Broken-ish

Roman Braly, Christopher Bennett

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. More Honest Than Therapy? Inside the Barber Chair Confessions

    5월 6일

    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.

    38분
  2. Charged with Murder : Prison to Purpose

    4월 29일

    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. ⏱️

    32분
  3. The System Doesn’t Care if You Do It the Right Way. We Found out the Hard Way

    4월 7일

    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

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

    3월 25일

    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.

    41분

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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.