TheWillpowerPodcast

Doctors Gave Up on Him — How Jacob Beat Liver Failure Without Transplant

Jacob Schulze (@feel.sober.good) opens up about pandemic drinking, hiding alcohol, “show drinks,” liver cirrhosis symptoms, a MELD score near transplant range—and why he chose a different path.We talk boredom triggers, daily drinking creeping to dependence, jaundice and leg pain, faith, functional approaches, and what early labs (CMP/CBC) can reveal.If you’re struggling with alcohol, this conversation is hope in long form.🟢 Subscribe for more real recovery stories & tools: The Willpower Podcast with Will Gordon.🎧 Full audio on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.🆘 Safety note: We’re sharing personal experiences, not medical advice. If you’re trying to quit, seek medical care—alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous.🧥 RCVR Apparel: Rock recovery-inspired gear with pride.Save 10% with code thewillpowerpodcast at rcvrbrand.com/thewillpowerpodcast💊 Liver Medic Supplements: Feel your best with natural liver support.Use code THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off for 10% off at livermedic.com/discount/THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off🎤 AMPLIFY Sober Voices (Jan 15, 2026): Join sober creators at Podfest 2026.Get $20 off with code WILL at amplify.soberliferocks.com

What Happens When the Game Ends – Travis Reed’s Journey

From MVP seasons overseas to sleeping on his mom’s couch — former pro basketball player Travis Reed has lived the highs and the crushing lows of life after sports.In this powerful episode of The Willpower Podcast, Travis opens up about growing up in South Central LA, winning championships in Europe, and the depression and drinking that followed his forced retirement. He shares the night his mother literally saved his life, how he found purpose again, and why he’s dedicated to helping athletes feel less alone after their careers end.🎯 In this conversation:What happens when the checks stop coming and the lights go outHow post-career depression can hit even the most successful athletesThe dangerous spiral from stress to alcohol abuseThe moment that pulled him back from the brinkWhy every athlete should have access to a therapistLife lessons from playing in 7 countries over 10 yearsTravis’s story is a raw reminder that mental health is just as important as physical health — and that no matter how far you’ve fallen, you can rise again.#AthleteMentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #WillpowerPodcast #TravisReed #LifeAfterSports #SobrietyJourney #MentalToughness #OverseasBasketball #DepressionRecovery #RedemptionStory

Why I’ll Never Drink Again – Pro Boxer’s True Story

What happens when a pro boxer, chess player, and physicist walks away from alcohol for good? In this raw and powerful conversation, Ed Latimore (@EdLatimore) joins The Willpower Podcast to share how he went from growing up in the projects of Pittsburgh to building a life of discipline, purpose, and sobriety.Ed has been sober since 2013. He’s a former professional heavyweight boxer, a physics graduate, a competitive chess player, and the bestselling author of Sober Letters to My Drunken Self and Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business. His journey is nothing short of incredible — and packed with life-changing lessons.🎯 Topics we cover:Why he quit alcohol — and what really helped him stay soberHow addiction is tied to rejection, trauma, and identityThe importance of tribe, self-respect, and structureWhat boxing taught him about fear, willpower, and mindsetHow he rewired his life through discipline and learning📚 Books by Ed Latimore:Sober Letters to My Drunken SelfHard Lessons from the Hurt Business: Boxing and the Art of Life🎙 Also available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts – Search The Willpower Podcast🧥 RCVR Apparel: Celebrate resilience with RCVR’s stylish, recovery-inspired clothing.Save 10% with code thewillpowerpodcast at rcvrbrand.com/thewillpowerpodcast💊 Liver Medic Supplements: Feel your best with natural liver support.Use code THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off for 10% off at livermedic.com/discount/THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off🎤 AMPLIFY Sober Voices (Jan 15, 2026): Join sober creators at Podfest 2026.Get $20 off with code WILL at amplify.soberliferocks.com

I Used to Sell Alcohol — Now I Help People Quit Drinking (Luke Ryan’s Story)

How do you rebuild your life after alcohol has taken everything? In this powerful episode of The Willpower Podcast, certified Jay Shetty life coach Luke Ryan (@dadonthemox) shares his raw, unfiltered journey from working in the liquor industry to becoming a sober father, coach, and advocate for recovery.Luke opens up about starting to drink at age 10, his battles with depression, relapse, and what finally made him commit to sobriety for good. His story is one of transformation, accountability, and learning how to love himself again — not just for his own healing, but for his children.💥 This episode of the Willpower Podcast is raw, honest, and packed with tools for anyone battling addiction, burnout, or a loss of identity.WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:- What “drinking with purpose” really means- How hitting rock bottom doesn’t always look dramatic — sometimes it’s your daughter crying in the back seat- Why healing trauma is essential for lasting sobriety- How self-love, nature, and solitude became Luke’s medicine- What sober parenting & co-parenting looks like post-recovery- Why recovering out loud can change someone else’s life🔥 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:“Sobriety is job one.”“You can’t heal if you’re hiding.”“Real connection doesn’t happen in a blackout.”🎯 Whether you’re 30 days sober or just thinking about quitting alcohol, this conversation is for you. Luke’s story proves that it’s never too late to change, forgive yourself, and design a life you're proud of.📲 DM Luke on Instagram: @dadonthemox🎙️ Follow & subscribe for more episodes like this.

Shame, Trauma and Recovery (Danielle’s Raw Recovery Story)

From postpartum depression to addiction and alcoholism, Danielle’s recovery journey proves that even the darkest paths can lead to purpose.Danielle’s story isn’t one of trauma in childhood—but of how addiction can quietly creep in through postpartum depression, emotional abuse, and untreated trauma. From pills to alcohol, psych wards to jail, and now on the path to becoming an addiction counselor, Danielle’s story is a powerful reminder that addiction does not discriminate.🎙️ In this episode of The Willpower Podcast, Danielle shares:- How a strict, loving childhood turned into addiction chaos- The reality of postpartum depression and cultural stigma- Living with hidden addiction while raising 4 kids- Alcohol withdrawal, cold turkey, and survival- How one doctor changed everything- Finding purpose through faith and recovery👩‍👧‍👦 Now sober since 2019, Danielle is speaking out to help other women, mothers, and Muslims who feel alone in their addiction. Her courage, honesty, and strength are unforgettable.📲 Follow Danielle on Instagram: @daniellemallad💬 Like, comment, and share this story—someone needs it.🔔 Subscribe for more real recovery stories weekly!

My Skin Turned Yellow And That’s When I Knew (Liver Failure & Hope)

Liver cirrhosis and stage 3 liver failure nearly took Aaron’s life. This powerful alcohol recovery story follows his liver transplant journey, revealing the toll of alcoholic liver disease—and the courage it takes to survive.⚠️ What happens when addiction collides with trauma—and the damage can’t be reversed?🎙️ In this emotional and raw episode of the Willpower Podcast, Aaron opens up about the devastating effects of extreme drinking, his diagnosis of stage 3 liver failure, and his current fight for survival. From hepatic encephalopathy to paracentesis procedures, this is a firsthand look at the brutal reality of liver disease caused by alcohol.💔 Topics we explore:1. The trauma behind addiction and substance abuse2. What hepatic encephalopathy actually feels like3. How paracentesis procedures work (13 liters of fluid!)4. How sobriety transformation can begin—even after it seems too late5. The emotional weight of waiting for a liver transplant📣 Like, share, and subscribe for more raw, real recovery stories that remind us: you’re never too far gone to turn things around.🙏 If you believe in the mission of spreading hope and healing through real recovery stories, please consider donating to the podcast. Every dollar helps keep this content going and reaching the people who need it most. → [https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast]

An Honest Talk About Women, Alcohol & Shame (And How to Get Through It)

From DUI and fake pee to a thriving sobriety coaching practice, Kate Vitela’s recovery story is as raw and real as it gets. In this emotional episode of the Willpower Podcast, Kate shares how she lost everything — her job, her license, her identity — and rebuilt her life through honesty, support, and the power of neuroplasticity.🔥 Kate is a nurse, sobriety coach, and host of the podcast Rewired Sober. She opens up about her hidden struggles with alcohol, her time in a psychiatric facility, the turning point that led her to AA and community support, and how she helps others find individualized recovery plans through rewiring the brain for sobriety.🧠 Whether you're facing addiction, burnout, shame, or a feeling of being stuck — this episode will meet you where you are and help you take the next step.

How to Build Confidence Without a Drop of Alcohol

How do you build real confidence without alcohol? 💪 In this episode, sober coach Bo Green shares powerful routines, mindset shifts, and relapse recovery tools that helped him build unshakable sober confidence and quit drinking for good.🎙️ This honest conversation dives deep into how to quit drinking, morning routines for mental health, and what it means to build your identity without needing alcohol or weed. Bo reveals the exact tools he uses — like journaling for sobriety, breathwork, and meditation practices — to help others become their most confident, sober selves.✨ Whether you’re struggling with addiction, starting your sober journey, or just want to upgrade your mental health and energy, this episode offers real, practical wisdom you can apply today.🔥 Topics covered:- How to build confidence without alcohol- Creating a powerful morning routine 🌅- What to do when you relapse (mindset shift!)- Using meditation and journaling to stay grounded- How to rewire your confidence and social habits 🧠-The truth about sober lifestyle transformation🎯 Bo’s mission? Help 100,000 people become sober and confident by 2028 — and you could be one of them.🙌 Get inspired to rewrite your story, live aligned with your values, and finally become the confident, centered version of yourself.

From Prison to Purpose: How Sobriety Saved Samantha Lander’s Life

Addiction took Samantha from meth to motherhood, DJ booths to jail cells—and back again. This is her raw, unfiltered story of redemption.🎙 In this episode of The Willpower Podcast, Samantha Lander joins host Will Gordon to share her unbelievable journey from homelessness and a federal prison sentence to becoming a functional diagnostic nutritionist helping women heal.💥 Samantha opens up about:Relapsing after 13 years soberNavigating addiction while battling infertility and postpartum challengesFacing a SWAT raid after selling drugs in LAFinding emotional healing in federal prisonReclaiming her purpose through gut health and sober living🧠 She breaks down how gut health and hormone imbalances can derail recovery—and how alcohol, even in small amounts, wreaks havoc on the body and mind.🌱 Now sober and thriving, Samantha runs a wellness business, throws alcohol-free events, and helps others find peace through functional health and nutritional therapy.📣 Like, share, and subscribe for more raw, real recovery stories that remind us: you’re never too far gone to turn things around.🙏 If you believe in the mission of spreading hope and healing through real recovery stories, please consider donating to the podcast. Every dollar helps keep this content going and reaching the people who need it most.https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast

From Blackouts to Breakthroughs: Mario’s Sobriety Story at 24

Alcohol addiction nearly took everything from Mario—including his life. At 24, he hit rock bottom. This is how early sobriety saved him.🍻 In this raw episode of The Willpower Podcast, Will Gordon sits down with Mario Bencivenga, a Long Island native who opens up about his path from blackout drinking and college binges to authentic sobriety and emotional healing.🧠 Diagnosed with ADHD and battling anxiety, Mario used alcohol as a coping mechanism. The social pressure of drinking culture and a breakup spiraled into self-destruction—culminating in dangerous behavior, lost identity, and suicidal thoughts.⚡ But everything changed when he said the words: “Just don’t drink today.”Today, Mario is sober, self-aware, and using his story to inspire young adults in addiction recovery. He’s writing a book and pursuing a career in mental health counseling to help others rediscover joy and self-acceptance.🌱 Early sobriety is hard. But life on the other side? Worth it.