Sober Truth Podcast with George Wood

In this conversation, George Wood and Bill Vanderbush explore the essence of true faith, the nature of God as a loving Father, and the misconceptions surrounding faith-based recovery. They discuss the importance of understanding one's identity in Christ, the transformative power of God's love, and the need for a reformation in how the church perceives and represents God. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of union with God, the role of fatherhood in healing, and the necessity of moving beyond judgment to embrace love and acceptance. Key takeaways-True faith is needed in a divided world.Faith-based recovery often misrepresents the nature of God.God is fundamentally a loving Father, not a distant deity.Separation from God is a misconception; He is always present.Grace should be understood as a gift, not a reward for behavior.Our identity in Christ transcends earthly limitations.The church must reform its understanding of God's love.Addiction recovery is deeply connected to understanding one's identity.Connect with me for Coaching, Consulting or to come and speak at [email protected] Buy my book The Uncovery https://www.briteaton.com/The-Uncovery-BookMy personal website https://www.georgeawood.com/Sober Truth Project https://sobertruthproject.org/https://www.facebook.com/tattooedpastorgw/https://linktr.ee/tattooedpastor

After some time focusing on my own mental health and recovery, I'm excited to be back and delve into meaningful conversations about sobriety and personal recovery. Join me as we explore various aspects of addiction recovery and the importance of living a sober life, sharing insights from my own sobriety journey.In this episode of the Sober Truth podcast, host George A. Wood engages in a profound conversation with therapist Jen Woodrome about Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and its complexities. Jen shares her personal experiences with DID, the challenges of diagnosis, and the misconceptions surrounding the disorder. They discuss the impact of trauma on mental health, the differences between DID and schizophrenia, and the importance of creating safe therapeutic environments. Jen also highlights her work on developing a new therapy modality focused on predictive dissociation, aiming to help individuals understand their trauma responses and foster healing.Connect with me for Coaching, Consulting or to come and speak at [email protected] Buy my book The Uncovery https://www.briteaton.com/The-Uncovery-BookMy personal website https://www.georgeawood.com/Sober Truth Project https://sobertruthproject.org/https://www.facebook.com/tattooedpastorgw/https://linktr.ee/tattooedpastor00:00 Introduction and Focus Shift01:58 Understanding Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)09:46 Experiencing DID: Personal Insights15:41 DID vs. Schizophrenia: Key Differences22:25 The Role of Trauma in Mental Health28:55 Therapist's Perspective: Challenges and Insights36:48 Future Directions in Therapy and Healing

In this conversation, George Wood and Herb Hand explore the profound impact of coaching on young athletes, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, mental health awareness, and the evolving landscape of college sports, particularly with the introduction of NIL. They reflect on personal experiences, the challenges faced by today's youth, and the significance of being present in the moment. Herb shares insights on navigating the complexities of coaching, building trust, and fostering a supportive environment for athletes, while also addressing the tragic realities of school shootings and their emotional toll on communities.TakeawaysCoaching is about making a generational impact on young men.The role of a coach often extends beyond sports, acting as a mentor and role model.Mental health awareness has increased, but young athletes still face significant pressures.The introduction of NIL has changed the dynamics of college sports and recruiting.Trust is foundational in building a successful team culture.Shared accountability between coaches and players fosters growth and improvement.Being present and appreciating the moment is crucial for both athletes and their families.The pressures of social media can negatively impact young athletes' mental health.Coping with tragedy requires strong community support and open communication.Advice for young athletes: focus on being the best version of yourself in the present.Connect with me for Coaching, Consulting or to come and speak at [email protected] To buy my book The Uncovery https://www.briteaton.com/The-Uncover...My personal website https://www.georgeawood.com/Sober Truth Project https://sobertruthproject.org/  / tattooedpastorgw  https://linktr.ee/tattooedpastor

In this conversation, George Wood and Herb Hand explore the profound impact of coaching on young athletes, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, mental health awareness, and the evolving landscape of college sports, particularly with the introduction of NIL. They reflect on personal experiences, the challenges faced by today's youth, and the significance of being present in the moment. Herb shares insights on navigating the complexities of coaching, building trust, and fostering a supportive environment for athletes, while also addressing the tragic realities of school shootings and their emotional toll on communities.TakeawaysCoaching is about making a generational impact on young men.The role of a coach often extends beyond sports, acting as a mentor and role model.Mental health awareness has increased, but young athletes still face significant pressures.The introduction of NIL has changed the dynamics of college sports and recruiting.Trust is foundational in building a successful team culture.Shared accountability between coaches and players fosters growth and improvement.Being present and appreciating the moment is crucial for both athletes and their families.The pressures of social media can negatively impact young athletes' mental health.Coping with tragedy requires strong community support and open communication.Advice for young athletes: focus on being the best version of yourself in the present.Connect with me for Coaching, Consulting or to come and speak at [email protected] To buy my book The Uncovery https://www.briteaton.com/The-Uncover...My personal website https://www.georgeawood.com/Sober Truth Project https://sobertruthproject.org/  / tattooedpastorgw  https://linktr.ee/tattooedpastor

Welcome to The Sober Truth Podcast with your host George Wood, the Tattooed Pastor! In this special episode, we sit down with Johnny Crowder, a mental health advocate, TEDx speaker, musician, and the founder of Cope Notes—a revolutionary text-based mental health support system that’s changing lives nationwide.This episode was recorded in Sept of 2024, then we had 2 hurricanes, Johny lost his house and the timing wasn't right to release, until now! Johnny’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and purpose. Growing up, he battled schizophrenia, OCD, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, struggling to find a path to healing. Despite these challenges, he channeled his pain into music, becoming the frontman of the metal band Prison, known for its raw, honest lyrics about mental health.🔍 In this episode, we dive deep into:✔️ Music & Mental Health – How Johnny uses his band Prison to advocate for mental health awareness and why heavy music is a powerful outlet for emotional expression.✔️ The Birth of Cope Notes – The incredible story behind Cope Notes, why he created a text-based mental health support platform instead of an app, and how it’s now reaching tens of thousands of people, including Medicaid users through a partnership with UnitedHealthcare.✔️ His Mental Health Journey – Johnny’s early struggles, his late diagnosis, and the breakthrough moment that changed his perspective on recovery and healing.✔️ Faith & Transformation – How his personal faith journey led him to reconsider everything he thought he knew about God, and the unexpected way he was introduced to Jesus in 2016.✔️ Overcoming Stigma – The challenges of being a tattooed, metal frontman in the mental health and faith spaces, and how people’s assumptions often don’t match the reality of his purpose-driven mission.✔️ Life Beyond the Band – Johnny’s reflections on balancing a music career, mental health advocacy, and faith, and his thoughts on whether the rockstar dream is still his ultimate calling.🎶 Want to hear Johnny’s music?➡️ Listen to Prison on Spotify📲 Sign up for Cope Notes – A simple, text-based tool to improve your mental health daily:➡️ https://copenotes.com📢 Watch Johnny’s TED Talks on Mental Health & Recovery:🔥 A MUST-WATCH for anyone struggling with mental health, recovery, or faith. Johnny’s journey proves that tomorrow might be better, and that no matter where you come from, healing and purpose are possible.🙏 If this conversation resonated with you, LIKE, COMMENT & SHARE with someone who needs to hear this message!#JohnnyCrowder #CopeNotes #MentalHealthAwareness #Recovery #AddictionRecovery #FaithJourney #RockMusic #PrisonBand #TattooedPastor #SchizophreniaRecovery #PTSD #BipolarDisorder #mentalhealthsupport Connect with me for Coaching, Consulting or to come and speak at [email protected] my book The Uncovery https://www.briteaton.com/The-Uncovery-BookMy personal website https://www.georgeawood.com/Sober Truth Project https://sobertruthproject.org/https://www.facebook.com/tattooedpastorgw/https://linktr.ee/tattooedpastor00:00 Introduction to Johnny Crowder01:54 The Journey of Cope Notes03:36 The Intersection of Music and Mental Health09:05 The Formation of the Band Prison11:52 Mental Health Themes in Music17:28 Navigating Multiple Passions23:38 Johnny's Personal Mental Health Journey29:51 The Creation of Cope Notes33:27 Partnership with UnitedHealthcare37:26 Recovery and Personal Growth43:29 Faith and Transformation48:19 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement

Christina Dent, founder of End It For Good, Author - Curious, shares her journey of understanding addiction and advocating for a new approach to drug policy. She recounts her experience as a foster parent and meeting a mother struggling with addiction, which challenged her preconceived notions. This led her to question the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in addressing drug use and to explore alternative solutions. She discusses the Rat Park experiment and the importance of addressing the underlying reasons for substance use. Christina emphasizes the need for personalized pathways to recovery and a shift away from a one-size-fits-all approach. The illegal drug economy, fueled by drug prohibition, incentivizes crime and violence by providing a financial incentive. Gangs, cartels, and terrorist organizations are primarily funded through the proceeds of the drug trade. Prohibition also leads to the production of unregulated and dangerous drugs, such as fentanyl, which has contributed to the overdose crisis. The current approach to drug policy is reactive and fear-based, and it is important to shift towards a health-centered approach that addresses the root causes of addiction. Regular people can lead the charge for change and create a movement towards policy reform.

Laura Sears shares her story of losing her son to a drug overdose and how she has found healing and purpose in helping others. She emphasizes the importance of having conversations about addiction and erasing the stigma surrounding mental health. Laura has been involved in various projects, including creating an endowment fund for arts education and volunteering with organizations like NOPE and Grace Point Foundation. She plans to write a book and continue using her voice to make a difference in the world.

George Wood shares his personal journey of recovery and how the gospel can be seen as a form of recovery. He emphasizes the importance of creating healthy community and breaking the shame cycle. He also highlights the need for leaders to be present for others and to see people beyond their labels. The conversation explores the concept of living in the inner city and the challenges faced by pastors and leaders. Overall, the discussion encourages a deeper understanding of the gospel and the role of leaders in facilitating healing and transformation. The conversation explores the power of love and choice, the importance of acceptance and openness, the need for authenticity and face-to-face connections, the impact of mentors and spiritual guidance, carrying the baton of faith, the legacy of leadership, asking the hard questions, and prayer and reflection.

Join George Wood, the Tattooed Pastor, in a profound and uplifting conversation with Lacey Nicole Sturm, former lead vocalist of the iconic alternative rock band Flyleaf and a trailblazing solo artist. In this episode, Lacey opens up about her transformative journey of recovery and faith, which has profoundly shaped her life and music.

In this conversation, Justin Brent discusses the unique blend of Redwood Micro and its effects on mental and physical well-being. He emphasizes the importance of feeling emotions and going through the full range of emotions to heal and recover. Justin also explains that the blend is not a lifelong treatment but can be taken sporadically for maintenance. He shares the obstacles he has faced, including importation issues and competition in the market. In this conversation, Justin Brent discusses the financial challenges he faced and the impact it had on his business. He also shares his upcoming events and speaking engagements. Justin announces a new product line and discusses his plans for expansion. He emphasizes the power of positive testimonials and shares a serendipitous encounter with a client. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the importance of feeling and controlling emotions and the profound effects of microdosing.