On today's episode I’m joined once again by my good friend Paul Salazar. We'll pick up where we left off last time by Paul walking us through the process of knowing that he had found a way forward, but feeling like something was still missing. He’ll talk about how his involvement with CR married together his recovery and spiritual growth and exposed him to how living a life of service is critical to recovery- and why we should seek to constantly help others along the path.

Disclaimer: While we absolutely DO encourage our guests to share from their experiences in their recovery programs, no one is a spokesperson or representative of the recovery programs they choose to share their experiences from.

On today’s episode we’ll be diving into part two of our two-part series with my wife Natalie. We’ll discuss what marriage was like with with her working recovery when I wasn’t, what it was like when I got sober, and the challenges we weren’t expecting as we entered into a new chapter of our life with us both working a program.

If you love someone in addiction or who is working a program this episode is for you. On the flip side if you’re an addict who is still new in recovery, this episode is also for you. I can speak for both Natalie and myself when I say that just because the addict in a relationship finds sobriety doesn’t mean the work ends there. We hope you find hope and encouragement as we share those experiences with you in this episode. 

Disclaimer: While we absolutely DO encourage our guests to share from their experiences in their recovery programs, no one is a spokesperson or representative of the recovery programs they choose to share their experiences from.

Today’s episode will be part one of a two-parter where I’m joined by my wife Natalie, who will share her pre-recovery story of how sexual assault shattered her sense of self and led her into a spiral of even further physical, emotional and sexual abuse before God provided a way out. But, like most stories, she found that initial trauma isn’t where the pain ends. She’ll also share what life was like dealing with the aftermath of such a traumatic period of her life and how she was able to find healing and freedom. We’ll also discuss how her sexual trauma effected our marriage and our experiences working through it. 

I have to put a warning on this episode before we start however. There will be sexual and physical abuse discussed that may be triggering for some people. We’ll also be discussing sex and intimacy in the context of marriage. While we definitely made our best effort to be as delicate and tasteful as we could discussing these topics, some folks might find it too graphic all the same. It is NOT our intention to be shocking or controversial. We just believe these things should be discussed in a mature manner. 

Disclaimer: While we absolutely DO encourage our guests to share from their experiences in their recovery programs, no one is a spokesperson or representative of the recovery programs they choose to share their experiences from.

Today's episode will be dual-purposed. First we'll get to meet Kyle Sears, my life-long best friend and someone I work recovery with side by side. He'll give us a brief look into his recovery journey and we'll share how our friendship began and has evolved as we both engaged with recovery. 

The second purpose is as the second installment of our TRP Topics series, where Kyle and I discuss the negative effects of an unhealthy engagement with other people's expectations of us- both perceived and real. We'll talk about how he's been able to find a way to balance his empathy and service with other people with a grounded sense of what he can and cannot do as a person. 

Disclaimer: While we absolutely DO encourage our guests to share from their experiences in their recovery programs, no one is a spokesperson or representative of the recovery programs they choose to share their experiences from.

On today’s episode I’m joined by Andy Henderson, who has the most infectious enthusiasm for recovery I’ve ever encountered in time working a program. Join us as Andy walks us through how God rescued him for a cycle of perpetual self-destructive behavior exacerbated by the guilt and trauma of watching his best friend get shot right in front of him, and how accepting help from his higher power allowed him to finally find a way out of his hopelessness. 

Disclaimer: While we absolutely DO encourage our guests to share from their experiences in their recovery programs, no one is a spokesperson or representative of the recovery programs they choose to share their experiences from.

On today's episode I'll be joined by Austen Funke as he takes us through his incredible story of how drugs and alcohol drove him to do everything he could to throw his life away before God salvaged it. From full-blown alcoholism in High school to a high-speed chase through Iowa to narrowly missing death from an overdose multiple times, join us as Austen recalls how God walked with him through it all and eventually pulled him out with a simple question: "are you done yet?". Be warned, this is a long one but I hope you stick it out because it is well worth it. 

Disclaimer: While we absolutely DO encourage our guests to share from their experiences in their recovery programs, no one is a spokesperson or representative of the recovery programs they choose to share their experiences from.

On today’s episode I’m joined once again by my wife Natalie as we sit down with Julie Battie, Natalie’s long-time sponsor and someone who played a vital role not just in helping Natalie work her program, but also a vital part in God’s plan to save our marriage from the turmoil caused by my addiction. We’ll discuss Julie’s recovery story and Natalie and Julie’s shared experiences as sponsor and sponsee. 

Disclaimer: While we absolutely DO encourage our guests to share from their experiences in their recovery programs, no one is a spokesperson or representative of the recovery programs they choose to share their experiences from.

On today's episode my wife Natalie will co-host with me as we interview Carol Hoelle, who has been an integral person in starting and growing the Celebrate Recovery that my wife and I both attend and now lead it alongside her husband Randy. She will take us through her recovery story and share how God will use unfair circumstances to help us surrender to our higher power and finally enjoy the peace and purpose we never thought possible- and how that purpose sometimes means more than we ever thought possible. 

Disclaimer: While we absolutely DO encourage our guests to share from their experiences in their recovery programs, no one is a spokesperson or representative of the recovery programs they choose to share their experiences from.

On today's episode we’ll be talking to Daniel Cowan, who will share how a committed attempt at working an honest program- even with absolute reluctance- can change the outcome of your life and redeem relationships and futures long since thought to be lost. 

Disclaimer: While we absolutely DO encourage our guests to share from their experiences in their recovery programs, no one is a spokesperson or representative of the recovery programs they choose to share their experiences from.

On today's episode we’ll be doing things a little differently- specifically I will be doing things a little differently. I’ll be on the opposite end of the conversation as my sponsor and good friend Mitch Spies will interview me as I share my recovery story. I’ll share how finally surrendering to my higher power redeemed my lifelong cynicism and isolation and allowed me to have a life built upon faith and relying on others to help me not just stay clean, but experience life in a way I never considered possible. 

Disclaimer: While we absolutely DO encourage our guests to share from their experiences in their recovery programs, no one is a spokesperson or representative of the recovery programs they choose to share their experiences from.