On this episode of Fit For Radio, we sit down with Lance Orton, a man whose life story is a powerful reminder that addiction doesn't discriminate—and that no one is beyond redemption.

Lance grew up moving between California and Texas, navigating his parents' divorce and attending three different high schools before graduating from a Catholic prep school in 1993. He went on to earn a degree in Business Administration from San Diego State University, worked in technology sales, helped launch a resort in Napa Valley with his father, and later served in the Army's 101st Airborne Division.

From the outside, his future looked bright.

But after the tragic loss of his father in 2005, Lance's life took a devastating turn. What began with prescription painkillers eventually spiraled into a heroin addiction that consumed everything in its path. Over the next decade, addiction cost him his career, his family, his stability, and ultimately his home. He bounced from city to city chasing a life that seemed to slip further away with every passing year.

By 2018, Lance had reached rock bottom. Homeless, involved in crime, and living under the constant threat of the dangerous people surrounding the drug world, he found himself hiding in Portland after a drug dealer's enforcer tracked him down and stole his car. It was a moment that forced him to confront the reality of where addiction had taken him.

That same year, Lance entered CityTeam's recovery program. What happened next is nothing short of remarkable.

Not only did he rebuild his life, but he dedicated himself to helping others do the same. Today, Lance serves as the Executive Director of CityTeam Portland, leading efforts to provide treatment, shelter, and hope to those battling addiction and homelessness. He is also working alongside Portland Mayor Keith Wilson to expand access to recovery services throughout the region.

This conversation is a raw and honest look at addiction, loss, resilience, faith, and the power of second chances. Lance's story proves that your worst chapter doesn't have to define the rest of your life—and that sometimes the people best equipped to lead others out of darkness are the ones who have fought their way through it themselves.

On this episode of Fit For Radio, we sit down with legendary cyclist, acclaimed author, and humanitarian Joe Kurmaskie — a man who has pedaled more than 250,000 miles across North America, Europe, and beyond, earning his nickname “The Metal Cowboy” through decades of unforgettable two-wheeled adventures.

Joe is the bestselling author of 10 books, including Metal Cowboy, Riding Outside the Lines, and Mud, Sweat, and Gears, and his storytelling has been featured in major publications including Outside, Rolling Stone, and Bicycling. Known for blending wild adventure, humor, and hard-earned wisdom, Joe has spent a lifetime proving that the bicycle can be far more than transportation — it can be a vehicle for transformation.

But Joe’s story goes far deeper than epic rides and bestselling books. After battling through a life-threatening illness that forced him to confront his own mortality, he shifted his focus toward purpose-driven service, dedicating the second half of his life to giving back. As Executive Director of Reborn Bikes, Joe has helped grow one of the largest free bike distribution nonprofits in the country, now putting more than 10,000 refurbished bikes annually into the hands of children and underserved families throughout the Pacific Northwest.

In this conversation, Joe shares stories from the road, lessons from surviving adversity, the healing power of movement, and why he believes a bicycle can change not just a life — but an entire community.

This is an episode about resilience, reinvention, and what it means to keep moving forward no matter what life throws your way.

In this bonus episode of the Fit For Radio Podcast, Drew sits down with Jesus Romero for a wild conversation about the art of bartering, reading people, and navigating high-pressure situations when everyone is trying to make a deal. Jesus shares firsthand stories from his time hustling on the beaches, breaking down the psychology behind negotiation and how to spot when someone is working an angle.

Drew also shares his own unforgettable experience of things taking a turn while renting jet skis, forcing him to get out fast when a situation escalated. Together, they unpack the lessons they’ve learned about staying sharp, trusting your instincts, and avoiding costly mistakes when traveling and negotiating in unfamiliar environments.

This episode is packed with real-world insight, entertaining stories, and practical advice on how to avoid getting scammed when the pressure is on.

On the Fit For Radio Podcast, Jesus Romero shares an incredible story of survival, resilience, and redemption.

Born and raised in Mexico, Jesus went to work in Cabo San Lucas at just 13 years old, hustling the beaches and teaching himself English. His journey eventually took him to the United States, where gangs, addiction, and violence nearly cost him his life.

After being deported to Tijuana and falling deeper into addiction, Jesus was rescued by his brother and returned to Cabo, where he rebuilt his life from nothing—eventually building a successful excursion business with four boats of his own.

But after refusing extortion demands from cartel members and corrupt police, Jesus and his family were forced to flee for their safety.

Now sober, safe, and running his business remotely, Jesus reflects on a hard-earned truth: they can take your possessions, but they can’t take what matters most.

This powerful episode of the Fit For Radio Podcast is a story of perseverance, faith, and what it takes to rebuild when everything is on the line.

Fit For Radio is a podcast built around people who overcome the odds — and host Drew Tydeman has made a career out of pulling those stories out of others. But after everything that's happened to him lately, his old buddy Tac might argue it's time Drew took a seat on the other side of the mic.

The two longtime friends sit down for a long-overdue catch-up episode, getting the audience up to speed on where Fit For Radio has been and where it's headed. It's loose, it's candid, and it feels exactly like what it is — two old friends with a lot to talk about.

Then the stories start coming out.

Drew's dishwasher caught fire. His furnace was deemed a hazard and shut off in the middle of sub-freezing temperatures — during an NFL playoff game, no less. At this point, which is actually the greater tragedy? It's genuinely hard to say. And if that wasn't enough, a house fire broke out and began threatening an entire forest of towering 100-foot Douglas firs. Thankfully, a rapid response from the fire department saved the trees — and probably a lot more than that.

Drew normally sits across from people who have faced serious adversity and come out the other side. Lately, he might just be earning his own episode.

James Yount’s story is one of rock bottom, resilience, and redemption. As a young man chasing independence and purpose, James instead found himself consumed by meth addiction and trapped in a cycle that nearly cost him everything. During his darkest days, he isolated himself for months at a time, battling depression, failed suicide attempts, and a lifestyle that pushed his weight past 350 pounds.

But somewhere in the middle of the chaos, James made the decision to fight for his life. One step at a time, he began pulling himself out of the darkness. He got sober, transformed his health, lost the weight, and learned how to care for himself again—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

This episode is about what happens when someone refuses to quit, even when they keep falling along the way. James shares the painful realities of addiction, the loneliness that comes with it, and the long road back to becoming the man he wanted to be. Today, he has rebuilt his life from the ground up, is happily married, and now works as a manager at a successful gym where he helps others pursue healthier lives of their own.

James’ journey is proof that even after your lowest moments, it’s still possible to rebuild your future—one day, one decision, and sometimes one stumble forward at a time.

From blockbuster Hollywood success to rock bottom—and ultimately to redemption—this episode tells the powerful story of Mark W. Koch’s rise, fall, and rebirth.

Mark climbed the ranks to become one of Hollywood’s most promising producers, landing massive success with the 1998 hit Lost In Space and building a career filled with momentum, influence, and opportunity. But behind the scenes, a growing dependence on drugs and alcohol began to unravel everything he had worked so hard to build.

As his life swung from the highs of mansions and country clubs to the lows of uncertainty, loss, and starting over in a modest apartment with a borrowed car, Mark faced a defining choice: continue down a destructive path or fight for something greater.

In his darkest moments, he turned to faith—leaning into the Bible and developing a transformative daily practice he now shares in his book The First Hour. What began as a desperate attempt to regain control became a powerful roadmap for spiritual grounding, clarity, and purpose.

Today, Mark’s story is no longer about what he lost—but what he found. With a renewed sense of peace, strong family relationships, and a life rooted in faith, he proves that true success isn’t measured by Hollywood standards, but by the strength of your foundation.

This is more than a comeback story. It’s a journey from Lost In Space… to Found By Faith.

Ridge Deakman’s life changed in an instant.

On this episode of the Fit For Radio podcast, Ridge shares the story of a devastating motorcycle crash with a produce truck that left him alone on a highway bridge, bleeding out and fighting to stay alive. That moment would cost him his leg—but it was only the beginning of a long, grueling road back. Through surgeries, setbacks, and the mental battle that comes with losing a part of yourself, Ridge refused to quit.

Just as he began to rebuild, a second accident threatened to take the only leg he had left. Once again, he was forced to confront everything—pain, fear, and the question of how much more a person can endure.

In this episode, Ridge opens up about what it took to fight back, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. From rock bottom to rebuilding his life, he shares how he found purpose, embraced sobriety, and became the man his family could depend on.

Today, Ridge is a husband, a father, and a man who has found peace after chaos. His story is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is a way forward—and sometimes, the hardest roads lead to the strongest versions of ourselves.

Felipe Nystrom’s story isn’t about cycling—it’s about survival, and what comes after.

Raised in an environment marked by both physical and sexual abuse, Felipe carried trauma that most people never see, let alone understand. For years, he coped the only way he knew how—through drugs and alcohol—numbing pain that refused to stay buried. What followed were a series of near-death experiences that forced a reckoning: continue down a path that was slowly taking everything, or fight for something different.

He chose to fight.

In this episode, Felipe shares how he began the long, brutal process of rebuilding his life—trading addiction for discipline, and chaos for purpose. What started as a personal escape through cycling became something much bigger, eventually pushing him to compete at a world-class level. But the real transformation didn’t happen on the bike—it happened within.

Today, Felipe is a father, an advocate, and a man determined to break the cycle that once defined his life. His story is a raw, honest look at trauma, addiction, and the power of choosing a different ending.

This isn’t just a comeback story. It’s proof that even the deepest wounds don’t have to dictate the rest of your life.

Nikole Vaughn was forced to grow up fast. As a child, she stepped into responsibility early while navigating the chaos of her mother’s grand mal seizures—moments that were as unpredictable as they were life-altering, including a terrifying incident behind the wheel. That early exposure to adversity shaped a mindset built on resilience, responsibility, and drive.

She carried that same determination into adulthood, climbing the ranks of corporate America while building a family and supporting her husband’s demanding military career—and his pursuit of making the Olympic track and field team. On paper, it was a life of ambition and upward momentum.

Then everything changed.

When her children were born, Nikole was faced with a reality few can truly comprehend. Both gifted and facing serious challenges, her kids required a level of care that would completely redefine her life. Her son alone would endure more than 30 surgeries and over 1,800 hospital and doctor visits.

In a moment that would alter her path forever, Nikole made the difficult decision to step away from her career to become a full-time caregiver—trading boardrooms for hospital rooms, and ambition for advocacy.

But what makes her story remarkable isn’t just the sacrifice—it’s what she built from it.

Refusing to stand still, Nikole channeled her strength into launching her own business, stepping into the role of CEO while continuing to fight tirelessly for her family’s health, stability, and future.

This is a story about resilience at its highest level. About redefining success. And about what it truly means to show up—every single day—when everything is on the line.