Jesus Loves Addicts

In this emotional two-part episode of Jesus Loves Addicts, host Paul sits down with Katie Foster Gerhart to hear her harrowing life story — from a traumatic childhood with alcoholic parents and early responsibilities as the 'family protector' to two decades of substance abuse. Katie recounts pivotal moments including a near-fatal car crash, arrests, painful medical issues, multiple rehabs, and the escalation from recreational drink...

In this episode John Carriere jr. joins the Jesus Loves Addicts podcast to tell his raw, honest story: growing up chasing sports and success, spiraling into drugs and drug-dealing in college, and the devastating turning point after his mother’s terminal diagnosis and death in 2007. He describes ordering pills online, seizures, arrests, and living in chaos before hitting rock bottom.

John shares the life-changing encounter at the Ho...

In this episode Jeff York, founder and executive director of Joseph's Home, shares his raw and honest journey from a violent, drug‑addicted past to more than two decades of recovery and ministry. He recounts childhood struggles with dyslexia and bullying, early drug use and extreme violence, a federal indictment, and the moments of surrender that turned his life around.

Jeff discusses the turning points — a surprising Bible study a...

In this intense, deeply personal episode Julie tells her story of addiction, loss, and faith. She recounts years of drug use with her partner, arrests, overdoses, and the devastating moment she found him after he took his own life while she was tending their baby.

Julie describes relapses, multiple treatment stints, time in jail and psychiatric holds, and the trauma of being estranged from family and losing custody. She shares the ...

Part one of a two-part conversation with guest Julie Schouest and host Paul from Jesus Loves Addicts. Julie rawly recounts a childhood marked by divorce, conflicting parental expectations, shame and feeling unseen — and how those wounds steered her into early substance use, risky relationships, and escalating drug use through adolescence and young adulthood.

The episode covers early experimentation (inhalants, alcohol, marijuana, s...

In this episode Kristyn Simmons shares her raw, candid story: a happy childhood shadowed by family addiction, a decade-long battle with opiates, violent relationships, jail and loss, and a horrific 2021 car accident that shattered her face and changed everything. Kristyn talks about sinking into IV opiate use, losing custody of her children, hitting rock bottom, and the long recovery process with the Home of Grace, including surger...

Host interviews Kayla, who shares growing up in an addicted home with an absent, struggling father and a faithful mother, the instability of homelessness, and the cycle of rehab and jail. She recounts how God met her in childhood, her transformative years in a 24/7 prayer room, and the long process of grieving, healing, and learning to set healthy boundaries.

Topics include addiction’s impact on family dynamics, shame and imposter ...

In this roundtable episode of Jesus Loves Addicts, hosts and recovery leaders Kathryn, Ross, and Paul unpack relationships in early recovery—examining the rewards, the dangers, and the faith-centered wisdom needed to navigate them.

Topics include why waiting (often a year or more) matters, how attraction and sex can function like a drug, codependency and “fixer/fixee” dynamics, the influence of Hollywood myths, and practical steps ...

Join us for a compelling episode of "Jesus Loves Addicts," featuring the heartfelt and inspiring journey of Shane and Shelly Martin, a couple who overcame years of addiction through the power of faith. In this episode, Shane and Shelly candidly share their personal battles with addiction, from nicotine, pornography, and alcoholism to overcoming PTSD.

Despite facing significant challenges, their faith in Christ led them to find rede...

In this heartfelt episode of Jesus Loves Addicts, we dive deep into the transformative journey of David Herrington. Once lost to cocaine and crack addiction, David shares his experiences of living on the streets, serving time in prison, and the turning points that led him to find hope and renewal through Jesus Christ. Joining this conversation is Pastor Brandon Rogers, who plays a pivotal role in David's new life, showcasing the po...

In this gripping episode of Jesus Loves Addicts, we continue with part two of Joseph Deason's powerful story of addiction, redemption, and faith. Joseph recounts his tumultuous journey through drug addiction, starting from experimenting with substances in his teenage years to battling with severe meth addiction. He shares candid insights into his life experiences, including a traumatic car accident, encounters with the law, and los...

In this compelling episode, the hosts of Jesus Loves Addicts dive deep into the tumultuous early life of Joseph Deason. Growing up amidst chaos, from witnessing tumultuous family dynamics to exposure to addiction at a young age, Joseph shares candid memories and pivotal moments that shaped his path. This is the first part of a two-part series exploring Joseph's journey from a troubled childhood to a redemptive embrace of faith.

Joi...

In this powerful episode of "Jesus Loves Addicts," join host Kathryn and co-host Ross as they welcome special guest Jaclyn Herman. Jaclyn, wife of Pastor Victor Herman and mother to six, opens up about her tumultuous journey from a seemingly idyllic childhood to battling addiction and finding salvation in Christ. Born in South Florida, Jaclyn's life took a drastic turn after her parents' unexpected and traumatic divorce, leading he...

In this compelling episode of "Jesus Loves Addicts," we delve into the life of Victor Herman, a pastor with a past that mirrors many tales of struggle and redemption. Growing up in an environment of addiction and violence, Victor embraced a life of hedonism and found himself facing the harsh realities of Alabama State Prison.

Victor takes us through his journey from being a "God-hating libertine" to experiencing a transformative e...

In this moving episode of 'Jesus Loves Addicts,' we dive into Heather Engels' powerful story of overcoming addiction and finding redemption through faith. Heather, now 42, shares her journey from a chaotic childhood filled with strict religious expectations and turbulent family dynamics to a life of addiction that spanned over 15 years.

Heather recounts her experiences growing up with an abusive father and a struggling mother, navi...

In this compelling episode, hosts Paul and Tasha Ridley delve into a deeply personal narrative of overcoming addiction through faith in Christ. Following up on the first part of Bo and Tasha Ridley's story, this episode continues to unravel the challenges of addiction and the power of redemption.

Bo and Tasha courageously share their individual struggles with addiction, stemming from trauma and leading to substance abuse and multip...

In this episode of "Jesus Loves Addicts," hosts Paul welcomes extraordinary guests Bo and Tasha Ridley, a devoted husband and wife duo with a powerful testimony of faith and recovery. Join us as they share their personal journeys through the battles against addiction and trauma, underpinned by their relentless faith and love in Christ.

Bo, a devoted man in recovery, contemplates his upbringing and shares the trials he faced, inclu...

In this emotionally charged episode of Jesus Loves Addicts, host dives into the heart of codependency, family struggles, and recovery with special guest Amanda Graham. Through her candid storytelling, Amanda opens up about her life intertwined with addiction, not as an addict herself, but as someone who loves an addict.

Amanda recounts her early years balancing life between two contrasting households and how this shaped her percep...

In this compelling episode of the Jesus Loves Addicts podcast, meet Dustin Long—a former addict who has turned his life around through faith. Raised in Southern Mississippi, Dustin fell into a 20-year whirlwind of substance abuse, which began in his early teens with marijuana and huffing gas, eventually leading to harder drugs like methamphetamine and heroin.

Faced with family traumas and the burden of being an absent father, Dusti...