David Choe is a world-renowned artist, writer, podcaster and TV host. He tells how as a child, he was made to believe he was destined for greatness but also that he was a complete disgrace, leading him to channel his energy—including deep shame—into art that brought him global recognition. He shares about his addictions that put him on a decades-long cycle of extreme highs and lows and that forced him to eventually acknowledge and heal the childhood trauma he was battling inside. David shows up with raw, authentic presence to show us how we can transmute pain and shame into our best creative work and, more importantly, how complete vulnerability, especially about our hardest experiences, is the ultimate tool for forgiveness and self-acceptance. He also tells us the actual story about early Facebook, Pee-wee Herman and Santa Claus.
Note: This conversation includes topics and language that may not be suitable for younger audiences.
Episode show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/KYfcdAq
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*David Choe*
Website: https://davidchoe.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@davidchoe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidchoe
X: https://x.com/davidchoe
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IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2446835
*Timestamps*
00:00:00 David Choe
00:03:10 Drawing, Black & Colors, Death
00:12:54 Telepathy, South Bay
00:17:52 Sponsors: Eight Sleep & LMNT
00:20:40 Childhood, Podcasts, Mundane Moments & Artist Life
00:28:45 Mother, Beliefs, Religion, Artistic Ability, Childhood
00:33:27 Gambling, Transformation; Immigrant, Disgrace
00:40:10 Street Art, Graffiti, Creativity; Paintings, Payment; Sports
00:52:08 Sponsor: AG1
00:53:30 Santa, Belief; Journal, Vulnerability; Heart Break, Art
01:00:16 Facebook, Graffiti; Theft, Gambling
01:10:57 Adapting, Creativity
01:17:16 Album Cover, Art & Payment
01:23:40 Sponsor: Function
01:25:28 Immigrant & Belonging, Academics, Learning Art, Marvel Comics, Shame
01:35:11 Shame, Gambling Addiction, Stress
01:43:05 Sexual Abuse, Trauma, Shame, Addiction
01:51:52 Early Career, Pornography, Author
02:01:20 Graffiti, Disappointment, Rejection; Early Magazines
02:08:26 Sponsor: Mateina
02:09:27 Pornography, Co-Dependence; Movie Set
02:18:00 Pride & Family, Vice; Pokémon
02:26:44 Podcast, Workaholism, Shame, Reality; Anthony Bourdain, Channing Tatum
02:38:54 Writing, Career Success, Workaholism, Vice, News, Self-Sabotage, Heart Attack
02:52:21 Growth & Pain, Sizzler; David Arquette
02:58:40 Rehab, God, Purpose, Parents & Disappointment, The Choe Show, Pee-Wee Herman
03:05:53 Gratitude, Korean Immigrant, Self-Reflection, Brokenness
03:14:37 Emotion, Saying No, Suicide; Vacation & Workaholism, Art
03:25:23 Legacy; Vacation, Work; Authenticity
03:31:15 Surviving & Thriving, Suicide, Addiction, Play the Tape Out, Fun, Feeling Enough
03:44:43 Hope & Faith, Electronics, Santa Claus
03:51:23 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
#HubermanLab #Creativity
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