Advertise on podcast: Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic with Jon Seidl

What do dying people wish for near the end of their lives? Devon Comp knows. He's sat with countless numbers of them as a hospice chaplain. And there's one consistent request: they wish they were more present. More time with their kids. More time focusing on what matters. Another chance to tell someone what they meant to them. One woman even longed to hear the birds more. But no one has ever wished they drank more. They chased their addiction more. Money? Fleeting. Devon joins this episode of "Confessions" to talk about what people facing death can teach those still finding reasons to postpone change. This conversation follows a man who kept welcoming company as cancer took his ability to speak, grieving parents who needed more than a Bible verse, and a man whose drinking made more sense once someone learned what had happened to his wife. For host Jon Seidl, the conversation reaches into an uncomfortable part of recovery: facing how much life alcohol muted while he was using it to cope. And for those who profess hope in Jesus, Devon presses a further question: How much of that hope is actually reaching the way they live? Read Devon’s writing: Safe HavenFollow Devon: @devon_compRead about his move into nursing: “A Change in Badge.”Explore the FREE Veritas Recovery Community to connect with people on a similar journeyGet Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help at veritasrecovery.orgFollow Jon: @jonseidlOrder Jon's book: Confessions of a Christian AlcoholicWatch this episode ad-free at The Vertias DailyWe explore:  —When alcohol stops being the problem and starts becoming “the cure”—The resentment, loneliness, and purposelessness underneath Doug's drinking—The look from Abby that finally broke through his denial—Why Doug believes getting sober became an act of sacrificial love—The fears that come with imagining life without alcohol—Why replacing one addiction with another isn't true freedom—What rebuilding trust actually looked like in Doug and Abby's marriage—Why healing required more than simply stopping drinking—What it means to fully surrender at the feet of Jesus Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: S0O6ZGXSLBEYFQP2 Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Doug Johnson knew his drinking had gotten bad. There were bottles of whiskey disappearing over a weekend, around $1,000 a month going toward alcohol, Everclear mixed into sweet tea, and drinking at 10 in the morning. But he still wasn't ready to admit it was a problem. Then came "the look"—the moment his wife, Abby, looked at him and had seemingly lost all hope after making one request: don't get drunk. She needed to know their kids were going to be safe while she was gone. Despite his promise, he could see she felt she was rolling the dice. At last, he couldn't ignore it. And it started him on a path not to sobriety, but to Jesus in a new way. In this episode, Doug joins Jon Seidl to talk about the resentment, loneliness, and purposelessness that helped turn alcohol into what he calls “the cure”; how addiction affected his marriage to popular pro-life advocate Abby Johnson; his faith; why he believes getting sober became an act of sacrificial love; and what it took to rebuild trust. Five years after his last drink, Doug explains why freedom wasn't ultimately about replacing alcohol with something else, but rather fully surrendering at the feet of Jesus. Follow Doug on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougontapWatch UnplannedLearn more about Abby Johnson's work: https://abortionworker.com Listen to the the episode with Ian Faulkner hereExplore the FREE Veritas Recovery Community to connect with people on a similar journeyGet Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help at veritasrecovery.orgFollow Jon: @jonseidlOrder Jon's book: Confessions of a Christian AlcoholicWatch this episode ad-free at The Vertias DailyWe explore:  —When alcohol stops being the problem and starts becoming “the cure”—The resentment, loneliness, and purposelessness underneath Doug's drinking—The look from Abby that finally broke through his denial—Why Doug believes getting sober became an act of sacrificial love—The fears that come with imagining life without alcohol—Why replacing one addiction with another isn't true freedom—What rebuilding trust actually looked like in Doug and Abby's marriage—Why healing required more than simply stopping drinking—What it means to fully surrender at the feet of Jesus Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: YHZVVVG2E2F5M08J Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Charles Reed was drunk in the delivery room when his daughter was born. Afterward, he told his wife he was going for a walk—but he went straight to a liquor store. Becoming a father hadn’t made him stop. So what finally did—and what would following Jesus require afterward? For years, Charles could close a big deal at work while hiding how badly alcohol and drugs were running his life. He was wildly talented and successful, but he kept crossing lines he once swore he’d never cross. By the time his family could see the full picture, he was organizing his days around the next drink. Then Charles describes something he hadn’t been looking for: an encounter with Jesus that he says removed his desire to drink in an instant. That wasn't the end of his journey, but rather the start of it. After all, his wife had heard all the promises before. He had trust to rebuild, habits to confront, and a family that needed him to show up. In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic, Charles joins Jon Seidl to talk about the fear beneath his addiction, the limits of “I would never do that,” and the daily work of recovery even after a miraculous moment. Follow Charles on Instagram: @hendrieehillLearn more about America's Keswick hereListen to the the episode with Arman and hear his story hereExplore the FREE Veritas Recovery Community to connect with people on a similar journeyGet Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help at veritasrecovery.orgFollow Jon: @jonseidlOrder Jon's book: Confessions of a Christian AlcoholicWatch this episode ad-free at The Vertias DailyWe explore:  — Why becoming a father didn’t make Charles stop drinking— How fear shaped his relationship with alcohol long before he recognized addiction— What professional success allowed him to hide— How “I would never do that” became another line he crossed— The encounter with Jesus Charles says removed his desire to drink— Why a miraculous experience still left daily recovery work to do— How ordinary acts of responsibility helped rebuild his wife’s trust— What his story offers families who are still praying for change Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: 2R0FYQ1ZWZYBPXV3 Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Emily White is an addiction counselor who once filled a CamelBak with alcohol to walk to class, collected a nine-month sobriety chip while secretly drinking, and was eventually kicked out of rehab. She knew recovery language—and enough Christianity to look the part—but she was still trying to become presentable before coming fully to Jesus. After more than a year in sober living, Em followed every instruction she had been given and still relapsed when a friend hurt her feelings. The program had given her tools, but it had not given her an unshakable anchor. At the end of herself, she walked into Watermark Community Church with drugs in her car and told a volunteer she needed a miracle. What followed was not instant transformation. Christians listened without panicking, let her arrive broken, and kept showing up while the Holy Spirit worked. Then a parking-lot question—"What would it mean to go two feet in?"—became an act of life-changing, full surrender. Em shares why recovery communities must make room for mess, how families can love without relying on a formula, and what it looks like to endure discomfort without escaping it. Seven and a half years into sobriety, she now helps others find the hope she once believed was impossible while serving as a licensed counselor at the Austin Stone. Learn more about re:gen hereEm's counseling practiceFollow Em on Instagram: @em_whiteyExplore the FREE Veritas Recovery Community to connect with people on a similar journeyGet Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help at veritasrecovery.orgFollow Jon: @jonseidlOrder Jon's book: Confessions of a Christian AlcoholicWatch this episode ad-free at The Vertias DailyWe explore:  — Why alcohol felt necessary before it became deadly— How a nine-month sobriety chip concealed a double life— What Em’s relapse revealed about anchoring recovery in a program— Why the church must be able to sit with people’s mess without panicking— How families can establish boundaries without relying on a universal formula— What “two feet in” surrender looked like in an Austin hotel parking lot— How Em now experiences discomfort without needing to escape it Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Karla Adkins was successful, active in church, and working in health care—and yet she was dying from alcohol-related liver failure. When Karla’s doctor called and asked if she was OK, Karla said she thought she was dying. Her doctor was honest: “I think you are too.” Yet even surviving liver failure wasn’t enough to make Karla stop drinking and find true freedom. Months later, she returned to drinking because she had never addressed the reasons she needed alcohol in the first place. In this episode, the author and sobriety coach joins host Jon Seidl to discuss alcohol addiction, anxiety, relapse, and the comparison trap that keeps people convinced their drinking isn’t bad enough to be a "real" problem. Karla also shares how she gave alcohol jobs, why shame kept her silent, and how science, compassionate support, radical vulnerability, and above all her faith in Jesus helped her pursue something deeper than sobriety. Get Karla's book: And She Came Tumbling Down: Breaking the Bonds of Alcohol and Creating a Life of FreedomVisit Karla's websiteFollow Karla on Instagram: @karlakadkinsExplore the FREE Veritas Recovery Community to connect with people on a similar journeyGet Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help at veritasrecovery.orgFollow Jon: @jonseidlOrder Jon's book: Confessions of a Christian AlcoholicWatch this episode ad-free at The Vertias DailyWe explore: — How anxiety first made alcohol feel like an answer for Karla— What it means to give alcohol a “job”— Why successful people can still experience life-threatening addiction— How cognitive dissonance allows us to explain away dangerous drinking— Why comparing quantities can keep people from seeking help— The moment Karla discovered that her liver was failing— Why shame made exposure feel more frightening than death— How Karla returned to alcohol after her first hospitalization— Why consequences alone cannot create lasting freedom— What alcohol does to anxiety, sleep, and the brain— The importance of compassionate, judgment-free support— Why sobriety and freedom are not the same thing— How science, community, vulnerability, and faith can work together— What Gospel-centered recovery offers beyond “just pray more” Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When chronic illness took away Natasha Kennedy’s ability to eat, alcohol became the one comfort she believed she had left. Instead of gorging on food, alcohol became her new gluttony. The illustrator behind the beloved children's FatCat series and author of the incredible new book Lacking Nothing: The Year I Lost My Ability to Eat and Found Satisfaction in Christ joins Jon Seidl for an unflinching conversation about alcohol addiction, chronic pain, Christian recovery, fasting, and finding satisfaction in Christ when life leaves an aching emptiness. Natasha was still seeking Jesus, encouraging others, raising her children, and trying to remain faithful. But she had quietly given alcohol a job: It was her reward, her pain relief, her escape, and the one thing she believed she still deserved. Then her husband came home during a freezing power outage and found their young daughter outside in only a diaper. Natasha could no longer avoid what alcohol was costing her. She and Jon discuss the lie that alcohol makes life better, why removing one addiction can leave us vulnerable to another, and what Natasha calls a “fasting mindset”—the daily decision to experience lack without immediately numbing or filling it. Her story isn’t about suffering disappearing. It’s about discovering, in the middle of pain and ongoing illness, that Jesus isn’t merely enough. He is the feast. Get Natasha's new book: Lacking Nothing: The Year I Lost My Ability to Eat and Found Satisfaction in ChristVisit Natasha's websiteFollow Natasha on Instagram: @natashakenneduHeather Kopp's book: Sober MerciesGet Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help at veritasrecovery.orgFollow Jon: @jonseidlOrder Jon's book: Confessions of a Christian AlcoholicWatch this episode ad-free at The Vertias DailyWe explore: — How chronic illness caused Natasha to lose her ability to eat— Why losing food involved grief, identity, creativity, and comfort— How alcohol became Natasha’s reward, medication, and escape— Why active Christian faith does not make someone immune to addiction— The night Natasha realized her drinking was endangering her children— Why eliminating one coping mechanism can lead us to replace it with another— What Natasha means by developing a “fasting mindset”— How her husband and friends supported her recovery— The lie that alcohol makes life better— Why recovery allowed Natasha to become more present for her family— Finding satisfaction in Christ while pain and chronic illness continue— Why addressing addiction today is less costly than waiting for tomorrow Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What do you do when you love someone who won't stop drinking or give up their addiction? Dr. Brenda Fann Katula knows that frustration well. She understood alcohol addiction, withdrawal, and relapse. But none of that could fix her husband.  In Part 2 of this two-part interview, Brenda takes us through the final stage of her former husband's destructive behavior. From an intervention, to hallucinations, to putting on a front and doing what she could to protect her kids. But more important than the story, she explains her deepest crisis from this period: her spiritual one. Angry that God hadn’t healed her husband or restored their family, Brenda stopped praying personal prayers and tried to solve everything herself—until exhaustion forced her to surrender. She eventually recognized, though, that her prayers had an interesting through line: they all focused almost entirely on changing her husband rather than asking God for the healing, strength, and wisdom she needed. We talk about her faith, her frustration, and her final surrender.  We also discuss boundaries, gaslighting, unanswered prayer, repeated forgiveness, identity in Christ, and the thing her husband left behind that went from a painful reminder to a powerful retreat. This important interview is crucial for friends and family members looking for hope. Listen to Part 1 here.Follow Brenda on Instagram: @brendafannkatulaArticle: What does it actually look like to forgive?Get Caroline Beidler's book for loved ones, When You Love Someone in Recovery Get Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help at veritasrecovery.orgFollow me: @jonseidlOrder my book, Confessions of a Christian AlcoholicWatch this episode ad-free at The Vertias DailyWe explore: — Why Brenda staged an intervention after her husband threatened to drive to daycare intoxicated— How severe alcohol withdrawal led to hallucinations, a hospital escape, and an ICU ventilator— Why Brenda pressured a doctor to keep her husband from driving their children— What happened when unanswered prayer became anger at God— How Brenda’s prayers shifted from changing her husband to asking God to heal and strengthen her— Why recognizing gaslighting doesn’t eliminate the need for personal self-examination— How forgiveness can be repeated without calling the damage acceptable— Why her husband’s alcoholism increased her empathy for patients with addiction— How an unfinished treehouse became a place of study, service, and redemption Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Dr. Brenda Fann Katula knew how to recognize alcohol addiction in an exam room. But when alcoholism took over her own home, the family physician who understood the diagnosis could not figure out how to make her husband choose sobriety—or explain to her nine-year-old son why Daddy wouldn't stop drinking. The warning signs had been there from the beginning, like the handle of rum she expected to last for weeks disappearing in a weekend. Over time, his drinking escalated to a handle a day, a blood-alcohol level of 0.4 (enough to kill some people), severe withdrawal, hidden bottles, hospital stays, confused in a cornfield, and eventually death. In Part 1 of this incredible two-part interview, Brenda explains the turning points that forced her to confront the truth, the safety plans she created for her children, and what she wishes she had done differently. She also explain one of the hardest, but most important, realizations the loved one of an addict / alcoholic can make: “I can’t work harder at his sobriety than he is." Her husband had lost his parents and older sister in a car accident when he was ten and carried unresolved trauma, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Now, Brenda is doing what she can to make sure the cycle of hurt, pain, and addiction doesn't claim another victim—whether that's the addict, or those he or she leaves behind. We also talk about boundaries, enabling, church support, and what loved ones can do when they want recovery more than the person struggling does. It's an important episode for anyone who loves someone who struggles with an addiction and is asking, "What do I do when my friend, loved one, sibling, or spouse won't stop drinking?" Follow Brenda on Instagram: @brendafannkatulaGet Caroline Beidler's book for loved ones, When You Love Someone in Recovery Get Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help at veritasrecovery.orgFollow me: @jonseidlOrder my book, Confessions of a Christian AlcoholicWatch this episode ad-free at The Vertias DailyWe explore: — Why a physician could recognize alcoholism in her patients but resist seeing it in her marriage— How childhood trauma, depression, anxiety, and PTSD contributed to her husband’s drinking— What a 0.4 blood-alcohol level revealed about the severity of his dependence— How gaslighting caused Brenda to question her judgment and chase his accusations— The three moments that forced her to admit something had to change— How Brenda protected her children without teaching them to hate their father— Why love, medical knowledge, and hard work could not produce his sobriety— How recovering alcoholics in their church recognized the signs and showed up Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Podcaster Jeanette Tapley doesn’t call herself an alcoholic. But after one sober month, she realized she had a problem with her drinking—and that the second glass of wine she couldn't say no to was doing a job she was hesitant to admit: It gave her the foggy relief she wanted when life felt heavy. Her Christian faith then forced a hard question: Why did alcohol feel easier than trusting God? "I don't have a drinking problem; I have a problem with my drinking," she explains about what she discovered.  Jeanette’s story isn’t about a dramatic rock bottom. It’s about recognizing an unhealthy relationship before it becomes a catastrophe. In this episode, she shares how grief, stress, and family pain gradually turned drinking, scrolling, and other distractions into ways of checking out. That's something we all do, isn't it? We talk openly about boundaries, accountability, and obedience that helped Jeanette respond to conviction; why Christians often give alcohol a pass as a coping mechanism; why the Gospel invites us to get curious before the world thinks we have a problem; and also why Jeanette still has a drink from time to time. She also opens up about leaving her successful role as a Christian podcaster, facing her fear that changing direction meant failure, and following God into an unexpected new career as a flight attendant. Get Jeanette's newsletter: https://jeanettetapley.comFollow her on Instagram: @jeanettefreakingtapleyGet Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help: veritasrecovery.orgFollow me: @jonseidlOrder my new book, Confessions of a Christian AlcoholicWatch this episode at The Vertias DailyWe explore: — The difference between having a drinking problem and having a problem with your drinking — Why Jeanette wanted the foggy relief that came with a second glass of wine — How grief, stress, and family pain can gradually turn life into a series of coping mechanisms — Why immediate relief can feel easier than trusting God — The boundaries, accountability, and obedience that helped Jeanette change — Why Jeanette still drinks occasionally—and why I cannot — Leaving Christian podcasting and following God into an unexpected new career Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What do you do when God seems silent? How do you even hear God's voice? International speaker and author Em Tyler knows what it's like to struggle to hear God. She joins host Jon Seidl for an honest conversation about hearing God, abiding in Christ, prayer, and discerning the Holy Spirit. For those struggling with addiction or walking in recovery, these aren’t abstract questions. Sometimes we’re asking God for new direction while overlooking what He has already made clear. Em explains why Christian maturity actually means becoming more dependent on Jesus, not less, and how Scripture, humility, ordinary promptings, forgiveness, and simple obedience help us recognize His voice. Hearing God doesn’t have to be mysterious. Sometimes it looks like trusting Him enough to do the next right thing. Connect with Em: https://www.emtyler.com/Listen to her "Grow +Go Podcast": https://emtyler.substack.com/podcastRead Em's writing: https://emtyler.substack.com/Follow her on Instagram: @helloemtylerGet Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help: veritasrecovery.orgFollow me: @jonseidlOrder my new book, Confessions of a Christian AlcoholicWatch this episode at The Vertias Daily We Explore: — What abiding in Christ actually looks like in everyday life — Why Christian maturity means becoming more dependent on Jesus, not less — How to discern God’s voice without pretending certainty — What God’s silence may reveal about obedience and surrender — How Scripture helps us test what we think we’re hearing — Why forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration are not the same thing Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Amber Ginter Johnson spent seven years trapped in an eating disorder and exercise addiction rooted in trauma, fear, and a desperate need for control. What began as “healthy eating” became orthorexia, severe food restriction, obsessive calorie counting, and compulsive exercise—even jogging in place for three hours a day. Then Amber broke her foot, abruptly ending the routine that had controlled her. Yet stopping the behavior did not heal every wound beneath it. “I think a lot of people see healing as a linear process,” she says. “It’s really not.” Amber shares how God used therapy, medication, Scripture, community, Sabbath, and practical boundaries in her Gospel-centered recovery—and why receiving help is not a failure of faith. Connect with Amber: AmberGinter.comFollow her on Instagram: @AmberGinterAuthorListen to Amber’s podcast: “Authentically Amber”Get her free faith and mental-health resourcesGet Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help: veritasrecovery.orgFollow me: @jonseidlOrder my new book, Confessions of a Christian AlcoholicWatch this episode at The Vertias Daily We explore: —How family chaos and trauma fueled Amber’s need for control —How healthy eating became orthorexia, food restriction, and exercise addiction —The secrecy and extreme behaviors that kept Amber’s struggle hidden —How a broken foot interrupted her seven-year cycle —The difference between immediate deliverance and lifelong recovery —Why healing isn’t always linear —How therapy, medication, Scripture, Sabbath, and practical boundaries supported Amber’s recovery —Why receiving help isn’t a failure of faith Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Arman Kaymakcian’s (Ky-mock-chin) journey from childhood sexual abuse and heroin addiction to faith in Jesus Christ began in unimaginable darkness. After years of using food, marijuana, drug dealing, and eventually intravenous heroin to escape his pain, Arman reached a point of suicidal desperation. He planned to step in front of a train—but walked into a psychiatric ward instead. That night, Arman opened a Bible to Psalm 88, a lament that ends, “Darkness is my closest friend.” Then, just as he was preparing to leave the hospital, he received an extraordinary phone call inviting him back to Keswick Colony of Mercy, a Christian addiction recovery program. In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic, Arman shares how Jesus met him in the darkest moment of his life. He talks about the agony of heroin withdrawal, nights spent reading Scripture and praying beside a fireplace, and the Christian community God used to help rebuild his life. “I think we’re all looking for the peace of Christ, but we don’t realize it,” Arman says. “People are getting little doses of counterfeit peace here and there.” He also explains why Gospel-centered recovery involves more than sobriety. After finding freedom from heroin, he continued battling pornography and had to learn the importance of repentance, obedience, accountability, and radical vulnerability. Today, Arman is a husband, father, and author. His story shows how Jesus exposes our counterfeit sources of peace, meets us in our darkness, and redeems what we never could. Arman's Books: He Calls Me Redeemed and He Meets Us in the DarkTreatment center: America's KeswickArman's website: armankaymakcian.comFollow Arman on InstagramGet Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help: veritasrecovery.orgFollow me: @jonseidlOrder my new book, Confessions of a Christian AlcoholicWatch this episode at The Vertias Daily We explore: —How Arman’s childhood sexual abuse shaped his search for escape —The progression from food and marijuana to drug dealing and intravenous heroin use —Why the things we use to numb ourselves offer only “counterfeit peace” —The suicidal plan that led Arman to a psychiatric ward —Why Psalm 88 spoke to him when darkness felt like his closest friend —The extraordinary phone call that arrived as he was preparing to leave the hospital —The agony of heroin withdrawal and the long nights Arman spent praying and reading Scripture —How Christian community helped Arman slowly become himself again —Why conversion and sobriety didn’t immediately remove every struggle —Arman’s ongoing battle with pornography after finding freedom from heroin —The roles of repentance, obedience, accountability, and radical vulnerability in recovery —Why following Jesus means giving him access to every room in our lives —What distinguishes Gospel-centered recovery from simply stopping a destructive behavior Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We know how to talk about alcohol, pornography, drugs, and other destructive behaviors. But there is another substance Christians regularly use for comfort, escape, reward, and emotional relief. It’s present at nearly every church gathering, woven into our traditions, and rarely questioned. We’re going somewhere in this episode that we’ve never gone before. We’re confronting an addiction that is deeply embedded in the church, widely accepted among Christians, and often willfully ignored—not because it’s rare, but because so many of us are trapped in it. The substance is food—especially sugar. “Food is the good girl’s alcohol.” Kristy McCammon knows firsthand how something good and necessary can quietly take a place in the heart that belongs to Jesus. For years, food became her safety, comfort, and private escape. What looked like a problem with calories, weight, or willpower was actually rooted much deeper. Kristy is the founder of Life Unbinged and the author of Life Unbinged: Faith-Filled Freedom from Food Obsession and Sugar Addiction. She shares how food became connected to safety in childhood, why moderation and dieting never brought freedom, and how even healthy boundaries can become another idol. This conversation also became unexpectedly personal for me. I admitted things I’ve never discussed publicly and began confronting ways I may have transferred some of the same desires that once drove my drinking into my relationship with food. We also talk about boredom eating, processed sugar and flour, parenting, conviction versus shame, whether Christinas should use GLP-1 medications and weight-loss shots, and how to approach someone whose relationship with food concerns you. This isn’t about chasing a certain body type or treating every dessert as sinful. It’s about asking what we’re expecting food to do for us—and whether an addiction has been hiding in plain sight. Kristy's website: lifeunbinged.comThe Living Life Unbinged podcast: ListenGet the book: Life Unbinged: Faith-Filled Freedom from Food ObsessionFollow Kristy on Instagram: @lifeunbingedRead Kristy's blog post on GLP-1s: "Should Christians Use Weight-Loss Shots?"Get Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help: veritasrecovery.orgFollow me: @jonseidlOrder my new book, Confessions of a Christian AlcoholicWatch this episode at The Vertias Daily We explore: — Why Kristy calls food “the good girl’s alcohol”— How food became connected to safety, comfort, and escape— Why the church often ignores food addiction— The difference between moderation, abstinence, and healthy boundaries— How recovery itself can become another idol— What it means to put Jesus back in the highest place— The emotional roots beneath boredom eating and food obsession— My own uncomfortable realizations about food and transferred addiction— How parents can model a healthier relationship with food— Should Christians use GLP-1 medications and weight-loss shots?— How to approach a loved one without shame— Why food and substance addictions often share the same roots Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

“I desperately wanted to be loved... and yet my entire life had feared that if I let people know me, I would be deemed unworthy of love.” Joel Warneking lived a double life. He was preaching, leading worship, traveling with a Christian band, and serving in ministry—all while secretly battling a pornography addiction that began when he was just eight years old. Even after confessing part of his struggle, shame kept him from bringing everything into the light. Eventually, that hidden addiction escalated into behavior that led to his arrest, the loss of his ministry, his career, and nearly everything he had built. But that wasn’t the end of Joel’s story. In one of the darkest moments of his life—sitting alone in a jail cell—Joel encountered the grace of God in a way that forever changed him. Rather than condemnation, he discovered a Father who had been pursuing him all along. That encounter launched a journey of radical vulnerability, deep healing, and true Gospel-centered recovery. Today, Joel serves as president of 423 Communities, helping churches and individuals find freedom from sexual addiction and betrayal trauma. In this episode of Confessions, we talk about why behavior modification alone isn’t enough, how trauma and shame fuel addiction, why secrecy keeps us stuck, and what it actually looks like to invite Jesus into the deepest wounds beneath our addictions. Joel also explains why healing requires more than sobriety, why confession is only the beginning, and how true freedom is found when we are fully known, fully loved, and fully surrendered to Christ. This is one of those conversations you’ll probably want to listen to more than once. It’s packed with wisdom, hope, and one unforgettable line after another. Keep something nearby to take notes—you’ll almost certainly want it. Get help for sexual addiction: 423communities.orgFollow Joel on InstagramGet Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help: veritasrecovery.orgFollow me: @jonseidlOrder my new book, Confessions of a Christian AlcoholicWatch this episode at The Vertias Daily We explore: — How pornography addiction often begins long before we understand what's happening.— Why shame thrives in secrecy and keeps us from experiencing God's grace.— The danger of living a double life while serving faithfully in ministry.— Why marriage cannot heal an addiction rooted in unresolved pain.— How white-knuckling sobriety differs from true healing.— Joel's arrest for indecent exposure and the devastating consequences of hidden sin.— The surprising encounter with God's grace that transformed everything.— Why trauma explains addiction without excusing sin.— The role of confession, community, and radical vulnerability in recovery.— What Gospel-centered recovery looks like beyond simply changing behaviors. Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

“I told my whole family, ‘I'm quitting.’ But in my head this voice was screaming, ‘I don't know what to do. I can't quit.’” For years, Sherry Hoppen lived between those two realities. To the people around her, she was trying. She was making promises. She was attending church, raising a family, and doing everything a good Christian woman was supposed to do. But behind the scenes, alcohol had become her refuge, her coping mechanism, and eventually her prison. Even after public commitments to quit, she found herself returning to the bottle and becoming increasingly skilled at hiding the truth from the people she loved most. In this episode, Sherry shares the painful road that led her from family trauma and grief into alcoholism, the deception that defined her drinking years, and the repeated attempts to fix herself through determination, discipline, and even cross-country bicycle rides. Yet none of those things could accomplish what only complete surrender eventually would. Today, Sherry is the founder of Sela House Recovery and the author of Sober Cycle. Her story is a powerful reminder that recovery is not ultimately about trying harder, hiding better, or managing appearances. It's about bringing the parts of ourselves we've kept from God into the light and discovering the freedom that comes from a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. Get Sherry's book: Sober CycleMore info on Selah House Recovery: selahhouserecovery.orgFollow Sherry on InstagramGet Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help: veritasrecovery.orgFollow me: @jonseidlOrder my new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic We explore: — The family wounds and grief that shaped Sherry's early life — How alcohol gradually became a solution to pain, stress, and disappointment — The moment she realized drinking seemed to make life easier — Secret drinking, deception, and living a double life — Why public promises to quit did not solve the problem — The temptation to become better at hiding addiction rather than confronting it — The bike rides that temporarily changed her behavior but not her heart — The devastation alcohol caused in her marriage and family — Alcohol poisoning and reaching the end of herself — The ultimatum that forced her to face reality — The difference between religion and a relationship with Jesus — What true surrender actually looks like — Rebuilding trust after years of broken promises — Why Gospel-centered recovery starts with Jesus, not behavior modification — The ministry and mission of Sela House Recovery Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.