Celebrate Recovery Official

40 Episodes
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By: Celebrate Recovery

This is a podcast that shares life change stories, courage, hope and leadership wisdom, centered around the Celebrate Recovery principles. Come along for the journey.

178. Addiction: why do we do what we don't want to do? Pt 1
#178
Last Sunday at 8:00 AM

1 in 3 people that come to Celebrate Recovery deal with some kind of substance abuse addiction. Everyone else is dealing with the things underneath the surface that lead to addictions. However, addictions are a part of what CR helps people face in their life. It's important to understand in general what addictions are and what the healing path might look like. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, unpacks this important topic to give us a little bit of clarity around addictions, and maybe a deeper curiosity of how to face it as we walk through...


177. Is it possible to be lonely in a hyper connected world?
#177
04/05/2026

It doesn't seem possible, but we are living in a world where we have more tools and forms of communication then we've ever had in our lifetime. And yet, we are probably the loneliest we've ever been as a culture. Why? How is that possible? What are the things that we need to be aware of that could be barriers to moving from loneliness to healthy community and connection? What are the things that we can do as next steps to move from hiding to healing? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, global field director of celebrate recovery will help...


176. What does 'working it' mean?
#176
03/29/2026

The longer we are on the road to recovery the more tempting it is to make the resource our idol instead of the Source who is worthy to be worshipped. How do we work the program and not make the program an idol. One of our sayings at Celebrate Recovery is "keep coming back because it works if you work it and it won't if you don't". Does that mean we take control back or release control? What does that mean to work the program? Understanding the heart behind this is essential to keeping things balanced, and keeping our...


175. Fear to Peace: What if circumstances don't change?
#175
03/22/2026

You don't have to look very far to see the broken world around us. Circumstances happen left, and right, and they can consume us if we aren't aware, creating great fear inside our thinking and our heart. Is it possible to have peace even when our circumstances don't change around us? What does peace in the midst of our circumstances look like? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will share a story of lessons he learned from his mom in her last months of her life, lying in a hospital bed. Listen in and...


174. How does my past trauma, abandonment, and rejection shape my present and future? Pt. 2
#174
03/15/2026

In this episode, we will continue the conversation in understanding how facing our past trauma, abandonment, and rejection can ultimately bring healing. How does facing it bring clarity in God's purpose for our lives so that the past pain does not go wasted. In this part 2 episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of celebrate recovery continues the important conversation of how leaning into our pain, although difficult, will always be worth it for God's greater purpose. 


173. How does my past trauma, abandonment, and rejection shape my present and future? Pt. 1
#173
03/08/2026

Unfortunately, in this world, we will have trouble that brings up a lot of trauma, abandonment, and rejection. In celebrate recovery we are about facing those past traumatic wounds. But what happens when we avoid all of that and how does it shape our present in future when left unresolved? How does facing the pain of our past impact our present and our future? In this part 1 episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will lean into some things to be aware of and how it shapes our belief system, our choices, and how we interact with...


172. How do I handle the ones that didn't make it?
#172
03/01/2026

In this ministry, we can find that it doesn't always have a pretty ending and can be heart wrenching to walk-through. Thankfully, this doesn't happen the majority of the time, but it does happen from time to time and we need to prepare hearts for if it does. In this episode Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of celebrate recovery, will walk us through some important reminders to equip us in handling the deepest pain of losing someone that we walked along side and shepherded, maybe in death or relapse, etc. 

How do we heal and take our h...


171. What is the difference between moving on and moving forward?
#171
02/22/2026

A question that might come up in the Recovery journey is "why should I deal with my past? Doesn't Paul say we should forget the past and strain forward?" Understanding the difference between getting stuck in our past and honoring our past with the whole goal of moving forward with a new purpose is essential to walking in freedom or staying stuck in our past trauma and pain. 

In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, global field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will walk us through a conversation on what it looks like to understand the difference between staying stuck i...


170. Why I love step 3 and principle 3 - Scott Kemp
#170
02/15/2026

In celebrate recovery, we all have our own experiences and the way the Holy Spirit grows and changes us through the principles and steps of celebrate recovery. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, sits down with North Central regional Director, Scott Kemp to talk about his favorite step & principle of CR. He shares his heart and why it means so much to him even 30+ years later in his recovery journey.


169. A journey of hope - Amanda's story Part 2
#169
02/08/2026

In this episode, we continue the conversation with a dear sister in Christ, Amanda. We get to hear how God took her from the pains of a sexual assault and addictions to a new beautiful life of giving back, through her words and deeds sharing the good news with other people. Listen in on this episode with Rodney Holmstrom, global field, Director of celebrate recovery, as he has a continued conversation of part two of this incredible hope-filled testimony.


168. A journey of hope - Amanda's story Part 1
#168
02/01/2026

One of the most valuable tools we have in celebrate Recovery is speaking out loud what God has done inside of us. Anytime we have a courageous brother or sister in Christ share their life change story it becomes oxygen for all of our soul regardless of how long we've been on the journey. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, global field Director of celebrate Recovery, has an impactful and heartfelt conversation with one of our sisters and celebrate recovery, Amanda. A young woman who walked through immense suffering and pain toward Jesus and healing. Amanda is a part of...


167. How has the enemy sabotaged sex in our life? Part 2
#167
01/25/2026

We've been talking about the important discussion around sex, and how God uses it as a beautiful gift in the confines of a marriage between a man and a woman. In this part two conversation, Rodney Holmstrom, global field Director of Celebrate Recovery, walks us through some additional points to consider in how a false view of sexual intimacy can be a counterfeit to true intimacy and healthy relationships with God and others. What is a healthy biblical view of sex and is their hope for us? What if we are struggling with things like pornography, sexually acting out...


166. How has the enemy sabotaged sex in our life? Part 1
#166
01/18/2026

We've been talking about God's natural design for release of dopamine, and how the enemy can distort that and even hijack His original design as it relates to sex in the confines of a marriage. What are some ways the enemy lies to us around sex? What are the costs to this? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of celebrate recovery, will dive into part one of this important topic and how we can learn and grow through the counterfeit ways the enemy hijacks God's design and get back to the natural God-given gift design to walk...


165. Understanding a dopamine crash
#165
01/11/2026

Have you ever found yourself in a place of fatigue, depression, isolating from others and just feeling like you're tolerance for things that used to bring life joy just aren't there anymore? There could be many things that contribute to this, but one of the things that can be contributing is something called dopamine crash. How does the dopamine crash take us out of God's design for life? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field, Director of Celebrate Recovery, will unpack what a dopamine crash is and how going outside of God's design for stimulation and natural dopamine release...


164. Hope in breaking chains - Testimony from Jim
#164
01/04/2026

There's something incredibly powerful when we get to hear the hope and life change that happens in one of our brothers and sisters in Christ. When we hear another's story, it gives us hope to keep going ourselves. Listen in as Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, interview Jim, to hear an encouraging word and a portion of a powerful life change story.


163. Satan sabotages my recovery slowly and strategically to catch me off guard
#163
12/28/2025

One of the misconceptions of the enemy is that he is big, loud, and easy to see coming our way. But the truth is, that he is slow, sneaky, and even strategic in how he tries to get us off course. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will talk about some things to be aware of and the lies the enemy can feed us as he prowls around like a lion seeking to devour us. Listen in and find some practical ways to combat the enemies sabotage attempts so that we can keep moving...


162. Satan sabotages my recovery by growing hopelessness for my situation
#162
12/21/2025

In recovery, one of the essential principles that we need to fuel our recovery is Hope. If the enemy can get inside our head and heart and convince us that our situation is hopeless and there's no point in moving forward, he has us right where he wants us. But there is another way and some things to think about that can keep the enemy from winning his sabotage efforts. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will lean into some things and ways the enemy might try to sabotage our recovery with hopelessness as...


161. The enemy sabotaging our recovery through attacking marriage and family relationships
#161
12/14/2025

It has been said that if the enemy can’t get to us, then he will attack our relationships. What are some of the crafty ways that he might try to create division and pull us away from unity and connection from our marriages, families, or just relationships as a whole? In this episode with Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, we walk through a conversation on specific ways the enemy will try to divide us from the most important resource in our recovery, relationships. What are some ways that we can combat? The enemies lies and sa...


160. Maintaining momentum during the holiday
#160
12/07/2025

During messy and hard times, including the holidays, the enemy may try to break the momentum of our recovery journey. What are some ways that we can maintain the incredible life-giving momentum that He has begun in our recovery journey? What are some things that we can be aware of as we continue step-by-step? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of celebrate recovery, will unpack some practical reminders and how to maintain momentum and prevent relapse in our recovery journey.


159. Is freedom possible with codependency?
#159
11/30/2025

Sometimes in recovery, we can confuse struggling in an area of recovery with the reality of defining freedom. What does freedom look like and does that mean we won't struggle if we are to say we are walking in freedom? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery will provide some language around helping us reframe what it means to walk in freedom with codependency as we struggle to live life on life's terms.


158. How can being the 'enforcer' hinder connection?
#158
11/23/2025

In Celebrate Recovery, we no doubt learned that boundaries and guidelines are essential to keeping us on the right track. Whether it's the small group guidelines, following the DNA or other leadership components, practicing keeping our ministry safe is important. However, how can legalism and becoming the security guard, hinder the healing process and break connection from us and others that God has called us to lead? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will unpack this important topic to help us lean into Grace versus rigidity and rules that separates us from the important...


157. Why making amends matters - a conversation with Mac Owen
#157
11/16/2025

One of the most challenging parts of the recovery journey is found in Principle 6 and Step 8. This is where we pause to honestly survey the damage caused by our past hurts, habits, and hang-ups—acknowledging how our actions have affected both ourselves and others. It’s a step that can feel difficult, but it’s also one of the most life-changing as we begin to move toward making amends and finding true freedom.

In today’s episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, is joined by his dear friend and brother in Christ, Mac Owen, Global D...


156. Living proactively through the tools of daily inventory
#156
11/09/2025

One of the most challenging disciplines in recovery is the act of stopping and pausing to examine our ways and test them, write them down in a journal and then act of them so that we can stay on the road to recovery. What is the purpose of the crossroads and daily inventory part of this recovery journey? How can this process help us be proactive during life's greatest challenges?

In this podcast, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field, Director of Celebrate Recovery, will give us some practical benefits of the daily inventory process to keep us on the...


155. Facing the triggers of others during the Holidays
#155
11/02/2025

The holidays are upon us and that can bring some opportunities to grow or triggers that can set us back if we're not careful. What are some practical ways that we can face those relationships in our family of origin, hometown, or others that might bring up triggers from our past? In this podcast, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field, Director of celebrate recovery, will unpack some practical tools and ways that we can proactively face those triggers to help build strength and maintain momentum that would in turn keep us on the road recovery instead of taking us backward. 


154. Is my recovery in management or healing mode?
#154
10/26/2025

Recovery is hard. Sometimes it's easy to shift our thinking into behavioral management and even our recovery as a whole toward management versus healing. But in celebrate recovery, one of the things we lean into is not managing our recovery but walking in a posture of healing. 
In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will unpack some of the differences between management versus healing in our recovery journey and some of the fruit we experience when we choose to surrender control in this healing journey.


153. Why should I trust the process if everything is going good and/or bad?
#153
10/19/2025

Trusting the process can seem so cliché, but is such a critical part to our healing journey. What do I do when things feel hopeless and like it's pointless to continue the process? 
On the flipside, why should I keep doing the work if I found relief in the good seasons of life?
In this podcast, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery will unpack the important conversation of why trusting the process is important regardless of the season we are in currently.


152. What is the value of avoiding crosstalk inside and outside small groups?
#152
10/12/2025

In celebrate recovery the small group guidelines provide safety for all those in attendance. Is it just for small group or should these follow us outside the group as well? As CR participants, do we fully understand the value of avoiding crosstalk, or does it feel like a silly rule that would be fun to break? In this podcast, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery will unpack this important guideline and expand on some additional thoughts.


151. How do we move to a more secure place in our recovery?
#151
10/05/2025

The celebrate recovery process helps us to face those family of origin struggles, our experiences with relationships and other wounds early on that have impacted us. Through the process, we learned some things about us and why we may respond to our relationships with others and God in the ways that we do. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, walks us through some attachment language and things to be aware that might be preventing us from healthy connection with God and others toward healing and healthy, secure relationships.


150. How can you celebrate that?
#150
09/28/2025

Life has a way of throwing things at us that can feel overwhelming and hopeless as we witness the broken world around us. How can we celebrate our recovery and even have an ounce of gratitude when there's so much brokenness and turmoil happening outside and around us? In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, walks us through some important reminders of how to stay anchored to those things that cannot be taken from us to help us walk through what we may be facing and experiencing today toward health and longevity of recovery.


149. Seeking Validation: A tactic to get us off focus
#149
09/21/2025

The enemy loves to be deceiving in giving us something like the motivation of longing for validation and recognition to meet our needs. What the enemy doesn't share, though, is the closing costs of getting us off the focus that God directed us, which ultimately takes us off mission. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, unpacks some of the things that we need to be aware of around the topic of seeking validation and recognition and how that can pull us away from God's plan in our life.


148. I have ugly scars...?
#148
09/14/2025

In our culture, scars are often seen as flaws—symbols of brokenness, weakness, or something to hide. But in recovery, scars tell a very different story. They become powerful reminders of survival, healing, and God’s grace at work in our lives. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, unpacks how scars can shift from shame to strength, from pain to purpose, and how they serve as markers of beauty, growth, and hope on the road to recovery.


147. Honoring Others' Dignity Over Our Curiosity
#147
09/07/2025

In Celebrate Recovery two foundational practices and guidelines we follow to ensure safety are anonymity and confidentiality. Why does Celebrate Recovery honor these two important practices? Is it just for small groups and how does that apply to outside the small group setting or even in the public setting and community? In this podcast, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will walk us through some things to consider as we honor others' dignity over our curiosity and/or desire to share through anonymity and confidentiality for the overall safety of our ministry.


146. Comparison: A tactic to get us off focus
#146
08/31/2025

One of the ways that the enemy will keep us from moving forward is through the conniving tactic of comparison. In this podcast, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will walk us through some of the ways that the enemy will use comparison to take us off mission and prevent us from living out and celebrating our recovery. Listen in as he walks through some of the things to be aware of, but also ways that we can guard our heart to prevent comparison from taking us out.


145. Discouragement: A tactic to get us off focus
#145
08/24/2025

One of the ways that the enemy will get us off focus in the path of recovery is through discouragement. What are some ways that he will use discouragement to sidetrack us and get us off course from the mission and focus of living out Recovery? In this podcast, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will walk us through some of those things to be aware of and ways that we can guard our heart to stay the course in our recovery journey.


144. Fighting Against vs Embracing Change
#144
08/17/2025

Sometimes submitting to the process to go deeper can be scary. Why do we fight change and why is it so scary to discover the roots of the dysfunction in our life that's leading to unhealthy patterns? What does it look like to embrace change versus fighting change? In this episode join Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, and Andy Petry, Landing Director of Celebrate Recovery as they discuss the value of clinging to Jesus instead of wrestling and fighting with him as he brings change to our life.


143. Addressing the unhealthy roles that come from dysfunctional families (part 2)
#143
08/10/2025

We are continuing the conversation around adult children of dysfunctional families, and how those unhealthy and dysfunctional roles that we can develop can move toward healing and a new healthy future. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, global field director of CR, will walk us through part two of how Celebrate Recovery can ultimately create a safe space, through Jesus and biblical truth, and a structure process to understand those old dysfunctional labels and ultimately replace them with our true identity in Christ.


142. Addressing the unhealthy roles that come from dysfunctional families (part 1)
#142
08/03/2025

Often when we walk into recovery, we experience revelations on how dysfunctional our family system was growing up. Growing up in these family systems we can take on dysfunctional roles that can be helpful to understand why we do what we do, but ultimately move us to do something different in health. In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, global field director of celebrate recovery, will walk us through some common roles and the functions of those roles toward ultimately understanding how celebrate Recovery can bring healing toward a new healthy future.


141. Why Being Shameless in our Sharing is Costly
#141
07/28/2025

We talk about shame a lot in the recovery process, but what does it look like to have a posture of shamelessness in our share time through open share, small, and step study small groups? Is there a line between being real and reckless? In this podcast, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, will unpack some things to consider when we are sharing in small groups with Celebrate Recovery, and how dangerous it can be moving from a posture of humility, honor, and truth spoken in love to a posture of shamelessness for the sake of shock...


140. Finding Our Home in Recovery - Christina's Story
#140
07/21/2025

Sometimes, in the deepest pits of our dysfunction, we don't realize how much our heart is longing for a safe place to call home in recovery. What is the impact of finding a safe place to process our hurts, hang-ups, and habits while moving toward health and recovery? In this podcast, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, interviews a sister in Christ, Christina. Listen as she walks us through her important life-change story about her journey toward health and growth.


139. What Happens to the Kids of the Incarcerated? Angel Tree!
#139
07/14/2025

One of the blessings of CR is partnering with incredible ministries like Prison Fellowship's "Angel Tree." In this episode, Rodney Holmstrom, Global Field Director of Celebrate Recovery, interviews John Brennan of Prison Fellowship to help us understand the incredible blessings of partnering with Angel Tree and loving the kids of the incarcerated. Learn how to get involved in this world changing ministry!