Circle of Chairs with Jon Seidl

This week on Circle of Chairs Conversations, I had the privilege of sitting down with bestselling author Jonathon M. Seidl to talk about his brand-new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic.Jon’s story is raw, messy, and radically vulnerable. For years, he lived a double life, faithful husband, father, Christian leader on the outside, while secretly battling alcoholism on the inside. But when his carefully constructed world unraveled, Jon found himself at rock bottom, desperate for redemption.And that’s exactly where God met him.In this episode, we talk about:How Jon’s drinking began as a way to numb anxiety and spiraled into addictionWhy the church often struggles to talk about sanctification in honest termsThe role of shame in keeping people stuck in cycles of secrecyWhy Jesus—not perfection—is the way out of hidden strugglesThe four-step transformation process Jon uses to help others find freedomHow to walk with compassion when leaders and loved ones fall into addiction“You have not messed up too much. You are not too far gone.” — Jonathon M. SeidlAbout Jonathon M. SeidlJonathon (Jon) is a bestselling author, speaker, and storyteller who has written over 10,000 stories throughout his career—from newsrooms to nonprofit leadership to his own books.He first captured hearts with his debut, Finding Rest, a No. 1 Amazon bestseller on anxiety and OCD. Now, he turns his lens inward in Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic, sharing openly about his hidden addiction and offering a biblical roadmap for transformation.Jon is also the founder of The Veritas Daily, a daily devotional site, and consults leaders and nonprofits on the power of storytelling. He lives in Texas with his wife, Brett, and their two children.Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, was released Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here. Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com