#436 - Shatterproof - Pain to Purpose with ESPN's Lauren Sisler

This week, I am so excited to be joined by the incredible Lauren Sisler. She is an Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster, ESPN sideline reporter, author, keynote speaker, and the queen of the sideline shimmy.

After landing her dream career with ESPN and reporting on college football and gymnastics, she began to open up about a story she once kept hidden: losing both of her parents to opioid addiction. 

Through sharing her journey, Lauren has not only shed light on the stigma surrounding addiction, but she’s also found a powerful way to help others navigate their own struggles. Whether on the sidelines or speaking on stages, her mission is to help people find the courage to tell their own stories and live more resilient lives. 

I can’t wait for you to hear this conversation, and to learn more about Lauren's powerful new book, Shatterproof.

3:11 – Lauren 101

•    Residing in Brimingham, Alabama
•    Lauren’s career in sports broadcasting
•    Wife and mom

5:53 – Shatterproof 

•    The “why” behind Shatterproof 
•    The process of writing this book
•    Lauren’s journey to acceptance 

12:04 – Healing In Layers

•    The challenges of writing this book
•    Greif and healing are not linear 
•    How Lauren’s perspective shifted over time

18:02 – Understanding Addiction and Stigma 

•    The stigma surrounding addiction 
•    Finding compassion for those battling addiction 
•    Having open, honest conversations 

27:22 – Holding The Whole Story

•    Honoring legacy through honesty 
•    The lessons Lauren learned from her parents’ lives
•    We shouldn’t be defined by our hardest chapters 
•    The difference between helping and enabling 

34:08 – The Power Of Sports And Storytelling

•    The resilience that sports builds
•    How Lauren’s career has shaped her own storytelling  
•    The power of storytelling
•    Getting Lauren’s book Shatterproof 

FEATURED QUOTES

“Growing up, society tells us what addiction looks like, who it affects, who it impacts. And I felt like my parents were none of those things.”

“The good Lord will free you when you stare something in the face and say, you know what? This is what it is. And now we gotta work through it and move through it.”

“I hope anybody that's listening that has walked through addiction or is actively walking through it knows there's absolutely hope and recovery. There are… so many amazing stories out there and testimonies- but it's a journey.”

Learn more about Lauren:

https://www.laurensisler.com/about

Get your copy of Shatterproof:

https://www.laurensisler.com/my-book-shatterproof-lauren-sisler

Lauren on socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurensisler

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenSisler/

X: https://x.com/LaurenSisler/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurensisler/