While I love all the convos I have with people, I REALLY love the ones where I am talking to a fellow eldest child/sibling because there is an unspoken solidarity between us eldest kids. Today, I have a convo with my friend, Tom Farley, about all the things. We explore the complexities of grief, loss, and the unique bond shared by siblings who have experienced the death of a brother. We discuss the challenges of navigating family dynamics, the journey towards true vulnerability and authenticity, and the role of humor throughout it all. I hope you enjoy it!

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Tom Farley grew up in Madison, WI, and graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in Marketing. He began his career in banking and finance before running The Chris Farley Foundation (1999–2012), a nationally recognized nonprofit focused on substance abuse prevention. Through humor-based programs, he helped young people build communication skills and create supportive environments. In 2008, Tom co-authored The Chris Farley Show, a New York Times bestseller about his late brother, comedian Chris Farley. He has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Larry King Live to discuss addiction and recovery. Now in recovery himself, Tom is a passionate advocate for mental health and addiction treatment. He works at Recovery.com as Community Outreach Director, connecting people with the resources they need to heal. As a speaker, he shares his journey to break stigma, inspire hope, and foster connection. Tom lives in Madison, WI.

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Today, I have my friend and AMAZING author, Caroline Beidler, on the show! We had a great convo about women in leadership, spirituality, handling criticism, and her new book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction. She wears so many hats and I admire her determination and dedication. I hope you enjoy the convo!

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Caroline Beidler, MSW is an author, speaker, and the Managing Editor of Recovery.com, a company that combines independent research with expert guidance on addiction and mental health treatment. Our mission is to help everyone find the best path to recovery through the most comprehensive, helpful network of treatment providers worldwide. She is the author of three books, Downstairs Church, You Are Not Your Trauma, and When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction with Nelson Books, coming Spring 2026. Her own lived experience in addiction, mental health, and trauma recovery inspires her to help other others find recovery in all its varying forms. In four short years, she has built a global network of recovery supporters through her storytelling platform and accompanying newsletter, Circle of Chairs which reaches thousands weekly. She is a creative and visionary, founding an annual global event on International Women’s Day with different sponsoring organizations each year that brings in thousands of supporters, along with co-leading a global research initiative on family recovery with leaders around the world. Her writing is described as funny, gritty, relatable, and insightful. When she isn’t writing, speaking, or building community, Caroline lives in Eastern Tennessee with her husband and six-year-old twins where she enjoys hiking in the mountains and building up her community’s local recovery ministry.

Learn more about my books here.

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To see all the other things I do, check out: https://linktr.ee/staygoldenjaclyn

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Join me for an AMAZING conversation with my friend, Robyn Hantelman. We talk about gambling and our experiences with it. Would you guess I was talking to a former poker star? Neither would I! We talk about the connection with dopamine and competition, along with other neurodivergent tendencies. Also, if you have not heard of MARA (Medication-Assisted Recovery Anonymous), she explains that and the difference with other recovery paths. I had the best time chatting with her and I hope you enjoy the convo with us!

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More about my amazing, inspiring friend, Robyn Hantelman:

A specialist in the "gamble" of recovery, she has traded compulsive behaviors—from slot machines to doomscrolling—for a life of science-backed healing and radical non-judgment. Late-diagnosed with ADHD and C-PTSD, she navigates the complexities of grief and the pursuit of maximum dopamine through zip lining, EMDR, high-pigment eyeshadow, and a love for all things shiny.

With a graduate degree in Counseling and PRS credentials, she recently pivoted from a coveted leadership role to become the sole Peer Specialist within a metropolitan EMS system, prioritizing harm reduction and the dignity of living life safely. A devoted advocate, she finally met her hero, Jaclyn Brown, at Mobilize Recovery in 2023 after "fan-girling" from afar.

Based west of Richmond, VA, her world is centered on her husband of nine years, Peter, and her 10.5-year-old tiny twin flame, Sawyer. She’s still figuring out what she wants to be when she grows up, but she’s finally betting on herself to win it all.

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To see all the other things I do, check out: https://linktr.ee/staygoldenjaclyn

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