Radio and television personality Charlamagne tha God (Lenard McKelvey) is known for his work co-hosting a radio show, “The Breakfast Club.” He sat down with former pastor Carl Lentz on Lentz’s “Lights On” podcast to talk about mental illness, therapy, and building trust.
“Did you think you’d make it here?” asked Lentz. Charlamagne quickly and confidently answered, “Yes. Absolutely. 100%.”
Charlamagne Tha God Opens Up to Carl Lentz About His Own Mental Illness and Years of Therapy
Starting out as an unpaid intern at the Radio Hall of Fame, Charlamagne tha God has gone on to host several podcasts and radio shows. He also founded The Black Effect Podcast Network. With a successful career, marriage, and four kids, Charlamagne is said to “have it all.”
“You are a walking revenue stream,” Lentz said of Charlamagne.
The successful artist didn’t always have it so “easy.” After getting “kicked out of two high schools,” Charlamagne was taking night classes to earn a degree. He also spoke of having “some moments with the law.”
Charlamagne started his career as an unpaid intern at a radio station, hanging posters and putting up tents for events. But quickly a desire was building inside of him. “I can only chalk it up to God,” he said. “God is the only entity that can put that type of vision in you, that type of purpose in you.”
Lentz spoke of Charlamagne’s success and how others envy his life. “They love what you have but want nothing to do with what you did to get here,” he said.
“I think about my mom and my dad, and I think about my grandmother,” Charlamagne said. “One thing they did instill in me was a real strong faith in a higher power.”
Charlamagne has battled mental illness for a long time. “My whole life, I’ve been dealing with really bad anxiety and bouts of depression,” he admitted. He described in detail how his anxiety would play out as a young child.
“I used to have these real bad panic attacks—like those uncontrollable panic attacks,” he said. “I’m either crying uncontrollably or scared to death of whatever environment I’m in. I don’t necessarily know why nobody can calm me down. I don’t even know why I got to this place.”
When he was in his 30s, Charlamagne thought he was having a heart attack. But the doctor confirmed that his “athlete’s heart” was fine and diagnosed the episode as a panic attack.
 is known for his work co-hosting a radio show, "The Breakfast Club." He sat down with former pastor Carl Lentz on Lentz's "Lights On" podcast to talk about mental illness, therapy, and building trust.){kind=link}