Send a text

Episode 45: Jason Coombs on That Sober Guy Podcast with Shane Ramer

A wide-ranging conversation on recovery, faith, fatherhood, identity, and the daily work of staying sober.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How a legitimate injury and pain pills turned into a life-consuming spiral
• The collapse of an OxyContin supply chain and why heroin surged next
• What it’s like to survive homelessness in a brutal winter
• The moment a text from Jason’s mom disrupted a suicidal night
• “The gift of volition” and why lasting change has to become personal
• A simple reflection practice that builds momentum instead of shame
• The difference between the “smaller story” and the “larger story”
• A faith-rooted decision framework: study it out, choose, then take it to God
• Warrior Heart Retreat and the three pillars that wake a man’s heart up again
• How Jason now supports families who feel exhausted, scared, and alone

Timestamps

• [01:00] Crossover episode intro: That Sober Guy Podcast with Shane Ramer
• [01:43] Year-end reflection: journaling victories and lessons
• [08:11] Emotionally shut down, risk-taking, anxiety/ADHD self-medicating
• [12:05] The OxyContin ring and the spiral that followed
• [16:06] Homelessness, felony charges, surviving winter on the streets
• [17:21] Court-mandated treatment, five rehabs, psychosis before sobriety
• [23:07] The text from Mom that interrupted a suicidal moment
• [24:26] “Volition”: why internal motivation outlasts external pressure
• [26:13] From selling hot dogs to a calling to help families
• [30:26] Stepping out of the smaller story into the larger story
• [36:10] 12 Steps as a pathway to conscious contact and guidance
• [40:37] Decision-making: study it out, choose, take it to God
• [44:32] Warrior Heart pillars: battle, adventure, beauty
• [52:14] Retreat impact: stripping the crust, restoring identity
• [56:50] Resources for families: book, podcast, free tools

Quotes worth revisiting

• “External pressure can work for a season. Internal motivation is what lasts.”
• “You don’t just get out of the hole. You get outfitted to climb.”
• “A plan beats panic. Support beats isolation.”

Resources mentioned

• Brick House Recovery: (add your link)
• Get Unhooked Podcast: (add your link)
• Unhooked (book): (add your Amazon/Audible links)
• Warrior Heart Retreat: (add your link)
• That Sober Guy Podcast: (add show link)

For families who feel stuck

If you love someone who’s struggling, you’re not powerless and you’re not the cause. You may not be able to control their choices, but you can change how you show up, create healthier conditions, and get support for your own nervous system, boundaries, and peace.

Gentle note

This episode includes discussion of addiction, homelessness, and suicidal moments. If you or som

Join Jason Coombs LIVE each week for tips and tricks and LIVE Q&A’s. Go to https://www.liveunhooked.com/live-unhooked.

For information about treatment services visit https://www.brickhouserecovery.com/

For more information about Warrior Heart Bootcamp for men visit www.awarriorheart.com

https://awarriorheart.com/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Warrior Heart = 2026Brick100

To learn more about the women’s retreat, Heart of a Woman:
https://theheartofawoman.net/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Heart of a Woman = 2026Brick100

Send a text

Why You Say You Want Peace… But Refuse to Do the One Thing That Brings It

Most families say they want peace.

But when it comes time to grieve the loss of the relationship they hoped for…

they tighten their grip instead.

In this deeply honest episode, Jason reveals:

• Why control disguises itself as love
• How fear keeps families emotionally hooked
• The grief step most people skip
• Why surrender is not giving up
• And how to finally reclaim your life — even if your loved one hasn’t changed

This episode is both confronting and freeing.

If you’ve been strong for far too long…

this one will hit home.

⏱ Episode Highlights

[01:01] Why families show up strong, not weak — and how control hides behind love

[03:12] Step 1: The Hula Hoop Principle — what’s yours and what’s not

[05:23] Step 2: Facing your worst fear without catastrophizing

[07:12] Step 3: Letting go of attachment to specific outcomes

[09:04] Step 4: The grief stage most families avoid (and why it keeps you stuck)

[11:30] Why families say they want peace but refuse to grieve

[14:59] The five stages of grief explained through Jason’s personal loss

[20:57] Step 5: Trusting something bigger than your fear

[21:37] Step 6: Holding onto hope while releasing control

[22:37] Step 7: The daily practice of surrender

What You’ll Learn

✔ The difference between surrender and enabling

✔ Why fear creates the very outcomes you’re trying to prevent

✔ How grief breaks the control cycle

✔ How to be okay — even if they don’t change

✔ A 14-day surrender blueprint to begin reclaiming your peace

A Personal Note from Jason

You don’t have to wait for your loved one to recover before you recover your life.

That’s not selfish.

That’s sane.

Surrender is not giving up on them.

It’s finally picking yourself back up.

Resources & Support

📖 Unhooked: How to Help an Addicted Loved One Recover — Available on Amazon & Audible

🌐 Learn more about family recovery support at:

https://www.brickhouserecovery.com

Join Jason Coombs LIVE each week for tips and tricks and LIVE Q&A’s. Go to https://www.liveunhooked.com/live-unhooked.

For information about treatment services visit https://www.brickhouserecovery.com/

For more information about Warrior Heart Bootcamp for men visit www.awarriorheart.com

https://awarriorheart.com/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Warrior Heart = 2026Brick100

To learn more about the women’s retreat, Heart of a Woman:
https://theheartofawoman.net/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Heart of a Woman = 2026Brick100

Send a text

You set the boundary. They break it. Again. And somehow, you end up feeling like the bad guy.

If you’ve ever tried to hold the line with an addicted loved one—only to second-guess yourself, give in, or get gaslit—this episode is for you.

In Episode 43 of the Get Unhooked Podcast, Jason unpacks the BOUNDARY Framework—a practical, compassionate tool for setting and holding boundaries that actually work. Through a powerful real-life story about a woman named Grace, you’ll see how relapse and resistance aren’t always failures—they might just be the painful catalysts for lasting change.

Whether you’re deep in the cycle of enabling, drowning in guilt, or exhausted from carrying the weight of someone else’s choices, this episode offers clarity, direction, and hope. Learn how to protect your peace, reclaim your power, and stop rescuing someone who isn’t ready to change.

You’ll discover:

• The hidden reason your boundaries keep getting ignored
• How to respond calmly—without becoming a doormat
• Why “natural consequences” matter more than ultimatums
• The most misunderstood stage of change (and why it matters)
• What it really means to “Get off the beach”

And most importantly: how to put yourself first… without giving up on them.

🎯 This is one of the most requested topics from families—and it could be the mindset shift you’ve been praying for.

📌 Show Notes:

In this episode:

• [00:00] Intro: Setting boundaries in quicksand
• [03:17] Grace’s story: When relapse becomes resolution
• [10:08] The 5 stages of grief in addiction recovery
• [14:40] Why boundaries fail (and how to fix them)
• [19:02] The BOUNDARY Framework (step-by-step)
• [34:11] “I’m not leaving the relationship—I’m leaving this conversation.”
• [37:26] What putting yourself first really means

Links & Resources:

👉 Free resources for families: brickhouserecovery.com/unhooked

👉 Read the book Unhooked: https://a.co/d/08ZF46B4

👉 Need support? Learn more about our Family Recovery Program

https://www.liveunhooked.com/live-unhooked-order-form

Join Jason Coombs LIVE each week for tips and tricks and LIVE Q&A’s. Go to https://www.liveunhooked.com/live-unhooked.

For information about treatment services visit https://www.brickhouserecovery.com/

For more information about Warrior Heart Bootcamp for men visit www.awarriorheart.com

https://awarriorheart.com/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Warrior Heart = 2026Brick100

To learn more about the women’s retreat, Heart of a Woman:
https://theheartofawoman.net/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Heart of a Woman = 2026Brick100

Send us a text

🎙️ “When Numb Isn’t Working Anymore – The Battle to Live Fully Alive” with Doug Nielson

In this soul-stirring Part 3 of the Warrior Heart series, Jason Coombs sits down with licensed psychotherapist and Warrior Heart co-founder Doug Nielsen to uncover what really keeps men stuck in cycles of addiction, burnout, and emotional disconnection—and what it takes to break free.

Drawing from decades of clinical experience, personal recovery, and transformative men’s retreats, Doug shares a raw, powerful framework for reclaiming agency, healing the heart, and living fully alive. This isn’t about behavior change—it’s about identity, faith, and the courageous journey back to who you were created to be.

Whether you’re in recovery, love someone who is, or simply feel like you’ve lost touch with your purpose—this conversation will wake something up inside you.

🔥 Episode Highlights:

• [02:59] Warrior Heart changed Jason’s life
• [07:35] “I want to live fully alive… and help others do the same.”
• [13:18] Disconnection from God as the root of addiction
• [15:26] Why the heart is the real battleground
• [22:18] Counterfeit adventure and the pain of false validation
• [26:29] The nobility of divine masculinity
• [31:40] Why clarity often comes in silence and solitude
• [34:03] Practical outcomes from Warrior Heart retreats.

💡 Key Themes:

• Take Life by the Helm: Doug introduces a powerful framework of anchors, compasses, and the North Star to help men rediscover direction, purpose, and peace.
• The 3 Core Desires: A battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to pursue. When these are unmet, men settle for counterfeits—substances, status, or thrill-seeking.
• Agency & Identity: Recovery is a return to the present moment, where God speaks and where real change begins.
• The Power of Retreat: Jason shares how a single Warrior Heart weekend created clarity in his relationship with his daughter—and how silence and nature cut through the noise of everyday life.

🙏 Final Takeaway:

Recovery isn’t just about getting clean. It’s about remembering who you are, whose you are, and what you were made for. Doug’s message is clear: You are not broken. You are noble. And it’s time to come home.

📚 Resources Mentioned:

For more information about Warrior Heart Bootcamp for men visit www.awarriorheart.com

https://awarriorheart.com/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Warrior Heart = 2026Brick100

To learn more about the women’s retreat, Heart of a Woman:
https://theheartofawoman.net/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Heart of a Woman = 2026Brick100

• Book: Take Life by the Helm by Doug Nielsen https://a.co/d/fbs3Gxt
• Wild at Heart by John Eldredge
• Unhooked by Jason Coombs https://a.co/d/aOymJ3w
• Bric

Join Jason Coombs LIVE each week for tips and tricks and LIVE Q&A’s. Go to https://www.liveunhooked.com/live-unhooked.

For information about treatment services visit https://www.brickhouserecovery.com/

For more information about Warrior Heart Bootcamp for men visit www.awarriorheart.com

https://awarriorheart.com/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Warrior Heart = 2026Brick100

To learn more about the women’s retreat, Heart of a Woman:
https://theheartofawoman.net/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Heart of a Woman = 2026Brick100

Send us a text

Dropping the Pose Is Where Healing Starts.

I used to think most men were struggling with behavior.

But a lot of the time, they’re struggling with hiding.

In Part 2 of the Warrior Heart series, I sit down with Duane Crabtree, Executive Director of Warrior Heart, to talk about the mask men wear and why most of us don’t even see it.

What looks like confidence is often fear.

What looks like strength is often self-protection.

We talk about porn, people-pleasing, compulsive behaviors, and the quiet search for validation that drives so many men.

We also get practical about what it means to fight for your beauty.

Not with grand gestures.

With presence, safety, and emotional intimacy.

This episode is for men who are tired of performing.

And for women who want to understand what’s really happening behind the silence.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What “the poser” is and why it hides in plain sight
• The two questions every man is asking and why taking them to people keeps him stuck
• How fatherlessness shapes every man, even with a good dad
• What women actually need and how it differs from what men assume
• Simple ways to battle for her heart without slipping back into the pose
• A sacred moment of brotherhood and grief that changed how I showed up for my family

This is Part 2 of 3.

If Part 1 opened the door to identity, this one shows what happens when a man finally stops faking it.

For more information about Warrior Heart Bootcamp for men visit www.awarriorheart.com

https://awarriorheart.com/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Warrior Heart = 2026Brick100

To learn more about the women’s retreat, Heart of a Woman:
https://theheartofawoman.net/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Heart of a Woman = 2026Brick100

Join Jason Coombs LIVE each week for tips and tricks and LIVE Q&A’s. Go to https://www.liveunhooked.com/live-unhooked.

For information about treatment services visit https://www.brickhouserecovery.com/

For more information about Warrior Heart Bootcamp for men visit www.awarriorheart.com

https://awarriorheart.com/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Warrior Heart = 2026Brick100

To learn more about the women’s retreat, Heart of a Woman:
https://theheartofawoman.net/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Heart of a Woman = 2026Brick100

Send us a text

Recovery doesn’t end when you get sober.

For many men, the real work starts after the crisis passes.

In Episode 40 of Get Unhooked, Jason Coombs shares why long-term sobriety still isn’t the same as emotional and spiritual freedom. After years in recovery, he found a new layer of healing through Warrior Heart Bootcamp, a three-day, phone-free men’s retreat designed to help men reconnect with God, brotherhood, and their true identity.

This conversation is a window into the male heart.

And it’s not just for men.

Women will better understand the silent weight many men carry, the fears they rarely voice, and why safety and vulnerability matter so much in lasting recovery. You’ll also meet Chris Bennett, known as the “Hulk of Hope,” whose story of shame, fatherlessness, and transformation became a turning point not only for him, but for his marriage and family.

This is Part 1 of a 3-part series on identity, healing, and what happens when men stop performing and start getting honest.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why sobriety can plateau without deeper inner work
• The vow of silence and why solitude changes men
• The three core desires of a man’s heart: battle, adventure, beauty
• Father wounds, shame agreements, and the search for validation
• What creates real safety for vulnerability in marriage

To close this episode with Chris and Autumn Bennett, I want to give you a clear path forward. If something in their story stirred hope, conviction, or even discomfort, pay attention to that. Those are often the signals that real change is available, if you are willing to take the next right step.

Listen or share the episode here:
https://share.transistor.fm/s/35eda14e

If you want to connect with Chris Bennett and explore his coaching services:
https://chrisbennettcoaching.com/

To learn more about the men’s Warrior Heart Bootcamp:
https://awarriorheart.com/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Warrior Heart = 2026Brick100

To learn more about the women’s retreat, Heart of a Woman:
https://theheartofawoman.net/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Heart of a Woman = 2026Brick100

And if you want to explore additional resources and the Unashamed Unafraid community:
https://unashamedunafraid.com/

Thank you for listening to Get Unhooked. If this conversation helped you, share it with someone you care about, and remember: you do not need a perfect plan. You just need to take the next right step.

Join Jason Coombs LIVE each week for tips and tricks and LIVE Q&A’s. Go to https://www.liveunhooked.com/live-unhooked.

For information about treatment services visit https://www.brickhouserecovery.com/

For more information about Warrior Heart Bootcamp for men visit www.awarriorheart.com

https://awarriorheart.com/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Warrior Heart = 2026Brick100

To learn more about the women’s retreat, Heart of a Woman:
https://theheartofawoman.net/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Heart of a Woman = 2026Brick100

Send us a text

On day 73 of sobriety, Jason Coombs was standing outside a hardware store in Salt Lake City wearing an apron and grilling bratwursts for minimum wage.

He was trying not to be seen.

The shame was loud.

Then one conversation flipped the script and launched a new life built on purpose, service, and usefulness.

In this episode, Jason shares the exact moment he stopped treating sobriety like the finish line and started living recovery as a daily decision. We talk about how relapse patterns usually begin with emotions long before substances, how one simple question can interrupt the spiral, and why purpose shows up in the process, not after everything is fixed.

This is for anyone rebuilding after relapse, walking through recovery, or loving someone who is.

Episode Highlights (timestamps)

• [00:00:31] Introduction: Beyond Sobriety to Transcendence
• [00:01:25] The Hot Dog Stand Reality Check
• [00:02:43] The Ego Death Moment
• [00:04:30] Recognizing the Relapse Pattern
• [00:05:22] The Serenity Prayer in Action
• [00:07:01] The Conversation That Changed Everything
• [00:08:11] Discovering Purpose Through Usefulness
• [00:10:23] The Tree-Cutting Metaphor
• [00:12:12] What Can You Change Right Now?
• [00:13:40] Stepping Stones of Purpose
• [00:15:21] When Work Becomes Play
• [00:17:07] Purpose Happens in the Process
• [00:19:20] Transcendence Is a Decision, Not a Destination
• [00:23:24] Sharing Your Story With Wisdom

Join Jason Coombs LIVE each week for tips and tricks and LIVE Q&A’s. Go to https://www.liveunhooked.com/live-unhooked.

For information about treatment services visit https://www.brickhouserecovery.com/

For more information about Warrior Heart Bootcamp for men visit www.awarriorheart.com

https://awarriorheart.com/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Warrior Heart = 2026Brick100

To learn more about the women’s retreat, Heart of a Woman:
https://theheartofawoman.net/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Heart of a Woman = 2026Brick100

Send us a text

📢 We’re re-releasing our second most downloaded episode of the year — and for good reason.

Why don’t our loved ones listen — even when we know they’re hurting? In this powerful solo episode, Jason Coombs, host of The Get Unhooked Podcast, reveals the surprising truth:

👉 It’s not about the right words — it’s about the right connection.

With raw stories, faith-driven insights, and actionable tools, Jason breaks down how families can stop chasing control and start building real influence through trust and rapport. You’ll learn how to create safety, reduce shame, and become the kind of person your loved one can actually hear.

What you’ll walk away with:

• The difference between trust and rapport — and why it matters
• How to use the PACE method (Partnership, Acceptance, Compassion, Empowerment)
• Jason’s story of helping a pregnant, homeless loved one detox on his couch
• The right way to respond to relapse
• How faith, not fear, becomes the foundation for influence

Whether you’re supporting someone in addiction or navigating emotional sobriety yourself, this episode is a guide to transforming conversations, restoring connection, and becoming a healing presence in the chaos.

🎧 Links & Resources:

🔗 Listen to Jason’s book Unhooked on Audible or find it on Amazon

🏡 Learn more at brickhouserecovery.com

🙏 Connect deeper with the podcast community at www.liveunhooked.com

Join Jason Coombs LIVE each week for tips and tricks and LIVE Q&A’s. Go to https://www.liveunhooked.com/live-unhooked.

For information about treatment services visit https://www.brickhouserecovery.com/

For more information about Warrior Heart Bootcamp for men visit www.awarriorheart.com

https://awarriorheart.com/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Warrior Heart = 2026Brick100

To learn more about the women’s retreat, Heart of a Woman:
https://theheartofawoman.net/

$100 DISCOUNT CODE for Heart of a Woman = 2026Brick100