Peace, Purpose, and the Foundation of 12-Step Recovery with Ronan O’Loughlin

In this episode of Finding New Waters, B. Reeves and New Waters Recovery CEO Justin McClendon sit down with Ronan O’Loughlin, founder and owner of Peace and Purpose Sober Living in Asheville, North Carolina, for a deeply honest conversation about recovery, humility, fear, and the spiritual foundation of long-term sobriety.Ronan shares his personal journey through addiction, immigration, bartending, and eventual recovery, including his path into opening a sober living rooted firmly in 12-step principles. With candor, humor, and wisdom, he reflects on desperation, ego, fear, and what it truly means to live with peace and purpose.This episode explores:Ronan’s recovery journey and early sobrietyAddiction, desperation, and the gift of not wanting to useBartending, ego, and identity in active addictionWhy Peace and Purpose Sober Living was createdThe role of legacy, loss, and service in recovery workFear as the root of anger and ego-based thinkingInfantile expectations and the bondage of selfWhy 12-step foundations still matterHumility, vocation, and doing recovery work for the right reasonsThis is a grounded, reflective conversation about what sustains recovery over time and why authenticity, humility, and spiritual growth remain at the core of lasting change.YOUTUBE TIMESTAMPS00:00 Welcome to Finding New Waters01:00 Introducing Ronan O’Loughlin02:20 Ronan’s addiction and recovery story04:30 Desperation, heroin detox, and early sobriety06:40 Bartending, ego, and identity09:00 Work, immigration, and addiction11:30 The meaning behind Peace and Purpose13:40 Why sober living and how it began16:20 Legacy, loss, and continuing the mission18:50 Service, humility, and recovery as vocation21:30 Fear as the root of anger24:00 Ego-based fear and infantile expectations26:40 The bondage of self29:00 Faith, fear, and spiritual growth31:00 The enduring role of 12-step recovery33:30 Partnering, community, and closing reflectionsGUEST LINKS – RONAN O’LOUGHLIN / PEACE AND PURPOSE SOBER LIVINGWebsite: https://www.peaceandpurposeavl.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/peaceandpurposeavlFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/peaceandpurposeavlFOLLOW NEW WATERS RECOVERYInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecoveryFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecoveryLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recoveryTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_ncWATCH AND LISTENPodcast Website: https://www.findingnewwaters.comSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5GjwApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXwYouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn