Episode 147 - Thomas LaGrave - Warrior to Healer: Tom LaGrave’s Battle with Addiction and His Mission to Guide the Next Generation

This episode: Warrior to Healer: Tom LaGrave’s Battle with Addiction and His Mission to Guide the Next Generation.

Here’s what you’ll learn about:

Introduction and Initial Context (0:10)

• Host Drew Deraney discusses the linear path of life from childhood to adulthood and how internal circumstances can derail this path, leading to adversity.
• Drew introduces the concept of three types of men: one who doesn't see adversity, one who sees it as life happening to him, and one who sees it as an opportunity for growth.
• He asks Guest Thomas LaGrave to share a defining moment that transformed his life and how it impacted his professional and personal growth.

Tom's Early Life and Military Service (3:16)

• Tom recounts his early life, starting with his first drink and drug at age 14 and his subsequent struggles with addiction.
• At age 18, Tom was kicked out of his father's house and joined the military, where he excelled in special forces training.
• Despite his success in the military, Tom continued to struggle with addiction, leading to his discharge after nine and a half years for drug use.
• Tom describes his return home and his father's ultimatum, which led him to enter a 90-day recovery facility.

Transition to Recovery and Counseling (6:32)

• Tom explains the challenges of living life without drugs and alcohol, having been trained in the military to suppress emotions.
• At about a year into his recovery, Tom felt a fear of failure and the possibility of incarceration if he couldn't figure out how to live without substances.
• He decided to become an overnight counselor at a recovery facility for adolescents to learn how to live life and understand emotions.
• Over four years, Tom gained valuable insights and began a journey dedicated to helping adolescents transition to adulthood.

Professional Development and Education (9:53)

• Tom discusses his transition from the recovery facility to becoming the director of a Boys and Girls Club, where he worked with children aged six to 18.
• Despite initial feelings of disrespect, he committed to staying and helping the children, which led to a better understanding of their needs.
• Recognizing his lack of formal education, Tom returned to school to obtain a bachelor's, master's, and certification in his field.
• He emphasizes the importance of being able to answer the questions and needs of the children he worked with, leading to his dedication to lifelong learning.

Relapse and Personal Growth (11:53)

• Tom shares his experience of relap...

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - PODCAST: Thomas Lagrave
• (00:03:15) - The Real Story of Adversity
• (00:05:07) - Reveal: The Moment That Changed My Life
• (00:10:35) - Tom Le Grave on Comedians
• (00:10:51) - Reveal: Tom's Story
• (00:16:08) - Getting back to school at 39
• (00:16:48) - Private Practice with a Virtual Client
• (00:19:09) - Honor Bound Academy: Adolescence to Adulthood
• (00:25:25) - Tom Lagrave's Advice To Himself
• (00:26:04) - Tom Legra's Advice For Business
• (00:28:28) - Living the Life You Want to Live