TheWillpowerPodcast with Will Gordon

Will Gordon
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  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
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Sobriety podcast featuring real addiction recovery stories and practical tools that actually work. I'm Will Gordon. Boston school teacher, two-time organ transplant survivor, and a guy who used to hide vodka bottles in places I don't even like remembering. At 35, my liver and kidneys were done. Doctors said weeks, maybe less. Transplants gave me a second shot. Sobriety gave me everything else. This isn't some shiny recovery show. It's raw conversations about what addiction actually feels like, how messy getting sober really is, and the quiet moments that slowly pull you back to life. Every Friday I talk with people who've been to the edge - some still hanging on by their fingernails - and we unpack the doubts, the small wins, the tools that actually work when everything else fails. If you're fighting cravings, questioning if it's worth it, or just need to hear someone who gets it... this is for you. Real stories. Real tools. No b******t. AND ALWAYS with Respect and Compassion. 🎧 New Episodes Every Friday: One listen could reframe your life. 🙏 Every donation helps keep this content going and reaching the people who need it most. → https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast JOIN THE MOVEMENT: YouTube: @TheWillpowerPodcast (full video eps—subscribe for the visuals that hit harder).Audio Platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, AudibleInstagram: @thewillpowerpodcast (daily Reels, tips, and community vibes).TikTok: @willgordonsober Connect Direct: thewillpowerpodcast@gmail.com. Book a FREE 30-minute sober mentoring session via my Calendly (link in IG bio too)—let's chat if you're ready to flip the script. "Your greatest comeback starts the moment you decide it's possible."  Feel that pull? Hit play. One story could change your lens. Subscribe, and let’s build something unstoppable. 

  1. Near Fatal OD & Alcohol Withdrawal Saved His Life – 9 Months Sober Musician Shares All

    3D AGO

    Near Fatal OD & Alcohol Withdrawal Saved His Life – 9 Months Sober Musician Shares All

    Chester Alarie, a 34-year-old musician from Montreal, opens up about his 17-year battle with drugs and alcohol that led to depression, multiple rock bottoms, a near-fatal overdose, and alcohol withdrawal in January 2024. FULL DISCLOSURE> YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY WANT TO LISTEN TO THE END. THIS EPISODE IS AS ENTERTAINING AS A RECOVERY PODCAST CAN GET! After rehab, relapses, and finally working the 12 steps, Chester is now 9 months sober, happier than ever, and making music full-time. This conversation is raw, honest, and full of hope – from the darkest moments to finding joy sober on stage. Trigger Warning: This episode discusses overdose, withdrawal, suicide attempts, and other heavy topics. If you're struggling, please reach out for help. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (US): 988 Crisis Text Line (US): Text HOME to 741741 Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 988 (or 1-833-456-4566) SAMHSA National Helpline (US): 1-800-662-HELP (4357) Timestamps: 00:00 – Near Fatal Overdose & Withdrawal 02:46 – Early Struggles & Depression 07:55 – Rock Bottoms Begin 17:21 – Loss & Grief 24:16 – The OD That Changed Everything 38:54 – Relapses & Moderation Lies 49:18 – Happiest Sober Moment (Crying on Stage) 1:01:11 – Comparison is the Thief of Joy Connect with Chester: Instagram: @chester_alarie Connect with Will: https://www.instagram.com/thewillpowerpodcast Support the podcast (if you feel called): Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/willpowerpodcast (active & appreciated ❤️) Need someone to talk to? My 1-on-1 mentoring → https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min 🧥 RCVR Apparel → Rock recovery-inspired gear with pride. Save 10% with code WILLPOWER10 at https://rcvrbrand.com 💊 LiverMedic Supplements → Feel your best with natural liver support. Use code WILL10 for 10% off at https://liverlifesupplements.com 🎤 AMPLIFY Sober Voices (Jan 15, 2026) → Join sober creators at Podfest 2026. Get $20 off with code WILLPOWER20 at https://amplify.soberliferocks.com 📚 Shortform (reading made easy) → Dig deeper into recovery books! Sign up at https://shortform.com/twpp and get a FREE TRIAL + $50 OFF your annual subscription. If this episode helped you or someone you know, hit subscribe and share it. More real stories coming soon. Thank you for being part of this community. And a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR! I believe 2026 will be OUR BEST yet! Thanks for being apart of this community! It means the world ✊ #Sobriety #RecoveryStory #AlcoholAddiction #OverdoseSurvival #SoberMusician #12Steps #RockBottom #SoberLife #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #WillpowerPodcast #Sober2026 #RelapseToRecovery #SoberJourney

    1h 2m

  2. 12/27/2025

    Rick Duff: 6 Months Sober, Quitting Alcohol, Addiction Recovery & Forever Reckless Album Story

    What's up everyone, Will Gordon here from The Willpower Podcast. This one's a banger – sat down with Quebec country rocker Rick Duff @Duff.yeehaw, who's 6 months sober and absolutely crushing it with his debut album Forever Reckless. Rick lays it all out: going from bricklayer to Canada's got talent show finale overnight, the wild party days in his 20s, those "loser birds" chirping after all-nighters, getting hammered through five straight shows and knowing he was letting fans down... that was his wake-up call to quit booze and drugs for good. We get deep on the guilt, the crossroads moment,surprising confidence from stacking sober days, sober hacks for touring, and turning massive pain – including losing his best friend Matthew to addiction – into therapy on tracks. Album's dedicated to him, man. Songs like "Reckless" and "Ford Ranger" hit hard. If you're grinding through quitting drinking, battling addiction, or just need some real talk on mental health and showing up better – this is the one. Rick's proof you can flip the script and give your best self to the people who believe in you. Timestamps: 00:00 - Cold open hook + Quebec weather banter 02:26 - Fame explosion from TV show 03:44 - Rock bottom: 5 wasted nights on stage 07:07 - The moment booze was stealing his voice 10:02 - Loser birds & choosing sobriety 17:21 - Losing Matthew & the album dedication 26:07 - Sober touring hacks 28:23 - Motivation from other artists/books 30:13 - What's next for Rick 34:25 - Rick's final words Stream Forever Reckless everywhere and follow Rick: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4MNUaMf0Yl05yY6x342xBHInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickduffmusic/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rickduffmusicYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Duff.yeehawWebsite: https://rickduffmusic.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DUFFOFFICIEL/ Hit subscribe if these stories fire you up – we're building a community of people stacking wins and getting after it sober. Drop a comment if Rick's story hit home. If you're getting value from the show and want to help me keep grinding these episodes full-time (editing two a day sometimes takes all day!), a coffee on BuyMeACoffee means the world: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/willpowerpodcast Other ways to support (keeps the lights on while I chase this dream): RCVR gear: https://rcvrbrand.com/LiverMedic supplements: https://livermedic.com/AMPLIFY Sober events: https://amplify.soberliferocks.com/Thanks for being here, fam. Let's keep the willpower rolling.

    39 min

  3. 12/19/2025

    Therapist Spent 30 Years Fixing Addicts… Then Became One Herself

    Dr. Sarah Michaud spent 30 years as a clinical psychologist helping addicts and codependents climb out of hell… only to wake up one day and realize she was living in the exact same hell. From people-pleasing therapist to full-blown addict and codependent, she hit rock bottom, got sober, wrote the raw book Co-Crazy, and now co-hosts the hit podcast Leaving Crazy Land. This conversation is different. If you grew up trying to keep everyone happy, if you still don’t know what YOU actually want, or if sobriety feels like it’s missing something… this one will hit different. Watch now. Connect with Dr. Sarah Website → https://drsarahmichaud.com Podcast (Leaving Crazy Land) → Search “Leaving Crazy Land” on your platform Book Co-Crazy → Available everywhere Need someone to talk to? My 1-on-1 mentoring → https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min Support the show : 🤝 If you believe in the mission of spreading hope and healing through real recovery stories, please consider donating to the podcast. Every dollar helps keep this content going and reaching the people who need it most → https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast 🧥 RCVR Apparel → Rock recovery-inspired gear with pride. Save 10% with code WILLPOWER10 at https://rcvrbrand.com 💊 LiverMedic Supplements → Feel your best with natural liver support. Use code WILL10 for 10% off at https://liverlifesupplements.com 🎤 AMPLIFY Sober Voices (Jan 15, 2026) → Join sober creators at Podfest 2026. Get $20 off with code WILLPOWER20 at https://amplify.soberliferocks.com 📚 Shortform (reading made easy) → Dig deeper into recovery books. Sign up at https://shortform.com/twpp and get a FREE TRIAL + $50 OFF your annual subscription. Timestamps 00:00 Therapist becomes the patient 00:54 First drink at 16 – “It was the solution” 04:25 Bank robbery to pay a coke dealer 09:15 Growing up in alcoholism & feeling “different” 13:37 Why year 2-3 of sobriety is the hardest 21:22 What codependency really is (and why it’s deadly) 29:43 The fear that drives people-pleasing 33:27 “Put down the drink for 30 days and see” 42:37 Best advice for anyone realizing they drink too much Drop a ❤️ if this hit home. Subscribe Please – new episode every week. #Codependency #PeoplePleaser #Sober #QuitDrinking #Recovery

    43 min

  4. 12/13/2025

    Doctors Gave Her WEEKS to Live from Alcohol… She Reversed End-Stage Liver Failure (No Transplant)

    Philippa and I were both handed death sentences from alcohol. I needed a liver transplant and barely survived. Philippa was told the exact same thing… but she completely reversed end-stage cirrhosis – no transplant, no miracle pills, no BS. 999 days to get her liver enzymes normal. A resident doctor cried when he saw her alive two years later. This is the rawest, most hopeful liver-failure recovery story you will ever hear. I'm not just saying that... If you’re hiding bottles, lying to yourself, or telling yourself “it’s not that bad yet” – watch/listen before it’s too late. Philippa answers every DM → https://www.instagram.com/pippaamelia9 Need 1-on-1 help? My sober mentoring → https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min 🙏 If you believe in the mission of spreading hope and healing through real recovery stories, please consider donating to the podcast. Every dollar helps keep this content going and reaching the people who need it most. → https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast 📅 Book a 1:1 Sober Mentoring Session Today—LINK BELOW https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min 🧥 RCVR Apparel: Rock recovery-inspired gear with pride. Save 10% with code thewillpowerpodcast at rcvrbrand.com/thewillpowerpodcast 💊 Liver Medic Supplements: Feel your best with natural liver support. Use code THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off for 10% off at livermedic.com/discount/THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off 🎤 AMPLIFY Sober Voices (Jan 15, 2026): Join sober creators at Podfest 2026. Get $20 off with code WILL at amplify.soberliferocks.com • Buy me a coffee (keeps episodes free) → https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast Timestamps 00:00 Cold open – hiding bottles & lies 01:09 “Doctors gave me weeks… they gave her weeks” 02:54 She turned completely yellow + last drink story 25:18 “999 days to normal liver enzymes” 29:07 “You have 2 months to live” 36:58 The resident doctor started crying 43:00 Life now – 3.5 years sober & thriving Drop a ❤️ if this hit home. Subscribe – new episode every week. #AlcoholismRecovery #LiverFailure #EndStageCirrhosis #Sobriety #QuitDrinking #SoberLife #AddictionRecovery #LiverTransplant #Jaundice #SoberCurious #RecoveryIsPossible #AlcoholicLiverDisease #SoberMotivation #DryJanuaryForever #TheWillpowerPodcast

    51 min

  5. 12/08/2025 · BONUS

    He Got the Call: Liver Transplant Approved — Aaron Is Terrified (Raw Episode)LIVE!

    Aaron Starbuck just got the green light. His liver transplant is officially approved and could happen any day… maybe even tonight. His first reaction wasn’t relief. It was terror. I know exactly how he's feeling and I talk openly about my OWN experience. Imagine being able to talk to someone whose on the other side of it? Well Aaron gets that opportunity. “I knew it was coming… but I’m repulsed by the idea of being cut open. It’s a blessing… but it’s also scary.” I felt him here. In this emergency raw live episode we talk: - The exact moment the transplant team calledWhy he’s having cold feet even though he’s dying without itThe financial nightmare of transplant lifeParacentesis, lactulose, HE, and rock-bottom truthWhat the other side actually feels like (I LIVED it) If Aaron’s story moves you, help him with medical bills, housing, and recovery costs right now: https://www.gofundme.com/f/aaron-needs-a-liver-transplant-to-thrive 🤝 If you believe in spreading real recovery stories, please consider supporting the show. Every dollar keeps this content coming → https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast One of the most powerful conversations we’ve ever recorded. If you’re in recovery, on a transplant list, or love someone who is — this one’s for you. New episodes every week. Leave a review and share if this hit home. #LiverTransplant #Sobriety #AddictionRecovery #TransplantWarrior

    31 min

  6. 12/08/2025

    Coming Up for Air After a Lifetime Underwater | Mitch Webb

    🤝From a second-story fall that started a decade of panic attacks, to blackouts I’m still ashamed of, to not believing I’d see 30 — Mitch Webb somehow found a way out. Today he’s an integrative somatic coach helping people speak their body’s language and heal from the inside. In this episode, Mitch gets real about: - The head injury that changed everything - Fraternity life and the “no off switch” drinking - Childhood trauma he didn’t even know he had - Sitting with the fire (the moment that felt like a magic trick) - Pee Pee McGee shame - Lyme pain and mold hell - Why Western medicine failed him - A 60-second practice that melted anxiety live on the podcast - Coming out of survival mode and finally seeing the sky as blue again This is one of the most honest conversations I’ve had. If you’re carrying the same weight, this one’s for you. 🤝 If you believe in spreading real recovery stories, please consider supporting the show. Every dollar keeps this content coming → https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast Connect with Mitch: Free nervous system quiz + coaching → https://mitchweb.com Instagram → https://instagram.com/kmitchwebb The Willpower Podcast with Will Gordon New episodes every week → subscribe if this helped #Sobriety #QuitDrinking #TraumaHealing #SomaticHealing #Anxiety #AddictionRecovery #SoberLife #MentalHealth #RecoveryPodcast

    40 min

  7. 11/21/2025

    Losing My Son, My Marriage, and Almost My Life to Alcohol… Then Her Ex Died of Fentanyl | Ashley Jo

    After two suicide attempts, losing her baby son to a terminal illness, a marriage that ended in scandal, and then — 4+ years sober — getting the call that her ex-husband overdosed on fentanyl… Ashley Jo somehow kept going. Today she’s a sober mom, bonus mom, author, and speaker who’s been alcohol-free since August 14, 2020. On the exact release day of her gut-wrenching new memoir Tides of Grief, Waves of Grace, Ashley gets REAL about: - Hiding 40+ beers a day while everyone thought she “had it together” - The garage suicide attempt that miraculously failed - What sober grief actually feels like when the worst keeps happening - Writing two eulogies in treatment that changed everything - Why God never left even when faith almost did - And the letter to her ex she never got to say out loud 💔 This is one of the heaviest, most hopeful conversations we’ve ever had on the show. If this episode hits home, drop a comment and let us know. And PLEASE—smash that subscribe button so we can keep these powerful convos coming. 🙏 If you believe in the mission of spreading hope and healing through real recovery stories, please consider donating to the podcast. Every dollar helps keep this content going and reaching the people who need it most → https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast 🧥 RCVR Apparel: Rock recovery-inspired gear with pride. Save 10% with code thewillpowerpodcast at rcvrbrand.com/thewillpowerpodcast 💊 Liver Medic Supplements: Feel your best with natural liver support. Use code THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off for 10% off at livermedic.com/discount/THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off 🎤 AMPLIFY Sober Voices (Jan 15, 2026): Join sober creators at Podfest 2026. Get $20 off with code WILL at amplify.soberliferocks.com 📚 Grab Ashley’s book Tides of Grief, Waves of Grace today: https://www.thisisashleyjo.com (or Amazon, Barnes & Noble, everywhere books are sold) Connect with Ashley: Instagram: https://instagram.com/thisisashleyjo Website: https://thisisashleyjo.com Shortform affiliate (reading made easy): Sign up at https://shortform.com/twpp and get a FREE TRIAL + $50 OFF your annual subscription. Perfect for digging deeper into recovery books! #Sobriety #AddictionRecovery #GriefAndHealing #SoberMom #ChildLoss #FentanylAwareness #ChristianRecovery #SoberPodcast

    58 min

  8. 11/14/2025

    He Quit Drinking and Found This Instead

    He hit rock bottom after a DUI. Now, Chaplain Sy Ali is 5 years sober, and helping others transform their lives. From elite protection agent to homeless veteran, this is the powerful true story of recovery, redemption, and rediscovering purpose through faith and service. In this episode of the Will Power Podcast, Sy shares how PTSD, loss, and addiction nearly destroyed him—and how reading the Bible, becoming a chaplain, and working with at-risk youth and fellow veterans changed everything. We dive into his journey from alcohol dependence to spiritual leadership, and how he now uses his story to heal others. 🎧 What you’ll hear: • Why Sy surrendered after a life-altering DUI • The hidden toll of PTSD and emotional suppression • What it really feels like to be homeless • How he rebuilt his life at 60 with zero money • His advice for anyone struggling with addiction or doubt ✨ Whether you're battling personal demons or just seeking hope, this is a story you don’t want to miss. 📚 Read Sy Ali’s memoir Out of the Storm 🌐 Learn more about his youth work at Alivio Learning 📢 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more unfiltered stories of human willpower. 👉 Book a 1:1 Sober Mentoring Session Today—LINK BELOW https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min 🙏 If this episode hits home, drop a comment and let us know. And PLEASE—smash that subscribe button so we can keep these powerful convos coming. 🧥 RCVR Apparel: Rock recovery-inspired gear with pride. Save 10% with code thewillpowerpodcast at rcvrbrand.com/thewillpowerpodcast 💊 Liver Medic Supplements: Feel your best with natural liver support. Use code THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off for 10% off at livermedic.com/discount/THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off 🎤 AMPLIFY Sober Voices (Jan 15, 2026): Join sober creators at Podfest 2026. Get $20 off with code WILL at amplify.soberliferocks.com

    56 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Sobriety podcast featuring real addiction recovery stories and practical tools that actually work. I'm Will Gordon. Boston school teacher, two-time organ transplant survivor, and a guy who used to hide vodka bottles in places I don't even like remembering. At 35, my liver and kidneys were done. Doctors said weeks, maybe less. Transplants gave me a second shot. Sobriety gave me everything else. This isn't some shiny recovery show. It's raw conversations about what addiction actually feels like, how messy getting sober really is, and the quiet moments that slowly pull you back to life. Every Friday I talk with people who've been to the edge - some still hanging on by their fingernails - and we unpack the doubts, the small wins, the tools that actually work when everything else fails. If you're fighting cravings, questioning if it's worth it, or just need to hear someone who gets it... this is for you. Real stories. Real tools. No b******t. AND ALWAYS with Respect and Compassion. 🎧 New Episodes Every Friday: One listen could reframe your life. 🙏 Every donation helps keep this content going and reaching the people who need it most. → https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast JOIN THE MOVEMENT: YouTube: @TheWillpowerPodcast (full video eps—subscribe for the visuals that hit harder).Audio Platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, AudibleInstagram: @thewillpowerpodcast (daily Reels, tips, and community vibes).TikTok: @willgordonsober Connect Direct: thewillpowerpodcast@gmail.com. Book a FREE 30-minute sober mentoring session via my Calendly (link in IG bio too)—let's chat if you're ready to flip the script. "Your greatest comeback starts the moment you decide it's possible."  Feel that pull? Hit play. One story could change your lens. Subscribe, and let’s build something unstoppable. 

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