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Bachelor in Paradise’s Joe Amabile had no symptoms, no warning, and no reason to think anything was wrong. Then a scan found a brain tumor, and everything else they’d been worried about didn't matter anymore. Joe and his wife, Serena Pitt, met on Bachelor in Paradise and now host the podcast Not Married to This. On this episode of More Life , they sit down with Carl, a good friend who ran last year’s New York City Marathon alongside Joe, to talk about the phone call that changed their year. They get into the decision to have surgery, the recovery that followed, and what it was like for Serena to become Joe’s caretaker. Joe also shares why he’s still planning to run this year’s NYC Marathon, where he and Carl will start the race side by side. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Introducing Billy Porter from Street You Grew Up On. Follow the show: Street You Grew Up On Billy Porter joins Kerry Washington to talk about growing up gay in Pittsburgh, the women who raised him, and how music and theater helped him find his voice. He revisits the church that celebrated his singing but struggled to accept him, the performances of The Wiz and Dreamgirls that changed his life, and his mother’s journey toward embracing her gay son. Plus, chosen family, Sunday-best fashion, an elaborate senior portrait shoot, and the little boy who knew his voice could take him somewhere new. Content note: This episode includes discussion of childhood sexual abuse, physical punishment, and homophobia. 📺 Subscribe for new episodes released weekly! 💥 Follow Street You Grew Up On: https://linktr.ee/streetyougrewupon 🎤 Follow Kerry Washington: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerrywashington TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thekerrywashington Follow Simpson Street: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simpsonstreet TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@simpsonstreet Follow Daylight: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daylightmediahq/ Website: https://daylightmedia.com/ ➡️ Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Head to https://RULA.com to find a therapist the easy way. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual abuse or is experiencing emotional distress, you are not alone. National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN) Call 800.656.4673 | Text “HOPE” to 64673 | rainn.org Free, confidential 24/7 support in English & Spanish The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Support) Call 866.488.7386 | Text “START” to 678-678 | thetrevorproject.org Free, confidential 24/7 crisis and suicide prevention for young people 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (General Mental Health) Call or Text 988 | 988lifeline.org Free, confidential 24/7 support for emotional distress 00:00 Billy Porter’s Pittsburgh Childhood 06:27 Family’s Big House 17:25 Identity & Childhood Abuse 23:53 From Preacher to Performer 38:30 Church Fashion & Self-Expression 44:54 Activism, Pride & Chosen Family 59:25 Style, Advice & What’s Next See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Taylor Strecker spent 15 years interviewing reality stars before she became one herself. On this episode of More Life with Carl Radke, the House of Stassi star sits down with Carl, a friend of more than 10 years, for her most open conversation yet about coming out, leaving her marriage, falling in love with her best friend, and starting a family with her wife, Teddy. Taylor is the host of the Taste of Taylor podcast, the co-host of Stassi with Tay with Stassi Schroeder, and a longtime Bravo and Real Housewives superfan. She tells Carl how she met Stassi at SiriusXM, why she kept her relationship with Teddy quiet for a year before telling her audience, and how IVF and becoming a parent changed the way she sees everything, including reality TV. Episode Sponsors: NOCD: If you’re struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started at https://learn.nocd.com/RADKE Cure Hydration: Go to curehydration.com/RADKE and get 20% off your first order with promo code RADKE. ButcherBox: Go to ButcherBox.com/RADKE to get $20 off your first box, plus chicken breast in every box for life or filet or NY strips for a year — with free shipping always. Talkiatry: Head to Talkiatry.com/LIFE to complete a short assessment and get matched with an in-network psychiatrist in just a few minutes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’s Meredith Marks is known for her famous line: “I’m disengaging.” But she’ll tell you it’s not about avoiding a fight, it’s about knowing when to step away so you can actually fix things. She sits down with Carl to talk about what it’s like to have your marriage and your kids on camera, how she handles it when the drama comes for her family, and why getting defensive only makes people believe the worst. She also opens up about showing up for a friend through the hardest loss imaginable, and what the sisterhood looks like. They also get into her DJ tour, her caviar brand, and why she wants everyone around her to succeed, even the people she’s not getting along with. Episode Sponsors:  ZipRecruiter: Save time and meet great candidates sooner — with ZipRecruiter. 4 out of 5 employers who post on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. Try it FOR FREE at ZipRecruiter.com/RADKE. Meet your match on ZipRecruiter.  Brodo: Head to Brodo.com/RADKE for 20% off your first subscription order and use code RADKE for an additional $10 off. #sponsored #ad  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harris Wittels was one of the funniest writers in comedy, a Parks and Recreation writer and producer and friend to Sarah Silverman, gone from an opioid overdose in 2015 at just 30 years old. His sister, Stephanie Wittels Wachs, spent years not understanding what was actually happening to him, and turned that grief into a mission to make sure other families wouldn't have to learn it the hard way.She sits down with Carl for a conversation that feels like two siblings comparing notes on a grief they never asked for. They talk honestly about opioid addiction as a disease, how families fall apart trying to respond to it, and the real, practical harm reduction tools, including Narcan, that are actually saving lives right now.Stephanie is the CEO of Lemonada Media and author of "The Last Day: How to Stop Losing Our Loved Ones to the Opioid Crisis," written for anyone who has ever loved someone in active addiction, or lost someone to it.Resources from this episode:Naloxone (Narcan) Safe Spot overdose detection hotline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Spencer Matthews knows exactly what it’s like to build a career playing the villain on reality TV. A founding cast member of Made in Chelsea, the UK’s answer to The Hills, Spencer sits down with Carl to trade behind-the-scenes stories about reality TV, including how he developed an alter ego for the show, why he eventually walked away, and what it was like watching his on-screen persona follow him long after he left. The reality star turned entrepreneur and host of the running podcast Untapped also opens up about his complicated relationship with alcohol, the period when he got sober, and how a non-alcoholic gin and tonic at a family party ultimately inspired him to launch CleanCo. Spencer also shares the story of losing his older brother Michael, who died climbing Mount Everest when Spencer was just 10. Years later, he returned to the mountain for Finding Michael, retracing his brother’s final climb and searching for his body. He and Carl connect over losing their brothers and the different ways grief can shape your life. This is a conversation about reality TV, identity, fame, grief, alcohol, and finding a life that feels like your own. Episode Sponsors:  Momentous: If you want to try Momentous Signature Spec Creatine, head to livemomentous.com and use code LIFE for up to 35% off your entire first order.  Grow Therapy: See if you could pay as little as $0 for therapy in seconds at growtherapy.com/RADKE. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan. ZipRecruiter: Try ZipRecruiter to post your job FOR FREE at http://ziprecruiter.com/RADKE . 4 out of 5 employers who post on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. Casper: Right now, save up to 20% on mattresses and up to 25% on everything else when you go to Casper.com. #sponsored #ad  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cam Heyward is a seven-time Pro Bowler and captain of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but his friendship with Hayden Walsh goes way beyond football. The two childhood friends lost their fathers within a few years of each other, and that shared grief became part of what brought them together as co-hosts of their own podcast, Not Just Football. They sit down with Carl to talk about losing their dads, what it actually looks like for men to be vulnerable with each other, and how Cam's mother helped guide his path to the NFL after his father passed. Then, because Hayden is a genuine Summer House superfan, the three of them draft the entire cast into starting NFL positions. There are some very strong opinions. It's a funny, surprisingly emotional hang with two longtime friends who've been through a lot together. Episode Sponsors:  ButcherBox: If you're looking for an easier way to get great meals on the table, give ButcherBox a try. Go to ButcherBox.com/RADKE to get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ribeye, new york strip, or filet mignon in every box for a year — with free shipping always.  Lola: Get 40% off select Lola Blankets products at Lolablankets.com by using code RADKE at checkout. Experience the world’s #1 blanket with Lola Blankets. iRestore: Unlock your best hair & skin with @iRestorelaser and HUGE savings on iRESTORE with code RADKE at irestore.com/RADKE! #irestorepod Superpower: Head to Superpower.com and use code RADKE at checkout for $50 off your membership. Get 150+ biomarkers tested every year across two tests, plus a personalized health plan and on-demand care team. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Olsen was 19 when his roommate woke him up and said, "your dad's here" — the start of a full-blown intervention, complete with impact letters and a one-way ticket to rehab that same day. The content creator, mental health advocate, and author of the new memoir "I Think My Therapist Hates Me,” sits down with Carl to talk about that intervention, the year he spent in an intense, shame-based rehab program, and the fear of going back that kept him sober for years afterward. They also get into what it's actually like navigating sobriety in the gay community, and how Chris turned his hardest years into a book he hopes will help other people feel less alone. It's a funny, honest, deeply moving conversation about shame, forgiveness, and growing up in public.Sponsors:ZipRecruiter: Try ZipRecruiter to post your job FOR FREE at http://ziprecruiter.com/RADKE4 out of 5 employers who post on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. Grow Therapy: See if you could pay as little as $0 for therapy in seconds at growtherapy.com/RADKE. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Carl gets honest with financial expert Mrs. Dow Jones about exactly how much money his drinking and using actually cost him — a number he'd never really sat with until now. Haley Sacks — New York Times bestselling author of ‘Future Rich Person’ and host of the Financial Tea podcast — sits down with Carl to get real about money, without the shame. They break down how to build an emergency fund, why prenups are more romantic than people think, and what money really looks like behind the scenes of reality TV. Haley also gets into why financial literacy matters especially for women, and how to stop feeling stupid about the things you were never taught. It's a funny, refreshingly simple conversation about money, self-worth, and figuring your finances out — no matter how far behind you feel. Sponsors:  If you're looking for an easier way to get great meals on the table, give ButcherBox a try. Go to ButcherBox.com/RADKE to get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ribeye, New York strip, or filet mignon in every box for a year — with free shipping always.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cameron Rogers is pregnant, and no — that's not why she doesn't drink. The Conversations with Cam host quit alcohol years before this pregnancy, for reasons that had nothing to do with a baby and everything to do with how she wanted to feel. She sits down with Carl — who brings his own perspective on sobriety and letting go of control — to talk ADHD, the car accident that taught her she couldn't control everything, and why she refuses to call herself "sober" even after years without a drink. It's a sharp, honest conversation about alcohol, motherhood, and doing things on your own terms. Sponsors: Momentous: If you want to try Momentous Signature Spec Creatine, head to livemomentous.com and use code LIFE for up to 35% off your entire first order.  Square: Right now, listeners can get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/RADKE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ava Dash grew up with two seriously accomplished parents, but from a young age, she was determined to build a life and identity of her own. The Ford model and Bravo Next Gen NYC star sits down with Carl for an honest conversation about fighting for her independence, growing up fast, and learning to see her parents — hip-hop legend Damon Dash and fashion designer Rachel Roy — as people rather than just her parents. Ava opens up about her parents’ divorce, taking on a “second mom” role to her younger siblings, and the moment she realized that becoming financially independent changed her relationship with her dad. She also talks about learning to forgive, letting go of grudges, and finding peace with the things she can’t change. Plus, Ava gets candid about what she’s learned from being on reality TV, owning a mistake from Season 1, navigating a breakup in front of the cameras, what she’s looking for in her next relationship, and the Bravolebrity who gave her advice along the way. And, of course, she shares some behind-the-scenes Next Gen NYC goss. Sponsors: AG1: For a limited time, save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at DRINKAG1.com/RADKE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Zuri Hall calls herself a "recovering people-pleaser"—and after 12 years as one of entertainment news's most recognizable hosts, she's learning what happens when she stops performing for other people’s approval. Zuri is the host of American Ninja Warrior, now heading into its Olympic debut, and the new digital series Not About Sports. She sits down with Carl to talk about the burnout she never saw coming, the imposter syndrome that still shows up with every new chapter of her career, and how she learned to stop abandoning herself to keep other people happy. It's a conversation about burnout, ambition, identity, and learning to show up as exactly who you are. Sponsors:  Grow Therapy: Visit growtherapy.com/RADKE today to get started. Momentous: If you want to try Momentous Signature Spec Creatine, head to livemomentous.com and use code LIFE for up to 35% off your entire first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nobody teaches you how to grieve. In this special solo episode of More Life, Carl reflects on the sixth anniversary of losing his older brother, Curtis, to addiction. He shares the guilt, anger, heartbreak, and unexpected moments of hope that followed—and how that loss became the catalyst for his own sobriety and a completely different life. Carl also talks about what grief actually looks like years later, why anniversaries can still hit hard, how to show up for someone who's hurting, and why talking about the darkest moments can help someone else feel less alone. Whether you've lost someone, love someone who's grieving, or are navigating your own healing, this conversation is for you. Grief doesn't stop. You just learn to carry it. If you or someone you love is struggling, we've included resources below. Crisis Support 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988, anytime. Free, confidential, 24/7. → 988lifeline.org SAMHSA National Helpline — Free, confidential treatment referrals, 24/7. → 1-800-662-4357 Substance Use & Recovery Alcoholics Anonymous — Free meetings, in person & online. → aa.org Release Recovery — Treatment, sober living & recovery services. → releaserecovery.com Big Vision — Community and connection for young people in recovery. → bigvision.nyc Grow Therapy — Licensed therapists who take your insurance. → growtherapy.com For Families & Those Grieving Al-Anon — Support for families & friends affected by someone's drinking. → al-anon.org Nar-Anon — Support for families & friends affected by someone's drug use. → nar-anon.org GRASP — Grief support for those who've lost someone to substance use. → grasphelp.org The Compassionate Friends — Support after the loss of a sibling or child. → compassionatefriends.org More on Carl's Story Radke Boys — Carl's advocacy, wellness, and media work, honoring Curtis's legacy. → radkeboys.com Sponsors: Casper: Right now, save up to 20% on mattresses and up to 25% on everything else when you go to Casper.com. #sponsored #ad Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/RADKE! #squarepod #sponsored #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For years, JB Copeland believed his worth depended on how well he performed—on the football field, in his career, and even in his closest relationships. Behind the success, though, he was quietly battling addiction, shame, and a fear that if anyone saw who he really was, they would walk away. Carl sits down with the author of Sappy Medium and host of The Motion Podcast to talk about losing his Division I football career, the father wound that fueled his need for approval, the years he spent numbing himself with drugs and alcohol, and the difficult road to recovery. JB also opens up about the relapse he chose not to hide, why healing is rarely linear, and the therapist's question that forced him to confront an identity he'd spent years avoiding. Together, Carl and JB explore what it means to let go of performance, embrace vulnerability, and discover who you are underneath the expectations. It's an honest conversation about addiction, masculinity, self-worth, and why asking for help isn't a sign of weakness—it's where real healing begins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rachel Mansfield has built a career out of being honest about the messy parts—getting fired from her dream job, struggling with food in college, and figuring out motherhood along the way. The mom of three and founder behind the snack brand Cadoots sits down with Carl to get real about all of it. She opens up about the day she got fired with zero warning, the disordered eating she quietly worked through in college, and how a kitchen-counter idea became a growing snack company. A candid look at how the moments that knock you down can end up building the life you actually want. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices