Search Results

Podcast Episodes Jun 4, 2026 Mercy Connors #021 Navigating Burnout, Social Media Diagnoses, and the Struggle to Ask for Help This episode of Living On Incline featuring Dr. Mercy Conners, Senior Director at the American Association of Christian Counselors. In this raw, behind-the-scenes look at the mental health field, we strip away the clinical perfection to talk about the heavy psychological toll of therapy, the danger of TikTok diagnoses, and the painful reality of carrying client trauma home to your family. Watch & Listen May 21, 2026 Lauren Sisler #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 2 Part 2 of this deep and moving conversation, Lauren discusses the "sugar coated story" she told herself to survive and why she eventually decided to look at the toxicology reports she feared for years. She explores the power of labels, the reality of addiction in "good families," and how she found freedom by falling in love with her broken story. Her new book, Shatterproof, serves as a guide for others to turn the page and write their own next chapter. Watch & Listen May 14, 2026 Lauren Sisler #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 1 Part 1 of this deep and moving conversation, Lauren discusses the "sugar coated story" she told herself to survive and why she eventually decided to look at the toxicology reports she feared for years. She explores the power of labels, the reality of addiction in "good families," and how she found freedom by falling in love with her broken story. Her new book, Shatterproof, serves as a guide for others to turn the page and write their own next chapter. Watch & Listen Apr 30, 2026 The Boozers #019 32 Years of Marriage and Recovery: The Boozer Story In this episode of Living on Incline, John Eklund sits down with Leslie and Tracy Boozer, leaders of the Recovery Alive ministry in Deatsville, Alabama. They share their powerful journey of 32 years of marriage, the challenges of military family life, and the raw reality of addiction and recovery. The Boozers open up about a season of deep struggle where the pressures of work and ministry led to a relapse. They discuss the importance of honesty, the support of leadership, and why recovery is a constant process rather than a final destination. Watch & Listen Apr 16, 2026 Leah Wright #018 The 70% Success Rate: A New Blueprint for Teen Sobriety | Leah Wright In this powerful episode of Living On Incline, Leah Wright, founder of Wake Monarch Academy, shares her harrowing journey through her son’s addiction to heroin. From the devastating moment of seeing her child in handcuffs to the infuriating battle with insurance companies that claimed his addiction was not bad enough, Leah’s story is a testament to a mother’s relentless love and the power of surrender. Leah explains the staggering statistics of teen relapse and why traditional high schools often set students up for failure. Now, as the founder of the first recovery high school in the Triangle, she is providing a lifeline for families trapped in the cycle of substance abuse. Watch & Listen Apr 2, 2026 Daryl Clark #017 A Mother's Heartbreak: Losing Sons to Addiction and Murder In this powerful and raw episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Freida MacDonald for an unfiltered look at the devastating reality of the American opioid crisis. Freida MacDonald spent 30 years as a high-level banking executive while raising her two sons as a single mother. They were the "Three Musketeers" - until a prescription for ADHD medication in kindergarten opened a door that could never be closed. Freida tracks the "perfect storm" that led her son from prescription stimulants to the street, eventually resulting in his homicide. But the tragedy didn't stop there. She details the harrowing fallout of the Sackler family’s legacy and the subsequent loss of her second son, Michael, to the crushing weight of grief and the fentanyl epidemic. This is a masterclass in resilience and a stark warning to every parent about the ADHD-to-Opioid pipeline and the predatory nature of Big Pharma. Watch & Listen Mar 18, 2026 Daryl Clark #016 Why Pastors Are Exhausted and Afraid to Admit It + It’s exhausting In this episode of Living on Incline, John Eklund sits down with Pastor Daryl Clark for a raw conversation about church leadership, burnout, recovery, mental health, race, culture, and what it really means for the church to be the church. Daryl opens up about 25 years of ministry, the pressure pastors carry, why preaching is only a small part of the job, and how loving people has to matter more than image, ego, or performance. They also get into hard but necessary topics: church nationalism, the tension between black church and white church, pastoral insecurity, sabbaticals, therapy, trauma, vulnerability in the pulpit, and why recovery ministries often fail when church leadership has not done its own healing work. This is an honest, gospel-centered episode for pastors, church leaders, and anyone wrestling with faith, healing, and the future of the church. Watch & Listen Mar 5, 2026 Dylan and Toni Franklin #015 A “Bug Bite” Turned Into Stage 4 Osteosarcoma | Noel Strong (Noelle Franklin’s Story) In this episode of Living on Incline, John Eklund sits down with Noelle Franklin’s parents (Dylan and Toni Franklin) to share the real timeline from a “bug bite” to a childhood cancer diagnosis, and the gut-punch updates that followed, including “stage four” and confirmation it was “in both lungs.” This conversation is for parents, families, and anyone walking through pediatric cancer, osteosarcoma, sarcoma related cancers, grief, hospice, and the reality of holding your family together when “your whole world shattered.” You will also hear why they built Noel Strong to help other families in the fight right now, and how you can support the mission. Watch & Listen Feb 19, 2026 Mike Wolbert #014 From Mr. North Carolina to Losing His Son | Mike Wolbert Mike Wolbert is a law enforcement leader, former competitive bodybuilder, and devoted father whose life has been shaped by discipline, service, and deep personal loss. From winning Mr. North Carolina to mentoring troubled students and serving his community, Mike’s story is one of strength forged through suffering. But his greatest battle was not on a stage or in uniform. After years of addiction and recovery struggles, Mike’s son became critically ill, suffered a massive stroke, and passed away—changing Mike’s life forever. What followed is a raw, honest conversation about grief, guilt, faith, and the hope that remains even in the darkest moments. Watch & Listen Feb 5, 2026 Brandon Teachey #013 Preaching While in Pain: The Side of Ministry Nobody Talks About In this powerful and deeply honest episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Pastor Brandon Teachey, lead pastor of Overflow Church, for a raw conversation about leadership, mental health, burnout, therapy, and healing childhood wounds while serving in ministry. Pastor Brandon opens up about the unseen pressures pastors face, the emotional toll of leadership, and why vulnerability, boundaries, and emotional discipleship are essential for long-term health. From people-pleasing and codependency to therapy, recovery, and finding self-worth rooted in God’s affirmation, this episode speaks to anyone navigating faith, leadership, or personal healing. Watch & Listen Jan 22, 2026 Abraham Michael #012 An Extraordinary Journey: From Egyptian Orphan to Compassionate Pastor In this inspiring episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund welcomes Pastor Abraham Michael. Abraham shares his remarkable life story, growing up in poverty in Egypt, facing traumatic experiences, and finding solace in faith. From being placed in an orphanage at a young age to encountering various life-threatening situations, Abraham's journey demonstrates the power of faith and resilience. John and Abraham discuss his current ministry work, including his role as a pastor, hospital chaplain, and mental health coach. Abraham’s mission, Missions of Compassion, aims to help those in need, providing both spiritual and mental health support. Tune in to hear how his incredible experiences have led him to live a life dedicated to service and compassion. Watch & Listen Jan 8, 2026 Sarah Coates #011 The Entrepreneurial Itch: Building a Multi-Location Therapy Empire | Sarah Coates In this episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Sarah Coates, the visionary founder of One-Eighty Counseling. While many see her as a gifted clinician, this conversation peels back the curtain on the "entrepreneurial itch" that drove her to leave the security of a school counseling career to build a mental health empire. Watch & Listen Dec 11, 2025 John Williamson #010 From War Zones to Healing: A Pilot’s Battle with Anxiety & Recovery Jonathan Harless, Army Reserve pilot and veteran, as he shares his incredible journey from military deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan to battling anxiety and finding hope through recovery. Jonathan opens up about the realities of combat, the toll of high-stress missions, the challenges of returning home, and the power of community, faith, and therapy in healing. Watch & Listen Dec 4, 2025 John Williamson #009 One Man’s Story of War Trauma, Addiction, and God’s Rescue | John Williamson In this jaw-dropping episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Army veteran John Williamson, whose story of resilience, trauma, and redemption will leave you speechless. From surviving a devastating tank accident in Iraq to wrestling with addiction and mental health back home, John’s journey proves that even when life breaks your body—your soul can still rise. Watch & Listen Nov 27, 2025 Sampson Correctional Part 2 We Walked Through a Facility That’s Changing Lives Every Day | Sampson Correctional Facility In Part 2 of our powerful visit to Sampson Correctional Institution, Living on Incline host John Eklund walks the halls with Warden Robert VanGorder, going beyond interviews into real, raw moments inside a correctional facility that’s redefining redemption. Watch & Listen Nov 13, 2025 Sampson Correctional 008 This Correctional Facility Is Creating Leaders, Not Just Inmates In this extraordinary episode of Living on Incline, we go behind bars at Sampson Correctional Institution, a prison that’s turning incarceration into transformation. From college degrees and reentry coaching to emotional healing and leadership development, this facility is doing something few others are: believing in the people inside. Watch & Listen Oct 30, 2025 Tara Tucker #007 From 911 Calls to Saving Lives: This Paramedic Is Rebuilding Communities Tara Tucker is not your average paramedic. She’s on a mission to revolutionize how first responders handle mental health, addiction, and crisis care—because for her, it’s personal. In this powerful episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Tara, a behavioral health community paramedic, to talk about her boots-on-the-ground work bridging emergency response and long-term recovery. From opioid overdose calls to faith-based outreach events, Tara is meeting people where they are—and helping entire communities heal. Watch & Listen Oct 16, 2025 Jeff Stultz #006 Outlaw Biker Saved by Grace with Jeff Stultz Jeff Stultz should be dead. Shot, stabbed, addicted, and homeless—his story reads like a movie. But this isn’t fiction. It’s a raw, redemptive journey from the violent world of outlaw biker gangs to leading a global Christian recovery movement. Watch & Listen Oct 2, 2025 Jessica Hicks #005 She Faced Prison, Addiction, and Homelessness… Now She Builds Recovery Homes In this powerful episode of Living on Incline, John Eklund sits down with Jessica Hicks—a woman who once lived in a homeless shelter, faced prison time, and battled addiction, but is now a successful real estate developer building recovery homes that change lives. Watch & Listen Sep 11, 2025 Tisha & Casey Temple #004 They Lost Everything… Then Built a Recovery Movement In this gripping and deeply personal episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Casey and Tisha Temple, a married couple and the CEO/COO of Recovery Alive, to explore their radical transformation from addiction, homelessness, suicide attempts, and incarceration—to purpose-driven lives helping others heal. Watch & Listen Sep 4, 2025 Grayson Johnson #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. Watch & Listen Aug 21, 2025 Chris McDaniel #002 From Grammy Stage to Drug Addiction to Redemption In this jaw-dropping episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with former country music star Chris McDaniel, who opens up about his wild journey from fame to addiction—and the grace that saved him. Watch & Listen Aug 7, 2025 Rodney Pearce #001 Why Religion Nearly Broke This Pastor In the premiere episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down for a powerful and honest conversation with a pastor Rodney Pearce who nearly walked away from ministry after facing the weight of religion, performance, and legalism. Watch & Listen Aug 1, 2025 Trailer: About Living on Incline Trailer: Welcome to Living on Incline Podcast Living on Incline is a Christ-centered growth platform created to help people push past their spiritual, emotional, and physical limitations and unlock their full potential. Whether through stories of transformation, mindset tools, or soul-renewing retreats, our mission is to guide you up the hill — toward purpose, freedom, and fullness of life. Watch & Listen Real stories. Hard climbs. Honest growth. The Living on Incline Podcast explores what it means to live on purpose — especially when life gets tough. Hosted by John Eklund, each episode features raw, faith-filled conversations with people who’ve faced adversity head-on and chosen to grow through it. From recovery and leadership to faith, family, and mental health — these are the stories that inspire us to keep climbing. Listen in for: Candid interviews with people overcoming emotional, spiritual, and physical challenges Insight from leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers living out their purpose Practical tools to help you break free from mediocrity and grow through discomfort Scroll down to explore every episode. Whether you’re just starting your climb or already deep in it — you’re not alone.

Discover real, redemptive conversations on the Living on Incline podcast. Join host John Eklund each week as he sits down with guests who share powerful stories of recovery, faith, and personal transformation. Keep climbing. #1 FAITH-DRIVEN PLATFORM FOR PERSONAL GROWTH & PURPOSE Not Just a Podcast. A Path Forward. Living on Incline Helps You Move Through What You’re Stuck In One Honest Episode at a Time. Discover real stories of healing, growth, and faith Access tools to help you break cycles and move forward Be the first to know about podcasts, events, and new resources Join a growing movement of people who refuse to settle SUBSCRIBE Sponsored by Recovery Alive Living on Incline means pushing into your full God-given potential! Recovery Alive provides a pathway to healing from the struggles and soul-wounds holding you back from living your life to the fullest. Start your recovery journey today! visit recoveryalive.com Listen on: Start Listening Today Latest Podcast Episodes This Is More Than a Podcast. It’s a Movement. What We’re About You Weren’t Made to Stay Stuck. Living on Incline was built for people who know there’s more — more to heal, more to discover, more to become. This is a space for real growth, honest stories, and faith that moves you forward. Whether you’re navigating recovery, stepping into your purpose, or just learning how to keep going — you’re not alone. What Living on Incline Offers Podcast Conversations For Inspiration and Overcoming Limitations. Daily Incline For Motivation and Exponential Growth. Recovery Alive For Healing What's Broken. Retreats & Events (coming soon) For Connection and Next-Level Transformation. Why “Incline”? The name “Living on Incline” was inspired by a moment that changed everything for our founder, John Eklund. Years ago, he came across an article about the Manitou Incline — a steep, relentless trail in Colorado that climbs 2,000 vertical feet in under a mile. Something about it stuck. Not just the trail itself, but what it symbolized: the kind of path that’s hard, uncomfortable, and intentional — but ultimately transformative. John saw it as a metaphor for life and faith. Real growth doesn’t happen when we avoid struggle. It happens when we walk through it — with honesty, with purpose, and with God. That’s what Living on Incline is all about. LEARN MORE "You Were Made for the Mountain. No more flat living. No more mediocrity. It’s time to live on incline." - John Eklund PLAY TEASER Join the Newsletter Ready to Start Living on Incline? Take your first step. Whether it’s listening, sharing your story, or simply signing up — you don’t have to do it all today. Just move. SUBSCRIBE

< Back #021 Navigating Burnout, Social Media Diagnoses, and the Struggle to Ask for Help Living on Incline Jun 4, 2026 This episode of Living On Incline featuring Dr. Mercy Conners, Senior Director at the American Association of Christian Counselors. In this raw, behind-the-scenes look at the mental health field, we strip away the clinical perfection to talk about the heavy psychological toll of therapy, the danger of TikTok diagnoses, and the painful reality of carrying client trauma home to your family. This episode of Living On Incline featuring Dr. Mercy Conners, Senior Director at the American Association of Christian Counselors. In this raw, behind-the-scenes look at the mental health field, we strip away the clinical perfection to talk about the heavy psychological toll of therapy, the danger of TikTok diagnoses, and the painful reality of carrying client trauma home to your family. Watch the full conversation to hear Dr. Conners share her journey from high-stakes adolescent locked units to navigating a deeply personal, real-time family medical crisis that forced her to face her own greatest challenge: learning how to ask for help. NOTABLE TRAILER QUOTES: * "I take him into the room, I sit down in front of him and he's on a bean bag and I'm like kneeling in front of him like, 'Tell me what's going on.' And this kid is so mad and he just slaps me across the face." - Dr. Mercy Conners Show More Previous Next comments debug Comments Log In Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. Latest Podcast Episodes #021 Navigating Burnout, Social Media Diagnoses, and the Struggle to Ask for Help #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 2 #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 1

< Back #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 2 Living on Incline May 21, 2026 Part 2 of this deep and moving conversation, Lauren discusses the "sugar coated story" she told herself to survive and why she eventually decided to look at the toxicology reports she feared for years. She explores the power of labels, the reality of addiction in "good families," and how she found freedom by falling in love with her broken story. Her new book, Shatterproof, serves as a guide for others to turn the page and write their own next chapter. PART 2 Emmy winning sports reporter Lauren Sisler joins John Eklund on Living on Incline to share the story she hid for a decade. After losing both of her parents to addiction during her freshman year of college, Lauren lived a double life, balancing a high profile career at ESPN and the SEC Network while keeping her family tragedy a secret. In this deep and moving conversation, Lauren discusses the "sugar coated story" she told herself to survive and why she eventually decided to look at the toxicology reports she feared for years. She explores the power of labels, the reality of addiction in "good families," and how she found freedom by falling in love with her broken story. Her new book, Shatterproof, serves as a guide for others to turn the page and write their own next chapter. TIMESTAMPS Show More Previous Next comments debug Comments Log In Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. Latest Podcast Episodes #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 2 #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 1 #019 32 Years of Marriage and Recovery: The Boozer Story

< Back #003 I Lost My Sister to Addiction and Chose to Fight Back Living on Incline Sep 4, 2025 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. 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. Show More Previous Next comments debug Comments Log In Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. Latest Podcast Episodes #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 1 #019 32 Years of Marriage and Recovery: The Boozer Story #018 The 70% Success Rate: A New Blueprint for Teen Sobriety | Leah Wright

< Back #006 Outlaw Biker Saved by Grace with Jeff Stultz Living on Incline Oct 16, 2025 Jeff Stultz should be dead. Shot, stabbed, addicted, and homeless—his story reads like a movie. But this isn’t fiction. It’s a raw, redemptive journey from the violent world of outlaw biker gangs to leading a global Christian recovery movement. Jeff Stultz should be dead. Shot, stabbed, addicted, and homeless—his story reads like a movie. But this isn’t fiction. It’s a raw, redemptive journey from the violent world of outlaw biker gangs to leading a global Christian recovery movement. In this gripping episode of Living on Incline , Jeff sits down with John Eklund to reveal the truth about his former life in biker clubs, his descent into crack addiction, and how Jesus met him in the middle of absolute ruin. Now the founder of Broken Chains , a motorcycle-based recovery ministry in 15+ countries, and a national ambassador for Recovery Alive , Jeff shares how the darkest parts of his past have become the fuel for his mission. This is more than a testimony—it’s a battle cry for anyone who’s ever felt too far gone. Jeff proves that hope is real and change is possible. Show More Previous Next comments debug Comments Log In Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. Latest Podcast Episodes #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 1 #019 32 Years of Marriage and Recovery: The Boozer Story #018 The 70% Success Rate: A New Blueprint for Teen Sobriety | Leah Wright

< Back #007 From 911 Calls to Saving Lives: This Paramedic Is Rebuilding Communities Living on Incline Oct 30, 2025 Tara Tucker is not your average paramedic. She’s on a mission to revolutionize how first responders handle mental health, addiction, and crisis care—because for her, it’s personal. In this powerful episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Tara, a behavioral health community paramedic, to talk about her boots-on-the-ground work bridging emergency response and long-term recovery. From opioid overdose calls to faith-based outreach events, Tara is meeting people where they are—and helping entire communities heal. Tara Tucker is not your average paramedic. She’s on a mission to revolutionize how first responders handle mental health, addiction, and crisis care—because for her, it’s personal. In this powerful episode of Living on Incline , host John Eklund sits down with Tara, a behavioral health community paramedic, to talk about her boots-on-the-ground work bridging emergency response and long-term recovery. From opioid overdose calls to faith-based outreach events, Tara is meeting people where they are—and helping entire communities heal. What started as a career in EMS turned into a life calling after losing someone close to her to overdose—and nearly losing her own son to addiction. Tara’s story is raw, inspiring, and a masterclass in what it means to live on mission. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like when faith, community, and action collide—this is it. Show More Previous Next comments debug Comments Log In Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. Latest Podcast Episodes #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 1 #019 32 Years of Marriage and Recovery: The Boozer Story #018 The 70% Success Rate: A New Blueprint for Teen Sobriety | Leah Wright

< Back Trailer: Welcome to Living on Incline Podcast Living on Incline Aug 1, 2025 Living on Incline is a Christ-centered growth platform created to help people push past their spiritual, emotional, and physical limitations and unlock their full potential. Whether through stories of transformation, mindset tools, or soul-renewing retreats, our mission is to guide you up the hill — toward purpose, freedom, and fullness of life. What are we truly capable of? That’s the question Living on Incline sets out to explore. Hosted by John Eklund, this podcast brings you real conversations with people who have pushed through suffering, setbacks, and challenges — not just to survive, but to grow. From recovery to business, from faith to government, each guest is unlocking their full potential and inviting you to do the same. The name comes from the Manitou Incline — a steep, grueling hike in Colorado that inspired John to lean into discomfort as a path to growth. This show is about that same mindset: choosing to live on incline, on purpose, every day. Show More Previous Next comments debug Comments Log In Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. Latest Podcast Episodes #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 1 #019 32 Years of Marriage and Recovery: The Boozer Story #018 The 70% Success Rate: A New Blueprint for Teen Sobriety | Leah Wright

< Back #018 The 70% Success Rate: A New Blueprint for Teen Sobriety | Leah Wright Living on Incline Apr 16, 2026 In this powerful episode of Living On Incline, Leah Wright, founder of Wake Monarch Academy, shares her harrowing journey through her son’s addiction to heroin. From the devastating moment of seeing her child in handcuffs to the infuriating battle with insurance companies that claimed his addiction was not bad enough, Leah’s story is a testament to a mother’s relentless love and the power of surrender. Leah explains the staggering statistics of teen relapse and why traditional high schools often set students up for failure. Now, as the founder of the first recovery high school in the Triangle, she is providing a lifeline for families trapped in the cycle of substance abuse. In this powerful episode of Living On Incline, Leah Wright, founder of Wake Monarch Academy, shares her harrowing journey through her son’s addiction to heroin. From the devastating moment of seeing her child in handcuffs to the infuriating battle with insurance companies that claimed his addiction was not bad enough, Leah’s story is a testament to a mother’s relentless love and the power of surrender. Leah explains the staggering statistics of teen relapse and why traditional high schools often set students up for failure. Now, as the founder of the first recovery high school in the Triangle, she is providing a lifeline for families trapped in the cycle of substance abuse. In this episode, we discuss: - The Golden Hour of recovery and why it matters. Show More Previous Next comments debug Comments Log In Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. Latest Podcast Episodes #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 1 #019 32 Years of Marriage and Recovery: The Boozer Story #018 The 70% Success Rate: A New Blueprint for Teen Sobriety | Leah Wright

< Back #015 A “Bug Bite” Turned Into Stage 4 Osteosarcoma | Noel Strong (Noelle Franklin’s Story) Living on Incline Mar 5, 2026 In this episode of Living on Incline, John Eklund sits down with Noelle Franklin’s parents (Dylan and Toni Franklin) to share the real timeline from a “bug bite” to a childhood cancer diagnosis, and the gut-punch updates that followed, including “stage four” and confirmation it was “in both lungs.” This conversation is for parents, families, and anyone walking through pediatric cancer, osteosarcoma, sarcoma related cancers, grief, hospice, and the reality of holding your family together when “your whole world shattered.” You will also hear why they built Noel Strong to help other families in the fight right now, and how you can support the mission. In this episode of Living on Incline, John Eklund sits down with Noelle Franklin’s parents (Dylan and Toni Franklin) to share the real timeline from a “bug bite” to a childhood cancer diagnosis, and the gut-punch updates that followed, including “stage four” and confirmation it was “in both lungs.” This conversation is for parents, families, and anyone walking through pediatric cancer, osteosarcoma, sarcoma related cancers, grief, hospice, and the reality of holding your family together when “your whole world shattered.” You will also hear why they built Noel Strong to help other families in the fight right now, and how you can support the mission. TIMESTAMPS [01:20:48] “he threw out the C word” Show More Previous Next comments debug Comments Log In Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. Latest Podcast Episodes #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 1 #019 32 Years of Marriage and Recovery: The Boozer Story #018 The 70% Success Rate: A New Blueprint for Teen Sobriety | Leah Wright

< Back #017 A Mother's Heartbreak: Losing Sons to Addiction and Murder Living on Incline Apr 2, 2026 In this powerful and raw episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Freida MacDonald for an unfiltered look at the devastating reality of the American opioid crisis. Freida MacDonald spent 30 years as a high-level banking executive while raising her two sons as a single mother. They were the "Three Musketeers" - until a prescription for ADHD medication in kindergarten opened a door that could never be closed. Freida tracks the "perfect storm" that led her son from prescription stimulants to the street, eventually resulting in his homicide. But the tragedy didn't stop there. She details the harrowing fallout of the Sackler family’s legacy and the subsequent loss of her second son, Michael, to the crushing weight of grief and the fentanyl epidemic. This is a masterclass in resilience and a stark warning to every parent about the ADHD-to-Opioid pipeline and the predatory nature of Big Pharma. In this powerful and raw episode of Living on Incline, host John Eklund sits down with Freida MacDonald for an unfiltered look at the devastating reality of the American opioid crisis. Freida MacDonald spent 30 years as a high-level banking executive while raising her two sons as a single mother. They were the "Three Musketeers" - until a prescription for ADHD medication in kindergarten opened a door that could never be closed. Freida tracks the "perfect storm" that led her son from prescription stimulants to the street, eventually resulting in his homicide. But the tragedy didn't stop there. She details the harrowing fallout of the Sackler family’s legacy and the subsequent loss of her second son, Michael, to the crushing weight of grief and the fentanyl epidemic. This is a masterclass in resilience and a stark warning to every parent about the ADHD-to-Opioid pipeline and the predatory nature of Big Pharma. Show More Previous Next comments debug Comments Log In Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. Latest Podcast Episodes #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 1 #019 32 Years of Marriage and Recovery: The Boozer Story #018 The 70% Success Rate: A New Blueprint for Teen Sobriety | Leah Wright

< Back #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 1 Living on Incline May 14, 2026 Part 1 of this deep and moving conversation, Lauren discusses the "sugar coated story" she told herself to survive and why she eventually decided to look at the toxicology reports she feared for years. She explores the power of labels, the reality of addiction in "good families," and how she found freedom by falling in love with her broken story. Her new book, Shatterproof, serves as a guide for others to turn the page and write their own next chapter. Emmy winning sports reporter Lauren Sisler joins John Eklund on Living on Incline to share the story she hid for a decade. After losing both of her parents to addiction during her freshman year of college, Lauren lived a double life, balancing a high profile career at ESPN and the SEC Network while keeping her family tragedy a secret. In this deep and moving conversation, Lauren discusses the "sugar coated story" she told herself to survive and why she eventually decided to look at the toxicology reports she feared for years. She explores the power of labels, the reality of addiction in "good families," and how she found freedom by falling in love with her broken story. Her new book, Shatterproof, serves as a guide for others to turn the page and write their own next chapter. TIMESTAMPS [01:00:00] Welcome to Living on Incline with host John Eklund Show More Previous Next comments debug Comments Log In Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. Latest Podcast Episodes #020 Why I Couldn't Face This for 10 Years | Lauren Sisler | PART 1 #019 32 Years of Marriage and Recovery: The Boozer Story #018 The 70% Success Rate: A New Blueprint for Teen Sobriety | Leah Wright