This episode goes beyond the surface to the heart of addiction. We sit down with former tech entrepreneur Curtis Morley, whose life's purpose shifted after the tragic loss of his best friend to suicide. Curtis believes his friend didn't understand the difference between sobriety and recovery, a lesson Curtis now uses to help men combat the epidemic of pornography addiction.

Curtis bravely shares his own experience and the core principles of his "Counterfeit Emotions" program, arguing that most men aren't addicted to porn—they're addicted to shame.

Key Takeaways from the Conversation:

• The Stigma of Shame: We discuss the statistic that 91.5% of men report viewing pornography in the last month, yet most are not clinically addicted, but are trapped in a cycle of shame fueled by silence, secrecy, and judgment.
• The Counterfeit of Love: Curtis defines lust as the counterfeit of love, operating as a "taking" rather than a "giving and receiving" exchange. True intimacy is redefined as a multi-pillar connection, with sex being the result of that connection, not the foundation.
• Pain vs. Misery: Learn the transcendent difference: Pain is inevitable and can be a tool for growth, while misery is the self-inflicted anguish created by adding blame and shame to pain.
• Sobriety vs. Recovery: Sobriety only measures time; Recovery measures depth. True healing means taking your "demons to lunch"—addressing the underlying emotional pain rather than just avoiding the addictive behavior ("dry drunk").

This episode is a powerful call for honesty, vulnerability, and a deeper understanding of the emotional drivers behind addictive behavior.

📌 Episode Guide
00:00 - Intro
07:00 - Ryan Revisits a Maroon 5 Show: Gratitude, Pride, and a Son's First Concert.
16:27 - Bridging the Divide: Can We Find Common Ground Between Religion and Psychology?34:30 - The Porn Addiction Epidemic
36:30 - Porn: Addiction to Shame
38:00 - The Dyad of Love vs. Lust
46:31 - The Four Components of Unwanted Pornography Viewing
1:06:25 - Pain is a Tool for Growth
1:13:00 - The Transcendent Ladder
1:19:15 - Sobriety vs. Recovery

🎧 Listen to the full episode now: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Or wherever you get your podcasts

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📲Follow Curtis Morley:
Web: www.counterfeitemotions.com
Podcast: Counterfeit Emotions (on all platforms)
Social: @authenticcurtis

#HarderToBreathe #Podcast #PornAddiction #AddictionRecovery #SuicidePrevention #MentalHealth #ShameCycle #Sobriety #Recovery #CurtisMorley #RyanDusick #EmotionalPain #Intimacy

In this vital episode, we sit down with Steve Braun, a master mental performance coach and communication consultant (and co-founder of BGB Studios). Drawing on his martial arts discipleship, Steve explains that the core of our modern mental health and societal conflict is a deep imbalance between masculine (Yang) and feminine (Yin) energies.

This conversation offers a profound perspective on how to achieve peak performance and inner peace not through action, but through stillness and radical self-acceptance.

Key Takeaways from the Conversation:

• The Power of Stillness (Yin): Steve argues that Yin (stillness, reception) is the necessary first step for impactful action (Yang). Whether you're an actor, a CEO, or a parent, full acceptance of the present moment is the quickest path to presence and success.

• Masculinity & Self-Mutilation: We explore the Bell Hooks quote that the first act of violence patriarchy demands of men is against themselves—a "psychic self-mutilation" that denies them tools for vulnerability and emotional expression.

• The Solution to Cultural Conflict: The answer isn't more intellectual debate or "data," but somatic, communal experiences—singing, dancing, and physically working through trauma together, as our ancestors did.

• Coaching Beyond the Script: Steve explains that his work isn't about teaching lines, but about liberating the nervous system, empowering clients to be brightly sensitive in a high-pressure, often chaotic world.

📌 Episode Guide

00:00 - Intro

03:30 - Drawn to the Darkness

22:00 - The "Teacher" Archetype & Martial Arts

24:40 - Masculinity & Trauma

31:50 - The Divine Feminine (Yin)

37:05 - Stillness in Business & Life

48:05 - The Bell Hooks Quote

57:05 - Creating an Artistic Home

🎧 Listen to the full episode now: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Or wherever you get your podcasts

📲Follow Harder To Breathe:
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💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ryan-dusick-26460894

📲Follow Steve Braun:
Web: stevenbraun.co/
BGB Studios: brehmangarciabraun.com/

#HarderToBreathe #Podcast #Masculinity #YinYang #ToxicMasculinity #MentalHealth #MartialArts #SteveBraun #Taoism #Stillness #PeakPerformance #EmotionalIntelligence #Compassion

"How do you make a total left turn from the music industry to the mental health field?"

Ryan Dusick often fields this question, but the reality is that starting over is rarely a clean break—it's usually a long, messy process of grief and self-discovery. In this one-on-one episode, Ryan and Duck dive into the core challenges of major life transitions, from leaving a band at the peak of success to finding new purpose in your 40s.

Ryan shares his journey from losing his identity as a musician to embracing his calling as a therapist, explaining that his change was driven by a commitment to recovery and the realization that his greatest talents were anchored in empathy and connection.

This is essential listening for anyone who is:

• Feeling unfulfilled in their current career, but are afraid to quit.

• Mourning the loss of a past identity (career, relationship, status).

• Facing an unexpected life change and needing motivation to move forward.

The biggest risk isn't trying something new; it's staying still in a life you're unhappy with.

📌 Episode Guide

• 00:00 - Intro

• 01:05 - The Rush Reunion

• 10:45 - The "Left Turn" Identity Crisis

• 16:15 - The Completionist Mindset

• 19:15 - Grieving Your Old Self

• 24:50 - Finding New Purpose

• 28:10 - The Fear of the Unknown

• 42:15 - The Creative Niche

• 46:55 - The Obligation to Quit

• 55:50 - The Riskiest Choice is Doing Nothing
  
  

🎧 Listen to the full episode now: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Or wherever you get your podcasts

📲Follow Harder To Breathe:
🎙️ Libsyn: sites.libsyn.com/533902
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#HarderToBreathe #Podcast #StartingOver #CareerChange #LifeTransition #MentalHealth #Maroon5 #RyanDusick #MidLifeCrisis #SecondAct #SelfDiscovery #RushBand