At 12 years old, Hadley Ott was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and weighed just 53 pounds. He could barely keep food down, and for more than a decade, his life was shaped by medications, steroids, a feeding tube, biologic drugs, and eventually surgery to remove part of his intestine. But even after all of that, the symptoms kept coming back. By his early 20s, Hadley was still sick and still searching for answers. The stress of his job triggered another flare, and eventually he found himself in a place of deep hopelessness, wondering if there was any way out. That moment changed the direction of his life. In this episode, Hadley sits down with Sam Acho and Clif Marshall to share the deeply personal story behind his decision to take a different approach to his health. In the spring of 2024, he stepped away from his doctors and medications and committed himself to a lifestyle centered around nutrition, fitness, and faith. He talks openly about changing the way he ate, using supplements and gut health protocols, approaching fitness as part of his healing journey, and leaning deeper into his faith. Most importantly, he shares the mindset that helped him move forward when he felt like he had exhausted every option. Hadley says his journey took him from 53 pounds to 170 pounds and eventually inspired his book, Drug Free Crohn’s: Overcoming Big Doctors, Big Hospitals and Big Pharma, which became an Amazon bestseller. Today, he shares his story with audiences at universities across the country, including Notre Dame, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State. But this conversation goes beyond Crohn’s disease. It’s about what happens when you reach your breaking point. It’s about faith in the middle of suffering, taking ownership of your life, rebuilding your body, confronting fear, and finding hope when you feel like there is none left. Hadley’s story will challenge you to think differently about health, resilience, faith, and what it means to keep fighting when the odds feel stacked against you. If you or someone you love is navigating Crohn’s disease, chronic illness, an autoimmune condition, or simply a difficult season in life, this is a conversation worth hearing. Hadley’s story reflects his personal experience and beliefs. This episode is for informational purposes and is not intended to replace professional medical advice or treatment.
