I'm Asif Siddiq and this is my podcast Breathe Another Breath. I'll be joined by a couple of my best friends Harry Ruiz & DJ Ocho as I share my life story in hopes of helping, motivating, and inspiring my audience. We'll discuss stories that go far beyond just my life and encourage you to share all…
The gang is back together as we dive into my fifth bout with cancer. Harry, Ocho, & I discuss how I discovered I had cancer for the fifth time, what went through my mind when the doctors told me I was terminal, and the opinions I received from other doctors across the country. After finding a team that gave me a chance of survival by trying a new type of treatment, I go into the details of the treatment plan that I would go through for the upcoming months. I also talk about the multiple times I almost died, a seizure, a stroke, and the time I wanted to kill myself. We talk about getting the news that I was in remission and becoming the sixth person to survive this new type of treatment. We wrap up the episode touching on my upcoming one year checkup.
On this episode I sit down with one of my best friends, Rick Dejesus from the band Adelitas Way. As we sip on coffee, we talk about the night we met and how we became friends. After we talk a little mma & pro wrestling, I recall a unique night last year where we went on a man date and how I thought it may be the last time I saw Rick before I died from cancer. Next we get into the background for some of the band's music, including the song "What It Takes" and the upcoming new single "Habit". During a Q&A with Rick he shares an amazing story on how he first got into singing, pizza & sushi, upcoming tours, the song writing process, & so much more. Rick gets emotional speaking about the special relationship he has with his daughters. I end the episode getting Rick's thoughts on what the future holds for Adelitas Way.
On this impromptu mini episode, I host the show solo! I begin the episode explaining why there is no special guest this week. Then I jump into talking all things cancer: my upcoming one-year checkup, someone close to me currently battling cancer, and losing someone close to me to cancer just a couple days ago. I wrap up the episode answering the #1 question I've been receiving the last few months and why I hate it.
Myself & the guys begin the episode sharing our thoughts on the death of Kobe Bryant and discuss how having a relationship with someone you don't know can impact you. We then expand our discussion of relationships as I talk about the volatile relationship I had with my family growing up and how that type of relationship carried over into the relationship I had with my first girlfriend. Harry, Ocho, & I then jump into my subsequent relationships with women, the different reasons why each relationship didn't work out, & dating while I had cancer. We also talk about long distance relationships, the difficulties of trying to date in a city like Las Vegas, if each of us feels the need to be in a relationship or not, dating someone who has children, turnoffs, our worst breakup stories, & so much more.
Harry & Ocho begin the episode by attempting to give me a brief lesson in Spanish before we talk about our plans for the upcoming holidays. We share our stories about being bullied & dealing with racism, then offer advice to those who are dealing with either or both in their lives. We end the episode by breaking into our rendition of Feliz Navidad.
Harry, Ocho, & I begin this episode talking about the aftermath of my Mom's suicide & the end of my self destructive lifestyle. I explain how I discovered I had cancer for the fourth time and the mindset I had going through cancer multiple times. Before we dive into the surgeries, treatments, side effects, and aftermath of my fourth bout with cancer, I talk about partying at a wedding in San Diego and vomiting in an Uber. I explain how two friends at a Nickelback concert really saved me & turned my mindset around. We discuss how you learn a lot about people when you are going through something serious in life. Harry wraps up the episode talking about how friendships become family.
After Harry shares his love for the Raiders & some his tailgating tips, I open up for the first time about my Mom passing by suicide. Harry, Ocho, & I talk about my Mom's mental health and the events that lead up to her passing just days after my birthday in 2015. I discuss the relationship I had with my Mom and how her passing was the event that ended my self destructive lifestyle. Lastly, I offer advice to others who have lost loved ones to suicide.
Harry, Ocho, & I talk about how the events that occurred in my life in 2002 lead to me living a self destructive lifestyle in my 20s & early 30s. I explain how my addiction to pain turned into me enjoying getting into fights, including getting into three street fights with the same person within a year and dabbling in amateur fights. I talk about how I had contemplated suicide for the first time in my life, my second & third bouts with cancer, and how the side effects from cancer treatments started to affect me. We end with talking about each of our quarks that other people might find odd.
I sit down with Ring of Honor World Television Champion Shane Taylor inside Sam's Town casino in Las Vegas. Shane shares his remarkable life story about growing up on the East side of Cleveland, overcoming the odds to survive, being the first person in his family to go to college, Shane Taylor Promotions, and how pro wrestling has come full circle for him & his family.
For the first time in my life, I open up and talk about the time I was raped when I was 22 years old. Harry, Ocho, & I dive into how it changed my life for years and how I haven't been the same since. I explain why I didn't say anything sooner and offer some words of advice & encouragement to anyone else who also may have been a victim of sexual assault.
On the debut episode of the podcast Harry, Ocho, & I talk about how I was on top of the world in the beginning of 2002. We talk about how it all came crumbling down on April 15, 2002 when I found out I had cancer for the first time and less than two hours later my girlfriend (who I had bought an engagement ring for) broke up with me. I describe how the rest of that year played out & how I hope people can learn from the mistakes I made. Lastly, we dive into why I gravitate towards sick children and how giant teddy bears give me problems.