STATE OF MIND with MAURICE BENARD: BIRTHDAY EPISODE ft DOMINIC ZAMPROGNA

It’s Maurice Benard’s birthday! 🎉 Celebrate with a special episode of his State of Mind podcast, as General Hospital co-star Dominic Zamprogna turns the tables and interviews Maurice. In the candid conversation, Maurice opens up about how fame and ego fueled his anxiety, the early warning sign he now watches for when it comes to his mental health, and his birthday wish as he turns 63, and more. Later, fellow co-star Lisa LoCicero joins Maurice and Dominic for a playful, off-script “family reunion” spoof inspired by their longtime on-screen dynamic. Plus, surprise birthday messages from the General Hospital cast, crew & more! 📌 Key moments and highlights from this conversation: Surprise Birthday messages from General Hospital Cast 0:01 Joshua Jackson 1:40 Nazneen Contractor and husband, Carlo Rota 2:16 Genie Francis with husband, Jonathan Frakes 2:22 Carolyn Hennesy Maurice on purpose, faith, and why he talks mental health 7:49 “This is the road I was supposed to take… because of mental health” 8:57 “Everytime i've gone through something I ask God why...but I believe He wanted me to suffer to prevent other people from suffering” Being an “open book,” ego, and what’s hard to share 9:49 “I've always be an open book except when it really hurts me... A lot of that is ego, that I'm embarrassed...” Early career origin story: modeling to acting 11:15 First audition: modeling, lying about height/heels, fashion show boots 14:54 Why he stayed in the business: fear of having “nothing” 16:32 Voice coach, acting teacher calling him “next Al Pacino”, then first manic episode First hospitalization + early manic episode story 18:29 Family realizes he needs help; getting taken in 20:44 Manic episode details, story about past girlfriend/parents' party + “truth comes out” line First real acting break + diagnosis/medication 24:42 First major audition: All My Children (Nico was created for him) 26:45 Diagnosis clarity later + lithium; “got off it like an idiot” 27:56 How long on AMC + decision to leave for LA LA transition + Lucy/Desi experience 28:51 Move to LA + Lucy/Desi role frustration (“stop directing me”) Ego, “enough,” and caring what people think 30:21 Industry makes you feel “not enough” + Maurice links anxiety to ego 33:41 His signature question: “Do you care what people think?” 35:13 Dominic’s strong takeaway: “I can’t control what anyone thinks… I’ve been enough.” 36:08 Maurice on intrusive thoughts + learning to redirect Advice: sleep, meds, and committing to treatment 40:10 Dominic question: "How do you help people take the step?" 44:12 Maurice: “It starts with how well you’re sleeping… something’s coming up.” 45:40 Maurice on medication: “If I have to take it the rest of my life, I will." 46:35 Light joke button: “I’m sexy… hallucinations” Maurice’s birthday wish 54:22 Birthday wish: “All I want is joy… peace within… that is the gift.” 56:56 Dominic to Maurice: You're like an “older brother to me, you play my dad on the show" 57:20 Final thank-you / end of interview segment Comedy sketch 57:46 Skit with General Hospital co-stars Maurice Benard, Dominic Zamprogna & Lisa LoCicero Final birthday montage 1:07:21 More birthday wishes for Maurice from General Hospital stars, crew and more, including Dominic Zamprogna, Finola Hughes, Kin Shriner, Scarlett Spears, Laura Wright, Eden McCoy, Steven Burton and many more! 1:07:22–1:15:05 More birthday messages (friends/cast/crew) through the end Instagram:   / mauricebenard   Twitter:   / mauricebenard   Facebook:   / mauricebenard   Instagram:   / mbstateofmind   Twitter:   / mbstateofmind   Learn more about State Of Mind at https://www.mbstateofmind.com. If you'd like to learn more about my life, I've recently released "Nothing General About It - How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital" https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062973371?...