Step inside one of the most powerful and vulnerable conversations ever featured on the Artist Recovery Podcast. In this episode, host Rich Wright sits down with Jack Maher — Emmy Award–winning journalist, author, historian, and fifth-generation Colorado native — for a deeply personal exploration of grief, faith, resilience, creativity, family legacy, and the healing power of storytelling.
Jack pulls back the curtain on the extraordinary lineage that shaped him — from his Hollywood roots to the untold story of his grandfather, pioneering curator Eric Douglas, whose work elevated Native American art across major institutions. Jack reveals how uncovering that hidden family history inspired him to write Poppy, a historical novel selected by the Colorado State Library for its Colorado Book Club collection.
But the heart of this interview lies in "You Were Chosen, Just Like Mary" — a book born from profound love, loss, and faith. Jack opens up about surviving childhood trauma, navigating mental health challenges, the complexities of family dynamics, and the devastating loss of his younger brother, Chris — a gifted artist whose life was cut tragically short.
 Jack explains why suffering can sometimes be a gift to creatives, how faith can serve as a compass through life’s darkest chapters. He shares how writing became his lifeline — a way to channel grief, honor loved ones, and bring light into the world through art.
Key Moments in This Interview:
~Jack’s surreal childhood between Colorado and Hollywood
~The rediscovered family legacy that sparked the writing of Poppy
~What journalism taught him about truth, bias, and democracy
~The heartbreaking story of his brother Chris — and how grief shaped Jack’s artistic path
~How trauma resurfaces and how creatives cope through their craft
~Faith, healing, and the thin veil between this life and the next
~Jack’s most heartfelt message for artists struggling with mental health

If you’re an artist, storyteller, or someone navigating grief or healing, this conversation will stay with you long after the final minute.

Connect with Jack:
https://www.sandgoatmanorpublishing.com/
Get his books on Amazon:
Poppy - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVNVM4XN?tag=&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1
You were Chosen - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH59SW4K?tag=&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1

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