I sat down with Eric Johnson, and I don’t think I was fully prepared for what he would share. His story is one of brutal honesty, unimaginable loss, addiction, prison, and ultimately, redemption.
Eric takes us into the darkest corners of his past: witnessing a friend take his life, spiraling into meth addiction, and spending nearly a decade behind bars. He opens up about life inside solitary confinement, the trauma that haunted him, and the small, consistent choices that led him back to hope.
But this isn’t just a story of survival, it’s a story of transformation. From being featured on national news for his crimes to building a life of purpose, Eric has clawed his way back. Today, he’s three years sober, raising his daughter, and helping others break free from addiction through programs like Hope for Prisoners.
If you’ve ever felt too far gone, this episode is for you. We talk about recovery, self-worth, and how changing your environment can change your life. It’s raw. It’s heavy. But it’s exactly the kind of truth we need to hear.
Key Moments:
00:00 The Moment That Broke Me
3:11 The Night Everything Changed
8:00 Thrown Into Prison Life
14:18 Why I Fell Into Addiction
20:04 The Military Could Have Saved Me
25:19 Two Years in Solitary Confinement
32:54 Released at 30, Feeling Worthless
34:02 A Mistake That Cost Me 15 Years
46:00 Losing My Father in Prison
49:33 Everything Was Because of Substances
55:07 The Deal That Let Me Walk Free
1:01:50 The Cure Is in the Suffering
Guest Info:
IG: @ericchristopherlifts (https://www.instagram.com/ericchristopherlifts/)
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Where to find Tyler Hall:
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
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.
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