“We can think and act our way to a new feeling. We cannot feel our way to a new way of thinking and acting.”

That line from therapist and author Nicole Zasowski cuts to the heart of anxiety, addiction, and the stories we tell ourselves when life feels uncertain. Nicole is the author of What If It’s Wonderful?—a book built around a disarming and deeply important question: What if, instead of bracing for the worst, we allowed ourselves to hope?

In this conversation, Nicole shares how a season marked by loss, miscarriage, and prolonged uncertainty exposed her own coping mechanisms—performance, control, and pessimism disguised as realism. She explains why catastrophizing isn’t just negative thinking but a form of control, and why preparing for the worst often robs us of joy without actually protecting us from pain.

We also explore the connection between shame and escape, how feelings can be real without being true, and why naming what’s happening inside us is essential for healing. Nicole offers practical ways to interrupt shame cycles, retrain the brain toward hope, and steward pain without glorifying it. This episode is an invitation to tell ourselves a truer story—about who God is, who we are, and what might still be possible.

We explore:

— Why catastrophizing feels responsible but quietly fuels anxiety
— How the brain learns fear faster than hope
— The difference between feelings that are real and thoughts that are true
— Why shame often drives both anxiety and addictive behaviors
— How performance and control masquerade as faith
— What miscarriage and unresolved grief revealed about Nicole’s inner life
— Why hope is not denial, but courage
— Practical ways to retrain anxious thought patterns
— How naming internal experiences leads to healing
— What it looks like to tell a truer story about God and ourselves

Website: https://www.nicolezasowski.com

Books: What It's Wonderful? and Daring Joy

Follow Nicole on Instagram: @nicolezasowski

Follow Jon: @jonseidl

Order Jon's new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic.

Get daily motivation: www.theveritasdaily.com

&ldquo;We can think and act our way to a new feeling. We cannot feel our way to a new way of thinking and acting.&rdquo;
That line from therapist and author Nicole Zasowski cuts to the heart of anxiety, addiction, and the stories we tell ourselves when life feels uncertain. Nicole is the author of What If It&rsquo;s Wonderful?&mdash;a book built around a disarming and deeply important question: What if, instead of bracing for the worst, we allowed ourselves to hope?
In this conversation, Nicole shares how a season marked by loss, miscarriage, and prolonged uncertainty exposed her own coping mechanisms&mdash;performance, control, and pessimism disguised as realism. She explains why catastrophizing isn&rsquo;t just negative thinking but a form of control, and why preparing for the worst often robs us of joy without actually protecting us from pain.
We also explore the connection between shame and escape, how feelings can be real without being true, and why naming what&rsquo;s happening inside us is essential for healing. Nicole offers practical ways to interrupt shame cycles, retrain the brain toward hope, and steward pain without glorifying it. This episode is an invitation to tell ourselves a truer story&mdash;about who God is, who we are, and what might still be possible.
We explore:
&mdash; Why catastrophizing feels responsible but quietly fuels anxiety &mdash; How the brain learns fear faster than hope &mdash; The difference between feelings that are real and thoughts that are true &mdash; Why shame often drives both anxiety and addictive behaviors &mdash; How performance and control masquerade as faith &mdash; What miscarriage and unresolved grief revealed about Nicole&rsquo;s inner life &mdash; Why hope is not denial, but courage &mdash; Practical ways to retrain anxious thought patterns &mdash; How naming internal experiences leads to healing &mdash; What it looks like to tell a truer story about God and ourselves
Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nicolezasowski.com">https://www.nicolezasowski.com</a>
Books:&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/4q7IIjW">What It's Wonderful?</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://amzn.to/3MHBwN0">Daring Joy</a>
Follow Nicole on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nicolezasowski">@nicolezasowski</a>
Follow Jon:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">@jonseidl</a>
Order Jon's new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/4opuOt">Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic</a>.
Get daily motivation: <a href="https://www.theveritasdaily.com">www.theveritasdaily.com</a>

The One Question You're Not Asking Yourself: Nicole Zasowski on Learning to Hope Again

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/0cdd683a-a69f-40ac-93b4-b3b6001a0f5e/transcript

“I don’t want to be 60 years old having the same issues I had when I was 25.”

What an honest and important statement from this week's guest, Brandon Ricks. Because the truth is, too many of us have just resigned ourselves to always being the way we are now. The fight for something different is hard, and so we give up. Brandon, though, finally had enough, and he started the painful but hopeful process of healing.

Brandon is a successful entrepreneur with his own company. He projects strength and competency. But for a long time, behind that exterior was someone who had shut down for so long that he couldn’t feel anything—and didn’t know how to. Porn became one of the ways he coped. So did marijuana, which he used to numb himself when life felt too overwhelming or too painful to face. He even shares the detailed story of the period in his life where he considered ending it all (and what kept him from doing it).

In this conversation, Brandon explains how his numbing behaviors weren’t just random vices but survival strategies—ways to avoid the internal world he’d never been taught to navigate. He talks about the moment the Holy Spirit confronted his hiding, how the collapse of a relationship exposed the fragility of his emotional world, and why counseling became the turning point he didn’t know he needed.

Brandon also unpacks what long-term emotional shutdown does to the mind and body, why addiction thrives in silence and isolation, and why maturity requires discomfort, not avoidance. This episode reminds us that healing begins when we stop numbing and start telling the truth—the truth that Jesus says about us and our situations.

We explore:

—Why Brandon learned to shut down his emotions to survive
—How porn and weed became coping mechanisms rather than “just habits”
—The difference between self-protection and sanctification
—Why the Holy Spirit confronted his hiding
—How a painful breakup forced him to reckon with his inner world
—Why healing requires community, honesty, and discomfort
—The neurological impact of long-term emotional shutdown
—The choice every man faces: hide and numb, or grow and tell the truth
—Why he refuses to be “60 years old with the same issues I had at 25”

Work with Brandon: https://productionmasterminds.com 

Follow Jon: @jonseidl

Order Jon's new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic.

Get daily motivation: www.theveritasdaily.com

&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to be 60 years old having the same issues I had when I was 25.&rdquo;
What an honest and important statement from this week's guest, Brandon Ricks. Because the truth is, too many of us have just resigned ourselves to always being the way we are now. The fight for something different is hard, and so we give up. Brandon, though, finally had enough, and he started the painful but hopeful process of healing.
Brandon is a successful entrepreneur with his own company. He projects strength and competency. But for a long time, behind that exterior was someone who had shut down for so long that he couldn&rsquo;t feel anything&mdash;and didn&rsquo;t know how to. Porn became one of the ways he coped. So did marijuana, which he used to numb himself when life felt too overwhelming or too painful to face. He even shares the detailed story of the period in his life where he considered ending it all (and what kept him from doing it).
In this conversation, Brandon explains how his numbing behaviors weren&rsquo;t just random vices but survival strategies&mdash;ways to avoid the internal world he&rsquo;d never been taught to navigate. He talks about the moment the Holy Spirit confronted his hiding, how the collapse of a relationship exposed the fragility of his emotional world, and why counseling became the turning point he didn&rsquo;t know he needed.
Brandon also unpacks what long-term emotional shutdown does to the mind and body, why addiction thrives in silence and isolation, and why maturity requires discomfort, not avoidance. This episode reminds us that healing begins when we stop numbing and start telling the truth&mdash;the truth that Jesus says about us and our situations.
We explore:
&mdash;Why Brandon learned to shut down his emotions to survive &mdash;How porn and weed became coping mechanisms rather than &ldquo;just habits&rdquo; &mdash;The difference between self-protection and sanctification &mdash;Why the Holy Spirit confronted his hiding &mdash;How a painful breakup forced him to reckon with his inner world &mdash;Why healing requires community, honesty, and discomfort &mdash;The neurological impact of long-term emotional shutdown &mdash;The choice every man faces: hide and numb, or grow and tell the truth &mdash;Why he refuses to be &ldquo;60 years old with the same issues I had at 25&rdquo;
Work with Brandon:&nbsp;<a href="https://productionmasterminds.com">https://productionmasterminds.com</a>&nbsp;
Follow Jon: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">@jonseidl</a>
Order Jon's new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/4opuOt">Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic</a>.
Get daily motivation: <a href="https://www.theveritasdaily.com">www.theveritasdaily.com</a>

The Christian Leader with Secret Struggles: How Brandon Ricks Went from Burnout to Healing by Naming His Pain (Episode 31)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/52796f56-058d-478e-8ca5-b3ae016c568f/transcript

“Trauma does not reside in the bad event. Trauma is what becomes embedded in your body in the wake of a bad event when there’s no one there to comfort you.”

What if you've been viewing trauma all wrong? And what if you don't think you've experienced trauma but you actually have? My guest this week is renowned trauma therapist Adam Young, and we're having a powerful conversation on not only trauma but our origin stories—specifically our family-of-origin stories. Adam explains why the wounds we minimize—the moments we brush off as “not that bad”—often carry the deepest impact. Because, as he explains, the real harm isn’t the event itself but what happened after: the absence of comfort, attunement, engagement, and care. That’s what embeds in our bodies and shapes the ways we cope. And often, that coping becomes unhealthy when we don't name what has happened and talk about it.

Adam unpacks how trauma lives in the body, why triggers are often physiological rather than emotional, and how our relational histories shape the addictions we later develop. He also explains why dysregulation isn’t a character flaw but a survival response, and why compassion toward your younger self may be the most mature step you can take.

This episode is an invitation to look beneath the behaviors you want to change and explore the stories that shaped them. Healing begins by honoring your wounds and telling the truth about where you come from.

We Explore:

— Why trauma is not the event but the absence of an empathetic witness afterward
— The connection between chronic dysregulation and addiction
— How the body keeps responding to stories long after the mind forgets
— The role of triggers and why they’re physiological
— Why kindness changes the heart more effectively than shame
— What children need to develop securely—and what happens when those needs aren’t met
— How unresolved family-of-origin stories form our adult coping strategies
— Why honoring your wounds is an act of courage, not self-pity
— Practical next steps for engaging your story with curiosity instead of contempt

Website: https://adamyoungcounseling.com

Podcast: The Place We Find Ourselves

Book: Make Sense of Your Story

Follow Jon: @jonseidl

Order Jon's new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic.

Get daily motivation: www.theveritasdaily.com

&ldquo;Trauma does not reside in the bad event. Trauma is what becomes embedded in your body in the wake of a bad event when there&rsquo;s no one there to comfort you.&rdquo;
What if you've been viewing trauma all wrong? And what if you don't think you've experienced trauma but you actually have? My guest this week is renowned trauma therapist Adam Young, and we're having a powerful conversation on not only trauma but our origin stories&mdash;specifically our family-of-origin stories. Adam explains why the wounds we minimize&mdash;the moments we brush off as &ldquo;not that bad&rdquo;&mdash;often carry the deepest impact. Because, as he explains, the real harm isn&rsquo;t the event itself but what happened&nbsp;after: the absence of comfort, attunement, engagement, and care. That&rsquo;s what embeds in our bodies and shapes the ways we cope. And often, that coping becomes unhealthy when we don't name what has happened and talk about it.
Adam unpacks how trauma lives in the body, why triggers are often physiological rather than emotional, and how our relational histories shape the addictions we later develop. He also explains why dysregulation isn&rsquo;t a character flaw but a survival response, and why compassion toward your younger self may be the most mature step you can take.
This episode is an invitation to look beneath the behaviors you want to change and explore the stories that shaped them. Healing begins by honoring your wounds and telling the truth about where you come from.
We Explore:
&mdash; Why trauma is not the event but the absence of an empathetic witness afterward &mdash; The connection between chronic dysregulation and addiction &mdash; How the body keeps responding to stories long after the mind forgets &mdash; The role of triggers and why they&rsquo;re physiological &mdash; Why kindness changes the heart more effectively than shame &mdash; What children need to develop securely&mdash;and what happens when those needs aren&rsquo;t met &mdash; How unresolved family-of-origin stories form our adult coping strategies &mdash; Why honoring your wounds is an act of courage, not self-pity &mdash; Practical next steps for engaging your story with curiosity instead of contempt
Website: <a href="https://adamyoungcounseling.com/" data-start="3424" data-end="3455">https://adamyoungcounseling.com</a>
Podcast: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-place-we-find-ourselves/id1373926216">The Place We Find Ourselves</a>
Book: <a href="https://amzn.to/48esQWO">Make Sense of Your Story</a>
Follow Jon: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">@jonseidl</a>
Order Jon's new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/4opuOt">Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic</a>.
Get daily motivation: <a href="https://www.theveritasdaily.com">www.theveritasdaily.com</a>

What Trauma Really Is and Why Your Origin Story Matters with Therapist Adam Young (Episode 30)

“We all just have different medicines that we reach for.”

That’s how Tim Sexton describes the real story behind the affair that blew up his life. Even though at one point that affair led to his downfall as a pastor, today it's not something he hides from. Instead, he's leaning into it in hopes to help others, and one of the ways he's doing that is by calling out the roots that run much deeper. Those roots for him? A lifelong addiction to people-pleasing and affirmation rooted in childhood trauma, fear, and spiritual confusion.

In this conversation, Tim opens up about growing up with two alcoholic parents, feeling responsible for their chaos, and carrying a distorted picture of God into adulthood—one built on fear, performance, and the desperate need to be enough. He shares how that inner ache followed him into marriage and ministry, how it quietly shaped his identity, and how flattery, secrecy, and emotional validation became the “medicine” that eventually led to infidelity.

But this is not only a story about destruction. It’s also a story about the long road back—through exposure, humility, counseling, discipleship, and the honest surrender that brings real freedom. Tim talks about the years he spent dismantling false identities, the painful undoing that came even after public confession, and the miracle of restoration he never expected.

If you’ve ever thought you've done something beyond forgiveness, this episode reminds you that there is always hope.

We explore:

—Why infidelity was a symptom, not the root
—How childhood trauma and alcoholic parents shaped Tim’s identity
—People-pleasing as an addiction
—Why fear of God (not awe of God) destroyed his early faith
—The moment everything collapsed on a high-school football field
—What public shame exposed in him
—Why approval addiction is every bit as powerful as substance addiction
—How Jesus rebuilt him from the inside out
—Why the church must rethink restoration
—What it really means when Tim says “The best definition of sin I’ve ever heard is you and me trying to get our needs met apart from Christ.”

Website: M46Dads.com

Book: Fight for Their Hearts: Hope and Help for Every Dad

Follow Jon: @jonseidl

Order Jon's new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic.

Get daily motivation: www.theveritasdaily.com

&ldquo;We all just have different medicines that we reach for.&rdquo;
That&rsquo;s how Tim Sexton describes the real story behind the affair that blew up his life. Even though at one point that affair led to his downfall as a pastor, today it's not something he hides from. Instead, he's leaning into it in hopes to help others, and one of the ways he's doing that is by calling out the roots that run much deeper. Those roots for him? A lifelong addiction to people-pleasing and affirmation rooted in childhood trauma, fear, and spiritual confusion.
In this conversation, Tim opens up about growing up with two alcoholic parents, feeling responsible for their chaos, and carrying a distorted picture of God into adulthood&mdash;one built on fear, performance, and the desperate need to be enough. He shares how that inner ache followed him into marriage and ministry, how it quietly shaped his identity, and how flattery, secrecy, and emotional validation became the &ldquo;medicine&rdquo; that eventually led to infidelity.
But this is not only a story about destruction. It&rsquo;s also a story about the long road back&mdash;through exposure, humility, counseling, discipleship, and the honest surrender that brings real freedom. Tim talks about the years he spent dismantling false identities, the painful undoing that came even after public confession, and the miracle of restoration he never expected.
If you&rsquo;ve ever thought you've done something beyond forgiveness, this episode reminds you that there is always hope.
We explore:
&mdash;Why infidelity was a symptom, not the root &mdash;How childhood trauma and alcoholic parents shaped Tim&rsquo;s identity &mdash;People-pleasing as an addiction &mdash;Why fear of God (not awe of God) destroyed his early faith &mdash;The moment everything collapsed on a high-school football field &mdash;What public shame exposed in him &mdash;Why approval addiction is every bit as powerful as substance addiction &mdash;How Jesus rebuilt him from the inside out &mdash;Why the church must rethink restoration &mdash;What it really means when Tim says &ldquo;The best definition of sin I&rsquo;ve ever heard is you and me trying to get our needs met apart from Christ.&rdquo;
Website: <a href="https://m46dads.com">M46Dads.com</a>
Book:&nbsp;F<a href="https://amzn.to/4pvgE9V">ight for Their Hearts: Hope and Help for Every Dad</a>
Follow Jon: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">@jonseidl</a>
Order Jon's new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/4opuOt">Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic</a>.
Get daily motivation: <a href="https://www.theveritasdaily.com">www.theveritasdaily.com</a>

The People-Pleasing Pastor Who Had an Affair: Tim Sexton's Story of Redemption (Episode 29)

“Our hypocrisy is our testimony. That’s God’s glory on display.”

That truth from Faith Womack is exactly what those of us with messy sanctification stories not only need to hear, but embrace and embody. We all fall short. We all stumble. And yet, God uses our weakness—not our polished moments—to reveal His power and his grace.

Faith Womack is one of the most popular Bible teachers on the internet with over 200,000 Instagram followers, and today she's joining the podcast to talk about how our struggles are exactly what God uses to not only refine us but to put himself on display.

In this conversation, Faith and I also talk about how to actually read the Bible faithfully, why so many Christians misuse Scripture, and what it means to walk out holiness without falling into perfectionism. We explore the tension between grace and obedience, why context matters, why so many believers doubt their salvation, and how to build a life that’s rooted in the Word of God. She even helps us unpack some of the Scriptures used against those of us with messy sanctification stories and introduces us to her new book, No More Boring Bible Study.

If you’ve ever felt like your failures or weaknesses disqualify you, this episode is a reminder that they are the very place God shines the brightest.

We explore:

— Why “hermeneutics” isn’t scary but essential
— What legalism gets wrong about holiness
— Lordship Salvation and the fear of “going on sinning”
— How to hold grace and obedience together without shame
— Why the thief on the cross destroys our performance mindset
— What 1 John and Romans 7 really teach about believers and sin
— How to stop weaponizing Scripture and start being formed by it
— Why Bible study must be relational, not just informational
— How abiding in Christ transforms us over time
— The lifelong journey from hypocrisy to testimony

Website: BibleNerdMinistries.com

Instagram: @biblenerdministries

Book: No More Boring Bible Study

Follow Jon: @jonseidl

Order Jon's new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic.

Get daily motivation: www.theveritasdaily.com

&ldquo;Our hypocrisy is our testimony. That&rsquo;s God&rsquo;s glory on display.&rdquo;
That truth from Faith Womack is exactly what those of us with messy sanctification stories not only need to hear, but embrace and embody. We all fall short. We all stumble. And yet, God uses our weakness&mdash;not our polished moments&mdash;to reveal His power and his grace.
Faith Womack is one of the most popular Bible teachers on the internet with over 200,000 Instagram followers, and today she's joining the podcast to talk about how our struggles are exactly what God uses to not only refine us but to put himself on display.
In this conversation, Faith and I also talk about how to actually read the Bible faithfully, why so many Christians misuse Scripture, and what it means to walk out holiness without falling into perfectionism. We explore the tension between grace and obedience, why context matters, why so many believers doubt their salvation, and how to build a life that&rsquo;s rooted in the Word of God. She even helps us unpack some of the Scriptures used against those of us with messy sanctification stories and introduces us to her new book,&nbsp;No More Boring Bible Study.
If you&rsquo;ve ever felt like your failures or weaknesses disqualify you, this episode is a reminder that they are the very place God shines the brightest.
We explore:
&mdash; Why &ldquo;hermeneutics&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t scary but essential &mdash; What legalism gets wrong about holiness &mdash; Lordship Salvation and the fear of &ldquo;going on sinning&rdquo; &mdash; How to hold grace and obedience together without shame &mdash; Why the thief on the cross destroys our performance mindset &mdash; What 1 John and Romans 7 really teach about believers and sin &mdash; How to stop weaponizing Scripture and start being formed by it &mdash; Why Bible study must be relational, not just informational &mdash; How abiding in Christ transforms us over time &mdash; The lifelong journey from hypocrisy to testimony
Website: <a href="https://biblenerdministries.com" data-start="2768" data-end="2826">BibleNerdMinistries.com</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/biblenerdministries" data-start="2842" data-end="2907">@biblenerdministries</a>
Book: <a href="https://amzn.to/47Z84sU">No More Boring Bible Study</a>
Follow Jon: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">@jonseidl</a>
Order Jon's new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/4opuOt">Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic</a>.
Get daily motivation: <a href="https://www.theveritasdaily.com">www.theveritasdaily.com</a>

Can Christians Keep on Sinning? 'Bible Nerd' Faith Womack Reveals Why Hypocrisy Is Your Greatest Testimony (Episode 28)

“I was tormented. Literally tormented. I'd look in the mirror and go, ‘What are you doing? That’s not you.’”

Brandon Puffer had everything, or so it seemed. He was a Major League pitcher with a World Series ring and was even being groomed to be a big league coach. But beneath the success were so many secret wounds that he refused to deal with. One night, after years of quiet compromising and numbing pain with alcohol, he made a decision that changed everything.

In this episode, Brandon tells his story with raw honesty—from a childhood shaped by trauma and numbing, to five years of sobriety and faith, to the night that landed him in a Texas prison. He shares how small compromises led to massive consequences, what repentance really looks like, and how God’s grace can redeem even the most broken story.

This isn’t a tale of excuses, it’s one of ownership, humility, and the long, painful work of redemption.

We explore:

— The slippery slope from “one drink” to full relapse
— How trauma and insecurity planted the seeds of addiction
— Why white-knuckling sobriety never works
— What true repentance means: turning, not just confessing
— How taking full responsibility became his path to freedom
— The consequences that remain even after grace
— How to live unashamed when the world won’t forget
— Why humility, gratitude, and daily discipline keep him sober
— What it means to be “faithful in the little things” after hitting bottom

Website: coachpuffpositive.com

Book: From the Bullpen to the State Pen

Follow Jon: @jonseidl

Order Jon's new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic.

Get daily motivation: www.theveritasdaily.com

&ldquo;I was tormented. Literally tormented. I'd look in the mirror and go, &lsquo;What are you doing? That&rsquo;s not you.&rsquo;&rdquo;
Brandon Puffer had everything, or so it seemed. He was a Major League pitcher with a World Series ring and was even being groomed to be a big league coach. But beneath the success were so many secret wounds that he refused to deal with. One night, after years of quiet compromising and numbing pain with alcohol, he made a decision that changed everything.
In this episode, Brandon tells his story with raw honesty&mdash;from a childhood shaped by trauma and numbing, to five years of sobriety and faith, to the night that landed him in a Texas prison. He shares how small compromises led to massive consequences, what repentance really looks like, and how God&rsquo;s grace can redeem even the most broken story.
This isn&rsquo;t a tale of excuses, it&rsquo;s one of ownership, humility, and the long, painful work of redemption.
We explore:
&mdash; The slippery slope from &ldquo;one drink&rdquo; to full relapse &mdash; How trauma and insecurity planted the seeds of addiction &mdash; Why white-knuckling sobriety never works &mdash; What true repentance means: turning, not just confessing &mdash; How taking full responsibility became his path to freedom &mdash; The consequences that remain even after grace &mdash; How to live unashamed when the world won&rsquo;t forget &mdash; Why humility, gratitude, and daily discipline keep him sober &mdash; What it means to be &ldquo;faithful in the little things&rdquo; after hitting bottom
Website: <a href="https://coachpuffpositive.com/" data-start="2562" data-end="2616">coachpuffpositive.com</a>
Book: <a href="https://amzn.to/49NXZS1">From the Bullpen to the State Pen</a>
Follow Jon: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">@jonseidl</a>
Order Jon's new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/4opuOt">Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic</a>.
Get daily motivation: <a href="https://www.theveritasdaily.com">www.theveritasdaily.com</a>

From a World Series to a Prison Cell: The Addiction and Redemption Story of Brandon Puffer (Episode 27)

“Sin’s power is disconnection.”

That's one of the essential ideas that runs through what therapist and author Chuck DeGroat talks about in this episode. A longtime pastor and counselor, Chuck isn't just commenting on burnout and addiction from afar—he's actually lived it. In fact, he opens up about his own journey of breaking down in his early forties, when his body and soul finally gave out after years of religious workaholism. That collapse became the doorway into healing what was broken within. That also happens to be the topic of his latest book, Healing What's Within.

In this conversation, Chuck unpacks what he calls homing: the Spirit’s invitation to return to the worth, belonging, and purpose we were made for. We talk about addiction not as the problem, but as the attempted solution to disconnection. Chuck even explains why true recovery isn’t about behavior modification, but about reconnection—to God, to self, and to others.

We also discuss why repentance must be specific, how trauma fragments our stories, and what it means to offer empathy to our unhealed parts rather than shame.

This is a deeply pastoral, psychological, and hopeful episode for anyone who’s ever wondered, Why do I do what I don’t want to do—and how do I find my way home?

We explore:

— The three essential questions from Genesis that still heal today: “Where are you?”, “Who told you?”, and “Have you eaten?”
— How addiction is an attempted solution to pain and disconnection
— Why every human is, at some level, an addict
— The myth of purity and how God still uses broken people
— What true repentance looks like: specific, reparative, and relational
— “Faux-nerability” vs. authentic vulnerability
— Why trauma isn’t what happens to us, but what happens inside us
— The four needs every child has: to be safe, seen, soothed, and secure
— The danger of coping mechanisms that look holy, like workaholism
— How to come home to yourself through curiosity, connection, and grace

Website: chuckdegroat.net

Explore one of Chuck's Soul Care Intensives

Chuck's blog: "Sit With Chuck"

Book: Healing What's Within

Follow Jon: @jonseidl

Order Jon's new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic.

Get daily motivation: www.theveritasdaily.com

&ldquo;Sin&rsquo;s power is disconnection.&rdquo;
That's one of the essential ideas that runs through what therapist and author Chuck DeGroat talks about in this episode. A longtime pastor and counselor, Chuck isn't just commenting on burnout and addiction from afar&mdash;he's actually lived it. In fact, he opens up about his own journey of breaking down in his early forties, when his body and soul finally gave out after years of religious workaholism. That collapse became the doorway into healing what was broken within. That also happens to be the topic of his latest book,&nbsp;Healing What's Within.
In this conversation, Chuck unpacks what he calls homing: the Spirit&rsquo;s invitation to return to the worth, belonging, and purpose we were made for. We talk about addiction not as the problem, but as the attempted solution to disconnection. Chuck even explains why true recovery isn&rsquo;t about behavior modification, but about reconnection&mdash;to God, to self, and to others.
We also discuss why repentance must be specific, how trauma fragments our stories, and what it means to offer empathy to our unhealed parts rather than shame.
This is a deeply pastoral, psychological, and hopeful episode for anyone who&rsquo;s ever wondered, Why do I do what I don&rsquo;t want to do&mdash;and how do I find my way home?
We explore:
&mdash; The three essential questions from Genesis that still heal today:&nbsp;&ldquo;Where are you?&rdquo;, &ldquo;Who told you?&rdquo;, and &ldquo;Have you eaten?&rdquo; &mdash; How addiction is an attempted solution to pain and disconnection &mdash; Why every human is, at some level, an addict &mdash; The myth of purity and how God still uses broken people &mdash; What true repentance looks like: specific, reparative, and relational &mdash; &ldquo;Faux-nerability&rdquo; vs. authentic vulnerability &mdash; Why trauma isn&rsquo;t what happens to us, but what happens inside us &mdash; The four needs every child has: to be safe, seen, soothed, and secure &mdash; The danger of coping mechanisms that look holy, like workaholism &mdash; How to come home to yourself through curiosity, connection, and grace
Website: <a href="https://www.chuckdegroat.net">chuckdegroat.net</a>
Explore one of Chuck's <a href="https://www.chuckdegroat.net/soul-care-intensives">Soul Care Intensives</a>
Chuck's blog: <a href="https://sitwithchuck.substack.com">"Sit With Chuck"</a>
Book:&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/3WHH7ES">Healing What's Within</a>
Follow Jon: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">@jonseidl</a>
Order Jon's new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/4opuOt">Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic</a>.
Get daily motivation: <a href="https://www.theveritasdaily.com/">www.theveritasdaily.com</a>

How to Heal the Brokenness Inside: Counselor Chuck DeGroat on Trauma, Disconnection, and Coming 'Home' to the Most Flourishing Life Possible (Episode 26)

“Sin doesn’t care who you are or what you’ve seen—it’s coming for all of us.”

That theme runs through Kirby Kelly’s story. See, she's part of a group of women you don't often hear about: females that struggle (or have struggled) with pornography addiction. Kirby's story is heartbreaking: She was exposed to pornography at four years old, again at seven, and then again at ten. Each time the exposure happened it left a deeper imprint of secrecy and shame. Even after coming to Christ, she carried the hidden struggle for years, convinced she had to fix it alone. In college, a simple exercise called "stand for your sister" opened the door to confession, community, and real healing.

But Kirby's exposure to addiction goes beyond her own. She also happens to be the child of two parents who died of complications related to alcoholism. 

In this episode, Kirby talks candidly about growing up as the daughter of two alcoholics, why isolation kept her stuck, and how confession—to God and within community—helped her find freedom. She also shares how abiding in Christ moved from discipline to desire, why boundaries are not buzzkills but protection, and the hope-filled message she wants every struggling parent to hear.

We explore:

— Early exposure, shame, and why secrecy fuels addiction
— Confession vs. concealment and how healing begins in honest community
— Sanctification: messy, daily, real
— Escapism, control, and chasing dopamine
— Abiding in Christ as the path to peace and freedom
— Practical boundaries for media and triggers
— What she tells parents wrestling with addiction and their kids

Website: kirby-kelly.com

Instagram: @kirbyisaboss

Book: You Can Be Free 

Podcast: Bought & Beloved

Follow Jon: @jonseidl

Order Jon's new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic.

Get daily motivation: www.theveritasdaily.com

&ldquo;Sin doesn&rsquo;t care who you are or what you&rsquo;ve seen&mdash;it&rsquo;s coming for all of us.&rdquo;
That theme runs through Kirby Kelly&rsquo;s story. See, she's part of a group of women you don't often hear about: females that struggle (or have struggled) with pornography addiction. Kirby's story is heartbreaking: She was exposed to pornography at four years old, again at seven, and then again at ten. Each time the exposure happened it left a deeper imprint of secrecy and shame. Even after coming to Christ, she carried the hidden struggle for years, convinced she had to fix it alone. In college, a simple exercise called "stand for your sister" opened the door to confession, community, and real healing.
But Kirby's exposure to addiction goes beyond her own. She also happens to be the child of two parents who died of complications related to alcoholism.&nbsp;
In this episode, Kirby talks candidly about growing up as the daughter of two alcoholics, why isolation kept her stuck, and how confession&mdash;to God and within community&mdash;helped her find freedom. She also shares how abiding in Christ moved from discipline to desire, why boundaries are not buzzkills but protection, and the hope-filled message she wants every struggling parent to hear.
We explore:
&mdash; Early exposure, shame, and why secrecy fuels addiction &mdash; Confession vs. concealment and how healing begins in honest community &mdash; Sanctification: messy, daily, real &mdash; Escapism, control, and chasing dopamine &mdash; Abiding in Christ as the path to peace and freedom &mdash; Practical boundaries for media and triggers &mdash; What she tells parents wrestling with addiction and their kids
Website: <a href="https://kirby-kelly.com">kirby-kelly.com</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kirbyisaboss/">@kirbyisaboss</a>
Book: <a href="https://amzn.to/3LgbIXy">You Can Be Free</a>&nbsp;
Podcast: <a href="https://www.omnycontent.com/d/playlist/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/b02b4926-6a86-4b83-af97-b23b00fdaf5a/678a0539-833c-4a6e-9541-b23b00fdb0ec/podcast.rss">Bought &amp; Beloved</a>
Follow Jon: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">@jonseidl</a>
Order Jon's new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/4opuOt">Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic</a>.
Get daily motivation: <a href="https://www.theveritasdaily.com/">www.theveritasdaily.com</a>

The Woman Who Became a Porn Addict: Kirby Kelly Tells Her Story of Keeping Secrets and the Key to Breaking Free (Episode 25)

“Getting sober without salvation is like giving a painkiller to a cancer patient.”

That’s how John Elmore describes the difference between behavior modification and true transformation. He'd know. He was on the verge of ending it all with a shotgun when he finally realized his problem went deeper than just the alcohol. In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, John shares how he spent nearly two decades in the grip of alcoholism—trying everything to fix himself except surrendering to Jesus.

From age 13 to 30, alcohol was John's solution, not his problem. But when everything fell apart, he encountered the only thing that could actually save him: the Gospel. Today, as the teaching pastor at Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, TX, and the author of Freedom Starts Today, John helps others discover the same freedom that changed his life.

In this episode, we talk about what it means to go from death to life, why sobriety without Jesus will never be enough, and how real recovery happens when grace becomes the motivation instead of guilt.

This is about coming to the end of yourself and realizing there's not just something better, but someone better.

We explore:

— Why “getting sober” isn’t the same as being saved
— How sin’s power is greater than willpower
— Why alcohol wasn’t the problem—it was the “solution”
— What happens when you aim for Jesus instead of behavior management
— The spiritual warfare behind addiction and shame
— Why every idol eventually destroys what it promises
— How to find freedom one day at a time through repentance
— John’s ACT framework: Ask, Commit, Talk
— What daily dependence on Christ looks like after recovery
— Why transformation is only possible through the gospel

Follow John Elmore on Instagram.

Book: Freedom Starts Today

Follow Jon: @jonseidl

Order Jon's new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic.

Watch this episode and get daily motivation: www.theveritasdaily.com

&ldquo;Getting sober without salvation is like giving a painkiller to a cancer patient.&rdquo;
That&rsquo;s how John Elmore describes the difference between behavior modification and true transformation. He'd know. He was on the verge of ending it all with a shotgun when he finally realized his problem went deeper than just the alcohol. In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, John shares how he spent nearly two decades in the grip of alcoholism&mdash;trying everything to fix himself except surrendering to Jesus.
From age 13 to 30, alcohol was John's solution, not his problem. But when everything fell apart, he encountered the only thing that could actually save him: the Gospel. Today, as the teaching pastor at Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, TX, and the author of&nbsp;Freedom Starts Today, John helps others discover the same freedom that changed his life.
In this episode, we talk about what it means to go from death to life, why sobriety without Jesus will never be enough, and how real recovery happens when grace becomes the motivation instead of guilt.
This is about coming to the end of yourself and realizing there's not just something better, but someone better.
We explore:
&mdash; Why &ldquo;getting sober&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t the same as being saved &mdash; How sin&rsquo;s power is greater than willpower &mdash; Why alcohol wasn&rsquo;t the problem&mdash;it was the &ldquo;solution&rdquo; &mdash; What happens when you aim for Jesus instead of behavior management &mdash; The spiritual warfare behind addiction and shame &mdash; Why every idol eventually destroys what it promises &mdash; How to find freedom one day at a time through repentance &mdash; John&rsquo;s ACT framework: Ask, Commit, Talk &mdash; What daily dependence on Christ looks like after recovery &mdash; Why transformation is only possible through the gospel
Follow John Elmore <a href="https://www.instagram.com/john_a_elmore/">on Instagram</a>.
Book:&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/47APOHd" data-start="2642" data-end="2746">Freedom Starts Today</a>
Follow Jon: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">@jonseidl</a>
Order Jon's new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/4opuOt">Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic</a>.
Watch this episode and get daily motivation: <a href="https://www.theveritasdaily.com/">www.theveritasdaily.com</a>

How Freedom From Any Addiction Can Start Today: John Elmore's Journey From Nearly Ending It All to Lasting Transformation (Episode 24)

“I didn’t know how to sit still with myself. I didn’t want to be alone with myself.”

That’s what Hannah Brencher realized when she was finally able to admit she was an addict. But she wasn't addicted to any substance. Instead, she suffered from an addiction much more common, much more acceptable: her phone. And so many of us share that addiction.

Hannah, one of my favorite writers and the author of The Unplugged Hours, opens up about what it took to finally put her phone down, how grief and boredom became her greatest teachers, and why building an inner life is the work we can’t outsource to our screens. We also dive into what happens when distraction becomes dependence, when we build our identity on productivity, and when silence feels like the scariest place in the world.

This is a conversation about learning to pay attention again, about how to listen to the still, small voice that says enough is enough, and especially about understanding how to be present. If your addiction is to technology, especially to your phone, this episode is important.

We explore: 

— How phone addiction mirrors other forms of addiction
— Why we can’t heal if we won’t be still
— The illusion of productivity and why our worth isn’t in our output
— How the phone amplifies anxiety, loneliness, and shame
— The spiritual discipline of paying attention
— How boredom becomes the birthplace of creativity
— What it means to build an “inner life” instead of curating an online one
— Why grace, not guilt, has to lead this journey
— The difference between honesty and vulnerability
— What “enough is enough” sounds like in everyday life

Follow Hannah: @hannahbrencher

Book: The Unplugged Hours

Hannah's website: hannahbrenchercreative.com

Get Hannah's emails here.

Free "unplugged hours" tracker.

Follow Jon: @jonseidl

Order the new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic: www.christianalcoholic.com.

Watch this episode and get daily motivation: www.theveritasdaily.com

&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know how to sit still with myself. I didn&rsquo;t want to be alone with myself.&rdquo;
That&rsquo;s what Hannah Brencher realized when she was finally able to admit she was an addict. But she wasn't addicted to any substance. Instead, she suffered from an addiction much more common, much more acceptable: her phone. And so many of us share that addiction.
Hannah, one of my favorite writers and the author of The Unplugged Hours, opens up about what it took to finally put her phone down, how grief and boredom became her greatest teachers, and why building an inner life is the work we can&rsquo;t outsource to our screens. We also dive into what happens when distraction becomes dependence, when we build our identity on productivity, and when silence feels like the scariest place in the world.
This is a conversation about learning to pay attention again, about how to listen to the still, small voice that says enough is enough, and especially about understanding how to be present. If your addiction is to technology, especially to your phone, this episode is important.
We explore:&nbsp;
&mdash; How phone addiction mirrors other forms of addiction &mdash; Why we can&rsquo;t heal if we won&rsquo;t be still &mdash; The illusion of productivity and why our worth isn&rsquo;t in our output &mdash; How the phone amplifies anxiety, loneliness, and shame &mdash; The spiritual discipline of paying attention &mdash; How boredom becomes the birthplace of creativity &mdash; What it means to build an &ldquo;inner life&rdquo; instead of curating an online one &mdash; Why grace, not guilt, has to lead this journey &mdash; The difference between honesty and vulnerability &mdash; What &ldquo;enough is enough&rdquo; sounds like in everyday life
Follow Hannah: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hannahbrencher/">@hannahbrencher</a>
Book: <a href="https://amzn.to/47edos3">The Unplugged Hours</a>
Hannah's website: <a href="https://hannahbrenchercreative.com">hannahbrenchercreative.com</a>
Get Hannah's emails <a href="https://hannahb.myflodesk.com/links?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeGEkr1wq21ZneWjhzk67-QgIDSGnF9wZZHhD7WahRJDJOnfi407nl-f9-ZtQ_aem_3WOmqC4k6yRWpDudeRdVYA">here</a>.
Free <a href="https://hannahbrenchercreative.com/unplugged">"unplugged hours" tracker</a>.
Follow Jon: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">@jonseidl</a>
Order the new book,&nbsp;Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.christianalcoholic.com">www.christianalcoholic.com</a>.
Watch this episode and get daily motivation: <a href="https://www.theveritasdaily.com/">www.theveritasdaily.com</a>

How Hannah Brencher Overcame Her Phone Addiction, and How You Can Too (Episode 23)

Jon Seidl is the bestselling Christian author who became an alcoholic, not the other way around. It's usually the other way around. Or is it? "Confessions of a Christian alcoholic" (based on the book by the same title) is all about real stories, radical vulnerability, and remarkable comebacks of people who have struggled with alcoholism and addictions of all sorts. The show features interviews with fellow addicts and alcoholics as well as professionals in the fields of trauma, faith, and addiction recovery. Because let's be honest, we're all addicted to something. "Confessions" is a place for the desperate, the downtrodden, the destitute, and especially, the drunk. But it's also a place of hope and healing. Jon found sobriety after decades of struggling, but more importantly than finding sobriety, he found Jesus. In every episode, he gets radically vulnerable as he explores what it looks like to be on this journey of messy sanctification. Visit christianalcoholic.com for more resources.

Jon Seidl is the bestselling Christian author who became an alcoholic, not the other way around. It's usually the other way around. Or is it? "Confessions of a Christian alcoholic" (based on the book by the same title) is all about real stories, radical vulnerability, and remarkable comebacks of people who have struggled with alcoholism and addictions of all sorts. The show features interviews with fellow addicts and alcoholics as well as professionals in the fields of trauma, faith, and addiction recovery. Because let's be honest, we're all addicted to something. "Confessions" is a place for the desperate, the downtrodden, the destitute, and especially, the drunk. But it's also a place of hope and healing. Jon found sobriety after decades of struggling, but more importantly than finding sobriety, he found Jesus. In every episode, he gets radically vulnerable as he explores what it looks like to be on this journey of messy sanctification. Visit <a href="http://christianalcoholic.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://christianalcoholic.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1747239325727000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1G-752Q-1dyjq6GN5gt7xw">christianalcoholic.com</a> for more resources.

Jon Seidl is the bestselling Christian author who became an alcoholic, not the other way around. It's usually the other way around. Or is it? "Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic" is all about real stories, radical vulnerability, and remarkable comebacks of people who have struggled with alcoholism and addictions of all sorts.

Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic with Jon Seidl

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