#003 I Lost My Sister to Addiction and Chose to Fight Back

In this powerful episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Grayson Johnson, Miss Johnston County and founder of The Hope Project, to talk about the heartbreaking loss of her sister to opioid addiction—and the healing mission she’s carried ever since.

From competing in pageants as a teenager to launching a statewide initiative focused on ending stigma, Grayson shares the raw story behind her smile. She opens up about childhood trauma, family struggles, and the burden of silence in small-town culture—and how she’s now using her voice to advocate for change, recovery, and reform.

Whether you’ve been touched by addiction or just need a reminder that pain can lead to purpose, this one will stick with you.