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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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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Have you ever wondered how brain science is influencing mental health treatment? In today's episode, I speak with Dr. Colleen Hanlon, the Vice President of Medical Affairs of Brainsway. Dr. Hanlon, who specializes in neurobiology and has pioneered work in therapies such as deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and ketamine, discusses how these creative approaches are helping people recover from depression, PTSD, and addiction. Dr. Hanlon and I talk about the science behind TMS and ketamine therapy, why they're effective, and who might benefit the most. We look at how TMS activates...
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Terra Holbrook is the founder of TerraVista Retreats in Idaho, a unique healing space dedicated to helping individuals recover from trauma, addiction, and other life challenges. With over two decades of experience as a therapist, Terra specializes in trauma-informed care, focusing on guiding people through the often hidden layers of trauma that can affect every aspect of their lives. I want to share that I personally attended Terra's program, and it was a profound experience. We begin with Terra briefly explaining her work and how she came to open TerraVista Retreat in Idaho. Then, we dive...
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“You will believe without a doubt, you will achieve what others doubt.” That is a quote from my guest today, Tony Grebmeier. Tony built up a multimillion-dollar business in ShipOffers, which was ranked as one of Inc. 5000's fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., all while battling addiction with drugs and alcohol. Tony's determination and resilience led him to not only build a successful business but also to become a beacon of hope and motivation for others. As the host of the Be Fulfilled Podcast: The Real Stories Behind Success, Tony has spent six seasons redefining what it means...
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I’m happy to introduce you to Amy Moore, a beacon of hope and transformation in the world of addiction recovery. Amy's personal journey from struggle to sobriety ignites her passion for healing others. Her heart-centered approach turns interventions into acts of love, promoting family unity and personal growth through education, group therapy, and compassionate support. When she's not in the therapy room, Amy embraces life and nature with open arms. Whether she's hiking with her family, snowboarding, or capturing the beauty of a sunset, she finds joy and renewal in the great outdoors. A...
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I have a deeply moving and inspirational story to share with you. My guest, Todd Belfer, has been on a remarkable journey of transformation and healing. Todd has been clean and sober for over two decades, successfully overcoming his struggles with drugs and alcohol. However, his path took an unexpected turn a little over a year ago when he faced the unimaginable pain of his son’s suicide. This profound loss led Todd to explore a realm he was once firmly against—psychedelics. In this episode, Todd will share how this exploration has significantly impacted his life and recovery. Despite his...
info_outlinePete Sousa is the host of the The Payoff with Pete podcast. A podcast for anyone who is working on or thinking about getting sober. He also calls games for ESPN. Pete has been sober for 12 years and is passionate about carrying his message of enjoying a sober lifestyle. Pete’s sobriety was a journey that included ups and downs. His inspiring message is for anyone who needs motivation to continue on their personal sobriety journey.
Some of the things we talk about include: What was Pete's upbringing like and when did he first realize he was an alcoholic? We delve into his professional journey with ESPN and the inspiration behind “The Payoff with Pete”. We also discuss the intriguing concept of “the gift of desperation” and how relapses fit into the recovery journey. Join us as we unravel these topics and more in today's episode.
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[06:47] Pete grew up outside of Philadelphia. He had a good life, but his dad was an alcoholic.
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[09:39] As a kid, Pete was on Adderall, and it made him feel great.
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[11:46] He discovered in high school that alcohol took away his nerves and anxiety. He drank when he could.
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[14:14] He also found his mom's old prescriptions and took them.
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[15:27] Pete found out he had cardiomyopathy which messed up his football career.
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[16:35] Pete realized he was an alcoholic early in high school and college.
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[20:11] Talking about your story of sobriety helps you stay sober.
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[21:14] After college, Pete took ecstasy. He also got a job and moved to New York.
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[22:45] Pete didn't like how he was when he was addicted. Pete started doing cocaine in 2000, and by 2002, he was back at home living with his parents.
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[25:02] He took his dad's car and got stopped by the police. The next day he ended up at AA.
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[26:14] The meetings started to work and he kept going. He still hung out with his old friends, smoked weed, and began drinking again.
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[28:03] He continued drinking for years and when he tried to stop it was hard. He ended up with broken relationships, trouble with the law, and a lot of different problems.
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[30:25] It was finally time for him to go to treatment. After going to rehab, he began to change.
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[31:37] He had a major shift in his life when he finally became coachable. He listened to people who had a life that he wanted to have.
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[33:24] Breaking up while he was in treatment was one of the best things that happened to him. He left a toxic relationship.
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[35:28] After his 30 days of rehab, he went to an extended care center.
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[36:46] Pete started feeling great in sobriety and chased that feeling the same way he used to chase the alcohol and the drugs.
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[37:24] He thought he was above working at KFC, but he got a job there anyway.
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[40:08] Recovery jobs help you go all in. His KFC job gave him confidence and humility.
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[43:41] After recovery, Pete began getting opportunities that he thought he would never get again. He ended up calling games and doing broadcasting jobs.
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[45:31] After being 4 years sober, he got another job with the Hornets. He also saw Michael Jordan again.
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[51:13] November 7th, 2011 was Pete's sobriety date.
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[52:28] Framing recovery as a journey.
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[53:16] The "gift of desperation" was when Pete began to embrace the journey and go to any lengths to get sober.
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[58:23] Pete's suggestions for newcomers includes being honest.
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[01:00:33] The Payoff With Pete podcast is about sobriety and inspiring people who want to get sober.
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