Success is Subjective: Real People. Raw Stories. Embracing a Non-Linear Life!

Joanna Lilley, MA, NCC
  • 5.0 (62)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Interviews of people who took a break from life at one point or another to get help, grow up, or just to reassess their life direction. Some guests struggled with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, a death in the family, or just decided college was not the place for them. These stories are all-to-real, and yet we don't talk enough about how common it is for those who took a gap year to defer college, went to college and took a break, or those who struggled launching into the workforce post-college graduation. This goes out to all the young adults and parents of young adults who are struggling and contemplating what will happen if they walk away right now. 

  1. 3D AGO

    Episode 342: Beyond Motivation - Why Regulation Is the Key to Lasting Change with Jennifer Loehding

    Jennifer Loehding built a successful career in leadership before a rare nerve condition disrupted everything, forcing her into a prolonged state of pain and survival. What followed was a deeper process of unpacking the patterns, beliefs, and behaviors that had been driving her long before her diagnosis. In this episode, Jennifer shares how cycles of overachievement and “crash and burn” began showing up across her health, relationships, and overall well-being. Through her healing journey, she developed a framework for understanding success across four key areas—relationships, career, health, and finances—and how imbalance in one affects them all. This conversation offers a grounded look at why so many people feel stuck or overwhelmed, and what it actually takes to create lasting, sustainable change—for both young adults and the parents supporting them. Jennifer's Resources:  Website: Jennifer Loehding Podcast: Starter Girlz Instagram: @jenniferloehding Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #PersonalDevelopment #LifeCoaching #EmotionalWellness #SelfImprovement #JenniferLoehding

    26 min

  2. MAR 24

    Episode 341: Delayed Independence - Understanding the Patterns That Keep Young Adults Stuck with Dr. Eric Beaudoin

    Dr. Eric Beaudoin’s story challenges everything we assume about motivation, intelligence, and what it really means to “apply yourself.” Growing up labeled as lazy and underperforming, Eric internalized the belief that something was fundamentally wrong with him—despite clear signs of potential. What no one recognized at the time was the deeper issue driving it all: disconnection, loneliness, and a lack of meaningful support. In this episode, Eric shares the unfiltered reality of his nonlinear path—from failing classes, self-sabotage, and repeated second chances, to eventually confronting the patterns that were holding him back. Through pivotal moments, honest feedback, and finally being forced to take ownership, he began to rebuild both his academic life and his sense of self. Now a licensed psychologist and executive director of two young adult transitional programs, Eric uses his lived experience to support others navigating delayed independence and “failure to launch.” This conversation is a powerful reminder that what looks like laziness is often something much deeper—and that real change begins when someone is willing to look beyond the surface. Dr. Eric’s Resources:  Website: Cornerstones of Maine Instagram: @cornerstonesofmaine Facebook: Cornerstones of Maine Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #CornerstonesOfMaine #TransitionalLiving #ResidentialTreatment #Neurodiverse #Neurodivergent #FailureToLaunch

    27 min

  3. MAR 17

    Episode 340: Tough Love in Recovery - The Boundary That Changed Everything with Neill Timmons

    In this episode, Joanna sits down with Neill Timmons, CEO and founder of Arch to Freedom, an extended care recovery program supporting individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. But Neill’s path to leading a program that helps others rebuild their lives was anything but straightforward. After being asked to leave multiple schools, struggling with addiction during college, and eventually facing felony drug charges, Neill found himself at a turning point that would ultimately lead him toward recovery. One of the most pivotal moments came when his father set a firm boundary that forced Neill to confront the consequences of his choices. That experience became a powerful lesson about the role of accountability, support, and tough love in recovery. Today, Neill uses his lived experience to guide the work he does with young adults and families navigating similar challenges. In this conversation, he shares how boundaries can change the trajectory of a life, why enabling often keeps people stuck, and how recovery can become the foundation for building a life of purpose and impact. Neill’s Resources: Website: Arch to Freedom Instagram: @archtofreedom Facebook: Arch to Freedom LinkedIn: Arch to Freedom LinkedIn: Neill Timmons Website: PIVOTPoint Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #RecoveryCommunity #RecoverySupport #ArchToFreedom #BehavioralHealthCommunity

    23 min

  4. MAR 10

    Episode 339: From the Field to the Front Lines - Turning Personal Adversity Into Purpose with Brian McDonald

    Brian McDonald grew up in Southern California as a self-described “beach bum at heart,” with sports—especially football—shaping much of his identity. After earning the opportunity to play running back at BYU, a season-ending injury forced him to confront who he was beyond the game and reconsider the path he thought his life would take. What followed was a journey through faith, service, and unexpected career pivots that ultimately led him to working with adolescents and families navigating mental health challenges. In this episode, Brian shares how adversity, spiritual growth, and mentorship helped him redefine success—not as a destination, but as a lifelong process of becoming better each day.  Brian’s Resources:  Website: Oasis Ascent Instagram: @oasisascentrtc Facebook: Oasis Ascent Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #OasisAscentRtc #OasisAscent #TeenHelp #FamilyCrisis #ASDTeen

    27 min

  5. MAR 3

    Episode 338: Felony to Faculty - How Tom Bannard Built Recovery Support on a College Campus

    What happens when a student in recovery returns to a campus built around drinking culture? In this episode, Tom Bannard shares his own path from addiction, legal consequences, and a felony conviction to leading one of the largest collegiate recovery programs in Virginia. Now the Assistant Director for Substance Use and Recovery Support at VCU, Tom explains why most college campuses are not designed for students navigating addiction — and what it actually takes to change that. Joanna and Tom discuss readiness after treatment, the real risks of rushing back to school, and what families should look for when considering a collegiate recovery program. If your student is in recovery and thinking about returning to campus, this conversation will challenge assumptions and offer clarity about what support truly means. Tom’s Resources:  Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Rams in Recovery LinkedIn: Tom Bannard Instagram: @ramsinrecovery Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #CollegiateRecovery #RamsInRecovery #TomBannard #VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity #VCU

    31 min

  6. FEB 24

    Episode 337: The Value of Connection: From Memphis to Mountain Bikes to Mental Health with Dr. Jack Hinman

    Dr. Jack Hinman didn’t graduate high school with a plan. In fact, he barely graduated at all. What he did have was a deep instinct for connection — and that instinct would quietly shape everything that followed. In this episode, Jack shares how friendships, attachment, and one professor who “saw something” in him changed the trajectory of his life. From wilderness therapy to launching his own young adult transition program, he reflects on what actually moves young adults forward — and why progress often starts with finding one meaningful anchor. If you’ve ever wondered what success looks like beyond grades, titles, or timelines, this conversation reframes it in two powerful words: connection and health. Jack’s Resources:  Website: Engage Transitions Instagram: @engage.transitions Facebook: Engage Young Adult Transitions YouTube: Engage Young Adult Transitions Website: Young Adult Transition Association  Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #EmotionalProcessing #MentalHealthTips #YoungAdults #EngageTransitions

    24 min

  7. FEB 17

    Episode 336: My ADHD: Condemned, Praised, and the Life I Built Anyway with Allan Capp

    What happens when the traditional path never quite fits — and life forces you to grow up faster than your peers? In this episode of Success is Subjective, Allan Capp shares how struggling in school, losing his father as a teenager, and rejecting the “college equals success” narrative led him down a very different road. From working construction and managing restaurants to living out of a backpack in the wilderness and eventually co-owning a therapeutic gap program in Costa Rica, Allan’s journey is a powerful example of redefining success on your own terms. This conversation explores grief, identity, work ethic, and what it really means to build a meaningful life — even without a degree. Allan also speaks candidly about the transferable skills that matter more than a résumé and how stepping outside your comfort zone can become the catalyst for growth. If you’ve ever questioned whether there’s only one “right” way to move forward after high school, this episode offers both perspective and permission to define success for yourself. Allan’s Resources:  Website: Pure Life Facebook: Pure Life Instagram: @purelifeadventure YouTube: Pure Life Adventure Therapy Connect with Joanna Lilley   Therapeutic Consulting Association Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #PureLifeAdventure #GapYear #AdventureTherapy #CostaRica

    30 min

  8. FEB 10

    Episode 335: Learning to Accept Myself, Uncertainty, and the Winding Journey To and Through Recovery with Samantha Meyer

    Watching a young adult struggle can be confusing—especially when they’ve grown up surrounded by resources, knowledge, and support. In this episode, Joanna sits down with Samantha Meyer to unpack what happens when insight alone isn’t enough—and how recovery, maturity, and purpose often arrive on a nonlinear timeline. Samantha grew up immersed in the treatment world, yet still found herself battling substance use, anxiety, and depression from a young age. After years of navigating college, international moves, trauma, and escalating use, a pivotal moment during the early days of COVID led her to sobriety through AA. From there, Samantha rebuilt her life—returning home, working in treatment, and ultimately pursuing a clinical career of her own. Now the Admissions Director at Balance House and in her final semester of a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Samantha reflects on autonomy, uncertainty, and what real success looks like when it’s earned through lived experience. This episode is for parents, young adults, and professionals who want a realistic, compassionate look at recovery, treatment, and the long game of becoming yourself. Samantha’s Resources:  Website: Balance House Website: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Facebook: Balance House Instagram: @balancehouse Connect with Joanna Lilley   Lilley Consulting Website Lilley Consulting on Facebook  Lilley Consulting on YouTube Email: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com #TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #BalanceHouse #Recovery #RecoveryIsPossible #RecoveryProgram #SobrietyRocks

    24 min
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5
out of 5
62 Ratings

About

Interviews of people who took a break from life at one point or another to get help, grow up, or just to reassess their life direction. Some guests struggled with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, a death in the family, or just decided college was not the place for them. These stories are all-to-real, and yet we don't talk enough about how common it is for those who took a gap year to defer college, went to college and took a break, or those who struggled launching into the workforce post-college graduation. This goes out to all the young adults and parents of young adults who are struggling and contemplating what will happen if they walk away right now. 

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