Jessie Tylre Williams spent 25 years heavily addicted to drugs before getting completely clean on February 1, 2009. In this episode of The Think Unbroken Podcast, she sits down with host Michael Unbroken to talk about childhood sexual abuse, generational addiction, self-sabotage, identity loss, and what it actually took to get and stay sober for good.

This is a real, unfiltered conversation about addiction recovery, childhood trauma, and healing. Jesse shares her turning point, the night she nearly died getting clean, and how she rebuilt her identity from the ground up. Michael shares his own story of childhood addiction, a suicide attempt at 14, and the self-sabotage that came from early success. Together they break down why addiction often isn't the problem, it's the coping mechanism for a deeper pain, and what real, sustainable healing looks like in the years after you get clean.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, trauma, or feeling alone in the healing process, this episode is for you.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussion of childhood sexual abuse, addiction, and suicide. Please take care of yourself while listening.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:

- Why addiction often starts as a coping mechanism for childhood trauma

- The connection between childhood sexual abuse and addictive patterns

- Why success and money can fuel self-sabotage

- How to rebuild your identity after getting sober

- Why "chaos becomes comfort" for people who grew up in dysfunction

- The role of surrender in long-term recovery

- How service to others supports sustainable healing

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to Jessie Tylre Williams

00:16 The healing journey: rock bottom to rising

01:07 Why this conversation matters

02:02 Addiction running through generations

02:41 What addiction means to Jesse

05:27 Michael's story of childhood addiction

07:18 Jesse's childhood trauma and sexual abuse

09:49 The teenage years: escalating addiction

12:02 Jesse's addiction journey (trigger warning)

14:01 Wanting to die vs. wanting to live

18:06 Michael's suicide attempt at 14

19:59 Early success, money, and self-sabotage

21:26 Fight or flight and chaos as comfort

22:11 Life on tour as a musician

24:46 Training your mind like a muscle

26:42 Mental, emotional, and spiritual addiction

28:35 Feeling safe for the first time

29:33 The turning point question

30:35 Complete surrender: getting clean on Feb 1, 2009

33:29 Detox and replacing addiction with healing tools

36:35 Generational addiction and family history

38:04 Addiction as a "superpower" when redirected

38:34 Losing identity: killing "Mike" and "Aggie"

41:10 Rebuilding identity after addiction

45:14 Getting back up after falling down

46:41 Turning addiction into service to others

47:36 Where to find Jesse and her book

48:27 The legacy she hopes to leave

50:43 What it means to be Unbroken

ABOUT JESSIE TYLRE WILLIAMS:

Jessie Tylre Williams is a musician, author, and addiction recovery advocate who has been clean for over 17 years after 25 years of heavy addiction. She is the author of "Rising Above Hell," a memoir available in English and Spanish on Amazon, which includes a workbook to help readers process their own trauma and addiction.

Connect with Jessie:

Website: https://www.jessie-williams.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessietylre/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessieTylre

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessie-tylre-williams-601b7548/

Book (Rising Above Hell): https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jessie-Tylre-Williams/author/B0B8B6DWPP

ABOUT MICHAEL UNBROKEN:

Michael Unbroken is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and host of The Think Unbroken Podcast, where he interviews survivors of childhood trauma and addiction about how they rebuilt their lives. He is the author of "Think Unbroken: Understanding and Overcoming Childhood Trauma."

Connect with Michael:

Website: https://www.michaelunbroken.com

Podcast: https://www.thinkunbrokenpodcast.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelunbroken

Book (Think Unbroken): https://www.thinkunbroken.com/store/paperback

If this episode helped you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it, subscribe to the channel, and leave a review. You are not alone, and you are one decision away from everything being different.

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What happens when money, achievement, and success still leave you feeling broken?

In this powerful conversation, Michael Unbroken sits down with entrepreneur and author Howard Steinberg to explore the hidden connection between childhood trauma, high achievement, self-worth, and the relentless pursuit of success.

Howard shares how growing up with inherited trauma shaped his identity, relationships, and entrepreneurial journey. Together, Michael and Howard discuss why external success cannot heal internal wounds, how fear can masquerade as ambition, and what it takes to move from self-criticism toward self-forgiveness and self-love.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why childhood trauma often drives high achievement

• How money can become a false source of safety

• The difference between confidence and self-worth

• Why successful entrepreneurs can still feel empty

• How to make decisions from love instead of fear

• The role of psychedelic medicine and integration

• How self-forgiveness helps you trust yourself again

• What it means to become “unbroken”

Learn more about Howard Steinberg and his book, Confessions of a Problem Seeker:

https://howardsteinberg.com

Subscribe for more conversations about childhood trauma, entrepreneurship, healing, mental health, personal growth, and becoming the best version of yourself.

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In a world of nonstop noise, hustle, and distraction, most of us never slow down long enough to ask a simple question: who am I really when everything gets quiet? In this powerful conversation, Michael Unbroken sits down with neurospiritual practitioner Dhruva Gouler to unpack how isolation, deep silence, and ruthless honesty on the page helped him move from self hate to self love and emotional freedom.

You will learn why quitting the things that are destroying you, creating space for nothingness, and writing down everything you do not like about yourself can rewire how you see and speak to yourself when you are alone. Dhruva shares how he used “neurospiritual sovereignty” and what he calls emotional freedom to stop seeking external validation and instead govern his emotions from a calmer nervous system state.

If you struggle with trauma, self loathing, anxiety, or constant overstimulation, this episode will show you how to:

• Create intentional isolation and silence so you can finally hear your own thoughts and truth
• Use daily writing and journaling to process shame, resentment, and self judgment until there is nothing left to hide from
• Build emotional freedom instead of chasing emotional regulation that never seems to last
• Shift from self hate to self compassion by becoming the most important person in your life
• Move from sympathetic overdrive into a parasympathetic, grounded state through “neurospiritual athleticism”

Watch this episode if you are ready to stop numbing out, face yourself in the silence, and learn how to be unbroken from the inside out.

Timestamps (edit to match final cut):

0:00 – Why isolation and silence can save your life

2:00 – Dhruva’s journey from self hate to self love and emotional freedom

8:00 – Quitting what is not good for you and making yourself a priority

15:00 – Writing, journaling, and the power of radical self honesty

25:00 – Neurospiritual sovereignty, nervous system, and emotional governance

35:00 – How to create your own process of healing and sovereignty

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For so many high achievers, success becomes a survival mechanism instead of real healing from trauma. In this conversation, Michael Unbroken and inner child healing expert Ingeborg Mooiweer break down why working harder, achieving more, and collecting accolades never truly resolve childhood wounds. They explore how high performance can lead to burnout, divorce, health issues, and feeling emotionally unsafe, even when life looks “successful” from the outside.

You will learn:

• Why high performance often comes from childhood survival mechanisms, not genuine safety.
• What inner child work and reparenting actually look like in real life, step by step.
• How to create an emotionally safe “container” so you can finally address the root of your trauma.
• The role of environment, relationships, and self‑talk in long‑term healing and resilience.

If you are a high performer, entrepreneur, or leader who feels stuck in the same emotional patterns no matter how successful you become, this episode will help you understand what is really driving your behavior and how to start creating change that lasts.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro: High achievers and trauma

01:00 Why success will not heal your wounds

03:15 Survival mechanisms and childhood trauma

10:00 Inner child work and reparenting explained

20:12 Balancing high performance with real healing

If you found this valuable, subscribe for more conversations on trauma healing, inner child work, and becoming unbroken, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it today.

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It’s amazing what can happen when you step outside your comfort zone and answer the call of ayahuasca for deep healing and spiritual transformation. In this powerful conversation, Michael Unbroken sits down with ayahuasca guide and retreat leader Yasha Shah to unpack what really happens in the medicine space – beyond the hype, beyond the biohacking, and beyond the Instagram retreats.

You’ll hear Yasha’s raw story of battling depression, ADHD and desperation, trying everything from psychiatry to Reiki before finally traveling to Peru for a 21‑day immersive ayahuasca experience that changed his life – and then seemed to “stop working” when old patterns returned months later. After losing about 2.5 million dollars in the stock market and facing his own dark night of the soul, Yasha went back out into the world, spending a year in Nepal and India searching for gurus in the Himalayas, only to realize that no one else could save him – and that true healing demanded a different kind of spiritual honesty and responsibility.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What ayahuasca is and how Indigenous Amazonians discovered and combined specific plants like ayahuasca and chacruna to create the medicine, against impossible odds in a jungle of tens of thousands of species.
• How tribes in Peru and Colombia understand trauma as “soul loss” – and why they use ayahuasca not only for healing, but also for hunting, finding medicine plants, communicating with ancestors, and navigating the spiritual world, including the darker side of brujeria and energetic attacks.
• Why many Western seekers focus only on DMT, the default mode network and “inner child work,” while Indigenous healers emphasize spiritual and energetic dimensions that can’t be reduced to brain science alone.

Michael also shares his own firsthand experience drinking ayahuasca with Shipibo healers in a small group with multiple shamans and dedicated facilitators, including one night where he felt the crushing weight of every soul’s energy in the room until a shaman performed an intense energetic clearing with tobacco, blessed water and song that changed everything in an instant. As a self‑described rational, skeptical, Type‑A personality, Michael breaks down why this ceremony shattered his disbelief and opened him to a deeper understanding of plant medicine and spiritual reality.

If you’re curious about:

• Ayahuasca for depression, trauma and spiritual healing
• How to think about safety, lineage and integrity when choosing a retreat or shaman
• The real difference between quick‑fix “biohacking” and long‑term, spiritually grounded healing

…this conversation will give you grounded insight from both a skeptical entrepreneur and a student‑turned‑guide who has lived this path across Peru, Colombia, Nepal and India.

Watch until the end for practical reflections on how to approach ayahuasca responsibly, what questions to ask before you sit with any facilitator, and why some people don’t get lasting results – plus what might be missing in their healing process from a spiritual and energetic perspective.

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Most people think kids who commit violent crimes are just “bad seeds” – but the truth is far more complex and rooted in childhood trauma, foster care, and survival. In this in‑depth conversation, Michael Unbroken sits down with Wendy B. Smith, author of Before There Are Crimes, to explore what really leads young people into juvenile justice and adult prison.

You’ll learn how traumatic childhoods, unsafe neighborhoods, hunger, and constant exposure to violence shape a child’s brain and decision‑making long before a crime is ever committed. Wendy shares research and real stories from former juvenile offenders so you can understand the hidden factors behind youth crime, recidivism, and why punishment without healing doesn’t work.

If you work in mental health, foster care, juvenile justice – or you grew up in chaos yourself – this episode will challenge the myths about “criminal kids” and show why early support and trauma‑informed care matter.

Timestamps:

00:00 Why we misunderstand people who commit crimes

02:00 Wendy B. Smith on Before There Are Crimes

05:00 What every juvenile offender had in common in childhood

10:00 Foster care, trauma, and the path to prison

20:00 How chronic stress rewires kids’ brains

30:00 Why many youth end up in adult prison anyway

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Here is a concise, SEO‑optimized YouTube description tailored to this episode and script:

If life is kicking your ass right now and you feel stuck, lost, and asking “why me,” this conversation is for you. In this episode of the Think Unbroken Podcast, Michael Unbroken sits down with author, musician, and survivor Ben Barbic to talk about his new book Rise and Climb: Finding Purpose Through Pain and the exact decisions that turned rock bottom into a life of purpose and happiness.

We dive deep into childhood trauma, losing everything overnight, panic attacks, addiction, getting arrested at 28, and the mirror‑moment that forces you to choose: stay a lifer in your old identity or become the hero of your own story. Ben shares how he used therapy, meditation, music, and “flip the switch” decisions to correct the ship one day at a time and build a life as a present father, creator, and peaceful soldier.

In this episode you will learn:

• How to know when you have truly had “enough” and are ready to change your life
• Why one decision at rock bottom can snowball into a completely different future
• Practical ways to turn anxiety, panic attacks, and darkness into fuel for growth
• How to deal with shame, imposter syndrome, and your past without letting them define you
• What it really means to find purpose through pain and raise your standards again and again

Timestamps:

00:00 Facing reality and finding purpose through pain

03:15 What to do when life is kicking your ass

07:50 Childhood chaos, anxiety, and feeling different

13:10 Rock bottom, getting arrested, and the teddy bear moment

22:30 Panic attacks, letting go, and driving to Portland for therapy

32:20 Daily habits, long‑game thinking, and building momentum

47:30 Purpose through pain and using your story to help others

50:30 What it means to be Unbroken

If you are ready to rise and climb beyond your past, this episode will give you honest, real‑world tools to make one powerful decision today and start correcting the ship.

Listen to Ben’s music: search “Ben Barbic” on Spotify, Apple Music, and all major platforms.

Get Rise and Climb: Finding Purpose Through Pain on Amazon.

More episodes and resources: search “Think Unbroken Podcast” or visit thinkunbrokenpodcast.com.

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Started a brand new company on July 1st with zero clients. Three weeks later, it had booked six figures in business. In this episode, Michael Anthony breaks down the exact 4-step framework he used to land his first client from scratch — no fancy funnel, no big audience, just a simple, repeatable process anyone can follow.

If you're starting a business with no clients and no idea where to begin, this is your roadmap.

What you'll learn in this video:

Why business is simpler than you think — it's just an exchange of value

How to identify the one skill you have that people will pay top dollar for

Why you have to believe in yourself before you ever take the first step

The uncomfortable, repeated action that actually creates results

Why patience — not motivation — is what separates people who make it from people who quit

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – What I'd do if I had zero clients today

2:06 – What I'm actually an expert at (and how to find yours)

4:25 – Step 1: Identify the skill that's worth real money

6:49 – Step 2: You have to believe before you can create

9:13 – Free resource: the 7-Figure Entrepreneur Handbook

11:36 – Step 3: Take action and get in the damn game

13:36 – Step 4: Be patient and play the long game

15:54 – Final thoughts: there is a process for this

ABOUT MICHAEL ANTHONY

Michael Anthony (Michael Unbroken) is an award-winning keynote speaker, best-selling author, and award-winning podcast host who has generated over $30 million in online sales and built multiple seven-figure companies from the ground up. He is the founder of the Unbroken Business Support Group, helping entrepreneurs and business owners simplify their message, land clients, and scale with proven systems.

GRAB THE RESOURCE

Get the 7-Figure Entrepreneur Handbook for $7 — the 10 biggest lessons learned building a seven-figure company:

https://unbrokenbsg.com/handbook

WORK WITH US

https://unbrokenbsg.com

CONNECT WITH MICHAEL

Website: https://www.michaelunbroken.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelunbroken

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelAnthonySpeaker

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-anthony-unbroken/

If you got value from this video, subscribe and leave a review — it means the world and helps this message reach more people who need it.

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Growing up in the same home does not mean you live the same story. In this powerful conversation, Michael Unbroken sits down with sisters Kathleen Harnish McKune and Karen Dickerson to explore how siblings can experience the same traumatic household in completely different ways and still find a path to healing together.

They share the reality of incest, sexual abuse, violence, manipulation, and emotional neglect in their childhood, and how those experiences shaped their identities, health, and relationships well into adulthood. You will hear how one sister became the “second mother” and dissociated to survive, while the other carried a high pain tolerance, dissociated from her body, and tried to protect everyone else.

Together they break down:

• How adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact the brain, body, and long‑term health
• Why emotional dysregulation, hot tempers, people pleasing, and lack of boundaries are trauma responses, not personality flaws
• The role of sibling competition, being ranked and rated, and being pitted against each other by abusive parents
• What it really looks like to reconnect as adults, repair sibling relationships, and become best friends after years of isolation and estrangement

You will also learn about the 5 Rs of resilience from their book “Remarkably Resilient Community Matters”, why understanding the neuroscience of trauma shifts the question from “What is wrong with me?” to “What happened to me?”, and how regulation practices like breathwork, somatic work, meditation, and self‑care can help widen your window of tolerance.

If you grew up in a traumatic home, have a high ACE score, struggle with anger, shutdown, anxiety, people‑pleasing, chronic illness or chaotic relationships, this episode will show you that you are not alone and that healing is a lifelong journey, not a one‑time event.

Timestamps (suggested):

00:00 Intro – Why siblings’ trauma stories matter

03:00 Kathleen’s story: abuse, escape, and years of no contact

10:00 Karen’s story: “protector child”, suicide planning, and a dog that saved her life

17:00 How their father used comparison, ranking, and isolation to control the kids

24:00 Discovering ACEs and realizing their childhood was not “normal”

28:00 The 5 Rs of resilience and why regulation comes first

33:00 Trauma responses vs personality: hot heads, people pleasers, and no boundaries

40:00 Parenting, breaking cycles, and learning regulation with the next generation

48:00 Why healing never ends and how to give yourself grace on the journey

If this conversation resonates, share it with a sibling, friend, or partner who needs to hear they are not broken and that it is never too late to choose themselves and begin healing.

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In a world drowning in anxiety, overwhelm, and constant pressure, what if your “anxiety” is not anxiety at all – but an old survival pattern your nervous system learned to keep you safe ? In this powerful conversation, Michael Unbroken sits down with nervous system specialist and creator of the Pattern Override Method, Sophia Tortarini, to unpack how to get back to baseline, regulate your body, and finally feel safe in your own skin again.

If you have ever walked into a room, read a message, or heard a certain tone and felt your chest tighten or your stomach drop before your mind could catch up, this episode is for you. Sophia explains why that response is not weakness or “brokenness” – it is a survival pattern your body wired in the past and was never told the danger was over. She shares how most of what we call anxiety is actually this pattern, how it once saved you, and how it may now be quietly costing you your peace, your relationships, and even your career, just like it almost cost hers.

You will learn:

• Why most day‑to‑day “anxiety” is actually a survival pattern, not a real‑time threat response
• The core principles behind Sophia’s Pattern Override Method and how it works directly at the nervous system level in real time, not just by talking about your past or visualizing your future
• The 90‑second to 2‑minute chemistry window: what actually happens in your body during a fear response and how looping thoughts turn a 90‑second wave into 30 minutes of panic
• Practical tools to interrupt the pattern in the moment, calm your nervous system, and “cut off” the old neural signal over time by repeatedly sending an opposite signal
• Why “the peace is in the pause,” and how delaying big decisions, moving your body, meditating, and journaling can keep you from burning everything down when you are triggered

Timestamp highlights:

00:00 – Why we are bathed in anxiety and overwhelm today

01:00 – Sophia’s definition of survival patterns vs anxiety and the Pattern Override Method

03:00 – How patterns show up in body language, relationships, work, and daily life

04:00 – Nature, nurture, and why constant fight/flight/freeze/fawn does not have to be your baseline

15:00 – The 90‑second chemistry rule and how to stop emotional looping with real‑time pattern interrupts

17:00 – “The peace is in the pause” – how to build a regulated decision‑making practice that actually sticks

If you are an entrepreneur, leader, or high‑performer who feels constantly on edge, reactive, or stuck in the same emotional loops no matter how much mindset work you do, this episode will give you a body‑based roadmap to real change. Come learn how to override survival mode, reset your nervous system, and break the habit of being the old you – one regulated breath and one interrupted pattern at a time.

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This video description is written to target searches around betrayal, breakups, “gone girl” style manipulation, male victims, and turning pain into purpose, based on the actual content of your transcript.

Imagine waking up one day and realizing the person you loved and trusted plotted behind your back to deceive you, take your money, and leave you with nothing. That is exactly what happened to Justin Smith when his partner of eight years blindsided him and tried to “gone girl” him for a big payout.

In this powerful conversation with Michael Unbroken, Justin shares how his entire reality was suddenly flipped upside down, how he lost his support system overnight, and what it really feels like to claw your way out of a deep emotional pit when it seems like everyone is cheering for you to fail. He talks about betrayal, manipulation, trauma, and the difficult decision to hold on to his values instead of playing dirty in return, even when people were using every trick against him.

If you have ever been blindsided in a relationship, gone through a high conflict breakup, or felt used for money, this story will resonate on a deep level. Justin and Michael explore how men are often silent about being victims, how the media usually only shows one side of manipulation, and why your painful experiences do not have to define who you are. Instead, how you respond to them and what you build from that pain is what truly matters.

You will hear Justin break down:

• How his partner plotted in advance to deceive and manipulate him for financial gain
• What it was like to wake up in a “MacGyver” style moment and realize his life had been rewritten overnight
• The reality of losing his support system and feeling completely alone in the aftermath
• The inner work it took to rebuild his identity, self worth, and sense of purpose after betrayal
• Why he chose to transform his pain into a mission to help other people instead of becoming bitter or vengeful

This episode is for you if you are searching for:

• “Gone girl relationship story”
• “Blindsided breakup”
• “When your partner uses you for money”
• “Male victim of manipulation”
• “Turning pain into purpose after betrayal”

Watch this full conversation to learn how to rebuild when your world falls apart, reclaim your power after someone tries to destroy your life, and use your story to help others instead of letting it destroy you.

Timestamps (approximate):

• 00:00 – The moment everything flipped upside down
• 01:19 – Why this story matters for anyone who has been through painful experiences
• 01:49 – The day Justin’s partner tried to “gone girl” him
• 02:24 – Why men rarely talk about being manipulated and used
• 03:44 – Rock bottom, loneliness, and clawing out of the pit with no rescue coming

If this conversation speaks to you, hit subscribe for more real stories about healing from trauma, rebuilding after rock bottom, and becoming unbroken.

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What would it take to get paid to go to outer space for your job? In this powerful Think Unbroken conversation, Christopher “Chuie” Huie shares how he went from feeling lost to flying to space with Virgin Galactic and turning audacious dreams into reality.

Christopher breaks down his unexpected journey into aerospace engineering, how he joined Richard Branson’s spaceflight company Virgin Galactic, and what it was really like to be selected as a test customer and launched on a suborbital spaceflight. We dive into the mindset, strategy, and daily decisions that helped him stand out inside the company, get on the radar of senior leadership and the Branson family, and ultimately earn a once‑in‑a‑lifetime seat to space.

If you have ever felt destined for something greater but had no idea where to put that energy, this episode will show you how to align your work with your authenticity, set audacious goals, and turn vision into action in your own life. We also talk about failure, feeling lost, and why doing your current work “the best it can be done” can quietly open doors you never imagined.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro: Making impossible dreams real

01:17 Why Christopher felt destined for something great (without “destiny”)

02:30 From engineering to Virgin Galactic and commercial spaceflight

04:00 How he became a test customer and got paid to go to space

06:30 Masterminding with Richard Branson and standing out at work

07:30 The simple career advice that helped him rise as a leader

In this episode you will learn:

• How Christopher “Chuie” Huie went from traditional engineering roles to flying on a Virgin Galactic space mission.
• How to use persistence, goals, and aligned action to create a life that once felt “out of this world.”
• Why authenticity, service, and excellence in “small” tasks can position you for rare opportunities.

If you are an ambitious high‑performer who has faced adversity and still feels called to do big things in the world, this conversation is for you.

Hit subscribe for more real stories and frameworks on turning trauma, adversity, and big dreams into unbroken strength and high performance.

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For almost a decade, Think Unbroken has been the home for healing childhood trauma, featuring over 1,000 episodes and world-class experts such as Gabor Mate, Caroline Leaf, Tom Bilyeu, Lisa Bilyeu, and Leila Hormozi. Now it’s time for a new chapter focused on entrepreneurship, business growth, and radical ownership.

In this episode, I share why I'm permanently stepping away from mental health coaching and what thousands of deep trauma transformations have cost me mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. You'll hear the behind‑the‑scenes story of my identity shift from “childhood trauma coach” to “entrepreneur who has a podcast,” and why I believe building a business is one of the most powerful paths to healing, self‑belief, and freedom.

If you're an entrepreneur, aspiring founder, coach, consultant, content creator, or business owner who is tired of motivation without execution, this episode is for you. I break down what you can expect from the new Unbroken Business Support Group Podcast:

• Weekly episodes on business strategy, marketing, sales, leadership, and money for entrepreneurs and business owners.

• Real “here’s exactly what I did” frameworks to launch, grow, and scale using podcasting, content, and direct‑response marketing.

• Candid conversations with elite entrepreneurs and business leaders about building profitable, resilient companies without losing yourself.

You'll also hear my story of going from a kid from the hood with drug‑addicted parents, no college degree, and a learning disability to building multiple seven‑figure businesses and leading teams across multiple companies — and why I’m convinced you can do it too if you stop saying “one day” and start today.

If you want to learn how to use podcasting as a real business growth engine (not just a hobby), I’m hosting the Podcasting for Entrepreneurs 4‑Day Live Challenge. Across four days, I’ll show you step by step how we've used a podcast to reach millions of listeners, generate clients, and build a profitable brand, so you can:

• Launch or relaunch a podcast that attracts your ideal clients.

• Turn episodes into leads, offers, and sales.

• Build a content machine that supports a real business, not just downloads.



Join the Podcasting for Entrepreneurs 4‑Day Live Challenge here: https://unbrokenbsg.com/challenge.

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If you feel like the worst thing that ever happened to you is the thing that defines you, this conversation is for you. In this episode, Michael Unbroken sits down with author Amy McKiernan to talk about trauma, addiction, rock bottom, and the long, honest path to becoming whole again.

Amy shares how she turned to drugs and alcohol to numb her pain, the dangerous path it led her down, and the “forced resets” that helped her slowly choose a different life. She explains how small daily choices, boundaries, and choosing herself over and over again created space for real healing, self‑worth, and becoming the woman she is today.

You will learn:

• Why trauma quietly drives your life until you face it
• How numbing out with substances keeps you from truly healing
• What “forced resets” and rock bottom can teach you about change
• How to start choosing yourself in small, practical ways every day
• The mindset required to do the hard work of becoming unbroken

If you are a survivor of trauma, childhood pain, or addiction and you feel shattered, this episode will remind you that you can do more than just survive. There is a fulfilling and beautiful life available when you decide to do the work and take your power back.

Subscribe for more conversations on trauma healing, resilience, and becoming unbroken.

Like this video if Amy’s story speaks to you and share it with someone who needs hope today.

Timestamps (suggested):

00:00 Intro – Why the worst thing does not have to define you

01:10 Meet Amy McKiernan and her new book

02:30 Living defined by trauma and feeling broken

03:20 Turning to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain

06:00 Forced resets, rock bottom, and early sobriety

10:00 Learning to value yourself and choose yourself daily

20:00 The path to becoming unbroken and creating a new life

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In this powerful conversation, Michael Unbroken and coach Paul Levitin break down why more information is not the answer to changing your life and what actually works instead. You will learn why we stay stuck in “scrolling hell,” how corporations design food, apps, and content to keep you addicted, and why willpower and motivation always run out over the long term.

They dive into the “age of information” problem – when you can Google or AI your way to any answer about health, wealth, and relationships, yet people are more unhealthy, overwhelmed, and unhappy than ever. Paul explains his EASIER framework, why your brain always chooses the path of least resistance, and how to reduce friction so doing the right thing actually becomes the easy thing.

You will also hear Michael share candidly about being 350 pounds, battling addiction, burning out after building multiple seven figure companies, and how he learned that discipline is an act of self love, not punishment. Together they unpack infinite goals like “be healthy” or “have a great relationship,” the crucial role of timelines, and why the peace – and your power – is in the pause before you act.

Timestamps (approx):

• 0:00 Choosing to be the hero of your story
• 4:00 Why information is not your real problem
• 15:00 The game is rigged: food, apps, and addiction by design
• 26:00 Willpower, motivation, and why “just try harder” fails
• 32:00 The EASIER framework and making change feel effortless
• 43:00 The peace is in the pause: overriding old patterns

If you are feeling stuck, overwhelmed by content, or frustrated that you “know what to do” but still are not doing it, this episode will give you a clear, realistic path to make change finally stick.

Hit subscribe for more conversations on trauma, healing, mindset, and becoming unbroken, and share this with someone in your life who feels like they keep punching the same brick wall and never breaking through.

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If you’ve tried traditional talk therapy for PTSD, trauma, anxiety, or a broken relationship and still feel stuck, this conversation will change the way you think about healing.

In this episode, Michael Unbroken sits down with psychotherapist and author Jonathan Robinson to explore how MDMA‑assisted therapy is being used to help people rapidly heal from childhood trauma, sexual abuse, PTSD, anxiety, addictions, and long‑standing relationship issues. You’ll hear real stories from Jonathan’s 40 years of experience and over 700 guided MDMA sessions, including work with individuals and couples who often make more progress in one afternoon than in years of standard therapy.

We talk about:

• What MDMA therapy for PTSD actually looks like step‑by‑step
• How MDMA affects the brain (amygdala, serotonin, safety, and relearning)
• Why MDMA‑assisted therapy shows such strong results in phase 3 PTSD trials
• How guided MDMA sessions can transform communication, intimacy, and sex for couples
• The difference between MDMA and other psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, ketamine, and ayahuasca
• How integration sessions lock in long‑term change after the medicine session

We also cover safety, legal status, and common fears people have about “drugs,” addiction, and doing this work over Zoom. Jonathan explains why MDMA is considered a potential breakthrough therapy for PTSD, why it is generally well‑tolerated in clinical trials, and how a clear protocol and skilled facilitation reduce the risk of difficult experiences.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro – Science, trauma, and the healing journey

3:00 Jonathan’s story, early MDMA research, and personal trauma

10:00 What is MDMA therapy for PTSD and trauma?

18:00 How MDMA changes fear, safety, and learning in the brain

26:00 Sex, shame, and healing childhood sexual trauma

34:00 Six relationship traps and why couples get stuck

44:00 MDMA for couples: intimacy, communication, and Zoom sessions

55:00 Safety, legality, big pharma, and the future of MDMA therapy

1:05:00 Integration, lasting change, and what it means to be unbroken

If you’re curious about MDMA‑assisted therapy, want to understand the research behind it, or are looking for hope for your own healing from PTSD, CPTSD, anxiety, or relationship pain, this episode is a powerful place to start.

Subscribe for weekly episodes on trauma healing, mental health, relationships, and becoming unbroken.

Learn more about Jonathan Robinson’s work on MDMA therapy: “Ecstasy as Medicine” and “Ecstasy for Couples.”

Listen to the Think Unbroken Podcast here: [Podcast page on MichaelUnbroken.com].

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical, psychiatric, or legal advice. MDMA remains a controlled substance in many countries and should only be used where legal and under appropriate supervision. Always consult with a qualified professional before making decisions about your health or treatment.

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Facing adversity, losing a parent, running the streets, juvie, gangs, alcoholism and depression… this is the real underdog story of how Michael Long went from chaos to choosing himself and rebuilding his life. In this raw conversation with Michael Unbroken, we talk about grief, addiction, faith, cutting toxic friends, and what it actually takes to walk away before you end up dead or in jail.

If you feel stuck in self‑sabotage, numbing out with alcohol, or repeating the same destructive patterns, this episode will show you that your past does not have to be your future. You will learn how Michael lost his mom to cancer, spiraled into fights, crime, and probation, and what finally made him change, quit drinking, and start over.

Timestamps:

00:00 Losing my mom & the start of the spiral

05:00 Juvie, streets, gangs and almost dying more than once

10:00 Depression, alcohol and bad investments that nearly cost everything

15:00 Cutting 95 percent of my friends to save my life

20:00 Choosing myself, rebuilding faith and creating a new path

In this video we cover:

• How childhood trauma and losing a parent can flip your life overnight
• Why grief, anger and guilt pushed Michael into the streets and juvie
• The role of alcohol, bad friends and bad investments in self‑destruction
• How he quit drinking, cut toxic people and started again
• Practical steps to choose yourself and stop repeating the past

If you are grieving a parent, stuck in addiction, or feel like you are one bad decision away from losing everything, this is for you.

➤ Subscribe for more conversations on trauma, healing and becoming unbroken

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Imagine if everything blocking you from becoming who you really are started with the questions you ask yourself. What if you are not broken, you are just buried? In this powerful Think Unbroken Podcast episode, Michael Unbroken sits down with Kristen Crabtree to talk about moving from trauma and survival mode into emotional sobriety, truth, and self‑reclamation.

Kristen shares her raw journey from childhood sexual assault and a 22‑year psychologically abusive marriage into freedom, healing, and designing a new identity built on authenticity instead of adaptation. She breaks down her unique framework of the Archaeologist, the Artifact, and the Architect – a process of excavating your truth, sorting what is real from the masks you wear, and then consciously building a life that aligns with who you actually are.

You will learn how trauma, prolonged stress, and narcissistic abuse shape your identity, create survival‑mode behaviors, and turn your nervous system into an addict for stress chemicals like cortisol, adrenaline, and the trauma‑bond mix of oxytocin and dopamine. Michael and Kristen unpack why you keep repeating the same toxic patterns, why leaving does not instantly “fix” you, and why becoming emotionally sober is harder than quitting alcohol.

Kristen also shares how discovering Dr. Joe Dispenza’s work, finding a book she wrote in 1999, and revisiting her own exercises helped her build a practical “jig” – a decision‑making tool based on your deepest values, passions, and truths. When you know your truth, she explains, decisions become clear, motivation flows naturally, and you no longer need to white‑knuckle discipline or live for external validation.

Michael brings his own story of growing up in severe abuse, having an ACE score of 10, being 350 pounds, chain‑smoking, and stuck in chaos, to show how identity theft is the hidden cost of trauma – and how reclaiming your identity is more important than “fixing” yourself. Together they explore why tools like meditation, therapy, coaching, journaling, nervous system work, and honest self‑reflection actually work: they interrupt the thought‑emotion‑behavior loop and create space in the pause for a different choice.

If you have ever asked yourself “Who am I really?” after a toxic relationship, childhood trauma, loss, burnout, or major life transition, this conversation will help you start your own excavation and remember your magnificence.

In this episode (timestamps approximate)

00:00 – Why the questions you ask shape your life and identity

02:00 – From trauma to truth: Kristen’s framework of Archaeologist, Artifact, Architect

05:00 – Survival mode, masks, and the theft of identity after trauma

08:40 – Narcissistic abuse, trauma bonds, and realizing “It’s not you”

11:00 – Discovering Dr. Joe Dispenza and learning to hear your true self

15:20 – Excavation exercises and building your personal “jig” for decisions

20:00 – Ignoring your truth, panic attacks, and the cost of living out of alignment

24:00 – Emotional addiction: why your body is hooked on stress chemicals

30:10 – Grief, loss, and realizing you are still chasing your biochemical “fix”

35:30 – Why healing tools work: interrupting the thought–emotion–behavior loop

39:30 – Self‑revelation vs self‑reclamation and designing YOU 2.0

44:00 – Masks, authenticity, and choosing when you adapt on purpose

47:20 – What it really means to be Unbroken

Key topics covered

• Emotional sobriety and breaking addiction to stress and chaos
• Moving from survival mode and adaptation into authenticity and peace
• Narcissistic abuse, gaslighting, blame‑shifting, and trauma bonds
• Identity after childhood trauma, divorce, job loss, and other major shocks
• How your thoughts, emotions, chemicals, and behaviors create a loop that keeps you stuck
• Practical tools to pause, regulate your nervous system, and choose differently
• Excavation questions and exercises to uncover your true self
• Building a values‑based “jig” for fast, aligned decisions in work, love, and life

About our guest – Kristen Crabtree

Kristen Crabtree helps people move from trauma or adaptation to truth by guiding them through an excavation process to uncover their authentic self and then architect a life aligned with that truth. Her work blends real‑life experience, science, metaphysics, and philosophy into practical tools, questions, and exercises so you can remember who you really are and live from that place.

Work with Kristen and download her Emotional Sobriety PDF:

YOU 2.0 session: you2point0.com (Y‑O‑U 2 point 0)

Paramore Paradox Project: paramoreparadox.com

Listen to more Think Unbroken

For more episodes on trauma healing, emotional sobriety, mindset, and reclaiming your identity, visit:

▶ thinkunbrokenpodcast.com

If you are here, this video is for you if:

• You left a toxic or abusive relationship and feel lost or numb
• You are stuck in survival mode, burnout, or constant anxiety and panic
• You are doing “all the self‑help” but still asking, “Who am I really?”
• You want practical tools to stop repeating the same painful patterns
• You are ready to choose yourself and remember your magnificence

If this episode helped you:

• Like the video to support the channel
• Subscribe and turn on notifications for new episodes
• Comment “I choose my truth” if you are starting your excavation today
• Share this with a friend who needs to hear they are not broken

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Here is an SEO‑optimized YouTube description you can copy, then tweak for your voice and links:

If you feel stuck, burned out, or like you’ve “checked all the boxes” and still aren’t happy, this conversation is for you. In this powerful episode, Michael Unbroken and guest Amy Natalie dive deep into how to rebuild confidence, break negative thought patterns, and create a life aligned with your true core values.

We talk about:

• Why “happiness is a choice” can feel impossible when you are in survival mode.
• How Amy went from clinically depressed, anxious, and living a picture‑perfect life to an authentic, multidimensional reality.
• The role of core values like authenticity, connection, health, growth, freedom, and impact in designing a life that actually feels like YOU.
• Practical tools to become more present, rewire negative self‑talk, and stop repeating the same painful patterns.
• The mindset and embodiment practices that help you heal stored trauma and feel safe in your body again.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro: Becoming the embodied person you’re capable of being

01:43 Why you are hearing this at the right time

03:20 Amy’s story: From vanilla, picture‑perfect life to full‑spectrum living

05:08 Hitting rock bottom, anxiety, and getting sick of your own stories

15:13 Presence, goals, and who you are choosing to be today

15:42 Mindset, limiting beliefs, and negative thought patterns

17:50 Self‑acceptance, shame, and loving your insecure parts

18:27 What embodiment really means and why trauma lives in the body

If you’re navigating grief, mental health challenges, or a “dark night of the soul,” this episode will give you hope, practical tools, and a new lens on success. Listen with an open mind and open heart; one conversation can change everything.

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In this episode, Michael Unbroken sits down with kink and sexuality expert Matthew Riven to unpack how BDSM, kink, and conscious sexuality can become powerful tools for healing childhood trauma, religious shame, and sexual guilt. You will learn how consent, boundaries, and agency in the bedroom can help you reclaim your body, rebuild self‑trust, and create safer, more authentic relationships as an adult survivor.

We explore the difference between sex, sexuality, and kink, why your “taboo” desires are often wired to your nervous system, and how bringing them above the table with communication can be deeply healing instead of destructive. Matthew shares how conscious kink, structure, and negotiation give trauma survivors a safe container to be seen, ask for what they want, and slowly release the shame they were taught as kids.

If you grew up with sexual abuse, purity culture, or a home where sex was never talked about, this conversation will help you understand why you struggle with intimacy, trust, and desire – and what to do about it. We talk PTSD, body agency, consent regret, and how to move from people‑pleasing and dissociation into grounded, empowered choice in your relationships and sex life.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Why kink and sexuality matter for trauma healing
• 06:00 Michael’s story: childhood sexual abuse, Mormonism, and confusion about sex
• 16:00 What kink really is (and why shame makes it feel “wrong”)
• 19:00 How BDSM rules, structure, and consent create safety
• 01:08:00 “Fuck yes, yes, maybe, no, fuck no” – understanding consent and boundaries

Keywords (for SEO): trauma healing, childhood sexual abuse, religious trauma, purity culture, kink, BDSM, conscious kink, sexuality, sexual shame, sexual guilt, consent, boundaries, agency, body agency, PTSD, intimacy, relationships, Michael Unbroken, Matthew Riven, Think Unbroken podcast

If someone searches “healing sexual shame,” do you want to rank more for “trauma recovery” or more for “kink and BDSM education”?

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