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We live in a world that is obsessed with asking, “Why am I like this?” and “Why are they like this?” Trauma, childhood wounds, addiction, nervous systems, attachment. All important pieces of the puzzle. But at some point, just understanding the why stops moving your life forward. It can quietly turn into a hall pass for staying stuck.

In this episode, Matt and Paige talk about the missing piece in so many trauma and addiction conversations. The how. How do you start responding differently when your nervous system is wired for survival. How do you stop pouring your pain onto your kids and partner. How do you move from “this is why I am the way I am” to “this is what I am going to do about it.”

Together they explore:
• Why insight and validation alone do not rebuild a marriage or keep you sober
• How too much compassion without boundaries can keep both spouses and addicts in victim mode
• Practical ways to create a pause between reaction and response, especially with kids
• What it really looks like to break generational patterns, even when it feels unfair and impossible
• Why you do not have to fully understand your trauma before you start healing it

If you are tired of overanalyzing, tired of feeling broken, and ready to actually do something different, this conversation will challenge you and remind you that you are not powerless.

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If you’ve been stuck in your head replaying old memories, planning out future disasters, or living on autopilot, this one’s for you. This week I sat down at my drum set and, for the first time in a while, felt my brain quiet down and my body wake up. It reminded me how powerful presence really is.

In this short episode, we talk about getting out of your head, dropping into the moment, and why doing something that makes you feel alive can shift your entire day. This is your reminder to eff some ish up in the best way possible and come back to yourself.

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Replay. Originally aired in July 2024. We’re bringing this back because the tools here (resilience, boundaries, timelines, and real talk about equal partnership) stay relevant.

This is an episode designed more like a charcuterie board than a main course. We discuss Independently Strong because we don't think we've really ever done a great job at communicating what it's about and the value to someone in a relationship with a person struggling with addiction. We then get onto topics that are beneficial to you right here, right now. We discuss emotional resilience and ways to increase resilience through mental frameworks, as well as self-care activities. When you feel like you've given all you can in life, remember that you have survived 100% of your hardest days and you're actually MUCH stronger than you think.

Find video clips and full length video from this episode on YouTube and our other social media pages!

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Online Program:
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Soberlink Device:
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Addictive traits aren't bugs, they're features.

When I first got sober, I was terrified I’d become boring.
No more adrenaline. No more chaos. Just… normal life.I thought I’d be the “square dad” mowing the lawn in tucked-in polos while everyone else was still out living. What I learned was the opposite. Addiction didn’t kill my personality, it just hijacked it. The same intensity, obsession, and risk-taking that once burned my life down are now the same traits that built it back up. In this episode, I’m proving that your edge doesn’t disappear in recovery, it actually sharpens.

I talk about everything I’ve done since getting sober: parties, snowboarding, fitness, business, raising kids, pranks, coaching, music, even officiating weddings. My life was getting started when I thought it was over.

The energy never left. It just changed shape.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can still be fun, wild, or interesting without substances, this one’s your answer.

Find video clips and full length video from this episode on YouTube and our other social media pages!

On the web:
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Support the Show:
Buy Us a Coffee!

Online Program:
www.independentlystrong.com

Soberlink Device:
www.soberlink.com/wheels

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Paige opens up about one of the most powerful questions she’s ever asked herself: “Why not me?”

In this raw and empowering episode, she shares how that simple question pulled her out of self-doubt and helped her become the woman she never thought she could be. A leader. A podcaster. A motivator. Someone who keeps showing up even when it’s uncomfortable.

This isn’t about perfection or pretending to have it all together. It’s about remembering that change doesn’t happen when life gets easy. It happens when you finally decide you’re done sitting on the sidelines.

If you’ve ever looked at someone thriving and thought, “That could never be me,” this one’s for you.
Paige is here to remind you that it absolutely can.

Find video clips and full length video from this episode on YouTube and our other social media pages!

On the web:
www.twfo.com

Support the Show:
Buy Us a Coffee!

Online Program:
www.independentlystrong.com

Soberlink Device:
www.soberlink.com/wheels

Check out our blog:
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In this episode, Matt and Paige take a deep dive into the difference between coping and healing. From self-care routines to emotional boundaries, they explore how coping can be both a bridge and a trap—necessary for survival but not meant to last forever. They share personal stories about burnout, triggers, and stress, discuss concepts like allostatic load and polyvagal theory, and offer real-world examples of when it’s time to stop managing chaos and start creating change. This conversation is a reminder that while coping helps us find peace, only change allows us to keep it.

Find video clips and full length video from this episode on YouTube and our other social media pages!

On the web:
www.twfo.com

Support the Show:
Buy Us a Coffee!

Online Program:
www.independentlystrong.com

Soberlink Device:
www.soberlink.com/wheels

Check out our blog:
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Rehab is a reset, not a miracle. In this straight talk Q&A, Matt answers the questions we hear most from spouses, partners, and people heading to treatment. What actually happens day to day, how detox works, why some centers involve family and others do not, what to expect while they are inside, what to plan for after discharge, and the red flags that predict a quick return to old patterns. You will hear Matt’s 30 day inpatient experience, the lessons that stuck, why aftercare matters more than the stay, and how families can support without micromanaging or losing themselves. Clear expectations, simple next steps, and real hope tied to action.

Find video clips and full length video from this episode on YouTube and our other social media pages!

On the web:
www.twfo.com

Support the Show:
Buy Us a Coffee!

Online Program:
www.independentlystrong.com

Soberlink Device:
www.soberlink.com/wheels

Check out our blog:
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Follow us on TikTok:
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In this episode, Paige gets real about something she’s noticed in the healing and recovery space: the temptation to use growth language as a weapon.
When we finally find words for our pain, it can feel powerful; but if we start using those words to shame, prove, or control others, we’ve missed the point. Paige unpacks what weaponizing content looks like, how it happens on both sides of addiction, and what healthy communication sounds like instead.

Find video clips and full length video from this episode on YouTube and our other social media pages!

On the web:
www.twfo.com

Support the Show:
Buy Us a Coffee!

Online Program:
www.independentlystrong.com

Soberlink Device:
www.soberlink.com/wheels

Check out our blog:
https://twfo.com/blog

Follow us on TikTok:
https://tiktok.com/@twfo_couple

Follow us on Instagram:
https://instagram.com/twfo_couple/

Follow us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TWFOCouple

Follow us on YouTube:
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Find Taylor Counseling Group:
https://taylorcounselinggroup.com/

Donate to Counseling for the Future Foundation:
Donate Here