TheWillpowerPodcast with Will Gordon – Details, episodes & analysis

Philippa and I were both handed death sentences from alcohol.

I needed a liver transplant and barely survived.

Philippa was told the exact same thing… but she completely reversed end-stage cirrhosis – no transplant, no miracle pills, no BS.

999 days to get her liver enzymes normal. A resident doctor cried when he saw her alive two years later.

This is the rawest, most hopeful liver-failure recovery story you will ever hear. I'm not just saying that...

If you’re hiding bottles, lying to yourself, or telling yourself “it’s not that bad yet” – watch/listen before it’s too late.

Philippa answers every DM → https://www.instagram.com/pippaamelia9

Need 1-on-1 help? My sober mentoring → https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min

🙏 If you believe in the mission of spreading hope and healing through real recovery stories, please consider donating to the podcast. Every dollar helps keep this content going and reaching the people who need it most. → https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast

📅 Book a 1:1 Sober Mentoring Session Today—LINK BELOW https://calendly.com/thewillpowerpodcast/30min

🧥 RCVR Apparel: Rock recovery-inspired gear with pride. Save 10% with code thewillpowerpodcast at rcvrbrand.com/thewillpowerpodcast

💊 Liver Medic Supplements: Feel your best with natural liver support. Use code THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off for 10% off at livermedic.com/discount/THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off

🎤 AMPLIFY Sober Voices (Jan 15, 2026): Join sober creators at Podfest 2026. Get $20 off with code WILL at amplify.soberliferocks.com

• Buy me a coffee (keeps episodes free) → https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast

Timestamps

00:00 Cold open – hiding bottles & lies

01:09 “Doctors gave me weeks… they gave her weeks” 02:54 She turned completely yellow + last drink story

25:18 “999 days to normal liver enzymes”

29:07 “You have 2 months to live”

36:58 The resident doctor started crying

43:00 Life now – 3.5 years sober & thriving

Drop a ❤️ if this hit home. Subscribe – new episode every week.

#AlcoholismRecovery #LiverFailure #EndStageCirrhosis #Sobriety #QuitDrinking #SoberLife #AddictionRecovery #LiverTransplant #Jaundice #SoberCurious #RecoveryIsPossible #AlcoholicLiverDisease #SoberMotivation #DryJanuaryForever #TheWillpowerPodcast

Aaron Starbuck just got the green light. His liver transplant is officially approved and could happen any day… maybe even tonight.

His first reaction wasn’t relief.

It was terror.

I know exactly how he's feeling and I talk openly about my OWN experience. Imagine being able to talk to someone whose on the other side of it? Well Aaron gets that opportunity.

“I knew it was coming… but I’m repulsed by the idea of being cut open. It’s a blessing… but it’s also scary.”

I felt him here.

In this emergency raw live episode we talk:

• - The exact moment the transplant team called
• Why he’s having cold feet even though he’s dying without it
• The financial nightmare of transplant life
• Paracentesis, lactulose, HE, and rock-bottom truth
• What the other side actually feels like (I LIVED it)

If Aaron’s story moves you, help him with medical bills, housing, and recovery costs right now:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/aaron-needs-a-liver-transplant-to-thrive

🤝 If you believe in spreading real recovery stories, please consider supporting the show. Every dollar keeps this content coming → https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast

One of the most powerful conversations we’ve ever recorded.

If you’re in recovery, on a transplant list, or love someone who is — this one’s for you.

New episodes every week.

Leave a review and share if this hit home.

#LiverTransplant #Sobriety #AddictionRecovery #TransplantWarrior

In this episode of the Willpower Podcast, Kevin Decapitron shares his raw, unfiltered story of growing up around alcohol, working as a bartender in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and how drinking eventually led to liver cirrhosis by his late 20s.

From hiding bottles to waking up jaundiced and facing terrifying medical diagnoses, Kevin opens up about the pain, shame, and eventual clarity that led him to sobriety. This is a story of addiction, cirrhosis, rock bottom, and the fight for a second chance at life.

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol, this conversation is a must-watch.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe for more powerful sobriety stories, recovery journeys, and honest conversations about addiction and healing.

📲 Follow Kevin on Instagram: @thedecapitron

🙏 If you believe in the mission of spreading hope and healing through real recovery stories, please consider donating to the podcast. Every dollar helps keep this content going and reaching the people who need it most. → [https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast]

🧥 RCVR Apparel: Rock recovery-inspired gear with pride.

Save 10% with code thewillpowerpodcast at rcvrbrand.com/thewillpowerpodcast

💊 Liver Medic Supplements: Feel your best with natural liver support.

Use code THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off for 10% off at livermedic.com/discount/THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off

🎤 AMPLIFY Sober Voices (Jan 15, 2026): Join sober creators at Podfest 2026.

Get $20 off with code WILL at amplify.soberliferocks.com

Nisha Patel got sober at 24. Today, with 17 years of sobriety, she’s a therapist and sobriety coach helping others live alcohol-free lives filled with purpose.

In this episode of the Willpower Podcast, Nisha shares:

• Her journey from rebellion & addiction to long-term sobriety

• Why the first 5 years are the foundation for recovery

• How mindfulness & therapy (DBT) helped regulate emotions

• The power of finding your “why” — and why it’s often really a “why not”

• Why we relapse, and how to break free from cycles of self-destruction

• How to live in alignment with your values

👉 If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction or want to strengthen your sobriety, this conversation will give you tools, hope, and inspiration.

🔔 Subscribe for more sober stories & recovery tools: Willpower Podcast on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

📲 Follow Danielle on Instagram: @nishapatelcoaching

🙏 If you believe in the mission of spreading hope and healing through real recovery stories, please consider donating to the podcast. Every dollar helps keep this content going and reaching the people who need it most. → [https://buymeacoffee.com/thewillpowerpodcast]

🧥 RCVR Apparel: Rock recovery-inspired gear with pride.

Save 10% with code thewillpowerpodcast at rcvrbrand.com/thewillpowerpodcast

💊 Liver Medic Supplements: Feel your best with natural liver support.

Use code THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off for 10% off at livermedic.com/discount/THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off

🎤 AMPLIFY Sober Voices (Jan 15, 2026): Join sober creators at Podfest 2026.

Get $20 off with code WILL at amplify.soberliferocks.com

Joel’s story is one of the most powerful episodes yet on the Willpower Podcast. Diagnosed with cirrhosis at just 45 years old, Joel was forced to face the devastating truth about his drinking. The twist? He worked in a liquor store, surrounded by the very thing that nearly ended his life.

In this episode, Joel shares:

His journey from denial to cirrhosis diagnosis

What it’s like living with liver disease while working in alcohol sales

The dangerous signs of liver damage you might be ignoring

How sobriety and lifestyle changes gave him a second chance

👉 If you’ve ever questioned your relationship with alcohol or worry about liver health, this conversation could change everything.

💡 Remember: Cirrhosis is called the silent killer for a reason. Don’t wait until it’s too late—get your liver panel checked and take action.

Subscribe for more inspiring recovery stories and real conversations about sobriety, liver disease, and mental health.

🆘 Safety note: We’re sharing personal experiences, not medical advice. If you’re trying to quit, seek medical care—alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous.

🧥 RCVR Apparel: Rock recovery-inspired gear with pride.

Save 10% with code thewillpowerpodcast at rcvrbrand.com/thewillpowerpodcast

💊 Liver Medic Supplements: Feel your best with natural liver support.

Use code THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off for 10% off at livermedic.com/discount/THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off

🎤 AMPLIFY Sober Voices (Jan 15, 2026): Join sober creators at Podfest 2026.

Get $20 off with code WILL at amplify.soberliferocks.com

Olympic bobsledding looks thrilling from the outside — 95 mph speeds, tight turns, and world-class competition. But behind the medals lies a hidden epidemic: CTE.

In this episode of The Willpower Podcast, former Team USA bobsledder William Person opens up about his 9 years on the track, the repeated head trauma known as “sled head,” and the devastating toll it took on his brain and his life.

From confusion, vertigo, and crippling anxiety to forgetting familiar faces, William shares how hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) gave him hope — and why he’s fighting to build a nonprofit recovery center for athletes and veterans with brain injuries.

This conversation is about more than bobsledding. It’s about CTE, athlete health, and why awareness and treatment access matter.

🟢 Subscribe for more real recovery stories & tools: The Willpower Podcast with Will Gordon.

🎧 Full audio on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

🆘 Safety note: We’re sharing personal experiences, not medical advice. If you’re trying to quit, seek medical care—alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous.

🧥 RCVR Apparel: Rock recovery-inspired gear with pride.

Save 10% with code thewillpowerpodcast at rcvrbrand.com/thewillpowerpodcast

💊 Liver Medic Supplements: Feel your best with natural liver support.

Use code THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off for 10% off at livermedic.com/discount/THEWILLPOWERPODCAST10off

🎤 AMPLIFY Sober Voices (Jan 15, 2026): Join sober creators at Podfest 2026.

Get $20 off with code WILL at amplify.soberliferocks.com

From MVP seasons overseas to sleeping on his mom’s couch — former pro basketball player Travis Reed has lived the highs and the crushing lows of life after sports.

In this powerful episode of The Willpower Podcast, Travis opens up about growing up in South Central LA, winning championships in Europe, and the depression and drinking that followed his forced retirement. He shares the night his mother literally saved his life, how he found purpose again, and why he’s dedicated to helping athletes feel less alone after their careers end.

🎯 In this conversation:

What happens when the checks stop coming and the lights go out

How post-career depression can hit even the most successful athletes

The dangerous spiral from stress to alcohol abuse

The moment that pulled him back from the brink

Why every athlete should have access to a therapist

Life lessons from playing in 7 countries over 10 years

Travis’s story is a raw reminder that mental health is just as important as physical health — and that no matter how far you’ve fallen, you can rise again.

#AthleteMentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #WillpowerPodcast #TravisReed #LifeAfterSports #SobrietyJourney #MentalToughness #OverseasBasketball #DepressionRecovery #RedemptionStory

How do you rebuild your life after alcohol has taken everything? In this powerful episode of The Willpower Podcast, certified Jay Shetty life coach Luke Ryan (@dadonthemox) shares his raw, unfiltered journey from working in the liquor industry to becoming a sober father, coach, and advocate for recovery.

Luke opens up about starting to drink at age 10, his battles with depression, relapse, and what finally made him commit to sobriety for good. His story is one of transformation, accountability, and learning how to love himself again — not just for his own healing, but for his children.

💥 This episode of the Willpower Podcast is raw, honest, and packed with tools for anyone battling addiction, burnout, or a loss of identity.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:

- What “drinking with purpose” really means

- How hitting rock bottom doesn’t always look dramatic — sometimes it’s your daughter crying in the back seat

- Why healing trauma is essential for lasting sobriety

- How self-love, nature, and solitude became Luke’s medicine

- What sober parenting & co-parenting looks like post-recovery

- Why recovering out loud can change someone else’s life

🔥 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:

“Sobriety is job one.”

“You can’t heal if you’re hiding.”

“Real connection doesn’t happen in a blackout.”

🎯 Whether you’re 30 days sober or just thinking about quitting alcohol, this conversation is for you. Luke’s story proves that it’s never too late to change, forgive yourself, and design a life you're proud of.

📲 DM Luke on Instagram: @dadonthemox

🎙️ Follow & subscribe for more episodes like this.

🎙️In today's unconventional episode, I sit down with Haley, a brutally honest life coach who transformed her sex addiction into a mission of helping others heal. If you're struggling with addiction, self-worth, or just feeling lost - this conversation might just be the one that puts it all together for you.

⚠️ Editing disclaimer: My cuts are about as smooth as my first attempt at sobriety 😅 But hey, we're all about progress over perfection here!

🔗 Follow Haley @thecandidlifecoach

https://www.instagram.com/thecandidlifecoach/

🎧 Follow TheWillpowerPodcast

https://www.instagram.com/thewillpowerpodcast/

#addiction #recovery #healing #sobriety #mentalhealthawareness #coaching #podcast #sober #transformation 🙏

Alcohol addiction nearly took everything from Mario—including his life. At 24, he hit rock bottom. This is how early sobriety saved him.

🍻 In this raw episode of The Willpower Podcast, Will Gordon sits down with Mario Bencivenga, a Long Island native who opens up about his path from blackout drinking and college binges to authentic sobriety and emotional healing.

🧠 Diagnosed with ADHD and battling anxiety, Mario used alcohol as a coping mechanism. The social pressure of drinking culture and a breakup spiraled into self-destruction—culminating in dangerous behavior, lost identity, and suicidal thoughts.

⚡ But everything changed when he said the words: “Just don’t drink today.”

Today, Mario is sober, self-aware, and using his story to inspire young adults in addiction recovery. He’s writing a book and pursuing a career in mental health counseling to help others rediscover joy and self-acceptance.

🌱 Early sobriety is hard. But life on the other side? Worth it.