This episode is for anyone who has ever felt alone in their struggle. We sit down with the incredible Aleksei Archer—comedian, actor, and mental health advocate—who has transformed personal tragedy into a powerful force for healing.
Aleksei shares her deeply personal story of losing her father to suicide, and how she uses humor and radical honesty to create safe spaces for grief, connection, and resilience.
💡 In this raw and vulnerable conversation, you'll discover:
- The unexpected power of community: Why finding your "tribe" can be the most critical step in overcoming trauma and grief.
- Humor as a coping mechanism: How comedy can make the hardest conversations easier to face.
- The truth about generational trauma: How the past shapes the present—and why breaking cycles matters.
- The importance of language in healing: Why "died by suicide" is different than "committed suicide."
✨ This conversation is a reminder that you don't have to choose between being someone who has suffered and someone who shines.
📌 Episode Guide:
00:00 - Intro
10:20 - Therapy Session with Ryan
19:00 - Interview Begins: Meet Aleksei Archer
20:36 - The Day She Lost Her Father to Suicide
25:20 - Finding Her "Superheroes" in a Suicide Loss Support Group
33:20 - The Ripple Effect: Secondary Losses and Family Fallout
41:00 - Why You Shouldn't Say "Committed Suicide"
42:30 - The Power of Humor in Processing the Darkest Trauma
54:00 - The Pressure of Creating Content and "Necessary Evils"
1:13:00 - Her Dark Comedy Pilot: Venice Beach Scumbags
🎧 Listen now:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Or wherever you get your podcasts
📲 Follow Harder To Breathe:
🎙️ Libsyn: sites.libsyn.com/533902
👍 Facebook: facebook.com/RyanMichaelDusick
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/ryan_michael_dusick
🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@ryandusick
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ryan-dusick-26460894
📲Follow Aleksei Archer:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/alekseiarcher
FB: https://www.facebook.com/thealekseiarcher
YT: https://www.youtube.com/c/alekseiarcher
LinkendIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksei-archer-4200a2
#HarderToBreathe #Podcast #MentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #SuicideLoss #MentalHealthAdvocate #AlekseiArcher #Trauma #Grief #Humor #Comedy #RyanDusick #MentalHealthAwareness #Maroon5
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