
Hosted by Maroon 5's founding drummer, therapist, author, and mental health advocate Ryan Dusick, Harder to Breathe is a podcast with honest and vulnerable conversations about the challenges we face and how to work through them.
Each week, Ryan shares his stories and tools for moving past anxiety while also interviewing leading entertainers, musicians, athletes, and entrepreneurs to discuss how they too manage their demons.
Recent Episodes 
A Deep Dive into the Mind of a Pro Athlete: with William Trubridge
William holds 18 World Records in Free Diving, a sport in which an individual dives straight down into the depths of the ocean… for as long and as deep as is physically possible. It requires an incredible amount of both mental and physical strength to perform such a feat, and for William, holding off intrusive thoughts and anxiety is truly a matter of life and death.
As you might imagine, having such an incredible skill set and resume has given William a unique understanding of the human mind. The conversation dives into some deep territory, including navigating black-outs and unsuccessful dives, as well as fostering the ability to truly separate our human fears from our human instincts.
It’s perhaps the most pure form of harnessing mental energy, and bridging the gap between the body and the mind is what the “Harder to Breathe” Podcast is all about. It’s not often we have the chance to speak with a world-record holding athlete, and it’s a fascinating conversation that absolutely lives up to the hype.
VIDEO TIME CODES
0:00:00 Introduction & Mixing Things Up
0:03:42 Duck’s Self-Described “Ticks”
0:05:09 Ryan’s Self-Described “Ticks”
0:08:06 Today’s Guest: William Trubridge
0:12:00 William Trubridge Joins the Podcast & Speaks on his “Freediving” Origins
0:15:45 Choosing to Make Diving Competitive
0:17:59 The “Blood Shift” & Changing Physiology Underwater
0:19:44 Learning to Maintain Composure
0:23:13 Anxiety in a Life & Death Situation vs. Everyday Anxiety
0:25:50 Unsuccessful Dives & Blacking Out
0:29:45 Consciousness Beyond Our Own Thoughts
0:31:51 Listening to Instinct and Not Fear
0:36:47 The Effects of Water Pressure at Depth
0:38:55 Exposing Himself to Narcosis
0:39:43 Outdated Evolutionary Tools for Human Survival
0:42:49 Reprogramming your Subconscious
0:47:25 The Polyvagal Theory
0:53:07 Your Free Tool: The “3 Second Gap”
0:57:40 Becoming More Calm Through Diving
0:59:45 Fighting Off Hyper-Vigilance
1:08:46 William’s Coaching & Conservation Programs
1:11:12 Wrap Up & Conclusion
More About William Trubridge:
Official Website: https://www.williamtrubridge.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willtrubridge/
“The Mental Immune System” Program: https://www.mentalimmunesystem.com
Ready to Dive Deeper?:
https://www.ryandusick.com/
BenBella Books Author Page - https://benbellabooks.com/authors/dusick-ryan/
Amazon Book Page - https://www.amazon.com/Harder-Breathe-Memoir-Finding-Recovery/dp/1637742339/
WWSG Speaker Page - https://wwsg.com/speakers/ryan-dusick/
Psychology Today Therapist Profile - https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/937599
Stay Up to Date on the Podcast: @hardertobreathepodcast
Follow Ryan on Social Media:
IG - @ryan_michael_dusick
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-dusick-ma-amft-26460894/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ryan.m.dusick
Facebook Author Page - https://www.facebook.com/RyanMichaelDusick/
X / Twitter - @DusickRyan
Follow Duck on Social Media:
IG - @Newyorkduck
X / Twitter - @DuckMaillard
#freediving #freediver #freedivers #freediverlife #anxiety #mentalhealth #copingskills #mindfulness #relaxation #stress #stressrelief[+] Show More

William holds 18 World Records in Free Diving, a sport in which an individual dives straight down into the depths of the ocean… for as long and as deep as is physically possible. It requires an incredible amount of both mental and physical strength to perform such a feat, and for William, holding off intrusive thoughts and anxiety is truly a matter of life and death.
As you might imagine, having such an incredible skill set and resume has given William a unique understanding of the human mind. The conversation dives into some deep territory, including navigating black-outs and unsuccessful dives, as well as fostering the ability to truly separate our human fears from our human instincts.
It’s perhaps the most pure form of harnessing mental energy, and bridging the gap between the body and the mind is what the “Harder to Breathe” Podcast is all about. It’s not often we have the chance to speak with a world-record holding athlete, and it’s a fascinating conversation that absolutely lives up to the hype.
VIDEO TIME CODES
0:00:00 Introduction & Mixing Things Up
0:03:42 Duck’s Self-Described “Ticks”
0:05:09 Ryan’s Self-Described “Ticks”
0:08:06 Today’s Guest: William Trubridge
0:12:00 William Trubridge Joins the Podcast & Speaks on his “Freediving” Origins
0:15:45 Choosing to Make Diving Competitive
0:17:59 The “Blood Shift” & Changing Physiology Underwater
0:19:44 Learning to Maintain Composure
0:23:13 Anxiety in a Life & Death Situation vs. Everyday Anxiety
0:25:50 Unsuccessful Dives & Blacking Out
0:29:45 Consciousness Beyond Our Own Thoughts
0:31:51 Listening to Instinct and Not Fear
0:36:47 The Effects of Water Pressure at Depth
0:38:55 Exposing Himself to Narcosis
0:39:43 Outdated Evolutionary Tools for Human Survival
0:42:49 Reprogramming your Subconscious
0:47:25 The Polyvagal Theory
0:53:07 Your Free Tool: The “3 Second Gap”
0:57:40 Becoming More Calm Through Diving
0:59:45 Fighting Off Hyper-Vigilance
1:08:46 William’s Coaching & Conservation Programs
1:11:12 Wrap Up & Conclusion
More About William Trubridge:
Official Website: https://www.williamtrubridge.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willtrubridge/
“The Mental Immune System” Program: https://www.mentalimmunesystem.com
Ready to Dive Deeper?:
https://www.ryandusick.com/
BenBella Books Author Page - https://benbellabooks.com/authors/dusick-ryan/
Amazon Book Page - https://www.amazon.com/Harder-Breathe-Memoir-Finding-Recovery/dp/1637742339/
WWSG Speaker Page - https://wwsg.com/speakers/ryan-dusick/
Psychology Today Therapist Profile - https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/937599
Stay Up to Date on the Podcast: @hardertobreathepodcast
Follow Ryan on Social Media:
IG - @ryan_michael_dusick
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-dusick-ma-amft-26460894/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ryan.m.dusick
Facebook Author Page - https://www.facebook.com/RyanMichaelDusick/
X / Twitter - @DusickRyan
Follow Duck on Social Media:
IG - @Newyorkduck
X / Twitter - @DuckMaillard
#freediving #freediver #freedivers #freediverlife #anxiety #mentalhealth #copingskills #mindfulness #relaxation #stress #stressrelief[+] Show More




Lzzy Hale, alongside her band “Halestorm”, has become a household name in the Hard Rock space. With more than 3.5 Million monthly listeners on Spotify, a Grammy Award, and hundreds of millions of views on Youtube, she has reached the absolute pinnacle of what it means to succeed in the Metal music genre… a task made especially difficult as a female vocalist.
Having accomplished everything that she has, it would be easy for Lzzy to sit back comfortably with the life she has built. Instead, she has chosen to become an advocate for Mental Health, and today is utilizing her incredible charm and charisma to share her own struggles with us– Struggles which have included Imposter Syndrome, Anxiety, Alcoholism, and more.
This conversation with Ryan and Duck features aspects of Lizzy’s alcoholism that she is speaking about publicly for the first time ever. It is incredibly vulnerable for a person of her position to express herself in the way that she does here, and it makes for an absolutely inspiring, can’t-miss episode of the “Harder to Breathe” Podcast.
VIDEO TIME CODES
0:00:00 Introduction & Hidden Messages
0:01:58 Starting a Business
0:04:34 “Adulting”
0:08:38 Fake It? Or Pass it Off?
0:12:32 Wrestling With Empathy in Therapy
0:18:00 Today’s Guest: Lzzy Hale of Halestorm
0:21:31 Lzzy Hale joins the Podcast & Shares Her History with Ryan
0:24:41 Imposter Syndrome & Anxiety
0:33:00 “The Big Why”
0:34:33 Charisma vs. Insecurity
0:42:14 Becoming a Beacon for Mental Health
0:46:48 Lzzy Shares her “Alcoholics Move” for the FIRST TIME
0:52:43 Attending Alcoholics Anonymous
0:55:06 Band Relationship Dynamics
0:58:47 Struggles for Women in Metal
1:09:10 Breaking Down Walls & Inspiring Others
1:12:56 Lzzy’s Influences Coming Up
1:17:19 Becoming an “Ambassador for Rock”
1:26:41 Upcoming Halestorm Album
1:30:09 Wrap Up & Conclusion
More on Lzzy Hale & “Halestorm”:
Instagram: instagram.com/officiallzzyhale/
Halestorm Website: https://www.halestormrocks.com/
Halestorm on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6om12Ev5ppgoMy3OYSoech
Ready to Dive Deeper?:
https://www.ryandusick.com/
BenBella Books Author Page - https://benbellabooks.com/authors/dusick-ryan/
Amazon Book Page - https://www.amazon.com/Harder-Breathe-Memoir-Finding-Recovery/dp/1637742339/
WWSG Speaker Page - https://wwsg.com/speakers/ryan-dusick/
Psychology Today Therapist Profile - https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/937599
Stay Up to Date on the Podcast: @hardertobreathepodcast
Follow Ryan on Social Media:
IG - @ryan_michael_dusick
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-dusick-ma-amft-26460894/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ryan.m.dusick
Facebook Author Page - https://www.facebook.com/RyanMichaelDusick/
X / Twitter - @DusickRyan
Follow Duck on Social Media:
IG - @Newyorkduck
X / Twitter - @DuckMaillard
#lzzyhale #halestorm #interview #metalmusic #hardrock #anxiety #impostersyndrome #mentalhealth #mentalhealthadvocate #mentalhealthawareness #alcoholismawareness[+] Show More

Ryan and his co-host Duck Maillard sit down to discuss the cultural significance ...of the show, what the creators got right in crafting the story, and what lessons we can learn from it.
Subscribe to The Harder to Breathe Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart Radio to receive new episodes every Tuesday. Keep up with the show on Instagram and TikTok at @hardertobreathepodcast
Ready to Dive Deeper?:
https://www.ryandusick.com/
BenBella Books Author Page - https://benbellabooks.com/authors/dus...
Amazon Book Page - https://www.amazon.com/Harder-Breathe...
WWSG Speaker Page - https://wwsg.com/speakers/ryan-dusick/
Psychology Today Therapist Profile - https://www.psychologytoday.com/profi...
Follow Ryan on Social Media:
IG - @ryan_michael_dusick
LinkedIn - linkedin_1x.png / ryan-dusick-26460894
Facebook - facebook_1x.png / ryan.m.dusick
Facebook Author Page - facebook_1x.png / ryanmichaeldusick
X / Twitter - @DusickRyan
Follow Duck on Social Media:
IG - @Newyorkduck
X / Twitter - @DuckMaillard
#netflix #adolescence #review #therapist #masculinity #stephengraham #owencooper #erindoherty[+] Show More

After a number of their intro conversations have been cut short in the past, Ryan and Duck have decided to take a moment to catch up with each other, one-on-one. It’s an opportunity for reflection on the recent guests of “Harder to Breathe,” and how engaging with their varied opinions has been an incredibly eye-opening experience for everyone involved.
Ryan and Duck briefly touch on addiction – something that may have been born when Ryan first encountered sugary cereals as a kid – as well as the challenge of avoiding Outrage Porn in an era in which all media is designed specifically with the intention of getting you upset.
But even with all that, the conversation doesn’t stay heavy for long. In this special episode of “Harder to Breathe” we get the rare opportunity to hear Ryan and Duck’s opinion on the two hottest shows on television right now – “Severance” and “The White Lotus.” Be sure to stick around until the end to hear how these two shows may just be a lot more similar than you might think!
VIDEO TIME CODES
0:00:00 Introduction & Spring Check-In
0:03:54 Spring Cleaning
0:08:44 The “Cereal” Story
0:11:11 Binge Drinking & Overcompensating
0:13:06 The Value of Podcasting
0:18:50 Learning From Opposing Opinions
0:24:40 Duck’s Trigger of Injustice
0:26:16 Engaging with Trolls
0:30:07 Manipulation by our Corporate Overlords
0:33:33 Incorporating the Serenity Prayer
0:38:10 The “Angry Young Man” & Echo Chambers
0:41:10 A Deep Dive into “Severance”
0:55:40 A Deep Dive into “White Lotus”
1:07:20 Wrap Up & Conclusion
Ready to Dive Deeper?:
https://www.ryandusick.com/
BenBella Books Author Page - https://benbellabooks.com/authors/dusick-ryan/
Amazon Book Page - https://www.amazon.com/Harder-Breathe-Memoir-Finding-Recovery/dp/1637742339/
WWSG Speaker Page - https://wwsg.com/speakers/ryan-dusick/
Psychology Today Therapist Profile - https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/937599
Stay Up to Date on the Podcast: @hardertobreathepodcast
Follow Ryan on Social Media:
IG - @ryan_michael_dusick
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-dusick-ma-amft-26460894/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ryan.m.dusick
Facebook Author Page - https://www.facebook.com/RyanMichaelDusick/
X / Twitter - @DusickRyan
Follow Duck on Social Media:
IG - @Newyorkduck
X / Twitter - @DuckMaillard
#personalgrowth #podcast #severance #thewhitelotus[+] Show More

Doug has been through it all. Early in his teens he became addicted to hard drugs – a path that would ultimately lead him to becoming a Drug Dealer, getting caught by the police, and incarceration. However, he will be the first to tell you that his time in jail changed his life… and that it was the best thing that ever happened to him.
Through their conversation, Ryan and Duck learn the extent of Doug’s incredible transformation since getting out of jail– a transformation that has led him to incredible success today as an author, a Podcaster, a Fitness Instructor, a YouTuber, and so much more.
From stories about Pigeons and Cups-of-Noodles to embracing a winning diet within the jail system, this episode of the “Harder to Breathe” Podcast covers it all. It’s a reminder that no matter how you grew up, or what adversity you’ve faced in your past, that you can learn from it and grow.
VIDEO TIME CODES
0:00:00 Introduction & Spring Weather
0:01:20 Ryan’s Anger Triggers at the Gym
0:06:29 Relationship Triggers & The Pigeon Story
0:11:14 Getting Into Fist-Fights & The Cup-of-Noodles Story
0:14:18 “Fights” Within Maroon 5
0:17:23 Injustices in Duck’s Life
0:23:56 Today’s Guest: Doug Bopst
0:27:33 Doug Bopst Joins the Podcast
0:28:13 Doug’s Background of Incarceration & Addiction
0:43:08 The Psychology of a Drug Dealer
0:49:31 Glamorization of Drug Dealing
0:52:35 Doug’s Advice for Young People
0:58:21 Present-Day Coping Mechanisms
1:02:20 Introduction of Spirituality
1:05:08 Replacing Addiction with Addiction
1:09:40 “Fake it Until You Make It”
1:17:48 Let’s Talk About Jail
1:21:19 Pros and Cons of the “Tough Love” Approach
1:27:45 Wrap Up & Conclusion
More on Doug Bopst:
Doug’s Podcast, “The Adversity Advantage”: open.spotify.com/show/2kXk7ZbTzv4Lnf8lxLnnTn?si=db639ad8cc484ef7
Instagram: instagram.com/dougbopst/
Doug’s Youtube: youtube.com/channel/UC1xly1FdiIE2s8c5wUr2dgw/
Ready to Dive Deeper?:
https://www.ryandusick.com/
BenBella Books Author Page - https://benbellabooks.com/authors/dusick-ryan/
Amazon Book Page - https://www.amazon.com/Harder-Breathe-Memoir-Finding-Recovery/dp/1637742339/
WWSG Speaker Page - https://wwsg.com/speakers/ryan-dusick/
Psychology Today Therapist Profile - https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/937599
Stay Up to Date on the Podcast: @hardertobreathepodcast
Follow Ryan on Social Media:
IG - @ryan_michael_dusick
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-dusick-ma-amft-26460894/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ryan.m.dusick
Facebook Author Page - https://www.facebook.com/RyanMichaelDusick/
X / Twitter - @DusickRyan
Follow Duck on Social Media:
IG - @Newyorkduck
X / Twitter - @DuckMaillard
#drugaddictionawareness #addictionrecovery #overcomingchallenges #motivation #inspirational #mentalhealthawareness #psychology[+] Show More

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About the Host 
As the former founder of Maroon 5, Ryan had an amazing start to his music career that changed his life. But the stress of being that high of a performer started to break him down to the point that he had to walk away from his dream life. It was at the bottom that he realized that he had to change and through treatment, he began to rebuild his life one brick at a time. Ryan embraced his life experience and decided to become a therapist where he now specializes in helping high performers under enormous stress manage it and stay on a solid path.