Substack Live Re-Air: Elizabeth Gilbert on Addiction, Love, & the God-Shaped Hole

Mayim Bialik's Breakdown

Mayim Bialik

Comedy, Health & Fitness, Mental Health

4.8 • 5.9K Ratings

🗓️ 21 March 2026

⏱️ 62 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today we’re sharing something special that was previously only available to The Breaker community on the MBB Substack page. We were joined by Elizabeth Gilbert—celebrated author of Eat, Pray, Love and Big Magic—to discuss her newest book that explores a rarely-addressed topic: the dangerous impacts of co-dependency and sex and love addiction. We discussed how her path took her from the stability of a suburban marriage into a profound, life-altering romance with her best friend-turned-lover, Rayya Elias. And we explore the “untouchable darkness” that followed, where a relationship with a relapsing addict revealed Elizabeth’s own deepest addiction and codependency. Elizabeth describes her descent into unmanageability, contemplating both murder and suicide—her only perceived options out of the pain—before experiencing a spiritual revelation and hearing the voice of what she now knows is her Higher Power. While we often investigate the life experiences that shape our behavior, Elizabeth asserts that understanding “why” we suffer is rarely enough to heal us. Many of us attempt to fill a persistent internal darkness with food, drugs, sex, work, or porn, but ultimately, that “God-shaped hole” is only filled through a direct relationship with a power greater than ourselves. Our live also covers: - Visions and the Voice of God: The specific spiritual revelations and “visits from beyond” that have directed Elizabeth’s writing career and her path to love. - The Dissolution of Fear: A look at the numerous spiritual revelations that led her to be rid of fear, anger, and shame. - Discovery vs. Recovery: Why understanding the “why” of our behavior isn’t enough to change it. Elizabeth reminds us that our peace cannot be held hostage by the expression on another person’s face. We invite you to watch this session as we explore the “invisible line” between love and pathology and find our way back to ourselves. Elizabeth Gilbert’s Latest Book, ALL THE WAY TO THE RIVER: Love, Loss, and Liberation: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707805/all-the-way-to-the-river-oprahs-book-club-by-elizabeth-gilbert/ Elizabeth Gilbert’s Substack: https://elizabethgilbert.substack.com/ Follow us on Substack for Exclusive Bonus Content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bialikbreakdown.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BialikBreakdown.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.com/mayimbialik⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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