Episode 8: Ryan Gallagher on Addiction, Mental Health, and Resilience As An Endurance Athlete
In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Gallagher, a firefighter, mental health advocate, and endurance athlete, to discuss his journey through addiction recovery, overcoming grief, and building resilience. Ryan opens up about the loss of his father at 16, how it shaped his career, and his struggles with alcohol before becoming 558 days sober. He shares how running became a tool for mental clarity and how he's now using it to give back—by running 21 half-marathons in 21 days to raise $21,000 for youth mental health.
Topics Discussed in This Episode:
- How losing his father led Ryan to firefighting
- The struggles of addiction and the path to sobriety
- The impact of mental health in first responder careers
- How running became a powerful tool for healing
- The importance of finding your support system and true friends
- Ryan’s 21-day running challenge for youth mental health
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