Amber Hollingsworth (@puttheshoveldown), a master addiction counselor with 700k+ on YouTube, joins me to show families how to intervene early with compassion, not ultimatums or tough love.

We talk:

• The myth that “there’s nothing you can do”
• Functional alcoholism & enabling traps
• Real boundaries (rules for yourself, not control)
• Why waiting for rock bottom is dangerous
• Rebuilding trust after sobriety
• Hope for relapse (“it’s just a blip”)

If you’re a parent, spouse, or sibling feeling helpless, stuck, or like you’re enabling — this episode is for you. Amber breaks it down clearly and kindly.

If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available 24/7:

• US – 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org (call/text/chat)

• US – SAMHSA National Helpline: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline | 1-800-662-HELP

• Al-Anon (family support for alcoholism): https://al-anon.org

• Nar-Anon (family support for drug addiction): https://www.nar-anon.org

• Canada – 988 Crisis Line: https://988.ca

• Global helplines: https://www.befrienders.org

Full episode live Friday 2 PM EST.

Link in bio after drop.

Grateful to Amber for coming on and sharing this wisdom. ❤️

@puttheshoveldown

#FamilyRecovery #NoToughLove #BoundariesWithEmpathy #SoberJourney #AddictionRecovery #WillpowerPodcast

Ryan Barrett (@ryanbarrett90) should be dead multiple times over: molested at 8, buried the shame in death metal, rebellion, blackouts, hard drugs, a near-fatal car wreck (femur shattered in 7 places), suicide attempt, yellow eyes, and a blackout knife night that almost ended everything.

One morning he poured out his last glass of spiced rum, begged for help, and got sober for real. Now 2+ years sober, engaged, raising two kids, hitting the gym, restored faith in Jesus, bought a house, and uses his hell to help troubled youth every day.

This is raw, dark redemption - perfectly timed for anyone fighting the last third of Dry January or any day really. If you've ever felt hopeless, watch this.

Trigger Warning: Childhood trauma, suicide attempt, self-harm, addiction details. Help is available:

US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) | 1-800-662-HELP (SAMHSA)

Canada: 988 or text HOME to 741741

International: befrienders.org

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro: From Molestation to Near-Death Multiple Times

01:00 - Age 8: Sexual Molestation & The Pact of Silence

03:00 - Rebellion, Death Metal, Weed → Booze → Harder Drugs

05:00 - Car Wreck at 19 (Femur Shattered) - Still Partied

07:00 - Self-Hate & Setting Himself Up for Punishment

09:00 - Suicide Attempt: Rope Around Neck, Phone Rings

12:00 - Blackout Knife Night: Waking Up in Blood

15:00 - Poured Out the Last Spiced Rum - Stopped Drinking That Day

17:00 - Living in Party House, No Urges, Found Meditation

20:00 - Relapse After 2+ Years: "I Thought I Could Moderate"

23:00 - Split for 3 Months - Got Sober Again

25:00 - Restoring Faith in Jesus & Church Community

28:00 - Helping Troubled Youth with His Own Hell

30:00 - Message to the Guy on Day 7 of Dry January

32:00 - If Blackout Ryan Saw This Life Now...

Follow Ryan: @ryanbarrett90 (Instagram - open book on recovery)

Support the channel ❤️ Every donation helps. Bless you all that donate🙏

Buy Me a Coffee:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/willpowerpodcast

Subscribe, like, share if this hit home. More real stories coming.

#SoberJourney #DarkRedemption #RecoveryStory #DryJanuary #WillpowerPodcast #RyanBarrett

Mike Faria (@jerzeymike) shares his raw journey – from guilt over his cousin's drunk driving death, 5 years of daily drinking, to a 3-week coma in 2020 with yellow eyes, fluid buildup, kidneys failing, and doctors prepping his family for the worst.

He woke up anyway, got sober on August 23, 2022, rebuilt his body, his family, met the love of his life, and became the family man he always intended to be. Mike's the kind of guy who shares his story raw on Instagram to keep others alive.

This episode is real, no sugarcoating – grief, denial, rock bottom, the moment his son gave him purpose, and the miracle of his liver recovery. If you're struggling or know someone who is, this one's for you.

Trigger Warning: Coma, alcohol withdrawal, grief, self-harm ideation.

Help available:
US Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Canada: 988 (or 1-833-456-4566)

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro & Mike's Early Chaos
00:58 – Guilt Over Cousin & Daily Drinking
03:36 – 5-Year Binge & Rock Bottom
05:16 – Son as Turning Point
07:45 – Darkest Night & Self-Destruction
09:29 – Morning of Reckoning (Yellow Eyes)
11:34 – 3-Week Coma & Waking Up
15:06 – Hope from Dr. Raquel
19:42 – Hospital Struggles & Compassion
25:14 – "You Can't Do It Alone" Message
26:57 – Surrender & The Lock Inside
29:45 – Life Now: Clarity & Pride
32:10 – Losses as Wins
34:39 – Closing & Where to Find Mike

Follow Mike: @jerzeymike (Instagram/Threads – raw sobriety inspiration)

Support the podcast ❤️
Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/willpowerpodcast

Sober Mentoring (free 30-min chat):

https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min

Subscribe, like, share if this moved you. More real stories coming.

Richard Ratcliffe (@the.recovery.club - 100k+ followers) joins the Willpower Podcast for a raw, heartfelt talk on his 9-year sober journey. From childhood shame and "wearing masks" to fit in, to daily 2 liters of vodka leading to seizures, an induced coma at 24, and doctors warning "you won't make 25" - Richard opens up about waking up angry to be alive, true surrender, turning grief into purpose through vulnerability and his "12 Steps to Freedom" blueprint.

Real wisdom on shame as a "backpack of boulders," early sobriety agony, codependency, and carrying your "shadow self" with kindness. If you're in recovery or loving someone who is, this is gold.

Trigger Warning: Discusses coma, seizures, grief, suicide ideation, addiction rock bottoms. If struggling:

US Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Canada Suicide Prevention: 988 (or 1-833-456-4566)

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & Childhood Shame

05:09 - Alcohol as "Medicine"

10:09 - Daily Vodka & Internal Battle

13:24 - Induced Coma Rock Bottom

18:31 - Shame Lives in Silence

26:20 - Surrender & New Way of Life

33:28 - Early Sobriety Agony

37:17 - Deeper Wounds: Abandonment & Codependency

42:07 - Speed Round: Addiction Lies & Myths

47:44 - Grief, Purpose & Why We Share

Follow Richard: @the.recovery.club (DM "freedom" for his blueprint)

His book: 12 Steps to Freedom (link in comments)

Support the podcast ❤️

Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/willpowerpodcast (active - every coffee keeps these stories coming!)

Sober Mentoring:

https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min

Subscribe, like, share if this moved you. More real recovery ahead.

Chester Alarie, a 34-year-old musician from Montreal, opens up about his 17-year battle with drugs and alcohol that led to depression, multiple rock bottoms, a near-fatal overdose, and alcohol withdrawal in January 2024.

FULL DISCLOSURE> YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY WANT TO LISTEN TO THE END. THIS EPISODE IS AS ENTERTAINING AS A RECOVERY PODCAST CAN GET!

After rehab, relapses, and finally working the 12 steps, Chester is now 9 months sober, happier than ever, and making music full-time. This conversation is raw, honest, and full of hope – from the darkest moments to finding joy sober on stage.

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses overdose, withdrawal, suicide attempts, and other heavy topics. If you're struggling, please reach out for help.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (US): 988

Crisis Text Line (US): Text HOME to 741741

Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 988 (or 1-833-456-4566)

SAMHSA National Helpline (US): 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Timestamps:

00:00 – Near Fatal Overdose & Withdrawal

02:46 – Early Struggles & Depression

07:55 – Rock Bottoms Begin

17:21 – Loss & Grief

24:16 – The OD That Changed Everything

38:54 – Relapses & Moderation Lies

49:18 – Happiest Sober Moment (Crying on Stage)

1:01:11 – Comparison is the Thief of Joy

Connect with Chester: Instagram: @chester_alarie

Connect with Will: https://www.instagram.com/thewillpowerpodcast

Support the podcast (if you feel called): Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/willpowerpodcast (active & appreciated ❤️)

Need someone to talk to? My 1-on-1 mentoring → https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min

🧥 RCVR Apparel → Rock recovery-inspired gear with pride. Save 10% with code WILLPOWER10 at https://rcvrbrand.com

💊 LiverMedic Supplements → Feel your best with natural liver support. Use code WILL10 for 10% off at https://liverlifesupplements.com

🎤 AMPLIFY Sober Voices (Jan 15, 2026) → Join sober creators at Podfest 2026. Get $20 off with code WILLPOWER20 at https://amplify.soberliferocks.com

📚 Shortform (reading made easy) → Dig deeper into recovery books! Sign up at https://shortform.com/twpp and get a FREE TRIAL + $50 OFF your annual subscription.

If this episode helped you or someone you know, hit subscribe and share it. More real stories coming soon.

Thank you for being part of this community.

And a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR! I believe 2026 will be OUR BEST yet! Thanks for being apart of this community! It means the world ✊

#Sobriety #RecoveryStory #AlcoholAddiction #OverdoseSurvival #SoberMusician #12Steps #RockBottom #SoberLife #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #WillpowerPodcast #Sober2026 #RelapseToRecovery #SoberJourney

What's up everyone, Will Gordon here from The Willpower Podcast. This one's a banger – sat down with Quebec country rocker Rick Duff @Duff.yeehaw, who's 6 months sober and absolutely crushing it with his debut album Forever Reckless.

Rick lays it all out: going from bricklayer to Canada's got talent show finale overnight, the wild party days in his 20s, those "loser birds" chirping after all-nighters, getting hammered through five straight shows and knowing he was letting fans down... that was his wake-up call to quit booze and drugs for good.

We get deep on the guilt, the crossroads moment,surprising confidence from stacking sober days, sober hacks for touring, and turning massive pain – including losing his best friend Matthew to addiction – into therapy on tracks. Album's dedicated to him, man. Songs like "Reckless" and "Ford Ranger" hit hard.

If you're grinding through quitting drinking, battling addiction, or just need some real talk on mental health and showing up better – this is the one. Rick's proof you can flip the script and give your best self to the people who believe in you.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Cold open hook + Quebec weather banter

02:26 - Fame explosion from TV show

03:44 - Rock bottom: 5 wasted nights on stage

07:07 - The moment booze was stealing his voice

10:02 - Loser birds & choosing sobriety

17:21 - Losing Matthew & the album dedication

26:07 - Sober touring hacks 28:23 - Motivation from other artists/books

30:13 - What's next for Rick

34:25 - Rick's final words

Stream Forever Reckless everywhere and follow Rick:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4MNUaMf0Yl05yY6x342xBH
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickduffmusic/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rickduffmusic
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Duff.yeehaw
• Website: https://rickduffmusic.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DUFFOFFICIEL/

Hit subscribe if these stories fire you up – we're building a community of people stacking wins and getting after it sober. Drop a comment if Rick's story hit home.

If you're getting value from the show and want to help me keep grinding these episodes full-time (editing two a day sometimes takes all day!), a coffee on BuyMeACoffee means the world: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/willpowerpodcast

Other ways to support (keeps the lights on while I chase this dream):

• RCVR gear: https://rcvrbrand.com/
• LiverMedic supplements: https://livermedic.com/
• AMPLIFY Sober events: https://amplify.soberliferocks.com/

Thanks for being here, fam. Let's keep the willpower rolling.

Dr. Sarah Michaud spent 30 years as a clinical psychologist helping addicts and codependents climb out of hell… only to wake up one day and realize she was living in the exact same hell.

From people-pleasing therapist to full-blown addict and codependent, she hit rock bottom, got sober, wrote the raw book Co-Crazy, and now co-hosts the hit podcast Leaving Crazy Land.

This conversation is different. If you grew up trying to keep everyone happy, if you still don’t know what YOU actually want, or if sobriety feels like it’s missing something… this one will hit different.

Watch now.

Connect with Dr. Sarah Website → https://drsarahmichaud.com Podcast (Leaving Crazy Land) → Search “Leaving Crazy Land” on your platform Book Co-Crazy → Available everywhere

Need someone to talk to? My 1-on-1 mentoring → https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min

Support the show : 🤝 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

🧥 RCVR Apparel → Rock recovery-inspired gear with pride. Save 10% with code WILLPOWER10 at https://rcvrbrand.com

💊 LiverMedic Supplements → Feel your best with natural liver support. Use code WILL10 for 10% off at https://liverlifesupplements.com

🎤 AMPLIFY Sober Voices (Jan 15, 2026) → Join sober creators at Podfest 2026. Get $20 off with code WILLPOWER20 at https://amplify.soberliferocks.com

📚 Shortform (reading made easy) → Dig deeper into recovery books. Sign up at https://shortform.com/twpp and get a FREE TRIAL + $50 OFF your annual subscription.

• Timestamps 00:00 Therapist becomes the patient 00:54 First drink at 16 – “It was the solution”
• 04:25 Bank robbery to pay a coke dealer
• 09:15 Growing up in alcoholism & feeling “different”
• 13:37 Why year 2-3 of sobriety is the hardest
• 21:22 What codependency really is (and why it’s deadly) 29:43 The fear that drives people-pleasing
• 33:27 “Put down the drink for 30 days and see”
• 42:37 Best advice for anyone realizing they drink too much

Drop a ❤️ if this hit home. Subscribe Please – new episode every week.

#Codependency #PeoplePleaser #Sober #QuitDrinking #Recovery

Philippa and I were both handed death sentences from alcohol.

I needed a liver transplant and barely survived.

Philippa was told the exact same thing… but she completely reversed end-stage cirrhosis – no transplant, no miracle pills, no BS.

999 days to get her liver enzymes normal. A resident doctor cried when he saw her alive two years later.

This is the rawest, most hopeful liver-failure recovery story you will ever hear. I'm not just saying that...

If you’re hiding bottles, lying to yourself, or telling yourself “it’s not that bad yet” – watch/listen before it’s too late.

Philippa answers every DM → https://www.instagram.com/pippaamelia9

Need 1-on-1 help? My sober mentoring → https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min

🙏 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

📅 Book a 1:1 Sober Mentoring Session Today—LINK BELOW https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min

🧥 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

• Buy me a coffee (keeps episodes free) → https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast

Timestamps

00:00 Cold open – hiding bottles & lies

01:09 “Doctors gave me weeks… they gave her weeks” 02:54 She turned completely yellow + last drink story

25:18 “999 days to normal liver enzymes”

29:07 “You have 2 months to live”

36:58 The resident doctor started crying

43:00 Life now – 3.5 years sober & thriving

Drop a ❤️ if this hit home. Subscribe – new episode every week.

#AlcoholismRecovery #LiverFailure #EndStageCirrhosis #Sobriety #QuitDrinking #SoberLife #AddictionRecovery #LiverTransplant #Jaundice #SoberCurious #RecoveryIsPossible #AlcoholicLiverDisease #SoberMotivation #DryJanuaryForever #TheWillpowerPodcast