Rory Kramer, MTV’s ‘Dare To Live’ Star, Speaks About Depression, Advice For Others [VIDEO EXCLUSIVE]

Rory Kramer, a self-starting videographer and the star of MTV’s newest reality series Dare To Live, decided to turn his darkest moments into his biggest motivators.

Now, coming of the success of his YouTube channel and music videos made for stars like Avicii, Tori Kelly, and Justin Bieber, Kramer has been handed the keys to the new MTV show. In it, Kramer will link up with many of the musical acts he has worked with in the past and some new ones, and bring them along on his adventures.

Dare To Live centers around the idea that Kramer’s zest for life and adventure is still possible even though the star has long struggled with depression.

Kramer sat down with uInterview to discuss his depression, how it influences his work, and how he hopes to motivate others.

Early on, it seemed that Kramer’s depression had very little value, but soon, the videographer discovered that he could use it as motivation.

“Some of my best videos come from that,” Kramer said. “But also, it can be a very dark place. Whenever I get out of those moments, I just try to use those, instead of as a weakness, I try to use them as a strength.”

And while talking about his depression helped his career personally, Kramer is most happy that it helped other people as well.

“I just realized that once I started talking about who I am, and what I’ve gone through, and my struggle, that people connect to it and they relate to it. I think it’s important to see…I think that that just inspires people and it encourages them not to feel alone and not to be ashamed of their feelings.”

For those struggling with depression, Kramer encourages them not to be ashamed of their feelings and to understand that other people sometimes feel the same thing. “Embrace those moments,” he said, “because you can always grow and learn from them.

“Even though there are tough times, it gets better. If I got through it, I think everybody else can too.”

Dare To Live premieres August 29 on MTV at 11 p.m. EST.

Transcript below:

Q: How did your struggle with depression lead to ‘Dare To Live’?

A: Growing up with it, I struggled with being alone. I loved surrounding myself with other people. When I have that kind of energy, I’m great. But when I’m alone, my mind starts to wander and sometimes it’s a great thing, some of my best videos come from that. But also, it can be a very dark place. Whenever I get out of those moments, I just try to use those, instead of as a weakness, I try to use them as a strength. So, it’s like, either I try to put a lot of the stuff that I’ve gone through that I’m not happy about, that was sad in my life, I try to put those as inspiration in some of my videos so that someone who watches it can take something away from it. Instead of just being entertained, your left with a feeling that kind of inspires other people. I just realized that once I started talking about who I am, and what I’ve gone through, and my struggle, that people connect to it and they relate to it. I think it’s important to see. People tend to put you on a pedestal in the entertainment industry and I’ve seen it with all the artists I’ve worked with. Yeah, it feels good but it also kind of leaves you feeling alone and empty. So to allow these kids to connect with you in a way like, ‘Wow, Rory struggles with depression, so do I, and he’s doing all this great stuff.’ I think that that just inspires people and it encourages them not to feel alone and not to be ashamed of their feelings.

Q: Do you have any advice for people struggling with depression?

A: Yeah, I think that you got to learn that those moments and those feelings are natural and other people feel them not to be ashamed of them. And, to embrace those moments because you can always grow and learn from them. For me, with this show, I’m able to go back to those moments and reference them and I can feel that energy. So when I decide to write or create a certain moment or to talk about a certain subject, I can easily go back to those moments and it allows me to be a better creator. Even though there are tough times, it gets better. If I got through it, I think everybody else can too.