Therapuss with Jake Shane
Episode Summary: Session 110 – Luke Combs
Release Date: March 19, 2026
Guest: Luke Combs (Country Music Artist)
Host: Jake Shane
Overview
In this episode of "Therapuss," Jake Shane sits down with country music superstar Luke Combs. The conversation blends the series’ signature blend of humor and deep introspection, spanning everything from Luke's path to musical stardom and his experiences with parenthood, to candid and nuanced discussions about mental health—especially Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Listeners are also treated to playful banter about retail work, food addiction, country living, and music industry insights. The two also answer memorable “Tell Me What’s Wrong” questions submitted by fans.
Main Discussion Points & Insights
1. Luke’s Roots, Family, and Career (12:00–20:30)
- Nashville vs. L.A.: Luke is a "full-time Nashville guy" but enjoys short stints in other cities.
"I enjoy coming out [to LA] for a week... grab some nice overnight oats... and then I'm like, they don't have overnight oats in Nashville." – Luke (12:46)
- Growing Up: Born in Charlotte, raised in Asheville, NC.
- Musical Start: Choir background, singing professionally from age 22.
"I'm 35, soon to be 36, which is just gross... but 30s are awesome. It's like 20s with money." – Luke (13:34, 14:36)
- Parenting: His young sons don’t fully grasp his fame, which he hopes to explain himself to protect their normalcy.
"You want them to hear it from you first... prepare them for that conversation." – Luke (17:25)
2. The Songwriting Process and Hit Songs (19:00–24:00, 34:49–44:50)
- “Where the Wild Things Are”: The song circulated Nashville for years before Luke recorded it.
"Really great songs have a tendency to get passed around... you gotta listen to this song so-and-so wrote." – Luke (19:17)
- Song Selection: Hits are unpredictable; social media now strongly influences which songs take off.
"If I was trying to pick a hit off any of my records, 90% of the time I'd be wrong." – Luke (22:29)
- Vine Era: Both reminisce about Vine’s impact on careers (Shawn Mendes, the Paul brothers, and Luke himself).
- Approach to Writing: No single method—sometimes melody, sometimes lyrics, sometimes built off a "track guy" beat.
3. Mental Health and OCD (45:00–63:00 & Throughout)
- Shared Experiences with OCD:
- Jake and Luke open up about their histories with obsessive, intrusive thoughts and compulsions.
"Purely obsessional compulsive disorder... all the compulsions are mental, thought-based." – Luke (50:39)
- Luke describes panic spirals from intrusive thoughts, emphasizing that “accepting” their presence reduces their power.
"Letting them exist is ultimately the thing that removes all the power they have over you." – Luke (56:02)
- Diagnosis Journey: Luke’s struggles began at age 13; clarity didn’t come until 21. He finds power in sharing his story:
"It is not ultimately your destiny to be this person who… has mental illness. That's not... your definition." – Luke (54:00)
- Therapy Approaches: They discuss Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
"It's knowing that you may never get an answer, because it all... revolves around questions that can't be answered." – Luke (57:59)
- Personal Impact: Luke is passionate about mental health advocacy, especially for young fans.
4. Banter, Candy, and Beers (64:25–69:06)
- The duo sample German squishy gummies (Cache), discuss food packaging, and reminisce about beer shotgunning.
- Luke gives a step-by-step beer shotgunning lesson, leading to a comical on-air attempt and ensuing burp.
"For the next song, there's a moment every night after I shotgun a beer... While I'm singing, I burp and it's like, no one knows." – Luke (67:58)
5. Struggles with Weight Loss & Relationship to Food (70:41–78:49)
- Luke shares his ongoing efforts with gluten-free and intermittent fasting, noting the challenge and slow progress.
"It's painstaking, man... real change requires real change, a fundamental change in every way that I've operated with food." – Luke (72:33)
- They reflect on food addiction, especially among artists on tour, and the challenges of breaking eating patterns tied to emotional states.
6. Tell Me What’s Wrong – Fan Q&A (82:23–98:00)
- Bad Bridesmaid: Clear consensus—stop wasting energy on toxic “friends.”
- Explaining OCD: Luke urges listeners not to feel responsible for educating others about their mental health.
"You shouldn’t have to explain it to others; focus on healing yourself." – Luke (84:22)
- ChatGPT & OCD: They debate the tool’s usefulness vs. risk for obsessive brains.
- Toxic Friendship & Bar Fights: Advice to confront the friend, but recognize that not all friendships are permanent.
- Dreadful Breakup at Work: Time to move on from both relationship and job.
"You are not coming back from that. Quit your job and start over, bro." – Luke (98:02)
- Overbearing In-laws: Direct conversation with the partner is recommended.
- Other relationship and life dilemmas addressed with humor and empathy.
7. Music & Pop Culture (99:29–101:00)
- Luke listens to everything from hip-hop to country, valuing "authenticity" in artists.
- Jake recommends R&B singer Summer Walker.
- Pop culture detours range from Bridgerton and Stranger Things to obscure crime dramas and German Netflix shows.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Aging and Your Thirties
“Thirty’s are awesome. If you have the ability to do that, be in your thirties. I love it... It's like 20s with money.”
— Luke Combs (13:58–14:36) -
On OCD Intrusive Thoughts
"For me, a thought like that...basically sends your mind into fight or flight mode... The obsession becomes trying to understand or find an answer for why you had the thought.”
— Luke Combs (51:51–52:27) -
On Food Addiction
“Food is the only thing you can be addicted to that you have to have every day... It’s the only addiction you can’t quit.”
— Luke Combs (74:13–74:42) -
On Not Explaining Your Mental Health
“I don't think it's your responsibility to have to justify what you're going through to anyone else… focus on getting the help you need.”
— Luke Combs (83:32–84:44) -
On Accepting Thoughts
"Letting them exist is ultimately the thing that removes all the power that they have over you and saying, you know what? I will have these thoughts all the time. And that's just like, who cares?"
— Luke Combs (56:02–56:27)
Key Timestamps
- 12:02 – Start of main interview with Luke Combs
- 13:34 – Luke on 20s vs. 30s
- 17:25 – Navigating fame and parenthood
- 19:17 – Story behind “Where the Wild Things Are”
- 22:29 – Predicting hits and social media’s impact
- 34:49 – Watches, status, and luxury goods banter
- 45:00 – Deep dive: OCD and mental health
- 50:39 – Luke explains “purely obsessional compulsive disorder”
- 54:00 – Luke on redefining yourself beyond mental illness
- 56:02 – Power of accepting thoughts
- 64:25 – Candy taste-test & beer shotgun lesson
- 70:41 – Conversation about weight loss, food, and touring
- 82:23 – Start of fan-submitted “Tell Me What’s Wrong”
- 99:29 – Music taste & cultural recommendations
- 101:05 – Wrap-up reflections and final thoughts
Tone & Language
- Language: Casual, irreverent, honest, and often humorous; leans into vulnerability and camaraderie.
- Tone: Warm, occasionally self-deprecating, and welcoming of tough conversations.
Conclusion
This episode is a masterclass in authentic conversation—from discussing the ups and downs of fame and family, to normalizing mental health struggles without embarrassment. Luke Combs’ openness regarding his OCD, songwriting process, and food addiction offers relatable, tangible help to listeners. Lighthearted detours—candy taste-tests, pop culture, and playful advice—bring bursts of levity. Jake and Luke’s chemistry keeps the show compelling, funny, and deeply human.
Recommended for: Fans of country and pop culture, those navigating mental health challenges, and anyone seeking a transparent, relatable dialogue on music, fame, food, and life.