Angels with Dirty Faces: Amber Hollingsworth on Seeing the Good in Addiction

Send us Fan MailWhat if the person you love isn’t broken—just buried under addiction?In this powerful episode, I sit down with addiction counselor and YouTube creator Amber Hollingsworth of Put The Shovel Down to talk about something we don’t hear enough in recovery: how to actually help a loved one struggling with addiction—without enabling or playing the villain.Amber shares insight from two decades of working with addicts and their families, including:Why tough love often backfiresThe dangers of playing the “bad guy” roleHow denial is a defense mechanism, not defianceThe strategy she teaches to gently nudge someone toward recoveryWhat really motivates change—and what pushes people awayWhether you’re sober yourself or trying to help someone who isn’t, this conversation will shift your mindset and give you tools you can use today.🔗 Check out Amber’s YouTube channel: Put The Shovel DownSupport the show📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.