The Hopeaholics
Welcome to the Hopeaholics Podcast, where we tackle addiction and mental illness through sharing real life experiences, honesty and hope! Hosted by Chad Carlsen, who knows firsthand the destruction that these issues can cause, we're here to offer listeners a much-needed source of inspiration and understanding that will carry them through tough times. Through powerful, honest, and unfiltered interviews, The Hopeaholics provides a beacon of hope for listeners facing similar issues, banishing stigma in the process. If you're looking for an authentic podcast that'll motivate you to overcome hard times and live well, look no further. To get help for yourself or someone you love, call 949-989-6550
Episodes
Getting Used To Saying NO with Justin Wenzel | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this highly anticipated return to The Hopeaholics Podcast, Justin Wenzel sits down for an incredibly open and transformative conversation about self-worth, personal growth, and the journey he’s been on since his last appearance. Known for his bold transparency and massive impact on social media, Justin dives deep into the emotional work he’s spent th...
How a DUI Left Him Stranded in the Desert w/ Patrick Overholt | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this powerful episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Patrick Overholt shares his deeply personal journey through addiction, loss, trauma, and redemption. From rising as a gifted young athlete to facing career-ending injuries, legal troubles, and the devastating loss of his mother, Patrick opens up about the darkest moments that shaped h...
Inside a Soldier’s Fight Beyond the Battlefield w/ Carter | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this powerful episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Carter shares an unfiltered and deeply moving journey through addiction, trauma, recovery, and personal transformation. From growing up in a turbulent environment to joining the military at a young age, Carter takes listeners through the intense realities of war, including life-chang...
The “Blanket of Love” That Changed Everything w/Geoffrey Blaylock | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, we dig deep into the wild, emotional, and brutally honest life story of Geoffrey Blaylock, tracing his path from a childhood marked by Tourette’s and isolation to the gang-ridden streets where he searched for identity, connection, and escape. Geoffrey opens up about the first moments ...
What Eating Disorders Don’t Tell You with Karina Chandler | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this powerful episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, guest Karina Chandler shares an extraordinary journey of resilience, vulnerability, and transformation. Opening up about her long battle with an eating disorder, complex PTSD, childhood trauma, substance use, and a harrowing medical crisis involving encephalitis and toxic mold exposu...
"I Was Homeless for a Decade… and Still Survived" w/ Sean Speck | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this intense and deeply personal episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Sean Speck opens up about a journey that few survive—years of addiction, homelessness, relapse, medical trauma, and ultimately, an unexpected path to redemption. Sean takes us through the harsh reality of smoking weed at 14, graduating high school a...
Inside the Mind of a Compulsive Gambler with Louis Ruggiero | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this gripping episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Louis Ruggiero lays everything on the table as he shares his unbelievable journey through addiction, gambling, destruction, and redemption. From the moment he first sat at a blackjack table at just 15 years old and turned $200 into $9,000, Louis became hooked on the rush—a rush that wou...
Losing a Father to Addiction and Finding Purpose with Angie Nunez | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, guest Angie Nunez shares her deeply personal journey of loss, healing, and spiritual awakening. Born and raised in the Bronx to Dominican parents, Angie reflects on her upbringing, cultural roots, and the challenges of growing up in a tight-knit immigrant family. She opens up about losing ...
Breaking The Chains of a 15-Year Addiction with Ali Zansberg | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this powerful and emotional episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Ali Zansberg opens up about her extraordinary journey through unimaginable pain, addiction, and transformation. From surviving childhood molestation and undergoing heart surgery at just thirteen to enduring years of misdiagnosis, psychiatric medications, and even electroc...
Surrender Isn’t Weakness, It’s Freedom with Yeshaia Blakeney | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this thought-provoking and deeply human episode, Yeshaia Blakeney opens up about his journey through addiction, self-destruction, and spiritual awakening with striking honesty and wisdom. Growing up in the chaos of Hollywood, Yeshaia describes feeling emotionally adrift and spiritually disconnected long before drugs entered the pictur...
The Bottle Almost Took Everything with Kristine Koontz | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this raw and deeply emotional episode, Kristine Koontz shares her courageous journey through chaos, addiction, loss, and redemption with an honesty that grips you from the start. Growing up amid abuse, instability, and emotional neglect, Kristine found her first escape in alcohol at just thirteen years old — a drink that made her feel “norm...
Two Mothers, Two Sons, One Epidemic: Katrina Simmons & Kristi Kastler | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this deeply emotional and unforgettable episode, Katrina Simmons and Kristi Kastler open their hearts to share the devastating realities of losing their beloved sons, Dylan and Devan, to fentanyl and addiction. Katrina begins by recounting Dylan’s early years, the warmth of his personality, and the gradual unraveling of h...
The Man Who Robbed Banks and Found God in a Cell: Julian Miller | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this powerful and deeply emotional episode, Julian Miller shares his remarkable journey from crime and chaos to redemption and purpose. Once a young man lost to the streets, Julian recounts the pivotal moments that defined his life — witnessing his cousin’s death at ten years old, falling into addiction, and ultimately making...
Filling the Gap betwen Faith and Science with Dr. Angela Claffey | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this deeply moving and eye-opening episode of The Hopeaholic Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Angela Claffey, a licensed forensic psychologist, mental health advocate, and survivor whose journey from pain to purpose is nothing short of extraordinary. Angela candidly shares her early battle with anorexia, depression, and suicidal thou...
Connecting with God & Getting Sober with Jennifer Sprenger | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Jennifer Sprenger — founder and CEO of The Bella Abby & Ava Handbag Boutique — shares her remarkable story of redemption, faith, and transformation. Once caught in the depths of addiction, Jennifer battled meth dependency, incarceration, and the painful separation from her children. In he...
Robbing From Loved Ones with Scott Schafer | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, guest Scott Schafer delivers an unflinchingly honest and deeply moving account of his journey from professional athlete to addict, and ultimately to a man living a life of gratitude and purpose. Drafted by the New York Mets out of high school, Scott’s dreams were derailed after multiple injuries and surgeries le...
Finding Hope After the Unthinkable with Nat Suckley | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this powerful episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Nat Suckley shares one of the most heartbreaking and inspiring stories ever told on the show. From losing his wife in what was described as “the most brutal murder in Corpus Christi history” to later losing his son to an overdose on his 24th birthday, Nat opens up about unimaginable pain, addic...
Through the Lens of an Addict’s Sister: Stephanie Balber | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this powerful episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Stephanie Balber shares her emotional journey of growing up with a sister battling heroin and fentanyl addiction. She opens up about the pain, chaos, and heartbreak her family endured—from discovering her sister dealing drugs at her wedding to catching her using on Christmas night—and...
Revitalizing Life Through Food with Cloe Parker | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this compelling episode of the Hopeaholics podcast, we sat down with Chloe Parker, the young owner of Parker Pastures, a regenerative agriculture meat company dedicated to providing clean, nutrient-dense beef, bison, lamb, pork, and chicken. Chloe opened up about her journey, growing up on a ranch, grappling with severe teenage anxiety and depress...
Join The Undead Club w/ Amanda Taylor & Brandon Thomas | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this powerful episode of the Hopeaholic Podcast, Amanda Taylor and Brandon Thomas open up about their raw and inspiring journey through addiction, loss, faith, and recovery. From meeting in AA to reconnecting at work and building a relationship grounded in sobriety, their story is filled with dramatic turning points. Amanda shares how j...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.