Success is Subjective: Real People. Raw Stories. Embracing a Non-Linear Life!

In this episode of the Former Participant Series, Joanna talks with Justin Levine, a 27-year-old who reflects on his journey from anxiety and perfectionism in high school to resilience, mentorship, and new purpose through treatment. Justin shares how wilderness therapy and his time at Telos reshaped his outlook, how running became both a therapeutic outlet and a career path, and how leaning into discomfort opened doors he never ima...

On this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna brings you another story from our special former participant series where she extends the opportunity for former participants to share their journey with others. In this episode Joanna welcomes Dan Gilmer, who has been sober for more than ten years and now works in clinical outreach supporting families and young adults. Growing up in Baton Rouge, Dan often felt like the odd one out, ...

What happens when you do everything “right” — the grades, the sports, the scholarships — but none of it makes you happy? For Ray Ford, the answer was found on a snowboard. Growing up in rural West Virginia with two engineer parents, Ray followed the path he was told would lead to success: top GPA, full ride to college, and a major in engineering. But watching the snow fall outside while grinding through calculus, he realized the on...

In this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna Lilly sits down with Kade Matthews—a devoted father, psychotherapist, and lifelong advocate for creating healing spaces. Kade opens up about his own non-linear path, weaving together stories of parenthood, professional growth, and the ways music, poetry, and time in nature have been therapeutic anchors in his life. As both a clinician and a parent of young adults, Kade offers a rare ...

What happens when you follow the “right” path… and it still doesn’t feel right? On this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna sits down with Mark White, Clinical Director at Red Mountain Sedona, to trace his decades-long journey from small-town Michigan to the red rocks of Arizona. Mark shares candid reflections on the many detours, career pivots, and soul-searching moments that ultimately led him to discover his calling in ther...

On this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna brings you another story from our special former participant series where she extends the opportunity for former participants to share their journey with others. Today’s former participant is Sam Hayes. 

Despite early struggles with identity, family pressure, mental health, and finding stability, Sam’s story is one of transformation. With raw honesty, he shares how his treatment journ...

On this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna brings you another story from our special former participant series where she extends the opportunity for former participants to share their journey with others. Today’s former participant is Cassie. Cassie shares their experience navigating adolescence with a bipolar diagnosis, a prep school environment, and complicated treatment interventions that left them wary of the very systems...

In this episode of Success Is Subjective, Joanna sits down with Bec Koop, whose life has taken more unexpected turns than most. Raised in Northern Virginia and originally pursuing criminal justice, Bec shifted paths after a professor’s honest advice—and a realization that chasing justice wasn’t the same as finding peace. Since then, her journey has included ski resorts, snowmobiles, cannabis flower design, and now, healing work roo...

In this episode of Success Is Subjective, career educator and coach Lisa Marker-Robbins shares how her own journey—from navigating family expectations to founding multiple companies—has shaped the way she helps young people and their parents chart meaningful, purpose-aligned paths forward. With a background in teaching and educational leadership, Lisa launched her first company to serve 15 to 25-year-olds seeking clarity about thei...

In this episode of Success Is Subjective, drama therapist and trauma specialist Maya Kruger invites us into a story shaped by creativity, resilience, and a life-altering turning point. Raised in Israel by academic parents, Maya felt caught between expectations and her love for theater—until an unexpected event in her final year of high school changed everything. What followed was a journey through military service, an Outward Bound...

On this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna brings you another story from our special former participant series where she invites former participants to recount their personal journey. Today’s former participant is Holly Wilson. Raised in the tight-knit mountain town of Crested Butte, Colorado, the constant visibility of small-town life motivated Holly to stay on top of her game. A self-proclaimed “perfectionist” with a track ...

On this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna brings you another story from our special former participant series where she extends the opportunity for former participants who feel comfortable sharing their journey with others. Today’s former participant is Phil Nutt. Phil grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, where by most standards, he had a relatively normal upbringing and was a fairly normal boy – minus anger issues that plagued ...

Growing up in the 70s, Elaine was given mixed messaging regarding her expected future role as a woman. As an adult, it didn’t take long before she was in full pursuit of trying to change the world, one person at a time. After becoming a mom, Elaine found herself needing to step aside from political activism to focus more on her children, whom she realized struggled more than she expected. With a fiery passion and deep desire to hel...

Today’s Success is Subjective guest is Dr. Tim Jordan. Dr. Jordan is a Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician with over 30 years of experience helping girls ages 5–25 navigate the challenges of growing up. Inspired by his five younger sisters, he developed a unique ability to connect with girls and went on to train under renowned pediatrician Dr. T. Berry Brazelton at Harvard. He’s the founder of Camp Weloki for Girls and leads ...

Dr. Jack Stoltzfus is today’s Success is Subjective guest. Dr. Stoltzfus is a psychologist, author, and expert in helping young adults make a healthy transition into independence. With a warm and practical approach, he works with both parents and teens to navigate the often tricky process of “leaving the nest.” Drawing from years of experience and research, Dr. Stoltzfus helps families understand the emotional and developmental shi...

On this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna brings you another story from our special former participant series where she extends the opportunity for former participants to share their journey with others. Today’s former participant is Kelly Wu. Kelly shares how as a raging teen with pent up emotion, her outward circumstances and outcomes began to reflect her inner turmoil. Her first attempt at treatment was unsuccessful due t...

On this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna brings you another story from our special former participant series where she extends the opportunity for former participants to share their journey with others. Today’s former participant is Ryan McGinty. Ryan holds a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling and has a successful career as a leader in the therapeutic treatment field. He’s most proud of the life he has buil...

Working 5 part-time jobs, while married and in school full-time was the straw that broke the camel's back. That is, the back of today’s Success is Subjective guest, Cam Sherman. While Cam is now a certified mental health counselor and the executive director of NeuroDev, he had to overcome tremendous mental hurdles of self-doubt and acceptance in order to get to this point. He shares with listeners how living a life almost enti...

As you listeners know, Success is Subjective is all about the winding road many people take—going from teen to adult, to an adult who’s unsure about their direction, to someone who tries out different paths… and eventually, kind of figures things out. As is the case for today’s guest, Cindy Palmer. While her family messaging instilled “college or bust”, Cindy’s path through college and beyond was anything but predictable… anything ...