Welcome back to The First Responder Playbook! In today’s episode, we have an inspiring and deeply personal conversation with Damian Bloss—a mental health advocate and addiction recovery mentor who knows firsthand what it means to reclaim your life. Damian sits down with host Brent Colbert to share his journey from a promising young baseball player through years of battling alcohol addiction, and ultimately, to recovery and helping others do the same.

Damian opens up about the traumatic loss that fueled his addiction, the false comfort alcohol provided, and the decade-long struggle before he realized he needed real change. We dive into the moment that altered the course of his life, the role of community and accountability in his recovery, and how he was able to maintain sobriety even as the world shut down during the pandemic.

Beyond sharing his story of resilience, Damian discusses how he’s now giving back—by leading support groups, speaking at rehabs, mentoring incarcerated individuals, and authoring a book about his experiences. Whether you’re a first responder, someone walking the road to recovery, or supporting a loved one through addiction, this episode is a powerful reminder that no matter how dark things get, there’s hope, and there’s always someone willing to help you take the next step.

Let’s jump into Damian’s story of growth, vulnerability, and hope.

Want to be a guest on The First Responder Playbook: Insights on Leadership and Training? Send Brent Colbert a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1748037097521814b71b1b454

Connect with Damian: https://linktr.ee/breakingthesilence0424?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=5f042487-0f63-43f4-8b79-705638539103

Damian's book: https://amzn.to/4lIuraX