What happens when the life of the party decides to stop drinking? Tyler Plasek joins us to share his remarkable journey through one year of sobriety, challenging the notion that you need a dramatic rock bottom moment to make a positive change.

Known as the wild, entertaining personality on his former podcast "On Tap With The Boiz," Tyler built much of his identity around drinking. From teenage parties in rural Minnesota to college shenanigans (which he calls "the most expensive vacation of my life") to being the guy who always brought extra pants to weddings because he'd rip them while dancing, alcohol was central to his social persona.

Tyler's path to sobriety wasn't triggered by a catastrophic event but rather a growing sense that something needed to change. His candid discussion about crippling anxiety while drinking—spending entire weeks convinced his closest friends were angry with him—reveals the hidden mental toll that often goes unaddressed. "I don't know if I'd call it rock bottom. I think I could have got lower, but it was time for a change," he reflects.

The transformation in Tyler's life has been profound. As the youngest foreman at his construction company, he now feels "way sharper" at work. His anxiety has dramatically improved. He still enjoys karaoke and socializing with friends who drink, but has discovered which relationships were based solely on alcohol versus deeper connections. Perhaps most importantly, he's found that stepping away from alcohol hasn't diminished his identity but has instead allowed him to discover who he truly is beyond the bottle.

Whether you're questioning your own relationship with alcohol or supporting someone who is, Tyler's journey offers a refreshing perspective on what sobriety can look like without drama or deprivation. As he aptly puts it: "If you're thinking about quitting, it must be kind of important. So just try it. What's the worst that could happen?"

0:00 Meet Tyler Plasek

4:38 On Tap Podcast

8:32 The Drinking Journey Begins

15:25 Finding Sobriety and Identity

26:34 Building a House and Strong Friendships

36:00 Life After One Year Sober

43:19 Passion, Purpose, and Future Plans

A chance to slow down and listen to the wild turkeys—that's what spirituality means to Isaac, who joins Beth Kelling for a deeply personal conversation about finding the divine in unexpected places. This thoughtful exchange reveals how our spiritual journeys often intertwine with our greatest challenges.

Isaac shares his approach to Christianity that "goes against the grain," believing that sacred experiences happen beyond church walls. His spiritual curiosity was nurtured by a mother who encouraged questioning everything through daily morning debates, leading him to explore diverse religious traditions from Buddhism to demonology before finding his own path.

The conversation takes a vulnerable turn as Isaac opens up about facing fears—literally confronting his fear of heights daily in his roofing profession—and his journey through addiction. His candid reflection on quitting alcohol after an allergic reaction and the birth of his son reveals how watershed moments can transform our lives. Perhaps most powerful is his insight on overcoming tobacco addiction: "Lydia for sure. You got to be a man about it and just do it." This sparks Beth's reflection that while we're taught to love ourselves first, sometimes it's our love for others that helps us heal.

Their exchange exposes the paradox of religious communities that preach forgiveness while practicing judgment, from family reactions to tattoos to the pressure to appear perfect in church. This authenticity makes their conversation feel like eavesdropping on two friends discussing life's biggest questions without pretense.

What emerges is a refreshing perspective on spirituality that embraces both tradition and questioning, structure and freedom, self-love and the love of others. Have you found your garden—that place where, like Jesus in scripture, you can truly connect with something greater than yourself?

0:00 Introduction to Spirituality and Sobriety

3:35 Finding God in Different Places

8:15 Debating Faith and Learning Religions

14:20 Facing Fears and Confrontation

19:20 Christianity, Judgment and Forgiveness

22:10 Conspiracy Theories and Taylor Swift

24:30 Journey Through Addiction and Sobriety

28:50 Quitting for Others and Future Generations

What happens when childhood masks become so convincing that even our closest friends can't see beneath them? In this deeply moving conversation with my friend of 25 years, Michael Gunderson, we peel back layers of a life marked by trauma, resilience, and ultimately, transformation.

Michael shares his journey through his parents' divorce, his mother's suicide during his senior year of high school, and the alcohol-fueled household that taught him to be hypervigilant and people-pleasing. Despite being known as the ultimate "cool kid" in high school – athletic, funny, and seemingly carefree – Michael was silently drowning in grief and abandonment issues that would follow him for decades.

The conversation takes a powerful turn as we explore how the pandemic became an unexpected catalyst for healing. Isolated with his thoughts and finally forced to confront long-buried pain, Michael found solace in therapy and wisdom from podcasters who helped him understand his patterns. His revelation that "I had to get away and I didn't care how long it was going to take" speaks to the courage required for true transformation.

Most compelling is our discussion about the masks we all wear and how emotional availability isn't always a reflection of love – a realization that transformed not just Michael's understanding of his childhood but my approach to all relationships. His journey from anxiety to confidence, from avoidance to confrontation, offers hope that we're never too broken or too old to change our stories.

Whether you're wrestling with family trauma, addiction patterns, or simply feeling stuck in old behaviors, this raw conversation illuminates how vulnerability becomes our greatest strength. Listen and be inspired to take that first step toward becoming who you truly are.

What happens when siblings separated by fifteen years sit down to explore spiritual questioning, personal growth, and the courage to face our deepest fears? Welcome to the first episode of Supernaught, where host Beth Kelling invites her older brother Steve to share the moment that changed her spiritual trajectory forever.

Growing up in rural Minnesota where even yoga was considered taboo, Beth recalls the pivotal moment she overheard Steve declare he was "renouncing Christianity until he researched every other religion." This single statement opened a door Beth didn't know existed—the permission to question inherited beliefs and find her own spiritual truth.

Steve reveals his decade-long journey away from the narrow religious views of their childhood, where their pastor claimed members of other Christian denominations were "going to hell." He challenges the arbitrary nature of religious affiliation—"Where you're born decides what religion"—and shares how this questioning led him to a place where he now "believes almost nothing" yet finds peace in that uncertainty.

The conversation weaves through mental health territory, exploring how depression stems from both thought patterns and biochemistry. Beth shares her discovery that B vitamins trigger her depression due to a genetic mutation, highlighting how our mental state isn't always within our conscious control.

Most powerfully, the siblings discuss fear as a gateway to growth. Steve passionately advocates for confronting fears directly: "If they recognize something in themselves that creates fear or anxiety, go straight into it instead of avoiding it." Beth reflects on her journey from crying through high school presentations to confidently hosting this podcast, and how initially dreaded experiences like cold plunging have become transformative practices.

The episode concludes with Beth embracing "doing hard things" as her spiritual practice—a fitting philosophy for someone hosting a podcast named after the concept of a "voyager searching and striving for betterment."

Ready to question your assumptions, face your fears, and discover your own authentic path? Subscribe now and join us on this journey of transformation.

What if the hard times in your life weren't just obstacles to overcome, but essential elements in shaping who you've become? In this soul-stirring conversation with therapist Jen Peterson, we peel back the layers of that universal human experience we all share but rarely discuss with such honesty—navigating life's difficulties.

Jen brings twenty years of therapeutic wisdom and her own personal vulnerability to this discussion about resilience, growth, and finding meaning in suffering. "I had this belief that there were people who got pardoned from hard times, and now I know better," she shares, setting the tone for a candid exploration of how we all face challenges, regardless of how put-together someone might appear on the surface.

We dive into the fascinating psychology of being "the baby" of the family (a position we both share), and how those early family dynamics continue to shape our adult relationships and self-perception. Our conversation winds through the unexpected strengths of ADHD minds, the double-edged sword of perfectionism, and the profound impact of giving yourself permission to fail. Jen offers remarkable insight when she notes, "I will encourage people to fail, because you probably didn't fail a lot. Even if you did, it was probably really cute or adorable."

The most powerful moments come as we discuss parenting, legacy, and what we hope for the next generation. Can we spare our children from the hard times we've endured? Should we even try? As Jen beautifully puts it: "I want my kids to surpass me in kindness, outweigh me in love for others, and outdo me in generosity. I don't want to be the ceiling to their potential; I want to be their floor."

Whether you're navigating your own difficult season, supporting someone through theirs, or simply trying to make sense of past challenges, this conversation offers both comfort and clarity. Subscribe now to join our journey of self-discovery and connection through life's most meaningful moments.

The moment I heard the spirit of wine whisper "you don't have a personality without me" became my turning point. That single, chilling exchange crystallized everything wrong with my relationship to alcohol—and launched me on a journey I never expected to take.

Welcome to Supernaught, where we explore spirituality, sobriety, and the spectrum of self. In this premiere episode, I share my winding path from pandemic boxed wine and cigarettes to discovering the deeper patterns behind my addictions. When I finally committed to sobriety, I was shocked to find my relationship with sugar emerging as my next battleground. 

The breakthrough came when I learned that gluttony isn't just about physical hunger—it represents a spiritual void we're trying to fill with consumption. Meanwhile, my injured psoas muscle (known as the "muscle of the soul") was physically manifesting my resistance to change. These weren't separate struggles but interconnected signals pointing toward the same healing journey.

Now I'm embarking on what I call my "Sweet Surrender Year"—a commitment to living without desserts while incorporating daily nature meditation. This episode explores how addiction rarely exists in isolation and how spiritual awareness can illuminate the underlying patterns connecting our seemingly separate struggles.

Whether you're battling substance dependency, compulsive behaviors, or simply seeking a more conscious relationship with yourself, this podcast offers a judgment-free space to explore transformation. Because as I've learned, we're all only one decision away from a new life. Join me on this journey of discovery, and let's find our way together.