Push Each Other to the Top

Brent had never really prayed. When a counselor told him to get on his knees and ask for help, he thought it was ridiculous — but at the bottom of the barrel, he did it anyway. He closed the door, got on the floor, and all he could muster was one word: "Help." Nothing happened. No trumpets, no rush. Then 30 days later he picked up his chip and realized he hadn't thought about drinki...

A psychologist once told Brent he had a fatal disease, handed him a copy of the Big Book, and said, "Don't come back." It took years, but that seed eventually saved his life. In this Father's Day episode, Brent and Jonathan open up about the fathers who shaped them, the fishing trips they still remember, and what it really means to show up sober. Then they dig into Step 9 — mak...

Recording from a beautiful island in Thailand, Brent joins Jonathan for a candid conversation about how to protect your sobriety when alcohol is everywhere — summer barbecues, weddings, work trips, casinos, and a condo with a full wall of booze. Brent shares the hard-won tools that keep him grounded: working Step One and truly conceding you're powerless, making a plan before you walk into a t...

You've been carrying it so long you forgot it was even there. A bag full of rocks slung over your shoulder, one for every resentment, every fear, every thing you swore you'd never tell a soul.  This week Brent and Jonathan dig into Step Five: admitting to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Brent shares what it was like walking guys through it at the detention center. The...

It's Memorial Day, and Brent and Jonathan take a moment to reflect on the people who made their lives possible — not just the service members who fought for their freedom, but the mothers, sponsors, and strangers who showed up when they needed it most.  In this episode, they dig into gratitude as more than a feeling — it's an action. They talk about what it means to break out of autopilo...

What do you say to someone who might be about to kill you?  Brent found out the hard way on a 12-step call he probably shouldn't have taken alone. Rick was a 275-pound bodybuilder, no shirt, glaring from his bed, looking like he was ready to come through the wall. Brent talked him down slowly, carefully, until Rick finally agreed to go to the hospital. When Rick threw back the blanket to get...

Growing up in an alcoholic home, Brent knew fear before he knew much else — hiding when his dad came home drunk, holding his breath through holidays. He also knows that the kids watching their parents struggle right now feel exactly the same way. In this episode, Jonathan shares what happened during his latest Thursday night prison outreach — nine men, one makeshift translator, and a conversation...

After a break, Jonathan and Brent are back—and the conversation goes deep right away. They explore how both of them unexpectedly found themselves working in addiction recovery, the power of spiritual guidance, and what it really means to help people change. From prison classrooms to family interventions, this episode is about hope, hard truths, and the surprising paths that lead us to purpose. 🔗...

In this episode, Stefan joins Brent to share his powerful story of recovery — from the dark caverns of addiction to discovering hope, resilience, and brotherhood. Along the way, he opens up about fear, surrender, and the realization that nearly all of the catastrophe he once imagined never came to pass. This is an honest conversation about learning to live one day at a time, leaning on others, and...

In this episode, Brent, Jonathan, and Michael open up about the powerful shifts that happen when families stop enabling and start facing the truth. Brent shares the turning point when the “dance” of addiction finally stopped, changing the entire family dynamic. Michael reflects on moments of chaos—like the neighborhood fire—that reveal how fragile and precious stability can be. Together, they expl...

In this special family roundtable, Brent sits down with his children to talk about the impact of recovery on all of their lives. They share honest reflections about years of struggle, the work it took to rebuild trust, and the miracles they’ve witnessed along the way. This episode is a powerful reminder that recovery doesn’t just change one person — it can transform an entire family. 🔗 Stay Conne...

In this powerful episode of Push Each Other to the Top , Brent welcomes his longtime friend Chaz to share his journey from addiction and brokenness to hope and purpose. Chaz opens up about growing up in chaos, battling heroin and meth addiction, and the pivotal moment in jail that sparked his transformation. With honesty and vulnerability, he reveals how recovery, community, and faith gave him the...

In this episode of Push Each Other to the Top , Brent and Jonathan dive deep into the challenges families face when living alongside addiction. Brent shares real experiences helping loved ones navigate relapse, codependency, and the difficult decisions that come with setting boundaries. At the heart of recovery, he reminds us, is the courage to surrender and follow direction. From powerful stories...

In this episode of Push Each Other to the Top , Phillip joins Brent and Jonathan to share his path from isolation to belonging. He opens up about how addiction slowly took over his life, threatening his family and future, and how he found hope through fellowship and spiritual renewal. Phillip’s story is a reminder that recovery isn’t about willpower alone — it’s about connection, honesty, and comm...

In this heartfelt episode of Push Each Other to the Top , Brent shares how recovery isn’t just about the individual — it’s about healing the entire family. Through years of hard work, honest conversations, and mutual growth, he’s learned that families can come back together, build healthy relationships, and truly enjoy life again. This episode offers hope to anyone feeling the weight of addiction’...

In this moving episode of Push Each Other to the Top , Brent reflects on what it feels like to wake up inside a life he never thought was possible. From once being lost, angry, and shortcut-seeking — to now building meaningful relationships, earning an honest living, and facing his own character defects — Brent shares how recovery has felt like stepping through a veil into a completely different w...

In this emotional episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Brent opens up about the anger that consumed him — not just as an emotion, but as a response to feeling lost in life. Through a conversation about his past and the guidance of his sponsor Horace, he uncovers the deeper reasons behind his rage and begins the journey toward understanding, healing, and change. This is a story about facing what’...

In this heartwarming episode of Push Each Other to the Top , Brent and Jonathan open up about the wild and emotional journey that led to their reunion as father and son. What started with a DNA test quickly unraveled decades of hidden truths, unexpected siblings, and a complete reshaping of family identity. Through laughter, near relapse, and raw vulnerability, they explore what it means to belong...

In this heartfelt episode of Push Each Other to the Top , Brent reflects on the power of surrender in his recovery journey. Using a river as a metaphor, he describes how letting go of control brought unexpected peace. From the chaos of addiction to the calm that followed acceptance, this episode invites listeners to consider what happens when we stop fighting the current—and start trusting the flo...

In this heartfelt episode, Brent shares the powerful journey of becoming a sponsor and forming genuine friendships through recovery. He vividly recounts his experience sponsoring Stefan—a younger man whose life story mirrored his own, from early struggles to shared paths of healing. Through this profound connection, Brent reveals how guiding someone else through the steps can deeply enrich one&apo...

In this inspiring episode of Push Each Other to the Top , Brent reflects on the power of the 12 steps and how recovery has given him more than just sobriety—it’s given him purpose. From battling insurance bureaucracy to sharing stories of rebuilding integrity, Brent opens up about the challenges and triumphs of learning how to ask for help, walk through fear, and give back. His message is clear: r...

In this gripping episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Brent confronts the darkest chapter of his recovery—resentment. From standing face to face with the man who harmed his daughter to praying nightly for someone he could barely stand to forgive, Brent shares how Step 4 forced him to reckon with rage, vengeance, and ultimately… surrender. Through raw honesty and spiritual desperation, he walks u...

In this powerful episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Brent shares his profound journey through recovery, focusing on the turning point of Step 3—learning to surrender his will and life to the care of a higher power. He recounts the impact of his tough-love sponsor, Horace, and the daily commitment of attending 90 meetings in 90 days. Brent opens up about confronting deep-seated resentments, the...

Ep 2 – “The Moment I Took Responsibility” In this second episode of Push Each Other to the Top, Brent shares the turning point that changed everything: when he realized he was the problem — and that was the beginning of hope. Step 2 isn’t about instant belief in God; it’s about becoming willing to believe that change is possible. Brent and Jonathan unpack what “insanity” means in addiction, how be...

Ep 1 – "I Was Spiritually Bankrupt" This debut episode of 'Push Each Other to the Top' features Jonathan and his biological father Brent sharing a raw and powerful account of Brent's life. From early struggles with addiction, overcoming a traumatic past, and facing personal demons, Brent narrates his path through alcoholism and drug abuse to his pivotal moment of clarity....