I sat down with Dominic Luke, a former Air Force pararescueman of ten years and author of That Others May Love More, to talk about the formative trauma at seventeen, the shame and self-blame that followed, and how avoidance later surfaced as identity loss, heavier drinking, and strain in his marriage after leaving the military, how he reclaimed his power, from breathwork and yoga to professionally guided psychedelic ceremonies, and why healing eventually has to become service.
What we explore:
How high capability can mask unhealed trauma
Why “it wasn’t your fault” unlocks real healing
What avoidance costs: identity loss, drinking, marriage strain
How breathwork, yoga, and psychedelics support recovery
Why healing has to become service
Chapters:
00:00 Dom Returns Solo to Open Up Fully
02:15 The Italian Family Roots Behind His Story
04:29 The Teen Trauma He Hid for Years
09:11 Why Self-Blame Keeps You Stuck
12:53 How to Parent Through Honest Conversations
19:25 Why Being Capable Isn’t Being Healed
21:58 How Opening Up Saved His Marriage
25:04 Losing Your Identity After the Military
29:52 How to Balance Masculine and Feminine Energy
38:11 When Your Healing Becomes Your Purpose
50:29 Why High Achievers Secretly Stall Out
54:36 How Breathwork and CO2 Unlock Flow
1:10:23 How Psychedelics Can Help You Heal
1:17:59 Why Ben Roberts’ Story Still Matters
About Dominic Luke:
Dominic Luke served as a U.S. Air Force pararescueman for ten years. Today he’s an author, coach, yoga instructor, and XPT coach who works with high-performing leaders on the private struggles that capability tends to hide. His book, That Others May Love More, traces his own path through trauma, forgiveness, and reclaiming identity, and offers tools for anyone ready to stop repeating their patterns.
Connect with Dominic Luke:
Website: https://www.domluke.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_dominicluke_
Get a copy of Dominic Luke’s Book
–
The Gabby Reece Show
This is where I have real conversations with the people I find most worth listening to: scientists, athletes, coaches, parents, and thinkers who are doing the hard work of building a life that holds up over time. No hacks. No quick fixes. Just honest, practical conversations about performance, longevity, relationships, and what it actually takes to show up well at every age.
If you are here, you probably already know that health is not a destination. It is how you live. I am glad you are along for it.
Connect with Gabby Reece:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabbyreeceofficial
Website: https://gabriellereece.com
