What if the very thing you’re trying hardest to hide is the doorway to healing?

In this Circle of Chairs Conversation, I sit down with author and pastor John Ortberg to explore the surprising connection between spiritual formation and recovery. Drawing from his book Steps: Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn’t Enough, Ortberg reflects on why change is so difficult—and why the path forward often begins not with strength, but with honest weakness.

Together, they discuss how the wisdom of the 12 Steps has shaped recovery communities for decades—and why the church may have more to learn from those basement meetings than it realizes. From stories of vulnerability to practical reflections on surrender, this conversation invites us to rethink what healing, faith, and transformation really look like.

If you’ve ever felt inadequate, stuck, or unsure of your next step, this episode is a gentle reminder: sometimes the end of our rope is exactly where new life begins.

0:00 — Welcome & Intro

3:35 — The sermon that changed everything
John tells the surprising story of fainting in the middle of a sermon—and how a visible weakness became a powerful spiritual lesson.

6:13 — “My strength is made perfect in weakness”
Why vulnerability can create deeper connection than strength ever could.

7:08 — What the church can learn from recovery
How the culture of confession and honesty in 12-step groups offers a prophetic example for the wider church.

11:11 — Recovery is about surrender, not just sobriety
Caroline and John discuss why recovery is about transformation of the whole life—not just abstaining from substances.

12:48 — What recovery communities can learn from the church
John explains how the 12 Steps grew from Christian discipleship traditions and why deeper spiritual formation matters.

19:49 — The power of telling your story
A moving example of how vulnerability in church can reveal how much everyone truly needs God.

22:38 — God’s address is at the end of your rope
A final encouragement for anyone feeling stuck, desperate, or unsure where to turn next.

https://www.johnortberg.com/

Steps: Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn’t Enough (on Amazon)

Order your pre-release copy of Caroline Beidler's book, When You Love Someone in Recovery and receive a free advance sample chapter.

New book from Caroline Beidler:

Pre-Order: When You Love Someone in Recovery

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her next book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, is coming Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.

Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com

In this Circle of Chairs conversation, I interview speaker, author, and podcaster Toni Collier about recovery, trauma, and the kind of community that helps people heal. Toni shares her “buckets” of work - traveling to speak on healing and redemption, writing books including Brave Enough to Be Broken and her new book Don’t Try This Alone, hosting the Still Coloring podcast, and raising her kids as a single mom. She explains that sharing hard truths came from recovering from people-pleasing and focusing on pleasing God rather than others’ opinions. Toni describes a confessional community she built before crisis hit and then the incredible response from her friends.

We discuss breaking cycles of seeking worth through men, learning to sit with pain, and “with-ness” through being seen, soothed, safe, and secure, plus a practical exercise to help you get started with forming your own deep community.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:56 Tony in Buckets

02:50 From Struggle to Vulnerability

06:01 Community and New Book

06:53 Divorce and Confessional Community

11:02 Breaking the Love Lie

16:00 Learning to Sit in Pain

18:37 Withness and Four S's

23:14 Practical Steps to Build Circles

26:04 Closing Thanks

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her next book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, is coming Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.

Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com

What if some of the things you’ve believed about addiction recovery—about love, relapse, boundaries, even faith—aren’t fully true?

In this episode, I gently challenge 10 common myths that quietly shape how we show up for the people we love. If you’ve ever wondered…

• Am I enabling?
• Is relapse proof they’re not trying?
• Shouldn’t my faith make this easier?
• Why does loving them feel so exhausting?

This conversation is for you.

We’ll unpack what’s really happening beneath addiction, why recovery is rarely a straight line, and how love and boundaries can coexist without guilt. Most of all, we’ll talk about your healing—because recovery doesn’t just impact one person.

If you’ve been walking on eggshells, afraid of saying the wrong thing, I hope this episode brings clarity, courage, and grounded hope.

Time Stamps

00:00 Top 10 Addiction Recovery Myths (Intro & Overview)
01:01 Myth #1: “Loving Them Is Enabling” — Love + Boundaries
03:39 Myth #2: “Addiction Is a Choice” — What’s Happening in the Brain
07:16 Myth #3: “Talking About Drugs Makes Them Use” — Why Conversation Protects
09:18 Myth #4: “Relapse Means They’re Not Serious” — Recurrence & the Recovery Journey
14:40 Myth #5: “Boundaries Are Mean” — Why Boundaries Are Brave
15:46 Myth #6: “My Healing Doesn’t Matter” — Family Recovery Starts With You
16:56 Myth #7: “I’m the Only One” — Finding Community
18:05 Myth #8: “If I Have Faith, I Shouldn’t Struggle” — Holding Faith and Pain
19:20 Myth #9: “Mental Health Talk Is Weak” — Strength in Asking for Help
20:17 Myth #10: “They Just Need to Stop” — Getting to the Root
Wrap-Up: Truth, Hope & Final Encouragement

Pre-order the book When You Love Someone In Recovery: https://whenyoulovesomeoneinrecovery.com/

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her next book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, is coming Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.

Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com

In this episode of Circle of Chairs, I sit down with Brandon Burley, Marine Corps veteran, former law enforcement officer, educator, and the founder of the Redemption Project - for a deeply hopeful conversation about addiction, incarceration, and what it really takes to help people rebuild their lives.

Brandon shares how his career in narcotics exposed him to the revolving door of recidivism: the same people cycling through the system, wanting treatment but facing barriers like lack of beds, insurance, and support. He talks honestly about the stigma that exists not only toward people who’ve been incarcerated or struggled with addiction, but even within law enforcement itself—and why enforcement alone can’t create safer communities without real rehabilitation on the back end.

We explore how recovery is both a public health and public safety strategy, and why community and belonging are often the missing pieces.

If you care about recovery, reentry, or what it looks like to become the kind of community that helps people truly come home, this conversation will leave you thinking—and hoping.

You can find Brandon at TheRedemptionProject.news (plus his podcast and Substack), and connect in his Facebook community, The Redemption Group.

00:14 Meet Brandon Burley: Marine, Law Enforcement & the Redemption Project

02:20 Breaking the Silos: Collaboration, Stigma & Compassionate Policing

06:04 Why Recidivism Happens: What Brandon Saw in Narcotics Work

09:41 Recovery as Public Safety: Community as the Missing Pillar

14:05 The First 30 Days After Release: IDs, Medication & Reentry Barriers

18:29 What’s Working Now: Redemption Project, Veterans Advocacy & Men of Valor

22:18 How to Connect + Final Thoughts

For more resources, visit carolinebeidler.com.

Pre-order the book: When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction.

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her next book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, is coming Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.

Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com

In this episode of Circle of Chairs, I am deeply honored to have my mom, Diana Dalles, as a special guest. Together, we candidly discuss the profound impact addiction and recovery have had on our family, sharing personal experiences and the journey toward healing and hope. We touch on the challenges we faced, from the lack of resources in the early 2000s to the isolation my mom felt, and the transformation that occurred through community support. We reflect on how showing up with love and hope can make a monumental difference for those struggling. Diana offers invaluable advice for family members feeling alone, emphasizing the importance of seeking support and resources available today. We also recount cherished memories and the enduring bond that has flourished despite the trials of addiction. This episode is a testament to the power of love, community, and unwavering hope in the face of addiction. Thank you for listening.

00:00 Introduction to Circle of Chairs

00:14 Meet My Mom, Diana Dallas

00:48 Humor and Light Moments

02:07 A Mother's Perspective on Addiction

04:43 Challenges and Changes in Recovery

09:06 The Importance of Support and Community

20:43 Reflections and Memories

23:08 Conclusion and Resources

Diana Dalles LPN, MSW has been writing poetry and journaling since her teenage years, mainly for her own enjoyment and healing. She spent the early years of her career in the nursing field, then worked thirty-five years as a professional social worker. Her employment interests included hospice, medical social work, and gerontology. She has facilitated grief, trauma, and women’s empowerment groups. Diana retired in 2015, and being with her family brings her the greatest joy. Diana lives with her cat in East Tennessee.

Pre-order a copy of my new book releasing April 2026:

When You Love Someone in Recovery https://whenyoulovesomeoneinrecovery.com/

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her next book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, is coming Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.

Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com

In this episode, I discuss with Megan Perry the concept of harm reduction, a set of principles and practices that prioritize people's autonomy and dignity in substance use. Megan shares how harm reduction goes beyond just providing safe equipment and overdose prevention, emphasizing the importance of loving and supporting individuals regardless of their substance use choices. We also explore the often antagonistic divide between harm reduction and abstinence-based recovery, highlighting the need for a more inclusive and compassionate approach. Megan encourages us to reflect on our own experiences, educate ourselves on harm reduction, and support each other without stigma.

For more resources and to pre-order my new book, When You Love Someone In Recovery: A Hopeful Guide to Understanding Addiction, visit whenyoulovesomeoneinrecovery.com.

00:00 Introduction to Circle of Chairs
00:14 Caroline's New Book Announcement
00:35 Meet Megan Perry
02:04 Understanding Harm Reduction
07:16 Challenges in Recovery Advocacy
14:16 The Importance of Language in Recovery
20:37 Practical Steps for Harm Reduction
25:41 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

You can learn more about Meghann’s work, speaking, and performances at meghannperry.com

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her next book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, is coming Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.

Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com

In this episode of Circle of Chairs, I have an inspiring conversation with Will Parker Anderson, a book editor at Penguin Random House Christian and founder of the Writer's Circle podcast and newsletter. We discuss how writing can be seen as a form of worship and a means to connect with God, especially for those in recovery. Will unpacks the powerful role of writing in processing thoughts and emotions, as well as the importance of receiving and giving feedback with grace. He also shares personal stories that highlight the transformative power of words, regardless of publication. For anyone feeling unqualified or rejected in their writing journey, Will's insights will provide encouragement and a fresh perspective.

00:00 Introduction to Circle of Chairs
00:13 Meet Will Parker Anderson
01:04 Will's Journey as a Book Editor
01:36 The Writer's Circle and Writing as Worship
03:30 The Spirituality of Writing
07:41 The Role of Editing in Writing
14:22 Advice for Aspiring Writers
21:34 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

Connect with Will at: https://www.writerscircle.co/

Sign up for Caroline Beidler's Circle of Chairs Substack: https://carolinebeidler.substack.com/

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her next book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, is coming Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.

Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com

Join me in an inspiring conversation with Kelsey Gerhardt on Circle of Chairs, focusing on addiction, mental health, healing, and hope. Kelsey, a woman in recovery for nearly 12 years, shares her remarkable journey from early addiction and multiple treatments to becoming a sober living advocate and opening her women's home, Heart Recovery, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We discuss the importance of aftercare, the unique challenges of women's recovery, and the profound impact of finding supportive, healing communities. Kelsey's story underscores the power of vulnerability, mentorship, and personal growth in the path to sustained sobriety.

00:00 Introduction to Circle of Chairs

00:14 Meet Kelsey Gearhart: A Journey in Recovery

02:25 Kelsey's Early Struggles and Turning Point

06:42 Building Heart Recovery: Vision to Reality

09:33 Living and Leading in Recovery

17:19 Future Plans and Final Thoughts

Learn more about Kelsey’s work and Heart Recovery at hartrecovery.org.

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her next book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, is coming Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.

Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com