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  • Cutting Through the Chaos: How to Move from Paralysis to Clarity with Matt Brown

    Cutting Through the Chaos: How to Move from Paralysis to Clarity with Matt Brown
    Feb 19 2026
    In this episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we are joined by Matt Brown, a professional interventionist who has spent over 20 years guiding families through the storm of addiction. Matt’s expertise isn't just academic—it’s lived. In 2001, his own family staged an intervention that saved his life. Since entering recovery in 2003, he has dedicated his career to paying that gift forward, helping hundreds of families move out of the "paralysis of fear" and into structured, meaningful action. In this conversation, Pej and Matt dive into: The "Full Circle" Perspective: What it’s like to sit on both sides of the intervention table. Debunking the "Rock Bottom" Myth: Why waiting for things to get worse is a dangerous strategy—and how to act early. The Balance of Compassion and Firmness: How to cut through a loved one’s denial without stripping them of their dignity. Restoring the Family: Moving away from enabling and toward healthy boundaries that foster long-term recovery. Whether you are a family member feeling stuck in the cycle of chaos or someone looking to understand the mechanics of a successful intervention, Matt’s direct and steady approach offers a roadmap from uncertainty to clarity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 Min.
  • Stop Enabling, Start Helping: How to Love an Addict Without Losing Yourself | Katie Sanders

    Stop Enabling, Start Helping: How to Love an Addict Without Losing Yourself | Katie Sanders
    Feb 12 2026
    "You don't steal someone's comeback story, you support it." In this episode of Primary Purpose, Pej sits down with Katie Sanders (NCACIP, NCFRC), a family recovery coach who specializes in turning household chaos into clinical clarity. Katie didn’t just study recovery; she built her practice in the high-stakes world of private detox and intervention. With a background in Finance and Risk Management, she brings a "grounded and practical" approach to the emotional whirlwind of addiction. Pej and Katie dive deep into why families are often the missing piece of the recovery puzzle and how to move from desperate reaction to a purposeful response. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 Min.
  • Finding Your Rhythm in Recovery, Patrick O’Neill on Music, Sobriety, and Purpose

    Finding Your Rhythm in Recovery, Patrick O’Neill on Music, Sobriety, and Purpose
    Feb 6 2026
    In this heartfelt episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Patrick O’Neill, a Southern California native whose life story is rooted in adventure, creativity, and hard-earned growth. From years behind the bar and travels across the globe to his transition into the corporate world, Patrick shares how connection, curiosity, and music have always been guiding forces in his life. Now 16 months sober, Patrick opens up about recovery, self-work, and learning how to live with intention one day at a time. As a lifelong musician, single father, and someone who continues to embrace life’s evolution with humility and humor, Patrick reminds us that recovery isn’t the end of the story — it’s the moment you finally start playing your own music again. This episode is a powerful reminder that purpose is found not in perfection, but in progress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 Std. und 25 Min.
  • The Truth About Interventions, Boundaries, and Family Recovery | Scott Stein

    The Truth About Interventions, Boundaries, and Family Recovery | Scott Stein
    Jan 29 2026
    On this episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Scott Stein — family coach, interventionist, and founder of Capital Companion and Transport — for one of the most honest conversations about addiction, family dynamics, and recovery you’ll hear. Scott doesn’t teach recovery from theory — he lived it. His addiction spanned opioids, alcohol, weed, benzos, nightlife culture, and the “work hard, party harder” mentality that eventually left him homeless, evicted, and disconnected from reality. While everyone around him saw the problem, Scott couldn’t — until his mother’s growth became the mirror he couldn’t ignore. Today, Scott works with families and individuals navigating addiction at every stage: • Before treatment • During treatment • After treatment and re-entry into real life His focus goes beyond sobriety — into executive functioning, boundaries, routines, life skills, accountability, and structure — the areas most people overlook but families desperately need help with. Scott believes: You don’t steal someone’s comeback story — you support it You set boundaries, not band-aids You offer truth, not rescue Whether someone lives on Park Avenue or the streets, Scott shows up the same way: direct, practical, and rooted in real love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 Min.
  • I Manifested My Worst Nightmare — Until Faith Set Me Free with Marco Ferrante

    I Manifested My Worst Nightmare — Until Faith Set Me Free with Marco Ferrante
    Jan 22 2026
    In this powerful episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Marco Ferrante — pastor, mentor, nonprofit leader, and founder of Journey to Solutions — to share a raw and deeply moving story of addiction, identity, and spiritual transformation. Raised in a traditional Sicilian family where reputation meant everything, Marco learned early that admitting addiction was considered weakness. What followed was years of darkness marked by substance abuse, incarceration, homelessness, paranoia, and loss — despite once having scholarships, athletic success, and opportunity at his fingertips. Addiction followed him across borders, from the U.S. to Europe, proving that distance can’t heal what only truth and connection can. Everything changed when Marco encountered Christ not as religion, but as a personal invitation. What began as desperation turned into freedom through faith, community, discipline, and surrender. Today, Marco serves as the Owner of Journey to Solutions Educational Resource Center, President of Journey to Solutions Recovery Ministry, Vice President of PRP Nonprofit, and host of the Journey 2 Solutions Podcast — all rooted in servant leadership and the belief that lives can be restored and purpose rediscovered. This episode is about more than recovery. It’s about identity, redemption, and the power of grace to rewrite even the darkest story. If you’re struggling with addiction, mental health, shame, or feeling too far gone — this conversation is for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 Std. und 17 Min.
  • From Survival to Strength | Allison Smith’s 10 Years of Sobriety & Faith

    From Survival to Strength | Allison Smith’s 10 Years of Sobriety & Faith
    Jan 15 2026
    Today on Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Allison Smith — a domestic violence survivor, single mother, and woman who has walked the path of sobriety for over 10 years, one day at a time. Faith-driven and deeply committed to healing, Allison shares her story with honesty and courage. What began as survival became transformation — learning how to rebuild her life, reclaim her voice, and raise her child while staying grounded in sobriety, faith, and personal accountability. This conversation explores what it means to heal after abuse, how sobriety becomes a foundation for empowerment, and why sharing your story can become an act of service. Allison doesn’t speak from theory — she speaks from lived experience, reminding us that recovery isn’t just about staying sober, it’s about choosing yourself every day. This episode is for anyone navigating trauma, addiction, faith, or single parenthood — and for anyone who needs proof that strength can be rebuilt from the hardest places. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 Std. und 3 Min.
  • The Best Conversations of the Year

    The Best Conversations of the Year
    Jan 1 2026
    This year on Primary Purpose with Pej, we sat down with some of the most powerful voices in recovery, mental health, performance, leadership, and personal transformation. This special end-of-year episode brings together the most impactful moments, stories, and insights from our best guests — conversations that challenged perspective, sparked growth, and reminded us what purpose really looks like when life gets hard. From raw honesty about addiction and recovery… To deep conversations around mindset, resilience, and rebuilding your life… To moments of clarity that hit long after the episode ends… This is Primary Purpose at its core. Whether you’ve been with us since day one or you’re just discovering the show, this episode captures the heart of what we do — real conversations with people who’ve lived it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 Min.
  • From Psychosis to Purpose | Michael’s Journey Through Addiction, Homelessness, and Recovery

    From Psychosis to Purpose | Michael’s Journey Through Addiction, Homelessness, and Recovery
    Dec 18 2025
    Michael’s life took him across the world — from New Jersey to Puerto Rico to Hong Kong — but addiction followed no matter how far he ran. Despite a strong upbringing and early success in sports, Michael began drinking at 12 and was addicted to heroin by 18. After leaving college and cycling through rehab, he built a successful career in shipping and logistics. On the outside, life looked stable — but addiction pulled him into street life, homelessness, and a near-fatal overdose. What followed was a brutal turning point. Michael survived 70 days of drug-induced psychosis, entered sober living, attended 180 meetings in 90 days, completed all 12 steps, and rebuilt his life from the ground up. Starting with nothing — even cleaning toilets just to survive — he slowly reclaimed structure, dignity, and purpose. Today, Michael is a certified alcohol and drug counselor, the owner of The Hope Experience, LLC, and is opening a sober living home dedicated to helping others find recovery and meaning. This episode of Primary Purpose with Pej is about humility, perseverance, and the courage it takes to start over — one day at a time. Subscribe for more real stories of recovery, resilience, and purpose. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 Std. und 14 Min.