Push Each Other to the Top

Recording from a beautiful island in Thailand, Brent joins Jonathan for a candid conversation about how to protect your sobriety when alcohol is everywhere — summer barbecues, weddings, work trips, casinos, and a condo with a full wall of booze. Brent shares the hard-won tools that keep him grounded: working Step One and truly conceding you're powerless, making a plan before you walk into a tough situation, and never being afraid to pull the rip cord and leave. He opens up about his sponsor Horace's brutal honesty ("You're not a dad, you're a drunk"), the terror and freedom of asking for help, and the night he almost "soaked up the atmosphere" at a hotel bar — and called his sponsor instead. Along the way: Bill W. and Dr. Bob, a tuk-tuk driver in Bangkok with a line that changed how Brent handles resentment ("they're in your life, they're out of your life"), and the realization that we're all the same distance from grace. Plus, the line at the heart of it all: "Drinking wasn't the problem — drinking was a lot of the answer. When I finally drank enough, I found God." If you or someone you love is struggling, this one's a reminder: if Brent can do it, you can too. Reach out. You're not alone. Stay for the behind-the-scenes chat at the end.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

You've been carrying it so long you forgot it was even there. A bag full of rocks slung over your shoulder, one for every resentment, every fear, every thing you swore you'd never tell a soul. This week Brent and Jonathan dig into Step Five: admitting to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Brent shares what it was like walking guys through it at the detention center. The fear in the room, his buddy Matt's challenge that the thing you don't want anyone to know is the thing you need to talk about, and why, the moment it finally comes out of your mouth, half the weight is already gone. It's about confession, cleaning the slate, and the freedom of finally setting the bag down. Raw, honest, and full of hope. This one might just help you walk a little lighter.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

It's Memorial Day, and Brent and Jonathan take a moment to reflect on the people who made their lives possible — not just the service members who fought for their freedom, but the mothers, sponsors, and strangers who showed up when they needed it most. In this episode, they dig into gratitude as more than a feeling — it's an action. They talk about what it means to break out of autopilot, whether that's in recovery, in a prayer you've said a thousand times, or in the face of a stranger at a checkout counter. Brent shares the story of losing his mom, a dream that gave him peace, and a marble bag full of sobriety chips she'd been quietly saving for years. They also get into the hard stuff: job loss, isolation, the moment you realize you're not the only one who's ever felt completely alone — and why that realization can change everything. If you've ever wondered whether things can actually get better, this one's for you.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

What do you say to someone who might be about to kill you? Brent found out the hard way on a 12-step call he probably shouldn't have taken alone. Rick was a 275-pound bodybuilder, no shirt, glaring from his bed, looking like he was ready to come through the wall. Brent talked him down slowly, carefully, until Rick finally agreed to go to the hospital. When Rick threw back the blanket to get up, there were ten large knives underneath him. He could have ended it at any moment. He didn't. That's the thing about this work: you never know which conversation is the one that changes everything. That thread runs through the whole episode. Jonathan shares a story from his prison ministry about a volunteer named Dave who gets exactly one hour with newly sentenced inmates, sixteen men in one small chapel, and nearly all of them sign up to keep meeting. Brent reflects on Harold Sandoval, the recovering alcoholic who saw straight through his defenses decades ago and planted the seed that eventually took root. And then there's Corey, a brilliant and charismatic guy who kept losing everything to heroin, then walked into five different courtrooms and told judges the flat-out truth, watching each one respond with more grace than either of them expected. The conversation lands on willingness: where it comes from, why you can't manufacture it, and why the steps only work when you do them in order. Don't skip to amends. Don't be too smart for this. The dumb ones get sober.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

Growing up in an alcoholic home, Brent knew fear before he knew much else — hiding when his dad came home drunk, holding his breath through holidays. He also knows that the kids watching their parents struggle right now feel exactly the same way.In this episode, Jonathan shares what happened during his latest Thursday night prison outreach — nine men, one makeshift translator, and a conversation about Step 2 that stopped everyone cold when someone asked, "What does atonement even mean?" Then Brent opens up about the counterintuitive advice he gives families of addicts, why strangers are often better at helping than loved ones, and what it felt like to nearly relapse over a cigarette on a street in Thailand — after 37 years sober.At the heart of it all: hope. Where it comes from, who gives it, and why one honest conversation with the right person can be more powerful than the disease itself.Recovery isn't always logical. But it is possible. And we're gonna show up for you.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

After a break, Jonathan and Brent are back—and the conversation goes deep right away. They explore how both of them unexpectedly found themselves working in addiction recovery, the power of spiritual guidance, and what it really means to help people change. From prison classrooms to family interventions, this episode is about hope, hard truths, and the surprising paths that lead us to purpose.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

In this episode, Stefan joins Brent to share his powerful story of recovery — from the dark caverns of addiction to discovering hope, resilience, and brotherhood. Along the way, he opens up about fear, surrender, and the realization that nearly all of the catastrophe he once imagined never came to pass. This is an honest conversation about learning to live one day at a time, leaning on others, and finding freedom in recovery.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

In this episode, Brent, Jonathan, and Michael open up about the powerful shifts that happen when families stop enabling and start facing the truth. Brent shares the turning point when the “dance” of addiction finally stopped, changing the entire family dynamic. Michael reflects on moments of chaos—like the neighborhood fire—that reveal how fragile and precious stability can be. Together, they explore honesty, recovery, and the strength it takes to put yourself first. This is a full circle moment of healing, faith, and family.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

In this special family roundtable, Brent sits down with his children to talk about the impact of recovery on all of their lives. They share honest reflections about years of struggle, the work it took to rebuild trust, and the miracles they’ve witnessed along the way. This episode is a powerful reminder that recovery doesn’t just change one person — it can transform an entire family.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

In this powerful episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Brent welcomes his longtime friend Chaz to share his journey from addiction and brokenness to hope and purpose. Chaz opens up about growing up in chaos, battling heroin and meth addiction, and the pivotal moment in jail that sparked his transformation. With honesty and vulnerability, he reveals how recovery, community, and faith gave him the courage to rebuild his life, reconnect with his children, and pursue his dream of becoming a firefighter. This is a story of resilience, second chances, and the power of showing up when it matters most.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

In this episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Brent and Jonathan dive deep into the challenges families face when living alongside addiction. Brent shares real experiences helping loved ones navigate relapse, codependency, and the difficult decisions that come with setting boundaries. At the heart of recovery, he reminds us, is the courage to surrender and follow direction.From powerful stories of honesty and kindness to the hard truth about enabling, this conversation offers hope, clarity, and encouragement for anyone impacted by addiction — whether directly or through someone they love.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

In this episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Phillip joins Brent and Jonathan to share his path from isolation to belonging. He opens up about how addiction slowly took over his life, threatening his family and future, and how he found hope through fellowship and spiritual renewal. Phillip’s story is a reminder that recovery isn’t about willpower alone — it’s about connection, honesty, and community. For anyone struggling or supporting a loved one, his words bring encouragement and light.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

In this heartfelt episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Brent shares how recovery isn’t just about the individual — it’s about healing the entire family. Through years of hard work, honest conversations, and mutual growth, he’s learned that families can come back together, build healthy relationships, and truly enjoy life again. This episode offers hope to anyone feeling the weight of addiction’s impact on loved ones, proving that there’s another side to the chaos — a place of connection, laughter, and lasting joy.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

In this moving episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Brent reflects on what it feels like to wake up inside a life he never thought was possible. From once being lost, angry, and shortcut-seeking — to now building meaningful relationships, earning an honest living, and facing his own character defects — Brent shares how recovery has felt like stepping through a veil into a completely different world. This one is about clarity, self-awareness, and the real rewards of doing the work.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

In this emotional episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Brent opens up about the anger that consumed him — not just as an emotion, but as a response to feeling lost in life. Through a conversation about his past and the guidance of his sponsor Horace, he uncovers the deeper reasons behind his rage and begins the journey toward understanding, healing, and change. This is a story about facing what’s underneath the surface and finding the courage to learn how to live.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

In this heartwarming episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Brent and Jonathan open up about the wild and emotional journey that led to their reunion as father and son. What started with a DNA test quickly unraveled decades of hidden truths, unexpected siblings, and a complete reshaping of family identity.Through laughter, near relapse, and raw vulnerability, they explore what it means to belong, how love can expand through surprise, and why the greatest blessings sometimes come from the most unexpected places. This is a story about connection, healing, and the beauty of found family.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

In this heartfelt episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Brent reflects on the power of surrender in his recovery journey. Using a river as a metaphor, he describes how letting go of control brought unexpected peace. From the chaos of addiction to the calm that followed acceptance, this episode invites listeners to consider what happens when we stop fighting the current—and start trusting the flow of life.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

In this heartfelt episode, Brent shares the powerful journey of becoming a sponsor and forming genuine friendships through recovery. He vividly recounts his experience sponsoring Stefan—a younger man whose life story mirrored his own, from early struggles to shared paths of healing. Through this profound connection, Brent reveals how guiding someone else through the steps can deeply enrich one's own recovery, transforming sponsorship into lasting friendship.Listen as Brent reflects on the unexpected gifts of helping others and how stepping into the role of a sponsor forever changed his understanding of recovery, friendship, and personal growth.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

In this inspiring episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Brent reflects on the power of the 12 steps and how recovery has given him more than just sobriety—it’s given him purpose. From battling insurance bureaucracy to sharing stories of rebuilding integrity, Brent opens up about the challenges and triumphs of learning how to ask for help, walk through fear, and give back. His message is clear: real healing happens when we stop doing it alone. If you’re thinking about treatment or in the middle of your journey, this one will remind you that change is possible—and worth it.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

In this gripping episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Brent confronts the darkest chapter of his recovery—resentment. From standing face to face with the man who harmed his daughter to praying nightly for someone he could barely stand to forgive, Brent shares how Step 4 forced him to reckon with rage, vengeance, and ultimately… surrender. Through raw honesty and spiritual desperation, he walks us through the power of naming resentment—and the unexpected peace on the other side.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

In this powerful episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Brent shares his profound journey through recovery, focusing on the turning point of Step 3—learning to surrender his will and life to the care of a higher power. He recounts the impact of his tough-love sponsor, Horace, and the daily commitment of attending 90 meetings in 90 days. Brent opens up about confronting deep-seated resentments, the fear of true surrender, and the healing that followed. This is a raw and honest look at the transformative power of action, accountability, and spiritual trust in early sobriety.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

Ep 2 – “The Moment I Took Responsibility”In this second episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Brent shares the turning point that changed everything: when he realized he was the problem — and that was the beginning of hope. Step 2 isn’t about instant belief in God; it’s about becoming willing to believe that change is possible. Brent and Jonathan unpack what “insanity” means in addiction, how belief can begin with honesty, and why taking ownership opens the door to healing. This is a conversation about breaking cycles, getting real, and taking the first honest step toward recovery.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

Ep 1 – "I Was Spiritually Bankrupt"This debut episode of 'Push Each Other to the Top' features Jonathan and his biological father Brent sharing a raw and powerful account of Brent's life. From early struggles with addiction, overcoming a traumatic past, and facing personal demons, Brent narrates his path through alcoholism and drug abuse to his pivotal moment of clarity. The episode touches on themes of resilience, the power of community support, and the transformative journey through the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Brent emphasizes the importance of seeking help, extending compassion, and the potential to recover no matter how dire the circumstances.🔗 Stay Connected & Keep Climbing 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Also on Spotify 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🌐 Visit us at PushEachOtherToTheTop.com📧 Email us - we would love to hear from you!🙏 If this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who needs a little hope today.