When Everything Burns Down, You Get to Start Over

The Angry Therapist Podcast

John Kim

Mental Health, Health & Fitness

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 6 May 2026

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this deeply personal episode, John Kim revisits his story with fresh eyes and new perspective. From divorce and failed screenwriting dreams to becoming a therapist, building a life in Los Angeles, and then losing it all in a fire, he reflects on the defining “act breaks” that reshaped his identity. Now rebuilding in Costa Rica, John explores what it means to live without a blueprint and to design a life rooted in presence, courage, and truth. Key Points Covered • The difference between a life “chapter” and an “act break” • Losing his home in a fire and how it forced radical change • Letting go of a screenwriting dream and finding purpose as a therapist • Building the “Angry Therapist” platform through authenticity • How loss stripped away excuses and created space for reinvention • Redefining life, success, and home while rebuilding in Costa Rica If this story resonated with you, make sure to subscribe for more conversations on growth, relationships, and rebuilding your life. Mentions: John’s book publishing company: Soulprint https://www.soulprintmedia.co 🎙️ More about John: 📘 Pre order my new book, Love Hard On Purpose. Toss the blueprints. Build something honest. https://a.co/d/031PzkW4 📘 Read John’s book in progress Sh*t Your Therapist Would Never Tell You on John’s SubStack ⁠HERE⁠ If you’re ready for deeper work, the Secure Self course is available HERE Order John's new book, Break Up. On Purpose,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow John on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about John⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Head to the coast in Abercrombie's latest summer drop.
0:04.5	It's dress season. From minis to maxis, there's a dress for every summer plan.
0:09.5	And Abercrombie's new linen blend matching sets are so light and breathable.
0:14.8	Perfect for brunch or rooftop happy hours.
0:18.0	Dress like you're on holiday.
0:19.7	Shop Abercrombie in the app, online, and in stores.
0:27.4	So before the fires, I was driving around on my motorcycle in Los Angeles.
0:33.0	Motorcycles changed my life during my first act break after divorce, I bought a motorcycle. I've
0:39.6	always wanted a motorcycle since wanting dirt bikes in the 80s, and my parents said no. And everyone
0:45.5	I've dated said, no, they're too dangerous. So during that window post-divorce, I was 35. I was like,
0:52.4	fuck it, I'm going to buy bike.
1:02.4	Music post-divorce. I was 35. I was like, fuck it, I'm going to buy bike. My name is John Kim. You're listening to the Angry Therapist podcast and on today's
1:06.6	episode, my story. All right, you may be thinking, well, John, we know your story. Well, hold on.
1:14.6	The reason I'm doing this is because I think I'm a thousand plus episodes deep and I think I need
1:21.0	to take a beat and I really need an episode that that's like a period episode. Do you know what I'm
1:26.7	talking about?
1:29.8	It sounds kind of weird, but like punctuation.
1:32.9	Because I talk a lot and I don't use punctuation.
1:37.4	And so today, I just want to take a beat and tell you my story.
1:40.0	If you know my story, I'm going to go deeper.
1:43.2	There will be some more BTS behind the scenes.
1:45.2	I haven't told my story in a long time.
	...

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