Broken-ish

Two kids. Broken homes. Foster care. Adoption. Gangs. Anger. Abandonment. And a lifetime of trying to figure out where they belong.

In this episode of Broken-ish, Roman Braly sits down with Sergio for one of the most raw, honest conversations we've had yet.

Both grew up surrounded by addiction, violence, and chaos. Both were taken from their biological families and eventually adopted into loving homes. Both spent years fighting anger, chasing acceptance, and trying to survive a world they didn't understand.

And both eventually came to a realization that changed everything.

The world doesn't owe me anything.

We talk about childhood trauma, identity crises, gang life, incarceration, forgiveness, and the kind of love that can change someone's entire future.

Sergio also opens up about losing his brother to alcoholism and how that loss helped him discover a purpose in helping others.

This isn't a story about having it all figured out. It's about two grown men still trying to make sense of their past while becoming the people they were always capable of being.

Sometimes the things that nearly destroy us become the very things that give our lives purpose.

Welcome to Broken-ish.

#BrokenishPodcast #FosterCare #ChildhoodTrauma #MentalHealth #FindingPurpose

What actually makes someone dangerous?

Not violence. Not toughness. Not ego.

Belief.

In this episode of Broken-ish, Roman Braly and Christopher Bennett unpack what it means to become dangerous when you have an unshakable belief in something bigger than yourself.

They talk about the constraints Ava Health has faced trying to change behavioral healthcare, what happens when the system doesn’t respond the way you thought it would, and why obstacles can either break you or force you to become more creative, strategic, patient, and relentless.

The conversation gets personal too.

Where does that level of belief come from? When does confidence become ego? What happens when insecurity fuels ambition? How much are you willing to sacrifice for something you believe in? And what does it mean to attach your identity to a mission when there’s no guarantee it works?

Roman and Chris also dig into recovery, hopelessness, leadership, delayed gratification, the people behavioral healthcare continues to leave behind, and why meaningful change requires more than one loud voice. It takes people, organization, strategy, trust, and the willingness to keep moving when the path gets narrow.

Maybe being dangerous isn’t about having nothing to lose.

Maybe it’s about finally knowing exactly what you’re unwilling to give up.

This is Dangerous.

Subscribe to Broken-ish for real conversations about addiction, recovery, mental health, leadership, behavioral healthcare, and the beautifully broken parts of being human.

What happens when the person sitting across from you reminds you of who you used to be? This episode of Rome’s Reveille is a real conversation about addiction, incarceration, recovery, identity, and second chances. I’ve lived the chaos. Today, life looks different. But I haven’t forgotten that early version of me. Keep going. You have no idea who you might become if you survive long enough to meet yourself. Real stories. A brighter tomorrow.

She ran away at 12 years old. She survived rape, addiction, homelessness, losing her children, multiple suicide attempts, and decades of pain. Today, she's been in recovery for 13 years and spends her life helping others find hope.

How do you survive that much trauma without completely breaking?

In this episode of Brokenish, we sit down with one of Grand Junction's most respected recovery advocates for an honest conversation about childhood trauma, addiction, relapse, faith, and finding purpose after losing nearly everything.

She shares what it was like to run away from home at 12, navigate foster care, experience sexual assault, battle addiction for decades, lose custody of her children, survive multiple suicide attempts, and ultimately discover a reason to keep living.

This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered:

• Can someone really recover after years of addiction?
• Is it possible to heal from childhood trauma?
• What keeps someone going after losing everything?
• Can faith and purpose actually change a life?

One of the most powerful moments comes when she says:

"I don't say I'll never get high again. I just say... not today."

Her story is proof that no one is too far gone and that recovery is possible, no matter where you've been.

If this conversation encouraged you, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and share it with someone who needs to hear this story today.

Subscribe for more real conversations about addiction, mental health, recovery, and the people proving that healing is possible.

Follow Ava Health 🌐 www.HelloAvaHealth.com

Listen to Brokenish 🎙️ Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

#Brokenish #Recovery #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #Sobriety #TraumaRecovery #Healing #Faith #Hope #Podcast #AvaHealth

When we think about addiction, we usually think about substances. But what if the next addiction is already here?

In this episode of Broken-ish, Christopher Bennett sits down with behavioral health leader Jonathan DeCarlo to explore the future of mental health, AI, human connection, and recovery. Together, they discuss why hospitality belongs in healthcare, why restoring our humanity matters, and how technology is reshaping the way we live, connect, and heal. If you care about mental health, addiction recovery, or where our world is headed, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.

#Brokenish #MentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #AI #BehavioralHealth

In this special solo episode of Broken-ish, Roman answers questions from listeners, staff, and the community. From his own recovery journey and what led him into behavioral health to the biggest lies addiction tells us, what recovery actually feels like, and the mission behind Ava Health, this is an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about hope, leadership, and the people fighting to change lives.

What if the very thing we're chasing is the reason so many of us feel empty?

Life has never been more convenient. Food arrives in minutes. AI can think for us. Entertainment never stops. Yet anxiety, depression, loneliness, and addiction continue to rise. In this episode of Broken-ish, Roman Braly and Chris Bennett unpack the "comfort crisis" and ask a question that could change the way you see your life: Has comfort become our biggest obstacle to happiness?

They dive into why discomfort creates purpose, how social media and AI can either make us stronger or weaker, why boredom might be one of the healthiest things we've lost, and why every meaningful thing in life exists on the other side of doing hard things. The conversation also explores parenting, emotional resilience, recovery, and the uncomfortable truth that growth has never come from staying safe.

If you've ever felt stuck, unmotivated, anxious, or wondered why life feels harder even though it's easier than ever, this episode is for you.

👍 Subscribe for honest conversations about addiction, mental health, recovery, and becoming the person you're meant to be.

#MentalHealth #SelfImprovement #AddictionRecovery #ComfortZone #AI #Motivation #BrokenishPodcast #PersonalGrowth #Psychology #Recovery

What happens when you spend years building trust, creating hope, and preparing to deliver something your community desperately needs... only to hit a roadblock you never saw coming?

In this episode of Inside Ava Health, Roman Braly and Christopher Bennett pull back the curtain on one of the most challenging chapters in Ava Health's journey so far.

After years of building relationships across Mesa County and the Western Slope, the vision was working. People were calling. Referrals were coming in. The community was ready. Then, just days before opening, everything got more complicated.

This conversation is about accountability, transparency, trust, and what it means to keep showing up when things don't go according to plan. The promise hasn't changed. The mission hasn't changed. The timeline just got a little longer.

Because in the end, trust isn't built through words. It's built through delivery.

#InsideAvaHealth #MentalHealth #BehavioralHealth #Recovery #WesternSlope #MesaCounty #Leadership #CommunityImpact #Healthcare #AddictionRecovery

In this episode of Brokenish, we sit down with a clinician who was helping people recover from addiction… while quietly struggling with his own.

This is the reality most people never see.

We talk about:

• What it actually feels like to be a “wounded healer”
• The pressure of helping others while falling apart internally
• Why some therapists shouldn’t be practicing
• The truth about masking, people-pleasing, and childhood trauma
• Addiction as a way to disappear
• And what it really takes to come back and reappear

One of the most powerful moments in this episode:

“I used heroin because it worked the fastest… I just wanted to disappear.”

If you’ve ever struggled, felt like you had to hide who you are, or wondered if the people helping you actually understand… this conversation will hit.

Recovery isn’t about perfection. It’s about honesty.

—

If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health or addiction, you’re not alone.

What if everything you’ve been told about marketing in behavioral health is wrong?

In this episode of Inside Ava Health, we break down how we launched a treatment program in a community that didn’t trust providers… without relying on ads, big budgets, or traditional marketing strategies.

No Google campaigns. No massive ad spend. No shortcuts.

Instead, we focused on something most organizations ignore: real community engagement and trust.

And the results speak for themselves: • 168 qualified referrals in the first 90 days • 47 employees hired with no hiring struggles • Near-perfect early retention • Clients and staff who felt connected before ever walking through the door

This episode dives into:

• Why “marketing” in behavioral health is broken
• How authenticity and content outperform paid ads
• The power of embedding into a community before opening
• Building trust with both clients and employees at the same time
• Why most treatment centers feel “beige” and how to stand out

If you’re in behavioral health, business, or building anything that requires trust… this conversation will change how you think about growth.

This isn’t theory. This is what actually worked.

🎙️ Inside Ava Health is a behind-the-scenes look at building one of the most innovative behavioral health programs in the country.

Subscribe for real conversations on mental health, addiction, recovery, and what it actually takes to build something that works.