The Recovery Couch

BrandonCouch10
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Self-Improvement

Welcome to The Recovery Couch, the podcast where recovery takes center stage. Whether you’re an athlete bouncing back from a tough workout, someone healing from loss, or an addict navigating a recovery journey, this show is for you. Hosted by Brandon Couch—a former athlete trainer, corporate professional, active-duty military member, and recovering addict—The Recovery Couch explores the highs and lows of life’s many recoveries. With firsthand experience in overcoming adversity, Brandon dives deep into what recovery truly looks like in every walk of life. Pull up a seat. Let’s talk recovery.

  1. 2d ago

    262 - From Heroin Addiction to Spiritual Awakening: Denny’s Story of Recovery & Faith

    Denny’s journey through heroin addiction took him into some of the darkest moments of his life—but his story didn’t end there. In this powerful episode of The Recovery Couch, Denny opens up about his childhood, his first experience with heroin, overdose, and the battle to break free from addiction. He shares how questioning God eventually led to a profound spiritual awakening and a new understanding of faith, forgiveness, and recovery. Denny also explores the impact of generational cycles of addiction, repairing damaged family relationships, and why community and fellowship have become essential parts of maintaining his sobriety. His story is a reminder that recovery is about more than simply getting sober. It can mean confronting the past, forgiving others, learning to forgive yourself, and discovering an entirely new way to live. “Time heals all wounds, forgiveness heals the soul.” Topics include heroin addiction, addiction recovery, sobriety, faith, forgiveness, mental health recovery, spiritual awakening, generational curses, family healing, and the importance of community in long-term recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, Denny’s story offers a powerful message: your story doesn’t have to end where addiction took you.

  2. Aug 11

    261 - Nobody Talks About This Part of Recovery

    What happens when you've done everything you're supposed to do—and you're still hurting? In this raw solo episode, Brandon Couch shares the emotional reality of recovery after more than 103 weeks of sobriety. He discusses the loneliness that can follow addiction, the pain of broken relationships, recovery stigma, the difference between being heard and being corrected, and why emotional healing often takes far longer than getting sober. If you've ever wondered why recovery still feels heavy, this conversation will remind you that you're not alone. Topics include: • Emotional sobriety • Recovery stigma and judgment • Trauma healing • Broken relationships after addiction • Self-forgiveness • Vulnerability in recovery • Men's mental health • Faith and healing The Recovery Couch is where authentic conversations about addiction, resilience, faith, mental health, and second chances happen every week.

  3. Aug 3

    260 - Behind the Next Door: Fear, Faith, and Recovery

    Brandon Couch flips the mic on himself in this solo episode of The Recovery Couch, opening up about the fear of not knowing what's next — in recovery, in business, and in life. He traces the origin of both the podcast and its parent company, True Story Media, and gets honest about the doubts, growth pains, and faith that have carried him through 17-plus months of sobriety-fueled entrepreneurship. Expect real talk on rock bottom, relapse, trust, and what it means to keep going even when nobody's cheering.   1. How do you recover from addiction without knowing what's next? You recover one day at a time by focusing on the next right action instead of the finish line. Brandon Couch describes it as "drops in a bucket" — small, consistent actions like attending meetings, staying accountable, and trusting God, rather than waiting to see the full outcome before committing to the process. 2. What causes relapse? Relapse often starts with old coping mechanisms resurfacing under stress — money problems, job loss, relationship strain, or simply being around triggers like alcohol or drug use. Brandon Couch explains that fear of these situations can pull someone back toward familiar, unhealthy patterns if they aren't actively working recovery. 3. How can faith help recovery? Faith provides purpose beyond willpower alone. Brandon Couch credits God with calling him out of addiction and into sobriety, using scripture ("God did not give us a spirit of fear") to reframe fear as something to move through rather than obey, giving him strength on hard days. 4. What is the real definition of "rock bottom" in addiction? According to the episode, rock bottom isn't a specific event — it's the moment someone chooses to stop digging. It's a decision point, not a location, meaning anyone can hit rock bottom and begin recovery at any depth of their addiction. 5. Why does growth feel uncomfortable in recovery? Growth requires leaving familiar, even painful, patterns behind. Brandon Couch says growth has been one of the hardest lessons to embrace because comfort — even unhealthy comfort — feels safer than the unknown of change. How to Stay Sober When You Don't Know the Outcome | The Recovery Couch What Is Rock Bottom? A Recovery Definition That Changes Everything Faith and Addiction Recovery: A Personal Story | Brandon Couch How to Rebuild Trust After Addiction (Recovery Advice) Starting a Business With a Felony: A Recovery Success Story Why Growth Feels Uncomfortable in Sobriety, Explained Dealing With Doubters in Recovery and Business Christian Recovery Podcast: Fear, Faith, and Sobriety The Recovery Couch Podcast Origin Story Explained Addiction Recovery Motivation: One Day at a Time, Explained

  4. Jul 27

    259 - IV Hydration & Cryotherapy for Addiction Recovery with Debbie Schmitmeyer

    What if healing from addiction started with your cells, not just your mindset? In this episode of The Recovery Couch, host Brandon Couch sits down with Debbie Schmitmeyer, owner of Prime IV Hydration and Wellness in Springboro, Ohio, to break down how IV therapy, vitamin injections, and cryotherapy can support the body during recovery from addiction and beyond. Debbie spent 15 years in pharmaceutical sales before pivoting to holistic wellness, and she brings that clinical background into a candid conversation about nutrient depletion, gut health, and why hydration matters more than most people realize. In this episode, you'll learn: Why IV nutrients bypass the gut for near-100% absorption How glutathione and NAD+ support liver healing and cellular repair What cryotherapy actually does for inflammation, arthritis, and mood Which nutrients are commonly depleted by drug and alcohol use What safety protocols and licensing are required for medical IV therapy in Ohio How to be proactive instead of reactive about your health Whether you're in recovery, supporting a loved one, or just curious about functional wellness, this episode offers a science-backed, faith-rooted look at healing the whole person — body and mind. 📍 Prime IV Hydration Springboro: 746 Gardner Road, Springboro, OH (across from DLM) 🌐 primeivhydration.com 🎧 Subscribe to The Recovery Couch for more conversations on addiction recovery, sobriety, and holistic health. #RecoveryCouch #AddictionRecovery #IVTherapy #Cryotherapy #NADTherapy #SobrietyPodcast #HolisticHealth #SpringboroOhio #PrimeIVHydration #Sobriety Tags: IV hydration therapy, cryotherapy benefits, NAD+ therapy, addiction recovery podcast, opioid withdrawal support, gut health, glutathione, holistic wellness, Prime IV Hydration Springboro, sobriety podcast, functional medicine, recovery nutrition

  5. Jul 20

    258 - Behavioral Health Tech Kenneth O'Neal on Fentanyl, Jail, and Finding God in Recovery

    In this episode of The Recovery Couch, host Brandon Couch talks with Kenneth O'Neal, a behavioral health technician in Shreveport, Louisiana, about his 15-year battle with opiate addiction, homelessness, and the legal system — and the surrender that finally led to sobriety on January 12, 2024. Kenneth shares candidly about losing a college scholarship, his brother's overdose death, unknowingly ingesting fentanyl-laced meth, cycling through treatment centers and Drug Court, and the toll addiction took on his marriage and children. He and Brandon also dig into the difference between using medication as prescribed versus abusing it, and how to encourage someone on medication-assisted treatment toward full sobriety without shame. This episode is a testimony of faith, accountability, and gratitude — and a reminder that no matter how far someone has fallen, recovery through surrender to a higher power is possible. Grab a copy of Brandon's book, "Step Four: A Journey Through Addiction," his own roadmap to finding God and getting sober. New episodes of The Recovery Couch drop weekly — real stories of faith, struggle, and recovery, one conversation at a time.

  6. Jul 14

    257 - From Homeless Heroin Addict to Published Author | Jason Creery's Faith-Filled Recovery Story

    Jason Creery spent 30 years battling heroin and meth addiction and over 22 years homeless on the streets of Seattle, Texas, and Florida — surviving violence, addiction, and unimaginable loss. Today he's 11 months sober from alcohol, years clean from heroin, happily married, in school to become a counselor, and just published his memoir, "Breaking the Chains." In this raw, faith-centered conversation, Jason opens up about: ✅ Driving an 18-wheeler while drinking a gallon of vodka a day ✅ The moment he called his boss drunk and turned himself in ✅ Surviving 22+ years of homelessness in Seattle, Texas & Florida ✅ Losing his mother to suicide and how it shaped his relationship with alcohol ✅ How a chance encounter with a corrections officer in jail became a divine turning point ✅ Supporting his wife through a multiple sclerosis diagnosis while getting sober ✅ Writing and publishing his first book, "Breaking the Chains" ✅ Launching his own recovery podcast to help others This is a story about rock bottom, radical honesty, transformational love, and the power of faith to rebuild a shattered life. 📖 Get Jason's book "Breaking the Chains" on Amazon (Kindle, paperback & hardback) 🎙️ Follow Jason's upcoming podcast: Breaking the Chains Podcast If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, you are not alone — there is always a seat on the Recovery Couch. 🔔 Subscribe to The Recovery Couch for new episodes every week featuring real stories of faith, recovery, and transformation.

  7. Jul 6

    256 - Is Addiction a Disease or a Spiritual Yoke? | Thomas Pohl on Deliverance from Addiction

    Is addiction really an incurable brain disease — or is it a spiritual yoke that can be fully broken? In this episode of The Recovery Couch, host Brandon Couch sits down with author Thomas W. Pohl to unpack his book "Deliverance from Addiction: Breaking the Yoke and Healing the Hurt." Thomas shares the difference between recovery and deliverance, why he believes addiction is rooted in unresolved trauma, and how faith-based deliverance offers a more permanent path forward than lifelong management. Brandon and Thomas also dig into a candid, no-holds-barred debate on marijuana, Xanax, and opiate pain medication — weighing the risks and benefits for people in recovery who may one day face severe pain or anxiety. 🎧 In this episode: - What "breaking the yoke" means (Isaiah 10:24) and how it applies to addiction - Why Thomas believes addiction is a spiritual issue, not just a brain disease - How unresolved trauma drives addictive behavior - Marijuana, Xanax, and opiates — a faith-based recovery perspective - How to talk to an addict without judgment - Where to find Thomas Pohl's book and outreach ministry 📖 Get the book: https://deliverancefromaddictionbook.com 🙏 Learn about the outreach: https://deliverance-from-addiction-outreach.org 📱 Follow Thomas Pohl: YouTube & TikTok @DeliveranceFromAddiction 🛋️ About The Recovery Couch: The Recovery Couch is a podcast about recovery, transformation, mental health, faith, and real conversations that change lives. Hosted by Brandon Couch, every episode is a seat on the couch for real talk about addiction, healing, and hope. 👉 Subscribe for new episodes every week. 💬 Have a story of recovery or deliverance? Drop it in the comments.   In this episode of The Recovery Couch, host Brandon Couch talks with author and outreach founder Thomas W. Pohl about his book, Deliverance from Addiction: Breaking the Yoke and Healing the Hurt. The conversation explores what it means to be spiritually delivered from addiction rather than simply managing it, why trauma is so often the root cause of substance use, and a candid debate on marijuana, Xanax, and opiate pain medication for people in recovery. Whether you're in recovery yourself, love someone who is, or are simply curious about the intersection of faith and addiction, this episode offers an honest, judgment-free look at healing.   the recovery couch, brandon couch, thomas pohl, deliverance from addiction, breaking the yoke, addiction recovery podcast, faith based recovery, christian addiction recovery, addiction and trauma, addiction is a disease, addiction spiritual healing, recovery vs deliverance, marijuana for pain relief, thc vs opiates, xanax addiction, opiate addiction recovery, cannabis use disorder, addiction recovery interview, sobriety podcast, christian recovery podcast, deliverance ministry, addiction outreach, isaiah 10:24, addiction and faith, trauma and addiction, prescription drug addiction, benzodiazepine addiction, addiction author interview, sober podcast, faith and sobriety, addiction healing testimony

  8. Jun 30

    255 - Learning Together | Hallucinogens & Psychedelic Drugs Explained

    In this episode of the Learning Together series on The Recovery Couch, host Brandon Couch continues reviewing the Getting Ready to Test preparation manual for drug and alcohol credentialing examinations — breaking down one of the most misunderstood drug categories: All-Arounders. Unlike depressants or stimulants, all-arounders — also known as hallucinogens or psychedelics — have the unique ability to act as both a stimulant AND a depressant at the same time, making them harder to classify and more complex to understand. In this episode Brandon covers: 🍄 What all-arounders are and why they're harder to classify than other drug categories 🧠 The difference between hallucinogens and psychedelics — and why "psychedelic" is actually the more accurate term 👁 The characteristics of a hallucinogenic or psychedelic state including synesthesia (when your senses overlap and you literally "see a sound" or "feel a smell") ⚠️ What causes a "bad trip" and why it's often predetermined by mindset and circumstance 🍄 A deep dive into hallucinogenic mushrooms — Fly Agaric (Amanita Muscaria) and Psilocybin mushrooms — including history dating back thousands of years, cultural use across Native American tribes, Vikings, ancient India, and Central America 💊 The physical effects of psilocybin — how it works in the body, dosage, duration, and tolerance Whether you're studying for your CADC, NCAC, or another drug and alcohol credentialing exam, or you simply want a clear, no-fluff breakdown of how hallucinogens work — this episode is built for you. 📚 This is part of the Learning Together series — a study companion for drug and alcohol counseling certification exams. 0:00 — Welcome & Series Introduction: Learning Together 0:29 — What Are All-Arounders? Why They're Hard to Classify 1:00 — Brief Overview of Hallucinogens & Psychedelics 1:36 — Key Facts: No Physical Dependence, Naturally Occurring, Toxic in Large Doses 2:05 — Why Driving on Hallucinogens Is Extremely Dangerous 2:35 — Hallucinogens vs. Psychotomimetics vs. Psychedelics — What's the Difference? 3:10 — Why People Can't Explain Their Trips (Mind Expansion Explained) 3:37 — Characteristics of a Hallucinogenic State 4:07 — Synesthesia: When Your Senses Cross Over 4:56 — How Psychedelics Distort Reality & Affect the CNS 5:52 — What Causes a Bad Trip? 6:29 — Tolerance, Dependence & Why People Think Psychedelics Are "Safe" 7:33 — History of Psychedelic Use Across World Cultures 8:00 — Hallucinogenic Mushrooms: Fly Agaric (Amanita Muscaria) 8:29 — Ancient Use in India, Afghanistan, and Viking Warriors 9:14 — Teonactyl & Psilocybe Mushrooms: Central & Native American History 10:02 — Psilocybin Mushrooms: Effects, Dosage & Duration 11:15 — How Psilocybin Works in the Body: Serotonin Depletion Explained 11:35 — What's Coming Next: Peyote & Mescaline Primary (High Intent — Exam Prep): drug and alcohol credentialing exam prep CADC exam study guide podcast all-arounders drug classification hallucinogens psychedelics drug counseling exam getting ready to test drug alcohol exam Secondary (Topic Specific): what are all-arounders drugs psilocybin mushrooms explained hallucinogens vs psychedelics difference synesthesia drug effects explained fly agaric amanita muscaria history psilocybe mushrooms drug counseling what causes a bad trip Long-Tail (AEO/Voice Search Optimized): "what is the difference between a hallucinogen and a psychedelic" "what does synesthesia mean in drug use" "how long do psilocybin mushrooms last in the body" "do hallucinogens cause physical dependence" "what are all arounders in drug classification" "drug and alcohol counselor exam study podcast" "what is a bad trip caused by" ❓ FAQ Section (Optimized for Google's People Also Ask & AI answer engines) Q: What are all-arounders in drug classification? A: All-arounders is a term used in drug and alcohol counseling to describe psychoactive substances — specifically hallucinogens and psychedelics — that can act as both a stimulant and a depressant on the central nervous system simultaneously. This dual action makes them harder to classify than drugs that only depress or stimulate the CNS. Q: What is the difference between a hallucinogen and a psychedelic? A: While the terms are often used interchangeably, psychedelic is considered the more accurate term. Hallucinogen refers specifically to drugs that induce hallucinations, while psychedelic refers to mind expansion or mind manifestation — the ability to perceive and experience more than can be easily explained. The DSM uses the term hallucinogen, but psychedelic more fully captures the category. Q: What is synesthesia and how does it relate to drug use? A: Synesthesia is the overlapping of sensory inputs — a phenomenon where one sense triggers another. In the context of hallucinogen use, it occurs when the brain becomes overloaded with sensory information, causing someone to experience things like "seeing a sound," "hearing a color," or "feeling a smell." It is one of the key characteristics of a hallucinogenic or psychedelic state. Q: Do hallucinogens cause physical dependence? A: According to drug and alcohol counseling literature, hallucinogens do not appear to create physical dependence. However, they can create psychological dependence. Tolerance to hallucinogens can develop rapidly with repeated use, but there is no documented evidence of physical withdrawal symptoms the way other drug categories produce them. Q: What are psilocybin mushrooms and how do they work? A: Psilocybin mushrooms are a group of fungi in the psilocybe genus that produce psychedelic effects. When consumed, the chemicals in the mushroom convert to psilocin in the body, which enters the brain and depletes the neurotransmitter serotonin. Effects begin within 30 minutes and last 3–6 hours. One to five grams of dried mushroom is typically required to produce psychedelic effects. Q: What caused Vikings to use hallucinogenic mushrooms? A: Historical accounts suggest that Norse Viking warriors used Fly Agaric (Amanita Muscaria) mushrooms to produce states of intense ferocity before battle. The active ingredient, muscimol, is notably excreted unchanged in urine, which led some cultures — including people in Siberia and Eastern Europe — to collect and reuse the urine for its psychedelic properties due to the relative scarcity of the mushroom. Q: What podcast series covers drug and alcohol credentialing exam prep? A: The Recovery Couch podcast hosts a series called Learning Together, in which host Brandon Couch reviews the Getting Ready to Test preparation manual for drug and alcohol credentialing examinations. The series covers drug categories, pharmacology, and counseling concepts in plain, accessible language designed for exam candidates and recovery professionals.

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out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Recovery Couch, the podcast where recovery takes center stage. Whether you’re an athlete bouncing back from a tough workout, someone healing from loss, or an addict navigating a recovery journey, this show is for you. Hosted by Brandon Couch—a former athlete trainer, corporate professional, active-duty military member, and recovering addict—The Recovery Couch explores the highs and lows of life’s many recoveries. With firsthand experience in overcoming adversity, Brandon dives deep into what recovery truly looks like in every walk of life. Pull up a seat. Let’s talk recovery.

Information

  • Creator
    BrandonCouch10
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Recovery Couch