Broken-ish

In this episode of Broken-ish , we move out of the heaviness and into the hope. Not the fake, motivational quote kind. The real kind that comes from doing hard things, telling the truth, and staying in the work long enough to see something take shape. Using Tupac’s The Rose That Grew from Concrete as a backdrop, we get into what happens when passion and purpose finally line up , and why most peopl...

What happens when an idea turns into something real? When comfort disappears and growth takes its place? In this end-of-year episode of Broken-ish, we sit down to reflect on everything 2025 brought, both personally and professionally. We start light with a surprisingly passionate debate about The Nightmare Before Christmas, then move into deeper conversations about fantasy vs realism, creativity,...

What happens when the spotlight fades—and purpose shows up? In this unforgettable episode of Broken-ish , we sit down with a man whose life reads like a movie script: from touring as a rapper inspired by 8 Mile , to jail, to rebuilding his life—and now leading frontline outreach for the unhoused. This isn’t a “feel-good” story. It’s a real one. You’ll hear what the music industry doesn’t prepare y...

In this powerful and brutally honest episode of Broken-ish, we dive into the silent crisis shaping an entire generation of men. From abandonment to emotional abuse, from addiction to incarceration, from chasing approval to losing ourselves completely, we speak the truth that so many men live but never talk about. 🎙 In this episode: • What really happens to boys who grow up without strong male role...

Families don’t come to treatment looking for education — they come looking for answers. But what if the most ethical thing we can say is: there is no single answer ? In this episode of Inside Ava Health , a panel of experienced therapeutic consultants challenges long-held assumptions about treatment, cost, outcomes, and control. From private-pay vs. community care to data transparency and long-ter...

The holidays are supposed to be about gratitude, family, and togetherness — but for a lot of people, they’re the hardest time of the year. In this episode of Broken-ish , we strip away the Hallmark version of Thanksgiving and talk about the reality no one wants to post about: loneliness, addiction, incarceration, homelessness, and the quiet pain that spikes when the days get shorter and the world...

The mental health system is broken-ish—and we’ve felt the weight of it for years. In this episode, we talk honestly about burnout, deaths of despair, and why fighting the system felt like swinging in a dream. But we also share the shift that changed everything: choosing curiosity, partnering with communities, and building real solutions from within a fractured system. From Western Colorado to the...

From surfboards to boardrooms, he had it all — talent, drive, and the dream of going pro. But when addiction wiped out his surfing career, he found himself homeless on the streets of Colorado. What came next was a transformation no one saw coming: from panhandling for booze money to working in investment banking, earning an MBA, and building behavioral-health programs that change lives. This episo...

In this solo episode of Broken-ish , Chris opens up about what it really means to lead with honesty — even when it’s uncomfortable. He shares how transparency can transform leadership, relationships, and entire organizations, especially in a behavioral health system built on facades. Chris reflects on his evolving friendship with Roman, the lessons learned through failure, and why “hitting rock bo...

After 25 years in behavioral health, Ian found himself wondering if all he had left to offer was a bowl of candy on his desk — a small gesture in a system that had lost its soul. What followed was a reckoning with profit-driven treatment models, personal burnout, and a rediscovery of what real recovery work looks like. In this deeply honest and thought-provoking conversation, Ian shares how being...

He lost his job, his home, and his car—all in one freezing Wyoming day. Homeless, addicted, and out of options, Chris stood at a crossroads: live or die. What happened next would change everything. From relapsing after his grandmother’s funeral to sleeping in fields and shelters, Chris’s story isn’t just about survival—it’s about rebirth. He went from hopelessness and addiction to leading one of C...

From a childhood of trauma and abandonment to addiction, prison, and ultimately purpose — this episode is a raw and inspiring conversation about resilience and redemption. Roman opens up about how pain shaped his identity, how love shattered his beliefs of unworthiness, and how becoming a father ignited his mission to help others heal. If you’ve ever felt broken, hopeless, or unseen — this episode...

Imagine being CEO of your dream program, only to get kicked out! 😱 In this intense episode, Chris talks about the moment he felt his life fell apart. He discusses ego, loneliness, success and failure. Hard truths, real conversations and sparks of possibility from a world that's a little.... broken, ish.

Teaser for ep 1