Rain Brings Growth Podcast

In Episode 65 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, Matt sits down with Kevin Bravo and Cody Fernley for the first three-person episode in the history of the show and a raw conversation about faith, fitness, pain, purpose, fatherhood, and what it really means to fully surrender your life to God.

Kevin shares his testimony publicly in a way he never had before.

At just 12 years old, Kevin lost his father after years of alcohol abuse. That loss sent him into a dark place filled with anger, confusion, guilt, depression, self-harm, drinking, smoking, and eventually thoughts...

In Episode 64 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, Matt sits down with Nicole Duke for one of the rawest and most powerful recovery stories shared on the show.

Nicole opens up about growing up in Idaho as a pastor’s kid while being surrounded by addiction, crime, prison, and street life through family influences. From a young age, she was exposed to a lifestyle that looked powerful from the outside, but eventually led her into fighting, partying, stealing, selling drugs, and chasing chaos.

What started with weed, pills, and alcohol turned into years of opioid ad...

In Episode 63 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, Matt sits down with Jon Klipstein, Army combat veteran, entrepreneur, and founder of The Die Trying Company.

Jon’s story starts in Billings, Montana, where he grew up around sports but eventually fell into partying, drugs, alcohol, and the wrong crowd. After moving around, building success in sales, losing everything during the 2008 housing crash, and realizing his life had no real direction, Jon made a decision that changed everything. He joined the Army.

What started with barely being able to pass a PT test turned into Jon be...

Amanda’s story is one of the most raw and powerful testimonies shared on Rain Brings Growth.

After becoming a mom at only 14 years old, losing her 4-month-old son to SIDS, falling into meth and heroin addiction, going to prison, losing custody of her children, and watching some of them be adopted, Amanda reached a point where addiction had taken almost everything from her.

But her story did not end there.

In this episode, Amanda opens up for the first time about childhood, becoming a young mother, grief, addiction, CPS, prison, relapse, motherhood, fo...

In this episode of Rain Brings Growth, Matt sits down with Rudy Vasquez, barber, entrepreneur, father, and living proof that real transformation happens one decision at a time.

Rudy shares his powerful story of battling alcohol addiction, struggling with obesity, being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and spending years convincing himself he was a “functioning alcoholic.” What started as a simple conversation in a barbershop turned into a life-changing fitness journey that forced him to confront hard truths, take accountability, and ultimately choose a different path.

Through fitness, sobriety, and personal growth, Rudy discovered that healing isn...

In this episode of Rain Brings Growth, Matt sits down with Sean Thompson, owner of Nine Realms Athletics in Caldwell, Idaho, for a powerful conversation about resilience, law enforcement, fitness, marriage, PTSD, entrepreneurship, and building something bigger than yourself.

Sean shares his journey from growing up in Northern California, working through a tough childhood, chasing his dream of becoming a pro wrestler, serving in law enforcement, and eventually finding purpose again through strength training. After years of physical injuries, mental battles, and the weight of the job, Sean discovered that the gym became more than a place...

In Episode 59 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, Matt sits down with Luis Granados for one of the most powerful stories yet.

Luis grew up in Idaho after his parents came from Mexico searching for opportunity. What started as a childhood surrounded by hard work, survival, and feeling like an outsider eventually pulled him into gang culture, street violence, fights, guns, and a life that nearly cost him everything.

In this episode, Luis opens up about being exposed to gangs at a young age, building a reputation through violence, getting shot at, losing friends, and...

What happens when addiction starts at home?

In Episode 58 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, Jim shares the unbelievable true story of how his own father introduced him to meth at just 16 years old during a hunting trip in the Idaho backcountry. What started with alcohol and partying eventually spiraled into meth addiction, drug dealing, homelessness, cartel connections, and losing everything after relapse.

But this episode isn’t just about addiction.

It’s about redemption, recovery, faith, fatherhood, and rebuilding a life after complete destruction.

Jim opens up about:
• Being introd...

Episode 57 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast features Bryan “Bam” Marshall — a Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, adrenaline junkie, and the host of the Wild Chaos Podcast.

In this episode, Bam dives deep into his wild upbringing in upstate New York, growing up hunting, fishing, and hustling from a young age before joining the Marines after 9/11. From intense Iraq deployments and military brotherhood to life after the service, entrepreneurship, podcasting, and escaping the “rat race,” this conversation is packed with raw stories, hard truths, and nonstop laughs.

Matt and Bam also talk about fatherhood, chasing freedom, building b...

In Episode 56 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, Matt sits down with Jamie Shepard for one of the most raw and emotional conversations yet.

Jamie opens up about growing up in foster care, surviving abuse, battling addiction, becoming a young mother, and spending years trapped in cycles of trauma and dysfunction before finally finding recovery, faith, and purpose.

This episode dives deep into generational trauma, toxic relationships, drug court, motherhood, healing, and what it truly means to break cycles and rebuild your life from the ground up. Jamie’s story is painful, powerful, and ultimately fu...

What happens when you survive war… but almost lose your life to alcohol?

In Episode 55 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, Scott Larson shares a powerful story of survival, addiction, and redemption. From joining the military at 17 to experiencing a near-death moment when a C130 engine exploded mid-flight, Scott has lived through moments most people will never face.

But his hardest battle wasn’t overseas…

It was with alcohol.

This episode dives deep into the reality of addiction, especially in military and law enforcement culture, and what it truly takes to break...

In this roundtable episode of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, we sit down with some of the real voices in the hunting space to break down what hunting actually looks like beyond the highlight reels.

Featuring creators like Richard Bettencourt from  @SteepKuntryOutdoors   Will Meyers of  @rivertons9580   and Cole Rushton from  @apexhunt9859   this conversation dives deep into the good, the bad, and the ugly of life in the mountains.

We talk about the moments you don’t see on TV — the missed shots, the long pack outs, the mental battles, and the responsibility that comes with pulling th...

In Episode 53 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, Scott Curtis shares a raw, unfiltered story of transformation from reckless decisions and addiction to faith, discipline, and building a life with purpose.

Scott opens up about hitting rock bottom after a DUI at 21, battling substance abuse, and ultimately making the decision to change everything for his future family. From checking into rehab to walking away from a secure prison job, this episode dives deep into what it really takes to break destructive cycles and bet on yourself.

We talk about
• The truth about addiction and pe...

This might be one of the most intense and powerful stories ever shared on the Rain Brings Growth Podcast.

Eric takes us through a life marked by extreme adversity…
A devastating motocross crash that left him paralyzed, in a coma, and fighting for his life…

But that was only the beginning.

From surviving near-death experiences… to enduring violence, trauma, and unimaginable personal battles… this episode dives deep into what it truly means to be tested.

We talk about:

Overcoming life-threatening injuries and being told you’ll never walk again
...

In this episode of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, we sit down with Tyler Schuler, owner of The Protein Spot in Boise, Idaho. Tyler shares his powerful journey from being over 100 pounds overweight and pre-diabetic as a teenager to building multiple gyms and creating a healthy fast food alternative that is changing lives.

We dive deep into the hard truths around childhood obesity, generational habits, and how the environment you grow up in shapes your relationship with food. Tyler opens up about growing up in an unhealthy household, overcoming food addiction, and why he believes parents play...

Episode 50 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast is one you won’t forget

Vanessa Ayala opens up about a life that most people would never see on the surface From what looked like a normal childhood to the reality of pain loss and growth behind closed doors this episode dives deep into the truth that everyone has a story you don’t see

Vanessa shares her journey growing up in California navigating ADHD chasing her passion in cosmetology and becoming a mother But everything changed in an instant when she experienced one of the highest high...

In this episode of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, I sit down with Luke Sanders, also known as @skywalker.life, to talk about faith, fatherhood and becoming the man your family needs.

Luke shares his story growing up in a small town in Northern California, being raised in a large faith driven family, and transitioning into a Mennonite lifestyle that shaped his values, discipline and perspective.

We dive into the difference between religion and relationship with God, the importance of focusing on Jesus over denominations, and how men can lead their families with strength, purpose...

In this powerful episode, I sit down with leadership from Soldiers of the Cross, a men’s motorcycle ministry committed to searching for the one—the lost, the broken, and the forgotten.

Joining me are:
• Ben Hardister, President of the Modesto, California founding chapter
• Nick Dowdy, Vice President of the Modesto chapter
• Rod Garcia, President of the Idaho chapter

Soldiers of the Cross serves wherever God opens the door—inside prisons, on the streets, on mission trips, and in communities where help is needed most. Their mission is simple but heavy: show up, serve, an...

In this raw and unfiltered episode of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, I sit down with David Stamper, better known as Menace, to unpack a life that started in chaos and found its way to purpose.

David opens up about a traumatic childhood surrounded by meth labs, abuse, and addiction at a young age. He shares what it was like running away from home, spending three years in juvenile detention, and navigating early adulthood—including working on fishing boats in Alaska—while still battling destructive patterns.

As the partying escalated, so did the consequences: DUIs, jail...

In this episode of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, I sit down with Kameron Ross to unpack a journey that went from discipline and drive to complete humility and rebuilding.

Kameron grew up with a deep love for jiu jitsu, fitness, and service. Between training, the gym, and serving on special teams at the jail where he worked, his life was built around physical capability and mental toughness. Then everything changed.

After months of unexplained health struggles and bouncing between specialists, Kameron was diagnosed with a form of Lyme disease. What followed was a long...

What happens when success on the outside hides destruction on the inside?

In Episode 42 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, Matthew Sidwell sits down with Travis Taylor to share a raw and honest story about career success, addiction, loss, and ultimate redemption through faith.

Travis grew up around farm life and was raised in the Mormon church. After graduating high school, he slowly drifted away from his faith while searching for direction in life. A few years later, Travis began working in corrections as a stepping stone toward becoming a police officer. What started as...

What is it really like working prison transport and running a prison bus? In Episode 43 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, we sit down with Caleb, Tommy, Matt, and Scott to talk about their real-life experiences working corrections transport.

This episode is packed with hilarious stories, unforgettable moments, and raw conversations about the reality of life on the prison bus. The guys dive into the brotherhood built during long shifts, the unpredictable situations officers face, and the lessons learned from working one of the most unique roles inside corrections.

We cover the good, the bad...

In this episode of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, host Matthew Sidwell sits down with Carly Slawson to discuss her recent experience as a surrogate mother and what the surrogacy process truly looks like behind the scenes.

Carly shares the full journey of becoming a surrogate, including the intense background checks, psychological evaluations, medical screenings, legal requirements, and approval process required just to be accepted into a surrogacy program. Many people do not realize how detailed and demanding the surrogate application process is, and Carly breaks down every step with honesty and transparency.

We dive...

In Episode 46 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, I sit down with Anthony Larson for a real conversation about pain, growth, and becoming who you were never expected to be.

Anthony shares his childhood and upbringing, and how lifting weights at a young age became his first outlet for discipline and self-belief. We walk through his early adult years, the different jobs he worked, and the winding path that eventually led him into the masonry field.

What started as labor turned into ownership.

Today, Anthony runs a business alongside his wife, and we...

In this episode of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Ethan Edminsten, dentist and owner of Caldwell Dentistry Co. in Caldwell, Idaho.

Ethan shares the story of his childhood growing up homeschooled and moving across different states before eventually deciding as a teenager that dentistry was the career he wanted to pursue. We dive into what dental school is really like, including the intense education most people never hear about such as cadaver work and the deep understanding dentists must have of the human body.

We also talk about how oral...

In Episode 48 of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, I sit down with Rudy Vazquez, a barber at Goodfellas Barber Shop in Nampa, Idaho. This conversation is full of laughter, real stories, and hard truths about life, family, and growing up.

Rudy shares what life was like growing up working alongside his parents in the fields picking produce at a young age. Those early experiences shaped his work ethic and perspective on family, culture, and responsibility.

We also dive into Mexican culture and traditions, including Rudy’s honest take on how quinceañeras have changed over the...

In this powerful episode of the Rain Brings Growth Podcast, we sit down with Charlie Fortik, owner of 3D Fitness and co-founder of Bunker Supplements, to share one of the most raw redemption stories ever featured on the show.

Charlie opens up about growing up in extreme poverty and chaos. He endured abuse from his mom’s boyfriends, grew up surrounded by crime, and at times survived by eating out of McDonald’s garbage cans. By the age of 11, Charlie was living completely on his own in a small camper in a field, forced to survive with no g...

This episode is a special one. We sat down for a raw, real, and hilarious four-way conversation with four former corrections officers who spent years inside the walls most people never see behind. Joining the roundtable are Matthew Sidwell, Kyle Nations, Brock Sande, and Jeffery Anderson, and together we share the stories you don’t hear unless you lived it.

We dive into the reality of prison life from the officer’s side—major incidents, intense moments, fights, adrenaline dumps, and what it truly takes to stay calm when chaos breaks loose. But we also talk about the fu...