The Journey with Mark Astor

Mark Astor
  • 3.0 (2)
  • Business

What happens when success doesn’t come in a straight line? The Journey with Mark Astor explores the paths most people never talk about the setbacks, turning points, and internal battles that quietly define who we become. Hosted by attorney Mark Astor, this podcast goes beyond surface-level conversations to uncover the real stories behind leadership, recovery, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. Each week, Mark sits down with guests who have navigated complex journeys of their own from business leaders and legal professionals to behavioral health experts and individuals shaped by life-altering experiences. These conversations challenge assumptions, shift perspective, and invite listeners to rethink what progress truly looks like. If you’re interested in honest dialogue, meaningful insight, and stories that stay with you long after the episode ends, this podcast was created for you.

  1. 15h ago

    Ep. 36 She Fooled A Major New York Law Firm For 12 Years While Secretly Dying Inside with Lisa Smith

    Lisa Smith spent 12 years climbing the ranks of one of New York's most prestigious international law firms while quietly drowning in alcohol and cocaine addiction. A former corporate finance attorney turned recovery advocate and author, Lisa opens up about the moment she walked out of her apartment hallway convinced she was either having a heart attack or had finally overdosed - and how that single terrifying moment became the turning point that changed everything. Her story cuts through the polished surface of big law culture and lands somewhere far more honest, far more human, and far more important than most conversations about addiction ever dare to go. What makes this conversation remarkable is not just the survival - it's the layers underneath it. Lisa traces her addiction back to childhood, to undiagnosed depression and anxiety she was self-medicating long before she ever set foot in a courtroom, and she shares how a psychiatrist in a locked-down Manhattan psych ward finally gave her the diagnosis that explained her entire life. From writing her memoir over ten years in secret to eventually publishing it with the full support of her law firm's leadership, Lisa's path from rock bottom to recovery advocate is a masterclass in what it looks like to rebuild with honesty, courage, and purpose. Contact Mark Astor: Website: https://mentalhealthaddictionlawfirm.com/ Phone number: 561-517-9405 Email: mark@astorsimovitchlaw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markastor TikTok: Mark G. Astor (@astorsimovitchlaw) | TikTok Contact Lisa Smith: Website: lisasmithadvisory.com Book: Girl Walks Out of a Bar: A Memoir Podcast: Recovery Rocks Email: lisa@lisasmithadvisory.com

  2. Sep 29

    Ep. 35 Addiction Recovery, Childhood Trauma And The 7 Bricks Of Sobriety with Marci Hopkins

    What does addiction look like when it hides behind a successful career, a loving family, and a life that appears perfectly intact from the outside? Marci Hopkins spent years as a functioning alcoholic, navigating childhood trauma, sexual abuse, and the quiet devastation of mom wine culture while building an award-winning television career and raising a family. Her story challenges every assumption about what addiction recovery looks like and who it happens to. In this conversation, Marci opens up about the moment a blackout, a DUI, and her husband's unconditional love collided to create the shift that changed everything. Marci walks through the seven bricks she now uses to help others rebuild their lives in early recovery, including how to understand cravings, identify internal and external triggers, and construct a sober toolbox that actually holds. She shares the HALT framework, the truth about what happens to your body in the first 30 days of sobriety, and why she believes that behind every addiction is a person carrying unhealed trauma. Her books, Chaos to Clarity and Wake Up, You're Not Broken, grew out of her own healing journey and are now helping people in recovery centers across the country. If you or someone you love is navigating addiction, struggling in silence, or simply trying to understand what recovery really feels like from the inside, this conversation will stay with you. Contact Mark Astor: Website: https://mentalhealthaddictionlawfirm.com/ Phone number: 561-517-9405 Email: mark@astorsimovitchlaw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markastor TikTok: Mark G. Astor (@astorsimovitchlaw) | TikTok Contact Marci Hopkins: Website: www.wakeupwithmarci.com Book: Chaos to Clarity: Seeing the Signs and Breaking the Cycles Instagram: wakeupwithmarci Podcast: Wake Up with Marci: Wake Up with Marci: Empowering Your Journey of Self-Discovery & Growth

  3. Sep 22

    Ep. 34 How Screen Addiction Hijacks Our Biology And Destroys Real Connection with Wanda Kay Synstelien

    What happens when someone you love is physically present but emotionally absent, lost to a screen addiction that's rewiring their brain? Dr. Wanda Synstelien lived this reality for 20 years, watching her marriage slowly unravel as her husband's compulsive behavior escalated from office firings to secret affairs. As a professor with multiple advanced degrees, she thought she understood human behavior, but nothing prepared her for the slow grief of loving someone trapped in sexual compulsive disorder. Her story reveals the intersection of screen addiction, intimacy, and the biological hijacking that's becoming epidemic in our digital age. Now a specialized coach and somatic therapist, Wanda brings both professional expertise and hard-won wisdom to helping others navigate these increasingly common challenges. She shares the warning signs she missed, the moment she knew her marriage couldn't survive, and why she believes we're facing humanity's biggest disruption yet with AI relationships. From her childhood on a South Dakota pig farm to building a new life after devastating betrayal, this conversation explores the real cost of digital addiction on human connection and what it means for our future. Contact Mark Astor: Website: https://mentalhealthaddictionlawfirm.com/ Phone number: 561-517-9405 Email: mark@astorsimovitchlaw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markastor TikTok: Mark G. Astor (@astorsimovitchlaw) | TikTok Contact Wanda Kay Synstelien: Website: holistichealth.com Christian Heart Counseling: Available starting October for counseling services in the Stillwater, Southeast metro area

  4. Sep 15

    Ep. 33 Why He Sold Everything To Fight Modern Day Slavery with Daniel Emr

    What would you do if you discovered that modern slavery affects nearly 50 million people worldwide, with the vast majority being exploited right here in America? Daniel Emr faced this exact question when he first learned about human trafficking, and his response changed everything. As the founder of worthwhile.org, Daniel has spent 14 years building comprehensive services for trafficking survivors, but his journey began with a single moment of moral clarity that echoes back to a high school history class question about slavery. His organization now serves 400-500 survivors annually while reaching over 12,000 students through prevention programs, proving that one person's willingness to act can create ripple effects of healing and hope. Daniel's story reveals the hidden reality of trafficking in America, where 90% of those surveyed said they would leave if they could, and nearly all started as minors. Growing up as a missionary kid in Ukraine gave him a unique perspective on sacrifice and service, watching his parents abandon financial security to help others. Now he's applying those same principles to combat an industry that generates $150,000 to $300,000 per victim annually for traffickers. Through housing programs, employment opportunities, and prevention education, Daniel's work demonstrates that healing from complex trauma is possible when survivors are surrounded by the right support systems and genuine human connection. Contact Mark Astor: Website: https://mentalhealthaddictionlawfirm.com/ Phone number: 561-517-9405 Email: mark@astorsimovitchlaw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markastor TikTok: Mark G. Astor (@astorsimovitchlaw) | TikTok Contact with Daniel Emr: Website: worthwhile.org Email: info@worthwhile.org

  5. Sep 8

    Ep. 32 Your Mind Is An Operating System: How To Reprogram Your 70,000 Daily Thoughts with Chris M King

    What if everything you believe about your limitations is actually just outdated programming running in the background of your mind? Chris M King discovered this truth the hard way-after losing his job, apartment, and girlfriend all within 10 days, he made a decision that would change everything. Instead of scrambling for another paycheck, he chose to live out of his beaten-up sedan and build something from nothing. But this wasn't just another entrepreneurial success story-it was the beginning of understanding how reality itself can be renegotiated. Chris reveals the shocking truth about your 70,000 daily thoughts and why you're operating on autopilot 90% of the time, making the same unconscious decisions that keep you trapped in identical days. From sending a joke email to Ryan Seacrest that launched an unexpected radio career to becoming an NCAA hockey player at 22 with zero prior experience, Chris has cracked the code on what he calls the "human operating system." His methods have helped clients compress entire years of work into months and achieve what most consider impossible. Through neuroscience, frequency work, and what he calls "hiccups" in your mental programming, he's developed tools that can literally change your neurophysiology in real-time. The most mind-bending part? He proves it works using quantum physics and particle science, not just motivation and willpower. Contact Mark Astor: Website: https://mentalhealthaddictionlawfirm.com/ Phone number: 561-517-9405 Email: mark@astorsimovitchlaw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markastor TikTok: Mark G. Astor (@astorsimovitchlaw) | TikTok Contact Chris M King: Website: chrismking.com B2B Site: statusflow.net

  6. Sep 1

    Ep. 31 Why This Divorce Lawyer Had to Stop White Knuckling Life with Lesa Koski

    What if the thing you think you hate about your career is actually your greatest calling? Lesa Koski spent 25 years as an attorney before a cancer diagnosis at stage one completely shattered her understanding of control, purpose, and what it means to truly help others. She was white-knuckling her way through life, believing she could fix everything through sheer determination, until her body forced her to stop and surrender in ways she never imagined possible. The revelation that changed everything came during a prayer when she realized her oncologist hates cancer but still dedicates her life to healing patients. This conversation reveals the hidden struggles of high-achieving professionals who appear to have it all together while battling anxiety, perfectionism, and the crushing weight of always needing to have the right answers. Lesa's transformation from someone who feared vulnerability to an attorney who openly admits when she doesn't know something offers a masterclass in authentic leadership and finding peace in uncertainty. Contact Mark Astor: Website: https://mentalhealthaddictionlawfirm.com/ Phone number: 561-517-9405 Email: mark@astorsimovitchlaw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markastor TikTok: Mark G. Astor (@astorsimovitchlaw) | TikTok Contact Lesa Koski: Podcast: Saddle Up Live Podcast - Podcast - Apple Podcasts LinkedIn: Lesa Koski Website: Lesa Koski Email: lesa.koski@gmail.com

  7. Aug 25

    Ep. 30 How Losing His Mom To Opioids Launched A 600-Episode Podcast with Justin Schenck

    What happens when the worst moment of your life becomes the catalyst for helping millions? Justin Schenck's story defies every expectation - from a 1.7 GPA kid voted least likely to succeed to hosting over 600 podcast episodes that have literally saved lives. Six months before launching his podcast, Justin lost his mother to a 20-year battle with opioid addiction that began when she was caught stealing pills from the pharmacy where she worked. The conversations he needed to have in that moment of grief became the authentic foundation that made his show take off. Justin doesn't sugarcoat the reality of loving someone you can't save - the roller coaster of clean periods followed by devastating relapses, the family dynamics that addiction destroys, and the moment he realized his mother didn't die because she was an addict but because she didn't love herself. His raw honesty about his own three-month drinking bender after her death and the breakthrough that followed reveals how personal transformation becomes the bridge to helping others heal. Contact Mark Astor: Website: https://mentalhealthaddictionlawfirm.com/ Phone number: 561-517-9405 Email: mark@astorsimovitchlaw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markastor TikTok: Mark G. Astor (@astorsimovitchlaw) | TikTok Contact Justin Schenck: Instagram: @JustinTSchenck Growth Now Summit: growthnowsummit.com

  8. Aug 18

    Ep. 29 He Lived Under A Fake Name For 2 Years: Now He Saves Lives Through Mental Health Interventions with Evan Jarschauer

    A five-year-old boy disappears with his father to Canada under fake identities. Decades later, that same person becomes the interventionist celebrities call when their families are falling apart. Evan Jarschauer's story reads like fiction, but his approach to mental health interventions is grounded in hard-won expertise and genuine compassion. In this raw conversation, he reveals why waiting for someone to hit rock bottom is actually waiting for them to die, and how he helps families take control before it's too late. From his appearance on Keeping Up with the Kardashians to handling cases involving severe mental illness and addiction, Evan shares the behind-the-scenes reality of intervention work that most people never see. He explains why the surge in mental health cases since COVID isn't slowing down, how marijuana legalization created unexpected challenges, and why the most loving thing a family can sometimes do is refuse to let their loved one make decisions when they're psychiatrically compromised. Contact Mark Astor: Website: https://mentalhealthaddictionlawfirm.com/ Phone number: 561-517-9405 Email: mark@astorsimovitchlaw.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markastor TikTok: Mark G. Astor (@astorsimovitchlaw) | TikTok Contact Evan Jarschauer: Website: Behavioral Help Solutions | Mental Health | Drug Abuse | Nationwide

See All (36)

Ratings & Reviews

3
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

What happens when success doesn’t come in a straight line? The Journey with Mark Astor explores the paths most people never talk about the setbacks, turning points, and internal battles that quietly define who we become. Hosted by attorney Mark Astor, this podcast goes beyond surface-level conversations to uncover the real stories behind leadership, recovery, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. Each week, Mark sits down with guests who have navigated complex journeys of their own from business leaders and legal professionals to behavioral health experts and individuals shaped by life-altering experiences. These conversations challenge assumptions, shift perspective, and invite listeners to rethink what progress truly looks like. If you’re interested in honest dialogue, meaningful insight, and stories that stay with you long after the episode ends, this podcast was created for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Astor
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Journey with Mark Astor
  • Show Website
    The Journey with Mark Astor