Success is Subjective: Real People. Raw Stories. Embracing a Non-Linear Life!

Episode 339: From the Field to the Front Lines - Turning Personal Adversity Into Purpose with Brian McDonald

Brian McDonald grew up in Southern California as a self-described “beach bum at heart,” with sports—especially football—shaping much of his identity. After earning the opportunity to play running back at BYU, a season-ending injury forced him to confront who he was beyond the game and reconsider the path he thought his life would take. What followed was a journey through faith, service, and unexpected career pivots that ultimately led him to working with adolescents and families navigating mental health challenges. In this episode, Brian shares how adversity, spiritual growth, and mentorship helped him redefine success—not as a destination, but as a lifelong process of becoming better each day. Brian’s Resources: Website: Oasis AscentInstagram: @oasisascentrtcFacebook: Oasis AscentConnect with Joanna Lilley  Therapeutic Consulting AssociationLilley Consulting WebsiteLilley Consulting on Facebook Lilley Consulting on YouTubeEmail: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #OasisAscentRtc #OasisAscent #TeenHelp #FamilyCrisis #ASDTeen 

Episode 338: Felony to Faculty - How Tom Bannard Built Recovery Support on a College Campus

What happens when a student in recovery returns to a campus built around drinking culture?In this episode, Tom Bannard shares his own path from addiction, legal consequences, and a felony conviction to leading one of the largest collegiate recovery programs in Virginia. Now the Assistant Director for Substance Use and Recovery Support at VCU, Tom explains why most college campuses are not designed for students navigating addiction — and what it actually takes to change that.Joanna and Tom discuss readiness after treatment, the real risks of rushing back to school, and what families should look for when considering a collegiate recovery program. If your student is in recovery and thinking about returning to campus, this conversation will challenge assumptions and offer clarity about what support truly means.Tom’s Resources: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)Rams in RecoveryLinkedIn: Tom BannardInstagram: @ramsinrecoveryConnect with Joanna Lilley  Therapeutic Consulting AssociationLilley Consulting WebsiteLilley Consulting on Facebook Lilley Consulting on YouTubeEmail: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #CollegiateRecovery #RamsInRecovery #TomBannard #VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity #VCU

Episode 337: The Value of Connection: From Memphis to Mountain Bikes to Mental Health with Dr. Jack Hinman

Dr. Jack Hinman didn’t graduate high school with a plan. In fact, he barely graduated at all. What he did have was a deep instinct for connection — and that instinct would quietly shape everything that followed. In this episode, Jack shares how friendships, attachment, and one professor who “saw something” in him changed the trajectory of his life. From wilderness therapy to launching his own young adult transition program, he reflects on what actually moves young adults forward — and why progress often starts with finding one meaningful anchor. If you’ve ever wondered what success looks like beyond grades, titles, or timelines, this conversation reframes it in two powerful words: connection and health.Jack’s Resources: Website: Engage TransitionsInstagram: @engage.transitionsFacebook: Engage Young Adult TransitionsYouTube: Engage Young Adult TransitionsWebsite: Young Adult Transition Association Connect with Joanna Lilley  Therapeutic Consulting AssociationLilley Consulting WebsiteLilley Consulting on Facebook Lilley Consulting on YouTubeEmail: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #EmotionalProcessing #MentalHealthTips #YoungAdults #EngageTransitions

Episode 336: My ADHD: Condemned, Praised, and the Life I Built Anyway with Allan Capp

What happens when the traditional path never quite fits — and life forces you to grow up faster than your peers? In this episode of Success is Subjective, Allan Capp shares how struggling in school, losing his father as a teenager, and rejecting the “college equals success” narrative led him down a very different road. From working construction and managing restaurants to living out of a backpack in the wilderness and eventually co-owning a therapeutic gap program in Costa Rica, Allan’s journey is a powerful example of redefining success on your own terms. This conversation explores grief, identity, work ethic, and what it really means to build a meaningful life — even without a degree. Allan also speaks candidly about the transferable skills that matter more than a résumé and how stepping outside your comfort zone can become the catalyst for growth. If you’ve ever questioned whether there’s only one “right” way to move forward after high school, this episode offers both perspective and permission to define success for yourself.Allan’s Resources: Website: Pure LifeFacebook: Pure LifeInstagram: @purelifeadventureYouTube: Pure Life Adventure TherapyConnect with Joanna Lilley  Therapeutic Consulting AssociationLilley Consulting WebsiteLilley Consulting on Facebook Lilley Consulting on YouTubeEmail: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #PureLifeAdventure #GapYear #AdventureTherapy #CostaRica

Episode 335: Learning to Accept Myself, Uncertainty, and the Winding Journey To and Through Recovery with Samantha Meyer

Watching a young adult struggle can be confusing—especially when they’ve grown up surrounded by resources, knowledge, and support. In this episode, Joanna sits down with Samantha Meyer to unpack what happens when insight alone isn’t enough—and how recovery, maturity, and purpose often arrive on a nonlinear timeline. Samantha grew up immersed in the treatment world, yet still found herself battling substance use, anxiety, and depression from a young age. After years of navigating college, international moves, trauma, and escalating use, a pivotal moment during the early days of COVID led her to sobriety through AA. From there, Samantha rebuilt her life—returning home, working in treatment, and ultimately pursuing a clinical career of her own. Now the Admissions Director at Balance House and in her final semester of a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Samantha reflects on autonomy, uncertainty, and what real success looks like when it’s earned through lived experience. This episode is for parents, young adults, and professionals who want a realistic, compassionate look at recovery, treatment, and the long game of becoming yourself.Samantha’s Resources: Website: Balance HouseWebsite: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)Facebook: Balance HouseInstagram: @balancehouseConnect with Joanna Lilley  Lilley Consulting WebsiteLilley Consulting on Facebook Lilley Consulting on YouTubeEmail: joanna@lilleyconsulting.com#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #BalanceHouse #Recovery #RecoveryIsPossible #RecoveryProgram #SobrietyRocks