Mike Catherwood: From Addict to Athlete

In this powerful episode of The Judd Lienhard Podcast, Judd sits down with the legendary Mike Catherwood—radio icon, voice actor, certified trainer, father, and jiu-jitsu practitioner—for a raw, unfiltered conversation on addiction recovery, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of personal growth.

From his punk rock beginnings and battles with addiction to co-hosting the globally syndicated Loveline and training jiu-jitsu in Hill Country, Texas, Mike shares his journey of resilience and transformation. This is a deep dive into what it means to truly live the "Always Be An Athlete" lifestyle—mentally, physically, and spiritually.

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We get into:

🔹 The role of psychedelics in healing trauma and reshaping identity

🔹 Mike’s mental model for staying sober, strong, and grounded as a husband & father

🔹 Why jiu-jitsu, barbell training, and strength and conditioning are foundational to mindset

🔹 The dark truths about dopamine addiction and how to reclaim discipline

🔹 High-performance habits forged through hardship, fatherhood, & fighting ego

🔹 Why authenticity, consistency, and humility are the new currency for men’s mental health

📢 SUBSCRIBE for more real conversations with high-performers, athletes, and warriors on mindset, training, and elite performance! 

📲 CONNECT WITH JUDD LIENHARD:

→ Follow Judd on Instagram @juddlienhard 

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📲 CONNECT WITH MIKE CATHERWOOD:

Instagram: @mikecatherwood

Podcast: Mikey Likes You

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@mikeylikesyou1

🕒 TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 - Intro: From Loveline to Discipline

00:03:14 - Mike’s early drug use and the power of peer influence

00:06:21 - Meth, heroin, and the chaos of addiction

00:09:42 - Getting clean: Mike’s rock bottom moment

00:14:10 - How training helped save his life

00:17:30 - Bodybuilding, ego, and evolving beyond aesthetics

00:21:45 - Discovering jiu-jitsu and the beauty of skill

00:28:06 - Mike’s daily routine: training, fasting, and discipline

00:31:40 - Quitting Hollywood: choosing integrity over fame

00:35:00 - Raising a daughter in a broken culture

00:38:15 - How psychedelics helped Mike become a better father

00:41:10 - Lessons from addiction applied to everyday life

00:44:00 - “Real spirituality is found through action”

00:46:25 - The mental side of fitness and growth

00:50:12 - Becoming the man you admire

00:53:47 - Dealing with temptation and staying the course

00:57:01 - The difference between shame and guilt

01:01:22 - Faith, forgiveness, and moving forward

01:08:39 - What it means to “Always Be An Athlete”

01:12:02 - Final thoughts: humor, humility, and hard truth

The Judd Lienhard Podcast delivers unfiltered conversations with elite athletes, military leaders, and top coaches, exploring performance, mindset, and resilience. From NFL vets to Special Forces operators, each episode is packed with real-world lessons on training, leadership, and pushing limits.

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