podcast

Transform Pain & Trauma Into Creative Expression | David Choe

22.12.2025
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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.

Thank you to our sponsors

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Timestamps

David Choe

Drawing, Black & Colors, Death

Telepathy, South Bay

Sponsors: Eight Sleep & LMNT

Childhood, Podcasts, Mundane Moments & Artist Life

Mother, Beliefs, Religion, Artistic Ability, Childhood

Gambling, Transformation; Immigrant, Disgrace

Street Art, Graffiti, Creativity; Paintings, Payment; Sports

Sponsor: AG1

Santa, Belief; Journal, Vulnerability; Heart Break, Art

Facebook, Graffiti; Theft, Gambling

Adapting, Creativity

Album Cover, Art & Payment

Sponsor: Function

Immigrant & Belonging, Academics, Learning Art, Marvel Comics, Shame

Shame, Gambling Addiction, Stress

Sexual Abuse, Trauma, Shame, Addiction

Early Career, Pornography, Author

Graffiti, Disappointment, Rejection; Early Magazines

Sponsor: Mateina

Pornography, Co-Dependence; Movie Set

Pride & Family, Vice; Pokémon

Podcast, Workaholism, Shame, Reality; Anthony Bourdain, Channing Tatum

Writing, Career Success, Workaholism, Vice, News, Self-Sabotage, Heart Attack

Growth & Pain, Sizzler; David Arquette

Rehab, God, Purpose, Parents & Disappointment, The Choe Show, Pee-Wee Herman

Gratitude, Korean Immigrant, Self-Reflection, Brokenness

Emotion, Saying No, Suicide; Vacation & Workaholism, Art

Legacy; Vacation, Work; Authenticity

Surviving & Thriving, Suicide, Addiction, Play the Tape Out, Fun, Feeling Enough

Hope & Faith, Electronics, Santa Claus

Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

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