Counseling, Community, and Comics: A Conversation with Shane Gerlach

Levi sits down with counselor and community leader Shane Gerlach to explore the heart behind his work at Carroll Institute and his longtime passion for youth mentorship. Shane shares the moment his wife nudged him back to school, the three traits he believes drive lasting success — honesty, humility, and vulnerability — and how he helps clients take ownership of the only things they can truly control: how they think, feel, and act. They dig into addiction as a brain disease, the language shift from “I’m an addict” to “I’m a person in recovery,” and why that change builds hope. Then the conversation pivots to SuperCon — from a seven-person volunteer crew and maxed-out credit cards to thousands of attendees, dozens of sponsors, and more than a hundred volunteers each year. Shane explains how local partnerships fueled growth, why “nerd culture” went mainstream, and what family-friendly fun to expect at the event weekend.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Be A Guest Are you a successful business owner or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest on https://grittogrowthpodcast.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.