Legal Grounds | Michael Molthan On Addiction as a Symptom, Replacing “Tough Love” with True Love, and Freeing Others to Free Yourself
Explicit content warning
02/12/25 • 43 min
Addiction is one of those words that - whether consciously or unconsciously – causes most people to instantly conjure up a stock-image of a person at rock bottom due to drugs and alcohol.
Now, as we’ve discussed in previous episodes with both experts & those who’ve experienced it first-hand, addiction is nearly always a symptom of something deeper.
But one of the things that struck me in this week’s conversation was that while as a society we’re beginning to see through many of the cultural MYTHS we hold surrounding addiction, there may exist an even bigger problem: a fundamental understanding of what addiction actually is & how it can manifest itself in our lives.
My guest this week is Michael Molthan, a former drug addict and alcoholic who has dedicated his life to helping others on their path to recovery on his daily talk show, M2 The Rock.
Since 2017, Michael has been inspiring individuals to break free from life-shattering addictions and everyday obstacles, empowering them to embrace their true potential and live their best lives.
A sought-after speaker, Michael also helps run the M2 organization, a nonprofit that helps connect those struggling with addiction to resources, including Certified Recovery Coaches, Information and referrals, scholarships for intensive outpatient programs, as well as other resources.
We discuss why rock-bottom is often a plural, how finding freedom for ourselves can sometimes require freeing those around us, choosing true love as a form of tough love, and so much more.
Enjoy the show.
___________
SHOWNOTES
Michael’s Story (Video by IAMSECOND)
Addiction is one of those words that - whether consciously or unconsciously – causes most people to instantly conjure up a stock-image of a person at rock bottom due to drugs and alcohol.
Now, as we’ve discussed in previous episodes with both experts & those who’ve experienced it first-hand, addiction is nearly always a symptom of something deeper.
But one of the things that struck me in this week’s conversation was that while as a society we’re beginning to see through many of the cultural MYTHS we hold surrounding addiction, there may exist an even bigger problem: a fundamental understanding of what addiction actually is & how it can manifest itself in our lives.
My guest this week is Michael Molthan, a former drug addict and alcoholic who has dedicated his life to helping others on their path to recovery on his daily talk show, M2 The Rock.
Since 2017, Michael has been inspiring individuals to break free from life-shattering addictions and everyday obstacles, empowering them to embrace their true potential and live their best lives.
A sought-after speaker, Michael also helps run the M2 organization, a nonprofit that helps connect those struggling with addiction to resources, including Certified Recovery Coaches, Information and referrals, scholarships for intensive outpatient programs, as well as other resources.
We discuss why rock-bottom is often a plural, how finding freedom for ourselves can sometimes require freeing those around us, choosing true love as a form of tough love, and so much more.
Enjoy the show.
___________
SHOWNOTES
Michael’s Story (Video by IAMSECOND)
Previous Episode
Legal Grounds | Allison Mahoney On Empathizing Without Internalizing, the Nature of Victim-Blaming, and Standing Up for the Voiceless
Creating legitimate points of access to justice is a cornerstone of our legal system.
But when it comes to modern forms of abuse such as digital bullying or image-based sexual abuse, or even with children in the foster-care system, the path to justice is often retraumatizing, ill-equiped, or simply non-existent.
My guest today is Allison Mahoney, the Founder and Managing Attorney of ALM Law, where she specializes in trauma-informed legal representation for survivors of abuse and children harmed in child welfare systems.
With more than a decade of experience, Allison has built a distinguished career advocating for vulnerable children in foster care and those impacted by sexual abuse and domestic violence. Her work is defined by her deep commitment to securing justice for survivors.
We discuss her early career and what drove her to pursue a line of work many of us would like to forget, why victim-blaming is so ingrained - even on a linguistic level, and what steps need to be taken to reform the system to serve the people who need it most.
Enjoy the show.
Next Episode
Legal Grounds | Jack W. Williams On the Shifting Nature of Priorities, the Difference Between Teaching & Telling, Remembering Your Role in Effective Communication
I think it’s fair to say that oftentimes when we hear the word ‘Belief’, we immediately associate it with something either Spiritual or Political – two of the three things my mother told me to never bring up in polite conversation.
And yet, whether we recognize it or not, all of us are navigating through life by operating on a set of beliefs. Some of them are constant but many evolve, and some even drop away all together.
As my guest this week explores in his latest book, we hold beliefs about things like relationships, family, and character that can make our lives richer, but can just as easily jade our view of others, ourselves, and the world writ-large.
After coaching Division 1 football for nearly a decade, Jack W. Williams entered the business world holding leadership roles as Vice President and COO of a regional service firm followed by becoming a SVP in a Fortune 500 company. Since that time he has led several businesses and served on three Boards.
In 1993 he formed the IDEALS Foundation which works with high school students in the area of leadership, role modeling and life / soft skills training.
In 2008, Jack left his position as president of a regional company to devote full-time to his Foundation and his consulting business, the Timbridge Group, and most recently he’s the author of “The Question: A Guide to Answering Life’s Most Important Question.”
It’s a wonderful conversation about the power of understanding our core-beliefs, why you can’t split your priorities in half, and the difference between Telling a person what to do and Teaching them what to do.
Enjoy the show.
_______________
SHOWNOTES:
Jack's Podcast - Knowledgecast
Purchase Jack's Book
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