In this episode of Beyond the Storm with Salena, I sit down with Steffy Bailey, a mother who refuses to sugarcoat what it means to walk beside a child in active addiction. Through her bold social media presence, Steffy has built not just a loyal following but a true community of people who are drawn to her fearless honesty.

Her raw, unfiltered storytelling creates a space where other parents and loved ones feel seen, understood, and less alone. Her story is one of grit, honesty, and love that knows no boundaries. She speaks openly about the times when the only way to love her son was from across the street, reminding us that distance does not mean abandonment. It is still standing with them. It is still refusing to give up.

Steffy is shifting the narrative. She is changing the minds of those who once believed tough love was the only answer. Her fierce loyalty and refusal to give up are breaking down stigma, sparking connection, and opening conversations about what true support in addiction really looks like.

Jolene Carter’s story is one of love, resilience, and heartbreaking loss. She is a mother who walked beside her only child through the devastating storm of addiction. What began as the promise of an All-American boy with a bright future slowly unraveled into a journey marked by tragedy, public scrutiny, and unimaginable challenges. Through it all, Jolene never let go of her role as a mother. She stood firm in the face of judgment, clung to hope in the hardest of moments, and refused to abandon her son no matter how dark the road became.

Today, Jolene shares her journey with raw honesty and a voice that carries both the pain of loss and the courage of survival. Her story is not just about addiction. It is about a mother’s unbreakable bond, the reality of stigma, and the devastating toll of overdose. This is the kind of story that stays with you long after you hear it.

Jill’s life has been a journey from chaos to compassion. Raised in a deeply dysfunctional home, she became a caretaker at just seven years old. Her childhood was marked by addiction, emotional abuse, and secrecy. Despite it all, Jill protected her younger brother and held her family together the best she could, while quietly enduring the weight of survival.

Today, Jill manages Journey House, a recovery home that reflects everything her own childhood lacked. Her leadership is fueled by lived experience, deep empathy, and a fierce commitment to truth. Jill’s story is raw, redemptive, and rooted in resilience. She shares it not to revisit the pain, but to help others find healing in their own. And this is just the beginning.

Jill will return in a future episode to share the next chapter: her son’s story, and what it means to witness the generational struggle of addiction as a mother on the front lines.

Logan Chojnacky, known on TikTok as @gallant._.recovery, is a bold and unfiltered voice in the recovery community. With raw honesty and lived experience, Logan uses his platform to speak candidly about the realities of addiction, the struggle to stay clean, and the strength it takes to rebuild a life after chaos. His content has resonated with thousands who are walking similar roads, offering not just hope but practical insight into what recovery really looks like, messy, relentless, and worth it. On this episode, Logan opens up about his journey, the turning points that led him to sobriety, and why he chooses to stay loud about recovery in a world that still whispers about addiction. His story is one of resilience, responsibility, and reclaiming purpose, and you won’t want to miss it.

In this powerful conversation, Tyler opens up about his journey through addiction and the deep impact it had on his life and family. He reflects on how early exposure to drugs and generational cycles of substance use shaped his path, and how community support became a lifeline in his recovery. Tyler shares the pivotal role that recovery programs like The Healing House played in helping him reclaim his life, as well as the importance of having a higher power and building a chosen family. His story is one of resilience, transformation, and hope, reminding us that healing is possible through connection, accountability, and unwavering support.

Karen Spillman is a mother whose journey through the depths of addiction and recovery with her oldest son, Christopher, has shaped her heart with both pain and purpose. Like many parents, Karen didn’t immediately recognize the full extent of her son’s struggle. It wasn’t until Christopher moved back home that the reality of his mental health challenges and substance use became clear. From that moment on, her family came together with a shared determination to help their oldest brother find his way forward.

Karen stood by her son with a love that refused to give up, even when the path was uncertain and filled with fear. Throughout the darkest seasons, she leaned deeply into her faith. She credits her relationship with Christ as the foundation that sustained her and points to answered prayers as the reason her son is still here today. Her belief never wavered, even when circumstances made it difficult to see a way out.

She speaks with the kind of understanding that only comes from lived experience. Her love was fierce, her worry was constant, and her hope was rooted in something greater than herself. Karen’s story is one of resilience and grace, a testimony to the strength of a mother’s heart and the healing power of faith, family, and unwavering support.

In Parts 1 and 2, we walked with Sarah Kates through the destruction of addiction and the long, painful process of letting go. We heard the raw truth of unraveling, the unexpected strength of surrender, and the power of choosing recovery, not just from substances, but from years of silence, guilt, and emotional disconnection.

Now, in Part 3, Sarah Kates shares what comes next: the slow, intentional work of rebuilding a life with honesty, purpose, and peace. This is the part of her story where healing moves from personal to relational, where she begins to reconnect with life, with community, and most importantly, with herself. She talks about how she’s learned to trust again, to find joy in the quiet moments, and to lead with boundaries rooted in love, not fear.

Sarah Kates' voice is steady now, not because everything is perfect, but because she’s done the hard work of facing her past without shame. This final chapter captures the resilience that grows after the storm has passed. The kind that doesn’t need to be loud to be powerful.

Her story reminds us that recovery is not just about surviving, but about living differently. This isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of a life rebuilt with grace, clarity, and an unwavering belief that no matter what you’ve lost, there’s still something worth saving.

In Part 1, listeners were introduced to Sarah Kates, a woman whose life was deeply shaped by the storm of addiction, both through personal experience and the impact it had on those closest to her. With unflinching honesty, she shared how addiction took root, the chaos it created, and the emotional wreckage left in its wake. Part 2 picks up at a pivotal turning point, where survival meets transformation.

This episode goes beyond the unraveling and into the rebuilding. Sarah Kates opens up about the moment she stopped fighting for control and started fighting for herself. She speaks candidly about the pain of letting go, the boundaries she had to draw, and the courage it took to reclaim her identity and peace. It wasn’t just about staying sober, it was about healing from the inside out.

Now in long term recovery, Sarah Kates is a voice of truth and hope for anyone walking through the aftermath of addiction. She brings clarity to the messiness, giving language to emotions so many keep hidden guilt, fear, grief, and ultimately, redemption. Her journey is one of fierce self awareness, spiritual growth, and a relentless pursuit of wholeness.

This is more than a story about recovery, it’s about what happens when you choose yourself, trust the process, and surrender to the kind of healing that changes everything.