Thatcher Shivley's first sponsor told him he had no idea what recovery had in store for him. Part of him thought it sounded cheesy. The other part was intrigued.

Sober since 2005, Thatcher spent ten years building a solid foundation before turning his experience into a career. Today he's a certified Recovery Coach with professional intervention training, and interventions are the part of the work he loves most.

He's also a husband, a new dad, a former classically trained percussionist and jazz drummer, and someone whose latest obsession is pickleball. None of it was part of his plan.

But recovery hasn't spared him loss. Thatcher lost his mother to a drug overdose in 2010 and his brother in 2017. He's open about holding both at once: deep gratitude for the life he's built, and the survivor's guilt that comes with losing family members to overdose.

Thatcher sits down with Michael Herbert to talk about building a life worth living, the grief that can live alongside gratitude, and why being an active participant in life matters so much. As he puts it, a pursuit isn't really about the outcome. It's about who you become along the way, and that's parallel to the recovery process.

Recovery doesn't erase loss, but it can give you a life you never imagined, and a chance to help others do the same.

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This episode is sponsored by Guardian Recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, Guardian can help. Visit https://www.guardianrecovery.com or call 888-721-3790 for confidential support and guidance.