Send us a text The week Grace packed for college, Drew packed for rehab. What followed wasn’t a neat redemption arc, but a raw, practical path: loving leverage, clear boundaries, impact letters, and the slow re-growth of trust. We open with a feelings check—fear, shame, anger, gladness—then trace the hardest choice Grace made: asking her dad not to be part of move-in so she could protect her heart and he could face reality. That boundary didn’t just hold a line; it helped save a family. Grac...
All content for Valiant Living Podcast is the property of Valiant Living and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Send us a text The week Grace packed for college, Drew packed for rehab. What followed wasn’t a neat redemption arc, but a raw, practical path: loving leverage, clear boundaries, impact letters, and the slow re-growth of trust. We open with a feelings check—fear, shame, anger, gladness—then trace the hardest choice Grace made: asking her dad not to be part of move-in so she could protect her heart and he could face reality. That boundary didn’t just hold a line; it helped save a family. Grac...
Send us a text The week Grace packed for college, Drew packed for rehab. What followed wasn’t a neat redemption arc, but a raw, practical path: loving leverage, clear boundaries, impact letters, and the slow re-growth of trust. We open with a feelings check—fear, shame, anger, gladness—then trace the hardest choice Grace made: asking her dad not to be part of move-in so she could protect her heart and he could face reality. That boundary didn’t just hold a line; it helped save a family. Grac...
Send us a text December can light up old wounds as quickly as it lights the tree. We invited Dr. Jake Smith Jr. of Plumline to help us turn holiday triggers into a plan for presence, connection, and real growth. Together we unpack why family dynamics can collapse time in the brain, why anger is never alone, and how the eight core feelings give you a simple language to name what’s true and meet your needs without handing your heart to the room. We walk through affect labeling step by step—nam...
Send us a text Healing doesn’t happen in perfect sync, and that’s okay. We explore tandem recovery with Brooke, our family advocate who coaches partners and parents through the messy, courageous work of rebuilding trust and balance after addiction. Think of a tandem bike: sometimes you steer, sometimes you push from behind, and either way the goal is shared direction. Brooke brings clear, compassionate guidance on how families can stop rescuing, start feeling, and move forward together withou...
Send us a text Ever been told that “real” trauma work should leave you wrung out and wrecked? We take that myth apart and show a different path—one built on careful pacing, body awareness, and tiny changes that add up. With training across EMDR, IFS, neurofeedback, and trauma‑sensitive yoga, our guest guides a live Internal Family Systems demo that turns abstract ideas into a concrete experience you can feel. We start by swapping “triggers” for trailheads and using a simple life satisfaction...
Send us a text The path through addiction and betrayal trauma isn't linear – it's messy, painful, and often seems impossible to navigate. In this raw and honest conversation, we sit down with a spouse whose husband went through the Valiant program to hear the story from her perspective. She doesn't hold back as she describes life before treatment: the exhaustion of overfunctioning, the unpredictability of living with active addiction, and the constant fear of the next discovery or disclosure...
What if the opposite of addiction isn't sobriety, but connection? Scott Davis, Chief Clinical Officer at Valiant Living, opens up about this profound truth and much more in our latest episode, sharing wisdom gained from years of guiding men through recovery. With vulnerable honesty, Scott addresses how we can find peace during tumultuous times by seeking authentic connection rather than isolation. "The best thing you can do is limit your social media," he advises, suggesting instead that we ...
Recovery isn't a solo journey—it's a family transformation. This profound conversation with addiction specialists Madison Burke and Henry Maxwell from Maxwell Recovery Services reveals how the healing process must extend beyond the individual to encompass the entire family system. Madison shares her personal story of using substances to escape reality after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 12. Her recovery journey illuminated how addiction manifested not just in substances but in ...
Everyone carries internal narratives that shape how we see ourselves, others, and the world. These stories—often formed in childhood and reinforced through years of living—can either liberate us or keep us trapped in cycles of shame, fear, and self-doubt. In this powerful conversation, Michael Dinneen and Drew Powell dig deep into how these narratives influence our recovery journeys. Dinneen vulnerably shares his ongoing struggle with a "younger son" identity despite 33 years of sobriety and...
What does an effective intervention truly look like? Beyond the dramatic portrayals in television shows lies a thoughtful, compassionate approach that Stephen Wilkins has perfected over more than two decades as a certified clinical interventionist. Stephen takes us behind the scenes of what he calls "interventions with integrity," revealing a process that begins long before the actual confrontation. The preparation involves seven to eight hours with family members, carefully crafting letters...
When Dan Griffin found himself carving "F YOU" into his arm as a teenage boy who hadn't hit puberty, he wasn't just acting out—he was experiencing the profound disconnect between his authentic self and society's expectations of manhood. This pivotal moment led to a lifelong journey of understanding what he calls "the water we swim in"—the invisible but powerful gender conditioning that shapes how men experience everything, especially recovery. Drawing from 30 years of sobriety and expertise ...
Have you ever considered that addiction isn't just about substances? Beneath the surface of many addictive behaviors lies something profoundly misunderstood—process addiction. Join host Drew Powell as he sits down with therapists Dan and Jill from Valiant Living to unpack this complex topic with remarkable candor and expertise. "The drug is between your ears," explains Dan, highlighting how process addictions like sex addiction, gambling, internet/gaming, and shopping create the same neurolo...
"I'll have four years in June," Chris tells us, a milestone that seemed impossible when he was consuming 1.75 liters of alcohol daily and taking shots before even getting in the shower for work. His journey through addiction's darkest depths—including two stays in intensive care on life support—to lasting recovery offers both hope and unflinching honesty about the transformation process. The turning point came during what Chris describes as a "fourth dimension" experience, where he felt hims...
The addictive patterns that tear relationships apart can actually become the path to deeper connection when partners learn to face them together. In this deeply moving episode, couple therapists Lana Isaacson and Jason Polk share professional wisdom and personal experiences about the complex journey of recovery within committed relationships. They introduce the concept of "the addiction dance"—those unconscious, destructive patterns couples unknowingly co-create that keep them trapped in cyc...
Michael Wagner sits across from host Drew Powell, his nervous energy palpable despite 45 years of sobriety under his belt. There's a beautiful vulnerability as Wagner reveals the painful tapestry of his past – growing up with an alcoholic, mentally ill mother whose unpredictable violence shaped his early years. The moment he shares how he broke his infant son's leg during a drunken fall down the stairs, still keeping the tiny cast as a reminder, the room feels charged with honest reflection. ...
Unlock the secrets to inner peace and present living in this engaging episode of the Valiant Living podcast! Join us as we dive into mindfulness, connecting with our true selves, and uncovering the transformative power of meditation. Our hosts guide you through personal journeys and explorations of various mindfulness practices that can easily be integrated into your daily routine. Discover how simple acts of awareness can drastically improve your mental health and emotional well-being...
Discover how spirituality can be a lifeline in the journey of recovery as we share powerful narratives of rebirth and transformation. This episode of the Valiant Living Podcast features Ryan, a dedicated leader within the Free Recovery Community. He opens up about his personal path to sobriety, which began on January 7th, 2013, and highlights the critical role that faith played in overcoming addiction. Alongside Ryan, I recount my own experiences as a United Methodist pastor struggling with a...
After years of immersing himself in the world of professional sports, Glenn Hadley had to face the truth about his identity beyond the tennis court. His journey from a chicken farm in East Texas to the highest levels of professional tennis is more than just a tale of athletic triumph; it's a story of personal growth and self-realization. Join us as Glenn shares the profound challenges that come with being defined by a single identity and the transformative power of understanding oneself beyon...
What happens when a life of perfectionism and control spirals into a battle with alcoholism? Join us as we explore this profound transformation with Sherry Young, a leader in addiction recovery who reveals her personal journey from unexpected addiction to inspiring resilience. Sherry recounts her pivotal moment attending her first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting after a series of car accidents, a step that marked the beginning of a life-saving recovery process. Her candid story offers a beacon o...
Supporting loved ones in crisis is no easy feat, and in this thought-provoking episode of the Valiant Living podcast, I, Drew Powell, open up about my personal experience alongside special guest Jackie Brewster. We share the heartfelt journey of helping my wife, Jamie, through a tumultuous period of emotional turmoil while I was in rehab at Valiant Living. Jackie and her husband, Steven Brewster, were pillars of strength and compassion for Jamie, providing her with a safe haven when she neede...
Seasoned marriage and family therapist Chris Anderson joins us for a compelling discussion on the multifaceted world of addiction and recovery. Chris, a pioneer in telehealth therapy specializing in process addiction and gambling, shares his journey from the bustling streets of Chicago back to his Texas roots. Discover how his early shift to virtual therapy has allowed him to reach and support individuals across the nation, offering a unique perspective on the benefits and challenges of this ...
Send us a text The week Grace packed for college, Drew packed for rehab. What followed wasn’t a neat redemption arc, but a raw, practical path: loving leverage, clear boundaries, impact letters, and the slow re-growth of trust. We open with a feelings check—fear, shame, anger, gladness—then trace the hardest choice Grace made: asking her dad not to be part of move-in so she could protect her heart and he could face reality. That boundary didn’t just hold a line; it helped save a family. Grac...
