Breaking Down Addiction

Zach Grace’s story is a wild ride through addiction, heroin use, incarceration, treatment, fatherhood, faith, and long-term recovery.What began with drinking at 13 quickly escalated into prescription pills, heroin, and intravenous drug use. Zach spent years chasing relief from the anxiety, insecurity, and pain that followed him from adolescence into adulthood. Along the way came arrests, overdoses, treatment centers, probation, and the loss of custody of his newborn son.Everything changed when a compassionate probation officer offered treatment instead of prison and Zach made the decision to give recovery everything he had. Today, nearly eight years sober, Zach is a father, speaker, mentor, recovery advocate, and Business Development Representative for Freeman Recovery Center, helping others find hope when they need it most.You’ll Hear:• What Zach would say to himself at his lowest point in addiction• How a few drinks at 13 led to heroin and intravenous drug use• Why addiction made him believe he wasn’t worth saving• The progression from Percocets and Opanas to heroin• What life looked like living homeless in California while addicted• The role jail, probation, and treatment played in his recovery journey• The emotional impact of losing custody of his son at birth• The story behind his final shot on September 28, 2018• How faith and recovery became inseparable in his healing process• Why service, therapy, and helping others remain central to his recovery today• The difference between helping and enabling a loved one struggling with addiction• Why collaboration between treatment providers saves livesWhy Listen:• To hear an honest, inspiring story of transformation from heroin addiction to recovery• To understand how quickly substance use can escalate when left unchecked• To learn how fatherhood became a turning point in one man’s recovery journey• To hear how faith, treatment, and community can work together to sustain long-term sobriety• To gain practical insight for families supporting a loved one with addiction• To be reminded that recovery is possible, even when everything feels lostIf you or someone you love is struggling, help is available.To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com.

Darren Hobbs’ story is a powerful journey through addiction, incarceration, surrender, recovery, intervention work, and helping families find hope in the middle of chaos.For years, Darren lived a double life—bartender by day, drug dealer by night—while cocaine and alcohol controlled nearly every decision he made. After a 2010 arrest left him facing decades in prison, Darren found himself alone in a jail cell, broken, desperate, and finally willing to ask God to change him instead of his circumstances.What followed was a series of unlikely events, second chances, mentors, recovery, and a calling to help others. Today, Darren is a board-certified interventionist, founder of The Firm Nashville, and one of the leading voices helping families navigate addiction and recovery.You’ll Hear:• What Darren would say to himself during his darkest moment in Davidson County Jail• The prayer that changed the course of his life• How cocaine, alcohol, and entitlement fueled 15 years of addiction• The arrest that left him facing up to 20 years in prison• Why his parents’ toughest act of love ultimately saved his life• The incredible recovery coincidences that convinced him something bigger was at work• How he found recovery while incarcerated• What inspired him to become a board-certified interventionist• Behind-the-scenes insights from working on the TV show Intervention• Why families should stop waiting for “rock bottom”• The biggest misconceptions families have about interventions• How addiction impacts entire family systems—not just the person using substances• What Darren believes is broken in today’s addiction treatment system• Why individualized care and long-term recovery support are the future of treatmentWhy Listen:• To hear a remarkable story of redemption and second chances• To better understand addiction from both the addict’s and family’s perspective• To learn why firm boundaries can be one of the greatest acts of love• To gain insight into interventions and recovery from one of Nashville’s leading interventionists• To be reminded that hope can appear even in the darkest moments• To understand why recovery is about much more than simply stopping substance useIf you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, help is available.To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit:https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com

Mathew Dwyer’s story is a raw, honest journey through alcohol addiction, service industry drinking culture, relapse, treatment, recovery, spirituality, and service.From Wisconsin barrooms to Nashville restaurants, Mathew spent years hiding his drinking, managing consequences, and convincing himself he had it under control. After pancreatitis, blackouts, job losses, DUIs, and a relapse that led him to treatment during the early days of COVID, Mathew finally found recovery through surrender, community, service, and the rooms of AA.Today, Mathew is sober, active in Nashville’s recovery community, involved with the Log Cabin Group, and helping others find hope before they lose everything.You’ll Hear:• What Mathew would say to himself in active addiction  • How Wisconsin drinking culture shaped his early relationship with alcohol  • Why the service industry can protect and normalize addiction  • The lies he told himself to keep drinking  • How pancreatitis, blackouts, DUIs, and relapse became part of his story  • Why cocaine eventually led him back to alcohol  • What finally made treatment different  • How spirituality, meditation, and service became part of his recovery  • Why the Log Cabin Group has become a powerful recovery community in Nashville  Why Listen:• To hear an honest alcohol recovery story filled with humor, pain, and clarity  • To understand how addiction can hide behind work, personality, and “functioning”  • To learn why half measures often fail  • To see how community and service can help sustain sobriety  • To be reminded that you do not have to lose everything before you stop digging  If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available.  To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit: https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com

Michael Rositano’s story is a powerful journey through grief, opioid addiction, treatment, relapse, jail, recovery, and redemption.After losing his father at age 20, Michael found two bottles of Percocet in the medicine cabinet. What began as a way to numb grief eventually escalated into OxyContin, Opana, fentanyl, theft, legal charges, jail, and multiple treatment stays.Today, Michael works in recovery, helps others find treatment, shares his story through music and service, and reflects honestly on the guilt, pain, humor, and hope that shaped his path.You’ll Hear:• What Michael would say to himself in active addiction: “Just give it up, man”• How losing his father became a turning point• How Percocet, OxyContin, Opana, and fentanyl took over his life• The role of grief, guilt, and untreated mental health• Multiple treatment stays, relapse, drug court, and jail• The SeaWorld moment that became a wake-up call• How Recovery Unplugged helped him rebuild• Why holistic care and therapy mattered in his recovery• How Michael now helps others through recovery workWhy Listen:• To hear an honest opioid recovery story filled with pain, humor, and hope• To understand how grief can fuel addiction• To learn why treatment often takes more than one attempt• To see how recovery can lead to purpose, service, and restored relationships• To be reminded that your past does not have to define your futureFind Michael at https://youtube.com/@titanuploadnetworkIf you or someone you love is struggling, help is available.To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit: https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com

Miko Juvinall’s story is a powerful journey from a disciplined childhood as a competitive gymnast to the chaos of addiction, toxic relationships, and federal charges—ultimately leading to a moment of clarity and the beginning of recovery.Growing up with structure, ambition, and a clear path toward becoming a veterinarian, Miko’s life took a turn in college through partying, alcohol, and eventually methamphetamine use. What began as experimentation quickly escalated into daily use, dangerous environments, and survival-driven decisions. Along the way, she navigated abusive relationships, drug raids, and a years-long fraud scheme that led to federal arrest in 2018.In this episode, Miko shares the moment she realized she had lost control—and how that awareness became the first step toward change. Her story is one of honesty, resilience, and the long road back from addiction.You’ll Hear:• What Miko would say to herself in active addiction: “It will get better—it is possible”• How a disciplined upbringing didn’t prevent addiction—but shaped her recovery• The progression from alcohol to meth and how quickly use escalated• Inside the rave scene and the normalization of drug use• The role of toxic and abusive relationships in deepening addiction• The moment she realized she could not stop using• Drug raids, legal close calls, and living in survival mode• How a multi-year gift card fraud scheme led to federal charges• The arrest that forced her to confront reality for the first time• Early moments of sobriety and the fear, clarity, and turning point they createdWhy Listen:• To understand how addiction can develop—even in disciplined, high-achieving individuals• To hear an unfiltered story of escalation, denial, and consequences• To gain insight into the mindset of active addiction and survival behaviors• To learn how moments of crisis can become catalysts for change• To be reminded that recovery begins with honesty—and is always possibleIf you or someone you love is struggling, help is available.To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit: https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com

Jay Booker’s story is a powerful journey through childhood trauma, family addiction, incarceration, relapse, and the long road to lasting recovery—ultimately leading him to a life of purpose, service, and helping other men heal.Growing up in a home marked by alcoholism, emotional instability, and survival-mode coping, Jay shares how early wounds shaped his self-worth, identity, and addiction. From a promising youth baseball career to juvenile charges, jail time, prison, and years of cycling through drugs, manipulation, and shame, Jay opens up about the choices that nearly cost him everything—and the moment he finally asked for help.Now sober since January 26, 2010, Jay reflects on how recovery became more than just abstinence. Through 12-step work, therapy, breathwork, accountability, and daily practice, he rebuilt his life, became a present father, and turned his pain into purpose. Today, he is helping others through Just Breathe Recovery Community and Triony Behavioral Health, creating safe places for men facing substance use, trauma, anxiety, depression, and failure to launch.You’ll Hear: • Jay’s message to his younger self in active addiction: “Don’t give up” • How growing up around alcoholism, codependency, and emotional abuse shaped his survival patterns • The connection between childhood trauma, low self-worth, and addiction • How drugs, dealing, incarceration, and relapse escalated over time • What finally led him to ask for help and get sober in 2010 • Why recovery requires daily practice, honesty, and leaning into discomfort • The role of breathwork, therapy, 12-step recovery, and spiritual grounding in staying centered • Why men’s mental health needs more attention, compassion, and real support • How Jay is helping build better pathways for men through MAT-friendly housing and behavioral health care • Encouragement for parents and families trying to help a loved one take the first stepWhy Listen: • To hear an honest recovery story that includes trauma, incarceration, relapse, and redemption • To better understand how addiction often begins long before substance use • To learn why asking for help can change everything • To hear how recovery can lead to purpose, fatherhood, leadership, and healing • To understand the need for more compassionate support for men facing mental health and substance use challenges • To be reminded that your past does not have to define your futureIf you or someone you love is struggling, help is available.To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com/To learn more about Jay Booker’s work, visit https://justbreatherecovery.com and https://trionybehavioralhealth.com/

Tyler Bowman’s story is a candid journey through family disruption, early addiction patterns, relapse cycles, and the long road to lasting recovery—ultimately leading to purpose, faith, and building a treatment culture centered on doing “the next right thing.”Growing up as an only child navigating his parents’ divorce, Tyler describes how early emotional wounds shaped later relationship patterns—and how “the behaviors start before the actual substance starts.” His addiction escalated from alcohol and marijuana to Adderall and pain pills, eventually turning into heroin and multiple overdoses. Along the way: legal charges, repeated treatment attempts, and the hard-earned realization that recovery requires both willingness and consistency.Now in long-term recovery, Tyler shares how he rebuilt his life, navigated profound loss, and helped launch Brooks Healing Center in Normandy, Tennessee—turning a vision formed during COVID into a mission-driven program rooted in culture, accountability, and care.You’ll Hear:“You are enough”—and how shame fuels addictionWhy addiction patterns begin before substances doThe shift from “getting high” to “feeling normal”Relapse, rigidity, and learning how to stay spiritually and emotionally healthyHow grief, fatherhood, and faith reshaped Tyler’s recoveryThe origin story of Brooks Healing Center—and what makes its culture differentPractical advice for families holding boundaries—and for individuals ready to take the first stepWhy Listen:To understand the emotional roots that often precede substance useTo hear an honest recovery story that includes relapse, loss, and rebuildingTo learn what sustainable recovery looks like at 10+ years soberTo hear how purpose and community can reshape identity after addictionTo be reminded: “You’re never too broken to be fixed.”If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com/Find Tyler and learn about Brooks Healing Center at www.brookshealingcenter.com

Todd Mulligan’s story is a blunt look at how fast opioid addiction can take over—and what it actually takes to come back. In this episode of Breaking Down Addiction, hosts Jonny Phillip and Chad Elkin sit down with Todd to trace the arc from prescription pain pills after multiple accidents, to an 11-year spiral that included street pills, Suboxone misuse, benzodiazepines, and daily meth use.Todd shares what it was like realizing withdrawal for the first time, the delusions and chaos of late-stage addiction, and the surreal moment he discovered he was on Intervention. He also explains why being “sent to Tennessee” for treatment at Cumberland Heights ended up changing everything—especially through the structure and accountability of Stillwaters.Today, Todd works in the recovery space helping families navigate admissions and find quality care. This conversation is practical, unfiltered, and full of hope—without pretending recovery is easy.You’ll Hear:• Why pills felt like “the answer” because they removed anxiety immediately• How fast “medical use” turned into everyday dependence—and why it went out of control immediately• What withdrawal felt like the first time (“I thought I had the flu”)• What it’s like to be deep in addiction while being filmed for Intervention• Why boundaries—not rescuing—are the turning point for many families• The moment craving finally lifted, and what “surrender” looked like for Todd• Why purpose and service became the long-term fuel for staying soberWhy Listen:• To understand the link between pain, anxiety, and opioid misuse• To hear the reality of relapse risk, treatment resistance, and what finally breaks through• To learn how structure, accountability, and community can rebuild a life• To get practical guidance for families on boundaries and family programming• To be reminded that as long as someone is breathing, there is still a chanceIf you or someone you love is struggling, help is available.Learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast. https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com/The video of this episode is available:https://youtu.be/mFCH5b_QmPE

Brandon Fender’s story is a raw journey through war, trauma, addiction, and ultimately, redemption.A Marine Corps veteran with four combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Brandon returned home carrying survivor’s guilt, untreated PTSD, and severe physical injuries. What began as prescribed pain medication quickly escalated into opioid addiction, heroin use, and a life marked by isolation, paranoia, and near-suicidal despair. At his lowest point—overdosing in a Burger King parking lot and sitting alone with a pistol in his mouth—one phone call from his mother changed everything: “I want my son back.”Now sober and purpose-driven, Brandon has turned his pain into a mission. As a leader at Treehouse Recovery Tennessee in Nashville, he is helping redefine addiction treatment through community, discipline, movement, and whole-person healing—mental, physical, social, and spiritual. His work focuses on brotherhood, accountability, and rebuilding identity for veterans and others struggling with addiction.You’ll Hear:•What combat trauma and survivor’s guilt really feel like after coming home•Why “being over there was easy—and coming home was the hard part”•How pain medication numbed more than physical pain•The moment heroin stopped being about getting high and became about “feeling normal”•Why pride and ego keep people stuck—and why asking for help is real strength•How Treehouse Recovery Tennessee is changing the way addiction is treatedWhy Listen:•To understand the hidden cost of war, trauma, and untreated pain•To hear an honest account of addiction without shame or filters•To see how community, discipline, and movement can restore purpose•To be reminded that recovery is possible—even after the darkest momentsIf you or someone you love is struggling, help is available.Learn more about Treehouse Recovery Tennessee at treehouserecoverytn.comContact Brandon directly: [email protected]

Will Drury’s story is a raw, winding path through grief, addiction, jail, and the kind of recovery that rebuilds a life from the ground up. He started using at 13, lost close friends to DUI tragedies, and by 18 he was a “kid having a kid”—while sliding deeper into alcohol, weed, and eventually opioids.Hydrocodone turned into oxycodone, tolerance turned into withdrawal, and survival became a daily chase to not get sick. Will shares what it was like to walk into a methadone clinic at 20, live in and out of jail, and later endure opioid withdrawal behind bars—alone, freezing, and hallucinating in what he calls the “turtle suit.”But the episode doesn’t stay in the dark. Will opens up about the moment a simple prayer cracked something open, how treatment and the AA community helped him grow up fast, and how he rebuilt trust—especially with his son, Tyson. Today, Will has turned his recovery into service, helping others find a path forward and creating Forge Recovery Home, a safe place for men to transition into sober living.You’ll Hear:How early grief and trauma helped fuel Will’s addictionThe “lines in the sandbox” that kept moving—from weed to pills to IV drug useWhat it’s like to be dope sick at 19 with no idea what’s happeningThe methadone clinic experience at 20—and why he felt “out of place”Withdrawal in jail: the cold cell, hallucinations, and the “turtle suit”The stolen truck story that became a turning pointThe prayer that shifted everything: “God, let your will be done.”How recovery helped him become a dad again—and rebuild a real lifeWhy boundaries matter: “Love them from a distance.”How Will’s purpose became a calling—and led to Forge Recovery HomeWhy Listen:To understand how addiction hijacks choices long before someone “looks” addictedTo hear a brutally honest account of withdrawal, jail, and what people don’t talk aboutTo be reminded that grief and shame don’t have to be a life sentenceTo see what’s possible when recovery becomes community, responsibility, and serviceTo hear a story that proves it’s never too late to come home—to your life, and to the people you love

Misty Pearson’s story begins where many never expect addiction to start: a legitimate injury, a doctor’s prescription, and a life that looked “put together.” One torn ACL set off a chain reaction—opioids, shame, escalation, arrests, and ultimately nine and a half years of incarceration.But Misty’s story doesn’t end there.Through forced sobriety, deep personal reckoning, faith, and an unwavering commitment to growth, Misty chose a different path. Today, she works in addiction treatment, serves as a Hope Ambassador, and dedicates her life to helping others find recovery—even while carrying the lifelong consequences of her past.This episode is a raw, honest conversation about pride, shame, systemic failure, redemption, and what it really takes to rebuild a life after addiction.You’ll Hear:How a routine ACL injury and opioid prescription led to addictionWhy pride and shame kept Misty from asking for helpThe moment incarceration became a turning point—not the endWhat nine and a half years in prison taught her about recovery and responsibilityHow support systems can determine success or relapse after releaseWhy recovery doesn’t erase consequences—and why that truth mattersHow Misty turned her story into service through treatment work and advocacyWhy Listen:To understand how addiction can begin quietly—and escalate fastTo hear a powerful example of accountability without self-destructionTo learn what long-term recovery actually requiresTo be reminded that healing is possible, even after prisonTo find hope that transformation can come from the hardest placesIf you or someone you love is struggling, this episode is proof that it’s never too late to ask for help—and that choosing to “leave better” can change everything.

Patrick Custer’s story is a masterclass in courage. Raised in a conservative religious home, Patrick spent his early life feeling “different” and carrying shame he couldn’t name. Addiction took hold in college, spiraling him from functioning student to around-the-clock drinking and stimulant use. At 24, a family intervention saved his life—and sobriety opened the door to years of healing, identity acceptance, and profound self-discovery.But the greatest test came five years into recovery: a terrifying diagnosis of a brain tumor—the very fear that had haunted him since childhood. What followed was a season of surgeries, MRSA infections, life-threatening complications, and the slow loss of hope from even his closest loved ones. Yet Patrick never picked up a drink. Instead, his resilience, spiritual grounding, and community became the lifeline that pulled him through.Today, Patrick is the creator and host of Rooted Recovery Stories and The Patrick Custer Show, using storytelling to bring hope, understanding, and compassion to those navigating trauma, addiction, and mental health battles.You’ll Hear:•How growing up in a conservative, Pentecostal environment shaped Patrick’s early shame and internal conflict•Why “tomorrow” became the lie that fueled his addiction—and how he finally broke the cycle•The powerful intervention that sent him to treatment at 24•How ADHD shaped his recovery, his learning style, and his self-understanding•The shocking brain tumor diagnosis that nearly took his life—and how he stayed sober through it•Why storytelling became his greatest tool for healing and helping othersWhy Listen:•To see what it truly looks like to rebuild your identity after addiction•To understand the emotional and neurological realities of recovery and ADHD•To hear how someone can face their lifelong worst fear without relapsing•To experience the power of community, metaphor, and vulnerability in long-term sobriety•To be reminded that resilience often appears the moment we decide to show up for ourselvesThis episode is a testament to what happens when honesty meets hope—and why your story, no matter how painful, might be the key to someone else’s healing.

Justin Lowry’s story is a wild ride through chaos, collapse, and ultimately, radical redemption. Starting drugs at age 12, Justin’s life spiraled through addiction, business success, bankruptcy, and homelessness—until a near-death hospital stay and jail time forced him to face the truth: he was the problem.Now sober and thriving, Justin has turned his pain into purpose through Smiles for Recovery, a nonprofit providing free dental implants for people in recovery. What began as a small idea in a borrowed dental chair has become a $6.5M movement that restores not just teeth, but dignity, confidence, and hope.You’ll Hear:How Justin’s childhood chaos and family addiction shaped his early yearsThe collapse of his multimillion-dollar business and his spiral into cocaine useThe jail stay and suicide attempt that became his turning pointHow one mentor and a doctor’s faith gave him a second chanceThe creation of Smiles for Recovery and the miraculous 98% sobriety success rate among patientsWhy restoring a smile can be the most powerful act of recoveryWhy Listen:To witness one man’s transformation from destruction to serviceTo understand how trauma and addiction freeze emotional growth—and how healing restarts itTo see how one small act of compassion can ripple into life-changing impactTo be reminded that purpose, not perfection, is what sustains recovery

Former NFL linebacker Ryan Fowler opens up about the hidden world of pain, pressure, and performance inside professional football—and how it led to years of addiction. From Vicodin on the sidelines to a staff member supplying players in the locker room, Fowler shares how the drive to be perfect, strong, and “capable” nearly cost him everything.Now in recovery, Ryan talks about rebuilding his life, mending relationships, and finding peace in simply being enough. His story is one of brutal honesty, resilience, and redemption—showing that recovery isn’t just about quitting substances, but reclaiming your sense of worth.You’ll Hear:What life in the NFL was really like behind the scenes — and how painkillers became part of the gameHow Fowler’s need for validation and perfection fueled his addictionThe shocking locker-room system that supplied drugs to playersHis descent into Adderall and Kratom dependency after footballThe breaking point that led him to call for help—and what recovery looks like todayWhy his biggest victory came after the gameWhy Listen:To understand the hidden link between performance, pain, and addictionTo hear a rare, first-person account of NFL culture and mental healthTo be reminded that redemption is possible, no matter how far you fallTo find hope and practical insight for your own recovery—or someone you love

What if the real trauma begins when you’re not allowed to be yourself? In this powerful conversation, Orlando Andrews shares his deeply personal recovery journey—one shaped by loss, discovery, and bold innovation. From confronting the failures of $60,000 treatment programs with 70% relapse rates, to developing new solutions like the SPARC device, Orlando is pushing the industry to rethink what recovery can look like.He speaks candidly about the “soul rupture” of operating outside your morality, the dangers of normalized escapism, and the original trauma of being forced to hide your authentic self. But this isn’t just critique—it’s hope. Orlando shows how long-term recovery is possible when we build systems that honor authenticity, address trauma, and provide real tools for healing.You’ll hear:Why Orlando walked away from high-cost treatment centers with poor outcomesHis vision for Recovery Matters and the future of long-term recovery careThe original trauma of not being allowed to live authenticallyHow PTSD can stem from being forced to act outside your moralityTools and innovations like the SPARC device that are changing recovery todayTune in to hear Orlando’s vision for Recovery Matters and why coming home to yourself is the ultimate goal of recovery.

Episode 2: My Chaos – Kim Ryan on Trauma, Recovery, and the Moment She Knew She Was OkayIn this powerful and deeply honest episode, Kim Ryan joins host Jonny Phillip to share her remarkable story of addiction, trauma, and transformation.From surviving the chaos of substance use to finding long-term recovery and peace, Kim opens up about the darkest chapters of her life—and the unexpected moments of clarity that brought her back.You’ll hear:What trauma-informed care really looks likeThe surprising day she realized she was finally okayHow peer support saved her lifeWhy she would name her recovery story “My Chaos”Her story of HUSTLE Recovery and her vision for community healingWith brutal honesty and hard-won wisdom, Kim’s story reminds us that recovery isn’t just possible—it’s worth it.Available now wherever you get your podcasts.#BreakingDownAddiction #AddictionRecovery #TraumaHealing #HarmReduction #PeerSupport #RecoveryIsPossible

Welcome to the debut episode of Breaking Down Addiction, a podcast by National Addiction Specialists.In this raw and unfiltered conversation, singer-songwriter and recovery advocate Mitzi Dawn shares her powerful journey—from growing up in the rooms of AA to discovering, later than expected, that addiction hadn’t skipped her after all.Mitzi opens up about the early days of using, the isolation and denial that followed, and the moment someone finally looked her in the eye and said, “You’re a drug addict.” That moment changed everything.We dive into:Why fun was part of the problemWhat she’d say to her younger self in active addictionThe difference between getting sober and staying healedHer unexpected path from Nashville songwriter to clinical directorWhy programs like Smiles for Recovery and Treehouse are saving livesAnd the emotional cost of waiting to be seen, valued, and lovedShe reminds us: “I wanted to give up a million times. I’m really glad I didn’t.”Whether you’re in recovery, love someone who is, or just want to understand addiction better—this conversation will move you.Listen now. Subscribe. Share hope.