Raw Minds

Welcome to Raw Minds. This one is for anyone who thinks it is too late.

Mike O’Brien was a heroin and meth IV user. He lost his girl, his kids, his family, his hope. He chased numb until he almost died.

Today he is clean, a dad at home, a coach, and a man building an honest life one hard rep at a time.

We talk about rock bottom, the moment you choose life, community, the gym, faith, fatherhood, borderline diagnosis, boxing for charity, starting a business, and why you must lean in when fear shows up.

If this is your first time here, please like, comment, and subscribe so this reaches the person who needs it today.

Thank you for riding with us

.CHAPTERS00:00 Cold open

01:40 Meet Mike and where to find him

03:00 Childhood pain and the first escape

06:20 Why IV use happens and how fast it progresses

10:05 First treatment, the cake room, and seeing hope

13:20 Jail detox and the seed of change

15:45 Seven years trying, then seven years clean

18:20 The gym routine that kept him steady

19:50 Homeless in a playhouse, the equal opposite moment

22:20 Losing the house to a fire and getting carried by community

23:55 Finding purpose in coaching and taking the leap

29:45 Burning the boats and going all in

32:10 Honesty, authenticity, and letting people love you

35:25 Depression, self respect, and daily structure

46:30 Building a business that serves recovery

57:05 Boxing night, charity fight, and facing fear

01:06:15 Why leaders must keep showing up

01:11:15 Final words and where to follow Mike

GUEST LINKS

Instagram: @coachmikeobrienFacebook: Mike O’Brien

Mike shares value and real life on both. You will see why he wins when you click through.

FOLLOW RAW MINDS

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ciSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I7hBJgYDdS8UQpbMl9bdtInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qhWebsite: www.rawminds.caEmail: [email protected] TO ACTION

If you are hurting, please reach out. Drop a comment. Email me.

Share this with a brother who needs a lifeline.

It is okay to take a knee. Just do not stay there.

MENTAL HEALTH HELP LINES

Canada: Talk Suicide 1 833 456 4566 or text 45645Canada: Kids Help Phone 1 800 668 6868 or text 686868USA: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (dial 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org) UK: Samaritans 116 123 or visit samaritans.org

If you are in immediate danger, please call your local emergency services now.

ABOUT RAW MINDS Men’s mental health. Real stories. Pain to purpose. For those we will never meet. If this episode moved you, drop a comment with one win you had today. Even small counts. If you need help, email me at [email protected] are not alone. Please keep it respectful in here. Love u all.

Raw Minds S2 Ep. 60 – Erick sits down with Olympic silver medalist and Emmy Award winner John K. Coyle for one of the deepest conversations ever recorded on the show. This episode is a raw exploration of identity loss, ego death, trauma, fatherhood, grief, and how to slow time when life speeds out of control.

John opens up about:

• What it felt like to lose his Olympic dream — twice

• The dark decade that followed

• How he clawed his way back and rebuilt everything

• His journey into neuroscience, resilience, and the psychology of time

• The moment he realized helping others meant more than a gold medal

• Why physical touch, movement, and real friends are critical for men's mental health

• And the brutal truth: “You can't have agency while you're in overwhelm.”

Erick gets deeply personal in this one, too — sharing his own battles, grief journey, and why Raw Minds was built from loss.

This episode is for every man (and woman) who’s ever asked:
“Who am I without that identity?”
“Am I still worth something if I fail?”
“How the hell do I move forward when I’m stuck in the dark?”

You are not alone. Keep showing up.

—

🎥 Watch Full Episode on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCiIpMjXopw&t=7s

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🌐 Connect with John K. Coyle
Website: https://www.johnkcoyle.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johnkcoyle1
Book: Design for Strengths
Upcoming Book: Counter Clockwise – How to Slow the Acceleration of Time

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🔗 Join the Raw Minds Movement
Website: https://www.rawminds.ca
Email: [email protected]
Watch full episodes: YouTube | Spotify | TikTok | Instagram
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/rawmindspodcast
Hosted by Erick & Anthony

—

🧠 Mental Health Crisis Lines

🇨🇦 Canada: Talk Suicide – 1-833-456-4566 | https://talksuicide.ca
🇺🇸 USA: Call or Text 988 | https://988lifeline.org
🇬🇧 UK: Samaritans – 116 123 | https://samaritans.org

You're still breathing. That means you're still in the fight.

—

💔 Support for Stevie’s Family
Stevie, a father of 6, passed away after being on life support. All donations now go to support his children.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-stevies-life-a-father-of-6-fighting-to-survive

—

In this deep and powerful episode of Raw Minds, Erick sits down with Balongo Amos — global speaker, leadership coach, nonprofit founder, and recording artist — to talk about turning adversity into purpose.

Amos shares how growing up in Kenya shaped his mission to help people find their voice, heal through communication, and lead with heart. From coaching military generals to creating Africa’s first children’s ukulele orchestra, Amos has built a life rooted in service, impact, and storytelling.

This episode dives into trauma, leadership, music, faith, and how the right words at the right time can save a life.

🎙️ Connect with Balongo Amos

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@amosbalongo

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/amosbalongo

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amosbalongo

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/amosbalongo

Twitter / X:
https://x.com/abalongo

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AmosBalongoinc

Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/46nGeoZTKCYOhrJh7Lfg42
https://www.transformationalpodcast.com

Websites:
https://amosbalongo.com
https://amosbalongo.net
https://amosbalongo.org
https://leaderconsulting.coach
https://go.leadercompass.org

Organization – Camp Ohana Leadership:
https://campohana.org/leadership

🎵 Music by Amos
Christmas to Me
https://open.spotify.com/album/0xzbuzSrSuxrIxk4DUv2MQ

Fly Away
https://open.spotify.com/album/5yfYfv2X0R18bQ6WCBUa5S

Bunyoso
https://open.spotify.com/album/6tG8nBi4TppqPVCokdF290

Omuhana (Single)
https://open.spotify.com/track/2erntTDZtzCUSXuAOcvYpb

📘 Book – Transforming Your Life Volume IX
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP8Z7JV3
Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/amosbalongo

📣 Join the Raw Minds Movement
Website: https://www.rawminds.ca
Email: [email protected]
Hosts: Erick and Anthony
Follow everywhere:
YouTube | TikTok | Spotify | Instagram | Facebook
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/rawmindspodcast

💙 Help Stevie – A Father of 6 on Life Support
https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-stevies-life-a-father-of-6-fighting-to-survive

🆘 Mental Health Help Lines

Canada: Talk Suicide Canada – 1 833 456 4566 | https://talksuicide.ca
USA: Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – Call or Text 988 | https://988lifeline.org
UK: Samaritans – 116 123 | https://samaritans.org

You are not alone.

In this raw and powerful episode of Raw Minds, Erick sits down with Eric Day, a man who knows what it means to hit rock bottom and climb back. From living out of his car to becoming a voice of resilience and change, Eric’s story is one of pain, purpose, and survival.

Eric talks openly about what led to his darkest moments, the loneliness of isolation, and how he turned everything around — not for followers, not for applause, but to help others feel less alone.

This conversation is about real healing, masculine strength, and the power of telling your story even when it hurts. If you’ve ever felt lost or like you couldn’t keep going — this one’s for you.

📣 Follow Eric Day
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ericdayofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericdayofficial

📢 Follow Raw Minds
Website: https://www.rawminds.ca
Email: [email protected]
Hosts: Erick & Anthony
All platforms:
YouTube | TikTok | Spotify | Instagram | Facebook
🔗 https://linktr.ee/rawmindspodcast

💙 Help Stevie – A Father of 6 on Life Support
https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-stevies-life-a-father-of-6-fighting-to-survive

🆘 Mental Health Help Lines

Canada: Talk Suicide Canada – 1 833 456 4566 | https://talksuicide.ca
USA: Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – Call or Text 988 | https://988lifeline.org
UK: Samaritans – 116 123 | https://samaritans.org

You are not alone.

This episode of Raw Minds might be the realest one yet.

Rob Kancler, founder of Bedroom Genius and creator of The Compass assessment, joins Erick for a raw and unfiltered talk about the things most men never speak on sex, shame, emotional honesty, intimacy, porn, relationships, and masculinity.

Rob has spent over 20 years helping thousands of men transform their inner world by understanding one truth: if you master this part of your life, everything else levels up. And not just sex confidence, connection, communication, emotional intelligence, and healing old wounds.

This conversation pulls no punches. It’s deep. It’s honest. It’s for every man out there who’s tired of feeling stuck, isolated, or ashamed. And it might be the push you need to finally reclaim your power as a man, a partner, and a human

being.🔗 Rob Kancler Bedroom Genius

Take the Free Assessment: https://bedroomcompass.comWebsite: https://www.robkancler.com📣 Join the Raw Minds Movement

Website: https://www.rawminds.caEmail: [email protected] on all platforms:

YouTube | TikTok | Spotify | Instagram | Facebook🔗 https://linktr.ee/rawmindspodcast💙 Support Stevie – A Father of 6 on Life Supporthttps://www.gofundme.com/f/save-stevies-life-a-father-of-6-fighting-to-survive🆘 If You're Struggling, Please Reach Out

Canada: Talk Suicide Canada – 1 833 456 4566 | https://talksuicide.ca

USA: Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – Call or Text 988 | https://988lifeline.org

UK: Samaritans – 116 123 | https://samaritans.org

In this powerful episode of Raw Minds, Erick sits down with Ed from the UK to talk about addiction recovery, relapse, men’s mental health, and what it really takes to heal. Ed opens up about his personal journey and the challenges he’s overcome, including battling addiction and building back a better life.

This is a raw and unfiltered conversation about what men go through — mentally, emotionally, and spiritually — and how they can reclaim their strength through honesty, vulnerability, and consistency.

Whether you're struggling yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode is for you.

🙏 Please Help Stevie — A Father of 6 Fighting for His Lifehttps://www.gofundme.com/f/save-stevies-life-a-father-of-6-fighting-to-surviveYour support could help save a life.

🎙️ Guest Info
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edwardhancock82

📣 Raw Minds Podcast – Join the Movement
Website: www.rawminds.ca
Email: [email protected]
Hosts: Erick

🔗 Follow Raw Minds

Website: https://www.rawminds.ca

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ci

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I7hBJgYDdS8UQpbMl9bdt

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/

🆘 If You Need Immediate Help

You are not alone. Please reach out if you're struggling:

Canada:
Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566
Text: 45645 (4PM–12AM EST)
https://talksuicide.ca

USA:
National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
https://988lifeline.org

UK:
Samaritans: 116 123
https://www.samaritans.org

In this raw and vulnerable episode of Raw Minds, Erick sits down with Garrett M founder of Gnosis Therapy to talk about misdiagnosis, masculinity, addiction, recovery, and the real work of starting over.Garrett shares his personal story of being wrongly diagnosed, the identity crisis it created, and how trauma and addiction shaped his early life. But this conversation doesn’t stop at pain it moves toward clarity, healing, and practical ways to reclaim your mind.Together, they explore what modern masculinity could look like if men were given space to feel and why true transformation starts with taking off the mask.🔍 What You'll LearnHow misdiagnosis impacts identity and growthGarrett’s journey through relapse and recoveryWhy most men are emotionally disconnectedMasculinity, shame, and survival modeHow Gnosis Therapy helps men get their lives back👤 About Garrett MGarrett is the founder of Gnosis Therapy, a platform dedicated to helping men break emotional patterns, reconnect with their core identity, and heal deeply. His mission is to redefine what strength looks like — not as silence or control, but as the courage to be fully seen.🔗 Connect with Garrett MWebsite: https://www.gnosistherapy.com/aboutAssessment Tool: https://gnosistherapy.scoreapp.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gnosistherapy/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gnosistherapy/🔗 Follow Raw MindsWebsite: https://www.rawminds.caEmail: [email protected]: https://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ciSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I7hBJgYDdS8UQpbMl9bdtTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/📢 If this episode hits homeDrop a comment.Send it to someone who needs it.Subscribe to Raw Minds we’re building a space where pain has a voice.

In this episode of Raw Minds, Thomas M. Jones breaks down the life-changing practice he created The Paradox Process a tool that helps you transform negative emotions into powerful insight and control your mind in real time.This is not traditional therapy.This is about taking full ownership of your internal world.We discuss what it means to direct your mind, how trauma loops keep us stuck, and what true healing can look like even after decades of emotional pain. Thomas also walks Erick through a live emotional clarity exercise that shook both of them.If you’ve ever felt stuck in guilt, anger, grief, or anxiety this conversation might be the shift you need.🔍 What You'll LearnWhat the Paradox Process is and how it actually worksHow to reprogram emotional patterns and inner narrativesWhy healing happens when you take responsibility for your reactionsTools to help you break negative loopsWhy transformation is possible even if you've tried everything else About Thomas M. JonesThomas M. Jones is a psychotherapist, author, and musician who created The Paradox Process a revolutionary method to shift emotion instantly. For over 50 years, he’s helped everyone from CEOs and Oscar-winning performers to people struggling in silence.His process blends emotional awareness, language precision, and deep insight into how we carry and release pain. Connect with Thomas M. JonesWebsite:https://courses.paradoxprocess.org/pages/aboutFree Gift for Podcast Listeners:https://keap.page/hld920/podcasts-general.htmlJoin the Manifesting Lab (Mondays):https://courses.paradoxprocess.org/pages/mondays Follow Raw MindsWebsite: https://www.rawminds.caEmail: [email protected]: https://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ciSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I7hBJgYDdS8UQpbMl9bdtTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/ If this episode impacted youComment below.Subscribe and turn on notifications.Share this with someone carrying emotional weight.Raw Minds was built for conversations like this.

He’s a bishop
He’s been broken
And he’s still standing
In this powerful episode of Raw Minds, Bishop Kevin Foreman joins Erick to speak on resilience, leadership, identity, and the cost of becoming the person you’re called to be — even when pain comes first
This isn’t a conversation about religion
It’s about owning your truth, rising through trauma, and learning to lead while healing
In this episode
How childhood trauma shaped his leadership
Why some leaders bleed silently
The real cost of stepping into your calling
Faith as fuel when emotions run dry
How to stay grounded when you’re attacked
The power of owning your scars instead of hiding them
Whether you’re spiritual or not
This episode will move you
It’s for anyone trying to rise through the pain
👤 Follow Bishop Kevin Foreman and Harvest Church
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bishopforeman
https://www.instagram.com/itsharvestchurch
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BishopForeman
https://www.facebook.com/itsharvestchurch
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@BishopKevinForeman
https://www.youtube.com/@HarvestChurch
TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@bishopforeman
https://www.tiktok.com/@itsharvestchurch
📞 Call or Text
Phone: 1-800-928-0585
Text HARVEST to 55498 to connect
🌐 Website: https://www.harvestchurch.church
🔗 Follow Raw Minds
Website: https://www.rawminds.ca
Email: [email protected]
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I7hBJgYDdS8UQpbMl9bdt
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ci
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/
📢 If this episode hits you
Comment below and let us know
Share it with someone who needs to hear it
Subscribe and keep the movement growing
Now is the time for personal growth and taking risks! This motivational video will give you the inspiration you need. Remember, you can do it; it's now or never! #takingrisks #personalgrowth #motivationvideo #nowornever #inspiration

They were in love
They were lost
And they almost didn’t survive

In this powerful episode of Raw Minds, Josh and Heidi Case open up about addiction, relapse, misdiagnosis, and the fight to rebuild their lives together. From chaos and codependency to healing and advocacy, this is what real recovery looks like

Inside the episode
What addiction looked like behind closed doors
How misdiagnosed mental illness almost ended everything
Their lowest moments including suicide attempts and arrests
How therapy honesty and faith helped them heal
What rebuilding a relationship in recovery really takes
Why they launched SoberBuzz to help others find hope

This isn’t a comeback story
It’s a real story
And it might just be the one that helps someone else stay alive

👥 Follow Josh and Heidi – SoberBuzz

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SoberBuzzPodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soberbuzztoken
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sober.buzz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soberbuzztoken
Website: https://sober.buzz

🔗 Follow Raw Minds

Website: https://www.rawminds.ca
Email: [email protected]
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3I7hBJgYDdS8UQpbMl9bdt
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@rawminds-cs3ci
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawmindspodcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rawmindspodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CRWJaV5qh/

📢 If this episode hit you

Comment below and share your story
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