Advertise on podcast: More Life with Carl Radke

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

Manifestation isn't about wishing harder - it's about healing what keeps getting in the way. Gabby Bernstein, the #1 New York Times bestselling author who's helped millions rewire their lives, sits down with Carl for one of his most personal conversations yet. She opens up about getting sober 20 years ago and the childhood trauma behind it all. Together, they unpack what manifestation actually means, why negative self-talk keeps us stuck, and how to stop believing the stories that tell us we're not worthy. Along the way, Gabby coaches Carl through some of his own limiting beliefs in real time, making for a vulnerable conversation about recovery, purpose, and trusting that life is unfolding exactly as it should. Whether you're sober, working on yourself, or simply trying to quiet your inner critic, this episode is full of practical tools - and hope. Sponsors: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/RADKE! #squarepod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mia Calabrese is the friend everyone wants: magnetic, hilarious, unfiltered, and impossible not to love. The Summer House star lights up More Life as she sits down with Carl for a conversation that's every bit as fun as it is deep - from sliding into DMs and the "sassy man epidemic" to the real story behind her confidence, losing her mom, and turning trauma into unshakable strength. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two years after losing his wife Laura to cancer, Michael Allio did something no one expected - he went on 'The Bachelorette' to start living again. He sits down with Carl to talk about going on reality TV as a grieving single dad, raising their son James, getting judged for daring to move forward, getting sober, and how he slowly found love again on his own terms. A beautiful conversation about grief, fatherhood, and the courage to begin again before you feel ready. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before she was running million-dollar yachts on Below Deck Mediterranean, Captain Sandy Yawn was hiding from police in the bushes, getting kicked out of halfway houses, and spending nights at a Denny's with nowhere to go. In this conversation, Carl and Captain Sandy get into how she clawed her way to 36 years sober, why she leads her crew with empathy instead of ego, and the ultimatum she once gave a crew member that may have saved their life. Tough, honest, and full of hard-won wisdom on what it actually takes to rebuild a life and become the captain fans know today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices