Escaping Rock Bottom

Mountain Park Health Center has nearly a dozen health centers in Arizona and they deliver quality healthcare to underserved communities. They are at the forefront of creating a true one-stop-shop when it comes to helping families stay healthy. It is crucial that we continue the fight to bring equality to healthcare no matter your socioeconomic status.

Will Christ represented our country in the US Army for more than a decade, but alcohol began to consume his life, his marriage, and his family. At the time of the recording of this podcast episode, Will has 19 months clean and is now a clinical intern at Calvary Healing Center in Phoenix Arizona. Will is on a mission to become a counselor to help others get the mental healthcare they need. 

Copa Health is a premiere behavioral health clinic and housing option for those who have developmental disabilities and severe mental illness. While many organizations shy away from helping these groups, Copa Health proudly steps up to the plate to provide incredible day programs, housing, and life skill courses for them! Learn more about how Copa Health is making a huge difference in the lives of so many families! This podcast episode is Inspired By Molina Healthcare. 

N.O.A.H. (Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health) just opened a state of the art healthcare clinic that provides everything from primary care, to lab work, to dentistry, behavioral health, prenatal care and community resource programs! They accept everyone! It doesn't matter if you are underinsured or uninsured. They provide comprehensive health services. This episode is inspired by Molina Healthcare. 

Clayton Echard was the star on Season 26 of ABC's "The Bachelor". He opens up about his experience on the show and how it's now put him on the path to becoming a mental health advocate. Clayton also talks about his childhood trauma that has impacted him as an adult. Clayton is now speaking openly about the pain he's experienced in his life, and how he's trying to use that experience to help others. 

Richard works at Calvary Healing Center in Phoenix, Arizona where he works daily with people who suffer from alcoholism and addiction. He talks about being an atheist in recovery while also talking about the strength he finds in his spirituality. So many addicts struggle with believing in God. Richard understands them. He helps those people find their own version of spirituality so that they can thrive in life again. 

Megan Racer never felt comfortable in her own skin even as a small child. She experimented with drugs as a teen. It made her feel good. But, as you're about to see, her life spun out of control. She got hooked up with a Mexican cartel. She got stopped at the border with her kids. Her life cam crashing down. She was sentenced to the slammer. However, it was the biggest blessing in her life. Now, she gets to not only work in recovery at Camelback Recovery in Arizona, she gets to raise her kids and be the mom she always wanted. 

Most people will experience trauma by the age of 10. Childhood trauma impacts the way our brains are formed. Sometimes, we don't even realize as adults that early childhood trauma is impacting our poor life decisions. Our wiring is off because of unhealed trauma. It may derail us in our teens, or like Kimberly who became an alcoholic at age 40. Its an incredible story about a registered nurse and sobriety coach who is now able to help others trying to heal from their trauma at Soul Surgery Rehab in Scottsdale, AZ. Need Help? Call: 866-223-9470

Tim Westbrook is the founder, owner, and CEO of Camelback Recovery in Phoenix, AZ. He talks about childhood trauma which led him to a life of booze and drugs. From multiple blackouts, losing jobs and relationships, Tim was able to rebuild his life by creating a solid foundation in a 12-Step program. Now, he's helping other addicts heal from their trauma by creating an incredible program that focuses on structured sober living, outpatient & PHP treatment programs. This is Tim's incredible story of hope!

This is an incredibly powerful podcast about a guy who experienced severe childhood trauma that led him down a dark path of self destruction with drugs. Steven Ayers speaks about his childhood trauma publicly for the first *ever. He was molested as a child. He carried that burden his whole life... until now. His path led him to serve time in prison. He says prison saved his life. Now he's helping other guys in recovery get sober. 

In this episode you will meet Ian Day. Ian gives an incredible testimony about how recovery has not only saved his life, but it's allowed him to create a life he truly never thought was possible.  He talks about childhood bullying and child sex abuse that he experienced. He also talks about his time in jail and how that became an opportunity to get sober. At one point in his life he lost custody of his son, but his story is proof that if we focus on healing ourselves our lives will only get better. In fact, he ended up getting back full custody about a year after staying sober. It's a powerful story of how AA/12 Step Programs have given him a new lease on life!

This might be the most "controversial" podcast episode I have ever done and I have never been more excited to talk about the science of psychedelics and the important studies being done right now to help people heal from trauma. We are talking about microdosing with the nations leading researcher on the subject, Dr Sue Sisley. Dr Sisley was the nations leading researcher on cannabis in the early 2000's and now she has DEA approval to grow mushrooms and conduct studies on veterans who've suffered from trauma. Her research could lead to a major breakthrough in helping addicts heal from the trauma that got them addicted to substances to numb it all out. 

Patrick Legenzoff is known as the "Sober Investor". His story is one of the most powerful I have ever heard. He grew up in a broken home. His mother was a drug addict and also the neighborhood drug dealer. He tried marijuana at age 10. He took a hit of meth at age 11. He, too, began slinging drugs and became a criminal before the age of 18. How did Patrick break the cycle of trauma & addiction? Does he have a relationship with his mother? How did he turn his life around to become an entrepreneur and an incredibly successful investor? Patrick owns 10 sober livings and a treatment center, Solutions of Sobriety. He drops some wisdom in this episode!

Hannah Kirkpatrick will tell you that she's never experienced trauma and had what she describes as the "perfect childhood". She somehow ended up abusing alcohol - she says she became a food addict & depressed. She battled perfectionism, trying to be the perfect person for everyone. Her world came crashing down. Everything fell apart including her marriage. But, she got help. She admitted herself into an outpatient program and got involved in multiple 12-step recovery groups. Then, she ran for Mrs. American and won with a platform of overcoming addiction. I had lots of questions like "how does someone with no trauma become an addict?" Hannah may have had an ah-ha moment during the podcast and realized she did in fact suffer quite a bit of trauma in her childhood that sent her life spiraling. This has to be one of the most fascinating podcasts I have ever recorded.

This episode covers a lot of current events happening around recovery/healing. We sit down with the founder of Pinnacle Peak Recovery to talk about news making headlines: Kathy Griffin becomes an addict at age 59 - she wonders how can anyone become an addict at that age. She did and she almost took her life after a traumatic life experience. Also, researchers in the medical field want to use MDMA and other psychedelics to help trauma survivors heal. Our question: can you still call yourself sober if you use these drugs to heal? 

Kim B has a powerful story about survival. She was sexually abused by a family member when she was a child. But no one believed her which caused her even more trauma. She turned to drugs to escape. The numb felt better than her reality. Now, Kim is the primary therapist at one of the best treatment centers in Arizona, Pinnacle Peak Recovery. She's also a supporter of harm reduction (so am I). We talk about meeting addicts where they're currently at and talk about way to heal from trauma.

JT has an incredible story of recovery. He lost his father at a very young age. That was a traumatic event. That trauma went unhealed and he began hanging with gangs and getting into brawls. That was his way of coping. It eventually led JT down a dark path of drug use that included shooting heroin. Now, JT is sober. He's a lover .. not a fighter. JT helps others get sober. He's the Director of Clinical Outreach for Springboard Recovery in Scottsdale, Arizona. It's one of the premier treatment centers that helps people heal from substance use. 

This is a really raw conversation about romanticizing relapse and the shame we feel about even having those thoughts. They say in recovery "just tell someone before you relapse." Well, truth be told, it's not that easy. What if we normalized the conversation about relapse, because the majority of people in recovery have experienced it. Wouldn't that make it easier for someone to come forward and share with someone else that they're thinking about it. If we carry shame about even the thought of it, then most people won't/don't say anything to anyone fearing their reaction. Here's my very candid conversation with a good recovery friend of mine, Tyler Tisdale, who owns one of the premiere recovery centers in Arizona: Pinnacle Peak Recovery.

Josh Anderson has one helluva story to tell. He says he didn't have a traumatic childhood. The thing he says likely sent him down the wrong path: he was left home alone. A lot. His experimentation with marijuana led him to booze. He got into a bad accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. That wasn't his rock bottom. He began using heroin. His family eventually gave him a choice: drugs or them. He said he had a moment of clarity that changed his life - all thanks to tough love from the family. Now, he's a therapist at the same place where he got sober: Calvary Healing Center in Phoenix, AZ.

This is a really powerful story of a man who witnessed a lot of chaos as a child including domestic violence. The trauma that Bobby suffered eventually led him down a dark path of drugs. But, this story is proof that not only do WE recover, but we can often create a life that we never thought possible. Bobby is now the CEO of Springboard Recovery in Scottsdale, Arizona. It's one of the best treatment centers in the state. They focus on helping people recover from drugs & alcohol. They're also partners with me at Art Of Our Soul for art healing sessions weekly. If you are looking for a treatment center, check out Springboard Recovery. Bobby knows the importance of creating a program that really does work and builds a foundation of longterm sobriety. 

In this episode of Escaping Rock Bottom, we sit down with the owner of Pinnacle Peak Recovery to talk about one of the largest fentanyl busts in history. It happened in one of the wealthiest zip codes: Scottsdale, Arizona. We talk about the impact this bust will have on saving lives. We also talk about harm reduction and safe injection sites. Some people push back against it saying it's dangerous. But, we talk about how harm reduction saves lives. 

In this episode of Escaping Rock Bottom we talk with Bryan from Calvary Healing Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Bryan is not only a recovering addict, but Bryan got sober at Calvary Healing Center and now he works there. He says the program saved his life, and now he's able to carry the message to others looking for a new life of sobriety. He also talks about the modalities they offer and what you should be looking for in a treatment center.

Tyler Tisdale is the owner & founder of Pinnacle Peak Recovery in Arizona. He knows what it's like to suffer trauma. He witnessed addiction in his own family. He swore he'd never get caught up in drugs. But, he eventually became everything he once despised. He stole from his friends to fuel his addiction. He stole cash. He ended up in former Sheriff Joe Arpaio's famed pink underwear at the 4th Avenue Jail in Phoenix. Now, with more than a decade sober, Tyler owns and operates Pinnacle Peak Recovery in Scottsdale. It's a premiere treatment center with an incredible staff to help addicts heal. 

Dylan is THE example that being sober is not only cool, but it's a life worth living. He was a fentanyl addict. Dope Sick. He was so desperate he stole from his daughters piggy bank just to get a fix. Now, Dylan is not only sober, but his life is incredible. His marriage is the strongest it's ever been. He gets to be the best dad for his daughter, and he's kicking ass at real estate in Arizona. Dylan heard my story on the radio (Holmberg's Morning Sickness) two years ago and says that was one of his "ah ha" moments. He's become my brother in recovery and I'm so grateful he's sober because this guy WILL save lives by simply living his life clean. 

We need to understand that abusing prescription pain pills is the reason why we have the heroin epidemic in this country. If you ask any heroin addict how did it all begin, they will almost certainly tell you it started with a prescription to pain pills, and when the pills were gone they sought out a cheaper drug: heroin. Sead is a former heroin addict who shares his story of recovery. Not only is he sober, but he's an executive at Cornerstone Healing Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

Matt Miller was a stellar athlete who played baseball. A hiking adventure turned into a life or death situation that changed Matt's life. He lost his fingers and toes. He thought he lost everything and had nothing to live for. His life spiraled into the dark world of meth addiction. Now, he's not only sober, but he's helping others find their purpose in life. It's a truly inspiring story. 

Adam Jablin is one of the best motivators in the recovery world. He's a certified recovery & life coach inspiring hundreds of thousands of people across the country. He's also the best-selling author of "Lotsaholic" where he shows you how overcome obstacles – no matter how large and to live a life rich in beauty, meaning, and purpose. 

Wes Geer, former guitarist for KORN & Hed PE, talks about living life sober. When he got clean, he wanted to find his purpose. He created Rock To Recovery where they use music to help people get sober. He also just started a new band, HU3M3N. It shows that you can still rock out while living a sober life.

Leah is the example to never give up on yourself no matter how many times you stumble. The reality is that most recovered addicts have relapsed. Many 12 step programs like to preach that "relapse doesn't have to be part of your story", but the reality is that it is most peoples' story. Why is there shame around relapse? Why do we "look down" on those who continue to relapse? Leah gives a powerful testimony for those who've been knocked down and are afraid to ask for help. 

Jeremy has a story like I've never heard before. He went to treatment at age 13. He didn't stay sober at that age, but the seed was planted early on, that there was a better way to live. He eventually got into hardcore drugs as a young adult. That led him to live on the streets. Now, Jeremy is sober and works in the treatment industry at Community Bridges in Phoenix, where he helps addicts get clean. 

Keith is a former Sergeant with the Riverside County Sheriff's Dept. He and his partner were chasing after a violent suspect. The suspect fired 5 rounds hitting and killing Keith's partner. Keith suffered PTSD after that shooting and it led him down a destructive path with alcohol. He has chosen a life of sobriety and wrote a book called "From Sorrow to Amazing Grace". He talks about what his life looks like today, now that he's given up the booze. 

Bobby is THE example that the road to recovery doesn't haven't to be perfect. It doesn't always look pretty. It doesn't have to. Bobby tried to get sober 17 times before it finally clicked for him. He never gave up even though some people in his life began to doubt him. His story is powerful and every person who has relapsed or those who have lost hope should listen to this podcast. He is an example that we can all rebuild our lives no matter what.

Bobby is THE example that the road to recovery doesn't haven't to be perfect. It doesn't always look pretty. It doesn't have to. Bobby tried to get sober 17 times before it finally clicked for him. He never gave up even though some people in his life began to doubt him. His story is powerful and every person who has relapsed or those who have lost hope should listen to this podcast. He is an example that we can all rebuild our lives no matter what.

Wow. One of the most powerful podcasts I have ever recorded. Marcus was an angry young man. As a young boy who grew up without a biological father, his life went down a dark path. He became homeless hooked on drugs. He eventually landed in Phoenix to sling drugs. Now, years sober, he's the Chief Operating Officer of a Valley recovery center, Cornerstone Healing Center in Scottsdale, AZ. Lots of wisdom shared on this pod!

Wow. One of the most powerful stories I've told thus far. Megan is *the* example that no matter how far down the scale we fall, there is always hope for a better life. Born into this world with two addictive parents: Mom hooked on meth, Dad in prison. Megan followed in their footsteps. Pills led to heroin. Her partner took his own life. She was pregnant. Homeless. Sleeping in motels on the side of the freeway. Now, she's not only sober, she helps other addicts get clean by working at an incredible treatment program in Arizona, Calvary Healing Center. She gets it. And, now, she's giving others reason to hope.

A powerful testimony about hitting rock bottom and rebuilding a new life. Daren was born into this world to a heroin addicted mother. He spent his first 3 months of life in the hospital, on oxygen, already suffering withdrawals. He eventually became a cocaine and heroin addict as an adult. Homeless - living in motels and trailers - his near death experience finally got him to get clean. Daren is now part of the leadership team at Community Bridges where their motto is never turning someone away even if they have no money.

Losing a child to suicide has to be the worst thing any parent could ever suffer. It happened to Roy. His daughter suffered mental illness and tragically took her own life. The reality is this: the CDC says 1 in 4 young adults contemplates suicide. That's magnified during the pandemic. Roy has turned his heartbreak into his purpose. He's on the board at Sabino Recovery in Tucson, and he sat down with me to share his story.

Estil Wallace is the founder of Cornerstone Healing Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. Estil is a recovered addict. He started drinking beer and smoking when he was about 8 years old. By the age of 16, he was drinking daily. He didn't even graduate from Arcadia High School because he was a blackout drinker at age 17. How did he get his life on the right path? How did recovery lead him to life he never thought imaginable? This is a story of hope for those who are looking for ways to navigate out of their rock bottom.

The pandemic is having a huge impact on people's mental health. Depression, anxiety, food, alcohol, and drugs. People are numbing themselves to cope. Last week the CDC reported more than 81,000 drug overdose deaths in the 12 months, making it the highest number ever recorded in a one-year period. So, what can we do to survive? How can we help those who are suffering right now? Dr. Wilson, Chief Medical Officer at Sabino Recovery In Tucson, delivers some powerful wisdom in these tough times.

The opposite of addiction is connection. But how come we are seeing so much relapse? Shara Turner is the Clinical Director at one of the nation's premiere treatment centers - Sabino Recovery - where they believe in the advancements of science to help people who suffer from addiction. By treating the trauma, Sabino Recovery believes addicts can recover and stay sober. EMDR, Equine Therapy, Brain Mapping, and so much more. Shara shares some incredible wisdom when it comes to finding the right treatment center.

Tanya suffered repeated child sex abuse. Her mom was supposed to protect her, but she allowed men to prey on her daughter. Tanya lost everything. She even turned to gangs as her chosen family. But, she eventually got sober and now Tanya works at an incredible recovery center - Community Bridges - in Arizona. Tanya says her life's purpose is to help end the stigma and help addicts heal.

Ryan Young is the Admissions Director at one of the country's premiere treatment centers - Sabino Recovery - that focuses on treating trauma through the advancements of science: EMDR, Equine Therapy, Brain Mapping, and so much more. His story is powerful. He grew up in beautiful Orange County. But, he just couldn't quit drinking & partying. Every time he drank, he would black out. Now, after multiple visits to rehab and a few relapses, he's on the leadership team at Sabino Recovery helping so many people heal from their trauma.

Chris Taylor is a former congressional candidate in Arizona who relapsed on heroin just months before the election. He pulled out of the race to focus on his recovery. He's also a combat veteran who specialized in psychological warfare. He suffered PTSD after multiple deployments. Sadly, he and his wife lost a child as well. That untreated trauma eventually surfaced and it ended with Chris almost dying from a relapse. He explains how this relapse has changed his life in the best way. In fact, he calls it a blessing. Now 10 months sober, her shares his experience, strength & hope.

Sean grew up with wonderful parents who worked as first responders. He was always taught right from wrong. He never suffered any severe trauma as a child, but he did feel like he didn't belong. He got hooked on pain pills which eventually led him down a dark road to heroin. He was near death in the hospital. His parents refused to see him until he committed to treatment. After about a dozen stops at treatment centers, Sean finally found Calvary Healing Center in Arizona. Its that program that saved his life and set him up for long term success in recovery. He explains how he got sober and is staying sober.

Thomas Isbell is a recovered addict with a powerful, personal story about addiction and recovery. Thomas is now the owner of Sabino Recovery in Arizona. Its a treatment center that focuses on healing trauma & addiction.Treatment plans are developed around the specific needs of each resident. There are no “treatment tracks,” which means each resident’s treatment plan is developed after the person arrives. In addition, progress is closely monitored and the multi-disciplinary team makes real-time adjustments based on the resident’s needs. Sabino Recovery is a treatment program shaped by the latest research in neuroscience. Every therapeutic modality they employ is informed by what they know about the brain. They support healing through leveraging therapies which boost neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural pathways. Additionally, they offer QEEG Brain Mapping – a powerful tool which measures the electrical function of the brain, providing data to prioritize and optimize treatment. Based on the data provided by brain mapping, they also offer neurofeedback and biofeedback.

Every one of us has a different path on our road to recovery. No one path is better than another. Each person has their own journey. Jeff admits he was a violent kid who had a lot of anger issues. Eventually it led him down a destructive path with drugs that included heroin. He had 5 years of sobriety, then relapsed. After his last relapse, he knew he had to do something different. He chose the recovery program at Cornerstone Healing Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. He says that program helped change his life forever. Jeff says something is different this time. Listen to his full story here.

If you live in Arizona, you may recognize the name Ryan Starzyk. He's a veteran who just recently ran for state senate, but lost the race in 2020. He reached out to me asking if I would listen to his story because he had read my book, "Mascara Boy", and said he related to it. So, I invited him on the podcast and I'm so glad he reached out. We don't talk politics on this podcast. We talk about our road to recovery. He's newly sober. In fact, he's on day 72 clean from alcohol on this date 11/28/2020. Remember, none of us are perfect. We all make bad judgement calls in life. When someone falls, reach out and help them.

Bill Boyer is a veteran who served in our military. He suffered abuse as a child. He faced discrimination under the military policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". He ended up numbing his reality with booze and hardcore drugs. Now, Bill works on the leadership team at Community Bridges, Inc. in the Valley. He helps others get sober and build a new life through their treatment program. His story is inspiring. *Sponsored by: Community Bridges, Inc.

Patrick's story is powerful. He and his late partner were meth users. His partner died in 2014 and that's when Patrick's life really began to unravel. He wasn't allowed to attend his funeral because his partner's family blamed him. He talks about his recovery & his bi-polar diagnosis. His purpose in life is to help others and as he says "to help others find their sparkle".

Danielle says alcohol made her feel powerful, accepted. At her lowest point she describes herself as a "menace to society". She describes what her "rock bottom" looked like. She's fairly new to sobriety, but it didn't take long for the gifts of sobriety to come into her life.

Bryan West was a reporter for NBC 12 News in Phoenix, Arizona. Full disclosure: I know Bryan personally as we are both journalists working in the same TV market. I first learned Bryan had a drinking problem when I woke up one morning and saw reports all over the news about him being arrested for DUI. He has about 2 years sober now. We talk about what it was like to have his struggles broadcast all over the news, what happened that brought him to his lowest point, how he got sober, and what he's doing with his life today.