The Other Side of Addiction

This episode is sponsored by Emergo Academy, emergoacademy.com Three years ago, Tory Trout was homeless, strung out on meth, and staring down a long prison sentence. With most of his life spent behind bars, he stood at a crossroads — give in and go back, or fight for the freedom and future he’d always dreamed of. Tory chose to fight. With the help of recovery programs, relentless determination, an...

This episode was sponsored by emergoacademy.com What happens when life takes more than it gives? When you lose a limb, your partner, your sense of identity—and you're still here? Not just surviving, but leading, loving, and lifting others? This episode flips the mic. Host Dave Kenney interviews Al Richards, diving into the raw, unfiltered journey behind the man who lives what others only teach...

This episode of AR-The Other Side of Addiction is Sponsored by Emergo Academy. emergoacademy.com… I sat down with Adam Nugent from Burn Up Podcast to discuss, "TRUTH" Truth isn’t just about telling the truth to others — it’s about living it within ourselves. It’s waking up every day and asking: Am I living in alignment with who I really am? To be true to yourself requires courage. Courage...

This episode of AR-The Other Side of Addiction is Sponsored by Emergo Academy. emergoacademy.com… In today’s episode, I sit down with an inspiring guest and the founder of CaliSober Recovery, a groundbreaking program that's reshaping the way we think about healing and recovery. Far from the traditional models, CaliSober embraces a holistic wellness approach rooted in spiritual growth, plant me...

This episode is Sponsored by Emergo Academy. emergoacademy.com… LADIES, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS ONE! What does it really mean to activate your life? On this episode of The Other Side of Addiction, we’re joined by Shaun Johnson—a 41-year-old Arizona native, athlete, and soul-led wellness advocate—who helps others align with their highest truth through health, healing, and heart-led transfor...

This episode of AR-The Other Side of Addiction is Sponsored by Emergo Academy. emergoacademy.com… In today’s soul-stirring episode of The Other Side of Addiction, we welcome a remarkable woman whose story of grit, growth, and God is nothing short of inspiring. A single mom of five beautiful children, she shares how hitting rock bottom behind bars became the launching point for a brand new life—one...

In this deeply honest and emotionally raw episode, we open the floor to a conversation that hits close to home for many—the pain of losing someone we love to addiction. Together with my guest, we reflect on the emotional toll, the guilt that creeps in, and the lingering questions that haunt us: Could I have done more? Why couldn’t I save them? Did they know how much I loved them? Were my boundarie...

This episode is sponsored by EMERGO ACADEMY/emergoacademy,com When we think of addiction, we often picture substances, behavior, and consequences. But what if addiction goes deeper than that—into the stories we tell ourselves, and the thoughts we repeat until they become beliefs? In this episode of The Other Side of Addiction, we explored a powerful concept: Addiction Hypnosis. The idea that our m...

This episode is sponsored by EMERGO ACADEMY / Emergoacademy.com Whether you're missing a limb, battling an addiction, or carrying invisible scars, one thing is certain—it takes resilience to walk through the darkness in search of the light. In this episode, I sit down with a fellow amputee who, like me, knows what it means to face life-altering challenges head-on. But this conversation goes be...

This episode is sponsored by EMERGO ACADEMY... emergoacademy.com COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MATTERS. Giving back isn’t just a step in recovery—it’s a step toward becoming who we’re meant to be. Whether you’re walking through recovery yourself or simply someone who cares, your time and presence can change lives. 🧠 It’s not about having the perfect words. Sometimes it’s just showing up. Listening. Helpin...

This Episode was sponsored by EMERGO ACADEMY / emergoacademy.com Some people choose recovery once. Others have to choose it over and over again — through grief, loss, heartbreak, and life’s hardest blows. Raven Writing Bird is an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe and a proud Cree woman. She is a single mother of four, a CNA, and more than six years into recovery from crystal meth. But her...

My Amazing Friend Joe Valentine and I discuss Learned Behaviors. This is something we're both continuing to work on. So many of us are walking through life carrying the weight of things we didn’t ask for—trauma, broken relationships, addiction, shame, guilt. Somewhere along the line, we picked up behaviors and beliefs that were rooted in survival. They helped us get through the chaos, the pain...

My two guests Kiralei and Joe discuss Optimal Efficiency. To me, “Optimal Efficiency” isn’t just about getting things done faster or checking off more boxes. It’s about doing the right things, in the right way, with the right energy and intention. It’s alignment—where your actions match your values, your time serves your purpose, and your energy flows toward what truly matters. When we operate at...

This episode is sponsored by EMERGO ACADEMY... emergoacademy.com When someone takes control over you—your body, your voice, your safety—it can feel like you're constantly chasing the illusion of getting your life back. You're trying to reclaim something that was stolen, to patch up the pieces of your identity. But what if the truth is... the only way to truly reclaim your life is to surren...

This episode is sponsored by EMERGO ACADEMY... emergoacademy.com "Growing up in a home clouded by addiction, Stephanie watched chaos become her normal. From late-night drives to escape violence, to turning in her own parents to protect her brothers—she's walked through the fire more than once. She became a mother at sixteen, fought her way out of abuse, lost both her parents, and nearly lo...

This episode is sponsored by EMERGO ACADEMY... emergoacademy.com In this powerful episode, my guest Adam Baxter shares the raw truth behind his recovery journey that began on February 25, 2016, after being arrested in 2015 on five felony distribution charges related to methamphetamine. Adam opens up about his time in Tooele County Jail, the five-year prison sentence he faced, and the second chance...

In this raw and powerful episode, we sit down with Daigon Anderson—a man whose journey through addiction, loss, and redemption will leave you inspired. Daigon shares the heartbreak of losing his mom and the shocking moment he woke up in the hospital after an overdose… and felt relief. That moment became a turning point.

This Episode was sponsored by EMERGO ACADEMY / emergoadademy.com Getting sober isn’t the finish line. It’s the doorway. In this episode of The Other Side of Addiction, Amber Rabold shares what life really looks like after the chaos quiets down. Six years sober. A full-time mother. A life coach. A woman still learning, still falling, still rising. We talked about something that doesn’t get enough a...

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Nicholas—a man who’s lived through the depths of addiction and found his way back to purpose, redemption, and service. Raised in a loving, values-driven home, Nicholas still found himself caught in the web of drugs, alcohol, and crime. Despite moments of recovery and hope, he spiraled repeatedly, facing multiple arrests and the looming reality of prison.

Jonathan's story is one of radical transformation. For years, he lived with anger, hate, and a sense of invincibility—running with a white supremacist gang, cycling in and out of prison, and causing pain to those around him. But beneath it all, the real enemy wasn’t the world—it was himself. In this raw and powerful episode, Jonathan opens up about his journey from a life of destruction to lon...

My guest Angie Barnett shared her powerful journey, including the moment she broke her leg skiing—only for her ex-husband to refuse to take her to the ER, all while stealing her pain medication. We also explored the importance of allowing ourselves to feel without needing permission. Pain tests us, but perseverance transforms us. This episode is a testament to the strength it takes to rise above....

Mario Hernandez was born in Lancaster, California. Both his parents were illegal immigrants from a small town in Jalisco, Mexico. They moved to Utah when Mario was young. He grew up moving back and forth crossing the border illegally from Mexico to Utah, until they finally stayed when he was about 12. Living in Mexico was tough as he was growing up as a Mexican/American in a small town who looked...

This episode was sponsored by EMERGO ACADEMY/emergoacademy.com Lived Experiences with Danielle Davidson On this episode of The Other Side of Addiction, we're honored to welcome Danielle — a shining example of how lived experience can transform not only one life but entire communities. From surviving an overdose to becoming a leader in mental health and recovery services, Danielle's journey...

Lived Experiences with Danielle Davidson On this episode of The Other Side of Addiction, we're honored to welcome Danielle — a shining example of how lived experience can transform not only one life but entire communities. From surviving an overdose to becoming a leader in mental health and recovery services, Danielle's journey is a powerful testament to the strength of resilience, the imp...

"Outside Perspective: BOOTS ON THE GROUND," featured on AR-The Other Side of Addiction. Kari Shepherd, a dedicated harm reduction advocate and Peer Support Specialist. Kari's personal journey as a woman in recovery and overdose survivor profoundly influences her transformative work in the field. Over the past four years, she has tirelessly applied her authentic perspective and professi...