E236: Angels with Dirty Faces: Amber Hollingsworth on Seeing the Good in Addiction

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What if the person you love isn’t broken—just buried under addiction?

In this powerful episode, I sit down with addiction counselor and YouTube creator Amber Hollingsworth of Put The Shovel Down to talk about something we don’t hear enough in recovery: how to actually help a loved one struggling with addiction—without enabling or playing the villain.

Amber shares insight from two decades of working with addicts and their families, including:

• Why tough love often backfires
• The dangers of playing the “bad guy” role
• How denial is a defense mechanism, not defiance
• The strategy she teaches to gently nudge someone toward recovery
• What really motivates change—and what pushes people away

Whether you’re sober yourself or trying to help someone who isn’t, this conversation will shift your mindset and give you tools you can use today.

🔗 Check out Amber’s YouTube channel: Put The Shovel Down

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