In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric Pratum speaks with Jeff Meredith, Associate Creative Director at RKD Group and longtime writer for rescue missions across the U.S. Over the past two decades, Jeff has interviewed more than a thousand people who’ve experienced homelessness, addiction, and recovery—gaining rare insight into what drives collapse and what makes renewal possible.

Jeff shares what he’s learned from the front lines of homelessness: how family breakdown, trauma, and addiction often intersect; why accountability and forgiveness are essential to recovery; and what the most successful rescue missions do differently. This is a grounded, compassionate look at the human stories behind one of America’s most complex social challenges.

Topics Explored

• The changing face of homelessness—and why women are now the fastest-growing group
• What drives addiction and how recovery really works
• How childhood trauma and family breakdown shape adult outcomes
• The interplay of mental illness, accountability, and hope
• Why recovery requires both compassion and structure
• How faith-based missions rebuild lives physically, emotionally, and spiritually

Links

• Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-meredith-ab97b34/
• Episode with Andy Bales: https://unfoldingthought.com/20-andy-bales-from-poverty-to-purpose/
• The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction Is Not a Disease: https://amzn.to/4nl7MTa
• $2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America: https://amzn.to/46yZPEk

For more episodes: https://unfoldingthought.com

Questions or guest ideas: [email protected]