CRASH Podcast

Bjorn Thompson
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  • Self-Improvement

Everybody crashes. Some people stay there. Others rebuild. Crash is a podcast about addiction, restaurant culture, rock bottom, and the rebuild that comes after. Hosted by Bjorn Thompson, a 27-year restaurant industry veteran, each episode dives into real stories of struggle, recovery, and the people who refused to stay down.

Episodes

  1. 16 Jul

    Episode 12: Sheldon Souray

    CRASH Podcast | Episode 12 | Sheldon Souray Former NHL defenseman Sheldon Souray had the career most people dream about: fame, money, championships, and a life that looked perfect from the outside. But when hockey ended, addiction filled the void that retirement left behind. CRASH: Championships Relapse And Surrendering to Home. In this episode, Sheldon opens up about his battle with alcoholism and prescription pill addiction, multiple relapses, rehab, and the moment he finally stopped trying to do recovery his way. We talk about identity after success, why relapse became part of his story instead of the end of it, how his definition of "rich" completely changed, and why faith, family, service, and humility mean more to him today than anything he accomplished on the ice. Whether you're struggling yourself, supporting someone who is, or simply searching for a life with more purpose, this conversation is a powerful reminder that surrender isn't giving up. Sometimes it's finally finding your way home.

  2. 9 Jul

    Episode 11: Ryan Patrick

    CRASH: Choosing Recovery And Surrendering Honestly. How many rock bottoms does it take before you're finally ready to surrender? Ryan Patrick shares the story behind Rock Bottom With Ryan Podcast and the years of addiction that nearly cost him everything. From alcohol-fueled injuries and cocaine, to hospital stays, withdrawal seizures, and believing he could control his drinking "just one more time," Ryan walks through the progression that so many people know all too well. We also dive into what recovery actually looks like after treatment: rebuilding relationships, finding faith, learning to like the person in the mirror again, and discovering that sobriety isn't the end of the story. It's the beginning of a better one. If you've ever convinced yourself that this time will be different... or wondered if real freedom is actually possible... this conversation is for you.

  3. 2 Jul

    Episode 10: Kenny Pippenger

    Episode 10: Kenny Pippenger CRASH: Choosing Recovery After Surviving Hell. Some stories aren't about one bad decision. They're about hundreds of them... until one good decision changes everything. In this episode, I reconnect with an old friend from one of the darkest chapters of my life. Kenny Pippenger and I share the ugly reality of addiction, bodybuilding, steroids, cocaine, homelessness, losing everything, and what it actually took to rebuild our lives. This isn't a polished recovery story. It's two guys who were there, talking honestly about what addiction looked like, what finally made us stop, and why we're both now using our past to help someone else's future. If you've ever wondered whether someone can truly come back after losing everything, this conversation is proof that you can.

  4. 24 Jun

    Episode 9: HowAmISober

    Episode 9 – How Am I Sober?One man's battle with addiction. One decision that changed everything. CRASH: Choice • Responsibility • AI • Strength • Hope In Episode 9 of the CRASH Podcast, I sit down with the creator behind @howamisober, who is just days away from reaching six months sober after more than 20 years of opioid addiction. This isn't a recovery story told from decades down the road. It's happening in real time. From his first prescription at sixteen, to losing his best friend to an overdose, to living as a high-functioning addict while building a successful career, he shares the reality of what addiction looked like behind the scenes. We dive into: • Twenty years of opioid, kratom, and benzodiazepine addiction • The hidden life of a high-functioning addict • Drug court, arrests, and near-death experiences • Why early recovery demands patience more than willpower • Starting over in a new state with no friends, no job, and no safety net • How AI became an unexpected recovery tool, helping him taper off opioids and navigate withdrawal one day at a time • What six months sober actually feels like—the victories, the cravings, and the reality of rebuilding a life His story is raw, honest, and refreshingly free of clichés. It's a reminder that recovery isn't about becoming perfect overnight—it's about making one better decision than yesterday and allowing time to do its work. If you're battling addiction, supporting someone who is, or wondering whether change is still possible after years of substance abuse, this conversation is one you won't want to miss. Follow him on Instagram: @howamisober

  5. 17 Jun

    Episode 8: Soberfit_Girl Jill

    Episode 8 – SoberFit_Girl (Jill)From homelessness, jail cells, stolen mouthwash, and sleeping in airports just to survive, Jill's story is proof that recovery isn't about perfection—it's about deciding you're worth saving. CRASH: Choose • Responsibility • Action • Strength • Hope In this episode of CRASH, Jill (@soberfitgirl) shares her journey from active addiction to seven years sober, the moment she realized it was truly "change or die," and how fitness, personal growth, and daily discipline helped her build a life she never thought was possible. We dive into: • The reality of addiction and survival mode • Why sobriety isn't boring—it's freedom • The power of sober living and community • Escapism, habit loops, and the "disease of more" • Rebuilding your life from absolute rock bottom • How recovery becomes a superpower • Turning your testimony into impact If you've ever felt trapped by your own habits, stuck in a cycle you can't seem to break, or wondered if real change is possible, this conversation is for you. Follow Jill: @soberfit_girl "The days are reps. Keep showing up."

  6. 10 Jun

    Episode 7: Cody Jefferson

    Episode 7: Cody Jefferson — What's Got to Die in You?Some conversations hit different. This was one of them. In Episode 7 of the CRASH Podcast, I sit down with Cody Jefferson to talk about loss, purpose, faith, fatherhood, identity, and the moments that force us to become who we're meant to be. Cody shares his journey from ministry, divorce, grief, burnout, and unimaginable tragedy to building a life centered around purpose, leadership, and helping men become who they were created to be. We dive into addiction beyond substances, the danger of living for other people's approval, why so many men feel disconnected despite outward success, and the question that changed the trajectory of his life: "What's got to die in you to become the man you said you'd be?" This wasn't an interview. It was two men having an honest conversation about rebuilding, redemption, family, and the responsibility we carry as fathers and leaders. If you've ever felt called to something bigger, struggled to let go of who you used to be, or wondered if your past can actually serve a greater purpose, this episode is for you.

  7. 4 Jun

    Episode 6: Teddy Roman

    summary In this episode, Teddy Roman shares his inspiring journey from addiction to sobriety, highlighting the importance of self-awareness, the role of childhood trauma, and practical steps for overcoming substance abuse. Discover how understanding the roots of addiction can empower lasting change. In this heartfelt conversation, Teddy Roman shares his journey from rock bottom to recovery, emphasizing the power of asking for help, building discipline, and transforming one's life through self-awareness and resilience. Discover inspiring insights on overcoming addiction, the importance of mindset, and how to create a life of purpose and fulfillment.

  8. 27 May

    Episode 5: Nick Hietmann

    Episode 5 –CRASH = Crushing Realization It’s About Self-Healing In Episode 5 of the CRASH Podcast, Bjorn sits down with Nick Heitmann — a sober dad, content creator, and man who fought his way back from addiction, chaos, jail time, broken trust, and nearly losing everything that mattered most. Nick opens up about growing up around alcohol-fueled family culture, chasing validation, the destruction caused by ego and addiction, multiple DUIs, cocaine, losing jobs in the film industry, losing his home, and ultimately hitting the kind of emotional bottom that forced him to finally face himself. This episode dives deep into: addiction and self-destructionrelationships damaged by alcoholismfatherhood and rebuilding trustego, accountability, and surrenderrecovery through AA, fitness, and self-workthe difference between getting sober for others vs. getting sober for yourselfusing social media to give hope to struggling dads and addictsNick’s story is raw, honest, painful, funny at times, and ultimately hopeful. This is a conversation about what happens when life forces you to realize that recovery isn’t just about quitting substances… It’s about healing yourself.

  9. 21 May

    Episode 4: Justin Wenzel

    Episode 4 of the CRASH Podcast features Justin Wenzel — a former automotive executive who built a life around performance, partying, and control until everything underneath it started collapsing. CRASH = Control. Ruin. Awakening. Surrender. Healing. From the outside, Justin looked successful: luxury cars, leadership roles, fitness transformations, music, nightlife, and money. Behind the scenes, it was alcohol, pills, cocaine, nitrous, depression, codependency, and years of trying to outrun himself while still functioning at a high level. In this episode, Justin opens up about growing up in Michigan, navigating addiction in the automotive industry, doctor shopping during the opioid era, getting sober through the court system, surviving suicide attempts, and ultimately walking away from the life he thought he wanted in order to build one that actually gave him peace. This conversation goes deep into identity, ego, environment, brotherhood, recovery, and the reality that healing is more than just quitting substances. It’s about rebuilding your entire life from the inside out. If you’ve ever felt trapped between who you are and who you know you could become, this episode will hit home.

  10. 13 May

    Episode 3: Angel Sanchez

    CRASH — Choosing Recovery After Self-Hatred Episode 3 of the CRASH Podcast is with my guy Angel Sanchez / Beard Gang Motivation — and this one gets raw. Angel shares the full story of growing up feeling different, losing both parents young, falling deep into alcohol and meth addiction, homelessness, survival on the streets of Las Vegas, and the long road that finally led him into recovery. We talk about ego, fear, ADHD, spirituality, trauma, street life, prison-level consequences, and what happens when you finally stop blaming the world and start facing yourself. This isn’t polished recovery talk. It’s two guys who’ve lived through chaos having a real conversation about addiction, identity, survival, faith, and rebuilding life from the ground up. There’s dark humor, brutal honesty, and a lot of moments that people in recovery will immediately recognize.

  11. 6 May

    Episode 2: Alex Martirosov

    Cars and Recovery, Alex's Story of being Human This one starts off like it always does—just talking shit and catching up. Then it gets real. Alex walks through how it started for him… getting high young, finding that first moment where everything finally felt quiet, and chasing that feeling all the way into heroin. We get into the progression: how fast it escalates, the decisions that don’t make sense but feel right at the time, and that moment where you realize you crossed a line you can’t uncross. Then we get into early sobriety—detox, rehab, and what it actually feels like when everything hits you at once and there’s no escape anymore. But this isn’t just about addiction. This is about what happens after. Losing people in sobriety and staying anyway. Getting called out on your b******t when everything in you wants to shut down. Learning how to be a decent human being from scratch. And what the promises actually look like in real life: not money, not status— Trust. Freedom. Showing up when it matters. Just a real conversation with someone who lived it and didn’t die from it. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background07:01 Recovery and Challenges26:11 Turning Point and Reflection32:14 Integrity and Humility44:26 The Promises of Sobriety50:18 The Rewards of Recovery58:37 Life After Addiction01:05:10 Surviving Addiction01:11:07 The Struggle of Addiction01:20:31 Moving Forward

  12. 28 Apr

    Episode 1: Josh Thompson

    Episode 1 of the CRASH Podcast. I sat down with my brother and we just talked... Where things started, how far they went, and what it took to turn things around. Addiction, late nights, bad decisions, and the reality of rebuilding after things fall apart. This one lands on: CRASH — Chemicals, Restaurants, After Midnight, Stupid Decisions, Hangovers It’s not perfect. It’s raw. But it’s real. This is the beginning Chapters 00:00 Early Addictive Tendencies11:04 Turning Point: Post-Divorce18:12 Moment of Change: Methamphetamine Use35:51 Reflecting on Past Projects and Experiences45:06 Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

  • 12 Episodes

About

Everybody crashes. Some people stay there. Others rebuild. Crash is a podcast about addiction, restaurant culture, rock bottom, and the rebuild that comes after. Hosted by Bjorn Thompson, a 27-year restaurant industry veteran, each episode dives into real stories of struggle, recovery, and the people who refused to stay down.

Information

  • Creator
    Bjorn Thompson
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Bjorn Thompson
  • Show Website
    CRASH Podcast