Broken-ish

Roman Braly, Christopher Bennett
  • 5.0 (3)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

We’re explorers. Broken-ish is a podcast about exploring the mess of being human - broken systems, messy relationships, divided communities - and the people building something better out of it. Each week, in 30 minutes or less, we sit down with voices who’ve lived the chaos, challenged the status quo, and are creating change from the ground up. Hard truths, real conversations, and sparks of possibility from a world that’s a little… Broken-ish.

  1. Trust Beats Marketing

    4D AGO

    Trust Beats Marketing

    What if everything you’ve been told about marketing in behavioral health is wrong? In this episode of Inside Ava Health, we break down how we launched a treatment program in a community that didn’t trust providers… without relying on ads, big budgets, or traditional marketing strategies. No Google campaigns. No massive ad spend. No shortcuts. Instead, we focused on something most organizations ignore: real community engagement and trust. And the results speak for themselves: • 168 qualified referrals in the first 90 days • 47 employees hired with no hiring struggles • Near-perfect early retention • Clients and staff who felt connected before ever walking through the door This episode dives into: Why “marketing” in behavioral health is brokenHow authenticity and content outperform paid adsThe power of embedding into a community before openingBuilding trust with both clients and employees at the same timeWhy most treatment centers feel “beige” and how to stand outIf you’re in behavioral health, business, or building anything that requires trust… this conversation will change how you think about growth. This isn’t theory. This is what actually worked. 🎙️ Inside Ava Health is a behind-the-scenes look at building one of the most innovative behavioral health programs in the country. Subscribe for real conversations on mental health, addiction, recovery, and what it actually takes to build something that works.

    30 min
  2. He Used to Glorify Addiction… Now He Promotes Sobriety

    MAY 13

    He Used to Glorify Addiction… Now He Promotes Sobriety

    “I went hard for a life that destroyed… now I go hard for a life that creates.” This episode of Broken-ish is raw, unfiltered, and real. Hectik shares his story of growing up surrounded by addiction, getting his first charge at just 8 years old, and spending 17 years behind bars. What started as something that looked “cool” quickly turned into a cycle of destruction, prison, and losing the people who mattered most. But this isn’t just a story about addiction. It’s a story about choice. About rock bottom. About what happens when you finally ask yourself… “what do I actually want?” Now 5 years sober, Hectik is using music, events, and community to normalize sobriety and prove that life after addiction isn’t just possible… it can be powerful. In this episode, we talk about: How addiction gets normalized earlyThe truth about “rock bottom” (and why it’s different for everyone)Losing family, identity, and self-worthThe moment everything finally changedBuilding a life rooted in purpose, not destructionWhy connection is the cureIf you or someone you love is struggling, this conversation could change everything. 👇 Drop a comment: What did YOU take away from this episode? — 🎙️ Broken-ish Podcast Real stories. Real recovery. Real people. #addictionrecovery #sobriety #mentalhealth #recoveryjourney #podcast #brokenish #soberlife #addiction #healing #recoveryispossible

    33 min
  3. More Honest Than Therapy? Inside the Barber Chair Confessions

    MAY 6

    More Honest Than Therapy? Inside the Barber Chair Confessions

    Most people aren’t fully honest. Not with their family. Not with their therapist. But put someone in a barber chair… and something changes. In this episode of Broken-ish, we sit down with a barber who believes he’s saving lives one haircut at a time and he might not be wrong. From everyday clients quietly carrying pain… to cutting hair for the unhoused and restoring dignity… to deep conversations about mental health, purpose, and what it really means to live… This conversation goes way deeper than you’d expect. What starts as a haircut often turns into something else entirely: Truth. Vulnerability. Healing. 💬 In this episode, we explore: Why people open up more in a barber chair than therapy The hidden humanity inside “counterculture” communities The biggest misconception about homelessness What dignity actually looks like in real life How small moments can change someone’s entire trajectory The difference between being alive… and actually living There’s a moment in this conversation where he says something simple but heavy: 👉 “The biggest disservice anyone can do to themselves is to give up.” That idea alone might stick with you. If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, stuck, or like you’re just going through the motions… this episode will hit. 🎙️ Broken-ish is about real conversations with real people navigating mental health, addiction, identity, and what it means to rebuild. 👇 If this resonated with you: Like, subscribe, and share this with someone who needs it. Because sometimes… healing doesn’t happen in a therapist’s office. Sometimes it happens in a barber chair.

    38 min
  4. Charged with Murder : Prison to Purpose

    APR 29

    Charged with Murder : Prison to Purpose

    What if the person you’d write off… became the person who saves others? In this episode of Broken-ish, we sit down with a woman who spent 13 years in prison for a crime she didn’t physically commit… after a life shaped by addiction, people-pleasing, and one decision that changed everything. She was: A high-performing athlete Using meth in high school Running with the wrong crowd Charged with murder under the felony rule Pregnant… and on the run Then everything collapsed. Prison. Homelessness. Losing control. But what happened next is the part nobody expects. Today, she works on criminal defense teams across Colorado, advocating for people still stuck in the system she survived. She’s been on both sides of the bars… and now she walks people out. This is not just a story about addiction or prison. It’s about identity. It’s about redemption. And it’s about the moment everything changes. 💥 If you’ve ever thought someone was too far gone… watch this. ⏱️ WHAT YOU’LL HEAR: Starting meth in 9th grade just to stay “perfect” The night that led to a murder charge… without being there What 13 years in prison actually does to you The hidden addiction nobody talks about: approval Hitting rock bottom… again… after prison The moment she refused to lose her kids How she rebuilt her life from nothing What it’s like to walk back into prison… as the one helping 🧠 WHY THIS MATTERS We pass people every day and assume they’ll never change. This episode proves how wrong that assumption can be. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more real conversations about mental health, addiction, and recovery that actually tell the truth. ⏱️

    32 min
  5. Forgiving the Man Who Killed My Sister

    APR 15

    Forgiving the Man Who Killed My Sister

    What does it actually take to forgive someone who took everything from you? In this episode of Brokenish, we sit down for a raw and honest conversation about grief, anger, and the kind of forgiveness most people believe is impossible. After losing her sister in a tragic accident, today’s guest carried years of hatred toward the man responsible. The pain was overwhelming. The anger was real. And for a long time, forgiveness felt completely out of reach. At the same time, Roman shares his own story growing up in foster care, carrying deep resentment from abuse, and how holding onto that anger nearly destroyed his life. This episode isn’t about pretending everything is okay. It’s about the truth most people avoid: Forgiveness isn’t about them. It’s about setting yourself free. Inside this conversation: • What grief and anger actually feel like after loss • The moment hate turns into something dangerous • Why forgiveness has nothing to do with the other person • The difference between forgiving and forgetting • How letting go can literally save your life If you’ve ever struggled to forgive someone… or yourself… this episode is for you. 🎧 Subscribe for more real conversations about mental health, addiction, and recovery. #forgiveness #grief #healing #mentalhealth #addictionrecovery #trauma #selfgrowth

    37 min
  6. Hope is NOT a Business Strategy. Inside Ava Health's Hardest Moment

    APR 14

    Hope is NOT a Business Strategy. Inside Ava Health's Hardest Moment

    This episode is different. Nine days before opening our doors, the largest payer in our community paused providers. Everything we built for over two years… gone overnight. Most programs would panic. Some would blame. Others would quietly fail. We did something different. In this episode of Inside Ava Health, we take you behind the scenes of one of the hardest moments we’ve faced and how it forced us to: Rethink our entire strategy in real time Get out of the “ivory tower” and onto the front lines with staff and clients Build tighter systems, better care, and stronger culture Turn a near-disaster into one of our biggest advantages You’ll hear how we: Sit down with clients over dinner and ask what’s actually broken Close the feedback loop instead of ignoring it Lead without blame, even when everything goes wrong Plan for worst-case scenarios instead of relying on hope This is what it really looks like to build a behavioral health company from the ground up. No fluff. No corporate spin. Just the truth. If you care about addiction treatment, mental health, or building something meaningful in a broken system… this episode is for you. 📍 Ava Health is building a new model for behavioral health care 📞 If you or someone you love needs help, reach out to our team Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes episodes as we build Ava Health in real time.

    26 min
  7. The System Doesn’t Care if You Do It the Right Way. We Found out the Hard Way

    APR 7

    The System Doesn’t Care if You Do It the Right Way. We Found out the Hard Way

    9 days before we opened, we got denied a contract to serve the exact community we were built to serve. Everything in place. Every box checked. And it didn't matter. This episode is for the operators, clinicians, and executives who are tired of pretending the system rewards integrity. It doesn't. Not automatically. Not without a fight. Christopher Bennett (CEO) and David Purinton (CFO) of Ava Health sit down to unpack what actually happened — the operational reality, the financial exposure, and the decisions we made when the ground disappeared beneath us. No spin. No retrospective wisdom that makes us sound smarter than we were in the moment. Just what it actually looks like when a major payor denies a contract at the worst possible time — and how you lead through it without transferring your fear to your team or abandoning the mission for the margin. Topics covered: – What a 9-day contract denial actually does to your financial model – How payors and regulators make decisions (and what most providers misunderstand) – The difference between fighting a system and navigating one – Where providers silently give away their leverage – How to protect the mission when financial pressure starts making decisions for you – What we did next — and why If you're building in this space, this will happen to you. The question is whether you're ready. Follow us: @HelloAvaHealth on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube

    23 min
  8. The Brutal Truth About Our First 30 Days (Opening a Treatment Center)

    MAR 25

    The Brutal Truth About Our First 30 Days (Opening a Treatment Center)

    We’ve been open for 30 days, and the reality of healthcare leadership is a lot more like a chess game than we expected. From the "friction" of accountability to the hope of seeing "Patient One" finally walk through the door, this is the raw truth of building Ava Health. In this episode of Inside Ava Health, our leadership team goes behind the scenes of our first month post-opening. We’re moving past the "polished" brand image to discuss the actual operational challenges of navigating state contracts, managing provider networks, and the mental shift required to move from being a therapist to being a strategic leader. Whether you're a healthcare professional, a therapist by trade, or a startup founder, these are the lessons we’ve learned the hard way. Key Moments in This Episode: 0:00 – The 30-Day Reality Check: CEO vs. COO Perspectives 03:45 – The "Patient One" vs. "Patient 1000" Debate 07:20 – The Friction of Accountability: Why Systems Break 12:15 – Thinking Like a Chess Player: Strategic Moves in Healthcare 15:50 – Navigating the Kinks: State Contracts & Provider Networks 22:30 – From Therapist to Leader: The Necessary Mindset Shift 25:10 – Final Reflections: Hope, Gratitude, and Year One Goals About Ava Health: Ava Health is dedicated to dispelling myths in the wellness sector and building a more transparent, accountable healthcare system. We share our journey—the wins and the friction—to help other providers and patients navigate the complexities of modern care. Join the Conversation: 👉 SUBSCRIBE to follow our journey as we scale and solve the "kinks" in the system. 💬 QUESTION: What was the biggest "friction point" you hit in the first month of your business or project? Let’s talk in the comments.

    41 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

We’re explorers. Broken-ish is a podcast about exploring the mess of being human - broken systems, messy relationships, divided communities - and the people building something better out of it. Each week, in 30 minutes or less, we sit down with voices who’ve lived the chaos, challenged the status quo, and are creating change from the ground up. Hard truths, real conversations, and sparks of possibility from a world that’s a little… Broken-ish.

Information

  • Creator
    Roman Braly, Christopher Bennett
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Broken-ish , Ava Health 2025
  • Show Website
    Broken-ish