The Hopeaholics

Surrender Isn’t Weakness, It’s Freedom with Yeshaia Blakeney | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this thought-provoking and deeply human episode, Yeshaia Blakeney opens up about his journey through addiction, self-destruction, and spiritual awakening with striking honesty and wisdom. Growing up in the chaos of Hollywood, Yeshaia describes feeling emotionally adrift and spiritually disconnected long before drugs entered the picture. What began as an attempt to escape pain and emptiness eventually led him into the darkness of addiction, arrests, and broken relationships. He recounts sitting in a jail cell — the moment he realized, “This isn’t who I am” — and...

The Bottle Almost Took Everything with Kristine Koontz | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this raw and deeply emotional episode, Kristine Koontz shares her courageous journey through chaos, addiction, loss, and redemption with an honesty that grips you from the start. Growing up amid abuse, instability, and emotional neglect, Kristine found her first escape in alcohol at just thirteen years old — a drink that made her feel “normal” for the first time. What began as weekend partying spiraled into decades of dependency, self-destruction, and denial, even as she built a life as a wife, mother of three, and businesswoman. She op...

Two Mothers, Two Sons, One Epidemic: Katrina Simmons & Kristi Kastler | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this deeply emotional and unforgettable episode, Katrina Simmons and Kristi Kastler open their hearts to share the devastating realities of losing their beloved sons, Dylan and Devan, to fentanyl and addiction. Katrina begins by recounting Dylan’s early years, the warmth of his personality, and the gradual unraveling of his life after moving away from home. She describes the torment of watching her son slip through her fingers despite desperate attempts to save him, the sleepless nights filled with fear, and the haunting ph...

The Man Who Robbed Banks and Found God in a Cell: Julian Miller | The Hopeaholics Podcast 


In this powerful and deeply emotional episode, Julian Miller shares his remarkable journey from crime and chaos to redemption and purpose. Once a young man lost to the streets, Julian recounts the pivotal moments that defined his life — witnessing his cousin’s death at ten years old, falling into addiction, and ultimately making the desperate decision to rob a bank that landed him in prison. What began as a story of destruction turns into one of grace and transformation, as Julia...

Filling the Gap betwen Faith and Science with Dr. Angela Claffey | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this deeply moving and eye-opening episode of The Hopeaholic Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Angela Claffey, a licensed forensic psychologist, mental health advocate, and survivor whose journey from pain to purpose is nothing short of extraordinary. Angela candidly shares her early battle with anorexia, depression, and suicidal thoughts as a young teenager, a struggle that nearly claimed her life at just 14, and how a miraculous encounter with a neighborhood boy set her on a lifelong mission to bring hope to others...

Connecting with God & Getting Sober with Jennifer Sprenger | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Jennifer Sprenger — founder and CEO of The Bella Abby & Ava Handbag Boutique — shares her remarkable story of redemption, faith, and transformation. Once caught in the depths of addiction, Jennifer battled meth dependency, incarceration, and the painful separation from her children. In her darkest moments, she turned to God and prayed for a second chance — and He answered. Through unwavering faith and commitment to recovery, Jennifer rebuilt her life from the ground up, creating a thriving business named after her three...

Robbing From Loved Ones with Scott Schafer | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, guest Scott Schafer delivers an unflinchingly honest and deeply moving account of his journey from professional athlete to addict, and ultimately to a man living a life of gratitude and purpose. Drafted by the New York Mets out of high school, Scott’s dreams were derailed after multiple injuries and surgeries led to an addiction to painkillers that spiraled into years of dependence on Adderall, meth, and heroin. He recounts his devastating fall from a promising baseball career to life on...

Finding Hope After the Unthinkable with Nat Suckley | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this powerful episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Nat Suckley shares one of the most heartbreaking and inspiring stories ever told on the show. From losing his wife in what was described as “the most brutal murder in Corpus Christi history” to later losing his son to an overdose on his 24th birthday, Nat opens up about unimaginable pain, addiction, and the long road to healing. He talks about how trauma shaped his life, how faith and recovery at The Bridge to Recovery saved him, and how...

Through the Lens of an Addict’s Sister: Stephanie Balber | The Hopeaholics Podcast


In this powerful episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Stephanie Balber shares her emotional journey of growing up with a sister battling heroin and fentanyl addiction. She opens up about the pain, chaos, and heartbreak her family endured—from discovering her sister dealing drugs at her wedding to catching her using on Christmas night—and the toll it took on her as a sibling and daughter. Through Nar-Anon meetings, therapy, and hard-won self-awareness, Stephanie learned that her parents had become “addicted to her sister’s addictio...

Revitalizing Life Through Food with Cloe Parker | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this compelling episode of the Hopeaholics podcast, we sat down with Chloe Parker, the young owner of Parker Pastures, a regenerative agriculture meat company dedicated to providing clean, nutrient-dense beef, bison, lamb, pork, and chicken. Chloe opened up about her journey, growing up on a ranch, grappling with severe teenage anxiety and depression that led to suicidal thoughts, and finding faith and purpose through a transformative encounter with a deer and her fawns. She shared how, at 19, she returned home to manage the family ranch after...

Join The Undead Club w/ Amanda Taylor & Brandon Thomas | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this powerful episode of the Hopeaholic Podcast, Amanda Taylor and Brandon Thomas open up about their raw and inspiring journey through addiction, loss, faith, and recovery. From meeting in AA to reconnecting at work and building a relationship grounded in sobriety, their story is filled with dramatic turning points. Amanda shares how job loss pushed her into a new direction, the challenges of drawing firm boundaries around sobriety, and the importance of a God-centered relationship. Brandon reflects on his family’s struggles with addiction, hi...

Being a Hope Dealer w/Christin Day | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Christin Day shares a raw and emotional account of her journey through addiction, trauma, and recovery. She opens up about becoming a teen mom, experiencing multiple pregnancies and losses, and entering into an early marriage that quickly unraveled amid infidelity and violence. Her story follows a spiral into meth use, arrests, and jail time even while pregnant, leading to the painful decision to give her daughter up for adoption and later the loss of custody of another child. Christin recalls...

Awakening The Warrior with J.R. Hutter | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this episode, J.R. Hutter shares his raw and transformative life story, opening up about his upbringing, his father’s struggles with alcoholism, and how his own battles with PTSD, bipolar disorder, and addiction spiraled after serving in Iraq. He recounts years of heavy drinking, cocaine use, and the chaos of life as a DJ in South Florida, describing the cycle of self-destruction that left him suicidal, ashamed, and on the verge of losing everything. A breaking point came after cheating on his girlfriend and realizing he...

Staying Sober Strong with Chris Cohen | The Hopeaholics Podcast 

In this episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, the hosts welcome Chris Cohen, founder of Sober Strong, a sobriety-inspired apparel brand that’s more than just clothing—it’s a movement. Chris shares his powerful story of addiction, hitting rock bottom, and the life-changing car accident that led to major back surgery and ultimately a new perspective on life. He opens up about the struggles of early recovery, battling depression and panic attacks, and the small but vital steps that kept him moving forward. Chris also talks about the inspira...

Barbell Saves Project with David Perez & Robert Best | The Hopeaholics Podcast 

In this inspiring episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Robert Best and David Perez share their powerful journeys through addiction and recovery, and how those experiences fueled their mission to create the Barbell Saves Project—a nonprofit fitness-based recovery community that’s changing lives. What started as free community workouts in a small CrossFit gym has grown into a 7,000 sq ft facility where people in recovery can rebuild their bodies, minds, and confidence—all at no cost. They open up about their darkest moments, the near-death experiences that sh...

Recovering Through Stem Cells w/ Mike O'Hearn & John Merola | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Mike O’Hearn and John Merola join the hosts to share powerful stories of resilience, discipline, and recovery, offering a rare look into the mindset it takes to overcome life’s greatest challenges. From the opening minutes, John reflects on his early struggles with addiction and recovery, while Mike talks about the discipline of bodybuilding, longevity in fitness, and the mindset required to stay consistent over decades. Both men dive into personal hardships, setbacks, and the turning points that...

BECOMING A MONSTER TO FACE LIFE w/ Michael "Multifaceted Monster"| The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, we sit down with Michael, also known as Multifaceted Monster, to hear his raw and powerful journey through addiction, heartbreak, and redemption. Michael opens up about his struggles with alcoholism, codependent relationships, and the chaos of blackout drinking that led to multiple 5150 holds, near-death moments, and broken relationships. He shares how losing himself in toxic environments and self-sabotage nearly destroyed his passion for music, and how heartbreak became the catalyst for truly working the 12 steps and embracing...

"BLAMING GOD FOR MY ADDICTION": Vaughn Von Lewis | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Vaughn Von Lewis opens up about his remarkable journey of survival, struggle, and transformation. His life was shaped by a childhood of abuse, abandonment, and the devastating loss of his mother when he was just 17 years old. He began using drugs as early as eight years old, which set him on a path of addiction that would follow him through his teens and into adulthood. Vaughn shares the crushing weight of relapse, the violence and trauma he experienced in...

Chasing Euphoria & Finding Faith with Kat Sorensen | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this compelling episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Kat Sorensen, a recovering alcoholic and rehab center owner, who shares her powerful journey of overcoming addiction and finding purpose through faith and service. Kat candidly recounts her childhood in Denver, marked by feelings of alienation and sensitivity, which led to her discovery of alcohol at 13, sparking a 20-year struggle as she chased the initial euphoria it provided. She discusses her early resistance to Alcoholics Anonymous, her bouts of sobriety, and eventual surrender to the program, which transformed her...

Wendy Grijalva: How Victim Shaming Changed Everything | The Hopeaholics Podcast

Wendy Grijalva delivers a raw and inspiring exploration of her journey through addiction, trauma, and recovery. Wendy, celebrated for her impactful presence at a "Recover Out Loud" event, shares her story with vulnerability, detailing a childhood marked by feeling like the "black sheep" in a stable middle-class family, early physical development at age 9 that led to harassment, and a traumatic incident at 11 where she witnessed a fatal accident, sparking deep guilt. Her adolescence spiraled into rebellion, with her first heavy drinking and pregnancy in ninth grade, followed...

Wade Muhlhauser: Plugged INTO Recovery | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this gripping episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, the CEO of Plugged In Recovery, Wade Muhlhauser, shares his remarkable journey from homelessness and a 20-year struggle with opioid addiction to founding a network of 14 sober living homes and a treatment center in Arizona. Wade candidly discusses his chaotic childhood in foster care, shaped by his father’s meth addiction, and his own spiral into alcoholism and OxyContin dependency, driven by a delusion that painkillers boosted his performance, inspired by artists like Lil Wayne. He reflects on multiple relapses, the tr...

Phil "Wildcard" Andrade: Spitting Truth After Rock Bottom | The Hopeaholics Podcast #264


Phil Andrade, known as Wildcard, for a raw and inspiring conversation about his journey from addiction to artistic triumph! A rapper and filmmaker with a 20-year career, Phil shares how his love for music was ignited by influences like Oingo Boingo, Black Sabbath, and Guns N’ Roses, shaped by his creative upbringing and his grandfather’s encouragement to write poetry and stories. From his turbulent teens, marked by anger, expulsion from school, and a national TV appearance as an alcoholic at 16, to his struggles with para...

Adam Larkin: Taking the Sober Risk | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this inspiring episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, hosts Natalie and Chad welcome back Adam Larkin, a recovering addict turned entrepreneur, who shares his transformative journey from a 17-year struggle with opioid and benzodiazepine addiction to building a thriving life of sobriety and purpose. Adam details his pivotal "God thing" moment in Kentucky, where he discarded drugs and committed to recovery, leading to detox, sober living, and learning construction in Indiana. He discusses the success of his clothing brand, GITT Apparel, now in 41 states and three continents, inspired...

Richard Macias: The Warpath to Redemption | The Hopeaholics Podcast

Growing up in San Bernardino County, Richard was exposed to alcohol as early as five years old, leading to years of substance abuse, run-ins with the law, and a lifestyle that strained his marriage and family. His breaking point came the day he returned home to find his wife and children gone—a moment that drove him to his knees in desperate prayer and sparked his complete surrender to sobriety. From there, he channeled his addictive tendencies into fitness, faith, and personal growth, losing over 100 pounds, rebuilding trust wi...

Gabe Cohen: Creating a Legacy Through Lived Experience | The Hopeaholics Podcast

Gabe, a former convict turned recovery warrior whose unrelenting passion to save lives has transformed communities and inspired his powerful book, a guide for building recovery organizations from the ground up. Starting with no experience, no money, and no building, Gabe’s journey from addiction’s grip to founding a thriving nonprofit in Colorado is a testament to resilience, faith, and the belief that helping just one person can change the world. He shares raw stories of overcoming relapse risks after years of sobriety, securing his firs...

Kristen Domke: Military Mental Health is Broken  | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this deeply emotional and brutally honest episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, we sit down with Kristen Domke—an Air Force veteran, personal trainer, and survivor—whose life story is nothing short of extraordinary. Kristen opens up about the emotional toll of serving in the military, including multiple deployments, witnessing unimaginable trauma, surviving military sexual assault, and battling intense mental health struggles that led to multiple suicide attempts. Her story is one of heartbreak, resilience, and redemption. After years of numbing pain through alcohol, losing her identity as a...

Michael Henderson: Cultivating The Wolfpak Mentality | The Hopeaholics Podcast

Dive into the awe-inspiring journey of Michael Henderson, a true titan of resilience who turned life’s darkest moments into a blazing legacy. Once a powerhouse automotive executive commanding ten collision centers and millions in revenue, Michael faced a seismic stage three testicular cancer diagnosis that shook his world. Undaunted, he battled excruciating pain, grueling five-hour daily chemo sessions, and a life-threatening blood clot in his jugular, all while keeping his struggle hidden from colleagues to remain the steadfast provider for his family. Forged in a childhood without pa...

Paul Hutchinson: How Do We END Child Trafficking? | The Hopeaholics Podcast

Paul Hutchinson, a former real estate tycoon turned global anti-child trafficking advocate whose courageous journey inspired the hit film Sound of Freedom. Once a billionaire managing over $20 billion in assets with a lavish lifestyle marked by ego, greed, and addiction, Paul’s life took a dramatic turn when he was recruited to fund and lead a historic child rescue mission in Colombia, saving 124 children in a single day. Over a decade, he spearheaded over 70 undercover operations across 15 countries, confronting the darkest corners of humanity while gr...

Dr. Sayeh Beheshti: Unveiling the Conscious Feminine | The Hopeaholics Podcast

Sit down with Dr. Sayeh Beheshti, a psychiatrist whose extraordinary path from Silicon Valley software engineer to mental health advocate will inspire and uplift. Born in Iran, she immigrated to the U.S. at 16 after the Iranian Revolution and war closed universities, forcing her family to seek educational opportunities abroad. Facing cultural shock and emotional struggles, she leaned on her family’s resilience, later pivoting from a tech career—halted by a disabling repetitive strain injury—to medicine, where she discovered her true calling in psychiatry during medica...

Patrick Belliveau & Ryan Burgio: Gambit's AI Tool to Fight Addiction | The Hopeaholics Podcast

Dive into a powerful episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast with Pat and Ryan, the visionary founders of Gambit, a company revolutionizing conversational AI to tackle real-world challenges like addiction and mental health support. This episode explores their journey of building the world’s first AI tool designed to provide 24/7, non-judgmental guidance for those battling addiction, their loved ones, and anyone seeking personal growth. Pat, five months sober after a struggle with alcohol that nearly cost him his business and life, shares raw moments, li...

Stephen "Riggy Marz" Melnick: The Medicine of Music | The Hopeaholics Podcast

From a privileged upbringing in a musical, artsy family in Pasadena to a decades-long battle with addiction, Stephen shares his harrowing journey through heroin, meth, and fentanyl, surviving over 50 overdoses, including a devastating one on his son’s birthday that left him confronting the profound impact of his actions on his family. Now, at 38, with three months sober as of April 2025, Stephen opens up about the cycles of relapse, the transformative power of the 12 steps, and the pivotal role music plays in his recovery. Signed to Th...

Satch Selden: Surviving The Mirror and Embracing Yourself | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this riveting episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Satch Selden, a resilient advocate for recovery with ten years of sobriety as of March 6, 2015, lays bare his transformative journey from a harrowing battle with heroin addiction to confronting a life-threatening eating disorder, offering profound insights into the intersections of addiction, trauma, and self-worth. Adopted into a supportive family by his biological aunt after his heroin- and crack-addicted biological mother gave him up, Satch grew up with material abundance but grappled with deep-seated feelings of unworthiness, exacerbated by...

Adam Jablin: Harnessing Compulsions to Fuel Passions | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this powerful episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Adam Jablin, a recovery advocate, author, and creator of the Rewiring Addiction Loops Masterclass, shares his transformative journey from addiction to nearly two decades of sobriety, offering raw insights into overcoming personal struggles and embracing spiritual growth. Growing up as the self-described “fat kid” in New Jersey and later Boca Raton, Florida, Adam faced relentless bullying that fueled his extroverted, people-pleasing personality and eventual descent into substance abuse, starting with alcohol and escalating to speed by eighth grade, which temp...

Ocean Eagle: Embracing Our Traumas Through Breathwork | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this riveting episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Ocean Eagle, a recovery advocate, author, and breathwork facilitator, shares his profound journey from a traumatic childhood to over 25 years of sobriety and spiritual awakening. Born in Palo Alto and raised across California and Texas amidst the chaos of alcoholic parents, Ocean survived a violent upbringing marked by his father’s abuse and the loss of his brother to a tragic car accident at 22. After totaling four cars and earning three DUIs by age 25, Ocean hit rock bottom, triggered by...

Sunnie Ray: sMothered in Recovery | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this deeply moving episode of The Hopeaholic Podcast, Sunnie Ray, a dynamic reality TV personality, entrepreneur, author, and passionate advocate for recovery and animal welfare, opens up about her extraordinary journey through addiction, trauma, and triumph. Best known for her heartfelt appearance on TLC’s sMothered, where she highlighted her close relationship with her mother, Eva, Sunnie has built a multifaceted career as a stand-up comedian, radio host, and the host of The Sunnie Ray Show on Amazon, produced by Nerd Thug Radio. Having survived two overdoses before ag...

Kristina Padilla: A Rainbow Person’s Journey to Recovery | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this engaging episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Kristina Padilla, a passionate recovery advocate and dual doctorate candidate, who shares their compelling journey from gang involvement and personal challenges to becoming a transformative figure in mental health and addiction recovery. Kristina discusses their experiences with domestic violence, coming out as a same-gender-loving person, and raising their daughter through artificial insemination, while advocating for diverse recovery pathways, including their innovative concept of metaphysical recovery. They also highlight their advocacy work, including lobbying in Washington, DC, for im...

Sonny Von Cleveland: Vocalizing Our Pain to Heal | The Hopeaholics Podcast 

Sonny Von Cleveland—a man who turned a life marked by profound trauma into a beacon of hope and redemption. From a childhood scarred by molestation beginning at age three, a felony charge at seven, and a harrowing prison sentence at 16, Sonny’s story is one of survival against unimaginable odds. He opens up about enduring a violent prison environment, including a brutal assault in his first week, and how he adopted a gang mentality to survive, only to face a pivotal moment in solitary confinement in 20...

Caleb Watson: Suffering in Silence | The Hopeaholics Podcast

On this compelling episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Caleb Watson, a 31-year-old Army veteran, former lineman, and lymphoma survivor who has battled cancer twice. Caleb shares his journey from a challenging childhood marked by poverty and his mother’s addiction to becoming a stepfather to three children and father to one, navigating the pressures of providing for his family while grappling with heavy drinking to cope with stress and silence inner turmoil. He candidly discusses the toll of maintaining a tough facade, crying alone on Nova Road in Saint Cl...

Jennifer Foote: Embracing The Higher Power | The Hopeaholics Podcast

Jennifer Foote, a resilient survivor celebrating five years of sobriety. Recorded at the Hope by the Sea treatment facility, Jennifer shares her transformative journey from a life gripped by alcohol addiction to one of strength and purpose. She recounts her initial resistance to rehab, sparked by a family intervention led by her sister, a judge, and her pivotal decision to extend her stay from 25 to 105 days to solidify her recovery. Jennifer opens up about critical moments, including a frightening incident at rehab where Chad’s compassionate intervention kept he...

Ryan Beckmann: Breaking the Silence with Hockey  | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this gripping episode, we dive deep with guest Ryan Beckmann, a Canadian-born former junior hockey player whose life story is a testament to the power of recovery. Ryan opens up about his harrowing experiences with childhood trauma, starting with abuse at age five that shaped his struggles with addiction, mental health, and a skewed perception of intimacy. From building a multi-million-dollar RV dealership empire to losing it all—along with a $3 million debt—Ryan’s journey took him from the streets to rehab after missing his childre...