Tyler Blackburn: Healing, Self-Worth, and Asking for Help - The Squeeze

Transcript

Tyler Blackburn (0:01)

The following podcast is a Dear Media Production. I'm nothing. I don't have those things. I'm nothing. I'm already nothing. And it caused a true spiral.

Lexi (0:09)

What got you to that breaking point? Was there something that kind of triggered it or were you just like, I'm done?

Tyler Blackburn (0:14)

It's a little bit of a layered story. After a couple years, I started really manifesting physical problems. And so I started having health issues, gut health issues, crazy vertigo. And then I found out my spine was broken. I don't know how. I had to have full spine surgery. I was trying all these different avenues. Nothing was happening. My love life was tumultuous. I felt really alone. I was really cruel to myself. I look at it almost now, like me as a spiritual being was trying to like wake me up. And it got really wild and I realized that I wasn't making the kind of money I had been making. If I don't have the money and the nice things, what do I have? Yeah, who am I? Last year I had to ask for help from my family, family and friends in a way that I was not comfortable with. I don't think I could have gotten through that time without my family, my friends. And I felt like people showed up for me in a really immediate way, in a really magical way.

Lexi (1:31)

Happy Wednesday, you little lemon drops. I am so excited because this week's guest is Tyler Blackburn and you probably know him from Pretty Little Liars. This show was my go to show in high school. My girlfriends and I, I think it was on Tuesday nights. Every Tuesday we would end dance at like 8:30. We would all go to Whole Foods, we would all pick up dinner and then we would all drive to one of our houses to, to watch the new episode that was coming out that week. And it is such a fun memory of mine to look back on. And we just had so much fun doing that. So I was super excited to sit down with Tyler this week and really hear more about his story, his time on Pretty Little Liars, but also what's been going on in his personal life recently. Tyler and I had a very honest and vulnerable conversation about him reaching an emotional breakdown last year and what really led to that. Over years and years of being in the industry and how he's learned to work through that. We talked about what accepting yourself really means to him and how he's learned to heal from past trauma. This episode was so sweet and I can't wait for you guys to hear it because I left so inspired after talking with Tyler. So hope you enjoy. Tyler. Welcome to the Squeeze.

Tyler Blackburn (2:46)

Thank you so much for having me.

Lexi (2:47)

I have to tell you, we were just talking about high school. We grew up in the same city. My girlfriends, I texted them this morning. So I grew up dancing. And in high school, once we all, like, got our driver's licenses, we would all. Every Tuesday, we would finish dance at 8:30, we would go to Whole Foods, we would get our healthy dinner, and then we would go over to someone's house and watch the new episode of Pretty Little Liars.

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Squeeze with Tyler Blackburn
Episode: "Tyler Blackburn: Healing, Self-Worth, and Asking for Help"
Host: Taylor Lautner
Date: March 11, 2026

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and deeply reflective episode, host Taylor Lautner sits down with actor Tyler Blackburn, best known for his role on "Pretty Little Liars" (PLL), to discuss Tyler’s personal journey with mental health, body image, self-worth, and the challenges of being vulnerable. The conversation explores Tyler’s emotional low point, the importance of asking for help, and his newfound commitment to loving and accepting himself. Throughout, both Taylor and Tyler share stories, insights, and laughter, offering comfort and solidarity to listeners struggling with similar issues.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Nostalgia and Early Career (03:11–14:31)

Shared Memories of "Pretty Little Liars":
- Taylor expresses excitement and nostalgia for PLL, sharing high school memories of weekly watch parties (03:11).
- Tyler reflects on the significance of being part of such a formative show:
  “My favorite thing is when people say to me that PLL was their comfort show—because it’s like, we all had that or hopefully, you know, and to be a part of that…that’s the most important thing for me that came out of it.” (03:37)
The Evolution of TV and Fandom:
- Discussion of the changing landscape from scheduled TV viewing to streaming, and how it affects shared cultural experiences.
  “I just don’t know that kids experience it in the same way anymore. But it’s just—their new reality.” – Tyler (05:17)
Tyler’s Path to Acting:
- Started in performing arts-focused preschool, pursued acting seriously in high school.
- Chose not to have a backup plan, driven by gut instinct and strong desire for the craft (08:24–09:08).
- Faced years of auditions and setbacks before landing PLL, underscoring the importance of persistence and self-definition:
  “I kind of had this explosion after high school where I just kind of got a little wild, and I was partying a lot, and I was not taking care of myself... I had to define who I was for me.” (10:15)

The Impact of Fame & Pressures of Hollywood (11:33–16:23)

Transition to Fame:
- Tyler describes how notoriety from PLL happened “almost overnight” after joining the series (12:01).
- Points out the double-edged sword of recognition—validation mixed with invasive attention and the pressure to maintain a certain image.
- Early days of social media:
  “We utilized social media in a way that other shows hadn’t yet... I was told by the studio...you should really be leaning into Instagram.” (12:43–12:54)
Changing Social and Industry Standards:
- Tyler reflects on body image and gendered expectations earlier in his career:
  “There were so many conversations around my body...you need to bulk up, you need to come across more masculine, you can’t come across as queer in any way. Those types of conversations just aren’t really okay anymore.” (23:10–23:14)
- The importance of embracing individuality, as “it’s actually cooler to be weird now than it used to be before.” (23:28)

Body Image, Sexuality, and the Cycle of Self-Criticism (27:36–34:54)

Mental Health Struggles and Body Image Issues:
- Tyler discusses how self-worth became entangled with physical appearance and external validation, particularly after coming to terms with his sexuality in his late 20s:
  “Do I have sex appeal? Am I lovable? ...It did start this cycle that I didn’t realize how bad it was getting until last year. I had a really hard year last year. Really quite dark, I’m not gonna lie.” (28:43)
- Describes harmful behaviors like daily “pinching fat” and constant self-comparison driven by industry expectations.
Learning Self-Love:
- Recent efforts to rebuild self-compassion and empathy:
  “I want to have, like, the deepest love affair with myself that I’ve ever had in my life.” (30:45)
- Emphasizes being multifaceted and allowing oneself to exist without rigid boxes or the need for external validation:
  “I would avoid certain parts of myself because they were unlovable in my mind…Now I just want to be like, all that really matters is how I feel about me.” (31:02–31:23)

Hitting Rock Bottom, Asking for Help, and Healing (41:02–47:43)

Narrative of Breakdown:
- Tyler revisits last year’s “layered” breakdown, brought on by career stagnation, health crises (gut issues, vertigo, spinal surgery), and major loss of self-worth:
  “If I don’t have the money and the nice things and the success—what do I have? Who am I? I’m nothing.” (43:29)
- Describes anxiety and insomnia at their worst:
  “I was sleeping, like, one hour a night, literally, if I was lucky.” (43:02–43:07)
Asking for Help & Community Support:
- Details how he was forced—against all instincts—to rely on friends and family:
  “Last year I had to ask for help from my family and friends in a way that I was not prior comfortable with...I just don’t think I could have gotten through that time without my family, my friends.” (44:32–45:29)
- This vulnerability led to greater empathy and a shift in how Tyler aims to connect with the world:
  “After hitting a rock bottom of sorts, you can become a little bit more empathetic toward just, like, the human experience.” (46:20)

Self-Worth, Acceptance, & The Path Forward (50:14–60:37)

Defining Self-Worth Then and Now:
- Tyler contrasts his former dependence on external validation with today’s inner grounding:
  “10 years ago was like...a darker time in my life where I put a lot of stock in how other people were responding to me...Now I just think that my relationship with myself has to be the most important thing.” (50:14–50:45)
Rituals for Healing:
- Shares practical methods to foster self-love, such as affirmations and mirror work after challenging experiences:
  “I’ve started to implement rituals, like looking in the mirror in my own eyes...I love you, Tyler...Before in my life, I probably would have left something like this and spiraled...Now it’s like, I don’t let those things in. I want to look in the mirror. And I’m so proud of you.” (53:24–53:56)
Letting Go of Perfectionism and Embracing Vulnerability:
- Discusses the freedom in accepting messiness, showing up imperfectly, and moving through fear:
  “Perfectionism was always so important to me, and now I’m just like, we’re messy. Show up tired.” (55:19)

Tyler’s Greatest Pride: Resilience (57:15–60:37)

Reflection on Personal Growth:
- When asked what he’s most proud of, Tyler gets emotional:
  “It was almost like, I don’t know how to just choose one. Which I think is...a very polarizing narrative to how I used to feel. So it’s a little overwhelming because I really...I like me.” (57:15)
- Ultimately, his resilience stands out:
  “I think that my resilience is what I’m most proud of...This world is designed to challenge us...but I just don’t want to give up…more so now than ever, I want to be happy.” (58:24–59:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"If I don’t have the money and the nice things, what do I have? Who am I?" – Tyler Blackburn, (43:29)
"I want to have, like, the deepest love affair with myself that I’ve ever had in my life." – Tyler Blackburn, (30:45)
"Perfectionism was always so important to me, and now I’m just like, we’re messy." – Tyler Blackburn, (55:19)
"After hitting rock bottom, you become a little bit more empathetic toward the human experience." – Tyler Blackburn, (46:20)
"I like me. I like that I’m weird sometimes. I like that I can say I’m sorry. I think what I’m most proud of is my resilience." – Tyler Blackburn, (57:15–58:24)
"What are we really afraid of? We aren’t running from a dinosaur...Just being seen. Great, that means you need to force yourself to be seen even more." – Tyler Blackburn, (54:21–54:34)

Key Timestamps (MM:SS)

03:37 — Tyler on being part of a comfort show
08:24–10:15 — Tyler’s path into acting and his formative years
12:01 — How PLL changed Tyler’s life overnight
23:10 — Industry standards and identity pressures
27:36–34:54 — Body image and queer identity struggles
41:02–47:43 — Hitting rock bottom, health crises, asking for help
50:14 — “What self-worth means to me now”
53:24–53:56 — Self-love rituals and affirmations
57:15–58:24 — Pride in resilience; loving one’s quirks

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is honest, vulnerable, warm, and at times, emotional. Both Tyler and Taylor foster a compassionate environment filled with empathy, gentle humor, and heartfelt encouragement. Listeners are reminded that they are not alone in their struggles, and that healing is possible one step at a time.

Summary Takeaway:
Tyler Blackburn’s journey from the heights of early fame through setbacks and internal battles, culminating in a renewed commitment to authenticity and self-love, offers listeners hope and practical inspiration for healing, self-acceptance, and the courage to ask for help. This episode provides a powerful look at how even those in the public eye are weighed down by “sour lemons,” and how asking for help—and learning to love oneself—can be the ultimate act of strength and transformation.