Kristina Padilla: A Rainbow Person’s Journey to Recovery | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this engaging episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Kristina Padilla, a passionate recovery advocate and dual doctorate candidate, who shares their compelling journey from gang involvement and personal challenges to becoming a transformative figure in mental health and addiction recovery. Kristina discusses their experiences with domestic violence, coming out as a same-gender-loving person, and raising their daughter through artificial insemination, while advocating for diverse recovery pathways, including their innovative concept of metaphysical recovery. They also highlight their advocacy work, including lobbying in Washington, DC, for improved addiction treatment policies and addressing systemic issues like insurance delays and unethical rehab practices, delivered with charisma and a call for non-judgmental, human-centered support.

#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #RecoveryIsPossible #Hope #wedorecover

Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics

Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
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Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.

Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com

Timestamps:
00:03:03 - Navigating Dating and Identity
00:06:45 - Addressing Domestic Violence and Accountability
00:09:42 - FBI Citizens Academy and Anti-Trafficking Advocacy
00:12:42 - Sharing Marriage and Divorce Experience
00:13:52 - Journey to Parenthood via Artificial Insemination
00:16:48 - Educational Achievements and Career Path
00:19:25 - Coming Out and Early Gang Involvement
00:20:47 - Encountering Past in Prison Work
01:05:41 - Proposing Metaphysical Recovery Pathways
01:15:15 - Lobbying for Policy Change
01:22:36 - Critiquing Unqualified Rehab Operators

Sonny Von Cleveland: Vocalizing Our Pain to Heal | The Hopeaholics Podcast

Sonny Von Cleveland—a man who turned a life marked by profound trauma into a beacon of hope and redemption. From a childhood scarred by molestation beginning at age three, a felony charge at seven, and a harrowing prison sentence at 16, Sonny’s story is one of survival against unimaginable odds. He opens up about enduring a violent prison environment, including a brutal assault in his first week, and how he adopted a gang mentality to survive, only to face a pivotal moment in solitary confinement in 2004 after a drug-fueled crime spree landed him back behind bars. A mentor’s persistent question—“Why are you so angry?”—sparked a 19-month transformation, teaching Sonny emotional intelligence, forgiveness, and the power of vocalizing pain through writing forgiveness letters and reading Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. Emerging from prison in 2016 at age 35, Sonny built a music career, signed with Ferocious Records, and later pivoted to YouTube success, only to face new challenges, including betrayal and the loss of his channel. Now married to a woman he met through a podcast, Sonny runs Frisky Business, the only cat café in the Coachella Valley, and the Von Cleveland Foundation, while speaking at schools and juvenile halls to break cycles of abuse. He shares his upcoming 22-city U.S. tour, “Conversations of Redemption,” starting July 1, where he’ll explore city traumas and invite people to share their stories, partnered with Operation Light Shine to combat child sex abuse material. This episode is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience, showing that no matter how dark the past, healing is possible through vulnerability and purpose.

#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #addictionrecoverypodcast #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #RecoveryIsPossible #Hope #wedorecover

Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics

Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics

Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com

Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.

Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com

Timestamps:
00:02:34 - Feeling Trapped in a Cycle of Crime
00:03:02 - Traumatic Childhood and Early Abuse
00:04:16 - Strained Relationship with His Mother
00:05:09 - Early Criminal Record at Age Seven
00:07:00 - Brother’s Downward Spiral and Separation
00:08:02 - Prison Trauma and Survival Tactics
00:10:35 - Chaos in Privatized Youth Facility
00:12:12 - Mentored by a Seasoned Criminal
00:13:23 - Betrayal by Brother and Son’s Mother
00:16:21 - Turning Point in Solitary Confinement
00:18:45 - Learning Emotional Intelligence
00:19:28 - Writing as a Healing Tool
00:21:15 - Crafting Genuine Forgiveness Letters
00:23:24 - Teaching “Thinking for a Change” Program
00:25:32 - Leaving the Gang Life
00:40:20 - Music Career and Temptations
00:42:58 - YouTube Success and Relationship Struggles
00:45:24 - Meeting His Wife and Building a New Life
00:48:11 - Founding the Von Cleveland Foundation
00:49:46 - Upcoming 22-City Healing Tour
00:52:13 - Partnering with Operation Light Shine

Caleb Watson: Suffering in Silence | The Hopeaholics Podcast

On this compelling episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Caleb Watson, a 31-year-old Army veteran, former lineman, and lymphoma survivor who has battled cancer twice. Caleb shares his journey from a challenging childhood marked by poverty and his mother’s addiction to becoming a stepfather to three children and father to one, navigating the pressures of providing for his family while grappling with heavy drinking to cope with stress and silence inner turmoil. He candidly discusses the toll of maintaining a tough facade, crying alone on Nova Road in Saint Cloud, Florida, to shield his wife and kids from his pain, and the pivotal realization that vulnerability strengthened his marriage. Caleb reflects on how his mother’s grit shaped his resilience, enabling him to quit drinking, survive cancer, and transition from lineman work to coaching, reclaiming time with his family. Through his viral social media presence, Caleb inspires others with his sobriety journey, emphasizing the power of positive perspective, gratitude, and community support in overcoming life’s darkest moments.

#TheHopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #RecoveryIsPossible #Hope #wedorecover

Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics

Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics

Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com

Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.

Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com

Timestamps:
00:04:50 - Becoming a Stepdad and Meeting His Wife
00:07:01 - Transitioning to Lineman Work and Drinking Culture
00:08:18 - Alcohol as a Coping Mechanism
00:12:18 - Pivotal Childhood and Cancer Diagnosis Moments
00:14:11 - Linking Alcohol to Cancer Recurrence
00:16:30 - Initial Cancer Diagnosis Reaction
00:19:50 - Hiding Pain to Protect Family
00:23:40 - Importance of Vulnerability in Marriage
00:25:59 - Regretting Missed Moments with Kids Due to Drinking
00:50:34 - Admiring His Mother’s Grit Through Addiction
00:53:34 - Grit from Childhood Shaping His Resilience
01:01:17 - Handling Social Media Hate with Positivity
01:03:09 - Inspiring Sobriety Through Social Media
01:13:37 - Quitting Lineman Job for Coaching

Jennifer Foote: Embracing The Higher Power | The Hopeaholics Podcast

Jennifer Foote, a resilient survivor celebrating five years of sobriety. Recorded at the Hope by the Sea treatment facility, Jennifer shares her transformative journey from a life gripped by alcohol addiction to one of strength and purpose. She recounts her initial resistance to rehab, sparked by a family intervention led by her sister, a judge, and her pivotal decision to extend her stay from 25 to 105 days to solidify her recovery. Jennifer opens up about critical moments, including a frightening incident at rehab where Chad’s compassionate intervention kept her grounded, and her son’s overlapping treatment at the same facility, facilitated by her advocacy and Chad’s support. She candidly discusses post-rehab challenges, such as a dangerous relationship with a fellow rehab peer that led to threats and her empowerment through learning to shoot for self-defense. Jennifer also reflects on her sister’s unwavering support, her reinstatement in the oil and gas industry, and a reconciliatory trip to South Africa. With humor and vulnerability, she addresses ongoing concerns, like her son’s depression after his father’s passing and her commitment to sobriety by viewing alcohol as poison.

#thehopeaholics #redemptionepisode #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #RecoveryIsPossible #Hope #wedorecover

Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics

Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics

Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com

Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.

Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com

Timestamps:
00:02:11 - Sobriety Milestone
00:02:25 - Chad’s Support in Crisis
00:04:18 - Arrival at Rehab
00:09:11 - Son’s Overlapping Treatment
00:09:21 - Initial Resistance to Rehab
00:12:47 - Repaying Kindness
00:14:03 - Sister’s Support and Naltrexone
00:14:50 - Career Reinstatement
00:15:45 - Thirteenth Stepping Mistake
00:17:45 - Facing Threats and Resilience
00:23:30 - Learning to Shoot
00:28:41 - Sister’s Intervention
00:30:04 - South Africa Trip
00:33:02 - Son’s Struggles Post-Loss
00:34:14 - First Drink and Blackouts
00:51:48 - Maintaining Sobriety
00:54:08 - Avoiding Recovery Coaching Risks

Ryan Beckmann: Breaking the Silence with Hockey | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this gripping episode, we dive deep with guest Ryan Beckmann, a Canadian-born former junior hockey player whose life story is a testament to the power of recovery. Ryan opens up about his harrowing experiences with childhood trauma, starting with abuse at age five that shaped his struggles with addiction, mental health, and a skewed perception of intimacy. From building a multi-million-dollar RV dealership empire to losing it all—along with a $3 million debt—Ryan’s journey took him from the streets to rehab after missing his children’s milestones. He shares how a chance connection with NHL legend Theo Fleury, whose book resonated with Ryan’s own pain, led to a life-changing charity hockey event aiming to raise $1 million for mental health initiatives like Canucks for Kids and Puck Support. This episode explores Ryan’s reconciliation with his father after nearly a decade of silence, sparked by shared trauma, and his ongoing healing through Celebrate Recovery and faith. Packed with raw emotion, hope, and practical insights, this conversation highlights the importance of community, breaking generational curses, and finding purpose through pain.

You can buy your tickets here:
https://www.lackcantscore.com/

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saved-a-recovery-experience-tickets-1382200110739

Check out Ryan's GoFundMe:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/ultimate-goalie-showdown-where-hockeys-heart-shines

#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #RecoveryIsPossible #Hope #wedorecover

Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics

Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics

Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com

Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.

Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com

Timestamps:
00:03:47 - Childhood Trauma and Its Lasting Impact
00:04:47 - Early Substance Use and Hockey Career
00:06:20 - Marriage and Immigration to the U.S.
00:08:10 - Relapse and Business Collapse
00:09:29 - Hitting Rock Bottom and Seeking Treatment
00:10:34 - Connection to Theo Fleury’s Story
00:12:10 - Strained Relationship with Father
00:15:02 - Son’s Health Crisis and Hockey Community Support
00:17:16 - Charity Event for Mental Health
00:18:54 - Reconciliation with Father
00:21:25 - Sharing Trauma to Help Others
00:22:00 - Additional Traumas and Their Impact
00:26:39 - Struggles with Intimacy and Fatherhood
00:43:21 - Celebrate Recovery Program
00:49:35 - Charity Event Details and Support
01:00:03 - Proposal for Recovery Summit

Pat Ridge: Seeking Validation Through Mischief | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this extended, unfiltered conversation, Patrick opens up about his multifaceted life—from his early days filming with a Hi8 camera and capturing memories with friends like Chad’s wife Donna and her sister Vicki, to his wild first high on Vicodin during a high school snowboarding trip, and his rise in the music scene with Hyper Crush, touring with Lady Gaga, only to face ego-driven setbacks. He shares the founding of Graceland, his highly structured sober living facility, and the chaotic yet transparent journey of helping others like Nick Harris via live streaming, despite toxic online backlash. Patrick gets real about losing 20 years of sobriety, his relapse with CBD and Delta-9, and the strain it put on his marriage and role as a father to his one-and-a-half-year-old son, Wolf, while reflecting on the power of behavior over sobriety milestones, the influence of structured programs like Liberty House, and his current mission to create engaging, funny recovery videos. From mischievous beginnings and seeking validation to finding peace at the lake and admiring artists like Scribbler in Kensington, this episode is a rollercoaster of lessons, hope, and resilience—perfect for anyone navigating addiction, sobriety, or the messy beauty of life.

#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #RecoveryIsPossible #Hope #wedorecover

Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics

Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics

Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com

Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.

Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com

Timestamps:
00:03:19 - Early Filming Passion
00:04:40 - First High Experience
00:07:00 - Mischief and Validation
00:09:10 - Streaming and Sober Living
00:12:39 - Graceland Structure
00:16:13 - Music Career with Hyper Crush
00:19:23 - Art as a Lifeline
00:21:21 - Seizure and Turning Point
00:23:26 - Inspiration from Liberty House
00:25:29 - Marriage and Fatherhood
00:28:38 - Social Media Addiction
00:35:43 - Sobriety Across Programs
00:36:37 - Critique of Time in Sobriety
01:21:14 - Fascination with Scribbler
01:23:28 - Daily Routine Post-Relapse
01:26:03 - Finding Joy at the Lake

Tobias Stroman: Battling a Broken System | The Hopeaholics Podcast

Tobias Stroman, a man whose life has been shaped by profound loss, resilience, and an unyielding drive to find purpose through pain. Tobias bravely shares the heart-wrenching saga of his older brother, Elijah Stroman, wrongfully incarcerated at 18 for 23 years of a 37-year sentence, only to be released by the Washington State Department of Corrections with no guidance, housing, or counseling. Tragically, just seven months after tasting freedom, Elijah lost his life to a fentanyl-laced batch of cocaine in a hotel room, days before his 42nd birthday. Tobias recounts the family’s devastation during the trial, his mother’s nightly tears, and their relentless fight—fueled by attorneys and a private investigator—to prove Elijah’s innocence. As a young teen, Tobias grew up fast, taking jobs and entering real estate and life insurance to fund costly legal battles, all to bring his brother home. He opens up about his own descent into addiction—alcohol, cocaine, and ecstasy—trying to numb the pain of Elijah’s absence, losing a job, marriage, and home along the way. A pivotal moment came driving from Arizona to California at 2 a.m., when a misdownloaded sermon and a minivan with a cross led Tobias to cry out for God’s help, launching his journey into AA and sobriety. Despite a relapse after Elijah’s viewing, Tobias called his sponsor, recommitted, and now channels his grief into a powerful vision: raising fentanyl awareness, opening a detox facility and sober living home, and advocating for those released from prison to navigate a world of challenges Elijah never mastered.

#TheHopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #RecoveryIsPossible #Hope #wedorecover

Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics

Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics

Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com

Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.

Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com

Timestamps:
00:03:06 - Brother's Wrongful Incarceration and Release
00:04:15 - Tragic Loss to Fentanyl
00:05:21 - Impact of Wrongful Conviction
00:08:29 - Challenges of Reentry
00:12:20 - Family Devastation During Trial
00:13:57 - Relief at Elijah’s Release
00:17:02 - Fighting for Elijah’s Freedom
00:18:18 - Personal Relapse After Loss
00:19:22 - Growing Up Fast
00:22:06 - Spiritual Awakening on the Road
00:24:41 - Entering AA
00:26:50 - Relapses and Losses
00:28:49 - Renewed Commitment to Sobriety
00:43:45 - Vision for Helping Others
00:49:18 - Rebuilding After Tragedy

Vechi Mutum: Weaponizing Excuses to Avoid Sobriety | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this deeply moving episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Vechi Mutum delivers an unflinching and inspiring account of his journey through addiction, trauma, and recovery, offering hope to anyone facing their own battles. Vechi endured a childhood filled with violence and instability, leading to a suicide attempt at 14 and early struggles with mental health. These experiences set the stage for a descent into addiction, starting with compulsive sugar consumption as a child and escalating to prescription drugs like Norco and Valium after a knee injury derailed his firefighter dreams. By his early 20s, Vechi was entangled in methamphetamine use, introduced by a neighbor, which fueled a life of homelessness, criminal activity, and estrangement from family. Now over a decade sober, Vechi shares profound reflections on rebuilding his life, including an 11-year marriage, adopting their son, and raising two boys with intention, teaching them resilience and accountability. The episode also highlights Vechi’s passionate advocacy, including a call to treat fentanyl use as attempted suicide and a demand for better support for veterans battling addiction. With raw honesty, Vechi discusses navigating the “dark hallways” of recovery, from false legal accusations to the ongoing wreckage of past mistakes, emphasizing the power of doing “the next right thing.”

#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #RecoveryIsPossible #Hope #wedorecover

Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics

Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics

Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com

Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.

Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com

Timestamps:
00:05:19 - Early Addiction to Sugar
00:07:04 - Rejecting Higher Power in AA
00:08:04 - Struggles as a Teen
00:09:13 - Suicide Attempt at 14
00:11:11 - Injury Derails Firefighter Dreams
00:12:11 - Prescription Drug Abuse Escalates
00:14:42 - Introduction to Methamphetamine
00:16:30 - Homelessness and Criminal Activity
00:17:43 - Losing Custody of Children
00:19:19 - Selfish Excuses for Addiction
00:21:06 - A Stranger’s Compassion
01:06:36 - Urgent Call to Treat Fentanyl as Attempted Suicide
01:09:57 - Veterans Deserve Better Support
01:14:32 - Protecting Kids from Fentanyl
01:16:30 - Fatherhood as a Privilege
01:18:31 - Rebuilding Family After Mistakes
01:19:21 - Teaching Sons Resilience
01:20:30 - Navigating Dark Hallways