Ryan Dusick is best known as the founding drummer of the band Maroon 5. As a boy, he dreamt of pitching for the Dodgers and writing adventure novels. Arm injuries sidelined his baseball career, just as rock music became his new passion and purpose. 

In 1994 he founded the band Kara’s Flowers with fellow Brentwood High School students Jesse Carmichael, Mickey Madden, and Adam Levine. Ryan spent the next 7 years honing his craft and in 2001 the band found success after changing its name to Maroon 5 and releasing their first album, Songs About Jane. 

Multiple hit songs, two Grammy Awards, and 20 million albums sold later, Ryan found himself suffering with mental health issues that affected his ability to play. He worked tirelessly to overcome the physical and mental hurdles that kept him from doing the thing he loved, but eventually was forced to leave the band. His career as a performer came to an end, just as it was taking off.

Ryan’s depression and grief around the loss of his identity brought about years of alcoholism and mental health struggles. He finally found sobriety in 2016, and began a new life path full of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. 

Today Ryan works as a mental health professional at The Missing Peace Center for Anxiety in Agoura Hills, CA, and is spreading the message that recovery is possible.

Ryan’s debut memoir, Harder to Breathe, was published on November 15th, 2022 which tells his incredible story.

Episode Resources

• Harder to Breathe | Harder to Breathe

Connect with Ryan

• Instagram | @ryan_michael_dusick

Connect with The Courage to Change

Lionrock Resources