Things No One Tells You

When I first visited Stable Recovery, I knew something meaningful was happening there: not just treatment, but transformation. In this episode, founder Christian Countzler shares his journey from addiction to building a place designed to remove the barriers he faced when trying to get well. Alongside him are Sandy and Dave Schimizzi, my aunt and uncle, who speak openly about losing their son Alex and the heartbreaking gaps they encountered while trying to help him.

Together, we talk about the individuality of addiction, the pressures families aren’t prepared for, and the moments that make long-term recovery so difficult without real support. This is an emotional episode, but it’s also hopeful, a reminder that change is possible when communities, not just individuals, show up.

What You’ll Discover:

• Christian’s story and the origins of Stable Recovery (06:25)
• Alex’s journey and early emotional struggles (11:57)
• The fear and uncertainty families live with daily (23:01)
• The critical need for purpose and follow-up care (27:44)
• The depth of despair people can experience (57:09)
• The limitations of sentencing and current treatment options (72:19)
• Why it’s important to not give up on loved ones (80:05)

This conversation doesn’t offer easy answers. But it does offer truth, the kind that helps people feel less alone.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PKllImyOOlo 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/stable-recovery-28  

Check out more from Stable Recovery:

See their website.

Follow Stable Recovery on Instagram.

Donate today.

Learn more about Lindsay’s visits to Stable Recovery from these videos:

Horses Hold the Power on Path to Lasting Sobriety

The Healing Power of Horses ‘Putting People Back Together’

Mike Lowery’s Passion for Horses and Gratitude for a New Lease on Life

Read more from Christian Countzler about navigating sobriety during the holidays with his article: “If you’re navigating sobriety during the holidays, know you’re not alone”

If you are in the US and need immediate help, connect with treatment and mental health referrals near you by: Calling 1-800-662-HELP (4357) Texting your zip code to HELP4U (435748)

What struck me in this conversation with my husband, Craig Melvin, was how creativity shows up in the most unexpected corners of our lives. For Melvin, candlemaking isn’t about building a brand or launching a product. It is about finding quiet moments in the middle of busy days and having something that doesn't depend on deadlines or breaking news. 

In this episode, Melvin shares the early missteps, the science he had to learn from scratch, and the almost meditative rhythm of getting each detail right. But beneath that is something deeper: the memories tied to fragrance, the mission to support cancer organizations close to our hearts, and the courage it takes to create something that feels personal. 

We also talk about what happens emotionally when you share that creation with the world: the nerves, the hope, and the moments you wonder if it will resonate.

What You’ll Discover

• How candlemaking started in therapy and landed in our kitchen (08:55)
• Why giving back is built into the mission (13:20)
• A crash course in wax, wicks, and what can go wrong (14:50)
• The fear of releasing something personal into the world (21:36)
•  Lightning round questions for Melvin (42:54)

Melvin’s story is about more than launching a candle company. It’s about finding a place to land when life feels unrelenting, honoring the memories that shape you, and trusting that creativity can open a door you didn’t expect. If you’ve ever felt the pull to follow a creative pursuit, this one is for you.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3mrwI3ca_fQ 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/craig-melvin-27  

Check out more from Craig Melvin and Melvin Made:

Browse the candles: https://melvinmade.com/ 

Follow Melvin Made on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melvinmadeco 

Check out this article to learn more: https://people.com/how-craig-melvin-turned-his-hobby-into-a-family-business-benefiting-cancer-exclusive-11857057

Follow Craig Melvin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigmelvinnbc/ 

When I sat down with Lauren Stephens of Dudley Stephens, what struck me most was how many beginnings sit inside her story: the career she thought she’d have, the infertility journey that shifted her path, and the unexpected moment she realized she had an idea worth betting on. 

In this conversation, Lauren shares how she launched a family business before she felt ready, and why signing a formal agreement early on became one of the smartest decisions they made.

Lauren also opens up about the parts no one prepares you for: managing people for the first time, staying steady when customers or employees aren’t happy, and learning where to draw boundaries so the business doesn’t swallow the rest of your life. 

What You’ll Hear

• The moment life forced her to rethink everything (00:00)
• Bringing her mom and sister into the idea (01:21)
• Why clear roles and ownership matter (11:32)
• How cozy-at-home culture fueled unexpected growth (20:07)
• Hiring lessons and learning to lead (24:51)
•  Different phases of motherhood and how evolving careers (36:24)

Lauren’s story is about more than entrepreneurship. It’s about listening to the quiet nudge that tells you to begin, trusting your own pace, and allowing the hard seasons to shape the ones that follow. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “ready” to start something new, this one is for you.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/A_0BsOeWAno 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/lauren-dudley-stephens-26  

Check out more from Lauren and from Dudley Stephens:

Visit www.dudley-stephens.com. Take advantage of 30% off sitewide until December 2, 2025 using the code HOLIDAY30.

Check out the new Manchester pullover that Lauren wore during the episode.

Keep up with the latest on Instagram: @dudley_stephens

Connect with Lauren on Instagram: @laurendudleystephens 

This season always pulls me back to the voices and moments that shaped me most. This week, we’re bringing back a special conversation from a couple of years ago, one that feels especially meaningful during the holidays. It’s a visit inside my Grandma Vee’s home in western Pennsylvania, where three generations sat down to talk about life: my grandmother, my mom Terri, and me.

What unfolds is a warm, funny, deeply personal look at family stories, the lessons that stay with us, and the unexpected moments that help us understand who we are. My grandma talks about building a life from scratch, raising kids in a one-bedroom house, finding her own strength after loss, and the quiet bargains she made with herself to stay grounded.

From coal-mining memories to the quiet strength of a 95-year-old woman reflecting on love, loss, and presence, this episode is all heart.

What You’ll Hear:

• Growing up in a coal-mining town and the resilience it built (06:54)
• How a young couple built their home, literally, board by board (10:25)
• Motherhood across three generations (16:07)
• The stories that reveal who we become (23:09)
• Grief, strength, and learning to stand on your own (54:16)

Tune in to hear how our generational past impacts our present lives. This is the kind of conversation that reminds you to ask the questions, hold the moments, and take in the stories right in front of you that shape who you are.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Z0ULjUXmBHI 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/grandma-vee-25  

If you follow Allison Kuch online, you probably know her for her humor, her honesty, and the way she makes real life feel a little less lonely. She’s an influencer, podcast host, interior designer, and NFL wife whose career grew from one simple idea: tell the truth.

In this episode, Allison and I talk about the stories behind the highlight reel: what it feels like when your husband loses his job in the league, how motherhood has changed her, and why she keeps sharing even when she’d rather log off. 

From marathon training to postpartum depression, Allison opens up about the tension between gratitude and exhaustion, love and growth, public life and private moments.

What You’ll Hear:

• Life as an NFL wife, and what fans don’t see  (06:45)
• Building community through honesty (12:09)
• Marriage, money, and identity in transition (19:18)
• Postpartum truths and new boundaries (25:37)
• The marathon of balancing work, motherhood, and self (33:22) 

Tune in to hear Allison share about how she and her husband, former NFL defensive end Isaac Rochelle, have learned to navigate big changes together, from sudden team moves to new seasons of parenthood. 

If you’ve ever wondered how someone can stay grounded while living such a public life, this one’s for you. Allison’s story is a reminder that authenticity is powerful, community is built through honesty, and sometimes success looks like giving yourself permission to be real.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/r8cgSusCNJA 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/allison-kuch-24  

Check out more from Allison Kuch: 

Follow Allison on Instagram

Check out Allison’s TikTok

Don’t miss Allison’s recent exciting announcement!

When the Colts shocked the NFL world by trading for All-Pro corner Sauce Gardner, quarterback Daniel Jones found out like the rest of us, on his phone, between meetings. Shortly after the news broke, he sat down with me to talk about what that moment meant inside the building.

In this episode, Daniel opens up about what big moves like that say about a team’s belief in itself, and how he’s learned to lead through constant change. From the chemistry he’s building in a new locker room to the art of resetting after both wins and mistakes, this is a candid look at Daniel’s composure, leadership, and belief.

What You’ll Hear:

• Reaction to the Sauce Gardner trade (02:32)
• Adjusting to Indianapolis and new teammates (06:04)
• How Daniel stays even-keeled through ups and downs (09:24)
• Building chemistry off the field (11:26)
• The power of relationships in the locker room (14:02)
• Belief, composure, and focusing on the next play  (24:56)

Tune in to hear Daniel share about how he builds relationships and why they matter, what life is like from week to week in the NFL, and how his mindset shapes the work he does. This one is for anyone who wants to know what it feels like to stay calm in the spotlight.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TVdyL41jLqg 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/daniel-jones-23 

Mentioned in the Episode

Faith in Football with the Buffalo Bills from Episode 16

Check out more from Daniel Jones: 

Follow Daniel Jones on Instagram 

Check out the Indianapolis Colts on Instagram 

What happens when the interviewer becomes the interviewee?

In this behind-the-scenes episode, Things No One Tells You producer Ashley Dickson-Ellison turns the mic toward me for a candid Q&A. Ashley asks me some audience questions including how the concept of TNOTY came to be, who the women are behind it, and what imposter syndrome really feels like when the cameras stop rolling. 

From the Super Bowl to family life, Ashley asks me audience questions about the moments that have had an impact on me. I share a little bit about what I’ve learned about confidence: it isn’t pretending to belong. It’s daring to ask.

What You’ll Hear:

• How Things No One Tells You was born (03:25) 
• Lessons from women supporting women in media  (08:10) 
• Why asking questions is a superpower (14:00)
• Parenthood, purpose, and giving back  (24:30) 
• What’s next for TNOTY  (24:30)
• 3 things no one knows about me (52:12)

If you’ve ever wondered how this podcast comes together, or needed a reminder that confidence grows one question at a time, this one’s for you.

Subscribe wherever you listen, and catch full video episodes on YouTube.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/P-GRUk7gpdg 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/behind-the-scenes-tnoty-22  

Connect with the TNOTY team:

Connect with podcast producer and strategist Ashley Dickson-Ellison on LinkedIn or Instagram, check out her Unabridged podcast, or learn more about Unabridged Digital Media Solutions through Ashley’s website ashleydicksonellison.com.

Connect with brand manager and strategist Sarah Walsh on LinkedIn or Instagram, follow her on Substack, or learn more about Next Era Influence through Sarah’s website nexterainfluence.com.

Connect with audio engineer and video editor Samantha Archuleta on LinkedIn or Instagram, check out Something More Human, or learn more about Sam’s audiobook narration and production services here.

If you’ve ever heard “just survive the middle school years,” this conversation will make you rethink that advice. Bridget KerMorris is a parent coach and relational therapist who believes these middle years can actually strengthen connections, as long as we learn how to listen differently.

She walks us through her Steady + Connected Parenting framework and shares simple, science-based ways to stay grounded when kids start pushing for independence. From screen-time battles to those late-night heart-to-hearts, Bridget offers language that helps parents move from fear to steadiness.

What You’ll Hear:

• The myth of disconnection in middle school (00:00)
• How parents’ own fears shape their rules (05:45)
• Repairing relationships in both directions (10:30)
• Bedtime as a window into their inner world (14:14)
• Anchoring tech rules in family values (26:05)
• Being compassionate with ourselves as parents (57:05)

Bridget’s reminder is simple but powerful: connection doesn’t disappear when kids grow up. It just changes shape. This episode is a gentle nudge to stay curious, stay steady, and trust that calm is the most contagious thing we can bring into a room.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sJB2PvxS--k 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/bridget-kermorris-21  

Check out more from Bridget KerMorris: 

You can follow Bridget on Instagram:  @bridget.parentcoach

On her website, grab her Freebie 50 Ways I'm Staying Close to My Middle Schooler.

Discover her course Middle School Tech Safety ToolKit, how you'll keep your middle schooler safe online without checking their devices.

You probably know Chris Barron as the frontman of the Spin Doctors, the band behind iconic songs like the anthems “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong.” 

But in this conversation, Chris opens up about the life behind those songs: what it feels like to perform them decades later, how his relationship with music has evolved, and why he still finds magic in the moment the lights come up.

Chris joined me at home along with my neighbor John Nunziato, a branding and creative‑strategy expert. Together we talked about staying creative, the parallels between art and business, and what it means to love the work more than the fame.

What You’ll Hear:

How the Spin Doctors keep music fresh night after night (04:15) 

 What early fame really felt like (13:28)

 Art, branding, and the secret to staying relevant (23:05)

Why creative joy beats chasing algorithms (27:56) 

The real definition of staying relevant (31:50) 

Reflections on joy, friendship, and creative purpose (40:00) 

It’s a fun, reflective, and surprisingly relatable conversation about creativity, longevity, and loving the long game. Tune in to hear the latest from rockstar legend Chris Barron. 

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZFxDEqXrSzs 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/chris-barron-20  

Check out more from Chris Barron:  

You can follow Chris Barron on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thechrisbarron_ or check out his website http://thechrisbarron.com/ 

See more about the Spin Doctors’ latest album, their touring dates, and other band updates on their website: https://www.spindoctors.com/ 

You’ve seen the photos. The dresses. The headlines. But what is it really like to report on the royals for a living?

In this TNOTY episode, Kristin Contino, senior royal and celebrity editor for Marie Claire, joins me to talk about the surprising realities of royal journalism. Kristin shares about balancing public interest with palace access to what it’s like to pitch royal stories when the royal family is on vacation. 

Kristin and I get into the careful choreography behind press coverage, Kristin’s take on Princess Kate’s most emotionally resonant moments, and the power of fashion to tell a story.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• The complexities of reporting on Meghan and Kate with nuance (13:39)
• Kristin’s favorite Princess Kate look of all time (17:48)
• How royal fashion sparked a career pivot (20:34)
• Surprising behind-the-scenes work done by the royals (32:38)
• Writing novels, covering royal events, and pitching stories daily (39:37)

If you’ve ever been drawn to a world that feels just out of reach, or wondered what it takes to tell stories about the people living in it, this episode is for you. I loved this conversation with Kristin because it reminded me that there’s always more to the story, especially when we take the time to look closer.

Tune in, share it with a friend, and let me know what resonated most.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rO75OP8bLk0

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/kristin-contino-19

Learn more from Kristin Contino on Instagram: @royallykristinc

Check out Marie Claire's royal section: https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/royals/