What happens when a life built on performance finally cracks? Shane Curtis once wore the armor of a D1 athlete, a driven student, and a hard worker who could push through anything. After a devastating injury, the quiet space where training used to live filled with weed, alcohol, and eventually cocaine. He tried to muscle through the pain, move schools, and outrun the fallout. It worked—for a while. Then came a demanding job, long nights, and a “harmless” reintroduction to the drug he thought he’d left behind.

The breaking point arrived on open water. High, alone, and trapped by shame after flipping his kayak, Shane chose to sleep in the woods rather than ask for help, while his family filed a missing person report. That moment forced a decision he had sworn he’d never make: walk through the doors of a Christ-centered recovery program and stay long enough to change. The first month was war—between pride and surrender, control and trust. The turning key was Scripture. Titus 3:3-5 reframed everything: not saved by effort, but by mercy. From there, daily rhythms—devotions before noise, Scripture in the truck, community that tells the truth—began to rebuild a life from the inside out.

We unpack how identity formed around sports can crumble under injury, why stress and culture make relapse so deceptively reasonable, and how shame isolates when help would heal. Shane shares the habits that keep him grounded, the moment he chose to stay when leaving felt easier, and the fierce presence of family who showed up week after week. If you or someone you love is stuck between self-reliance and surrender, this story offers a map: humble yourself, invite accountability, and anchor your days in the Word. Three months clean and graduating, Shane isn’t selling perfection—he’s pointing to a mercy strong enough to hold when everything else fails.

Listen, share with someone who needs hope, and if this conversation helped you, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it on so more people can find their way back.

Welcome to Rebuilding Life After Addiction. I’m Justin Franich — I’ve led recovery programs, pastored churches, and walked hundreds of men into real transformation. This podcast gives you the tools, truth, and straight talk to rebuild your life through Jesus. Let’s jump in.

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