What We Really Want: Conversations About Connection Greg Oliver (Director, Awaken)

Talking with Andy Gullahorn & Gabe Scott can be many things, but it is never boring. With dry humor and refreshing honesty, these great friends share how they've committed to intentional connection in their 20+ year friendship.
 
 Both Andy and Gabe are music industry veterans. Andy is well known in Nashville and beyond as one of the most thought-provoking and clever songwriters around. Both Andy and Gabe are part of Andrew Peterson's annual Behold the Lamb of God tour in the Christmas season. In recent years Gabe has added restauranteur to his resume, as founder of Ladybird Taco (with locations in Nashville and Birmingham AL).

Since meeting in 2000, and alongside many life changes, their friendship has been a constant. Listening to how these friends have stayed connected, and how that connection helped keep Gabe tethered to hope during one of the hardest experiences of his life, is encouraging and inspiring.
 
 One longtime intentional part of Andy and Gabe's friendship is a weekly walking journey they take from their homes to give each other a high-five. April 30, 2024 marks the TEN YEAR anniversary of the high five. We talk about that, and much more, in this great conversation.

CBS story on the High Five
Andy's website
Ladybird Taco (Gabe's restaurant)


Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

Greg & Stacey Oliver (Co-Founders) and Bobby West (Assistant Director) of Awaken continue the conversation we started in Episode 1, where we tell our stories and share what WE really want to see happen with the podcast.

Now, it's Bobby's turn. Bobby West tells about his history of struggling with addiction as a missionary, the pain and damage it caused, his path of recovery, and how he came to be part of Awaken. Then we all talk more about how we all need and desire connection, and how the podcast is going to offer deep and meaningful conversations that invite listeners to discover the connections they've really wanted all along. 
Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

Greg & Stacey Oliver (Co-Founders) and Bobby West (Assistant Director) of Awaken kick off this brand new podcast by sharing what WE really want listeners to experience. If the saying is true - "The opposite of addiction is not sobriety...the opposite of addiction is connection" - then recovery is more than just a focus on stopping or changing behavior. It's about discovering the deeper desires we all carry for deep and authentic connection. Awaken is a recovery community that helps people live the lives they were created to live, free from addiction and the damage it causes. Part of the way we support people in recovery is by inviting them to find out what they've really wanted all along.

In this first episode, Greg & Stacey share their stories of how they came into recovery, and how people who struggle with unwanted sexual behavior or sexual betrayal trauma can connect with our community. 


Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)