Ep. 6- TJ Sharitz, the (used to be) Control Freak. Part 2 TJ Sharitz joins Jim Barnard for an unusually personal conversation about how a lifetime of striving, control, and pain shaped his faith, family, and writing. They cover TJ’s book, Control Freak, The Least Valuable Player, and the deeply honest journey behind it, including dyslexia, athletic identity, a life-threatening bone infection, pornography, family repair, and the decision to yield control to God. This is an interview driven by testimony and reflection, with Jim and TJ both contributing substantively. The main topics are TJ’s personal history, the shaping of his control issues, his medical crisis and recovery, and the healing that came through writing and family honesty. Key topics In this episode, TJ shares how being diagnosed with dyslexia and ADD in third grade became an early turning point that made him feel ashamed, isolated, and determined to control everything he could.He talks about finding success in swimming and football because athletics gave him measurable outcomes, personal discipline, and a place where he could win without depending on other people.TJ explains the disappointment and injury that ended his kicking dreams, including a pivotal tryout moment that he now sees as part of God redirecting his path toward broadcast work.He describes how a career in television and production grew out of that redirected path, eventually leading to meaningful ministry, family life, and the writing of his book.Jim and TJ discuss the difference between wielding control and yielding control, a phrase they developed together to describe surrender as an active choice rather than passive defeat.TJ recounts a devastating medical crisis involving a spinal bone infection, paralysis, emergency treatment, and being told he had five days to live, then later experiencing what he believes was a miraculous healing.He shares how that crisis forced a genuine surrender to God and changed how he saw his marriage, fatherhood, and purpose.The conversation turns to trauma and secrecy when TJ reveals childhood molestation, how that pain stayed buried for decades, and how it connected to his control issues, shame, and addiction.TJ and Jim discuss pornography honestly and directly, including how it functioned as another form of control, how he addressed it with his family, and what accountability now looks like for him.They close with TJ reflecting on the healing power of authenticity, the “golden thread” in his story, and the hope that his testimony can help other men who feel trapped, ashamed, or alone. Notable quotes “When we give it to God, I mean, He's the master orchestrator.” “With control, we can either wield it like a weapon or we can yield it.” “The greatest gift of surrender is not having to be the one to carry all the weight.” Resources & Links: Control Freak book websiteCoincidence or God TikTokTJ’s instagramTJ's youtubetiller coaching.
