The Recovering Reality Podcast

God is good, and He loves us into transformation. In this episode Erik shares stories about how God chased him with His goodness and that was the catalyst to his transformation.

Had the privilege of having four of my friends on the show, and repeat guests. Bryce Lawrence, CEO of Vanguard Partners, John Huffman, CEO of Huffman Construction Group, and Vinny Duggan, CEO of Infinite Home Solutions. We got real about our process and journey in growing in business and life. You don’t want to miss this episode as you will receive tons of practical advice and encouragement for your entrepreneurial journey.

We had the privilege of having Nick Javas on the show. He opened up about his journey and finding his path in long term recovery. Don’t miss this powerful conversation.

I’ve seen too many people give up on their God given assignment when they were so close to the breakthrough they’re looking for, and it’s usually because they don’t understand what’s going on in the spiritual realm as they draw closer to the breakthrough they’re fighting for. In this episode we explain why often times it can feel like an unseen force is trying to stop us as we get closer to fulfilling God’s calling on our life.

We had the privilege of having business owner Vinny Duggan on the show. What a powerful story of redemption! Years ago, he was sleeping next to burned down buildings as drug use had literally taken his mind from him. Nowadays God has fully restored this family man, loyal friend, business owner, and real blessing to his community. Don’t miss this powerful story of God’s goodness and power to redeem life. Enjoy!

In this episode we take a deep dive into the importance of understanding other peoples point of view, listening to why they see it differently, and how healthy communication is needed to do this effectively. Enjoy!

What if all the wisdom you needed to walk out your calling and purpose was already entirely available to you? Good News, it is. It’s just waiting for you to follow God outside your comfort zone and into the sphere of influence God has called you to.

John Huffman has a powerful story. The life of running the streets and addiction got its hooks in him at a young age. He was lost with no direction, but God never gave up on him. Today John is a husband, a father, and a businessman that joyfully serves his community in Southwest Florida. Don’t miss this powerful story of transformation and God’s grace.

Will Kitchen is the Executive Director of Southwest Florida Teen Challenge. For 15yrs he has been working in Teen Challenges and seeing lives transformed, but a life of addiction and chaos plagued him for years before God found him and began transforming his life. Don’t miss this powerful episode and share it with someone that needs some hope.

Don’t miss this powerful message about how we can partner with God as He heals our minds. Message given on 3-4-22 at Fort Myers, FL Teen Challenge Treatment Center.

This is a much needed conversation in this day and age. How does a low financial IQ effective your mental health? Why is gold important right now? What’s going on in the markets and banks, and how does it effect me? We cover these topics and more with Andy Schectman, Owner of MilesFranklin, on this episode. Andy and his company have a fantastic reputation and he and his family have been doing it for over 25yrs.

Professional golfer Christopher Kirk joined us on the show to share his powerful story of recovery from alcoholism. Kirk was once ranked the 16th best golfer in the world, but alcohol got its hooks in him and slowly began to tear his life apart. Make sure you check out this powerful episode about how Chris Kirk found serenity and restored his life through a recovery program.

Each and every person has gold buried deep in their heart, and it’s worth the work to bring it to the surface. They’re worth it.

Hear a couple stories that will help you grow in hearing God’s voice. Plus foundational tips and perspectives to empower you to be able to differentiate God’s voice from the noise of the world.

“You think you’ve been buried, but you’ve really been planted.” -Christine Caine. Many of us have gone through intense internal struggle in the last couple years, but in 2022 you will see that that struggle was just your roots sinking deep. You’re now positioned for exponential growth in 2022.

How does someone go from being declared a menace to their community, to being an agent of hope and change in that same community? Jeff Walker’s story reveals just that. You don’t want to miss this powerful episode of hope, faith

What is fear? What does it do to us spiritually and physically? And how do we spot it and overcome it? We address and go over all of this in detail in this episode. Enjoy and share with your friends.

Treating people according to their potential, and their Godly identity is more powerful then we think. We talk all about it in this episode.

What a privilege it was to have Alika Gambill on the show. Alika is a native Hawaiian and has a powerful story of transformation. After almost 2 decades of addiction God has transformed his life in amazing ways. He now runs a non profit called, “Pro Recovery Power.” He is helping many people recover. Don’t miss this insightful and hope filled episode.

Educator of Neuroscience, Staci Danford is back on the show for the third time. If you’ve struggled with rejection, or can’t seem to find a happy rhythm then this episode is for you. Find out how to activate your brains “happy chemicals” and some simple habits that will change your life.

What a privilege is was to have an old friend on the show. Julianne Thomson has over a decade of recovery and fights wild fires for a living, these days. But her journey of getting to this place of freedom and purpose had a few detours. Don’t miss this powerful episode as she shares her journey into freedom.

In this encouraging episode Erik gives some very helpful insights into fear and how it sneaks up on us. He also covers at length a story about Jesus, and His input on the crippling reality of fear. “Don’t Yield to Fear,” and make sure you share with friends so they don’t either!

We had the privilege of having Eric Birkhimer, The National Director of Business Development for Banyan Treatment Centers, on the show. He shared his powerful journey of his struggles with addiction into his nearly 12yrs of recovery. Make sure you check out this hope filled story and share with friends.

Dr. Ponnezhan is a man of faith and is doing amazing work in the emergency rooms and intensive care units at 2 hospitals in the downtown area of Los Angeles. We spoke about the massive increase in ER visits, due to drugs and alcohol, that is taking place since the pandemic started. He shares some powerful insights and encouragement. Check it out and share with friends!

We had the privilege of having our host Erik Frederickson’s cousin, Jack Mangum on the show. Jack is now the Vice President of a bank and has a beautiful family, but it wasn’t always like this for him. Addiction nearly took his life years ago, but it was a powerful encounter with God that set him free and radically changed the course of his life.

Recovery Advocate Meaghan Palumbo got sober at the age 22yrs. She is now coming up on 9yrs of recovery. She spends her days giving back as she helps people into treatment and runs a recovery based business. Make sure you check out this powerful episode as Meaghan powerfully articulates the pains of addiction and the joys of recovery.

Tired of fear holding you back? Have you tried facing it?

Bradley Alix has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Forensic Science and a Master’s in Forensic Science. He is also making a massive impact in Lee County with the Public Defenders office as the Disposition Specialist. In short, he and his growing team are helping transform people’s lives as they leave jail and re-enter society. Make sure you share this much needed conversation with your friends.

Rebekkah Miranda is a flight nurse in Utah. She has seen the effects of The Opioid Epidemic first hand, on top of this her son battled addiction for years before recently starting his recovery journey. She is now walking out her own healing and spreading as much hope as possible. Don’t miss this much needed conversation with a mother, a nurse, and an overcomer.

We had the privilege of having Staci Danford back on the show. For our second conversation she takes us through what goes on in the brain when someone falls into isolation and the victim mentality. This episode is filled with practical insights and tips for spotting and overcoming the Victim Mentality.

Alton Voss is on a mission to prevent young people from making the same mistakes he made by sharing his story. As a 3 Star recruit from Gulf High School, with dreams of playing in the NFL, he earned a full-ride to play football at the University of South Florida. He threw it all away by choosing alcohol and drugs as a way of dealing with issues of anxiety, depression, failure and unmet expectations. Given a second chance at life, he played four years at Grand Valley State University earning All-Conference honors and the McAvoy Character Award, while graduating with a degree in Communications. He played professional football overseas in the German Football League for the Potsdam Royals. Alton has been featured on The 700 Club, Jim Rome Show, and Sport Illustrated. He speaks from experience and wants to share his message of success, failure, redemption, and second chances because he cares and believes that by sharing his story, he can positively impact the lives of those who hear it.

I believe that many people in recovery are entrepreneurial in nature, and Brandon is certainly an entrepreneur at heart. He is young and has a powerful recovery story. Brandon is also a very successful entrepreneur, and in this insightful episode we process recovery and it’s similarities to being an Entrepreneur. Enjoy!

Eastern Tennessee will never be the same since Dr. Chambless Johnston decided to bring the message of recovery into the mess of addiction in that region. Don’t miss this powerful story of hope, where an Emergency room doctor left the ER to help those caught in the grip of addiction.

We had a wonderful and insightful conversation with Staci Danford, who I call “The Grateful Brain Doctor.” Ever wondered what goes on in your brain when you are negative and ungrateful, vs what is going on in the brain when you are positive and grateful? And how does scripture tie into all of this? If you’re interested in knowing the answers to those questions she answers them in this show. Don’t miss it!

With the addiction epidemic raging worse than ever in this nation many people don’t realize that the ramifications of addiction effect the entire family unit. We had a needed conversation with Shannon Erb and newly recovering Josh McCall, as they shared some of their story and recovery process. Conversations like these are desperately needed in this time so people can know that recovery is possible for the individual, and the entire family!

What if you could upgrade your thinking and as a byproduct your brain would literally become stronger and healthier? Good news...You can! You don’t want to miss this episode.

We had the wonderful privilege of having Dr. Caroline Leaf on the podcast.

Dr. Leaf is the author of 19 books, a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist with a Masters and PhD in Communication Pathology and a BSc Logopaedics. She specializes in cognitive and metacognitive neuropsychology. Since the early 1980s she has researched the mind-brain connection, the nature of mental health, and the formation of memory.

We had an amazing conversation about the mind, the brain, and how to overcome triggers. Make sure to pick up her new book, “Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess.”

In the last 8yrs Lance Lang has written 4 books, spoke to thousands of people, opened 21 Sober Living Homes and Founded the organization ‘Hope is Alive.’ He credits God with those achievements. But the journey before that was a dark and dangerous one. Be sure to check out this powerful transformation story and hear how Hope is Alive in Lance Lang’s life.