Genuine Life with Jodie Stevens

Why Do I Keep Losing Myself in Relationships? | Finding Your Way Out of Survival Mode with Amanda Hill Why do so many of us keep repeating the same painful patterns? Maybe you struggle to say no. Maybe you feel responsible for everyone else's emotions. Maybe you constantly question yourself, walk on eggshells around certain people, or wonder why healthy relationships feel so...uncomfortable. The t...

From Prisoner to Purpose: Breaking Cycles Through Faith, Recovery, and Hope with Kelsey Harris (Ep. 193)  What does it take to break the cycle of addiction, trauma, and incarceration? In this powerful episode of the Genuine Life Podcast, I'm joined by author, speaker, and prison minister Kelsey Harris for an honest conversation about recovery, redemption, and the life-changing power of Jesus Chris...

The Day I Chose Recovery Over Death — and Never Looked Back (Ep 192) In this raw and deeply inspiring episode of Genuine Life Recovery, Sean Beem shares the powerful story of how he escaped a life shaped by trauma, addiction, violence, depression, and hopelessness — and found lasting freedom through recovery, faith, and purpose. Raised around alcoholism, drugs, biker culture, and chaos, Sean’s lif...

The Slow Fade Nobody Talks About (Ep. 191) What happens when addiction slowly rewires your identity, relationships, thinking, and sense of self — and grace still finds you anyway?  In this powerful episode of Genuine Life Recovery, author, speaker, and ministry leader Nikole Thompson shares her raw testimony of surviving methamphetamine addiction, pornography, destructive relationships, sexual bro...

You Don’t Have a Mental Health Problem… You Have an Identity Problem (Ep. 190) What if nothing is “wrong” with you—but something deeper is off? In this episode of Genuine Life, I sit down with Dr. Eric Moyer and we go straight to the root of what so many of us are dealing with right now—the identity piece underneath anxiety, addiction, burnout, and people-pleasing. Because a lot of us have spent y...

How to Live the Serenity Prayer - Step By Step (Ep. 189) This short (blast from the past) solo episode is being shared between guest episodes as a quick, meaningful pause for reflection. It’s based on one of the most-watched and most-resonant videos on my YouTube channel , and I wanted to make it available here as a Genuine Life episode for anyone who may need it. In this conversation, I talk abou...

God Doesn’t Plant Seeds He Doesn’t Intend to Grow: Breaking Approval Addiction & Learning to Lead (Ep. 188) What if the reason you don’t feel loved… is because the real you has never been fully seen? In this powerful episode, with relationship coach and author Lionel Moses , we unpack the connection between approval addiction, imposter syndrome, and leadership—and how so many of us are showing...

In this powerful episode of Genuine Life, I talk with Emmy-nominated filmmakers Kay and Murray Sumner, creators of the award-winning documentary Survivors. After losing their son Josh—a gifted musician—to opioid addiction, the Sumners turned unimaginable grief into purpose. Through their film and mission, they’re working to break the stigma, raise awareness, and save lives in the midst of the opio...

In this vivid and important episode of Genuine Life Recovery , I’m joined by writer Christopher Carazas , author of the memoir Now That I’m Still Here: A Memoir of Ruin and Resurrection . Christopher shares the story of how a life that looked successful on the outside slowly collapsed under the weight of psychological abuse—and how he fought his way back after reaching the brink. From the outside,...

Feeding Tube to Freedom:  A Story of Sobriety, Surrender, & Miraculous Healing (Ep. 185).  What do you do when survival mode becomes normal — and pain just feels like part of who you are? In this powerful episode of Genuine Life Recovery, I sit down with Sara Kelsey to talk about a life marked by chronic illness, medical trauma, foster care, deep grief, and years of binge-drinking that felt mo...

Gutter Gospel: A Story of Hope from the Hardest Places (Ep.184) Mike Smith joins me, a veteran whose life story is a raw, honest testimony of addiction, mental illness, homelessness, and ultimately, redemption. Mike takes us deep into his journey — from growing up with trauma, battling substance abuse and suicidal attempts, to finding hope through faith and a life-changing encounter with Jesus Chr...

Redeemed, Not Defined  by my Past—  Breaking Every Chain (Ep. 183) What happens when childhood survival turns into adult addiction-and God steps in with redemption?     In this episode of Genuine Life Recovery, Russell Ramos shares his powerful story of growing up in instability, carrying unhealed wounds into adulthood, and eventually finding freedom through recovery, surrender, and faith. Raised...

Grace in Recovery: A Biblical Walk through the 12 Steps (Pt. 2 Ep. 182) Tune in for a tender but truth-telling journey into how God meets us right in the middle of addiction, trauma, and everyday mess—and slowly, patiently, makes us new. In this episode I talk with author, counselor, and cancer survivor David Zailer as we walk through all 12 steps, showing how they rise straight out of Scripture a...

Courageous Conversations: Childhood Trauma, Faith, & Healing - Pt 1 (Ep. 181) Listen and watch for an honest and compassionate conversation with author and recovery leader David Zailer as we explore the impact of childhood trauma and the long road toward healing. David opens up about surviving sexual abuse within the church, growing up with a narcissistic parent, and carrying the emotional fal...

The God Who Became Bread: A True Story of Starving, Feasting, & Feeding Others (Ep. 180). Join us for this powerful episode of Genuine Life Recovery, with author and speaker Emily Wierenga, who nearly starved to death as a young girl but now feeds bodies and souls with the love of God. Emily shares her remarkable journey from battling anorexia and fear to finding healing, identity, and purpose...

From Overdose to Encounter: How Jesus Met a Heroin Addict at IHOP – Adam Vibe Gunton’s Recovery Story (Ep. 180) After years of heroin addiction, homelessness, and a near-fatal overdose caught on camera, Adam Vibe Gunton was out of options—until a supernatural encounter in an IHOP changed everything. In this episode of Genuine Life Recovery, I talk with Adam about his dramatic journey from despair...

Recovery, Relationships, & Real Life with Josh and Heidi (Ep. 179) In this special episode of Genuine Life Recovery, I’m hanging out with my husband, Aaron, as we co-host an honest conversation with Josh and Heidi Case from The Sober Buzz Podcast. Since Aaron and I have been married in sobriety for nearly two decades, it was powerful to talk with another couple navigating marriage, recovery, a...

Recovery isn’t always a straight line—and sometimes, real healing happens in the gray space between sickness and full recovery. In this episode of Genuine Life Recovery, we jump in with journalist, professor, and author Mallary Tenore Tarpley, whose powerful memoir Slip explores her journey through anorexia, binge eating, and the lifelong process of reclaiming health and identity. Mallary opens up...

From Binge to Balance: Food Addiction Recovery for High Achievers (Ep 177) “Are you hustling your way to success… with a side of secret snacks?” In this episode of Genuine Life Recovery, we dive into the surprising truth about food addiction—especially in the world of busy entrepreneurs. Is it really just about overeating, or is something deeper at play? Licensed therapist Jennifer Schrappe joins...

Not a Caretaker? You Might Still Be Codependent (Ep. 176) Are you codependent — but not in the way everyone talks about? Most people think codependency is only about caretaking, rescuing, and sacrificing yourself to meet everyone else’s needs. And yes, that’s one form — but it’s not the only one. For me, codependency showed up in my career, performance, and need for approval. My identity rose and...

If You Keep Relapsing, It Might Be an Identity Issue (Part 5 Ep. 175) In this episode, we explore how identity is at the heart of recovery. It’s not just about resisting the next drink or behavior—it’s about confronting the deep, often hidden beliefs you hold about who you are. And many of us, especially in early sobriety, don’t realize we’ve been living from a false self shaped by trauma, shame,...

Restore Relationships, Make Amends, & Set Healthy Boundaries in Recovery (Part 4 Ep. 174) Have you ever wondered how to rebuild broken relationships after addiction? In this video, we dive deep into the emotional and spiritual steps of making amends, restoring trust, and setting healthy boundaries — all through the lens of biblical wisdom. We'll cover: 1. The damage addiction causes in relatio...

How to Manage My Emotions Without Numbing Out | Biblical + Clinical Tools For Early Sobriety Welcome to Part 3 of our 5-part series, Challenges in Early Sobriety. In this episode, we delve into the emotional complexities that often surface during the early stages of recovery. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by emotions like guilt, shame, anger, or fear—and found yourself reaching for numbing behav...

Overcoming Temptation & Triggers | Leaning into Faith in Early Sobriety | Part 2 | Ep. 172 (Previously Aired Live) Christian Sobriety Series | Recovery Tools for Triggers, Cravings & Temptation Early sobriety is one of the hardest roads you’ll ever walk—and if you’re in it right now, you know exactly how it feels. The temptation to drink or use again can sneak up like a storm cloud: one em...

How Do I Make the Decision to Change | Early Sobriety Part 1 (Ep. 171)  Breaking free from addiction begins with one crucial choice: surrender. But let's be honest—letting go of control is one of the toughest challenges in early sobriety. Don't miss this 5 part series addressing some of the biggest challenges in early sobriety and how to overcome them. In this conversation, we’ll dive into the str...