What happens when your childhood trauma becomes the foundation of your life's purpose? For Kristie, growing up with a mother battling alcoholism and opioid addiction could have become a story of perpetual damage. Instead, it transformed into a powerful journey of healing, purpose, and compassion.

In this deeply moving conversation, Kristie reveals how her chaotic upbringing led her to become a care coordinator in addiction medicine—a role where she helps others while continuing to heal herself. "I grew up my whole life thinking why was I and my brother not enough to overcome this?" she shares with raw honesty. "Working with these patients has shown me it was never about that." This revelation marks just one milestone in her ongoing path toward understanding and forgiveness.

Music weaves throughout Kristie's life as both escape and connection—from childhood memories of her mother singing along to records to her current role in a worship band. Her approach to healing extends beyond conventional therapy into adventure and intentional living. From her "travel challenge" (visiting one new state monthly for a year) to creating a "100 dreams list" that includes forgiving six people (herself included), Kristie demonstrates how deliberate experience-seeking becomes medicine for the soul.

The conversation explores the delicate balance of faith through trauma, the concept of being an "adult orphan," and the practical wisdom she's gained about addiction recovery through her professional work. "Nobody grows up wanting to be an addict," she reminds us, offering a perspective that bridges clinical understanding with profound empathy.

Whether you've been touched by addiction, struggle with childhood wounds, or simply seek inspiration for living more intentionally, this episode offers a roadmap for turning pain into purpose. Listen now to discover how contrast helps us know what we truly value, and why forgiveness—even when impossible to complete—remains worth pursuing.

0:00 Music as a Lifeline

6:45 The Adventure Begins

15:42 Creating a Life of Adventures

32:37 Growing Up with Addiction

52:54 Working in Addiction Medicine

1:07:18 Faith, Forgiveness, and Healing

1:19:11 Building a Grounded Life

1:34:50 Coping with Loss and Moving Forward