.

Being at almost ten years into Song Circles existence, it really started as just this kind of monthly showcase that I could front the money to rent the space.

I wanted a safe space for vulnerability, a spot that was both listening room and entirely focused on the music.

All ages was really crucial for me, and then bringing songwriters of different ages and backgrounds all together and just kind of getting outside of our comfort zone.

[live music playing] Writing songs has always been a form of both therapy, but also like it's a way to create something that we can all relate to each other with, right?

I mean, I think at its core, that is what art does, is it reminds us of our shared humanity.

[live music playing] And as someone who has struggled my whole life with mental illness and has gone through and continues to go through recovery, I wanted to talk about that a lot.

So this show kind of combined those two things for me.

[live music playing] I feel like growing up, dealing with severe bouts of depression and anxiety and other things, they wanted it to be like, oh, this is this thing that happens over here.

And when you look at the real numbers and unfortunately the numbers are worsening, we're talking about it more and so more people are willing to admit their own struggles.

And I think it's the talking about it that plays a big part.

And remembering that you're not alone.

And remembering that other people feel this way too, and have experienced it.

I so desperately want our society as a whole to allow ourselves to talk about the harder things more.

[live music playing] This episode of Every Little Bit is made possible with support by Rasmuson Foundation.