TheWillpowerPodcast with Will Gordon

Will Gordon
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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. “Burnout Felt Like Relapse Fog” – Jon Gustin (@thetireddad) on Sobriety, Dad Life & New Book

    1D AGO

    “Burnout Felt Like Relapse Fog” – Jon Gustin (@thetireddad) on Sobriety, Dad Life & New Book

    Hey family, it's Will Gordon on The Willpower Podcast. Two years ago yellow-eyed in a hospital bed, kidneys/liver gone from blackouts—docs said two weeks. Two transplants later, sober, but I still know the numb fog when life's grinding you down. Jon Gustin—@thetireddad to over 2 million followers—gets it from the dad side. First kid in 2016 hit like a mirror: childhood stuff undone, marriage holes, alcohol numbing everything since age 14 (alcohol poisoning in ninth grade). Quit 2023 after tolerance exploded—now 3+ years sober, co-hosts The Tired Dad & Tired Mom Podcast with wife Jessica (@the.tiredmom), and his book "The Tired Dad" drops May 5 (pre-order now at tireddad.com—100 reflections on showing up exhausted, legacy, vulnerability; extras include 5 bonus reflections + curated soundtrack). We go deep: Becoming a dad flipped everything: "Shit, figure life out"Generational cycles: Breaking military-style discipline, no emotional connectSobriety grind: Dry Jan fails, first-year hell, stacking winsBurnout like pre-relapse: Numb, isolated—family walks & kindness as resetShame/regret flip: "Past had to happen for present"Legacy: Kids feel love through actions, not just wordsDads on fumes, anyone in recovery parenting, fighting numbness—this hits different. Liver transplant or dad burnout, the fight is showing up anyway. Timestamps: 00:00 – My transplant hell & Jon's dad mirror 05:00 – Sobriety wake-up: Alcohol since 14, quit 2023 12:00 – Generational cycles: Breaking no-connect patterns 20:00 – Burnout tools: Walks, kindness, getting uncomfortable 30:00 – Book tease: 100 reflections on showing up 40:00 – Legacy: Kids feel what you do Drop your takeaway: What's one cycle you're breaking? Tag a dad grinding. 👇 National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (24/7 free) Follow Jon: IG/TikTok @thetireddad | Podcast: The Tired Dad & Tired Mom Pre-order book: tireddad.com (extras: soundtrack + bonus reflections) Subscribe for raw recovery stories. Much love, Will Gordon Two-time transplant survivor • Sober • Still fighting

    39 min
  2. Rare Liver Disease: Then Transplant, Sepsis & Rejection Nearly Broke Me – Daniel Eadle

    MAR 6

    Rare Liver Disease: Then Transplant, Sepsis & Rejection Nearly Broke Me – Daniel Eadle

    I know transplant hell—yellow eyes, sepsis scares, rejection fears, the mental limbo after waking up with someone else's organ keeping you alive. Two transplants later, sober and fighting, but I still remember the grind. Today's guest? Daniel Eadle, UK dad, husband, multi-genre drummer, and CEO of his heating business. Diagnosed at 19 with PSC (primary sclerosing cholangitis) and autoimmune hepatitis—a rare, no-fault liver killer—he shrugged it off for over a decade, built his life, started a family, and kept pushing. Then April 2025: full liver transplant, sepsis, infections, massive rejection bouts, six weeks in hospital, ATG nuking his immune system. But he prepped like a beast (gym, nutrition, Perspectum scans), leaned on wife/kids, and came back drumming, running his company, and advocating proactive care so others don't wait for crisis. We talk raw: Diagnosis at 19 with just a leaflet—Google spiral terror10 years grinding through flares, fatigue, yellow skin, varicose veins—still building business and familyNo-judgment compassion: Why he never judged "drinking" livers in hospital—everyone's fighting somethingTransplant call (three false alarms), high-risk surgery, mental crush no one preps you forPost-op rejection terror: "Didn't think I was coming out"Family fuel: Kids knowing everything, book "My Daddy Has Cirrhosis" to explain it allSecond-chance clarity: More active dad, less regrets on the table If you're facing chronic illness, waiting for transplant, supporting someone, or just need hope—this one's for you. Liver transplant's the same fight, alcohol or not. If you find value in what im doing. A coffee helps :) http://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast Timestamps 00:00 – My transplant parallels & intro to Daniel 03:00 – Diagnosis at 19: Leaflet drop & shrugging it off 08:45 – 10-year grind: Business, family, hidden fatigue 14:20 – Jaundice stares & no-judgment on "drinking" livers 19:50 – Proactive prep: Gym beast mode & Perspectum scans 25:10 – Transplant call, high-risk surgery, mental fear 31:00 – Sepsis, rejection, six weeks hospital hell 37:40 – Post-transplant limbo & new normal 42:00 – Advice: Ask questions, don't be scared—there's hope Drop your takeaway below: What's one thing you're fighting proactively today? Tag a warrior who needs this. National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (24/7 free support) Follow Daniel: IG @daniel.eadle | TikTok @dddrummer (drumming vibes) PSC Support UK: pscsupport.org.uk Perspectum (scans): perspectum.com Subscribe for more raw recovery stories. Hit like/share if this hit. Much love, Will Gordon Two-time transplant survivor • Sober • Still here for you

    39 min
  3. Rewire Addicted Brain: Kill Cravings & Heal Fog | Dr. Tiff Thompson

    FEB 27

    Rewire Addicted Brain: Kill Cravings & Heal Fog | Dr. Tiff Thompson

    Three years sober after a liver transplant that almost killed me... but the brain fog, guilt, and that constant pull back to chaos? Still real as hell. In this raw convo with Dr. Tiff Thompson (PhD neuro, neurotherapy CEO, BCN/QEEG expert), we break down why shame and tough love backfire in addiction recovery, how your brain gets wired for cravings (low GABA profiles, dopaminergic burnout, default mode network traps), and how neurotherapy/neurostimulation can actually rewire the damage...no meds, no nonsense We talk post-transplant fog, integrating your "shadow" old self, grieving lost identity, and starting with radical self-honesty. If you're sober but still struggling, or watching a loved one spiral, this hits home. Timestamps: 0:00 - Cold Open: Moana's Monster – Acceptance Transforms Demons 1:00 - Intro & My Transplant/Family Fallout Hell 2:00 - Tiff's Journey: From Wind Farms to Neurotherapy Love 5:00 - Why Shame/Blame Creates Resistance (Moana Scene Deep Dive) 9:00 - Rock Bottom vs. Early Intervention with Curiosity 12:00 - Addiction Scratches the Itch It Created – Yin-Yang Loop 15:00 - Neurotherapy Explained: QEEG, Montages, Cutting Cravings/Withdrawal 20:00 - Brain Fog & Trauma Post-Transplant: Wear & Tear, 100% Recuperation Potential 25:00 - The "Torn Apart" Feeling: Old Chaotic Self vs. Higher Sober Self 30:00 - Low GABA Genetic Profile – Why 1 in 10 Are Wired for Alcohol/Anxiety 35:00 - Simple At-Home Start: See Yourself As You Are & Talk It Out 40:00 - Wrap-Up & Vulnerability = Connection Would love your support 💚 buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast Links: School of Neurotherapy: https://www.schoolofneurotherapy.comNeurofield Neurotherapy Clinic: https://www.neurofieldneurotherapy.comTiff Thompson: Search "Tiff Thompson Neurofield" for more If this episode hits, like, subscribe, comment your biggest takeaway (what's still pulling you back?), and share with someone who needs it. National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – free, 24/7. #Sobriety #AddictionRecovery #Neurotherapy #BrainFog #LiverTransplantRecovery #MentalHealth #WillpowerPodcast

    34 min
  4. Eyes Shutting Was the Best Part of My Day – Dan’s Brutal Path to Liver Transplant & Sobriety

    FEB 20

    Eyes Shutting Was the Best Part of My Day – Dan’s Brutal Path to Liver Transplant & Sobriety

    Dan Sheridan (@mrsheridanshusband on TikTok, @danman147 on IG) shares the unfiltered story of drinking 18+ tins of Stella + 10 pints daily until liver failure nearly killed him. From blackout mornings, vomiting, re-drinking, a suicide-level paracetamol/Stella plan, massive GI bleed ("blood everywhere like stigmata"), to being told "plan your funeral," Dan fought through 3 years sober while on/off the transplant list. The miracle? Meeting his sober soulmate Claire on TikTok during end-stage liver disease-she researched live donation before even meeting him in person. They went from DMs to married in months, and he got his transplant just 1.5 months later. This is raw, no-BS recovery: ego check in recovery, why non-alcoholic beer can still be dangerous, masking pain from your spouse, and why "a life without alcohol is better" isn't just words-it's survival. If you're scared your drinking is heading toward liver failure, this is the episode for you. If you find value in these episodes, Id love a coffee to show support. Thanks! 🙏 https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro & Dan's origin 2:10 - The "hug that kills" - how alcohol tricks you 5:45 - Meeting Claire on TikTok during end-stage liver disease 8:58 - Warning signs ignored: shaking, jaundice too late 12:22 - Suicide attempt & "eyes shutting was best part of my day" 18:37 - GI bleed, 20% survival chance, "not today" defiance 23:45 - Diagnosis, willpower delusion, most critical patient 28:19 - 3 years sober pre-transplant - ego wake-up 36:29 - Transplant day: "I'm all better" moment 41:29 - Post-transplant reality: CMV, Crohn's, steroids, new normal 46:16 - Daily self-love check & non-denominational recovery 49:16 - Final advice: Stop waiting for the inevitable Connect with Dan: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrsheridanshusband Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danman147/ If you're struggling, reach out: National Helpline (US): 1-800-662-HELP (4357) UK: Drinkline 0300 123 1110 or Alcohol Change UK Subscribe for more real recovery stories. Hit like/share if this hit home. You're not alone. 💪 #SoberLife #RecoveryJourney #LiverTransplant #AlcoholRecovery

    51 min
  5. Marine Vet's End-Stage Liver Disease: From 317 lbs to Transplant Fight (MELD 29)

    FEB 13

    Marine Vet's End-Stage Liver Disease: From 317 lbs to Transplant Fight (MELD 29)

    Andrew Mondragon — Marine veteran, dad, husband, oilfield worker — was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease in June 2025. Dropped from 317 to 190 lbs. MELD score 29. Accepted for liver transplant eval at OHSU. Still cracking jokes while fighting for his life and family. He shares the raw truth: the first signs (back pain, yellow eyes, 14 liters of fluid drained), functional alcoholism (4 shots Fireball + 2 beers nightly), denial, shame, family guilt, Marine Corps influence on suppressing emotions, and his current optimism despite the waiting game. If you're facing addiction, liver issues, or watching someone you love go through it then this episode is for you. Real, no sugarcoating, full of fight. Trigger Warning: Liver failure, addiction, family impact, transplant discussion. Help is available: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) | 1-800-662-HELP (SAMHSA) | befrienders.org (international) Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro & Andrew's Story 01:00 – First Signs (March 2025 – Back Pain & Yellow Eyes) 04:00 – Diagnosis: Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis 05:30 – Mental Fog, Fluid Buildup, MELD 29 07:00 – Andrew's Background: Marine Corps, Oil Fields, Sheriff 09:00 – Functional Alcoholism & Denial 12:00 – Transplant Reality & Survivor's Guilt 15:00 – Positive Outlook & Future Hope 18:00 – Family Impact & Kids 20:00 – The Waiting Game & Paracentesis 22:00 – Fears & Cellular Memory 25:00 – Message to Viewers Fighting Addiction Follow Andrew: @komododrew (Instagram) Support the channel ❤️ Free 30-min Sober Mentoring: https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min Donate: https://buymeacoffee.com/willpowerpodcast Subscribe, like, share if this hit home. More real stories coming. #LiverTransplant #EndStageLiverDisease #SoberJourney #MarineVet #AddictionRecovery #WillpowerPodcast #MELDScore

    33 min
  6. Amber Hollingsworth: No Tough Love – Early Intervention for Families

    FEB 6

    Amber Hollingsworth: No Tough Love – Early Intervention for Families

    Amber Hollingsworth (@puttheshoveldown), a master addiction counselor with 700k+ on YouTube, joins me to show families how to intervene early with compassion, not ultimatums or tough love. We talk: The myth that “there’s nothing you can do”Functional alcoholism & enabling trapsReal boundaries (rules for yourself, not control)Why waiting for rock bottom is dangerousRebuilding trust after sobrietyHope for relapse (“it’s just a blip”) If you’re a parent, spouse, or sibling feeling helpless, stuck, or like you’re enabling — this episode is for you. Amber breaks it down clearly and kindly. If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available 24/7: • US – 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org (call/text/chat) • US – SAMHSA National Helpline: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline | 1-800-662-HELP • Al-Anon (family support for alcoholism): https://al-anon.org • Nar-Anon (family support for drug addiction): https://www.nar-anon.org • Canada – 988 Crisis Line: https://988.ca • Global helplines: https://www.befrienders.org Full episode live Friday 2 PM EST. Link in bio after drop. Grateful to Amber for coming on and sharing this wisdom. ❤️ @puttheshoveldown #FamilyRecovery #NoToughLove #BoundariesWithEmpathy #SoberJourney #AddictionRecovery #WillpowerPodcast

    43 min
  7. Blackout Knife Night & Suicide Attempt: Ryan Barrett's Dark Redemption (2+ Years Sober)

    JAN 23

    Blackout Knife Night & Suicide Attempt: Ryan Barrett's Dark Redemption (2+ Years Sober)

    Ryan Barrett (@ryanbarrett90) should be dead multiple times over: molested at 8, buried the shame in death metal, rebellion, blackouts, hard drugs, a near-fatal car wreck (femur shattered in 7 places), suicide attempt, yellow eyes, and a blackout knife night that almost ended everything. One morning he poured out his last glass of spiced rum, begged for help, and got sober for real. Now 2+ years sober, engaged, raising two kids, hitting the gym, restored faith in Jesus, bought a house, and uses his hell to help troubled youth every day. This is raw, dark redemption - perfectly timed for anyone fighting the last third of Dry January or any day really. If you've ever felt hopeless, watch this. Trigger Warning: Childhood trauma, suicide attempt, self-harm, addiction details. Help is available: US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) | 1-800-662-HELP (SAMHSA) Canada: 988 or text HOME to 741741 International: befrienders.org Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: From Molestation to Near-Death Multiple Times 01:00 - Age 8: Sexual Molestation & The Pact of Silence 03:00 - Rebellion, Death Metal, Weed → Booze → Harder Drugs 05:00 - Car Wreck at 19 (Femur Shattered) - Still Partied 07:00 - Self-Hate & Setting Himself Up for Punishment 09:00 - Suicide Attempt: Rope Around Neck, Phone Rings 12:00 - Blackout Knife Night: Waking Up in Blood 15:00 - Poured Out the Last Spiced Rum - Stopped Drinking That Day 17:00 - Living in Party House, No Urges, Found Meditation 20:00 - Relapse After 2+ Years: "I Thought I Could Moderate" 23:00 - Split for 3 Months - Got Sober Again 25:00 - Restoring Faith in Jesus & Church Community 28:00 - Helping Troubled Youth with His Own Hell 30:00 - Message to the Guy on Day 7 of Dry January 32:00 - If Blackout Ryan Saw This Life Now... Follow Ryan: @ryanbarrett90 (Instagram - open book on recovery) Support the channel ❤️ Every donation helps. Bless you all that donate🙏 Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/willpowerpodcast Subscribe, like, share if this hit home. More real stories coming. #SoberJourney #DarkRedemption #RecoveryStory #DryJanuary #WillpowerPodcast #RyanBarrett

    42 min
  8. 3-Week Coma & Yellow Eyes: 'I Was Done – No Fight Left' | Mike Faria (@jerzeymike)

    JAN 16

    3-Week Coma & Yellow Eyes: 'I Was Done – No Fight Left' | Mike Faria (@jerzeymike)

    Mike Faria (@jerzeymike) shares his raw journey – from guilt over his cousin's drunk driving death, 5 years of daily drinking, to a 3-week coma in 2020 with yellow eyes, fluid buildup, kidneys failing, and doctors prepping his family for the worst. He woke up anyway, got sober on August 23, 2022, rebuilt his body, his family, met the love of his life, and became the family man he always intended to be. Mike's the kind of guy who shares his story raw on Instagram to keep others alive. This episode is real, no sugarcoating – grief, denial, rock bottom, the moment his son gave him purpose, and the miracle of his liver recovery. If you're struggling or know someone who is, this one's for you. Trigger Warning: Coma, alcohol withdrawal, grief, self-harm ideation. Help available: US Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) Canada: 988 (or 1-833-456-4566) Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro & Mike's Early Chaos 00:58 – Guilt Over Cousin & Daily Drinking 03:36 – 5-Year Binge & Rock Bottom 05:16 – Son as Turning Point 07:45 – Darkest Night & Self-Destruction 09:29 – Morning of Reckoning (Yellow Eyes) 11:34 – 3-Week Coma & Waking Up 15:06 – Hope from Dr. Raquel 19:42 – Hospital Struggles & Compassion 25:14 – "You Can't Do It Alone" Message 26:57 – Surrender & The Lock Inside 29:45 – Life Now: Clarity & Pride 32:10 – Losses as Wins 34:39 – Closing & Where to Find Mike Follow Mike: @jerzeymike (Instagram/Threads – raw sobriety inspiration) Support the podcast ❤️ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/willpowerpodcast Sober Mentoring (free 30-min chat): https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min Subscribe, like, share if this moved you. More real stories coming.

    38 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 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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