Libsyn Directory

The Willingness to Be Vulnerable with Dusick and The Duck | #02

Release Date: 06/20/2024

Our First Season: Looking Back & Looking Ahead | #28

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

On the season one finale of “Harder to Breathe'', host and founding drummer of “Maroon 5” Ryan Dusick is joined by co-host and actor Brian “Duck” Maillard for an honest conversation about the first season of the podcast, how things have gone so far, and how they hope things will go moving forward into season two. Putting together honest, truthful, and authentic interviews about mental health requires a certain level of vulnerability from the hosts themselves. Ryan and Duck take this opportunity at the end of the year to do just that: expressing their own emotions, struggles,...

Mrs. X Can Suck It. | #27

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

For today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'', host and founding drummer of “Maroon 5” Ryan Dusick is joined by co-host and actor Brian “Duck” Maillard for an incredibly beautiful and pure conversation with best-selling novelist, Allie Larkin. Allie’s warmth and compassion is unmistakable. Her earnestness finds its way into everything she says, and the conversation between the three flows effortlessly. That is no doubt in part due to Allie’s pre-existing relationship with Duck, which goes all the way back to their first ever acting class at Ithaca College in New York...

Thriving in Marriage, Parenthood, & Recovery feat. Jessica & Aaron Winder | #26

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

For today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'', host and founding drummer of “Maroon 5” Ryan Dusick is joined by co-host and actor Brian “Duck” Maillard for a conversation with a powerhouse couple in recovery, Jessica and Aaron Winder. Jessica is an author and in-demand career coach, and Aaron is a Personal Injury Attorney based in Las Vegas, Nevada. In one of the most heart warming and affirming episodes in the series yet, Jessica and Aaron share their own personal stories of recovery from addiction. Jessica dealt with many years of alcoholism– an addiction which led her to...

Honestly Authentic ft. Ato Essandoh, star of ’The Diplomat’ | #25

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

For today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'', host and founding drummer of “Maroon 5” Ryan Dusick is joined by co-host and actor Brian “Duck” Maillard for a conversation with Ato Essandoh. Ato is an actor who has found his way onto all of our screens at one point or another, through iconic roles in “Garden State”, “Blood Diamond”, and many more. Now, he has been thrust into the limelight once again through his powerful role on the latest season of “The Diplomat”, now available on Netflix. Ato and Duck had a special opportunity to work together on set in the past,...

Your Own ‘Menopause Bootcamp' | #24

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

For today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'', host and founding drummer of “Maroon 5” Ryan Dusick is joined by co-host and actor Brian “Duck” Maillard for a conversation on Menopause and Women’s Health with author, speaker, and advocate Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenzz. Our mental health and our physical health are much more connected than many of us realize, and as such there are huge connections between our changing bodies and how those changes affect our minds and our emotions. Dr. Suzanne is a world-class expert on all things womens’ health, and her appearances...

Drumming Up Conversation with Darrin Pfeiffer of Goldfinger | #23

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

For today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'', host and founding drummer of “Maroon 5” Ryan Dusick is joined for a special one-on-one conversation with another legendary drummer in his own right… the founding drummer of Goldfinger, Darrin Pfeiffer. On Paper, Darrin and Ryan have had pretty similar life experiences. Both were founding drummers of iconic bands, and both ultimately stepped away from the position that initially brought them into the limelight. And while they certainly do have drumming in common, the experiences they faced while in their respective bands and the...

The Game-ification of Life | #22

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

For today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'', host and former drummer of “Maroon 5” Ryan Dusick is joined by co-host and actor Brian “Duck” Maillard for a discussion with the iconic Brandon Steiner: entrepreneur, speaker, and global pioneer in the Sports Memorabilia and Sports Marketing space. Brandon joins the conversation from a place of incredible life experience. Despite growing up with a learning disability, He quickly positioned himself to work directly with the biggest names in the Sports business. His rolodex of contacts includes iconic Yankee legends such as Derek...

Finding Authenticity in Silicon Valley with Alessandro Chesser | #21

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

For today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'', host and founding drummer of “Maroon 5” Ryan Dusick is joined by co-host and actor Brian “Duck” Maillard for an encouraging and thought provoking conversation with the CEO and Co-Founder of GetDynasty.com, Alessandro Chesser. Alessandro grew up in Silicon Valley, the child of hard working Cicilian Immigrants. He saw firsthand the wealth that so many of his friends' families had acquired by being part of various startups… and he became determined to do the same when he got older. He has accomplished all that and so much...

Verses & Vulnerability with Songwriter Jenna Andrews | #20

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

For today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'', host and founding drummer of “Maroon 5” Ryan Dusick is joined by co-host and actor Brian “Duck” Maillard to share a fantastic conversation with Jenna Andrews: musician, songwriter, and producer for the the likes of icons such as BTS, Drake, Jennifer Lopez, Tori Kelly, and so many more. Having gotten started as a musician herself, Jenna has the unique vantage point of understanding both the artistic and administrative aspects of finding success in the music industry… and on the flipside, she knows what it's like to find herself...

Facing Fear through Faith: A Discussion with Dr. David Rosmarin | #19

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

For today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'', host and founding drummer of “Maroon 5” Ryan Dusick is joined by co-host and actor Brian “Duck” Maillard to share a truly profound discussion with Dr. David Rosmarin, author, speaker, and founder of the Center for Anxiety. So often in the medical space, spirituality is totally dismissed. On the other hand, in many spiritual circles, science is passed over in favor of faith. With Dr. Rosmarin, the two things can– and in fact should– live together in harmony… especially when it comes to approaching mental health and anxiety....

More Episodes

For today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'', host Ryan Dusick is joined by longtime friend and occasional collaborator Brian “Duck” Maillard. Duck’s successful acting career (as well as his anxiety) began on the Off-Broadway stage in New York City. After deciding to turn his focus to film and tv, he moved to Los Angeles where he would go on to meet Ryan at a Costume Party just before the end of Ryan’s time as the drummer of Maroon 5.

Despite seeming like he had it all together, Ryan was dealing with heavy alcohol addiction for the first decade of their friendship– something that Duck never knew he was going through. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the trauma that Duck experienced as a result of growing up under his father’s alcoholism, has led him to a lifetime of complete sobriety which he maintains to this day.

Ultimately, the conversation allows both men to be vulnerable about their experiences, one of the main goals here on the “Harder to Breathe'' podcast. The two discuss the importance of being upfront and honest with yourself about what you’re feeling and what you’re going through. It may not always help to be “positive”, but it does help to have an awareness of what you’re feeling– especially if you are comfortable sharing that experience with others.

0:01:25 How Ryan met “Duck”, the Harder To Breathe Podcast Co-Host

0:06:08 The Effect of Alcohol on Ryan’s Past

0:07:20 Duck’s Background & Start as an Actor

0:011:20 Does Ryan Miss Life as a Musician?

0:14:43 Ryan’s Involvement in Duck’s One-Time Band

0:17:25 Duck’s Connection Between Music and Acting

0:22:18 The Pressure Ryan Felt Growing Up

0:26:04 How Does Duck Deal With Pressure?

0:31:31 The Power of Feeling Like You “Belong”

0:34:03 Duck’s Thoughts on “Fake it ‘Till You Make It”

0:38:40 Ryan’s Thoughts on “Fake it ‘Till You Make It”

0:40:54 The Background of Duck’s Sobriety