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.

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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