Genuine Life with Jodie Stevens

Not all addiction treatment programs are created equal—and sometimes, ending up in the wrong one can set your recovery back. In this episode, we break down how counselors and treatment professionals use the ASAM Criteria to assess your needs and recommend the right level of care. From detox to outpatient to trauma-informed residential programs, we’ll explore what goes into determining the best fit...

Mastering Emotions: The Secret Curve No One Teaches You (Episode 169)  Have you ever felt overwhelmed and emotionally numb — like you can’t name what you’re feeling, let alone express it? Maybe you've relapsed or shut down and thought, “What’s wrong with me?” The truth is, it’s not about willpower — it’s about emotional literacy. In this powerful episode, we unpack the hidden emotional roots of re...

In this unique dual podcast episode, I, Jodie Stevens and Craig Perra interview each other! We dive deep into our different—but strikingly similar—addiction stories. I share my journey through alcoholism and codependency, while Craig, founder of TheMindfulHabit.com , opens up about his recovery from sex, porn, and digital addiction. Together, we explore how all addictions—regardless of the substan...

In this episode of Genuine Life Recovery, I'm joined by fellow dyslexic and storyteller Juliet Hahn for a real, honest conversation about our personal journeys with dyslexia, anxiety, and the mental health challenges that shaped our lives. We explore how learning differences can deeply affect self-esteem, emotional health, and—in my case—lead to struggles with addiction. Together, we unpack the of...

What happens when a promising young rapper from Philly spirals into full-blown addiction? Brian Storm went from smoking weed as a teen to surviving overdoses, homelessness, and the kind of darkness most don’t make it out of. This is his raw, real, and redemptive story. In this episode: 🔹 Heroin, crime, and near-death experiences 🔹 The trauma behind his addiction 🔹 Why music and faith helped him...

In this episode of Genuine Life Recovery, we dive into an incredible redemption story of faith-based recovery, resilience, and healing. My guest, Tom J. LaGrave Jr., is a former Navy SEAL, clinical social worker, and a man who has walked the difficult path of addiction recovery. Once lost in addiction, Tom found hope, healing, and purpose, and now he’s committed to helping young people rise above...

Join us for an inspiring episode as I, your host Jodie Stevens, sit down with Stanley Cup Champion Brent Sopel to delve into our shared experiences with dyslexia and addiction recovery. Diagnosed with dyslexia only after his daughter's diagnosis, Brent reflects on his undiagnosed struggles during his youth, the coping mechanisms he developed, and how these challenges intertwined with his battle ag...

Grief can break you, or it can lead you to a new path. In this episode, Amy Sazama shares her deeply personal journey through unimaginable loss of the death of her mother, the murder of her twin brother, and the generational trauma that shaped her struggles with addiction. She opens up about how grief impacted her mental health, how she turned to substances to cope, and what finally led her to sob...

What happens when you quit drinking, only to find yourself hooked on sugar? Mike Collins knows this struggle all too well. After overcoming alcohol addiction, he realized that sugar was becoming his new crutch—triggering the same cravings, mood swings, and withdrawals. Now, after 30 years of living sugar-free, he’s on a mission to help others break the cycle. In this episode of Genuine Life Recove...

Breaking Free: Sex, Love, and Addiction: A Real Talk on Healing and Hope (Episode 157) Why do people become addicted to sex and love? Is it really just about physical desire, or is there something deeper? In this powerful episode, we speak with therapist Mike Vaughn, a leading expert on sex addiction recovery, to uncover the underlying issues behind these struggles. We discuss how trauma plays a m...

Freedom from Same-Sex Attraction & Meth Addiction with Patrick Quezada (Episode 156) Raised in an environment of brokenness and rejection, Patrick Quezada turned to addiction and the pursuit of an identity that left him empty. After years of battling same-sex attraction and crystal meth addiction, his struggles were compounded by the trauma of being sexually exploited by a pastor—an experience...

Tune into this episode previously recorded live. I'm joined by my former morning radio co-host, Charlee Simons, as we dive into our wild journeys in the radio industry, our struggles with addiction, and how God completely turned our lives around. We’re talking about loss, faith, and redemption—and of course, sharing plenty of laughs along the way. And if you ever listened to us on the radio, you a...

Are you stuck on a life path that feels more like a rut than a road to joy? In this inspirational episode of the Serenity Series on Genuine Life Recovery, I reconnects with my childhood friend Lisa Williams to explore how the Serenity Prayer can help us face life’s twists and turns with courage and grace. Lisa shares her incredible journey of walking away from a 23-year corporate career—a decision...

A Will to Live: The Chad Gaines Story  (Episode 153) What would you do if your darkest secrets were suddenly exposed? In this gripping episode, we dive deep into the life of Chad Gaines —a man who lived through unimaginable trauma, addiction, and self-destruction but refused to let his story end in tragedy. From abuse and bullying to surviving multiple suicide attempts, Chad’s journey is raw, real...

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, This isn’t how it was supposed to be? Maybe your plans unraveled, your dreams shifted, addiction has left your life in pieces, recovery isn’t unfolding the way you imagined, or life’s unexpected challenges left you feeling lost. On this episode of the Genuine Life Recovery Podcast, part of our Serenity Series, I’m joined by Lisa Tannert —a speaker, wr...

Living the Serenity Prayer: Meaning, Power, and Everyday Application (Episode 151) Join me, Jodie Stevens, and my husband, Aaron, as we kick off the Serenity Series on the Genuine Life Recovery Podcast. In this powerful first episode, we dive into the meaning behind the Serenity Prayer, read the entire prayer, and explore its practical application in everyday life. We share the intimate story of o...

Spilling the Tea with Marva Dupree: Healing Trauma & Restoring Wounded Faith  (Episode 150) You guessed it, to celebrate 150 episodes, we Spill the Tea! I'm joined by Marva E'lane Dupree who is a mom, worship leader, coach, author, and speaker. Marva reveals her personal journey of healing from childhood trauma and finding her way back to deeper faith and living from her true center. Growing u...

Reckless Grace with Pastor Bill Vanderbush (Episode 149) In this episode of Genuine Life Recovery, I'm joined by Bill Vanderbush , pastor and author of Reckless Grace; the Gift. The Mystery. The Embrace. , to discuss the radical impact of grace and forgiveness in the journey of mental health and recovery. True recovery isn’t just about overcoming addiction or trauma, but finding our true identity...

Mind Over Matter: Navigating Neurodiversity in Faith and Life (Episode 148) In this 'thought-provoking' episode, I’m joined by Barbara Grant who brings over 65 years of cumulative life experience with the neurodiverse mind through her relationships—both in marriages and with family members. Her insights are invaluable as we dive deep into the world of neurodiversity , unpacking what it means to be...

Beyond the Mirror: Understanding Body Dysmorphia and Finding Healing Through God's Grace (Episode 147) What happens when the image you see in the mirror doesn’t match who you are? In this raw and real episode, I sit down with author, spiritual coach, and recovery advocate Brit Eaton to unpack the heavy topic of body dysmorphia. We dive into how societal pressures, trauma, and even church messages...

Addiction to Authenticity: George Wood’s Journey Through the Uncovery (Episode 146) George Wood understands the broken, the addicted, and the "lost" because he has been one of them. George has survived multiple suicide attempts, abuse, trauma and is in long-term recovery from alcohol and drugs.  In this episode George takes us through his transformative journey from addiction to authenticity. Geor...

Guard Your Heart: How Healthy Boundaries Transform Your Life and Recovery (Episode 145) This episode is all about boundaries—the kind that help you maintain your mental and emotional health. We start by defining what boundaries are and why they’re crucial for everyone, especially those in recovery. We will talk about the types of people who struggle with boundaries and why. Next, we explore the di...

Unmasking Your True Self: Discovering God-Given Identity with Pastor Mark (Episode 144) Christian coach, author, and pastor Mark Collins joins us as we dive into faith, identity, and purpose. Mark shares his personal transformation from a career-focused life to one centered around God’s purpose. We explore the crucial role of identity in overcoming addiction and mental health challenges, discussin...

Identifying Addiction: Insights from the DSM-5 and My Story (Episode 143) In this episode I share my personal journey with addiction and recovery and break down the 11 signs of alcohol and drug addiction from the DSM-5, the guide used by mental health professionals. I'll explain these signs in simple terms and share how they showed up in my own life. From drinking more than planned to missing impo...

Triumph Over Triggers: Recognize Triggers and Power Your Recovery (Episode 142)  In this episode, we dive into the pivotal role of triggers in the recovery process. Triggers are emotional and environmental cues that can spark intense emotions and lead us back into destructive behaviors like drinking, drug use, sex, shopping, gambling, or other addictions or emotional challenges. By understanding w...