Hope Within Reach

When addiction affects a parent or sibling, children often carry pain they do not know how to name, and families do not always know how to help.

In this episode of Hope Within Reach, Justin Smith shares what is really going on underneath the behavior of hurting children, especially when addiction has shaped life at home. Drawing from years of walking with teens at the ranch, Justin talks about broken trust, trauma, patience, warning signs families should not ignore, and how healing often begins in simple but powerful spaces where a child finally feels safe.

We also talk about what real breakthrough looks like, the hard work families must do if healing is going to last, and how young people can begin to believe they are more than what they have been through.

If you are a parent, grandparent, sibling, caregiver, or teen trying to navigate the pain addiction leaves behind, this conversation will help you understand what may really be happening and what hope can look like next.

Subscribe for more conversations that help you understand addiction from every angle and find hope along the way.

🎧 Part 2 of our conversation with Linda Seiler. In Episode 10, Linda told the secret she'd carried for 21 years. In this episode, she tells us what happened next — and it wasn't a light switch.

Linda walks through the years-long process that followed: the counseling, the people who stayed, the setbacks that made her wonder if anything was actually changing, and why she stayed silent about her story for eight more years before going public. She also speaks directly to the people on the other side of this — the parents, pastors, and friends who love someone in the middle of it and have no idea what to say.

If you're waiting on change for yourself or for someone you love, and the waiting is starting to feel like proof that it won't happen, this one's for you.

Linda is the author of Trans-Formation, executive director of ReStory Ministries, and an ordained Assemblies of God minister.

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Struggling with addiction? Call 855-END-ADDICTION or visit www.teenchallengeusa.org 

🎧 Linda Seiler joins Hope Within Reach to share her raw, unforgettable story of growing up in the 1970s feeling like a boy trapped in a female body. She opens up about years of silent struggle with sexual addiction, same-sex attraction, and a shame so deep she believed she was the only person on earth who felt this way.

In this raw and unfiltered episode, Linda opens up about the moment she confessed her darkest secret to a campus pastor, and how his response changed the entire trajectory of her life. If you've ever wondered whether freedom is really possible from something you've hidden for years, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

🔊💛 Enjoy this episode? Leave a like and comment telling us how this episode impacted you! 💛🔊

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Struggling with addiction? Call 855-END-ADDICTION

Need Resources? Visit ⁠www.recoverymeans.com⁠

Ready for change? Visit readynow.org

In this episode, Jeff Bonzelaar - the Executive Director of Adult and Teen Challenge and author of Reducing the Stigma and Shame of Addiction - joins host Rebecca Walker to draw a powerful line between guilt ("I did wrong") and shame ("I am wrong").

Whether you've been wounded by the labels others have placed on you or you're walking alongside someone lost in addiction, this episode will challenge you to see people—and yourself—through God's eyes. Jeff shares practical, biblical wisdom on breaking the cycle of stigma and shame, and why genuine friendship and love are the most powerful forces in any recovery journey.

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Struggling with addiction? Call 855-END-ADDICTION

Need Resources? Visit ⁠www.recoverymeans.com⁠

Ready for change? Visit readynow.org

Kelly Shackelford, President of First Liberty Institute, joins our host Rebecca Walker on Hope Within Reach to share how everyday believers are winning landmark legal battles for religious freedom across America. From a coach quietly praying at the 50-yard line to a fifth-grader standing firm in his faith, these stories reveal how God uses ordinary people to change history. Discover why Kelly believes we are living in the greatest moment for religious freedom in our lifetime—and how that hope is real, tangible, and available to you.

You don't have to face the fight alone. Kelly shares practical steps for knowing your rights, recognizing when to stand firm, and finding free legal support through First Liberty Institute. Whether you're afraid to speak up at work, at school, or in your community, this episode will equip and encourage you to walk boldly in the freedom Christ has already won.

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CONNECT WITH FIRST LIBERTY INSTITUTE at firstliberty.org or call 972.941.4444

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Struggling with addiction? Call 855-END-ADDICTION

Need Resources? Visit ⁠www.recoverymeans.com⁠

Ready for change? Visit readynow.org

What does brain science actually say about addiction—and how does it hold up against Scripture? In this episode, Gary Blackford sits down with Dr. Holly Geyer, addiction medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic and co-author of Ending the Crisis, to explore how opioids hijack the brain's reward system, why some people are more vulnerable than others, and what the Bible has to say about sin, disease, and the path to healing.

Whether you're personally navigating addiction or supporting a loved one through it, Dr. Guyer offers clear, practical guidance—from recognizing the warning signs of codependency to understanding the biopsychosocial-spiritual treatment model that treats the whole person, not just the condition.

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READ HOLLY'S BOOK, Ending the Crisis, today! Follow the link to buy a copy: https://www.amazon.com/Ending-Crisis-Clinics-Opioid-Addiction/dp/1945564563

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Struggling with addiction? Call 855-END-ADDICTION

Need Resources? Visit ⁠www.recoverymeans.com⁠

Ready for change? Visit readynow.org

Discover how to hold onto faith when someone you love is caught in addiction, as Pastor Gary Wilkerson shares his family's journey through his son Elliot's struggle and miraculous transformation. Learn what it means to praise God in the storm, surrender control, and trust His character rather than a specific outcome.

This episode offers hope-filled, practical encouragement for parents and spouses walking through the pain of addiction. You'll be reminded that God is faithful in suffering, and that even your hardest prayers can become "Thank you, Lord, I trust you."

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You can watch David Wilkerson's message, "Right Song, Wrong Side", here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPJ-MdHiOgY

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Struggling with addiction? Call 855-END-ADDICTION

Need Resources? Visit www.recoverymeans.com

Ready for change? Visit readynow.org

In this episode of Hope Within Reach, delve into the roles that trauma, prayer, and boundaries play in addiction. Explore the profound impact of addiction on families with Gary Blackard and Pastor Malcolm Burleigh.

As you listen to Hope Within Reach Episode 5, gain practical insights and faith-filled encouragement for navigating the challenges of addiction with love and hope.

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Learn more at www.teenchallengeusa.org

Struggling with addiction? Call 855-END-ADDICTION

Need Resources? Visit ⁠www.recoverymeans.com⁠

Ready for change? Visit readynow.org

Discover hope and practical guidance for navigating addiction in this episode of Hope Within Reach. Mike Cordry shares his personal journey and offers faith-based insights for loved ones of addicts, emphasizing education, treatment options, and self-care.

Explore the transformative power of faith in recovery and learn actionable steps to support your loved ones while maintaining your own well-being. Free resources are available to help you on this journey.

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Learn more at www.teenchallengeusa.org

Struggling with addiction? Call 855-END-ADDICTION

Need Resources? Visit ⁠www.recoverymeans.com⁠

Ready for change? Visit readynow.org

This episode of Hope Within Reach features Mike Cordry, who shares his powerful journey through addiction and recovery. Together, we explore the impact of trauma, enabling, and codependency on families, while offering practical advice on setting healthy boundaries.

Whether you’re supporting a loved one in addiction or seeking guidance yourself, this episode provides encouragement, actionable steps, and a reminder that recovery is possible. Discover how boundaries and faith can transform lives and bring hope within reach.

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Struggling with addiction? Call 855-END-ADDICTION

Need Resources? Visit www.recoverymeans.com 

Our website is www.teenchallengeusa.org

Ready to Claim Victory? Visit readynow.org