670 – Ryan Dusick: (Maroon 5) Harder to Breathe

Ryan Dusick reached the mountaintop. With his childhood friends he started the band Maroon 5, catapulted to a global music force and right when things were firing on all cylinders, an old baseball injury caught up with him and sidelined him. What started as a few missed dates on tour lead to him eventually his departing the band, unable to play anymore. That departure sent Ryan on a downward spiral of alcoholism and depression. There is a silver lining in all of this though. Through years of self work, Ryan found recovery and a new sense of purpose, getting his masters degree and becoming a therapist to help others who are struggling the same way he did.

Today, drums are back in Ryan’s life as well as other creative pursuits like writing – including his new book, Harder to Breathe: Founding Maroon 5, A Memoir of Making Maroon 5, Losing It All, and Finding Recovery. He even has a man-cave of sorts in his home that serves as a safe escape for him; a room that was completed when he was exiting rehab and has never seen alcohol within it’s walls, both psychically and metaphorically.

Ryan Dusick talks about:

• How he got started playing drums
• Growing up in a musical family
• The first time he saw Adam Levine sing
• Starting Kara’s Flowers
• Getting dropped from their record label
• Reemerging as Maroon 5 and how they grew the band
• His career ending injury
• The downward spiral and the illusion of control
• Finding recovery
• Writing his new book
• Advice for others who are looking to change bad habits
• much more

Resources/Links mentioned:

• Contact Ryan Dusick: Instagram
• Harder to Breathe: Founding Maroon 5, A Memoir of Making Maroon 5, Losing It All, and Finding Recovery.