In this episode of The Iron Perspective, JD Denham sits down with fellow Huntington Beach native Dave Thomas for a powerful conversation about addiction, redemption, faith, and rebuilding a life that once seemed completely destroyed.

From growing up in a loving Huntington Beach family and excelling in sports, to watching his father fall into addiction and eventually losing him, Dave shares how the seeds of pain, insecurity, and rebellion slowly led him down the road of drugs, crime, and self-destruction.

From early drug use in middle school to cocaine, crack, and eventually intravenous drug use, Dave opens up about the brutal reality of addiction the chaos, the arrests, the broken relationships, and the moments where everything could have been lost forever.

After years of battling addiction, jail time, and failed attempts at sobriety, Dave finally reached a turning point in late 2016. What followed was a journey through treatment, recovery, faith, and ultimately a complete transformation of his life.

Today Dave is a father, husband, fitness coach, and man of faith who is committed to helping others rebuild their lives through discipline, health, and spiritual growth.

This episode is a reminder that no matter how far someone falls, redemption is always possible.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, this conversation is proof that a new life is possible.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro & Huntington Beach Roots 

01:30 Who Dave Is Today

07:15 Losing His Dad to Addiction

12:00 First Drugs & High School Party Life

20:50 Addiction Escalates

30:00 First Attempt at Sobriety

39:50 Getting Sober for Good (2016)

44:00 Faith, Church & Life Transformation

50:00 Leaving Crane Work & New Direction

56:20 Coaching, Faith & Helping Others

Connect with Dave Thomas:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr_davidthomas/

Fitness Coaching & Training: https://www.davidthomasfit.com

Chosen Society Apparel: https://www.instagram.com/chosensociety_/

Follow Me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jd_denham_fit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JD-Denham/61563578940850/

Intro Music: Pennywise – Let Us Hear Your Voice

In this episode of The Iron Perspective, JD Denham sits down with former NFL offensive lineman Eben Britton for a conversation that goes far beyond football. From manifesting his childhood dream of playing in the league to losing his identity when the game ended, Eben shares the raw truth about injuries, ego, addiction in professional sports, and the brutal transition into normal life.

From being a first-round draft pick and living the warrior mindset every day, to shattered confidence, surgeries, painkiller withdrawal, and the slow descent into self-destruction this episode dives into what really happens when the dream is over and you’re forced to face the man in the mirror.

Eben opens up about the moment he realized football could no longer define him, the depression that followed, and how cannabis advocacy, deep inner work, men’s groups, therapy, yoga, and sobriety helped him rebuild a life rooted in purpose instead of performance.

This is a powerful conversation about identity, healing, service, fatherhood, and what it actually means to become a mature man after a lifetime of chasing external validation.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro & Cost of Living / Life Stress Talk 

04:10 Peptides for Brain Health & Cognitive Decline

07:20 Penelon: How It Works & Who Should Use It

11:35 Penelon Dosing Protocols (Age, Injury, Maintenance)

15:20 Stacking for Brain Optimization (NAD, MOTS-c, SS-31)

19:30 Dihexa: Building New Neural Connections

23:10 Dihexa Risks (Cancer Signaling, GH / IGF-1 Considerations)

24:55 Dihexa Dosing Strategies (Pulse vs Recovery)

26:35 Practical Use, Oral Delivery & Real-World Experience

29:50 Using Both Together for Aging & Memory

31:05 Upcoming Episodes, TRT for Women & Coaching Program

33:35 Outro

Connect with Eben Britton:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsbritton

Podcast: theebenflow

Retreats & Events: Details available through his Instagram

Follow Me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jd_denham_fit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JD-Denham/61563578940850/

Intro Music: Pennywise – Let Us Hear Your Voice

In this episode of The Iron Perspective, JD Denham opens up about two moments that shook him to the core before he was even 21 the loss of his best friends in a devastating car accident and the day his mother was killed on Valentine’s Day.

From being a 17-year-old kid walking into a dark library filled with crying coaches… to getting the phone call at 20 years old that every son fears this is the story of how grief, anger, and unprocessed pain quietly shaped the man he would become.

JD talks about what it really looks like to carry loss at a young age… the “bricks in the backpack” that most people never see… and how stuffing pain down instead of facing it led to years of fighting, drinking, addiction, and emotional distance.

This isn’t about looking for sympathy it’s about understanding how trauma shows up in your life, how it drives your decisions, and how real healing doesn’t begin until you’re willing to unpack it.

Through sobriety, faith, and deep personal work, JD finally confronted the pain he ran from for more than a decade and found purpose on the other side.

This episode is for anyone who has:

lost a parent

lost a friend

carried anger they couldn’t explain

asked “why” and never got an answer

and had to learn how to live anyway.

It’s a reminder that life keeps moving… and the goal isn’t to avoid the pain it’s to live in a way that honors the people we’ve lost.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro & Why Valentine’s Day Is Hard 

02:25 Losing His Best Friends at 17

09:40 First Real Encounter With Death

14:10 Life Keeps Moving After Tragedy

17:45 The Day His Mom Passed Away

22:40 Anger, Fighting & Unprocessed Grief

25:50 Addiction & Escaping the Pain

28:10 Getting Sober & Facing the Past

30:10 Legacy, Purpose & Final Message

31:30 Outro

Follow Me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jd_denham_fit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JD-Denham/61563578940850/

Intro Music: Pennywise – Let Us Hear Your Voice

In this episode of The Iron Perspective, JD Denham sits down with Jimmy Queen and what unfolds is a raw, powerful testimony of identity, addiction, marriage, fatherhood, faith, and purpose.

From growing up in Huntington Beach surrounded by partying, ego, and easy money, to becoming a young father with everything on the line, Jimmy walks through the reality of chasing the fast life and the moment he realized it was slowly destroying the man he was meant to be. What looked normal on the outside was chaos underneath broken direction, a failing marriage, financial collapse, and the weight of responsibility hitting all at once.

Sobriety became the turning point not the finish line, but the beginning. Through baptism, rebuilding his family, brutal self-inventory, and learning what it actually means to lead, Jimmy stepped into the work. What followed was the transformation from provider to present husband, from surviving to serving, and from lifting weights for himself to helping hundreds of men change their lives.

This conversation is about what happens when you stop cutting corners, surrender your pride, take ownership of your part, and go all-in on becoming the man God created you to be.

It’s about choosing growth when it would be easier to leave.

It’s about building a family instead of protecting your ego.

It’s about doing the work every single day when nobody is watching.

If you feel stuck, complacent, or unsure of your purpose, this episode is a reminder that momentum starts with one decision and the small daily wins that follow.

Chapters:

00:08 Intro & Meeting Jimmy Queen 

01:38 Childhood, Family Loss & Dad’s Alcohol Struggle

06:18 Party Culture, Ego & Early Drug Dealing

18:08 Moving Out at 18 & The Dark Apartment Phase

25:38 Haley, Trauma & Unexpected Pregnancy

32:08 First Real Job, Fatherhood & Ego Check

40:38 Getting Sober, Baptism & Finding Faith

47:38 Marriage Breakdown, Rehab & Accountability

54:38 Rebuilding the Family as a Team

59:38 Fitness, Social Media & Living with Purpose

1:01:38 Final Message & Outro

Follow Jimmy Queen: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmyqueen/

Follow Me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jd_denham_fit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JD-Denham/61563578940850/

Fitness & Diet Coaching: https://www.jddenhamfit.com

Intro Music: Pennywise – Let Us Hear Your Voice

In this episode of The Iron Perspective, JD Denham sits down with his wife, Alyssa Denham, for one of the most personal conversations they’ve ever had on camera. As the 30-year anniversary of JD’s mother’s passing approaches, reflection opens the door to another defining chapter in their story the relapse that nearly destroyed their six-month marriage.

From meeting in Alcoholics Anonymous to building what they now call the strongest relationship they know, JD and Alyssa walk through the darkest season of their lives. They unpack the slow drift away from program, the prescription spiral that turned into full-blown relapse, the DUI, the lies, the anger, and the moment everything almost fell apart.

JD shares the phone call that stopped him from cheating in retaliation a conversation that reminded him who he was becoming and what integrity really means. Alyssa opens up about desperation, denial, and the turning point in rehab that changed everything.

This isn’t a polished love story. It’s about honesty when it hurts. It’s about leadership, forgiveness, accountability, and choosing growth when walking away would’ve been easier.

Eight years later, they’re thriving not because they avoided hardship, but because they faced it head-on.

Chapters:

00:00 30 Years Since Mom’s Passing & Why This Episode Matters 

01:25 Marriage, Honesty & The Almost-Cheated Confession

04:10 How the Relapse Started (Adderall & Slipping Away from Program)

12:30 Discovering the Relapse & Marriage in Crisis

16:50 DUI, Rock Bottom & Rehab

23:45 The Phone Call That Changed Everything

27:00 Rebuilding Through Faith, Fasting & Personal Growth

30:30 Stronger Marriage, God First & Lessons Learned

37:25 Final Thoughts & Outro

Follow Me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jd_denham_fit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JD-Denham/61563578940850/

Fitness & Diet Coaching: https://www.jddenhamfit.com

Intro Music: Pennywise – Let Us Hear Your Voice

In this episode of The Iron Perspective, JD Denham reflects on gratitude, sobriety, and the mindset that transformed his life. From a quiet morning filled with overwhelming gratitude to lessons forged through addiction, recovery, and hard-earned success, JD shares how integrity, discipline, and character shaped the man he is today.

JD walks through his journey from getting sober on January 18, 2011, to rebuilding his life from nothing learning to outwork his past, think differently, and live with a moral compass that never cuts corners. He breaks down how mindset, discipline, and daily habits led to success in business, leadership, and relationships and why helping others is the only way to keep peace, joy, and purpose alive.

This episode is about living with integrity when no one is watching, keeping your word to yourself, and understanding that great men help other men succeed.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to New Beginnings

02:57 The Power of Gratitude

06:08 Mindset and Transformation

11:57 Cultivating a Strong Work Ethic

19:54 Integrity in Business

26:04 The Journey of Sobriety and Helping Others

Follow Me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jd_denham_fit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JD-Denham/61563578940850/

Fitness & Diet Coaching: https://www.jddenhamfit.com

Intro Music: Pennywise – Let Us Hear Your Voice

In this episode of The Iron Perspective, JD Denham walks through a real, unfiltered week in his life how he eats, how he fasts, how he trains, and how discipline has shaped everything he does. Recorded for the first time using the full professional camera setup in the new podcast studio, this episode is a deep dive into the systems JD lives by.

From years of intermittent fasting to running multiple 24-hour fasts each week, JD explains how fasting became a lifelong tool for clarity, focus, and physical results. He breaks down why he returned to the carnivore diet after stepping away, how fat not protein is the key to making it work, and why simplicity beats complexity when it comes to nutrition.

JD also shares how he structures his workouts, why discipline eventually becomes habit, and how experimenting, tracking results, and thinking methodically have allowed him to stay lean, strong, and mentally sharp for over a decade. This episode is about learning your body, keeping your word to yourself, and building a lifestyle you can sustain.

Chapters:

00:00 – First episode with full studio cameras

03:15 – Why JD loves podcasting

06:40 – Why fasting works

12:10 – How to start intermittent fasting

18:55 – 24-hour fasts explained

27:30 – Weekday vs weekend eating

35:45 – Why JD returned to carnivore

43:20 – Fat vs protein on carnivore

51:10 – Training split & workout structure

58:40 – Discipline, habits & experimentation

Follow Me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jd_denham_fit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JD-Denham/61563578940850/

Fitness & Diet Coaching: https://www.jddenhamfit.com

Intro Music: Pennywise – Let Us Hear Your Voice

In this episode of The Iron Perspective, JD Denham breaks down his full peptide protocol the exact stack he runs daily and why it works. After a rare staycation weekend with his wife and kids, JD talks about the “pocket of bliss” moments in life… and how gratitude hits different when you’ve been through storms.

From there, he dives into what actually matters before supplements: mindset, discipline, and diet. JD explains why most people fail because they start with shortcuts, and why becoming a warrior starts with building habits that don’t bend. Then he lays out his full protocol TRT, GLP-3, HCG, HGH, fat-burning peptides, recovery compounds, mitochondrial support, anti-aging, and the Wolverine Stack that keeps him training hard year-round.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

02:10 – Family staycation + gratitude

05:05 – Why people want the peptide protocol

07:10 – Mindset is everything

11:40 – Discipline becomes habit

14:10 – Diet comes first (carnivore)

18:00 – TRT (testosterone replacement)

23:30 – GLP-3 (Retatrutide)

26:40 – HCG + fertility story

33:40 – HGH protocol

36:15 – SLU-PP-332

38:55 – 5-Amino-1MQ

41:20 – IGF-1 LR3

44:30 – NAD+ midday routine

46:25 – MOTS-C + SS-31

49:10 – GHK-CU + skin recovery

52:05 – Wolverine Stack (TB-500 + BPC-157)

55:40 – Final takeaway: mindset + diet + hormones

Follow Me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jd_denham_fit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JD-Denham/61563578940850/

Fitness & Diet Coaching: https://www.jddenhamfit.com

Intro Music: Pennywise – Let Us Hear Your Voice

In this episode of The Iron Perspective, JD Denham returns to the roots of who he is sobriety. With 15 years of sobriety approaching on January 18th, JD shares the story that changed everything: the final day he ever used drugs… and the moment he knew he was done.

From heroin, speed, overdoses, and total hopelessness, to a literal “God moment” that sparked a flicker of hope inside his heart JD breaks down the exact chain of events that led him to surrender, call his father, and start over from absolute zero.

He unpacks:

• The hopelessness that comes before surrender

• Calling out to God… and God answering through a stranger

• The final night of chaos, paranoia, and survival

• Getting dropped off with no car, no money, and nowhere to go

• Watching God’s hand move through impossible circumstances

• The last shot of dope — and the moment everything changed

• Calling his dad after a year of silence

• Detoxing at his father’s house and choosing a new life

• Walking into sober living with nothing but a laundry basket

• Why your story becomes your sword

• “Great men help other men succeed”

If you or someone you love is battling addiction, this episode is a reminder that you’re not too far gone… and God isn’t done with you yet.

Chapters:

00:00 – Why this episode matters

01:40 – 15 years sober on January 18th

04:10 – Who JD was 15 years ago

07:05 – The darkest place: losing hope

10:20 – Calling out to God in desperation

13:40 – The stranger who delivered the message

17:10 – The last night using drugs

22:35 – Getting dropped off with nothing

28:15 – The police encounter & $20 miracle

32:10 – The last shot of dope

35:40 – The van ride back to Santa Ana

38:30 – January 18th… the moment everything changed

41:10 – Calling his dad after a year

45:30 – Detox & the decision to do whatever it takes

49:55 – Entering sober living with a laundry basket

54:20 – The message: your story is your sword

58:10 – Final word: great men help other men succeed

Follow Me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jd_denham_fit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JD-Denham/61563578940850/

Fitness & Diet Coaching: https://www.jddenhamfit.com

Intro Music: Pennywise – Let Us Hear Your Voice

In this episode of The Iron Perspective, JD Denham dives deep into the foundation of discipline, fasting, prayer, and the daily routines that shape who a man becomes. After asking listeners what they wanted to hear more about, JD breaks down the pillars that have defined his life for nearly 15 years sobriety, structure, faith, and doing hard things daily.

From his non-negotiable morning routine to the spiritual power of fasting, JD shares why discipline creates clarity, why most men never slow down enough to hear God, and how fasting became a gateway not just to physical health but spiritual alignment.

He also tells one of the most pivotal stories of his life: a moment of deep prayer and fasting where he unmistakably heard God’s voice and how that moment reshaped the trajectory of his life, relationships, businesses, and calling.

He unpacks:

• Why morning routines are the foundation of discipline

• Waking up early, earning the sunrise & paying the tab

• Why successful men don’t hit snooze

• The mental, physical, and spiritual power of fasting

• 72-hour fasts and cultivating a warrior mindset

• Drawing closer to God through prayer and sacrifice

• Hearing God’s voice during a season of betrayal and growth

• Why God sometimes strips people away to elevate you

• Leading your family through faith, integrity, and example

This episode is a raw, grounded reminder that clarity doesn’t come from noise it comes from silence, discipline, and obedience.

Chapters:

00:00 – Why JD asked listeners what they wanted

02:10 – Daily routine, fasting & faith themes

05:40 – Why fasting matters more than diet

09:55 – Morning routine & earning the sunrise

15:30 – Discipline, prayer & ignoring the noise

21:10 – Fasting as spiritual alignment

27:45 – The season of betrayal & confusion

34:10 – Hearing God’s voice

41:30 – “I’m taking you somewhere I need you light”

49:05 – What fasting unlocks spiritually

55:40 – Final message: discipline, faith & legacy

Follow Me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jd_denham_fit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JD-Denham/61563578940850/

Fitness & Diet Coaching: https://www.jddenhamfit.com

Intro Music: Pennywise – Let Us Hear Your Voice