Therapuss with Jake Shane – Session 79: PinkPantheress
Host: Jake Shane
Guest: PinkPantheress
Release Date: June 26, 2025
Introduction
In Session 79 of Therapuss with Jake Shane, Jake welcomes renowned artist PinkPantheress for an engaging and introspective therapy session. The episode delves deep into PinkPantheress's creative journey, her struggles with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and her perspectives on friendships and personal growth. The conversation is both humorous and heartfelt, offering listeners valuable insights into managing mental health while navigating the complexities of the music industry.
Background of PinkPantheress
PinkPantheress shares the origin of her unique stage name, which blends elements from the classic Pink Panther movies and a term from the game show The Chase. She recounts her early days on TikTok and her transition from producing music anonymously to embracing her persona publicly.
“I was making a Tick Tock account and then I wanted to call myself the game show aspect is because I was watching a game show called the Chase. And answer to one of the questions was Panther S. And I really like the way it sounded, so I wanted to call myself that, but then it was taken, so I put pink in front of it.” [04:00]
Music and Creative Process
PinkPantheress discusses her musical influences, emphasizing the significant impact of British music and genres like drum and bass and jungle. She contrasts the British music ecosystem with the diverse and fragmented nature of American music scenes.
“I'm from the UK, so a lot of my music is very. It’s all very. It hails a lot from what I grew up listening to. And that's why I feel like a lot of Americans are less familiar with some of the genre.” [08:30]
Her creative process involves starting with the beat—whether self-produced or provided by another producer—then developing melodies before crafting lyrics. This approach highlights her focus on the sonic quality and emotional resonance of her music.
“For me, it comes from hearing the beat first. Whether I've made the beat myself or I'm using a producer's beat. I have to get familiar with the beat. Once that happens, then I kind of do melody passes with my voice. And then once that's been figured out, then lyrics come last for me.” [27:20]
Dealing with OCD and Perfectionism
A significant portion of the conversation centers around PinkPantheress's experience with OCD. She explains how OCD manifests in her life, particularly in her need for perfectionism and repetitive thoughts.
“I have OCD. So what that means is I have to touch things evenly. I have to, like, count things really. Like, intrusive thoughts. I'm very superstitious. So if I don't do it, it's bad luck.” [18:20]
Pink discusses her struggle with negative self-perception and how her OCD drives her to maintain exceedingly high standards in her work and personal life. She emphasizes the detrimental effects of this perfectionism, such as feeling unworthy unless she meets her own lofty expectations.
“That's something which is actually very detrimental to me as a human being because it means that I can negative and very. And people interpret a lot of what I say is like, which. And I just said this somewhere to someone else, but I said, like, people rightfully take my words and they obviously take them to me in exactly what I'm saying. But what I mean to say, whenever I say, like, I'm this. I'm this is this is that in my head, I have such a high standard. I want to be the best.” [20:06]
Coping Strategies and Mental Health Insights
PinkPantheress shares her journey with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy beneficial for managing OCD. She explains how ERP has helped her control intrusive thoughts and reduce compulsive behaviors.
“ERP is a form of therapy for OCD. So I did a lot of that. So I can choose. I'm very lucky, by the way. This is a very lucky thing to have. I can choose which thoughts to dwell on.” [53:36]
Jake contributes by sharing his own experiences with self-esteem and anxiety, creating a mutual understanding of their mental health challenges. Their dialogue offers practical advice, such as silencing negative self-talk and focusing on positive affirmations.
Jake: “I was like, wait, shut up.” [62:50]
PinkPantheress: “Exactly. It feels like this is what it feels like. It feels like this shut up.” [63:00]
Perspectives on Friendship and Relationships
The episode delves into the dynamics of friendships and romantic relationships. PinkPantheress emphasizes the importance of investing in meaningful connections rather than maintaining superficial ones. She discusses recognizing and distancing oneself from friends who treat relationships as disposable.
“I can't do it. It's really hard for me because I'm like. But I, I. Because I'll always have this doubt in my head that you'll have my back. And I need people that have my back.” [68:59]
Jake shares his frustrations with a stagnant relationship, prompting PinkPantheress to offer strategies for addressing unreciprocated feelings and handling jealousy.
Jake: “I've been in a situationship for 3.5 years. And we finally had a real talk about feelings. And then the next week he had a new girlfriend. Should I tell her? And how.” [63:08]
PinkPantheress: “Well, we can't know unless we have the... We don’t know what was in the contents of the conversation.” [63:18]
Notable Quotes
- “Emotions are like people on the street. You don't have to acknowledge them.” [61:36]
- “Being nice to yourself is so important.” [46:57]
- “If someone says I'm mid or I'm ugly, I'm like, like, I don't have the receptor again to care anymore.” [42:53]
Conclusion
Session 79: PinkPantheress offers a candid and insightful exploration of mental health, creativity, and personal relationships. Through her honest discussion about OCD and perfectionism, PinkPantheress provides listeners with valuable coping mechanisms and reinforces the importance of self-compassion. The episode not only highlights her artistic journey but also underscores the significance of nurturing authentic relationships and maintaining mental well-being.
Listeners unfamiliar with the episode will find it both relatable and inspiring, as Jake and PinkPantheress navigate the intricate balance between personal struggles and professional success with humor and empathy.
Notable Quotes:
- PinkPantheress: “For me, it's always the way it Sounds and then the feeling that I give off when I sing and the feeling of it.” [30:59]
- Jake Shane: “I can't lie. I can't lie.” [57:55]
- PinkPantheress: “You can't hate on someone for having it if you don't have it yourself.” [55:04]
Note: Timestamps are approximated based on the transcript provided.