

What We Really Want: Conversations About Connection
Greg Oliver
FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to download new episodes as they release!If it's true that "...the opposite of addiction is not sobriety...the opposite of addiction is connection," there are lots of people who need to discover what true, healthy connection looks like. Whether the struggle is with addiction, toxic relationship dynamics, or something else, we've all tried to meet our needs in unhealthy ways. Way too often, the things we run to for comfort leave us feeling even more disconnected and alone than before.Through conversations about the many ways we can connect, we offer an invitation to discover and move toward what we really want, so we can live the lives we were created for. Awaken (awakenrecovery.com) helps men and women whose lives have been wrecked by unwanted/addictive sexual behaviors and sexual betrayal trauma. We hope the podcast will help not only those struggling sexually, but anyone who seeks healthier ways of finding connection.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 4, 2024 • 47min
06 | Adam Calvert, James Horne, Jason McNaughton: Recovery Intensives
"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)"Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.What is a recovery intensive? How is it different from weekly therapy or extended inpatient treatment? How could it help my recovery process? All of these are extremely good and important questions, and in this BONUS episode of What We Really Want, Greg enlists the help of three great friends and therapists who consistently staff the Roots Retreat Men's Recovery Intensive from Awaken.Adam Calvert, James Horne, and Jason McNaughton are all counselors who are specifically and extensively trained to work with clients around areas of trauma and addiction. They all have been part of staffing and developing the Roots Retreat since its inception in 2016. In this episode, Adam, James, Jason and Greg talk about why recovery intensives are so valuable, how their impact is different that that of ongoing individual therapy (and also complimentary of it), and why people seeking recovery from unwanted behaviors might want to consider attending.If you are a man who struggles with unwanted or addictive sexual behavior, and you think the Roots Retreat - or an intensive like it - might be right for you, please reach out to us with any questions. We'd love to help you find the right resources to support your recovery!Check out our links below (including the Roots Retreat), and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!#AdamCalvert #JamesBuddyHorne #JamesHorne #JasonMcNaughton #therapy #counseling #gospel #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversationSupport the showAwaken websiteRoots Retreat Men's IntensiveRoots Retreat Women's WorkshopAwaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

May 28, 2024 • 53min
05 | Isaac Adams: Honesty is the Oxygen
"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)"Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.This episode is a real treat for Greg & Stacey, because our guest is also our pastor. Isaac Adams is the Lead Pastor at Iron City Church in Birmingham AL; additionally he is an author and founder of a non-profit organization called "United? We Pray," which encourages and equips Christians to pursue racial reconciliation.Isaac talks about his upbringing in Washington D.C., his journey to faith, and the difficult decision - as a Black man - to move to Birmingham (and all its painful history) to pastor his first church. The conversation covers a multitude of topics, eventually settling into a great discussion on the creative lies of our enemy, how hard it is to confess struggles within the church, and why it's so important we learn to do so. Christ is the vine and we are the branches, and as Isaac says in our conversation, "Honesty is the oxygen that makes the branches of the vine grow."Check out Isaac's links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!Iron City Church (Birmingham AL) web siteUnited? We Pray web siteIsaac Adams' books on Amazon#IsaacAdams #IronCityChurch #United?WePray #gospel #therapy #counseling #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversationSupport the showAwaken websiteRoots Retreat Men's IntensiveRoots Retreat Women's WorkshopAwaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

May 15, 2024 • 52min
04 | Phil Herndon: The Language of Connection & Attachment
"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)"Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Feelings would be great if they didn't make us feel so many things. Sometimes it seems like they are a nuisance, other times like they're just too much to bear. But what if we changed our relationship with our feelings and started to believe they were the megaphone telling us what our heart is experiencing and desires to experience? In this episode, Phil Herndon (counselor and Clinical Director at Tin Man Ministries) talks about how beautiful and valuable our feelings are, and how getting to know them is critical to living a healthy, connected life. Opening ourselves up to the full range of our feelings allows us to walk through life knowing that at the end, as we "walk off the field with our uniform dirty," we'll be able to know we really lived. Check out Phil's Tin Man link below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts! Tin Man Ministries website#PhilHerndon #TinManMinistries #feelings #emotions #therapy #counseling #gospel #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversationSupport the showAwaken websiteRoots Retreat Men's IntensiveRoots Retreat Women's WorkshopAwaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

May 1, 2024 • 1h 9min
03 | Andy Gullahorn & Gabe Scott: Clap, Snap, High Five
"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)"Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Talking with Andy Gullahorn & Gabe Scott can be many things, but it is never boring. With dry humor and refreshing honesty, these great friends share how they've committed to intentional connection in their 20+ year friendship. Both Andy and Gabe are music industry veterans, and in recent years Gabe has added restauranteur to his resume, as founder of Ladybird Taco (with locations in Nashville and Birmingham AL). Since meeting in 2000, and alongside many life changes, their friendship has been a constant. Listening to how these friends have stayed connected, and how that connection helped keep Gabe tethered to hope during one of the hardest experiences of his life, is encouraging and inspiring. One longtime intentional part of Andy and Gabe's friendship is a weekly walking journey they take from their homes to give each other a high-five. April 30, 2024 marks the TEN YEAR anniversary of the high five. We talk about that, and much more, in this great conversation. Check out Andy's & Gabe's links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!CBS story on the High Five Andy's website Ladybird Taco (Gabe's restaurant)#AndyGullahorn #GabeScott #HighFive #friendship #therapy #counseling #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversationSupport the showAwaken websiteRoots Retreat Men's IntensiveRoots Retreat Women's WorkshopAwaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

Apr 16, 2024 • 36min
01 | Greg & Stacey Oliver: What WE Really Want, part 1
"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)"Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Greg & Stacey Oliver (Co-Founders) and Bobby West (Assistant Director) of Awaken kick off this brand new podcast by sharing what WE really want listeners to experience. If the saying is true - "The opposite of addiction is not sobriety...the opposite of addiction is connection" - then recovery is more than just a focus on stopping or changing behavior. It's about discovering the deeper desires we all carry for deep and authentic connection. Awaken is a recovery community that helps people live the lives they were created to live, free from addiction and the damage it causes. Part of the way we support people in recovery is by inviting them to find out what they've really wanted all along.In this first episode, Greg & Stacey share their stories of how they came into recovery, and how people who struggle with unwanted sexual behavior or sexual betrayal trauma can connect with our community. Check out our links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!#Greg Oliver #StaceyOliver #BobbyWest #missions #missionary #therapy #counseling #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversationSupport the showAwaken websiteRoots Retreat Men's IntensiveRoots Retreat Women's WorkshopAwaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

Apr 16, 2024 • 41min
02 | Bobby West: What WE Really Want, part 2
"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)"Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Greg & Stacey Oliver (Co-Founders) and Bobby West (Assistant Director) of Awaken continue the conversation we started in Episode 1, where we tell our stories and share what WE really want to see happen with the podcast.Now, it's Bobby's turn. Bobby West tells about his history of struggling with addiction as a missionary, the pain and damage it caused, his path of recovery, and how he came to be part of Awaken. Then we all talk more about how we all need and desire connection, and how the podcast is going to offer deep and meaningful conversations that invite listeners to discover the connections they've really wanted all along. Check out our links below, and PLEASE give us 5-stars and write a positive review wherever you get your podcasts!#BobbyWest #GregOliver #StaceyOliver #missions #missionary #therapy #counseling #recovery #sexaddiction #pornaddiction #sexualaddiction #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #grace #connection #conversationSupport the showAwaken websiteRoots Retreat Men's IntensiveRoots Retreat Women's WorkshopAwaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)