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.

Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.

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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
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