Podcast Summary: The Squeeze — "Huddy: Finding Therapy in Music"

Episode Date: September 10, 2025
Host: Taylor Lautner (Tay) & Taylor Lautner (co-host)
Guest: Chase Huddie (aka Huddy, musician and actor)

Episode Overview

In this candid and heartfelt episode, Chase Huddie (Huddy) joins hosts Taylor and Taylor Lautner to discuss growing up in the spotlight, the impact of bullying and social media on mental health, and the transformative power of music as therapy. Huddy opens up about his challenges, vulnerability, relationships, and the journey of finding his authentic self—culminating in his latest single, "Fragile".

The conversation is deeply personal and relatable, touching on identity, connection, healing from breakups, and the ongoing importance of community and vulnerability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dehumanization in Fame & Seeking Connection

• Chase reflects on the isolating nature of fame:
  • "The kind of, like, dehumanizing thing that happens when people see people on TV... they just dehumanize you in a way." (00:01, 24:03)
• Longing for genuine connection:
  • "Everyone out there just wants connection. I feel like that people are yearning for community right now. Me especially, I like to connect with people." (00:09, 08:08, 26:08)
• Notable moment:
  • Huddy shares how public interactions can feel transactional or surreal, recalling how some fans approach him as an object rather than a person (24:33).

2. Early Life, Bullying, and Social Media

• Growing up in Stockton, CA:
  • Faced bullying from middle school through sophomore year, which often intersected with the beginnings of his social media fame (03:17–06:26).
  • "I started social media when I was in middle school...I kind of faced people being assholes to me." (03:17)
• Impact of bullying:
  • Led to isolation, hiding in the shadows, and transferring to online school, which helped his focus due to ADHD (05:22–07:57).
• Social media’s double-edged sword:
  • Dealing with rumors, hate, and body-shaming online was intense—especially at a young age (10:42–11:41).

3. Mental Health, ADHD, and Family Support

• Struggled with focus in traditional school due to ADHD:
  • "It was hard for me to focus in school in general...when I switched online, I started acing my courses because I could actually focus." (06:26)
• Parental support:
  • His parents, both teachers, ultimately prioritized his mental health over traditional schooling (07:41–07:57).
• Music as coping:
  • Music became his escape during tough school years, further fuelling his passion (06:12–06:26).

4. Navigating Public Persona vs. Authentic Self

• Creating "Huddy":
  • Huddy distinguishes between his public persona and his private self: "There's no point to...waste My time trying to, like, give the world, like, chase the person when I can kind of hide behind Huddie the Persona." (11:50–12:17)
  • He describes himself as an "omniver," both an introvert and extrovert, and explains how both sides contribute to his artistry and well-being (13:04–14:05).
• Stage persona:
  • "My drunk Persona has been Huddie the Hurricane." (14:17)

5. Transition to Music and Acting

• Pursuing music seriously:
  • Always wanted to make alternative music but lacked resources growing up (26:59–27:59).
  • "When I made it out to LA, it was the first thing that I told my manager...I really wanted to be a musician." (27:12)
• Songwriting as therapy:
  • "Music sessions are therapy sessions. So you walk in there, they're like, what's been going on in your life?" (29:04)
• Acting debut:
  • Recently starred in his first feature film, "How to Lose a Popularity Contest," describing it as a rewarding challenge and another creative outlet (20:23–21:42).

6. On Vulnerability and Therapy in Music

• Experiencing the power of honesty:
  • "The more vulnerable you can get, the better the material." (30:50)
  • Writing “All the Things I Hate About You” opened the door to more raw honesty in his songs (30:50).
• Music and mental health:
  • "Music sessions are therapy sessions"—his songwriting process involves exploring his deepest truths (29:04).
• Recent struggles inspiring "Fragile":
  • "I was going through a really tough time feeling like I couldn't open up to people about my feelings...writing the song kind of helped me through that dilemma." (38:15–39:56)

7. Breakups, Friendships, and Letting Go

• On the pain of breakups (romantic & platonic):
  • "Losing a friend is like a slow burn...you have to skip the three to five steps of grief and make it to acceptance." (50:02)
  • Letting go of what used to be and accepting changes is key to healing (50:44–51:59).
• Learning from relationships:
  • Post-breakup, embracing independence, rediscovering hobbies, and finding joy in solitude (56:58–60:57).
  • "I've learned from those relationships to really, it taught me how to understand a girl in a relationship and how to treat a girl..." (56:58)

8. Authenticity and Self-Acceptance

• Finding authentic self:
  • "The authentic side comes from doing what's natural to you...I will never release something that I feel like my heart's not fully in." (44:34–45:06)
• Advice to young self:
  • "Don't be so hard on yourself and just trust that one day it's all going to work out." (62:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On being real despite fame
  • "I want to connect to these people...I would rather them have...an honest conversation than something...fake." (25:34)
• On the therapeutic value of songwriting
  • "Music sessions are therapy sessions." (29:04)
  • "Writing the song helped me through that dilemma because I wasn't able to find an understanding for it until I wrote it." (39:56)
• On vulnerability
  • "I viewed being vulnerable as like weakness in that time. And that's just completely not true." (38:15)
• On learning from pain
  • "I've, I've been in love twice and each time that I've been in love, I've learned something really valuable. It's a good thing." (58:54)
• On not quitting
  • "I'm most proud of myself for never quitting. I think quitting is when everyone that's been rooting against you in your life finally wins." (61:05–61:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Introduction to connection & dehumanization | 00:01–00:51 | | Bullying, childhood, and social media | 03:17–06:26 | | ADHD and school struggles | 06:26–07:57 | | Online hate and boundaries | 10:42–12:17 | | Huddie persona vs. Chase the human | 12:58–14:47 | | Transition to acting | 20:17–22:50 | | On meeting fans as a "real person" | 24:03–26:41 | | Origin in music & creative process | 26:42–29:49 | | Songwriting as therapy & vulnerability | 29:04–30:50 | | Importance of community and Covid's impact | 32:25–33:39 | | Discussion of "Fragile" single | 37:57–41:36 | | Handling breakups & friendships | 49:29–53:32 | | Growth from relationships, finding independence | 56:58–60:57 | | What Huddy is most proud of | 61:05–62:37 | | Advice to his younger self | 62:46–63:25 |

Tone and Language

The episode is open-hearted, vulnerable, and conversational. Both hosts and Chase speak candidly about their flaws, struggles, and hopes, intentionally breaking down the barriers between performer and listener. The friendly, slightly humorous banter is balanced by sincere, earnest reflections on difficult experiences.

Concluding Sentiment

This episode goes beyond a typical celebrity interview, offering a deeply honest look at the intersection of mental health, fame, relationships, and artistic expression. Huddy’s story not only inspires resilience but also models the healing that comes from owning your vulnerability and telling your story—with music, therapy, or simple conversation.

Recommended for anyone navigating challenges, searching for meaning in tough times, or looking for authentic community in today's disconnected world.

Check out Huddy’s single “Fragile”—link in the episode description.