The Man In The Back

In this episode, I sit down with Matt Richardson—a performance coach in recovery who’s lived both sides of success.

Matt built a life around money, status, and pleasure… and lost himself in it. That road led to addiction, pornography, lust, strip clubs, divorce, and ultimately being excommunicated from the Church.

But that’s not where his story ends.

Through the repentance process and a real walk with Jesus Christ, Matt found his way back—back to peace, back to truth, and back to his identity as a son of God.

We talk about what it actually looks like to recover—not just from substances, but from the deeper addictions to validation, pornography, pleasure, and ego.

Matt shares how he now helps others see the cracks in their identity and guides them back to who they really are.

We also dive into the Book of Mormon, his testimony of the gospel, and why he’s not afraid to be open about his struggles online—to help others find their way out.

This conversation hit me personally. It challenged me, grounded me, and reminded me where true worth comes from.

If you’re trying to escape the head prison and come back to God… this one’s for you

In this episode of The Man in the Back Podcast, I sit down with Sam—a SOAR graduate who is now six months sober from meth.

Sam shares her story growing up in Pennsylvania in a poverty-stricken home with an alcoholic mother, and how that shaped her early life. Two years ago, she moved to Utah with her boyfriend, but after their relationship ended, she found herself completely alone. That’s when she was introduced to meth—and what followed was a year-long run that nearly took everything from her.

When Sam first came into SOAR, she was broken. But through hard work, willingness, and faith, she’s transformed her life.

Today, she’s not only sober—she’s giving back. Sam helps lead our women’s program on Saturdays, works with newcomers, and is on her way to becoming a recovery coach for women at SOAR.

Her story is one of courage, resilience, and redemption. The darkness she walked through makes the light she carries today that much more powerful.

This is a conversation that will move you, inspire you, and remind you that change is always possible.

In this powerful and honest conversation, Bill shares his four-year recovery journey and how he made it past suicidal thoughts by learning to become the observer of his mind — the “man in the back.”

We talk openly about suicide, loneliness, and what it looked like for him to lean fully on his Heavenly Father during his darkest moments. Bill shares how selecting his thoughts, instead of being ruled by them, changed his life.

This episode covers:

Making it through suicidal thoughts

The mindset shift from resentful man to Christ-like man

The power of daily habits and actually working a recovery program

Prayer, scripture study, and getting God into your system every day

The blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ

Charity, tithing, and trusting God with money

Opposition in all things — and why the adversary fights when you return to the covenant path

Loneliness, humility, and spiritual growth

We both share our love for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the gospel of Jesus Christ, and how living it daily has transformed our lives.

Bill is one of the wisest men I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with. His humility and experience make this conversation deeply impactful.

If you’re serious about recovery, faith, and learning to master your thoughts instead of being mastered by them — this episode will strengthen you.

In this episode of The Man in the Back Podcast, I sit down with Patrick—two years sober, a SOAR alum, and a powerful example of practicing being the observer (the man in the back).

Patrick grew up in Alaska in a religious cult called The Move, living off the grid with no electricity or running water until the age of 21. After leaving, he turned to alcohol and marijuana, chasing the “shoulder drop” that once felt like peace and even felt like God.

We talk about his recovery journey, becoming the man in the back—the observer of his thoughts—and learning how to capture the mind of Christ through presence. Patrick shares how replacing substances with daily spiritual practice has completely changed his life, and how getting present is the key to living intentionally and free.

This conversation goes deep into recovery, faith, and what it really means to use God instead of drugs.

Stephanie is a single mother of six, a woman of deep faith, and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this episode, she shares how the Atonement of Jesus Christ became real to her in recovery—and how Christ’s healing power helped her overcome alcoholism.

We talk openly about her journey through divorce, addiction, and motherhood, and the support she found through the SOAR family, her ward family, her parents, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Stephanie also shares the heartbreaking story of her sister, Heather—who went through SOAR as well and passed away from alcoholism on Christmas Eve. Stephanie had six months sober at the time, and she reflects on how God had brought her that far so she could endure that loss without returning to alcohol.

We talk about gratitude for recovery, how addiction affects everyone—no matter who they are—and how Christ’s net is cast wide, gathering people at every stage of spiritual progress. Stephanie also shares why she’s willing to openly talk about using the Atonement in recovery, and how sharing her story has helped others—in her ward, in SOAR, and even in her salon.

This is an honest, faith-centered conversation about recovery, loss, hope, and the healing power of Jesus Christ.

Episode 22 is a very special conversation with my friend Charlie.

Charlie is a recovering meth addict. For over 15 years, his life was ruled by meth—no sleep, nonstop work, chaos, fear, and misery. God wasn’t part of the picture yet, and the idea of living sober or running on faith instead of chemicals felt impossible.

Then Charlie walked into SOAR.

Today, he’s over 150 days sober, and his life looks completely different. In this episode, we talk about his transformation—how he found God, how he came to know Jesus Christ, and how discovering The Book of Mormon changed his life. We share our testimonies and talk openly about why we both love the Book of Mormon and how it played a huge role in our own sobriety journeys.

We dive into the repentance process, the 12 Steps, relationships, and what it really means to replace drugs with God—to stop running on fear and start running on faith. Charlie shares what life is like on the other side of addiction, and why he would never go back.

This is an honest, raw, and hope-filled conversation about redemption, recovery, and the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to completely transform a life.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Mike — a recovering alcoholic, SOAR graduate, and one of the most genuine men I know. Mike first came to SOAR in 2019, broken and at rock bottom. He was 250 pounds, unhealthy, suicidal, and watching his marriage slip away. His drinking had taken everything from him.

After hitting that wall, Mike checked into inpatient rehab for 30 days, came back to SOAR, and never looked back. Over the years he’s built a life of service, faith, and purpose — helping others get sober as a recovery coach and alumni leader.

We talk about relapse, redemption, and the deep work of recovery — from the sweat lodge experiences he helped bring into SOAR, to the yearly Grand Canyon trips he inspired. Mike opens up about God, failure, healing, and what keeps him grounded today.

This one’s real, raw, and powerful.

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Kyle, whose story is nothing short of incredible.

Kyle was part of the WAR program way back in 2012–2013. For the better part of 20 years, he’s battled addiction — heroin, crack, alcohol — you name it. He’s been in and out of treatment centers, jail, and the chaos that comes with substance abuse. But today, Kyle has over two years of sobriety and is living proof of what happens when you surrender and let God take the lead.

He shares about his last run, the moment he finally saw his powerlessness, and how that realization — his Step One — changed everything. With a little daughter depending on him, he decided it was time to stop running. Kyle spent 90 days at Valley Camp, then came into the SOAR program, where he began serving and helping others.

We talk about his journey through legal troubles, how he faced them with faith, and how everything started to work out once he raised the white flag and turned his life over to God.

Today, Kyle sits on the SOAR Board of Directors and the Valley Camp Board of Directors, staying active in the recovery community as a sponsor and leader. During one of my own relapses, Kyle was the one who stepped in and kept SOAR running — he’s even the one who drove me to inpatient rehab. Funny how God works: I helped him years ago, and then he helped me when I needed it most.

This 90-minute conversation is raw, honest, and full of hope. It’s about life, recovery, surrender, and the power of God to restore what addiction tried to destroy. I’m deeply grateful for Kyle — his story, his friendship, and his continued service in God’s rehab.

In this episode, I sit down with Noah, a graduate of the SOAR 90-day recovery program and a powerful voice in our community. Originally from Oregon, Noah was a ketamine and cocaine addict and a full-blown drug dealer before he hit rock bottom. His journey began at just 11 years old with OxyContin, eventually spiraling into a world of psychedelics, acid, and chaos.

But everything changed when Noah became suicidal and made a desperate leap of faith—flying from Oregon to Utah and ending up in a cabin in the woods at Valley Camp. There, he encountered the Big Book, found God, and began the process of transformation.

This conversation dives deep into his past life as a dealer, his spiritual awakening, and the clarity he now brings to the SOAR groups through his experience, strength, and hope. It’s raw, real, and incredibly inspiring.

Don't miss this one.

What an incredible conversation with my new friend Lewis. He actually grew up on the same street as SOAR and is now doing his internship with us, working toward his LCSW to become a licensed clinical social worker.

Lewis works at Brighton Recovery and has an unbelievable story. He was first introduced to PCP at just 10 years old, then drawn into gang life, running the streets of Ogden, and spending time incarcerated. His path eventually led to heroin, crack, and the chaos of full-blown addiction.

But that’s not where the story ends. Today, Lewis has over 12 years of sobriety. He’s a man in long-term recovery who now uses his experience in the “school of addiction” to help others find freedom. He stays rooted in the AA Big Book and walks others through the steps, leading people toward real change.

This was an inspiring and raw conversation that I can’t wait for you all to hear.