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E236: Angels with Dirty Faces: Amber Hollingsworth on Seeing the Good in Addiction
Manage episode 495823118 series 2488483
What if the person you love isn’t broken—just buried under addiction?
In this powerful episode, I sit down with addiction counselor and YouTube creator Amber Hollingsworth of Put The Shovel Down to talk about something we don’t hear enough in recovery: how to actually help a loved one struggling with addiction—without enabling or playing the villain.
Amber shares insight from two decades of working with addicts and their families, including:
- Why tough love often backfires
- The dangers of playing the “bad guy” role
- How denial is a defense mechanism, not defiance
- The strategy she teaches to gently nudge someone toward recovery
- What really motivates change—and what pushes people away
Whether you’re sober yourself or trying to help someone who isn’t, this conversation will shift your mindset and give you tools you can use today.
🔗 Check out Amber’s YouTube channel: Put The Shovel Down
Love the show? Stay connected between episodes with the Sober Friends Dispatch—our Substack newsletter packed with real stories, honest reflections, and tools to help you live your best sober life.
👉 Subscribe for free at soberfriendspod.substack.com
📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.
284 episodes
Manage episode 495823118 series 2488483
What if the person you love isn’t broken—just buried under addiction?
In this powerful episode, I sit down with addiction counselor and YouTube creator Amber Hollingsworth of Put The Shovel Down to talk about something we don’t hear enough in recovery: how to actually help a loved one struggling with addiction—without enabling or playing the villain.
Amber shares insight from two decades of working with addicts and their families, including:
- Why tough love often backfires
- The dangers of playing the “bad guy” role
- How denial is a defense mechanism, not defiance
- The strategy she teaches to gently nudge someone toward recovery
- What really motivates change—and what pushes people away
Whether you’re sober yourself or trying to help someone who isn’t, this conversation will shift your mindset and give you tools you can use today.
🔗 Check out Amber’s YouTube channel: Put The Shovel Down
Love the show? Stay connected between episodes with the Sober Friends Dispatch—our Substack newsletter packed with real stories, honest reflections, and tools to help you live your best sober life.
👉 Subscribe for free at soberfriendspod.substack.com
📫 Get more honest conversations about sobriety delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to The Sober Friends Dispatch, our weekly newsletter where we go beyond the podcast to share real strategies for alcohol-free living. Join our community by clicking here.
284 episodes
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