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_outlineA 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 achieving peak performance after recovery he explains how sleep, discipline and community support has impacted his success. His book Executive Loneliness shines a light on the hidden struggles of high achieving professionals and the need for open conversations around mental health and connection.
If you're looking for motivation, practical advice, and a reminder that rehabilitation may lead to a better version of yourself, this episode is for you. Whether you're newly clean, supporting a loved one, or simply interested in personal development, Nick's insights will provide you with lessons on resilience, health, and finding purpose beyond addiction.
- [01:54] Tim introduces guest Nick Jonsson, a TEDx speaker and author.
- [02:54] Nick shares his background—born in Sweden, educated in Australia, and living in Southeast Asia for 20 years. He discusses his early experiences with alcohol in Sweden, where access was heavily regulated.
- [04:20] Drinking became a problem when Nick moved to Australia at 23, where alcohol was widely available and socially encouraged.
- [05:55] Drinking escalated in Asia, leading to health issues. Even after hospitalization in Thailand, he initially denied alcohol as the cause.
- [07:52] Nick describes his attempts to quit drinking, culminating in a failed attempt on his birthday in 2018, which led him to seek medical detox.
- [09:33] He began his sobriety journey with AA, attending daily meetings for the first few years.
- [10:03] He's been sober for 7 years.
- [11:21] Nick discovered that about 33% of senior executives in Singapore were lonely and isolated. He realized this was a problem. This was the beginning of Nick writing Executive Loneliness.
- [12:32] His TEDx talk is partially based on the book where he talks about getting healthy and getting proper sleep.
- [13:26] He studied everything on sleep. One of the top tips he discovered was taping your mouth.
- [15:01] His Ironman numbers improved when he got extra sleep.
- [17:47] Community support, including AA and men’s groups, played a crucial role in maintaining long-term sobriety.
- [19:01] It's helpful to be an authentic groups that aren't just about sobriety.
- [20:51] Ironman racing was part of his life before sobriety, but his performance improved drastically after quitting alcohol.
- [22:15] One of the things that has changed for Nick is his ability to ask for help and be more vulnerable.
- [23:08] Finding mentorship and being part of an elite triathlon training group helped him excel as an athlete.
- [25:15] In order to train, he became extremely disciplined and also stopped watching news.
- [27:37] Physical health became a priority, especially for managing high cholesterol. Instead of medication, he chose daily exercise.
- [29:17] He discusses the impact of isolation and anxiety on mental and physical health, sharing how unresolved stress led to psychosomatic illness.
- [31:31] People need personal and professional safe spaces and friend groups that they can talk to.
- [33:27] Leaders in high-stress environments need to prioritize self-care rather than glorifying overwork.
- [35:02] Social media has played a significant role in spreading awareness about sobriety and mental health.
- [36:12] Nick shares his most unexpected lesson. He encourages listeners to acknowledge and talk about their struggles.
- [37:55] If you're trying to get sober, talk to someone. He has free resources in the back of his book Executive Loneliness.
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