18: Video Interview: Inner work in prison - Brian Collins, Smiles for Miles

After watching the first video I saw on Brian’s channel, I knew I would interview him about inner work one day. His story about overcoming addiction to heroin and meth, while in prison and then on house arrest, is inspiring. 

Brian was an expander for me on what is actually possible in publicly speaking my truth and risking vulnerability on video. He demonstrates the freedom that inner work can bring, no matter the limits imposed upon us.

Please check out his channel here: Smiles for Miles - YouTube

Episode Outline:

It is widely believed that the opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety, it’s connection. In this interview, Brian speaks on the theme of connection in 4 parts:

1. ​Early life, childhood dreams, why he became a RN
2. ​Losing connection to self - people-pleasing, codependency, addiction, prison
3. ​Reconnecting to self - inner work, healing modalities
4. ​The future - maintaining connection to self, reconnecting to others

Have you ever thought about telling your story like me and Brian? We end the episode with tips on how to get started if you’re nervous to try it. 

Book: Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs https://a.co/d/6BCpCMa

Heart and Brain comics - The Awkward Yeti https://www.instagram.com/p/C-ajsoGuf5d/?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA==

Song of the day: The Rolling Stones “Connection” https://youtu.be/kfCojeLOIBA?si=kz4iQyZQ5dl8N-mq

Podcast: Pete Holmes on The Rich Roll Podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ed2XEX0UJPjUhiGg06Tdq?si=lbcElD_xSEmNp0VhsfUthA