Velvet Nights & Coke Eyes with Shawn Vinson

Who this episode is for:Anyone who’s ever been owned by their addictionParents trying to fix what their kids won’t talk aboutBusiness bros who grind all day and snort all nightPeople trying to outrun their past (good luck)Anyone who’s ever made a mess of their life and called it “fun”The quietly curious — not in recovery (yet), but wondering what all the wreckage is really aboutThis week on Pondoff’s Anonymous, we go all the way in with Shawn Vinson — entrepreneur, ex-party monster, and the kind of guy who used to outdrink you, outwork you, and then take your girlfriend… all before brunch. But behind the suits and the lake house blowouts was a man chasing oblivion at full throttle.Shawn gets real about growing up with a broken relationship blueprint, drowning in validation-seeking, and building a life so externally successful it nearly killed him. We’re talking ecstasy-fueled club nights, lines in the bathroom at family events, and trying to “dad” while his soul was on fire.You’ll hear how a 12-step program flipped his rage into clarity, why prayer is now part of his survival kit, and how he’s channeling his chaos into coaching and entrepreneurship. There’s also a moment where his two-year-old daughter checks him on his cocaine eyes. If you’re not wrecked after that… you might already be.We hit everything from early insecurity and high school boozing, to the brutal come-to-Jesus moments that make recovery stick. And yeah — we go deep on what it really means to rebuild a life from the ashes when no one’s clapping and nothing’s pretty.Episode Breakdown (You Know the Drill):00:00 – Shot of Coffee and a Side of Chaos01:28 – Meet Shawn Vinson: The Wolf of Wall Street of the Ozarks04:52 – Families: Can’t Live with ’Em, Can’t Stay Sober Without ’Em12:08 – Addiction Doesn’t Just Wreck You — It Torches the Whole Family Tree18:24 – When a Toddler Calls Out Your Cocaine Eyes24:59 – 12-Step Rage Turned 12-Step Redemption31:14 – Young, Dumb, and Looking for Love in All the Dysfunctional Places31:42 – Medicated and Proud: The Daily Ritual That Keeps Us Sane32:25 – High School: Insecurity, Hormones, and Bud Light34:17 – Booze as a Social Superpower (Until It Isn’t)37:22 – Discovering Ecstasy and the Gospel of Velvet Nightclub40:08 – Cocaine, Clubs, and the Illusion of Invincibility43:17 – New Friends, New Lows, and All the Free Drinks You Can Snort46:20 – Corporate Hustle Meets Party Animal: Shawn Joins the Family Biz51:31 – The Lake House Turns Into a Blown‑Out Frat Mansion52:28 – Consequences: The House Always Wins56:23 – Chasing the First High Straight Into Hell59:31 – Chaos, Camaraderie, and the Power of Unlikely Brotherhood01:01:47 – Why Vulnerability Feels Like Taking Your Skin Off01:03:24 – Addiction Is an Equal Opportunity Destroyer01:06:12 – Love, Lust, and Lines of Blow: Relationships in the Wreckage01:10:14 – Sobriety Isn’t a Destination — It’s a Fucking Fight01:19:30 – Owning the Fallout, One Step at a Time01:26:13 – Looking Back to Move Forward (Even When It Hurts Like Hell)01:29:36 – Early Recovery: Welcome to the Emotional Blender01:32:19 – Community, Accountability, and Not Doing This Shit Alone01:39:08 – Prayer, Presence, and Getting Intentional With Life01:47:04 – From Snorting Lines to Coaching Lives: Shawn’s Next ChapterCheck out Shawn’s coaching work at: https://xpansion.comSponsored by:McKelvey Insurance – https://www.mckelveyins.com/LightSource Psychotherapy – https://findyourlightsource.com/