In this episode, Bill discusses his mentor Jay’s push for him to self-brand as the “message carrier” for helping Indigenous communities despite Bill’s discomfort with humility and judgment in 12-step culture. He reflects on redefining humility, learning strengths through work and recovery tools, and a painful lesson in dishonesty after lying to his daughters to see a girlfriend, which deepened his commitment to rigorous honesty. Bill recounts choosing work based on maximum service, traveling to First Nations communities with Expert First Nations, then taking a higher-paying director role that left him unfulfilled and led him to pray for direction. He describes guidance to focus on helping addicts, building billward.life, calling chiefs and health directors across Canada, struggling financially, restarting landscaping, receiving practical and financial support, and learning reciprocation before ending on a segue to the next episode.

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In this episode, Bill shares how painful “mistakes” became lessons that shaped his healing. He recalls quitting drinking at 22 after a desperate prayer, then building Ward’s Ground Thaw Services from scratch despite little education, eventually landing major clients like ATCO, ACE Construction, Telus, Shaw, and the City of Calgary. While outwardly successful, he describes untreated anger, intimidation, and chaos at home, replacing alcohol with workaholism until searching for his missing brother in Winnipeg led him to smoke crack, triggering years of addiction, financial collapse, job loss, and homelessness in a trailer. He credits 12-step recovery, his father’s support, sponsorship, and later spiritual guidance—including choosing service-focused work in First Nations housing, leaving a high-paying role, and pursuing purpose through helping others.

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Bill discuss how BILLWARDLIFE emerged from his recovery journey after addiction cost him his family, business, money, and identity built on status. Founded in 2020 without clear direction, the work grew through 12-step recovery, “God-centered pillars” (mentors and supporters), and service to others. Bill tells stories about rebuilding from low-paying labor and poverty to leadership roles, then quitting a stable career after an intuitive experience and guidance he attributes to his grandmother, choosing to focus on helping addicts and alcoholics. He explains criticism about monetizing recovery, his approach to interpreting the Big Book, concepts like “seemingly good/seemingly bad,” developing intuition, and how BILLWARDLIFE now delivers case management, outreach, and First Nations-focused programming with a growing team and ongoing projects.

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Bill Ward opens the rebranded BILLWARDLIFE-CAST (formerly the UDRCast) with Tamara interviewing him in a behind-the-scenes Q&A about his childhood, family, identity, and recovery. He recalls early homes in BC, his parents’ separation, growing up brown in a predominantly white Catholic school, and internalized prejudice about being Indigenous. He reflects on shame, grief, masculinity, and learning vulnerability in recovery, including step work, ceremony, and changing beliefs about manhood and Indigenous identity.

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Bill Ward welcomes Scott H to the UDRCast! Scott talks about his path from a turbulent upbringing filled with drug addiction and criminal behavior to achieving sobriety and helping others. They discuss some of the milestones/significant spiritual experiences in Scott's recovery, making a deal with God, and his firm commitment to a life of honesty and service.

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Bill welcomes Suzzy A, the founder of Sober Runway and Capacity Building Canada. Suzzy shares her inspirational story of overcoming addiction, the cultural and societal challenges she faced, and how she combines her passions for fashion and helping others in recovery. She details the upcoming Sober Runway event (held on Saturday September 20, 2025), her outreach work with homeless individuals, and the importance of authentic, stigma-free support in addiction recovery. The episode also explores Suzzy's new career path as a psychotherapist and her ongoing dedication to serving her community.

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Bill welcomes Mike T to the UDRCast Studios. Mike shares his journey of recovery, talking about his rapid descent into alcoholism at a young age and his to entry to recovery over 13 years ago. He discusses the vital role of music in his recovery, talking about how it has become a profound spiritual connection for him. Discussing major milestones such as quitting his job to pursue music and now heading to Nashville, Mike talks about the importance of faith, 12-step recovery and transforming character defects into strengths.

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Bill welcomes Daniel L to the UDRCast studios for a new episodes! Daniel discusses his journey from addiction to recovery, talking about his struggles, including homelessness, crime, and health crises. He talks how a moment of complete surrender during his recovery led him to embrace spirituality and meditation and discusses the importance of the 12 steps and how programs like drug court provided the accountability he needed.

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Bill is joined by Tom M for a new episode of the UDRCast. Tom shares his journey from a challenging childhood and severe addiction to a life of sobriety and recovery. He talks about his past experiences of homelessness and crime on the streets of East Hastings, his multiple stints in treatment, and the moment he started to see AA literature in a new light, which pushed him to thoroughly follow the program. Tom also shares about the loss of his wife to suicide, and the joy of reuniting with his mother after nearly two decades.

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Bill welcomes his close friend Daniel P to the UDRCast studios! They discuss their paths to recovery and the importance of reconnecting with one's roots and heritage. Daniel shares his experiences as an immigrant from Eritrea, his battle with addiction, and how traditional practices like the sweat lodge have played a vital role in his recovery. The conversation also touches on the systemic challenges faced by Indigenous communities and the collective effort required for holistic healing.

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