Scream Club Helps Thousands Release Stress Together

When Manny Hernandez and Elena Soboleva had a rough week, they went to Lake Michigan and screamed into the water. Strangers walking by didn't call for help or run away—they started screaming too.

That spontaneous moment turned into Scream Club, a weekly gathering where people write their worries on biodegradable paper, toss it into the lake, and scream as loud as they need to. The Chicago couple, who started hosting regular meetups, never expected their stress release ritual would spark a nationwide movement.

Hernandez, a breathwork coach, says the magic happens when people scream together instead of alone into a pillow. "Being able to have that with other people is more powerful," he told People Magazine.

The vulnerability creates instant connection. Soboleva describes watching strangers turn to each other, hugging and crying after releasing their emotions together.

After 20 weeks of lakeside gatherings, the founders wrapped up "season one" of Scream Club Chicago. They've moved indoors for winter, teaching breathwork and continuing to offer a judgment-free zone for public screaming.

The concept has spread to multiple U.S. cities, with new chapters popping up from coast to coast. Washington D.C. now has its own chapter, where co-leader John Hueste notes that while protests let people voice opinions, Scream Club fills a different need—releasing personal frustrations and anger without a political agenda.

Why This Inspires

Scream Club taps into something deeply human: we're all carrying heavy burdens, and sometimes we just need permission to let them go. Breaking the taboo of screaming in public becomes an act of liberation, especially for people who've spent years keeping their emotions bottled up.

The movement proves that healing doesn't always need to be formal or expensive. Sometimes it just takes showing up at the water's edge with other people brave enough to be vulnerable.

Anyone can find existing chapters through an online "Scream Map" or apply to start a new one in their community. As the founders wrote when their first season ended, "This was never about the scream—it was about people showing up, letting go, and realizing we're all carrying something."