The StraitJacket Podcast

In this compelling episode of the Straight Jacket Podcast, hosts Keta Loren and Jeff welcome author, speaker, and content creator Sonny von Cleveland to discuss his extraordinary journey of resilience and recovery from severe childhood trauma. Sonny candidly reflects on his harrowing past, detailing his experiences with severe abuse, human trafficking, and an early entry into the criminal justice system that led to an 18-year prison sentence. He describes the profound internal shift he experienced while serving time in solitary confinement, where a fellow inmate became a mentor and introduced him to life-changing literature, including Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning. This pivotal moment taught Sonny to give his suffering a purpose, sparking a dedicated path toward self-forgiveness, personal transformation, and emotional freedom.

Today, Sonny uses his voice and platform to inspire others and fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. Alongside his wife, he operates a cat cafe in Palm Springs that serves as a neurodiverse workplace, and he actively collaborates with organizations like the Tim Tebow Foundation and Operation Light Shine to combat child exploitation and trafficking. Throughout the conversation, Sonny and the hosts emphasize that healing is an inherent right rather than a privilege, highlighting the transformative power of speaking one's truth without fear of judgment. Tune in to hear Sonny's powerful message on turning deep personal pain into a life dedicated to service, advocacy, and hope.

Nicki opens up about reaching her rock bottom through severe alcoholism and domestic struggles, reflecting on how her actions impacted her relationship with her children. Through shelter support, day treatment programs, and continuous therapy, she was able to confront her addictions, accept accountability, and overcome immense family trauma.

Nicki shares how leaning on her faith, attending 12-step meetings, and building a strong support network transformed her identity and sustained her sobriety. Now four and a half years sober, she has earned her master's degree in social work and serves as an associate clinical social worker to help others on their path to healing. Her story offers inspiring hope to anyone feeling lost or struggling with mental health and substance abuse.

In this episode of the Straitjacket podcast, hosted by Keta alongside Jeff from Mental Health Resource, guest Julie shares her raw and inspiring journey through addiction, trauma, and redemption. From facing early childhood struggles and surviving sexual trauma to enduring years of severe substance abuse and homelessness on the streets of Southern California, Julie opens up about the pivotal moments that nearly cost her life. Her powerful testimony highlights the incredible resilience of the human spirit and the life-saving impact of family, faith, and support networks.

Now celebrating eight years of sobriety, Julie’s story serves as a beacon of hope for anyone currently struggling with addiction or mental health challenges. Through her journey, she demonstrates how taking life one day at a time, finding self-worth, and building a supportive community can break the cycle of addiction. Tune in to hear how Julie transformed her life from surviving on the streets to giving back, pursuing higher education, and helping others find their path to recovery.

In this powerful episode of the StraitJacket Podcast, hosted by Keta Loren and presented by Mental Health Resource, we introduce a very special guest, Nikki. For the first time ever, Nikki opens up and shares the deeply raw, unfiltered journey of her life. Growing up in a chaotic environment split between a hard-working but distant mother, a father heavily involved in gang culture and addiction, and strict but loving grandparents, Nikki’s definition of love and security was shaped by early trauma. She candidly walks us through her childhood memories, from navigating an abusive household to facing her own early battles with aggression and confusion.

As Nikki transitions into adulthood, her story highlights a complex parallel between remarkable personal achievements and deep personal struggles. Despite building a successful career as a paralegal and earning degrees in criminal justice and paralegal studies, she found herself caught in a repeating cycle of drug addiction, toxic relationships, law enforcement raids, and mental health crises. Nikki details the harrowing realities of her addiction, her experiences with being institutionalized and jailed, and the overwhelming desire to find true emotional safety for herself and her daughters. This episode is a profound testament to survival, the search for healing, and the unbreakable bonds forged through trauma.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, please visit mentalhealthresource.com to fill out a form and connect with someone who can help. Stay tuned for Part 2 of Nikki's story.

In this episode of the Straight Jacket podcast, hosts Jeff and Keta dive into a profound discussion on the value of lived experience over theoretical knowledge, contrasting observation with active immersion in life. Drawing from an introductory story about information versus immersion, they explore how this binary manifests in the mindset of individuals facing addiction. The conversation highlights a fundamental defiance and curiosity that drives some people to seek personal, sometimes painful, experiences rather than settling for standard societal timelines or theories. They share personal reflections and a reading of Robert Frost’s "The Road Not Taken" to underscore the impact of paving one's own path and embracing the scars that come with it.

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The hosts shift focus to local systemic issues, particularly regarding addiction and homelessness within LA County and Long Beach. They debate the delicate balance between compassion and enabling, offering firsthand insight into how legal consequences and interventions can play a life-saving role for active addicts. Ultimately, they critique current harm reduction and public policy approaches, advocating instead for structural, supervised integration frameworks that actively guide recovering individuals through the long-term process of rebuilding life skills.

In this episode, I sit down with Viking Barbie—someone who’s not only an incredible force in recovery but is now part-owner of Manifest Behavioral Health. We explore her journey through nervous system healing, navigating difficult emotions, and her passion for guiding others toward recovery.

We’re thrilled to announce that Viking Barbie is now an official part of the StraitJacket Podcast! Join us for a powerful conversation filled with transformation, resilience, and what’s next for our growing community. This episode has heart, humor, and real talk you won’t want to miss!

Some of the strongest people you'll ever meet are the ones who spent years putting everyone else before themselves.

This week on the StraitJacket Podcast, I sit down with Emily, who shares her incredible journey through addiction, recovery, and the difficult process of breaking free from people-pleasing. With 11 years of sobriety, Emily opens up about learning to set boundaries, finding her own voice, and discovering that true healing isn't about making everyone else happy—it's about becoming the person you were always meant to be. If you've ever struggled with saying no, losing yourself in relationships, or wondering if real change is possible, this conversation will remind you that recovery is about so much more than putting down the substance—it's about reclaiming your life.

🎙️ New episode drops at 2 PM. Don't miss this powerful conversation about growth, self-worth, and what it really takes to build a life worth staying sober for.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with P. Wilson, a music artist and entertainer whose story goes far beyond the stage. Through years of struggle, setbacks, and hard-earned lessons, P. Wilson faced addiction to substances including crack, meth, Xanax, and cocaine. Today, he shares his journey with honesty and courage, offering a raw look at the challenges he overcame and the strength it took to rebuild his life.

Now celebrating seven years of recovery, P. Wilson uses his voice, music, and experiences to inspire others who may be fighting their own battles. We talk about resilience, redemption, personal growth, and the role creativity has played in his healing process. Whether you're in recovery, supporting someone who is, or simply looking for a story of perseverance and hope, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.

Some stories don’t sound survivable when you hear them out loud. Jazmine Rose grew up bouncing through foster homes and juvenile hall before addiction pulled her deeper into a life she never imagined for herself. From surviving the streets and sex work to trying to rebuild a life as a wife and mother, her story is filled with pain, betrayal, loss, and chaos that would break most people. When the people closest to her shattered her trust in the worst way imaginable, it sent her spiraling into multiple psych ward stays, complete emotional collapse, and a high-speed chase fueled by heartbreak and rage.

But this episode of the StraitJacket Podcast isn’t just about destruction… it’s about redemption. Jazmine opens up about finding Christ in the middle of complete darkness and how surrendering her life changed everything. Now 7 months sober, she shares the raw truth about addiction, trauma, forgiveness, motherhood, faith, and rebuilding your identity after losing everything. This conversation is messy, heartbreaking, honest, and ultimately proof that no one is too far gone to find a new life.