For today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'', host and founding drummer of “Maroon 5” Ryan Dusick is joined by co-host and actor Brian “Duck” Maillard for a conversation with Ato Essandoh. Ato is an actor who has found his way onto all of our screens at one point or another, through iconic roles in “Garden State”, “Blood Diamond”, and many more. Now, he has been thrust into the limelight once again through his powerful role on the latest season of “The Diplomat”, now available on Netflix.

Ato and Duck had a special opportunity to work together on set in the past, and it speaks well to Ato’s warmth and charm that the two have maintained a connection all these years later. Ryan and Duck are quickly able to connect with the struggles that Ato has faced in growing his career as an actor, and his resilience and determination is inspiring, regardless of your background or career.

It’s a wide-reaching conversation that spans from parental approval, to authenticity, to recent health scares. Ato is able and willing to speak about his own connection to mental health and how it manifested itself through past failures in auditions– and he does so in such a way that we can all relate to. It’s a well-connected and can’t-miss episode of the “Harder to Breathe” Podcast, that will only make you even more amazed by everything Ato Essandoh has been able to accomplish so far.

0:00:00 Introduction & Duck’s Reaction to his Performance Anxiety

0:04:10 Ryan’s Therapeutic Suggestions for Duck

0:10:32 The Source of Duck’s Emotional Responses

0:14:01 Your Thoughts “Protecting” You

0:22:59 Today’s Guest: Ato Essandoh

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0:25:38 Ato Essandoh Joins the Podcast & Shares His Relationship with Duck

0:28:14 Ato’s Career Goals as an Actor

0:34:57 Challenges Along the Way

0:41:30 Putting in the Time to be “Ready” for Opportunity

0:45:44 Internal vs. External Perception

0:50:19 The Influence of Ato’s Ghanaian-American Heritage

0:54:43 Parental Approval for the Arts

0:57:10 How Identity has Affected the Work

1:01:48 Authenticity vs. “People Pleasing”

1:10:10 Ato’s Recent Health Scare

1:12:53 Ryan’s Experience with the Pandemic

1:18:46 Community & Mental Health

1:22:43 The Diplomat Season 2

1:26:11 Wrap Up & Conclusion

More on Ato Essandoh:

Official Website: http://www.atoessandoh.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atoessandoh

X: https://x.com/AtoEssandoh

Watch The Diplomat on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81288983

Ready to Dive Deeper?:

https://www.ryandusick.com/

BenBella Books Author Page - https://benbellabooks.com/authors/dusick-ryan/

Amazon Book Page - https://www.amazon.com/Harder-Breathe-Memoir-Finding-Recovery/dp/1637742339/

WWSG Speaker Page - https://wwsg.com/speakers/ryan-dusick/

Psychology Today Therapist Profile - https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/937599

Stay Up to Date on the Podcast: @hardertobreathepodcast

Follow Ryan on Social Media:

IG - @ryan_michael_dusick

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-dusick-ma-amft-26460894/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ryan.m.dusick

Facebook Author Page - https://www.facebook.com/RyanMichaelDusick/

X / Twitter - @DusickRyan

Follow Duck on Social Media:

IG - @Newyorkduck

X / Twitter - @DuckMaillard