Ryan Hedrick sits down with his sponsor Jose G for a direct conversation about what sponsorship really means in recovery and what it means for you as a caregiver.

They explain why sponsorship is the heartbeat of the program. A sponsor helps your loved one see what they are up against, shares real experience, strength, and hope, and walks them through the 12 steps step by step.

Ryan and Jose get into how you can spot real readiness, the difference between smart support and overreach, and why trusting the process matters even when it is hard to watch.

Ryan also shares what he learned from past sponsors, what helped him, and what did not.

The Supporting Sobriety Podcast is for caregivers of people in recovery or active addiction. If you are trying to support someone and not lose yourself in the process, this episode gives you real, practical direction.

Follow & Listen
X and Instagram: @sobriety_pod
Available on Spotify, Apple, and other major platforms

Resources
Al-Anon: al-anon.org
AA Meetings: aa.intergroup.org/meetings
NA Meetings: virtual-na.org
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255 (24/7)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan Hedrick sits down with Daryl Gilmer, a recovering addict with 11 years clean and a story that speaks for itself. From fighting to keep and raise his son to figuring out what it really means to be a present father, Daryl brings a real, grounded perspective on parenting in recovery.

The conversation stays honest and practical using your past as a tool, not something to run from, and how showing up with love can actually change lives. Ryan also shares his own experience stepping into fatherhood and not always knowing what to do with that kind of responsibility and blessing.

They get into what surrender really means beyond just the word, and how it shows up in daily life. Daryl also talks about being in the role of a caregiver while staying solid in his own recovery, which adds another layer to his journey.

It’s a straightforward conversation about growth, responsibility, and what recovery can really look like over time.

Follow & Listen
X and Instagram: @sobriety_pod
Available on Spotify, Apple, and other major platforms

Resources
Al-Anon: al-anon.org
AA Meetings: aa.intergroup.org/meetings
NA Meetings: virtual-na.org
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255 (24/7)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan Hedrick talks with an Indianapolis treatment specialist about what it takes to enter treatment.

They discuss a common issue: not everyone is ready.
Some people are unsure if they want to stop.
Others are not sure they have a problem.

Ryan shares a time when he was not ready for treatment and what stayed with him from that experience.

They explain how addiction can affect thinking and keep someone stuck between continuing and making a change.

Ryan also describes when he decided to seek help, what led to that decision, and what he does now to maintain recovery.

This episode covers:

How people approach treatment

What can delay that decision

How change can begin

Guest
Sommer Toth
Outreach Associate
Recovery Centers of America at Indianapolis
Direct: 317-907-8201
1-800-RECOVER

Follow & Listen
X and Instagram: @sobriety_pod
Available on Spotify, Apple, and other major platforms

Resources
Al-Anon: al-anon.org
AA Meetings: aa.intergroup.org/meetings
NA Meetings: virtual-na.org
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255 (24/7)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan Hedrick is joined by his wife for a conversation about addiction, recovery, and how those experiences affected their family. They discuss their past, the impact addiction had on their home, and how recovery changed the dynamics of their relationship and family life.

Ryan also speaks to caregivers and loved ones who support someone in recovery, addressing some of the challenges and adjustments that can come with that role. His wife shares her perspective on life before and after recovery and how their family has adapted over time.

This episode focuses on the experiences of a family navigating addiction, recovery, and the changes that followed.

You can find us on X and Instagram: @sobriety_pod. Supporting Sobriety is also available on major podcast platforms like Spotify and Apple. Please like, subscribe, and rate our podcast!

• Al-Anon: Al-Anon.org
• AA Meetings: aa.intergroup.org/meetings
• NA Meetings: virtual-na.org
• Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255 (24/7)

 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan Hedrick sits down to talk about something every parent, spouse, or loved one in recovery eventually faces: how do you let go… without letting them down?

We center the conversation around three questions that can keep you up at night: How much do I step in? What are the expectations now? And how do I stay optimistic when other people doubt them — or when I start doubting myself?

Ryan shares honestly about how his relationship with his wife has changed now that she’s in recovery. He reflects on what it used to look like, what it looks like today, and the hard but freeing shift from trying to manage everything to learning how to trust, surrender, and love differently.

He’s also joined by Teresa and Mark Perlite, parents to Luke, a young man who is doing incredibly well in his recovery. They walk us through Luke’s journey — and just as importantly, their own. We talk about control, surrender, letting go, managing resentment when it builds up, and what to do when things are actually going well. Because success brings its own emotions too.

This episode is real, relatable, and full of perspective for anyone trying to support someone they love without losing themselves in the process.

You can find us on X and Instagram: @sobriety_pod. Supporting Sobriety is also available on major podcast platforms like Spotify and Apple. Please like, subscribe, and rate our podcast!

• Al-Anon: Al-Anon.org
• AA Meetings: aa.intergroup.org/meetings
• NA Meetings: virtual-na.org
• Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255 (24/7)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Ryan Hedrick opens up about what it really means to trade one addiction for another. From drugs to social media, he explores how addiction is still addiction, even when it shows up in different forms and at different levels.

Ryan shares honest examples from his own recovery journey and sits down with a friend who has been clean for more than six years to talk about how social media has impacted his sobriety. You will also hear from a young woman in Florida and an author who specializes in helping caregivers navigate a loved one’s addiction and recovery.

If someone you love is in recovery, this is an episode you will not want to miss. It is a real conversation about how addiction can continue to evolve, even while recovery is in progress.

Resources

You can find us on X and Instagram: @sobriety_pod. Supporting Sobriety is also available on major podcast platforms like Spotify and Apple. Please like, subscribe, and rate our podcast! 

Al-Anon: Al-Anon.org

Meetings: aa.rgroup.org/meengs

NA Meetings: virtual-na.orginte

Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255

 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Ryan Hedrick talks about his experience with addiction and the long process of rebuilding his life. He explains what his day‑to‑day looked like when he was using, including the period he spent living in a crack house in Washington, D.C. He also describes the moment his mom stepped in and helped him start the path toward recovery.

Ryan walks through what he found in 12‑step meetings, the people who modeled a calmer way of living, and how his outlook changed as he began to trust the recovery process.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Bair and Ryan Hedrick open up about grieving clean and sober, and the challenges that come with living life on life’s terms. Ryan shares about his recent trip to Maryland, where visiting his grandmother in a nursing home stirred emotions he had to process without leaning on old habits.

Matt talks about how sobriety has changed the way he handles family issues, and together the guys reflect on what it means to face these moments with clarity and honesty.

Resources

You can find us on X and Instagram: @sobriety_pod. Supporting Sobriety is also available on major podcast platforms like Spotify and Apple. Please like, subscribe, and rate our podcast! 

Al-Anon: Al-Anon.org

Meetings: aa.rgroup.org/meengs

NA Meetings: virtual-na.orginte

Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255

 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Bair and Ryan Hedrick talk about coping with grief and loss while in recovery. Recently, Ryan traveled to Maryland to be with his family as they said goodbye to his father, an experience he had never faced before.

Matt also shares his own perspective on handling loss and finding balance through recovery. Together, they discuss practical ways to manage difficult emotions and support one another through challenging times. This episode offers helpful insight for caregivers and anyone walking alongside a loved one dealing with loss.

Resources:

Al-Anon: Al-Anon.org

Meetings: aa.org/find-aa

NA Meetings: na.org/meetingsearch/virtual-meeting-search/

Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) - Resources for Families
• Families Against Narcotics (FAN) - Support for Families
• SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marijuana is not exactly top of mind when we think of addiction. You might gently roll your eyes when hearing someone say, “I’m addicted to marijuana…” I mean, really? How can you be addicted to the ganja? You can’t overdose on it. It makes everyone giggle. It’s a natural pain killer. How, how in the world is marijuana addictive or dangerous? Some people even smoke it as a sacrament. Praise the green goddess and pass the sticky icky!

About that. Addiction is addiction, and you can absolutely, unequivocally become addicted to cannabis. Today’s bud is incredibly potent compared to the stuff your parents or grandparents smoked back in the 70s, and it can be laced with fentanyl, a one-shot killer that can overdose the user with a penny sized amount. Then there are synthetics, or man-made products with THC. They’ve turned the weed world on its head. Who knows what you’re smoking?

We’re the addicts, you’re the caregiver. We don’t think marijuana is bad by itself, just bad in the hands of addicts. We discuss in Ep. 56, so give it a listen if you’re cannabis curious. While you’re at it, find us on X and Instagram: @sobriety_pod. Supporting Sobriety is also available on major podcast platforms like Spotify and Apple. Please like, subscribe, and rate! 

Resources:

Al-Anon: Al-Anon.org

Meetings: aa.org/find-aa

NA Meetings: na.org/meetingsearch/virtual-meeting-search/

Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) - Resources for Families
• Families Against Narcotics (FAN) - Support for Families
• SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.