Through The Rough

How close can a person come to losing everything—and still come back?

Drew’s story is a raw look at what happens when alcohol slowly takes over a life without announcing itself. When survival replaces purpose. When rage, fear, and instinct sit just beneath the surface—waiting for the wrong moment.

This episode isn’t about labels or lectures. It’s about the quiet lies we tell ourselves, the patterns no one sees from the outside, and t...

At 29 years old, Tessa’s life split into two versions of itself in a single moment.

While driving 70 miles per hour on a busy interstate, she suffered a massive stroke—losing control of her body, her future, and everything she believed defined her. What followed wasn’t just a fight to survive physically, but a much deeper battle with blame, identity, and self-worth.

This trailer offers a glimpse into Tessa’s journey as shared on Thro...

What happens when the systems you trust—your body, your safety nets, your sense of control—fail all at once?

In this deep dive, we go beyond the surface of Tessa’s story and slow everything down. We examine the moments before the stroke, the overlooked warning signs, and the cascade of failures that followed—from a drugging event in a “safe” space, to paralysis at highway speed, to a 911 call that never helped.

But this episode isn’t...

The hardest part wasn’t learning how to walk or talk again.
It was learning how to ask for help — and believing she was still worth it.

In the final episode of this five-part series, Tessa reflects on what it meant to lose her independence, her confidence, and her sense of identity — and how love, support, and self-compassion slowly rebuilt what fear and shame had taken away.

She speaks honestly about humiliation, pride, suicidal ...

After survival, answers, and self-blame, comes the hardest part: rebuilding.

In Part 4, Tessa begins the long process of taking her life back — physically, mentally, and emotionally. She reflects on how the stroke forced her out of autopilot, slowing life down and reshaping how she sees time, presence, and what actually matters.

This episode moves through rehabilitation, fear, and frustration — but also humor, stubborn determination,...

By the time the doctors arrive, Tessa is already convinced of one thing: this is her fault.

In Part 3, the story turns inward. Sitting in a hospital room with her sister and mother, Tessa carries crushing shame — believing her choices, her body, and one bad night are to blame for everything that’s happening.

As tests continue and specialists weigh in, the narrative begins to crack. What felt like a personal failure starts to look lik...

In Part 2, Tessa waits — on the roadside, in the ambulance, and inside the hospital system — with no control over what happens next. Her body isn’t responding, answers aren’t coming, and the people she needs most are kept away.

What fills the space isn’t panic, but breath.
And then calm.
And then the unsettling realization that peace can arrive before safety does.

As responsibility passes from her to strangers, the presence tha...

What starts as a normal night out ends in a moment that changes everything.

At 29 years old, Tessa is driving on a busy interstate when her body suddenly stops responding. Her feet go numb. Her hands won’t work. Her speech disappears. She’s still conscious — still thinking — but no longer in control.

This episode captures the confusion before the answers.
The self-blame.
The disbelief.
The instinct to push through instead of...

What happens when your trust gets broken early in life—and how does it follow you into adulthood, relationships, and even your own self-talk? In this episode, Sam and Lindsay get honest about childhood experiences, betrayal, friendship breakups, and how hard it can be to trust again… even when you want to. This one is for anyone who’s ever said “I’m fine” but kept everyone at arm’s length.

We talk about:
• Why broken trust as a k...

Season 2 kicks off with Sam and Lindsay unpacking two questions that shape every adult’s life: Why do we lose our childhood curiosity—and how do we get it back? Then, they dive into why setting goals matters, but more importantly, how to set them without overwhelming yourself. From childhood memories to motorcycle lessons, real stories fuel this honest conversation about staying curious, growing forward, and not waiting for the “ri...

In this episode of Through the Rough, Sam and Lindsay share why they started this inspirational podcast, revealing the vision and mission that drives them. They reflect on their own life experiences—challenges that shaped their perspectives and sparked their desire to help others. Sam opens up about his curiosity to understand how people grow through adversity, while Lindsay shares her journey of healing and personal growth after o...