From The Depths of Darkness to The Light of Success

"I put the bottle up to my lips and then I could just feel this tingling sensation in my fingertips and all the way down to my toes. And then I actually swallowed the. And man that's exactly how alcohol worked in my body. It gave me this feeling of invincibility. It gave me a feeling of power."

This is Ryan. He's an alcoholic. These were the scariest words he ever uttered. The first time he said these words, he did so with fear and trembling. His voice was shaky. His hands were clammy. He didn't know if he would say it when it came around to him. His head was swirling. All he could think about was: “I'm a pastor. What will people think about me? I don't want to do this. I don't want to be here. How did I get here anyway...how'd it get this bad? It was never supposed to be like this.” But he said the words. He admitted it. And he felt lighter...a burden had been lifted in a way he never could have imagined.

In the Spring of 2018 his wife, Tami, and him started asking the question: What would it be like to start a faith community that centers on issues of addiction and recovery? Not to go to the inner city and start something, but to start it right here in their own backyard [literally], in the heart of the suburbs. They put together a leadership team of 12 people to begin the conversation of starting something new. Starting a new thing is scary. 

The need in the community is real. He was tired of seeing his friends die. The sub-story was growing old too: they didn’t feel like they belonged with God or the Church.

Social Media

Instagram Personal- https://www.instagram.com/rycanaday

FSC Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/freespiritualcommunity

Website- https://freespiritualcommunity.com

Here are some of the topics we talk about in this episode:

Podcast Socials:

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/depthsofdarkside

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/depthsofdarkside

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-M2lpVwCgEyM85menG_nvQ

Email- [email protected]

If you would like to support the show please leave a 5 star review over on Apple Podcasts or leave a voice message on Anchor FM. You can also rate the show on Spotify now as well, please do so. Make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel as well and turn on the notifications. You can also follow the show and my journey on IG @depthsofdarkside!

Thanks for listening and have a great day!

"What I find is, when we share our stories, the ones that like myself, you're going to hear your story eventually, if you listen long enough. And as long as we keep sharing our stories, that person at home that feels alone is going to hear their story and they're going to reach out and ask for help."

Known as Chef Recovery, Jay Barnard takes his real-life recovery from drugs and alcohol and turns them into real life recipes for success.  Along his journey of being clean and sober for the past 13+ years and as a mental health advocate, Jay realized early on that sharing his life story not only helps his own recovery but helps others who might be struggling too.  Jay travels across Canada sharing his story with hundreds of people inspiring them to make changes in their own lives to be the best version of themselves.  Now a successful Executive Chef and CEO running his own business, it is hard to believe Chef Jay Barnard was once an addict so out of control that most had lost hope that he would ever be able to turn his life around.  This is his story.

Social Media

Website- https://www.hyperecoverycoach.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/hyperecoverycoaching

Here are some of the topics we touch upon in this episode:

Podcast Social Media:

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/depthsofdarkside/

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-M2lpVwCgEyM85menG_nvQ

Share Your Story- https://calendly.com/fromthedepthsofdarknesstothelightofsuccess

If you would like to support the show please leave a 5 star review over on Apple Podcasts or leave a voice message on Anchor FM. You can also rate the show on Spotify now as well, please do so. Make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel as well and turn on the notifications. You can also follow the show and my journey on IG @depthsofdarkside!

Thanks for listening and have a great day!

"My wife and I, we were bracing for war. We were prepared to go in there and just go to war over her, getting a diagnosis because we know what that can mean. That can mean accommodations. If she needs them in school, going forward, that can mean medication to help her If she needs it. So we were ready, we were going to go in there and absolutely fight for it."

This weeks episode is with content creator and fellow ADHD squirrel Tyler Bacon aka "adhdeverything" across all platforms. We deep dive into him being diagnosed much earlier on in life, but did not learn much about it until the last few years. There is 3 neurodivergents living under one roof at his house. His daughter and him are diagnosed, his wife is undiagnosed. But they have so much fun creating content together. It all started by posting some videos to TikTok for Tyler and then it took off from there. We talk everything ADHD on this episode! You can find below the link to all of his social media stuff! Please note we are not doctors and just talk about our personal experiences. 

Social Media- https://beacons.page/adhdeverything/

Here are some of the topics we cover in this episode:

If you would like to support the show please leave a 5 star review over on Apple Podcasts or leave a voice message on Anchor FM. You can also rate the show on Spotify now as well, please do so. Make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel as well and turn on the notifications. You can also follow the show and my journey on IG @depthsofdarkside!

Thanks for listening and have a great day!

"My first thought was what the fuck? And it stayed there for a few days right away on that day, I knew that the biggest first piece was awareness and making it real. So on our way, home from the hospital, I started repping in the car. My brother died today and then I realized that I couldn't rep it in the car because I was going to start crying."

Chase Tolleson, gym owner and coach for high-achieving, burned out men who are sick of the rat race. Chase shares with me his story of the death of his brother, and what he has done to move past this tragic event in his life. Chase also shares what he's learned about manifesting and retraining the mind to combat limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome. Chase gives some great insight into the power of words in shaping our reality.

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/coach_chase_tolleson/

Here are some topics we touch upon in this episode:

If you would like to support the show please leave a 5 star review over on Apple Podcasts or leave a voice message on Anchor FM. You can also rate the show on Spotify now as well, please do so. Make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel as well and turn on the notifications. You can also follow the show and my journey on IG @depthsofdarkside!

Social Media Links- https://linktr.ee/lightofsuccess

Thanks for listening and have a great day!

"They are ready to make that change if they ever are ready, everybody has their own path. They walk and we try and walk on that path with them and support them, however they need support."

George is an Overdose Case Manager in Peterborough, Ontario, he is also a former opiate addict himself who struggled for many years with addiction. He manipulated his doctor for many years into giving him powerful prescriptions for his migraines. He now is on the other side of the fence and went into the field of helping others who are struggling with addiction. The story you hear here is about redemption and courage. We dive deep into helping others and having an open mind about life. Holding yourself accountable for your actions is also huge as well! Please don't sleep on this episode. 

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/duncarin01/

Here are some of the topics we touch upon in this episode:

If you would like to support the show please leave a 5 star review over on Apple Podcasts or leave a voice message on Anchor FM. You can also follow the show and my journey on IG @depthsofdarkside!

Social Media Links- https://linktr.ee/lightofsuccess

Thanks for listening and have a great day!

"It's unlimited coaching in your pocket as a user, as a client, you track your mood, your sleep, stress, and you journal, and your coach that we match you to will read and respond to each and every journal. You can journal a thousand times a day and your coach would respond a thousand times."

Jonathan along with his family created an app for younger people and post secondary students to have a coach lined up with them to help them through their struggles. They created this amazing app called "The Journal That Talks Back". Jonathan is from the Toronto area himself and enjoys music and working with youth, helping them through their mental struggles. He also plays in a progressive metal band, which actually has helped him work through his social anxiety, as you will hear in this episode. 

Website and Social Media Links:

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/journalthattalksback/

Linktree- https://linktr.ee/thejournalthattalksback

Here are some of the topics we touch upon in this episode:

If you would like to support the show please leave a 5 star review over on Apple Podcasts or leave a voice message on Anchor FM. You can also follow the show and my journey on IG @depthsofdarkside!

Thanks for listening and have a great day!

"It would, when you're caught up, when you're actually caught up in the grips of addiction and all that, it's not like I could just stop, I needed to go to treatment. I needed to go to jail. I needed like something to happen in order for me to really hit that bottom."

Pittsburgh rapper Colicchie rose up from years of struggling with addiction to find success and hope in his music. A rapid decline into drug addiction in his teenage years led to troubles with the law and multiple stints in rehab in his early twenties. After getting clean at age 23, Colicchie began writing raps, turning stories from his tumultuous life into confessional, unflinchingly honest songs. Themes of addiction, depravity, and recovery came up time and time again in songs like "Drug Addiction," "Recover or Die," and "To Whom It May Concern." A video for "Drug Addiction" went viral in 2017, reaching millions of listeners, many of whom were struggling with addiction themselves and took inspiration from Colicchie's story.

Colicchie was born Chas Smith in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up without a father, raised by grandparents who picked up the slack for Smith's mother, who dealt with addiction herself. He began experimenting with drugs in his early teens and was fully immersed in heroin and crack addiction by the end of high school. Years of substance abuse led Smith to a dangerous life on the streets and multiple overdoses, all bracketed by short-lived attempts to give drugs up. In 2005 he began rapping, using the creative outlet to support his efforts to stay clean. Performing around Pittsburgh and working toward recording music, Smith drew content for his songs from his own harrowing experiences with addiction and recovery.

Social Media Links 

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/colicchie

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFODwqBogxHFegseFsVHh5A

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/colicchie

Here are some of the topics we cover in this episode:

If you would like to support the show please leave a 5 star review over on Apple Podcasts or leave a voice message on Anchor FM. You can also follow the show and my journey on IG @depthsofdarkside!

Thanks for listening and have a great day!

"I realized that people don't like root against you and stuff like that. So it's funny  no one's like oh yeah, I hope you fail. People are actually like really supportive and stuff. So it was such like popping a pimple on the middle of the back and just being like, ah, that feels good."

Tim McCarthy is someone who you would meet, and see a guy who is happy, funny and would do anything to make you laugh. Even if it was self deprecating. However, that was what you would see on the outside. Deep down Tim was fighting an internal battle that he didn't figure out until it was almost too late. Tim finally learned something was off with him mentally & wanted the pain to go away, forever. On May 5th 2019, Tim attempted to take his own life, but fortunately enough, he did not succeed in his plan. After that, he knew it was time to get professional help. After a long battle going through doctors, multiple therapists, & dealing with the mental healthcare system, Tim finally got some answers & he was officially diagnosed with general anxiety, ADHD, Bipolar II & General Anxiety. Feeling ashamed at first, but with the help of friends & family, Tim came to terms with his disorder. Since then he wanted to help as many people as he could that also suffered alone with mental health issues. Hence the creation of 20TIMinutes, a podcast that focuses on mental health through the help of humour, insight & personal stories!

20TIMinutes releases two episodes every week. On Tuesday's, Tim records, roughly, a 20-minute episode where you'll hear personal stories, & general topics revolving around mental health. Then on Thursday's Tim interviews a wide variety of guests who show support, while sharing their struggles & stories with mental health. Thursday's episode can range from 20 minutes to an hour plus.. Both shows bring awareness to a serious topic, by sharing laughs and positivity.

Here are some of the topics that we touched upon in this episode:

Tim's Socials and website:

www.20TIMinutes.com

YouTube.com/20TIMinutes

Twitter.com/20TIMinutes

Instagram.com/20TIMinutes

Facebook.com/20TIMinutes

If you would like to support the show please leave a 5 star review over on Apple Podcasts or leave a voice message on Anchor FM. You can also follow the show and my journey on IG @depthsofdarkside!

Thanks for listening and have a great day!

"Like I was drowning myself in alcohol and cause how much, like you can't get more literal than that kind of dream. And fortunately, like I was able to really pay attention to it and think about it and not just push it aside and be consumed with how I was having a hangover, which I was, that was the way my life was for like the last 18 months of my active addiction."

We have Sarah from the "Sober Gratitude" Podcast on the show today to share her story and how she has overcome so many obstacles in life to get to where she is. She is such a courageous woman, and very empowering to say the least. She is here building a safe sober community, Sarah's mission is to inspire, encourage and support those who desire a satisfying sober life. She has dedicated herself to developing a podcast for others to learn about how a better life is absolutely possible on the other side of addiction. She does this by sharing about her experience as well as recovery stories of former addicts and alcoholics.

Sobriety has given her an amazing life- a life she never thought possible. She is no longer secretly trapped in a cage of toxic living, filled with fear, self-pity, insecurities and resentments. Now, her life is filled with joy, peace, serenity & freedom. She is grateful she gets the opportunity to show others the incredible life they can have in sobriety through her podcast.

Social media link- https://linktr.ee/Sobergratitudes

Here are some of the topics we talk about in this episode:

If you would like to support the show please leave a 5 star review over on Apple Podcasts or leave a voice message on Anchor FM. You can also follow the show and my journey on IG @depthsofdarkside!

Thanks for listening and have a great day!

"Yeah, I'm definitely learning as this pandemic it goes through its phases and me getting back into the work field and dealing with customer service, I'm noticing a lot of negative interaction with customers and things like that. And it really affects my mood and I'm realizing how one little thing can set my whole day off for me. And I was diagnosed with BPD almost a year ago now, and it hasn't even been a year yet since I was given that diagnosis. So it's been something that I've been working on and yeah, I'm noticing a lot in the customer service industry."

Today's episode we have Jordan Burnell "PrettyDotUgly" he is a hip hop artist, producer, and mental health advocate originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario. He now resides in Toronto, and loves the underground music scene. You can find lots of his stuff on YouTube and Spotify. He was also diagnosed with BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) a little over a year ago, and has been working his way through and navigating it with this diagnoses. He also an advocate for mental health, and shares openly and honestly about his struggles with it. He is so vulnerable and you will get so much from his story. 

Here are some of the links you can find his work at as well:

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/prettydotugly/

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lF9xnaknNw

Website- https://solo.to/prettydotugly

Here are some of the topics we cover in this episode:

If you would like to support the show please leave a 5 star review over on Apple Podcasts or leave a voice message on Anchor FM. You can also follow the show and my journey on IG @depthsofdarkside!

Thanks for listening and have a great day!

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