Actor, musician, and producer Ashley Hamilton (son of George Hamilton, former stepson of Rod Stewart) sits down for a raw, unfiltered conversation on Painful Lessons – Punk Rock Sober. This episode dives into Ashley’s insane addiction history, 32 rehabs, overdoses, gangrene, staph infections, shootouts, Hollywood chaos, and his ongoing fight with a rare mucosal HPV-related cancer.Ashley’s storytelling is unreal—dark, hilarious, emotional, and brutally honest. He opens up about:Surviving extreme heroin addiction and sharing needlesLife-threatening infections, coma, flatlines, and hospital insanityGrowing up around global superstars (Rod Stewart, Elton John, George Hamilton)Trauma, early sexual experiences, Hollywood pressuresHis relapse after cancer treatmentHis spiritual awakening and relationship with GodAA, service, surrender, mortality, and the “punk rock sober” mindsetIf you’re in recovery, know someone struggling, or just appreciate real human stories without filters—this might be the most powerful episode of the entire Punk Rock Sober series.New episodes every week.Subscribe for more raw conversations about healing, addiction, life, death, and redemption.

True crime reporter Billy Jensen (author of Chase Darkness With Me) joins Tyler Ramsey for a powerful talk on addiction, cancel culture, and finding purpose in sobriety. From public scandal and rehab to solving murders and surviving a police beating, Billy’s story is raw, redemptive, and deeply human — a masterclass in turning pain into purpose.

Former Korn and Head PE guitarist Wes Geer opens up to Tyler Ramsey about addiction, recovery, and turning pain into purpose.
After years of living fast on tour, Wes found a new mission — helping others heal through music with his nonprofit Rock to Recovery.

In this raw, funny, and deeply moving episode, Wes shares how meditation changed his life, what it was like to tour sober, and why being “Punk Rock Sober” might be the most rebellious thing you can do.

🎸 In this episode:

• The night that changed Tyler’s life

• Getting signed to Jive Records while on meth

• Playing guitar for Korn — and losing himself

• The moment he hit bottom and found recovery

• How Rock to Recovery helps veterans and addicts through music

• The real meaning of “Punk Rock Sober”

• Meditation, forgiveness, and self-worth

• Music as medicine for the soul

This one’s for anyone who’s ever felt lost — and wanted to find purpose again.

Follow Painful Lessons Podcast for more real stories of redemption, recovery, and the pursuit of a better life.

Wes Geer, Korn guitarist, Rock to Recovery, addiction recovery, sobriety podcast, punk rock sober, Tyler Ramsey, Painful Lessons Podcast, recovery stories, mental health, meditation, music therapy, sober musicians, rock and roll recovery, overcoming addiction, spirituality, redemption, musician interview, Korn band, rock to recovery story, Head PE guitarist, sober living, recovery inspiration

🔑 Spotify Tags / Keywords

Actor David Chokachi, known for his iconic role on Baywatch, joins host Tyler Ramsey for an inspiring deep dive into recovery, resilience, and rediscovering purpose.

David opens up about his darkest period after a career-halting injury, how he overcame depression through cold plunges, micro wins, and daily discipline, and what he learned from mentors like Andrew Huberman, Jocko Willink, and Jordan Peterson.

They also talk about wild Baywatch stories — from Hasselhoff’s shark-diving adventures to on-set chaos — plus Jeremy Jackson’s transformation, mental health, and why comeback stories are the best kind of story.

Whether you’re struggling with setbacks, sobriety, or finding your next act, this conversation will leave you fired up and full of perspective.

Chef Gabe Erales, winner of Top Chef Season 18, joins the Painful Lessons Podcast with Tyler Ramsey to share his raw story of success, failure, and redemption.

Gabe opens up about growing up with Mexican culinary traditions, competing on Top Chef during COVID, the pressures of Michelin-star cooking, and the painful public scandal that reshaped his career and marriage. He also discusses mentorship, nonprofit work in Mexico, and what it really takes to find balance as a chef.

This episode isn’t just about food—it’s about humility, resilience, and the lessons learned when ego collides with reality.

In this episode of the Painful Lessons Podcast, host Tyler Ramsey continues The Sober List series with director Walter May.

Walter opens up about the challenges and rewards of living sober while thriving in the entertainment industry. From navigating Burning Man sober, to working on early Katy Perry music videos, to exploring the sobriety journeys of Marilyn Manson and James Gunn, this conversation blends humor, honesty, and pop culture insight.

We explore:

• Sobriety in Hollywood and creative careers

• Burning Man and psychedelics through a sober perspective

• James Gunn’s comeback and long-term recovery

• Walter May’s work with stars like Katy Perry, Kobe Bryant & LeBron James

• Why sobriety can unlock a creative “superpower”

A mix of storytelling, laughter, and inspiration — this is Part Two of a series celebrating publicly sober celebrities and creatives.

Walter May podcast
Painful Lessons Podcast
The Sober List
sobriety podcast 2025
famous sober celebrities
Hollywood sobriety stories
Marilyn Manson sobriety
James Gunn sober recovery
addiction recovery podcast
Burning Man sober experience
Katy Perry music videos director
directors in recovery
sobriety and creativity

In this episode of The Painful Lessons Podcast, Tyler Ramsey sits down with reporter, YouTuber, and adventurist Julie Chang for an inspiring conversation about resilience, sobriety, and global exploration.

Julie opens up about:

• Surviving a fist-sized brain tumor while working live on television.

• Finding healing and clarity through sobriety after recurring seizures.

• Pulling her kids from school and traveling to 16 countries with her family after the California wildfires.

• The lessons she’s learned about authenticity, recovery, and living without fear.

Julie’s story is funny, raw, and deeply human—reminding us that even in our hardest moments, there are lessons worth sharing.

Follow for more conversations about recovery, resilience, and growth.

Julie Chang brain tumor story, Julie Chang sobriety, brain cancer survivor podcast, recovery and resilience stories, traveling with kids podcast, overcoming adversity interviews, sobriety journey podcast, Painful Lessons with Tyler Ramsey, inspirational survival stories, resilience after health crisis

In this episode of the Painful Lessons Podcast, Tyler Ramsey sits down with actor Cameron Mouléne to explore a fascinating list of celebrities who have chosen sobriety. From Robert Downey Jr.’s legendary comeback to Brad Pitt’s private jet breakdown, from Jamie Lee Curtis’ pill addiction confession to Demi Lovato’s near-fatal overdose, Tyler and Cameron share powerful, funny, and eye-opening stories about recovery in Hollywood.

They discuss the turning points, the rock bottoms, and the surprising second chances of stars like Eminem, Russell Brand, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Holland, Gerard Butler, and Matthew Perry. This conversation blends raw honesty with humor, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in celebrity recovery stories, sobriety journeys, and addiction awareness.

🔔 Follow for more real conversations about addiction, recovery, and life lessons.

celebrity sobriety, addiction recovery podcast, sober celebrities, Painful Lessons Podcast, Tyler Ramsey, Cameron Mouléne, Robert Downey Jr recovery, Brad Pitt sober, Jamie Lee Curtis sobriety, Demi Lovato overdose, Eminem recovery, Russell Brand addiction, Anthony Hopkins sobriety, Tom Holland sober, Gerard Butler recovery, Matthew Perry sobriety

00:00 – Opening: Tyler & Cameron introduce the sobriety list

02:30 – Robert Downey Jr.’s recovery and Mel Gibson’s role

06:40 – Brad Pitt’s plane meltdown and Bradley Cooper’s support

10:15 – Jamie Lee Curtis’ turning point and long-term sobriety

14:20 – Eminem’s overdose and the fight to live for his daughter

18:00 – Demi Lovato’s near-death overdose and alien abduction claim

22:30 – Tom Holland’s sober choice and non-alcoholic spirits trend

26:00 – Russell Brand’s chaos, redemption, and recovery book

30:00 – Anthony Hopkins’ stage mishap and personal act of kindness

36:00 – Tyler’s Anthony Kiedis story and an AA meeting surprise

42:00 – Gerard Butler’s motorcycle crash and wake-up call

46:30 – Supermodels, fashion culture, and addiction stories

50:00 – Matthew Perry, Armie Hammer, and the reality of relapse

54:00 – Closing thoughts: why celebrity recovery stories matter

From reality show scandal to startup success—Jacqueline Berg-Ramsey joins her husband Tyler Ramsey in one of the wildest and most heartfelt episodes of Painful Lessons Podcast. They relive their forbidden love story that started on Survivor: Gabon, including a secret African romance, getting caught by CBS, and the chaos that followed—including relapse, rehab, and redemption.

They also open up about the miracle of boundaries, parenting, forgiveness, and how Jacqueline’s revolutionary pregnancy health company, The Fresh Test, is transforming how women experience gestational diabetes testing.

This episode is for anyone navigating addiction, marriage, entrepreneurship, or just trying to love better.

💡 Topics include:

• Getting kicked off Survivor… then falling in love

• Secret underground rave in Africa

• Sobriety, relapse, and rebuilding trust

• Raising kids with grace (and chaos)

• Building a multimillion-dollar health startup

• Boundaries in relationships

• Redemption, forgiveness, and faith

In this powerful episode of the Painful Lessons Podcast, actor Matias Desiderio shares his journey through darkness and back. From battling cocaine addiction to escaping the grip of unhealthy relationships, Matias speaks candidly about the cycles of dependency, recovery, and what it really means to heal.

Highlights include:

• Growing up and discovering acting

• How addiction shaped his choices

• Trading drugs for destructive relationships

• Breaking free from unhealthy relationships

• Acting as a tool for self-expression and growth

This is a raw and unfiltered conversation about resilience, love, and the painful lessons that can lead to transformation.

Follow the show for more deep and unguarded conversations with artists, thinkers, and survivors.