Primary Purpose with Pej

What happens when someone society gave up on refuses to give up on themselves? This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Ginny Burton — speaker, reform advocate, and living proof that redemption is real. After 30 years in addiction, 17 felony convictions, and nearly a decade spent in prison, Ginny lost everything: her freedom, family, identity, and hope. But her story didn’t end th...

Today on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Eric B. Zink, mental health advocate, addiction recovery mentor, and speaker whose message of hope has impacted millions around the world. With more than 2 million followers across social media, Eric has become a powerful voice for those struggling with addiction, trauma, depression, and the difficult journey of rebuilding a life after darkness...

In this episode, Pej is joined by therapist Dima Puchkarare for an honest conversation that blends both professional insight and lived experience in the addiction and recovery space. Together, they share what early sobriety really looks like—from navigating intense emotions and struggling with consistency to the challenge of letting go of familiar environments and habits. Drawing from their work w...

In this solo episode of Primary Purpose, Pej dives into one of the most dangerous mindsets in recovery: the belief that we’re in control of everything. “Playing God” doesn’t always look obvious, it shows up as overthinking, forcing outcomes, trying to fix people, or refusing to surrender when things don’t go our way. Pej breaks down how this illusion of control quietly fuels relapse, disconnect, a...

Nick Plaskett’s story is one of resilience, responsibility, and purpose forged through loss. After the passing of his father in 2021, Nick was suddenly thrust into a leadership role during one of the most difficult seasons of his life. As the oldest sibling, he not only helped guide his family through the emotional and logistical challenges of probate, but also stepped in to stabilize and rebuild...

In this powerful episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Shireen Janti, a mental health and addiction recovery professional whose life story is a testament to resilience, transformation, and purpose. After surviving substance abuse, eating disorders, and deep personal trauma, Shireen has now been sober for over 36 years. What makes her journey even more impactful is how she turned he...

In this powerful episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, Chassity Ebbole shares her incredible journey from tattoo artist and athlete to conceptual engineer, dog rescue leader, and devoted follower of Jesus Christ. With a background that spans the world of body art, competitive sports, and entrepreneurship, Chassity opens up about the defining moments that reshaped her life and led her toward a deepe...

Adam Stephens joins Primary Purpose with Pej for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about addiction, recovery, and what it truly takes to change your life. Having lived through the struggles himself, Adam now dedicates his life to helping others break free from addiction and find a new path forward. In this episode, he shares real stories from the front lines of recovery, the mindset shifts...

On this episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, Brian Schultz recounts the life-altering moment on May 24, 2018, when he walked into his sister’s home to find a professional interventionist and his family waiting to confront his worsening substance use and mental health struggles. Once the "angry and resistant" recipient of an intervention, Brian now serves as a Certified Case Manager and Interventio...

Today on Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Carlton Norwood, a recovery advocate whose life story is defined by resilience, responsibility, and a deep calling to help families find their way back from chaos. Carlton’s journey includes years of substance use and self-destructive behavior that placed his life — and his relationships — at serious risk. After reaching a moment of undeniable cl...

The "Fast Life" wasn’t just a phase for Randy Underwood—it was his identity. In this week’s episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Orange County native Randy Underwood. Growing up in the heart of the San Diego and L.A. surf and punk scenes, Randy lived a life defined by motorcycle racing, DIY culture, and the rebellious spirit of Generation X. But when "living fast" starts to catch...

In this episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we are joined by Matt Brown, a professional interventionist who has spent over 20 years guiding families through the storm of addiction. Matt’s expertise isn't just academic—it’s lived. In 2001, his own family staged an intervention that saved his life. Since entering recovery in 2003, he has dedicated his career to paying that gift forward, helping hun...

"You don't steal someone's comeback story, you support it." In this episode of Primary Purpose, Pej sits down with Katie Sanders (NCACIP, NCFRC), a family recovery coach who specializes in turning household chaos into clinical clarity. Katie didn’t just study recovery; she built her practice in the high-stakes world of private detox and intervention. With a background in Finance and Risk Managemen...

In this heartfelt episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Patrick O’Neill, a Southern California native whose life story is rooted in adventure, creativity, and hard-earned growth. From years behind the bar and travels across the globe to his transition into the corporate world, Patrick shares how connection, curiosity, and music have always been guiding forces in his life. Now 16 mo...

On this episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Scott Stein — family coach, interventionist, and founder of Capital Companion and Transport — for one of the most honest conversations about addiction, family dynamics, and recovery you’ll hear. Scott doesn’t teach recovery from theory — he lived it. His addiction spanned opioids, alcohol, weed, benzos, nightlife culture, and the “work...

In this powerful episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Marco Ferrante — pastor, mentor, nonprofit leader, and founder of Journey to Solutions — to share a raw and deeply moving story of addiction, identity, and spiritual transformation. Raised in a traditional Sicilian family where reputation meant everything, Marco learned early that admitting addiction was considered weakness....

Today on Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Allison Smith — a domestic violence survivor, single mother, and woman who has walked the path of sobriety for over 10 years, one day at a time. Faith-driven and deeply committed to healing, Allison shares her story with honesty and courage. What began as survival became transformation — learning how to rebuild her life, reclaim her voice, and ra...

This year on Primary Purpose with Pej, we sat down with some of the most powerful voices in recovery, mental health, performance, leadership, and personal transformation. This special end-of-year episode brings together the most impactful moments, stories, and insights from our best guests — conversations that challenged perspective, sparked growth, and reminded us what purpose really looks like w...

Michael’s life took him across the world — from New Jersey to Puerto Rico to Hong Kong — but addiction followed no matter how far he ran. Despite a strong upbringing and early success in sports, Michael began drinking at 12 and was addicted to heroin by 18. After leaving college and cycling through rehab, he built a successful career in shipping and logistics. On the outside, life looked stable —...

Today on Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with a man whose life’s work has quietly transformed tens of thousands of lives — long before addiction medicine was respected, understood, or widely practiced. Dr. Faried Banihamd began his career in academic emergency medicine, teaching and researching at UCLA/Kern Medical Center and later UC Irvine. But despite a prestigious path, his true calling...

On this episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, licensed psychotherapist Dr. Vicky Truong, LMFT, Ph. D. breaks down what it really looks like to heal generational trauma — not just in her clients, but in her own life. Based in Tustin, CA, Vicky specializes in trauma and couples therapy for adult children of immigrants, helping people navigate the emotional, cultural, and relational wounds passed down...

This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Freeman Palmore — a man whose life is living proof that redemption is real and recovery is possible. Once a promising athlete, Freeman’s world was shattered after the sudden loss of his father. What followed was a long descent into addiction, isolation, and self-destruction — until one day, he made the choice that changed everything. Now, wit...

Meet Charlie Engle — the man who ran across the Sahara Desert, climbed ice-covered volcanoes, swam with crocodiles, and even served time in federal prison. But his hardest race isn’t measured in miles — it’s the one he runs every single day. In this powerful episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, Charlie opens up about the challenges that shaped him, the humor that saved him, and how he turned pain...

In this powerful and eye-opening episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, Paula shares her incredible story of resilience and recovery. Once a sober stripper who helped women escape addiction and prostitution, she opens up about her journey in Portland’s underground scene — and the misconceptions that come with it. From breaking stigmas to building community, Paula’s honesty sheds light on an industry...

Today’s episode is one of the most emotional and personal conversations I’ve ever shared. For the first time, I’m sitting down with the person who knows my story better than anyone — my mom. Together, we talk about the years of heartbreak, fear, and hope our family went through as I battled addiction and found my way back to life. She watched me lose everything, and she also watched me rebuild fro...