Small Business Pivots How Addiction Impacts Entrepreneurs — Recovery Insights with Amber Hollingsworth
In this episode of Small Business Pivots, I sit down with Amber Hollingsworth — Master Addiction Counselor, licensed mental health counselor, and founder of Hope for Families Recovery Center. With more than 730,000 YouTube subscribers on her channel Put the Shovel Down, Amber has become a leading voice helping entrepreneurs, parents, and families understand addiction long before it destroys a business, marriage, or life.
Together, we unpack how addiction quietly shows up in the entrepreneurial journey, including:
✅ Why business owners are uniquely vulnerable to addiction
✅ The early warning signs most entrepreneurs ignore
✅ Why “high performers” struggle to slow down, rest, or mentally disconnect
✅ How work stress, ADHD tendencies, and perfectionism fuel addictive cycles
✅ What to do when your spouse, partner, or employee is in denial
✅ Why long-form content and authenticity helped Amber build her massive YouTube following
✅ How systems, delegation, and online structure helped her scale her practice
✅ The surprising connection between entrepreneurial traits and addictive behaviors
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, hiding stress from your team, stuck in an unhealthy habit, or supporting someone you care about — this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.
Connect with Amber Hollingsworth:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT8PE1v0xFR9zLXOijxM6hg
Website: https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/addictionrecoveryhope
Tune in for an honest, practical, and deeply relatable look at addiction, mental health, and the hidden emotional battles business owners carry.
About Amber Hollingsworth
Master Addiction Counselor, mental health professional, founder of Hope for Families Recovery Center, and creator of Put the Shovel Down with 730,000+ subscribers.
What You’ll Learn:
- How addiction shows up early for entrepreneurs
- Why ADHD/high-drive personalities are more vulnerable
- How families can support without enabling
- How YouTube became her #1 growth engine
- The role of systems and delegation
- Amber’s biggest business pivots
Episode Highlights:
- The “entrepreneurial seizure” moment
- Early addiction signs business owners overlook
- Why long-form content outperforms shorts
- AmberAI and the future of recovery
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