Success is Subjective: Real People. Raw Stories. Embracing a Non-Linear Life!

Joanna Lilley, MA, NCC
  • 5.0 (62)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Interviews of people who took a break from life at one point or another to get help, grow up, or just to reassess their life direction. Some guests struggled with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, a death in the family, or just decided college was not the place for them. These stories are all-to-real, and yet we don't talk enough about how common it is for those who took a gap year to defer college, went to college and took a break, or those who struggled launching into the workforce post-college graduation. This goes out to all the young adults and parents of young adults who are struggling and contemplating what will happen if they walk away right now. 

  1. FEB 10

    Episode 335: Learning to Accept Myself, Uncertainty, and the Winding Journey To and Through Recovery with Samantha Meyer

    Watching a young adult struggle can be confusing—especially when they’ve grown up surrounded by resources, knowledge, and support. In this episode, Joanna sits down with Samantha Meyer to unpack what happens when insight alone isn’t enough—and how recovery, maturity, and purpose often arrive on a nonlinear timeline. Samantha grew up immersed in the treatment world, yet still found herself battling substance use, anxiety, and depression from a young age. After years of navigating college, international moves, trauma, and escalating use, a pivotal moment during the early days of COVID led her to sobriety through AA. From there, Samantha rebuilt her life—returning home, working in treatment, and ultimately pursuing a clinical career of her own. Now the Admissions Director at Balance House and in her final semester of a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Samantha reflects on autonomy, uncertainty, and what real success looks like when it’s earned through lived experience. This episode is for parents, young adults, and professionals who want a realistic, compassionate look at recovery, treatment, and the long game of becoming yourself. Samantha’s Resources:  Website: Balance House Website: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Facebook: Balance House Instagram: @balancehouse Connect with Joanna Lilley   Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #BalanceHouse #Recovery #RecoveryIsPossible #RecoveryProgram #SobrietyRocks

    24 min

  2. FEB 3

    Episode 334: Beyond Achievement: What Actually Creates a Meaningful Life with Daniel Barrasso

    In this episode, Daniel Barrasso shares how growing up with ADHD and never quite fitting into traditional academic boxes shaped his nonlinear path into mental health work. From redefining success beyond money and status to finding purpose through passion, structure, and relationships, Daniel reflects on what truly matters—both as a therapist working with young men and as a father of three. This conversation challenges conventional ideas of success and offers reassurance to young adults and parents navigating paths that don’t follow a straight line. Daniel’s Resources:  Website: Daniel Barrasso  Website: Attune Health and Wellness Website: Pivot Transitional Living Instagram: @pivotrecoveryaz Facebook: Pivot Transitional Living  Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #PivotRecoveryAZ #Recovery #RecoveryIsPossible #Rehab #Sobriety #SobrietyJourney #TransitionalLiving

    27 min

  3. JAN 27

    Episode 333: Rethinking Success as Life and Priorities Change with Rick & Clancy Denton

    In this episode, Rick and Clancy Denton reflect on how their definition of success has evolved over time. Through career changes, shifting expectations, and long-term partnership, they explore how values and relationships often become more meaningful than titles or traditional milestones. Their conversation highlights how desires change across different seasons of life — and why redefining success is not a failure, but a natural part of growth. Drawing from both individual and shared experiences, Rick and Clancy discuss what it means to adapt without losing alignment, how non-linear paths shape perspective, and why success is often better measured by connection, resilience, and clarity of values than by professional achievement alone.  Rick & Clancy’s Resources:  The Loud Quiet Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #TheLoudQuietPodcast

    50 min

  4. JAN 20

    Episode 332: Martin Naffziger on Choosing the Next Step Based on Values, Not Timelines

    In this episode of Success Is Subjective, Joanna sits down with Martin Joseph Naffziger, an educator and college counselor who has spent decades helping young people step off default paths and define success on their own terms. Martin shares how early international experiences reshaped his understanding of education, why success should be viewed as a moving target, and what happens when young people are given space to reflect on their values instead of being rushed into traditional milestones. The conversation also explores the role parents play in providing safety without control, the importance of reflection in growth, and how stepping outside comfort zones is essential for meaningful development. Martin’s Resources:  LinkedIn: Martin Joseph Naffziger New Summit Academy Instagram: @newsummitacademy Facebook: New Summit Academy Costa Rica  The Bridge - Costa Rica Facebook: The Bridge Costa Rica  Peace Corps Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #BoardingSchool #StudyAbroud #CostaRica #NSACR #NewSummitAcademy #TheBridgeProgram

    26 min

  5. JAN 13

    Episode 331: Wraparound Support - The Missing Link in Long-Term Recovery with Dave Herz

    In this episode of Success Is Subjective, Joanna talks with Dave Herz, founder of Wonder, about why recovery doesn’t end when treatment does — and why in-home, real-world support often makes the biggest difference. Dave shares his path into community-based wraparound support and explains how coaching, mentorship, and family-systems work to help teens and young adults build confidence and stability outside of traditional programs. Together, they break down what wraparound support actually is, why it improves long-term outcomes, and how involving parents is critical to sustainable change. This episode is for parents and professionals who want a clearer understanding of what support looks like beyond treatment — and why showing up consistently, in real life, matters more than theory. Dave’s Resources: Website: Wonder Facebook: Wonder: A Confident Living Company  Instagram: @teamwondertherapy X: Dave Herz  Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #ParentSupport #LifeAfterTreatment #TherapeuticSupport #YoungAdultSupport #FamilySystems #WraparoundSupport #ParentingYoungAdults #InHomeSupport

    24 min

  6. JAN 6

    Episode 330: Out with the Old, In with the New - The Identity Crisis That Led Me to Myself w/ Dr. Max Doshay

    In this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna sits down with psychologist and mental health leader Dr. Max Doshay to explore the identity shift that reshaped both his life and career. Max reflects on how losing a version of himself he once deeply identified with forced him to confront who he was beneath the roles, titles, and expectations he carried. What followed wasn’t a straight path, but a series of pivots that led him toward leadership, purpose, and deeper self-awareness. Together, they talk about humility, ambition, and the tension between striving and staying grounded. Max shares what it’s like to lead without ego, to build something meaningful without losing yourself in the process, and to remain open when life unfolds differently than planned. This conversation offers a thoughtful look at what can emerge when identity falls away — and something more honest takes its place. Dr. Max’s Resources: Websites DrMaxDoshay.comMonima Wellness Center Element Q Healing Center Social Media LinkedIn: Dr. Max Doshay LinkedIn: Monima Wellness Center Instagram: @drmaxdoshay Instagram: @monimawellness Instagram: @elementqhealingcenter Facebook: Monima Wellness Center Facebook: Element Q Healing Center Books Second Firsts by Christina RasmussenThe Road Less Traveled — M. Scott Peck Simon & SchusterDaring Greatly — Brené Brown Brené BrownMan’s Search for Meaning — Viktor E. Frankl Beacon PressTransitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes — William BridgesPodcast / Talk Element Q Podcast: Empowering LGBTQ+ Voices, One Story at a Time ReThinking — Adam Grant Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #

    30 min

  7. 12/30/2025

    Episode 329: From the Slopes to Sobriety - Arch Wright’s Journey of Healing

    In this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna sits down with Arch Wright — former professional athlete, trauma therapist, and co-founder of One Elm at Horton Bay — for an honest and deeply human conversation about healing, identity, and what it truly means to live a successful life. Arch shares his journey through addiction, recovery, and emotional healing, reflecting on how success can mask unresolved trauma and how true fulfillment comes from learning to feel safe within ourselves and our relationships. Together, they discuss emotional sobriety, developmental trauma, and the courage it takes to do the deeper work. This conversation offers an honest look at growth, resilience, and redefining success from the inside out. Arch’s Resources:  One Elm at Horton Bay Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families (ACA) Al-Anon Family Groups Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryIsPossible #SobrietyIsBeautiful #SobrietyJourney

    32 min

  8. 12/23/2025

    Former Program Participant Series - Episode 328: When One More Try Changed Everything - Jaysa’s Journey

    On this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna brings you another story from our special former participant series where she extends the opportunity for former participants to share their journey with others. Today’s former participant is Jaysa Brown. In this episode, Jaysa reflects on entering the mental health system at a young age, navigating multiple treatment settings that didn’t always help, and the deep resistance she felt toward trying yet another program. She shares how relocating to Colorado became a turning point, the role community and support played in her healing, and how redefining success has allowed her to build a life rooted in stability, purpose, and self-trust. Now working as a mentor within the same program that helped her turn her life around, Jaysa offers an honest perspective on recovery, family dynamics, and what sustainable progress can truly look like. NOTE: The podcasts in this series can include sensitive subjects such as suicide, self-harm, substance abuse, hospitalizations, psychotic episodes, and other traumatic experiences which include parts of the treatment journey. No topic is off limits and not all stories are positive but they are real, raw, and transparent. **Listener discretion is advised**  Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryIsPossible #SobrietyIsBeautiful #SobrietyJourney

    32 min
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5
out of 5
62 Ratings

About

Interviews of people who took a break from life at one point or another to get help, grow up, or just to reassess their life direction. Some guests struggled with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, a death in the family, or just decided college was not the place for them. These stories are all-to-real, and yet we don't talk enough about how common it is for those who took a gap year to defer college, went to college and took a break, or those who struggled launching into the workforce post-college graduation. This goes out to all the young adults and parents of young adults who are struggling and contemplating what will happen if they walk away right now. 

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