Built By The Red Stick

In this powerful episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Jody Plauché, author of Why Gary Why? and son of the late Gary Plauché, whose story became known around the world after he shot and killed the man who had abducted and sexually abused Jody.

For decades, the public has focused on the dramatic moment captured on live television. But behind the headlines is a much deeper story—one of trauma, healing, forgiveness, and recovery.

Jody shares his personal journey of surviving abuse, navigating the aftermath of a tragedy that became national news, and finding purpose through speaking, writing, and helping others heal from trauma. He discusses the emotional toll of carrying such a public story, the importance of addressing childhood trauma, and how healing requires honesty, support, and courage.

This conversation goes beyond what most people know about the Plauché story. It's an honest look at resilience, recovery, forgiveness, and what it takes to move forward after unimaginable pain.

Whether you're a survivor, a parent, someone in recovery, or simply looking for a story of hope and perseverance, this episode offers a powerful reminder that healing is possible.

🎧 Tune in to hear Jody Plauché's story in his own words and learn why his message continues to impact lives across the country.

Get a Copy of Jody's Book here "Why Gary Why"

Amazon :
 https://a.co/d/0dk24pAw

Audible : 
https://www.audible.com/pd/Why-Gary-Why-Audiobook/B0BL1YPNNB?srsltid=AfmBOopypDYDjuLi9mMe_x6QXNOPJKe1bWFCBvH4OH9e71IfqmbTWv-k

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In this episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Trevon Tardy, a recovery advocate whose story is rooted in transformation, accountability, and helping others find freedom from addiction.

Through faith, surrender, and a commitment to recovery, Trevon has rebuilt his life and now dedicates himself to supporting others battling addiction. He has been involved in structured, 12-step based sober living environments focused on accountability, community, and long-term recovery.

Trevon opens up about the realities of addiction, mental health, and what it takes to break destructive cycles and begin building a new life. He shares how recovery gave him a second chance and why speaking honestly about struggle, growth, and healing matters so much in today’s world.

Ronnie, Michael, and Trevon also dive into the importance of brotherhood, support systems, and finding purpose after addiction. This conversation is raw, honest, and full of encouragement for anyone trying to find their way forward.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 99 to hear Trevon Tardy’s story of redemption, recovery, and rebuilding life one day at a time.

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This week, Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Mackenzie Selby for one of the rawest and most powerful conversations yet.

Mackenzie’s story is one of survival. She opens up about growing up around addiction, violence, abuse, and crime from an early age — a life most people couldn’t even imagine living through. By the time she was a teenager, addiction and chaos had already taken over her world. But instead of becoming another statistic, Mackenzie found recovery in 2009 and completely changed the direction of her life.

Today, she uses her story to help others struggling with substance abuse and addiction recovery, working in the recovery field and speaking openly about the realities of trauma, healing, and rebuilding a life from nothing. Her honesty throughout this episode is what makes it so impactful. Nothing is sugarcoated. Nothing feels rehearsed. It’s just real.

Ronnie, Michael, and Mackenzie talk about how childhood trauma shapes addiction, the moment things finally started to change, and what long-term recovery actually looks like after years of destruction. They also dive into purpose, self-worth, and why sharing your story can help save somebody else’s life.

This episode is heavy, inspiring, emotional, and hopeful all at the same time.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 98 and hear how Mackenzie Selby turned a life filled with pain into one built on recovery, honesty, and helping others.

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This week on Built By The Red Stick, Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Devan Castille, the Program Director and Educator at Serenity Treatment Center of Louisiana in Baton Rouge. Devan specializes in the 12 Step model of addiction and Recovery Dynamics, helping people understand addiction in a way that is practical, personal, and life-changing.

Devan’s story is powerful. He has been through prison, violence, addiction, and the kind of chaos most people never come back from. But recovery didn’t just give him a second chance — it gave him a whole new life. Today, he’s back at the same treatment center he graduated from, helping others find the same freedom he found.

In this episode, Devan talks about what finally made recovery click, why understanding the disease of addiction matters, and how honesty, faith, and the 12 Steps helped him rebuild his relationships, go back to school, and step into purpose. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Human Services and is now pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

This one is raw, real, and full of hope. If you’ve ever felt too far gone, Devan’s story is proof that recovery can completely rewrite your life.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 97 and hear how Devan Castille went from surviving the streets to helping others recover.

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This week, Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Lewis Blanche—a beekeeper, a man in recovery, and somebody who’s built a completely different life than where he started.

Lewis gets real about his past and what it took to turn things around. Years ago, he was caught up in addiction and legal trouble, but recovery gave him a second shot—and he ran with it.

Now, instead of chaos, his life revolves around something a lot quieter: working with bees. And honestly, it fits. Beekeeping isn’t fast, it’s not flashy—it’s patient, consistent, and requires respect for the process. Same way recovery works.

In this episode, we talk about:

What it actually looks like to rebuild your life from scratch
Finding peace in something simple
Why purpose matters more than anything once you get sober
And how slowing down might be the thing that saves you

It’s a different kind of story—but that’s what makes it hit. Not everybody finds their purpose in the same place, but everybody needs one.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 96 to hear Lewis’ story and how he went from surviving to actually building something meaningful.

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In this episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Jed Payne, recovery advocate, speaker, and host of the podcasts Church & Other Drugs and Rehab Bromance.

Jed is known for bringing raw honesty, humor, and real-life experience into conversations about addiction recovery, faith, mental health, and personal transformation. Through both of his podcasts, he has built a strong voice in the recovery community—creating space for difficult conversations that many people are afraid to have, while helping others realize they are not alone in the struggle.

On Church & Other Drugs, Jed dives into the intersection of spirituality, addiction, recovery, and life’s hardest questions, while Rehab Bromance offers unfiltered conversations about sobriety, relationships, relapse prevention, and the realities of long-term recovery. His approach is authentic, relatable, and deeply rooted in lived experience.

In this episode, Jed shares his own recovery journey, what led him to create these platforms, and why vulnerability, accountability, and community are essential for lasting healing. Ronnie, Michael, and Jed also talk about breaking stigma, staying sober in the real world, and how purpose often comes from the darkest chapters of life.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 95 to hear Jed Payne’s story and why recovery conversations need more honesty, more laughter, and a lot less shame.

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In this episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley welcome Ryan Felder, the Administrator of Rayville Recovery in Rayville, Louisiana.

Ryan brings years of experience in the substance abuse field and holds multiple credentials including RAC, ICADC, CCGC, CCS, and SAP, making him a respected leader in addiction treatment and recovery services. His work at Rayville Recovery focuses on helping individuals access affordable dual-diagnosis residential treatment, detox services, and long-term recovery support.

In this conversation, Ryan shares what it takes to lead a treatment center that serves people during some of the hardest moments of their lives. He talks about the importance of structure, accountability, and creating an environment where people can truly begin healing—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.

Ronnie, Michael, and Ryan also dive into the challenges families face when seeking treatment, how discharge planning and aftercare impact long-term success, and why recovery must be built on more than just detox—it requires connection, support, and purpose. Rayville Recovery emphasizes medically monitored detox, inpatient rehabilitation, and strong discharge planning to help clients move into sober living and continued care.

HUGE thank you to Rayville Recovery for Sponsoring the Episode!
If you or someone you know needs help give them a call or visit them at
307 Hayes St, Rayville, LA 71269
(318) 728-5488
https://www.rayvillerecovery.com/

🎧 Tune in to Episode 94 to hear Ryan Felder’s perspective on leadership, recovery, and how real transformation happens when people are given the right chance.

Support the show

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In this episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Marc Crawford, the Administrator at Regions Behavioral Health in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Marc plays a key leadership role in one of the area’s leading behavioral health facilities, helping oversee programs that provide inpatient and outpatient treatment for mental health and addiction, including dual-diagnosis care for individuals facing both substance use and underlying mental health challenges.

In this conversation, Marc shares insight into what it really takes to run a behavioral health facility—from crisis stabilization to long-term recovery planning. He talks about the importance of treating the whole person, not just the addiction, and how structured programs, therapy, and medical support work together to help individuals rebuild their lives.

Ronnie, Michael, and Marc also dive into the growing need for accessible mental health care, the realities families face when seeking help, and why compassion and consistency are at the core of effective treatment.

This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at behavioral health care in Baton Rouge and highlights the people working every day to help others reset, restore, and recover.

HUGE thank you to Rayville Recovery for Sponsoring the Episode!
If you or someone you know needs help give them a call or visit them at
307 Hayes St, Rayville, LA 71269
(318) 728-5488
https://www.rayvillerecovery.com/

🎧 Tune in to Episode 93 to hear Marc Crawford’s perspective on leadership, mental health, and building systems that truly support recovery.

Support the show

https://linktr.ee/builtbytheredstick

In this episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Dr. Ethan Byrne for a powerful conversation about transformation, resilience, and what it truly means to rebuild a life in recovery.

Dr. Byrne’s story is one of real change—from the depths of addiction to a life built on purpose, discipline, and service. After choosing recovery in 2012, he went on to become a biomedical engineer, husband, father, and leader in the recovery community, using his journey to inspire others who feel stuck or without hope.

In this episode, Dr. Byrne shares how hitting rock bottom became the turning point that led him to something greater. He talks about the mindset shift required to move forward, the importance of helping others as part of your own healing, and how recovery can open doors you never thought possible.

This conversation is honest, encouraging, and a reminder that no matter how far gone things may feel, breakthrough is always within reach.

HUGE thank you to Rayville Recovery for Sponsoring the Episode!
If you or someone you know needs help give them a call or visit them at
307 Hayes St, Rayville, LA 71269
(318) 728-5488
https://www.rayvillerecovery.com/

🎧 Tune in to Episode 92 to hear Dr. Ethan Byrne’s story of redemption, growth, and the power of recovery done right.

#builtbytheredstick #podcast #addictionrecovery #recoverychallenge

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In this episode of the Addiction Recovery Podcast, hosts Ronnie LeDuff and Michael Oakley sit down with Louisiana legend and former NFL running back Kevin Faulk for a powerful conversation about life, challenges, and perseverance.

Known for his standout career at LSU and his success in the NFL, Kevin opens up about the pressures of performance, life after football, and the personal growth that comes from facing adversity head-on. This conversation goes beyond sports—it’s about identity, resilience, and what it takes to rebuild and stay grounded no matter where life takes you.

Kevin shares insight into how discipline, support systems, and mindset play a role not just on the field, but in everyday life—especially when navigating difficult seasons. His perspective brings a unique voice to the recovery space, showing how principles like accountability, structure, and humility apply across every walk of life.

Whether you’re in recovery, chasing purpose, or just looking for real conversation from someone who’s been through the highs and lows, this episode delivers.

HUGE thank you to Rayville Recovery for Sponsoring the Episode!
If you or someone you know needs help give them a call or visit them at
307 Hayes St, Rayville, LA 71269
(318) 728-5488
https://www.rayvillerecovery.com/

🎧 Tune in to Episode 91 to hear Kevin Faulk’s story, his lessons, and what it really means to keep showing up.

Support the show

https://linktr.ee/builtbytheredstick