Beneath The Surface Podcast - Ep. 4 - Diving Beneath the Surface: From Shadows to Self — Robley's Story

In this powerful episode of Diving Beneath the Surface, we sit down with Robley Johnson to explore a journey marked by identity struggles, substance use, and the courageous work of rebuilding a life from the inside out. Robley opens up about the years he spent trying to fit in with the wrong people, losing sight of his authentic self, and burying the parts of him that were quietly calling out for healing.

He shares how cocaine and alcohol slowly took hold—silencing his creativity, straining his marriage, and costing him jobs—until he reached a breaking point that forced him to confront the truth he’d been avoiding. What follows is a raw and honest conversation about choosing recovery, embracing vulnerability, and learning to feel again.

Through journaling, therapy, AA, and a newfound commitment to honesty, Robley began reconnecting with the self he had long suppressed. His story is a testament to the strength it takes to ask for help and the transformation that becomes possible when we stop running from our own reflection.

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt lost, disconnected, or afraid to be seen. Robley’s journey reminds us that beneath the shadows, there is always a self worth reclaiming.