Have you ever used something — alcohol, substances, scrolling, shopping — not because you wanted to, but because you didn't know how else to cope? This episode is for anyone who has ever reached for a quick fix to quiet what's happening inside.
Sana sits down with breathwork facilitator and sobriety advocate Jon Paul Crimi for an honest, grounded conversation about addiction, recovery, and the unexpected tool that transformed his life. From the window of opportunity that opens in a rock-bottom moment, to the emotional weight that surfaces when the substances finally go away, Jon Paul shares what healing actually looks like when you stop running. He also demystifies breathwork — not as a miracle cure, but as a powerful, practical tool for processing what we've buried for years.
About the Guest:
Jon Paul Crimi is a breathwork facilitator, sobriety coach, and teacher trainer based in Oregon. Over the past 15 years, he has worked with elite athletes, executives, and individuals from all walks of life, helping them use conscious connected breathing to release stored emotions and reconnect with themselves. He is the founder of Breathe With JP and leads breathwork classes and teacher training programs both in-person and online.
Key Takeaways:
- Addiction is rarely the story's beginning. It often develops as a coping mechanism for unprocessed emotions, trauma, or pain — the substances become the solution to how we feel inside, until they create a problem of their own.
- Recovery creates a flood, not a finish line. When you get sober, years of unfelt emotions can come rushing forward. Writing, therapy, and breathwork are powerful tools for processing what's been buried in the nervous system.
- Breathwork is not a magic pill. Jon Paul is clear that breathwork complements structured recovery programs; it doesn't replace them. For him, the foundation of sobriety came first through 12-step recovery.
- Overreacting is often old pain speaking. When our reactions feel disproportionate to a situation, that's usually unprocessed trauma stored in the body. Breathwork helps clear that backlog so our responses become measured and present.
- You don't need to be in crisis to begin. Breathwork offers an immediate, experiential shift for anyone feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or emotionally stuck, not just those in recovery.
- Be discerning about who you practice with. As breathwork becomes more mainstream, not all facilitators have genuine training and experience. Choose someone with real depth and proper grounding in the work.
Connect With Jon Paul Crimi:
Website: https://breathewithjp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonpaulcrimi/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breathewithjp/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-paul-crimi-967b80208/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoo2rpt8qhu_-U1jj76BVDA
X / Twitter: https://x.com/jonpaulcrimi
Episode Chapters:
[00:00] Introduction — The quiet moments when something stops working
[05:27] The Recording Begins — Jon Paul's story: from addiction to sobriety
[09:05] Not Born an Addict — Why addiction is never the beginning of the story
[13:42] Rock Bottom and the Window — What happens when the cycle finally breaks
[17:33] Life After Sobriety — When the substances leave and the emotions arrive
[22:27] Discovering Breathwork — How a gift from Matthew Perry changed everything
[26:49] Skeptics Welcome — Why Jon Paul says: don't believe him, just try it
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