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Peter Meyerhoff: A Story of Redemption and Drive

Release Date: 09/05/2023

Beyond Meds: How TMS Is Rewiring Brains And Transforming Lives With Dr. Robert Westerman

I Love Being Sober

Is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) the revolutionary mental health treatment you've been hearing about, or just another fad? , a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with a seriously powerful backstory from , joins Tim Westbrook to cut through the BS and give it to us straight. In this episode, we ditch the medical jargon and get real about how TMS actually works, using magnets—not electricity like those scary ECT movies!—to fire up neurotransmitters and tackle issues like depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. Dr. Westerman, who's seen it all and treated thousands, breaks down why this...

Beyond Tough Love: Christopher Doyle's Radical Intervention Strategies That Actually Work

I Love Being Sober

Personalized parent coaching and effective intervention strategies offer a vital lifeline for families grappling with addiction, paving the way for hope and healing. In this episode, we're honored to feature , the dedicated Founder of , who brings an authentic and deeply compassionate perspective to the complexities of addiction recovery. Chris, a retired New York City firefighter and former Head Substance Abuse Counselor for the FDNY's Employee Assistance Program, shares his unique journey and the impactful "Stop Dreaming Framework" and "Four-Part Connection Formula" he's developed to guide...

Reimagining Mental Health Care: How Psychiatric NPs Are Driving Innovation And Change With Dr. Lindsay Hill

I Love Being Sober

Psychiatric nurse practitioners are revolutionizing mental health care from the inside out—and is at the forefront of this movement. With a dual lens as both clinician and entrepreneur, she shares how nurse practitioners can lead the next chapter of behavioral health innovation. As President of the APNA Arizona Chapter, founder of PMHNP Bootcamp™, and a consultant in AI and digital health, Dr. Hill unpacks the clinical, financial, and personal pressures providers face—and how to overcome them with strategy, support, and systems. From her own experience with TMS therapy to the healing...

Eliminating Your Workaholic Self With Barry Garapedian

I Love Being Sober

Because society glorifies the grind so much, many people find themselves embracing and normalizing a workaholic lifestyle. Although this means more profit, it ultimately kills your well-being and destroys your relationships. Tim Westbrook explores the right way to get rid of this self-destructive lifestyle with , President and CEO of . Barry looks back on how his relentless work ethic nearly cost him everything, including his 16-year marriage. He shares how he overcame this rigid mindset, rebuilt his life, and is now coaching young people to reach their full potential – all while teaching...

The Impact Of Healing Journeys With Pardis Mahdavi, PhD

I Love Being Sober

Going out to travel is not only about leisure and excitement, but also about expanding oneself by visiting places outside your comfort zone. Author and entrepreneur understands the transformative power of healing journeys, and so she built her business around that. In this conversation, she talks about her wellness company , which focuses on transformational retreats and coaching programs for personal growth. She explains how immersing in new cultures and traditions can help you discover new things about yourself. Pardis also delves into the benefits of plant medicine, which she describes as...

How Sobriety Transformed His Life and Performance

I Love Being Sober

A life transformed through sobriety—today’s guest has not only overcome addiction but has turned his journey into a mission to help others. As a TEDx speaker, best-selling author and dedicated endurance athlete Nick’s story is one of resilience, self-discovery and community. In this episode, we get into his personal battle with alcohol, the moment he hit rock bottom and the strategies that have kept him sober for the long haul. Beyond his sobriety journey Nick shares how he rebuilt his life through physical fitness and personal development. From doing Ironman’s before he was sober to...

Optimizing Performance and Sobriety with Dr. Douglas Brackmann and Steve Distante

I Love Being Sober

I’m joined by two amazing guests: Dr. Douglas Brackmann and Steve Distante. Dr. Brackmann is a psychologist, meditation expert and author who works with high performing entrepreneurs, athletes and creatives. He has a deep understanding of neuroscience and human behavior and helps individuals harness their unique brain wiring to overcome obstacles and achieve peak performance. Steve is an entrepreneur, author and investor who has built and scaled multiple businesses. He’s passionate about leadership and impact driven entrepreneurship and helps business owners with the tools they need to...

Building New Beginnings: Matt Waltz on Entrepreneurship and Embracing Sobriety

I Love Being Sober

For most, success is built by hard work and smart decisions, but for Matt Waltz it’s been a journey of self discovery, resilience and transformation. As a seasoned entrepreneur Matt built a successful business with Waltz Construction and then turned his focus to making a difference through his work with New Freedom. But beyond the professional achievements Matt’s personal story is one of overcoming deep seated fears, dealing with addiction and creating a new way of being. Today Matt joins us to share his story of innovation, leadership and personal renewal. He talks about his struggles...

Revolutionizing Mental Health: Exploring TMS and Beyond

I Love Being Sober

I’m honored to have Dr. Richard Bermudez, the National Medical Director at Brainsway, joining us. Dr. Bermudez is a pioneer in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a groundbreaking treatment for mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. With years of expertise in neuroscience and psychiatry, he has made it his mission to expand the accessibility and efficacy of innovative mental health therapies. Today, he’ll share his journey from electrical engineering to medicine and how it shaped his passion for non-invasive brain stimulation treatments. We dive into the science behind...

Breaking Through: How Deep TMS Transforms Mental Health and Addiction Recovery

I Love Being Sober

I'm so excited to welcome Ross Mitchell, the Vice President of Global Marketing at BrainsWay, to the show today! Ross is leading the charge in healthcare marketing, especially in mental health, where he’s helping to spread the word about innovative treatments that make a real difference in people’s lives. Ross has been working with Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or Deep TMS, a groundbreaking therapy that’s changing how we approach conditions like depression, OCD, and smoking addiction. With his experience from leadership roles at companies like Medtronic and Clorox Healthcare,...

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Peter Myerhoff AKA Chappy

Once lost in the grips of hard drugs during his teenage years, Peter Meyerhoff's choices led him down a path of car thefts, burglaries, and eventually, a 12-year incarceration sentence. Inside the prison walls, he was ensnared by the intricate web of prison politics, eventually rising to a position of influence as a shot-caller. Yet, amidst the chaos of violence and addiction, Peter found himself in solitary confinement for the concluding 11 months of his term.

Upon his release, Peter chose transformation over regression. Channeling the resilience and mental fortitude he honed in isolation, he now stands as a best-selling author, riveting motivational speaker, and inspiring podcaster. As the proud owner of a sobriety-focused clothing brand and the innovative mind behind a prison curriculum app, Peter is dedicated to uplifting those battling addiction and reducing recidivism rates.

Above all, he is a testament to the infinite possibilities that await when one harnesses unwavering drive and embraces a life without excuses. Today, besides his professional achievements, Peter cherishes his roles as a devoted husband and father. We dive into his story from everyday athlete to drug-addict to prison and back. We also talk about his journey through recovery, psychedelics for recovery, his prison curriculum app, and wherever the conversation takes us.

[04:39] Peter tells us about his life growing up. His mom was a flight attendant, and he had a lot of freedom to party.
[08:27] We learn about Peter's first sex experience. Unfortunately, his second sex experience turned into a rape allegation.
[10:27] He had to drop out of school and wasn't able to play sports, which were his whole life. He then turned to drugs.
[13:01] The second he got out of rehab, he started doing drugs again.
[16:36] He and his friends ended up robbing a rich friend's house. He ended up with 12 years in prison for stealing a drill, a snowboard, Jordan basketball shorts, and Jordan flip flop sandals.
[19:00] He was 18, and 12 years felt like a life sentence.
[19:41] People do drugs in prison.
[21:02] Peter was 24 and had a relationship with a corrections officer, and he had unlimited drugs.
[24:07] We learn about his first heroin experience.
[25:16] He was put in solitary when he had 11 months to go. He was able to get sober and put on 90 pounds.
[26:49] Peter spent two weeks being dope-sick in solitary.
[27:33] He was so grateful to be sober. He would do push-ups all day. He went from constantly being shackled to out on the streets.
[31:56] Anger can be harnessed to your advantage.
[32:27] Peter was planning on getting a construction job and getting sober.
[35:55] We learn about Peter's fentanyl overdose after he got out of prison. He barely survived.
[39:02] He decided to stop making excuses and get sober for real. He's been sober for seven and a half years.
[41:00] Peter got a job selling cars and went from drug addiction to money addiction. He just quit the dealership a year and a half ago.
[43:58] He wanted to put his life first and do something positive.
[46:30] Once you become responsible, your life changes. Serving people and making a contribution to the world brings happiness and fulfillment.
[47:37] We learn how Peter got the nickname Chappy.
[48:24] We talked about using psychedelics as a tool for recovery. It makes you feel like a little kid again.
[55:42] Most people don't push using psychedelics on other people.
[56:44] Peter talks about his prison curriculum app. People in prison need things that are positive. They are teaching people how to be successful when they get out of prison.
[59:01] Peter shares his positive prison routine which includes getting up early, doing abs, writing, more workouts and more.

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