Transform Pain & Trauma Into Creative Expression | David Choe

Andrew Huberman

Dec 22, 2025

Episode description

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
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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

Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Focus on present moment over legacy illusion

The concept of legacy is an illusion because future generations will not know or care about your accomplishments, so all that truly matters is the present moment.

#mindfulness

Recognize every addiction as a gamble with your life

Every single addiction is a form of gambling addiction, as you are always gambling with your life, your health, or your relationships.

#addiction

#risk

Find creativity in mundane and uncomfortable situations

The most creative periods in life are always found in mundane, uncomfortable situations, like in a cold suburb with no Wi-Fi, rather than in idealized creative hubs.

#creativity

Disappoint parents to discover your authentic path

To find your own authentic path and be successful on your own terms, you must be willing to disappoint your parents.

#autonomy

#personal-growth

Accept feelings; logic won't resolve emotional challenges

You are never going to outthink or outsmart a feeling because you cannot apply logic to emotional, spiritual, or mental health problems.

#emotion

#mental-health

Make the journey from head to heart for emotional resolution

The longest and most important journey you will ever take is from your head to your heart, as you cannot solve emotional problems with logic.

#emotion

#personal-growth

Recognize workaholism as a hidden addiction

Workaholism is an addiction you can hide in plain sight because society gives you a pat on the back for it, even if you are dying inside.

#addiction

Break addiction cycle by addressing childhood pain

Severe addicts eventually get tired of winning and become addicted to losing and the feeling of shame, because it replicates the pain of their childhood.

#addiction

#trauma

Transform trauma into post-traumatic growth and creativity

Instead of just PTSD, extreme trauma can trigger "Post-Traumatic Growth Disorder," where the pain unlocks a superpower of intelligence or creativity as a defense mechanism.