TheWillpowerPodcast

“I Hired a Private Investigator on My Husband” — The Partner’s Side of Addiction

Most of us don’t really understand what it’s like to love someone deep in addiction...until we’re living it.In this earnest and valuable conversation, Anita Ondine Smith opens up about being married to former NBA player Randy Livingston while he battled gambling addiction for over two decades. She shares the confusion, the shame, the moments she felt completely lost, and how she learned that love alone wasn’t enough.Anita talks honestly about:- The early signs she missed- Why she hired a private investigator- What “boundaries” actually mean (and why most people get them wrong)- The turning point that finally got Randy real help- Why compassion worked better than controlIf you’re the one struggling with addiction, or you’re the partner, family member, or friend trying to support someone — this episode is for you.Resources mentioned:- Anita’s book: _ASSIST: How to Help a Loved One with a Gambling Problem Without Losing Yourself_- National Gambling Helpline: 1-800-RESETConnect with Anita:- Instagram: @anitaosmith- LinkedIn: Anita Ondine SmithConnect with Will:- Sober Mentoring (limited spots): https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewillpowerpodcast- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@willgordonsober- Buy Me a Coffee (supports the show): https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcastThank you for being here. If this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.Take care of yourself.#Recovery#gamblingIf this helped you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Why Willpower Alone Fails in Addiction (And What Actually Rewires It)

Most people think beating addiction comes down to having more willpower. Chris Hill says that’s one of the biggest mistakes you can make.In this episode, we break down why willpower eventually runs out, what’s actually happening in the brain when cravings return, and how rewiring your mind (instead of white-knuckling) creates real, lasting freedom.Chris is the founder of Beat My Addictions and author of 'Get Your Life Back'. He’s also completed extreme endurance challenges — swimming the English Channel and running over 950 miles across the UK. He’s not just talking theory.We talk about:- Why the survival mechanism in your brain works against you in addiction- The “separation model” — how to separate your conscious self from the system running in the background- His personal rock bottom moment and how he finally broke the cycle- The difference between white-knuckling recovery vs actually rewiring your brain- Why counting days can sometimes work against youIf you’ve ever felt like you keep failing even though you _want_ to change, this episode will give you a completely different way of looking at it.Chris’s Book:Get Your Life Back – The Road to Freedom from Addiction (Available on Amazon)*Free 7-Day Beat Addiction Plan:*https://robhillfoundation.orgConnect with Chris:- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beatmyaddictions- Website: https://www.beatmyaddictions.comIf this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.Take care of yourself.#AddictionRecovery #Willpower #MentalHealth #RewireYourBrain #RecoveryPodcast #TheWillpowerPodcast

What Happens After Rock Bottom? Inner Child Work & Honest Recovery | David Deane Haskell

In this raw and honest conversation, author David Deane Haskell joins me to talk about what happens after you survive rock bottom. We dive into trauma, inner child work, shame attacks, codependency, and why recovery isn’t a straight line or a highlight reel.David shares how he learned to stop performing healing and started doing the real, messy work — including a powerful technique for connecting with your inner child that many people find life-changing.This episode is for anyone who’s tired of toxic positivity and wants to hear what recovery actually looks like when you stop trying to make it look inspiring.David’s Book – Wounded Angels- Kindle: https://mybook.to/woundedangels- Paperback: https://mybook.to/woundedangelspaperback- Website: https://daviddeanehaskell.comIf you’re struggling right now:You are not alone.- National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US): Call or text *988*- Crisis Text Line: Text *HOME* to *741741*- International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) → https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline- Alcoholics Anonymous: https://www.aa.org/- Al-Anon (for families & loved ones): https://al-anon.org/Connect with Will:- Sober Mentoring (limited spots): https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewillpowerpodcast- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@willgordonsober- Buy Me a Coffee (supports the show): https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcastThank you for being here. If this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.Take care of yourself.#Recovery #InnerChildWork #MentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #WoundedAngels #DavidDeaneHaskell #TheWillpowerPodcast

I Did Kim Kardashian’s Intervention – The Reality of Family Interventions

In this episode, I sit down with Evan Jarschauer, a licensed psychotherapist and one of the most experienced interventionists in the country.Evan has led interventions for families from all walks of life — including one that aired on _Keeping Up with the Kardashians_. We talk about what actually happens during a real intervention, the emotional weight of the job, and some of the heaviest cases he’s ever faced (including working with families where a parent is dying).Evan also opens up about his own childhood trauma and how it shaped the way he works with families today.Topics we cover:- What really happens behind the scenes of a family intervention- The emotional toll of working with families in crisis- Why denial is so powerful (and the most common things people say)- The difference between people who stay sober long-term vs. those who don’t- What it’s like when a dying parent wants to see their child get help before they passIf you love someone who’s struggling with addiction or mental health, this episode offers a rare look into how families can actually get help.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro01:45 – Evan’s personal story & childhood trauma06:41 – Doing Kim Kardashian’s intervention11:27 – What actually happens during a real intervention14:12 – The hardest cases (including dying parents)18:16 – Common things people in deep denial say21:16 – Why the substance is usually a symptom, not the root23:32 – What actually determines long-term recovery27:11 – What families should do first when someone is struggling31:52 – What keeps Evan doing this workEvan’s Website: http://behavioralhelp.comIf this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.#Intervention #AddictionRecovery #FamilyIntervention #MentalHealth---My Links:- Sober Mentoring: https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min- Instagram: @thewillpowerpodcast- TikTok: @willgordonsober

I Died for 3 Minutes in a Car Crash… Then God Spoke to Me

Matt Farnsworth had 11 years of sobriety… then everything fell apart.In this raw and powerful conversation, Matt shares how a toxic relationship, a relapse, and a horrific car accident that left him dead for 3 minutes completely changed his life. He opens up about white-knuckling sobriety, codependency, Hollywood darkness, and the moment he finally cried out to God on a bathroom floor.This is one of the most honest and emotional recovery stories we’ve ever had on The Willpower Podcast.*Timestamps:*00:00 - The Night Everything Changed03:45 - 11 Years Sober & The Relapse08:20 - The Car Crash That Killed Him for 3 Minutes15:10 - Crying Out to God on the Bathroom Floor22:40 - The Hollywood Darkness No One Talks About31:15 - Rock Bottom as a Launch Pad38:50 - How God Removed His Anxiety Overnight44:10 - Life After Recovery & Finding Real PeaceIf you’re struggling with addiction, relapse, or feeling like you’ve hit rock bottom — this episode is for you.*If you’re struggling right now*, please know that help is always there.You don’t have to do this alone.Call or text *988* for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 24/7, free, and confidential.Or reach out to SAMHSA’s National Helpline at *1-800-662-HELP (4357)*.👉 Subscribe for more raw recovery stories every week.Follow Matt Farnsworth:Website: http://mattfarnsworth.netBook: The Comeback Blueprint (on Amazon)App: Armor Up (Gospel Warrior)#Sobriety #Recovery #RockBottom #Faith #AddictionThe Willpower Podcast is all about real stories, real struggles, and real hope.Have a story? Think sharing would help? TheWillpowerPodcast@gmail.com

Liver Transplant Survivor: Nathan Cheatwood’s Raw Story of Rock Bottom to Rebirth

This episode is raw, emotional, and deeply personal.Nathan Cheatwood is a liver transplant survivor who went through end-stage liver failure from alcohol addiction in 2023. He received his new liver after only 10 days on the transplant list and turned his entire journey into the world’s first AI-assisted autobiographical short film called “Second Chances: Rebirth.”In this conversation we talk about:- The slow descent into daily drinking- The lies we tell ourselves while our bodies are shutting down- Getting the call for a new liver- Waking up after surgery in excruciating pain- The mental battle of staying sober after transplant- The powerful “light bulb moment” that changed everything- Finding purpose and helping othersIf you’re struggling with alcohol, liver disease, or waiting for a transplant — this one is for you.*If you’re struggling right now*, please know that help is always there.You don’t have to do this alone.Call or text *988* for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 24/7, free, and confidential.Or reach out to SAMHSA’s National Helpline at *1-800-662-HELP (4357)*.*Timestamps:*00:00 Intro & Why This Episode Matters01:59 Nathan’s Story Begins04:12 The Mental Grip of Alcohol07:12 The Lies We Tell Ourselves10:19 The Turning Point – Going to the Hospital12:57 Getting the Call for a New Liver15:06 Waking Up After Surgery17:43 The Hardest Part – Physical & Emotional21:01 The Light Bulb Moment25:06 Life After Transplant & Staying Sober29:00 The Biggest Gift This Second Chance Gave Him31:15 Message of Hope to Anyone StrugglingNathan’s Film: Second Chances: Rebirth→ Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@2ndchancesfilmFollow Nathan:Instagram: @2ndchancesfilmIf this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.#LiverTransplant #TransplantSurvivor #AlcoholRecovery #RockBottom #SecondChance #AddictionRecovery #WillpowerPodcast📅 My Calendly for 1-on-1 sober mentoring: link in bio 👈Thank you for supporting my mission to lessen the suffering of other ❤️‍🩹🤘-will

From Heroin Hell to 100K Runs: How Running Saved Shawn Livingston

Family, that’s Shawn Livingston — four-time felon, heroin survivor, ultra-runner, and living proof that your lowest moment can become your greatest purposeShawn Livingston went from high school basketball star to Air Force vet, heroin addict, 4-time felon, and prison time… until a mirror moment and a simple running group changed everything. He shares the raw truth about recovery bubbles, Scientology rehab madness, military painkiller hell, and how finding something that "lit a fire under his ass" rebuilt his body, mind, and purpose.If you're battling addiction, liver/kidney recovery, or just feel stuck in sobriety — this is your reminder: recovery is the foundation, not your whole life. Find what excites you to wake up every morning.Watch Shawn's documentary "100 Miles to Redemption" on Amazon: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0Q92IH29KIQG1EJ3K381552TQR/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_rFollow Shawn: @iamredemption + his "I Am Redemption" podcastDrop in the comments: What's YOUR "fire under the ass" thing? Tag a friend who needs this.Timestamps below ↓If my transplant journey and these stories help you, hit subscribe, like, and share — we're building real recovery impact together. Booking speaking? DM me.#Sobriety #Recovery #AddictionRecoveryTIMESTAMPS:0:00 – New Intro + Shawn’s Big Lesson1:45 – Car Crash That Ended Basketball Dreams4:30 – Oxy to Heroin Pipeline8:10 – Scientology Rehab Madness (you won’t believe this)12:00 – Military Injury & Painkillers16:30 – Prison Wake-Up Call21:00 – The Mirror Moment That Changed Everything25:45 – How Running Lit the Fire32:00 – Lance Armstrong Podcast + Documentary Story38:00 – Vulnerability Pays Off44:00 – Actionable Steps: Find Your Fire52:00 – Final Wisdom + Where to Find ShawnAnd if you find value in the content we're creating. A coffee is a great way to support the channel. 🤝 https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast

Relapse Isn’t Failure: How Shame Almost Killed My Liver

Hey everybody, welcome back to The Willpower Podcast.I was a Boston teacher sneaking bottles, blacking out, and waking up yellow-eyed in a hospital bed with doctors telling my wife I had two weeks left. Liver and kidneys gone. Two transplants later I’m sober, but I still remember the crushing shame that kept pulling me back every time I slipped.Today Chris Cummins (operations at Laguna Treatment Center, biggest detox/recovery hospital in Orange County) gets it from the other side. He’s seen thousands walk in defeated after relapse, carrying the same shame that almost ended me.Chris shares his own raw story — starting shots at 11, snorting methadone in PE, his fraternity rock-bottom “united front” intervention — and why relapse is the disease talking, NOT failure. We break down how shame kills progress, why family systems keep the cycle going, the “pink cloud” trap after detox, and the gratitude hack that kills shame before it kills your recovery.This one’s for anyone who’s relapsed and hates themselves for it… or watching someone they love spiral.*Key moments:*00:00 — My shame story + Chris’s first words to relapsed patients02:31 — Chris’s childhood: 8 shots before school at 1112:51 — The “united front” rock bottom that saved us both15:18 — Why shame is a self-fulfilling prophecy (review the tape like an Olympian)19:47 — Family homeostasis — the #1 thing that makes relapse worse25:48 — Daily gratitude tool that actually kills shameIf this hits you or someone you love, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway — it helps more people than you know.#sobrietyjourney #relapserecovery #liverfailure #BeatShame #willpowerpodcast 📍CHAPTERS:00:00 — Welcome: My Yellow-Eyed Rock Bottom & Why Shame Keeps Us Stuck02:31 — Chris’s Story: First Shots at 11 & Building a Drinker Reputation12:51 — The “United Front” Intervention That Changed Everything15:18 — Relapse Isn’t Failure — Review the Tape Like an Olympian19:47 — Family Disease: Why Homeostasis Makes Relapse Almost Impossible22:11 — Chronic Relapse Programs & Value-Based Aftercare That Actually Works25:48 — The Daily Gratitude Tool That Kills Shame Before It Kills Recovery33:56 — Pink Cloud Warning & Why Most People Relapse After Discharge🔥 8 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS!1. First words to someone who relapsed: “I’m glad you’re alive.” No shame — just hope.2. Shame is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Review the “tape” like a pro athlete instead of beating yourself up.3. Relapse is the disease talking — not a personal failure. Those 999 sober days still count.4. Change your environment AND include family in treatment. Homeostasis will pull you right back otherwise.5. Families: Stop hyper-vigilant blame. Open communication + shared accountability = real recovery.6. Chronic relapsers: Get into specialized groups with people who get it. Longer stays = better outcomes.7. Aftercare hack: Demand value-based agreements and open conversations between facilities.8. Daily tool: Start small with gratitude (“I’m grateful for this coffee”). It crowds out shame.Thank you all for listening/watching. I truly appreciate each and every one of you!

Hazelden Betty Ford: Real Recovery When Alcohol Wrecks Your Liver (Joseph Skrajewski)

This episode is part of *Podcasthon 2026* — thousands of podcasts dropping special episodes to spotlight nonprofits and raise funds for addiction recovery. I’m honored to feature Hazelden Betty Ford because their work saves lives and it’s personal for me.Joseph Skrajewski (National Director of Business Development – Healthcare Solutions at Hazelden Betty Ford) joins me for a raw, honest conversation about what actually works when alcohol is destroying bodies and families.We cover:* How alcohol wrecks the liver and relationships* Medical detox for cirrhosis, encephalopathy, and organ damage* The groundbreaking Sesame Street partnership for kids in addicted families* Rebuilding trust after addiction* Real hope stories and why you don’t have to hit rock bottomIf you’re in liver failure, watching someone you love spiral, or just stuck in the shame loop — this one’s for you.Hazelden Betty Ford Resources:https://www.hazeldenbettyford.orgTimestamps:00:00 Intro & Podcasthon 202601:00 Joseph’s background & recovery story03:10 Sesame Street partnership for kids04:08 Medical detox for liver damage07:04 Reaching out before it’s too late08:51 Real hope stories from families11:07 Free resources & how to get helpLike, subscribe, and share if this helped — every view supports Podcasthon’s mission.#Podcasthon2026 #HazeldenBettyFord #AddictionRecovery #LiverFailure #SoberParenting #SobrietyJourney #FamilyHealing

“Burnout Felt Like Relapse Fog” – Jon Gustin (@thetireddad) on Sobriety, Dad Life & New Book

Hey family, it's Will Gordon on The Willpower Podcast.Two years ago yellow-eyed in a hospital bed, kidneys/liver gone from blackouts—docs said two weeks. Two transplants later, sober, but I still know the numb fog when life's grinding you down.Jon Gustin—@thetireddad to over 2 million followers, gets it from the dad side. First kid in 2016 hit like a mirror: childhood stuff undone, marriage holes, alcohol numbing everything since age 14 (alcohol poisoning in ninth grade). Quit 2023 after tolerance exploded—now 3+ years sober, co-hosts The Tired Dad & Tired Mom Podcast with wife Jessica @the.tiredmom and his book "The Tired Dad" drops May 5 (pre-order now at http://tireddad.com—100 reflections on showing up exhausted, legacy, vulnerability; extras include 5 bonus reflections + curated soundtrack).We go deep:*Becoming a dad flipped everything: "Shit, figure life out"* Generational cycles: Breaking military-style discipline, no emotional connect* Sobriety grind: Dry Jan fails, first-year hell, stacking wins* Burnout like pre-relapse: Numb, isolated—family walks & kindness as reset* Shame/regret flip: "Past had to happen for present"* Legacy: Kids feel love through actions, not just wordsDads on fumes, anyone in recovery parenting, fighting numbness—this hits different. Liver transplant or dad burnout, the fight is showing up anyway.Support the channel 🙏💚 Every donation helps keep these stories coming, and reaching those who need it most ❤️‍🩹https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcastTimestamps:00:00 – My transplant hell & Jon's dad mirror05:00 – Sobriety wake-up: Alcohol since 14, quit 202312:00 – Generational cycles: Breaking no-connect patterns20:00 – Burnout tools: Walks, kindness, getting uncomfortable30:00 – Book tease: 100 reflections on showing up40:00 – Legacy: Kids feel what you doDrop your takeaway: What's one cycle you're breaking? Tag a dad grinding. 👇National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (24/7 free)Follow Jon: IG/TikTok @thetireddad | Podcast: The Tired Dad & Tired MomPre-order book: http://tireddad.com (extras: soundtrack + bonus reflections)Subscribe for raw recovery stories. Much love,Will GordonTwo-time transplant survivor • Sober • Still fighting#tireddad #willpowerpodcast