Politely Rude With Abby Johnson Healing the Hidden Wounds: Jon Seidl on Why Christians Need to Talk About Trauma and Addiction
In this raw and redemptive episode of Politely Rude, host Abby Johnson sits down with author and journalist Jon Seidl for one of his most vulnerable interviews yet.
Jon opens up about his spiral from professional success to private struggle — the slow fade from faith-filled journalist to a Christian battling addiction. He shares how trauma, burnout, and unmet expectations led him to numb his pain with alcohol, and how God met him in the mess to rebuild his life piece by piece.
Together, Abby and Jon talk honestly about the Church’s silence around mental health and addiction, why Christians aren’t immune to collapse, and what true healing looks like when you finally stop running from yourself. Jon also discusses his new devotional, The Veritas Daily, and his latest book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic — a bold exploration of grace, repentance, and rebuilding faith after failure.
This conversation is messy, honest, and ultimately hopeful — a reminder that no one is too far gone for God’s redemption.