Surviving Lifes Pickles

Navigating Lifes Challenges Together

4.6 (10)
Mental Health
Weekly

Navigating Lifes Challenges Together! On our podcast we share our stories along with our guests stories to help the community with the everyday sweet and sour pickles (challenges) we go through in life. We want to connect with everyone on a very real and human level by turning our pain into purpose and sharing our knowledge we have gained along the way! scottrxperformance.substack.com

6d ago

Breaking Through the Ceilings: A Recovery Story w/ Jayson Sykes

In this episode of Surviving Life’s Pickles, host Scott Martin and his wife Hillary sit down with their guest, Jayson Sykes. They open with the show’s usual gratitude round: * Scott is grateful for his morning meditation. * Hillary is grateful for being able to feel her emotions after years of numbing them. * Jayson is grateful for clean water, his connections with people, and his morning mindfulness practice. The rest of the episode is Jayson’s story. He grew up on a small farm in Pleasant Grove, Utah. His father was a brick mason and an alcoholic, and his mother was in and out of prison. He was molested around age nine, and that is also when he started sneaking beers. By his early teens he had been expelled from school and had gone through outpatient treatment, probation, and a wilderness program. His drug use escalated through meth, heroin, and pills, and he was in and out of jail.At 19, his father died by suicide. Jason says he was angry because his dad “took that option off the table” for him. He then spent roughly seven years trying to blot out his existence, through drugs and eventually alcohol.His turning point came in August 2012. After a seizure from detoxing alone, a hospitalization, and a blackout at a party, he woke up and admitted he was an alcoholic. He checked into inpatient treatment the next day. Over the next 14 years he: * Found a higher power. His sponsor Tony pointed out that he had been talking to his dad at the cemetery all along, and that was already a connection to something bigger than himself. * Found a path through Native American ceremony, including sweat lodges, vision quests, and Sundance. * Built a career helping others. He is now program director of a men’s mental health program, working with people in psychosis and with suicidality. * Had his criminal record expunged this past year. The conversation also covers: * The seasons and mental health, including Utah’s place in the “suicide belt.” * The idea that lost loved ones are still with us in spirit. * A friend’s hundred-mile ultramarathons as a spiritual experience. Near the end, Jayson turns the questions on the hosts. Scott shares his own story, including a suicide attempt and the morning-after realization that he needed help. The episode closes with a challenge to listeners to share it with someone who needs to hear it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottrxperformance.substack.com
Oct 21

How a 2 AM Friendship Can Help You Through Life’s Hardest Moment

Scott and Hillary welcome Hillary’s longtime friend Cari Matthews for an honest conversation about addiction, grief, recovery, and the friendships that can endure through life’s hardest seasons.Cari shares how she began rebuilding her life after reaching a breaking point, and how learning to move beyond codependency helped her rediscover herself. The friends reflect on setting boundaries when one of them was struggling, reconnecting when they were ready, and showing up for each other without enabling harmful choices.Along the way, they talk about finding joy in sober experiences—from concerts and music to hiking and time in nature—and how small steps can lead to a life they once couldn’t imagine. Their message is hopeful and grounded: healing takes time, support matters, and even a simple, vulnerable “I miss you” can be the start of reconnecting. Key Takeaways Rebuilding takes time. Recovery can mean slowly rediscovering who you are and what kind of life you want. Small steps add up. Trying one new thing, then another, can turn into meaningful progress and growing self-trust. Boundaries can protect friendship. Sometimes stepping back from a relationship during a harmful period helps make a healthier reconnection possible later. Support doesn’t have to mean rescuing. Being there for someone can mean showing up with care while still holding firm boundaries. Sober life can make room for joy. Music, hiking, concerts, and shared time outdoors became meaningful ways to feel connected and alive. Regret can become learning. Looking back with compassion can help turn “what ifs” into wisdom rather than self-punishment. Reach out with honesty. A direct, vulnerable message—such as “I miss you”—can be a simple first step toward rekindling a friendship. Hard times don’t have to be the end. The guests encourage taking one small step and remembering that it can get better. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottrxperformance.substack.com
Oct 14

Colt’s Story; Why Telling the Story Matters More Than How It Ends

Scott and Hilary Martin are joined by Brooke Rushton for a heartfelt conversation about addiction, loss, family boundaries, and the power of community support. Brooke shares her brother Colt’s long struggle with addiction, the impact it had on their family, and why she has committed herself to helping others in the recovery space.We discuss what it means to keep showing up, how support groups and community programs help families heal, and why telling the full story matters—not just how someone died, but how they lived. Key Takeaways: Love is not the same as rescue. You can care deeply, offer support, and keep the door open, but you cannot control another person’s recovery. Shame and isolation make it harder to ask for help. Compassionate connection can help people feel seen and remind them they are not alone. Boundaries help love endure. Supporting someone does not mean supporting every action. Healthy limits can protect both the person offering help and the person receiving it. Practical support matters. Rides, meals, resource connections, and someone answering a call can make it easier to take a next step toward help. Community works through trusted connections. Support groups, outreach networks, and people who know where to find resources can help bridge the gap between a crisis and assistance. Remember the whole person. Colt’s life was more than his addiction and the circumstances of his death. Sharing the full story can restore dignity and help others feel hope. Small acts of care can change how people feel. Seeing someone as a person—with family, history, and worth—can replace judgment with compassion. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottrxperformance.substack.com
Oct 7

Why Trauma Stays Silent Until Someone Says It Out Loud w/ Carrie Eaton

Hosts Scott Martin and Hillary Martin welcome Carrie Eaton for a conversation about burnout, trauma, personal reinvention, and finding new ways to understand yourself. The episode also includes a discussion of Carrie’s upcoming Voice Collective talk, her astrology practice, and a closing public service announcement about substance safety. In this episode * Scott and Hillary return after a break, reflecting on burnout and the importance of making time to recenter. * The hosts share what they’re grateful for and discuss the value of being present during busy or difficult times. * Scott describes reaching an emotional breaking point during vacation after a stressful period involving work, family, and wedding planning. * The hosts share a message of hope through the song “Hold On” by Freya and Odin’s Echo. * Carrie talks about why she chose to speak at the Voice Collective and how sharing personal stories can help people feel less alone. * She discusses how childhood experiences can shape adult life and parenting, and why bringing painful experiences into the open can support healing. * Carrie describes a major life reset that included leaving a long-term career and the religion she grew up in. * She explains how astrology became a way to explore self-understanding and reconnect with her own instincts. * Carrie outlines her birth chart readings and related services. * The episode closes with a warning about counterfeit or contaminated substances and a reminder to be cautious. Carrie Eaton’s astrology business: * Ninth House Soul — ninthhousesoul.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottrxperformance.substack.com
Sep 16

Turning the Mess Into a Message with Blu Robinson

Scott and Hillary Martin sit down with Blu Robinson, the founder of Addict to Athlete, to talk about recovery, identity, movement, and how purpose can be built from pain. Blue shares the personal story behind his work, including family trauma, addiction, therapy, education, and the moment exercise became a recovery tool.This episode is about more than sobriety. It explores how labels shape people, why movement can support healing, and how community can help someone show up at the starting line of change. Key topics * Blu shares how his early life was shaped by severe instability, abuse, poverty, and frequent moves, including 22 different homes before age 18. * He explains how addiction took root in his teens as a way to cope with abandonment, trauma, and the need to belong. * Blu describes the rock-bottom moment in 1996 that pushed him to leave addiction behind and begin rebuilding his life. * Mountain biking became an early positive identity shift and later inspired Addict to Athlete. * Blu discusses his education journey, from adult high school to becoming a therapist. * The conversation covers the limits of one-size-fits-all recovery and the value of movement-based approaches. * Hillary shares how negative labels can make recovery more difficult. * Blu explains the “erase and replace” philosophy: replacing harmful patterns with movement, service, and a new identity. * Addict to Athlete uses running, biking, races, and community events to build confidence and connection. * The episode explores grief, relapse, loss, and how service can honor people who have died from addiction. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottrxperformance.substack.com
Sep 2

Mental Health in the Workplace and the Importance of Focusing on it When Building a Safety Culture.

In this episode of Surviving Life’s Pickles, the conversation centers on suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and how those conversations belong in workplace safety culture—especially in construction, manufacturing, and other high-risk industries.Sarah Galvez shares the personal story that led her into this work: the loss of her ex-husband and the father of her youngest son to suicide. From that pain, she found purpose in speaking, training, and helping organizations strengthen their approach to mental wellness and de-escalation.The discussion explores how companies can do more than check safety boxes. It covers practical tools like active listening, the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method, box breathing, and bringing in backup support when someone needs more help than one person can give. The episode also highlights why mental health should be treated as part of safety, not separate from it. The conversation touches on: * Why mental health and physical safety should go hand in hand * How to respond when an employee is in crisis * Why consistent training matters for employees, temps, and contractors * The importance of follow-up, support groups, and checking in long after the initial crisis * How managers and coworkers can reduce stigma by making mental health a normal part of workplace conversations The episode closes with a powerful reminder: people may look fine on the outside, but they may be struggling in ways no one can see. Checking in, listening well, and creating real support systems can make a life-changing difference. Key Topics * Suicide prevention in the workplace * Mental health and safety culture * De-escalation and grounding techniques * Supporting employees after a crisis * Training, follow-up, and open communication Notable Takeaway A strong safety culture protects more than bodies—it protects people’s lives, families, and futures. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottrxperformance.substack.com
Aug 26

The Heart of Zen Recovery with Carl Harman

This episode is a candid conversation about addiction, recovery, Buddhism, and learning how to meet suffering with compassion instead of resistance. Scott Martin and Hillary Martin are joined by Carl Harman, who shares his personal story of alcoholism, spiritual awakening, and the practices that helped him build a more peaceful life.We discuss Carl’s new book, his path from anger and drinking to sobriety, and how mindfulness, surrender, and the Noble Eightfold Path shaped his recovery. The conversation is both personal and practical, with clear takeaways for anyone working through trauma, resentment, or the challenge of being present. Action items * Practice pausing before reacting when stress or resentment shows up. * Start with small irritations, like missing a bus, before trying to process larger wounds. * Use gratitude as a daily reset to notice real conditions of happiness. * Try speaking to your suffering with kindness instead of fighting it. * Focus on the breath when you need to return to the present moment. * Look for places where compassion, not criticism, can soften old patterns. * If Carl’s story resonates, read The Heart of Zen Recovery and work through the practices, not just the ideas. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottrxperformance.substack.com
Aug 19

Surviving Life’s Pickles - A family check-in on joy, sobriety, and slowing down

Scott Martin is joined by his wife, Hillary, for a more personal check-in episode of Surviving Life’s Pickles. They reflect on gratitude, 12 years of sobriety, and why slowing down long enough to ask better questions can change both safety and quality of life.We discuss how a simple self-check can improve mental health, physical safety, parenting, and decision-making. The conversation also covers the couple’s summer reset, a nonprofit rebrand, and what’s coming next for their community work. Key topics * In this episode, Scott opens with gratitude for joy, describing it as the ability to fully feel life, including emotional moments that once felt out of reach. * Hillary shares that she is grateful for 12 years of sobriety, reflecting on how far she has come from a time with no joy and heavy numbing. * The conversation centers on a simple internal check-in: * How does your body feel? * How is your mind? * Are your tasks organized? * Scott connects that check-in to workplace safety, especially the idea of pausing before entering a situation, even if it seems small or routine. * They talk about the fear of asking questions and how shame can keep people from speaking up when they are unsure. * Hillary and Scott emphasize that nobody knows everything, and asking questions is safer than pretending to understand. * They discuss their training concept, “mental health safety is physical safety,” and how it applies well beyond construction and mining. * The episode highlights the importance of feeling emotions instead of staying too busy to process them. * Scott and Hillary reflect on parenting, especially with both boys entering middle school and the speed at which kids seem to grow up. * They share how they intentionally slowed down over the summer, focusing more on family, camping, biking, and being present rather than chasing growth nonstop. * The couple explains a nonprofit shift away from the previous identity and into a new direction under the name You’re a Big Dill Recovery Foundation. * Hillary shares why expanding access to treatment and support resources matters deeply to her, especially after having lived through financial and recovery hardship. * They preview upcoming community involvement, including recovery days in Utah County and an annual meeting for supporters. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottrxperformance.substack.com

4.6

out of 5

10 Ratings

Navigating Lifes Challenges Together! On our podcast we share our stories along with our guests stories to help the community with the everyday sweet and sour pickles (challenges) we go through in life. We want to connect with everyone on a very real and human level by turning our pain into purpose and sharing our knowledge we have gained along the way! scottrxperformance.substack.com

Creator

Navigating Lifes Challenges Together
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

98
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Scott Martin
Show Website

Surviving Lifes Pickles