Struggle and Strive Podcast

What if the same drive that once fueled your addiction could be the key to your success?

In this powerful episode of The Struggle & Strive Podcast, bestselling author and recovery advocate Brian McAlister reveals how he turned his “more gene”, the relentless drive that once pushed him toward destruction into a force for good.

After a near-fatal motorcycle crash and years lost to addiction, Brian found faith, purpose, and a new mindset that transformed his life: “Change one thing… everything.”

He shares how this shift helped him rebuild from the ground up, write the bestselling book Full Recovery, and create the Freedom 365 Virtual Recovery System and My Mental Health to help others do the same.

Hosted by Estil Wallace, this conversation reminds us that recovery isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of something extraordinary.

Presented by Cornerstone Healing Center #CornerstoneHealingCenter #StruggleAndStrivePodcast

On this Struggle & Strive episode, Estel chats with RJ Orr, an entrepreneur who started his sobriety journey at 23. RJ talks about the Halloween night when fellowship showed up, and how “one day at a time” became a foundation for marriage, fatherhood, and building his business. RJ breaks down the grit it took to succeed, how his team survived 2008, and why it's important to face your fears and take necessary risks in business.

In this episode of the Struggle and Strive Podcast, host Estil Wallace sits down with Amber Vaughan, Chief Marketing Officer at Cornerstone Healing Center, to talk about the real challenges of starting and growing an addiction treatment program, and what makes Cornerstone different in the recovery space.

Amber shares her journey, the sacrifices it took to build a center with lasting impact, and why Cornerstone’s abstinence-based treatment approach has led to exceptional long-term recovery outcomes. From addressing stigma and building community to providing quality care for people often overlooked, this conversation dives deep into what truly helps individuals heal.

✨ What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The reality of starting a recovery program (and why profit isn’t the goal)
• How Cornerstone’s approach to addiction treatment in Arizona stands out
• Why long-term recovery rates matter more than completion metrics
• The role of 12-step programs, talk therapy, and family system work
• Inspiring stories of resilience and hope from people overcoming addiction

If you’re interested in addiction recovery, mental health, sobriety, or the future of treatment centers, this episode offers insight, hope, and inspiration.

📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations about healing, recovery, and personal transformation.

#AddictionRecovery #Sobriety #MentalHealth #RecoveryPodcast #CornerstoneHealingCenter #StruggleAndStrive

Cornerstone Healing Center

https://www.scottsdalecornerstone.com

[email protected]

800-480-1781

Our latest episode is in collaboration with "Think Business with Tyler"!

Estil has the chance to share his own personal journey with addiction, and entrepreneurship. As the CEO and founder of Cornerstone Healing Center, Estil shares how recovery shaped his outlook, lessons on resilience and work ethic, and how Cornerstone grew from 10 beds into a thriving treatment center that fosters long-term recovery.

This conversation highlights the parallels between recovery and entrepreneurship, the power of applying knowledge, and how small, consistent actions can create lasting change. Whether you’re in recovery, building a business, or facing challenges, this episode will leave you inspired to take the next step in your journey.

In this episode, Corinn Cook shares her powerful journey from struggling with panic attacks, agoraphobia, depression, and substance use to finding recovery, healing, and purpose. She recounts how a supportive doctor, therapy, and even her cats played pivotal roles in saving her life and inspiring her to pursue higher education in psychology.

Corinn went on to become deeply involved with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), leading campus chapters, offering peer support, and advocating for accessible mental health resources. Now a doctoral student and community advocate, she uses her lived experience to bring hope to others, fight stigma, and expand mental health support across Arizona.

Dru Meskan is the founder and CEO of First 7 Mane, a high-end boutique barbershop in South Scottsdale. In his early 30s, his life spiraled into alcoholism and drug addiction, eventually leading him to treatment and lasting recovery. Inspired by his entrepreneurial father and his passion for barbering, Dru built a thriving business that blends luxury service with authentic community. Today, he’s not only preparing to open a second shop but also creating opportunities for his team to build successful careers they love.

In this episode, Elliot Sharp interviews Estil Wallace about rebuilding life after addiction, shifting into a healthier mindset, and growing multiple successful businesses. Elliot shares how he went from living in a halfway house with no income to becoming a CEO, husband, father, and leader in the recovery and business communities.

This is a practical and honest look at what real change takes. Elliot walks through the early years of sobriety, his first jobs, the financial lessons that changed his life, and the process of building credibility and structure where none existed before.

If you're navigating recovery, feeling stuck in your career, or working toward a more stable and meaningful life, this conversation offers clarity and direction.

Ryan Pineda has an inspiring story - he went from humbling beginnings flipping couches to flipping houses. Now, he's built a real estate empire and has invested in over $100,000,000 of real estate. As an entrepreneur he has founded seven different businesses that have generated 7-8 figures of revenue. He has amassed over 2 million followers on social media and has generated over 1 billion views online.

Brandon Lee shifted from being a journalist to focusing on helping folks in recovery and suffering from severe mental illness heal from their trauma. He relapsed from 12 years of sobriety in 2020, and started investigating ways to truly heal his trauma and not relapse again. Today, he runs Art Of Our Soul, an art-based program that helps heal trauma & addiction. Visit his website here: https://artofoursoul.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaf3eaPkDjRHVymeWVl0hLsSfD3qNkjATtWBH0H-UbsRqLSYOYwAn9w7oQI8gw_aem_v0kxBVF5oayIQAkI16UwAw

Are you living the life you want—or the one your wounds are choosing for you?In this episode of Struggle and Strive, host Estil Wallace explores the powerful concept of re-parenting—a process of healing, self-awareness, and personal responsibility. Drawing on both lived experience and practical frameworks, Estil walks you through the key moments that shape our sense of self, the divergence between our ideals and behaviors, and how to recognize when it's time to course-correct.Whether you’re navigating addiction, burnout, toxic relationships, or just feeling lost in adulthood, this conversation offers grounded insight on how to reconnect with your inner child, realign with your values, and start living with truth, purpose, and integrity.🎧 Topics covered:What re-parenting really meansThe “divergence” from our authentic selvesHow dishonesty and self-deception create sufferingCognitive dissonance and its impact on mental healthHow to make a change—at any stage of life🔔 Subscribe for more real talk about healing, growth, and getting your life together—one honest conversation at a time.#ReParenting #PersonalGrowth #MentalHealth #SelfAwareness #StruggleAndStrive #Podcast #HealingJourney #burnoutrecovery Cornerstone Healing Center: cornerstonehealingcenter.comMore About Struggle & Strive: https://struggleandstrive.co/