Living on Incline

Can you ever truly heal from a secret porn addiction—or are you condemned to struggle in silence forever?

In this powerful and deeply vulnerable episode of Living on Incline, John Eklund sits down with Heidi Cooper, Recovery Specialist at Covenant Eyes and a pastor's wife, to unpack the hidden connection between childhood trauma, secret shame, and severe pornography addiction.

After surviving childhood sexual abuse, Heidi became addicted to pornography at just 12 years old. Carrying decades of secret shame into her marriage and ministry, she learned the hard way that time and marriage alone don't he...

Andrew Warrick knows what it means to ask “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Not as a theological exercise—but because he has lived it.

In this episode of Living on Incline, Andrew sits down with John Eklund to tell the story of the wounds that shaped his life, the moment he hit rock bottom, his journey into recovery, surrendering his life to Christ, and ultimately facing a loss he never could have prepared for: the death of his wife.

After doctors discovered that his wife had suffered permanent brain...

Hear a decorated Army pilot share his profound near-death experience and the lessons learned from a lifetime of service.

Hal Harless joins us to discuss his journey as an Army pilot and his career in law enforcement. Beyond his professional achievements, he reflects on a moment where he faced a near-death experience, describing a sense of silence and peace that has stayed with him ever since.

We also look back at the geopolitical climate of 1986, touching on his time serving in East and West Germany and his high-stakes Somalia missions. This conversation offers a unique...

At 99 years old, Mr. Byrd reflects on nearly a century of faith, service, and quiet generosity. From driving a school bus at 16 to serving in WWII-era Germany, building successful businesses, and serving on the Board of Trustees at Campbell University for over 40 years, his life has been defined by a deep commitment to lifting others up.  In this special interview, John Eklund from Recovery Alive sits down with Mr. Byrd to discuss his inspiring life journey and his instrumental support in opening Journey’s Door—a home providing hope, healing, and shelter for women in recovery. 

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"The first pill lit my brain on fire."

Long before she became a central figure in Vice President JD Vance's bestselling memoir and Netflix film Hillbilly Elegy, Beverly Vance Aikins was a registered nurse trapped in a 15-year battle with prescription opioid addiction, heroin, and devastating rock bottoms.

In this unvarnished long-form interview, Beverly Vance confronts her darkest chapters—from stealing painkillers as a hospital healthcare worker to the harrowing night she prayed not to wake up—and reveals the turning point that ultimately saved her life.

Now 11 years sober, Beverly reflects on over...

The camera turns off. The real story begins.

Get a first look at our upcoming episode of Living on Incline featuring CBS 17 News Anchor & Journalist Greg Funderburg.

For 20 years, viewers have watched Greg report on top national news and interview U.S. presidents—but behind the scenes, he was carrying the invisible weight of newsroom trauma, severe burnout, and personal depression.

In this powerful, unfiltered interview with host John Eklund, Greg opens up about the toll of covering tragedy every day, processing grief away from the anchor desk, and how stepping out in fa...

How do you rebuild a broken life after decades of prison, addiction, and lost time? In this deeply moving episode of Living on Incline, Anthony McGee (21 years incarcerated), Ryan Ellis (30+ year struggle with addiction), Amy Lewis, and Morgan Barfield share their raw, unfiltered stories of overcoming trauma, finding faith, and stepping into true freedom through peer-governed recovery homes.

From the terrifying reality of re-entering society to the daily work of repairing relationships with their children, these four individuals reveal what actual, long-term restoration looks like beyond the initial detox.

If you or a loved one...

In this episode of *Living on Incline*, host John Eklund sits down with award-winning investigative journalist and author **Sam Quinones** (*Dreamland*, *The Least of Us*, *The Perfect Tuba*) for an unfiltered look into America’s addiction crisis.

Sam spent decades covering over 200 murders as a crime reporter, tracking Mexican heroin cartels, and documenting the deadly rise of OxyContin, fentanyl, and synthetic methamphetamine.

GUEST RESOURCES

Sam Quinones 
https://samquinones.com/


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What happens to the people who are too broken for a standard homeless shelter?

In this high-stakes interview, recovery expert Chris Budnick pulls back the curtain on a brutal systemic paradox: standard institutional shelters automatically disqualify the exact individuals trapped under the influence, forcing a volatile cycle between first responders and emergency rooms. From his raw personal battle with "baseline pain" as a teenager to managing one of the most successful peer-led recovery ecosystems in North Carolina, Chris exposes why society's approach to addiction fails—and reveals the radical blueprint required to help people truly flourish.

Why is life after prison so incredibly difficult, and why do 83% of formerly incarcerated individuals end up back in the system? In this powerful episode, we dive deep into the raw realities of prison reentry, recidivism statistics, and what it actually takes to rebuild a life from scratch.

We are joined by executive leaders Kurtis Taylor and Lateisha Thrash, who share their deeply personal stories of transformation, faith, and humility. From overcoming the stigma of incarceration to fighting for systemic criminal justice reform, this conversation exposes the flaws in the current system and highlights the "organic reentry"...

At just 14 years old, Kelley Jean Blas faced ultimate betrayal, ran away to join a gang, and survived being left for dead. In this raw episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Kelley to discuss her powerful story of overcoming severe childhood trauma, fighting addiction, navigating profound grief, and turning total devastation into a front-line rescue mission.

If you are looking for an inspiring story of hope, resilience, and finding purpose in the pain, Kelley’s testimony of faith and survival is an absolute must-watch. 

Decades after overcoming a methamphetamine addiction and...

This  episode of Living On Incline featuring Dr. Mercy Conners, Senior Director at the American Association of Christian Counselors. In this raw, behind-the-scenes look at the mental health field, we strip away the clinical perfection to talk about the heavy psychological toll of therapy, the danger of TikTok diagnoses, and the painful reality of carrying client trauma home to your family. 

Watch the full conversation to hear Dr. Conners share her journey from high-stakes adolescent locked units to navigating a deeply personal, real-time family medical crisis that forced her to face her own greatest ch...

PART 2

Emmy winning sports reporter Lauren Sisler joins John Eklund on Living on Incline to share the story she hid for a decade. After losing both of her parents to addiction during her freshman year of college, Lauren lived a double life, balancing a high profile career at ESPN and the SEC Network while keeping her family tragedy a secret.

In this deep and moving conversation, Lauren discusses the "sugar coated story" she told herself to survive and why she eventually decided to look at the toxicology reports she feared for years. She explores the...

Emmy winning sports reporter Lauren Sisler joins John Eklund on Living on Incline to share the story she hid for a decade. After losing both of her parents to addiction during her freshman year of college, Lauren lived a double life, balancing a high profile career at ESPN and the SEC Network while keeping her family tragedy a secret.

In this deep and moving conversation, Lauren discusses the "sugar coated story" she told herself to survive and why she eventually decided to look at the toxicology reports she feared for years. She explores the power of labels...

"We're constantly in process and you all have the courage to be able to share that with us."
"I just did one taste and it led to... I just felt like I was going to lose my mind."

In this episode of Living on Incline, John Eklund sits down with Leslie and Tracy Boozer, leaders of the Recovery Alive ministry in Deatsville, Alabama. They share their powerful journey of 32 years of marriage, the challenges of military family life, and the raw reality of addiction and recovery.

The Boozers open up about a season of...

In this powerful episode of Living On Incline, Leah Wright, founder of Wake Monarch Academy, shares her harrowing journey through her son’s addiction to heroin. From the devastating moment of seeing her child in handcuffs to the infuriating battle with insurance companies that claimed his addiction was not bad enough, Leah’s story is a testament to a mother’s relentless love and the power of surrender.

Leah explains the staggering statistics of teen relapse and why traditional high schools often set students up for failure. Now, as the founder of the first recovery high school in the...

In this powerful and raw episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Freida MacDonald for an unfiltered look at the devastating reality of the American opioid crisis.

Freida MacDonald spent 30 years as a high-level banking executive while raising her two sons as a single mother. They were the "Three Musketeers" - until a prescription for ADHD medication in kindergarten opened a door that could never be closed.

Freida tracks the "perfect storm" that led her son from prescription stimulants to the street, eventually resulting in his homicide. But the tragedy didn't...

In this episode of Living on Incline, John Eklund sits down with Pastor Daryl Clark for a raw conversation about church leadership, burnout, recovery, mental health, race, culture, and what it really means for the church to be the church. Daryl opens up about 25 years of ministry, the pressure pastors carry, why preaching is only a small part of the job, and how loving people has to matter more than image, ego, or performance.


TIMESTAMPS
[00:00:00] Intro and Daryl Clark’s 25 years of pastoral ministry
[00:01:10] Leadership development, discipleship, and Dallas Theological Seminary
[00:02:36] Why seminary of...

In this episode of Living on Incline, John Eklund sits down with Noelle Franklin’s parents (Dylan and Toni Franklin) to share the real timeline from a “bug bite” to a childhood cancer diagnosis, and the gut-punch updates that followed, including “stage four” and confirmation it was “in both lungs.”

This conversation is for parents, families, and anyone walking through pediatric cancer, osteosarcoma, sarcoma related cancers, grief, hospice, and the reality of holding your family together when “your whole world shattered.” You will also hear why they built Noel Strong to help other families in the fight right now, and how...

Mike Wolbert is a law enforcement leader, former competitive bodybuilder, and devoted father whose life has been shaped by discipline, service, and deep personal loss. From winning Mr. North Carolina to mentoring troubled students and serving his community, Mike’s story is one of strength forged through suffering.

But his greatest battle was not on a stage or in uniform.
After years of addiction and recovery struggles, Mike’s son became critically ill, suffered a massive stroke, and passed away—changing Mike’s life forever. What followed is a raw, honest conversation about grief, guilt, faith, and the...

In this powerful and deeply honest episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Pastor Brandon Teachey, lead pastor of Overflow Church, for a raw conversation about leadership, mental health, burnout, therapy, and healing childhood wounds while serving in ministry.

Pastor Brandon opens up about the unseen pressures pastors face, the emotional toll of leadership, and why vulnerability, boundaries, and emotional discipleship are essential for long-term health. From people-pleasing and codependency to therapy, recovery, and finding self-worth rooted in God’s affirmation, this episode speaks to anyone navigating faith, leadership, or personal healing.

An Extraordinary Journey: From Egyptian Orphan to Compassionate Pastor | Living on Incline

In this inspiring episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund welcomes Pastor Abraham Michael. Abraham shares his remarkable life story, growing up in poverty in Egypt, facing traumatic experiences, and finding solace in faith. From being placed in an orphanage at a young age to encountering various life-threatening situations, Abraham's journey demonstrates the power of faith and resilience. John and Abraham discuss his current ministry work, including his role as a pastor, hospital chaplain, and mental health coach. Abraham’s mission, Missions of Compassion, ai...

In this episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Sarah Coates, the visionary founder of **One-Eighty Counseling**. While many see her as a gifted clinician, this conversation peels back the curtain on the "entrepreneurial itch" that drove her to leave the security of a school counseling career to build a mental health empire.

Sarah shares the raw reality of "going rogue," the dopamine rush of taking risks, and her unique "Pinball Machine" theory on how God steers us back on track even when we feel lost. We also dive into her powerful concept...

Join us for an inspiring and raw conversation with Jonathan Harless, Army Reserve pilot and veteran, as he shares his incredible journey from military deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan to battling anxiety and finding hope through recovery. Jonathan opens up about the realities of combat, the toll of high-stress missions, the challenges of returning home, and the power of community, faith, and therapy in healing.

Whether you’re a veteran, a family member, or someone seeking hope in tough times, Jonathan’s story is a testament to resilience, vulnerability, and the importance of reaching out for help.

He flatlined in combat. Battled addiction. Survived a stroke. And planned his suicide—until God intervened.

In this jaw-dropping episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Army veteran John Williamson, whose story of resilience, trauma, and redemption will leave you speechless. From surviving a devastating tank accident in Iraq to wrestling with addiction and mental health back home, John’s journey proves that even when life breaks your body—your soul can still rise.

You’ll hear about his near-death experience, years of...

In this extraordinary episode of Living on Incline, we go behind bars at Sampson Correctional Institution, a prison that’s turning incarceration into transformation. From college degrees and reentry coaching to emotional healing and leadership development, this facility is doing something few others are: believing in the people inside.

Join host John Eklund as he sits down with three key leaders who are changing the future of incarceration:

 • Robert Van Gorder – Facility Warden II

 • Charles Wooten – Facility Case Manager & Reentry Coordinator

 • Anthony Faison – Campbell University Site Coordinator & Advisor

Together, they unpack what...

Tara Tucker is not your average paramedic. She’s on a mission to revolutionize how first responders handle mental health, addiction, and crisis care—because for her, it’s personal.

In this powerful episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Tara, a behavioral health community paramedic, to talk about her boots-on-the-ground work bridging emergency response and long-term recovery. From opioid overdose calls to faith-based outreach events, Tara is meeting people where they are—and helping entire communities heal.

What started as a career in EMS turned into a life calling after losing s...

Jeff Stultz should be dead. Shot, stabbed, addicted, and homeless—his story reads like a movie. But this isn’t fiction. It’s a raw, redemptive journey from the violent world of outlaw biker gangs to leading a global Christian recovery movement.

In this gripping episode of Living on Incline, Jeff sits down with John Eklund to reveal the truth about his former life in biker clubs, his descent into crack addiction, and how Jesus met him in the middle of absolute ruin.

Now the founder of Broken Chains, a motorcycle-based recovery ministry in 15+ countries, and a...

Tara Tucker is not your average paramedic. She’s on a mission to revolutionize how first responders handle mental health, addiction, and crisis care—because for her, it’s personal.

In this powerful episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Tara, a behavioral health community paramedic, to talk about her boots-on-the-ground work bridging emergency response and long-term recovery. From opioid overdose calls to faith-based outreach events, Tara is meeting people where they are—and helping entire communities heal.

What started as a career in EMS turned into a life calling...

Jeff Stultz should be dead. Shot, stabbed, addicted, and homeless—his story reads like a movie. But this isn’t fiction. It’s a raw, redemptive journey from the violent world of outlaw biker gangs to leading a global Christian recovery movement.

In this gripping episode of Living on Incline, Jeff sits down with John Eklund to reveal the truth about his former life in biker clubs, his descent into crack addiction, and how Jesus met him in the middle of absolute ruin.

Now the founder of Broken Chains, a motorcycle-based recovery ministry in 15+ countries, and a...

Jeff Stultz should be dead. Shot, stabbed, addicted, and homeless—his story reads like a movie. But this isn’t fiction. It’s a raw, redemptive journey from the violent world of outlaw biker gangs to leading a global Christian recovery movement.

In this gripping episode of Living on Incline, Jeff sits down with John Eklund to reveal the truth about his former life in biker clubs, his descent into crack addiction, and how Jesus met him in the middle of absolute ruin.

Now the founder of Broken Chains, a motorcycle-based recovery ministry in 15+ countries, and a...

Jeff Stultz should be dead. Shot, stabbed, addicted, and homeless—his story reads like a movie. But this isn’t fiction. It’s a raw, redemptive journey from the violent world of outlaw biker gangs to leading a global Christian recovery movement.

In this gripping episode of Living on Incline, Jeff sits down with John Eklund to reveal the truth about his former life in biker clubs, his descent into crack addiction, and how Jesus met him in the middle of absolute ruin.

Now the founder of Broken Chains, a motorcycle-based recove...

In this powerful episode of Living on Incline, John Eklund sits down with Jessica Hicks—a woman who once lived in a homeless shelter, faced prison time, and battled addiction, but is now a successful real estate developer building recovery homes that change lives.

Jessica’s story begins with trauma, fear, and chaos—witnessing violence as a child, slipping into addiction as a teen, and enduring multiple arrests and overdoses. But it’s not a story about staying broken. It’s about finding a way forward through faith, hard work, and

In this gripping and deeply personal episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Casey and Tisha Temple, a married couple and the CEO/COO of Recovery Alive, to explore their transformation from addiction, homelessness, suicide attempts, and incarceration—to purpose-driven lives helping others heal.

Casey opens up about surviving a suicide attempt and learning to live with depression instead of running from it. Tisha shares her raw story of heroin addiction, sex work, and the spiral of destruction that followed—until she found faith, community, and a second chance.

In this powerful episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Grayson Johnson, Miss Johnston County and founder of The Hope Project, to talk about the heartbreaking loss of her sister to opioid addiction—and the healing mission she’s carried ever since.

From competing in pageants as a teenager to launching a statewide initiative focused on ending stigma, Grayson shares the raw story behind her smile. She opens up about childhood trauma, family struggles, and the burden of silence in small-town culture—and how she’s now using her voice to advocate for change...

In this jaw-dropping episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with former country music star Chris McDaniel, who opens up about his wild journey from fame to addiction—and the grace that saved him.

Chris was a rising star with Grammy nominations, hit records, and crowds screaming his name. But behind the scenes, he was spiraling into a dangerous world of drugs, broken relationships, and emotional torment. From cocaine runs in the music industry to near-death experiences, Chris lays it all out. What pulled him back? A ch...

Episode 001 – Why Religion Nearly Broke This Pastor

In the premiere episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down for a powerful and honest conversation with a pastor who nearly walked away from ministry after facing the weight of religion, performance, and legalism.

He opens up about his early struggles with leading through legalistic traditions, the moment he realized his church wasn’t ready for broken people, and how stepping into recovery ministry changed his life and the life of his church forever.

If you’ve ever felt burned out, disillusioned, or like t...

What are we truly capable of? That’s the question Living on Incline sets out to explore.

Hosted by John Eklund, this podcast brings you real conversations with people who have pushed through suffering, setbacks, and challenges — not just to survive, but to grow. From recovery to business, from faith to government, each guest is unlocking their full potential and inviting you to do the same.

The name comes from the Manitou Incline — a steep, grueling hike in Colorado that inspired John to lean into discomfort as a path...