Running Toward Recovery Michael Herbert's Journey to Freedom

Send us Fan MailA lot of people think recovery ends when the meeting does. We open the door wider. Michael joins us with a story that moves from crack addiction and quiet shame to beekeeping, ultra running across the Sahara in sandals, and building a nonprofit that feeds schoolchildren in Ethiopia. The throughline isn’t superhuman grit; it’s a simple sequence: choose abstinence, find your people, take honest responsibility, and then create a life you’re excited to wake up for.We talk about growing up feeling “different,” hiding deficits behind humor, and using drugs to amplify joy or mute pain. A 30-day rehab and an experiential internship flipped the script, revealing that the problem wasn’t intelligence—it was fit. Learning by doing became a method for everything: counseling, ordering hives and learning bees in an afternoon, saying yes to 155 miles and adapting when his shoes failed. He finished in Tevas. The lesson lands hard and hopeful: momentum beats doubt, and preparation is a kindness to your future self.Service keeps the engine running. A single promise in an Ethiopian village turned into a $30,000 fundraiser, a fast-tracked 501(c)(3), and a lunch program powered by 300 chickens so kids get two eggs a day. We dig into daily practices that sustain change—three workouts, journaling, meditation—and why nicotine counts as a drug worth quitting. For families, we share boundary-setting questions that reduce enabling and increase real help. Michael’s new book, The Recovery Roadmap: A Guide to Freedom and Adventure, captures the blueprint: abstinence gets you into the room; adventure, purpose, and community make you want to stay.If you’re ready to reimagine recovery as a path to strength, service, and awe, press play. Then share this episode with someone who needs proof that change can be bold and joyful. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what dream are you ready to start today? Follow me for more podcasting tips and exclusive offers: Instagram: @drbrianearnold Facebook: @brianearnold YouTube: @brianearnold1 LinkedIn: Brian Earnold X (Twitter): @DrBearnold TikTok: @brianearnold1 Read my books: brianearnold.com/booksWant to be the next story featured on our podcast?Book a session here  www.BookWithBrian.usWant to Start Your Own Podcast?Go to: www.thepodcastchallenge.com Support our show: ThePodcastChallenge.comSupport the showhttp://thepodcastchallenge.com