Libsyn Directory

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

Release Date: 11/26/2024

The Laws of Connection David Robson | #10

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

On today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'', host, founding drummer of “Maroon 5”, and as of now… officially licensed therapist, Ryan Dusick is joined by co-host and actor Brian “Duck” Maillard for an eye-opening conversation with David Robson, a fantastic Science Journalist known for “The Laws of Connection”. Despite growing up with terrible social anxiety, David has become an incredible writer and speaker. His ideas will change the way that you think about the mind, and in this episode, the three men discuss several of the laws of connection he writes about in his...

Twin Peaks, Riverdale, & Mental Health with Mädchen Amick | #9

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

On today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'', host, founding drummer of “Maroon 5”, and licensed therapist, Ryan Dusick is joined by co-host and actor Brian “Duck” Maillard for a conversation with iconic television star and mental health activist, Mädchen Amick. Mädchen was organized and well put together from a young age. She moved to Los Angeles at just 16 years old, and quickly found her footing in the world of acting and modeling. Her big break came with the premiere of David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks”, a TV Show that continues to make waves more than 30 years after its...

One Size Does Not Fit All: Talking Addiction with Dr. Robb Kelly | #7

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

On 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 riveting conversation with Dr. Robb Kelly: a psychologist, speaker, life coach, and author with some controversial opinions regarding addiction. In what is perhaps the most respectfully contentious episode of the podcast yet, Dr. Rob Kelly and Ryan have the chance to debate the definition of addiction– specifically in how it relates to alcoholism. Dr. Kelly’s stance is that alcoholism is not a lifelong condition, and...

Therapist vs. Anti-Therapist | #6

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

On 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 respectful debate with the “Anti-Therapist, Therapist” Diana Mandell. Diana’s personal experiences in life have led her into interaction after interaction with poor therapists. She feels that, as a general note, the majority of therapists out there are doing either “nothing” for their clients, or worse… having a negative impact on their clients’ lives in some way. After Diana’s own life hit...

Revisiting ‘Songs About Jane’ w/ Record Producer Matt Wallace | #5

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

On 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 very special in-person conversation with Matt Wallace: the Record Producer for “Songs About Jane”. Ryan and Matt crossed paths at exactly the right time in both of their lives. Maroon 5 was on the cusp of greatness, but they needed someone who could collaborate on a vision for the sound of their first record. Despite being a low paid position, Matt trusted his gut and took the job. Together, their collaboration...

Treating Life as a Choice with Chris Panagiotu | #4

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

On 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 in-person conversation with Ryan’s longtime friend, Podcast Host, Author, Speaker, and Financial Guide, Chris Panagiotu. Chris is an all-or-nothing guy, and he wears that designation proudly. He carries that passion and energy in every aspect of his life, whether in his relationships or in his business… and it’s absolutely contagious. There is much more to Chris than just his energy and enthusiasm, however....

Putting Away the Concealer: feat. Celebrity Makeup Artist Jamie Greenberg | #3

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

On 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 fascinating conversation with celebrity makeup artist, influencer, and CEO, Jamie Greenberg. Duck’s relationship with Jamie goes back to their days together at Ithaca College in a co-ed dorm space. In the years since, Jamie moved from job to job before finding her true passion in make-up by taking on a minimum wage job at Ulta. After moving to Los Angeles, opportunities arose for Jamie who has since climbed the...

Holding Our Breath: Grief, Fun, and the LA Wildfires | #2

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

On 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 break down the impact, fear, and trauma surrounding the current LA Wildfires. Afterwards, the duo are joined by the host of the “Dopey” Podcast, David Manheim, for an incredible conversation surrounding Recovery, Fun, and so much more. Living in LA during the greatest wildfire the city has ever seen has led Duck and Ryan, and many other LA locals, to a great deal of emotion and uncertainty. The two share their concerns...

A Recovering Narcissist: Ben Feldman | #1

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

On the season two premiere 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 Emmy Award Nominated Actor, Ben Feldman. Ben has played iconic roles in shows such as Mad Men and SuperStore. He found quick success out of College, immediately booking an understudy role on Broadway, as well as a role in a TV Pilot. From the jump, success came pretty easily for him, and these experiences launched both his career… and his ego… to new heights. In a fantastic and...

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,...

More Episodes

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, and it speaks well to Ato’s warmth and charm that the two have maintained a connection all these years later. Ryan and Duck are quickly able to connect with the struggles that Ato has faced in growing his career as an actor, and his resilience and determination is inspiring, regardless of your background or career.

It’s a wide-reaching conversation that spans from parental approval, to authenticity, to recent health scares. Ato is able and willing to speak about his own connection to mental health and how it manifested itself through past failures in auditions– and he does so in such a way that we can all relate to. It’s a well-connected and can’t-miss episode of the “Harder to Breathe” Podcast, that will only make you even more amazed by everything Ato Essandoh has been able to accomplish so far.

0:00:00 Introduction & Duck’s Reaction to his Performance Anxiety

0:04:10 Ryan’s Therapeutic Suggestions for Duck

0:10:32 The Source of Duck’s Emotional Responses

0:14:01 Your Thoughts “Protecting” You

0:22:59 Today’s Guest: Ato Essandoh

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0:25:38 Ato Essandoh Joins the Podcast & Shares His Relationship with Duck

0:28:14 Ato’s Career Goals as an Actor

0:34:57 Challenges Along the Way

0:41:30 Putting in the Time to be “Ready” for Opportunity

0:45:44 Internal vs. External Perception

0:50:19 The Influence of Ato’s Ghanaian-American Heritage

0:54:43 Parental Approval for the Arts

0:57:10 How Identity has Affected the Work

1:01:48 Authenticity vs. “People Pleasing”

1:10:10 Ato’s Recent Health Scare

1:12:53 Ryan’s Experience with the Pandemic

1:18:46 Community & Mental Health

1:22:43 The Diplomat Season 2

1:26:11 Wrap Up & Conclusion

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