The identities that break you with Shawn Livingston
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Identity is the complex web of who we believe we are, how others see us, the social roles we play, and the story we tell ourselves each day. It’s part personal truth, part mirror image, part performance — a shifting blend of self-perception, external reflection, and cultural imprint. It can empower us when it aligns with our values, yet it can also harm us when built on false narratives or unhealed wounds.
As these layers overlap and sometimes clash, somewhere in that tension we find the question: who do I want to be?
At times the answer requires dismantling identities that have taken root but no longer serve us. In breaking down an identity that’s harming us, we make space to build something truer. And that’s where Shawn Livingston’s story begins — with an identity that once defined him in the worst possible way.
When he was 15, Shawn’s dream was simple: first become a WWE wrestler, a goal that quickly shifted toward playing professional basketball. But life swerved. A basketball injury in high school derailed his sports ambitions, and without that structure, he drifted toward the party crowd.
“You’re just easily accepted there,” he says. “Everybody’s having fun.”
What followed — military service, trauma, addiction, loss — was a long fight with an identity that threatened to consume him. Eventually, through running, recovery, and community, Shawn rebuilt himself into the person he wanted to be, proving that identity is not fixed. It can be chosen, reclaimed, and reshaped into a life worth living.
In the process of rebuilding, he lost himself, friends, family, and any sense of purpose. It’s true what they say — sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can see the light. From that lowest point, Shawn began creating a new life and new outlets for his story. He launched the I Am Redemption podcast, sharing unfiltered conversations about recovery and resilience. He opened up further in the documentary 100 Miles to Redemption on Amazon Prime, chronicling his journey through addiction, running, and personal transformation. These projects, along with the broader I Am Redemption community he’s built, have become platforms for hope and connection.
Once defined by addiction, Shawn dismantled the version of himself that was destroying him and chose to rebuild with purpose. In that process, he arrived at the very question we all wrestle with: "Who do I want to be?", opening the door to his new self.
Listen to Shawn’s full story on the Uncharted: Your Sidekick for Life Podcast
Watch 100 Miles to Redemption on Amazon Prime.
Follow Shawn Livingston and the I Am Redemption podcast on all platforms.
This blog was written by Anais Schmidt, one of the hosts of the Uncharted Podcast. Anais is also an aspiring musician. When not in her studio, she tours Europe with Monte Mai.
If you would like to join the conversation, email us at anais@foundingup.com
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