This episode is required listening for high performers.

During seasons of stress, travel, and constant social pressure—especially around alcohol—many leaders begin to experience a quiet erosion of energy, clarity, consistency, and relationships. What feels normal or even expected can slowly undermine leadership from the inside out.

Sean Patton sits down with Amber Hollingsworth, Licensed Professional Counselor, Master Addiction Counselor, and creator of the YouTube channel Put the Shovel Down, to unpack how high-performing leaders often drift into unhealthy coping patterns without realizing it. Amber explains why addiction often hides behind success, how ambition and addiction come from the same drive, and why the issue isn’t how much you drink—but how much space it takes up in your mind and life.

This conversation challenges black-and-white thinking around addiction and reframes recovery, presence, and rest as essential components of elite performance and self-leadership.

If you’re committed to showing up as your best self—in your work, your relationships, and your life—this episode will change how you think about performance.

⏱️Timestamps

00:00 – Why this episode is required listening
02:00 – Meet Amber Hollingsworth
04:15 – Why high performers are vulnerable to addiction
06:00 – The inability to “turn it off”
08:05 – Why addiction isn’t about the number
10:45 – Superpowers, kryptonite, and ambition
14:05 – Performance vs presence at home
18:40 – Alcohol culture in leadership and business
21:20 – Inconsistency as a hidden warning sign
24:10 – Anxiety, dopamine, and rebound effects
27:45 – Navigating conferences and social pressure
30:00 – THC, marijuana, and the slow drift
33:45 – Leading a team through performance decline
38:50 – Ownership, accountability, and real change
39:55 – Where to find Amber’s work

🔗 Links

• Amber Hollingsworth’s Website:
  https://hopeforfamiliesrecoverycenter.com
  
  
• YouTube Channel – Put the Shovel Down:
  https://www.youtube.com/@PutTheShovelDown

No Limit Leadership is the go-to podcast for growth-minded executives, middle managers, and team leaders who want more than surface-level leadership advice. Hosted by executive coach and former Special Forces commander Sean Patton, this show dives deep into modern leadership, self-leadership, and the real-world strategies that build high-performing teams. Whether you're focused on leadership development, building a coaching culture, improving leadership communication, or strengthening team accountability, each episode equips you with actionable insights to unlock leadership potential across your organization. From designing onboarding systems that retain talent to asking better questions that drive clarity and impact, No Limit Leadership helps you lead yourself first so you can lead others better. If you're ready to create a culture of ownership, resilience, and results, this leadership podcast is for you.