Who this episode is for:

• Anyone who’s ever been owned by their addiction
• Parents trying to fix what their kids won’t talk about
• Business bros who grind all day and snort all night
• People trying to outrun their past (good luck)
• Anyone who’s ever made a mess of their life and called it “fun”
• The quietly curious — not in recovery (yet), but wondering what all the wreckage is really about

This week on Pondoff’s Anonymous, we go all the way in with Shawn Vinson — entrepreneur, ex-party monster, and the kind of guy who used to outdrink you, outwork you, and then take your girlfriend… all before brunch. But behind the suits and the lake house blowouts was a man chasing oblivion at full throttle.

Shawn gets real about growing up with a broken relationship blueprint, drowning in validation-seeking, and building a life so externally successful it nearly killed him. We’re talking ecstasy-fueled club nights, lines in the bathroom at family events, and trying to “dad” while his soul was on fire.

You’ll hear how a 12-step program flipped his rage into clarity, why prayer is now part of his survival kit, and how he’s channeling his chaos into coaching and entrepreneurship. There’s also a moment where his two-year-old daughter checks him on his cocaine eyes. If you’re not wrecked after that… you might already be.

We hit everything from early insecurity and high school boozing, to the brutal come-to-Jesus moments that make recovery stick. And yeah — we go deep on what it really means to rebuild a life from the ashes when no one’s clapping and nothing’s pretty.

Episode Breakdown (You Know the Drill):

• 00:00 – Shot of Coffee and a Side of Chaos
• 01:28 – Meet Shawn Vinson: The Wolf of Wall Street of the Ozarks
• 04:52 – Families: Can’t Live with ’Em, Can’t Stay Sober Without ’Em
• 12:08 – Addiction Doesn’t Just Wreck You — It Torches the Whole Family Tree
• 18:24 – When a Toddler Calls Out Your Cocaine Eyes
• 24:59 – 12-Step Rage Turned 12-Step Redemption
• 31:14 – Young, Dumb, and Looking for Love in All the Dysfunctional Places
• 31:42 – Medicated and Proud: The Daily Ritual That Keeps Us Sane
• 32:25 – High School: Insecurity, Hormones, and Bud Light
• 34:17 – Booze as a Social Superpower (Until It Isn’t)
• 37:22 – Discovering Ecstasy and the Gospel of Velvet Nightclub
• 40:08 – Cocaine, Clubs, and the Illusion of Invincibility
• 43:17 – New Friends, New Lows, and All the Free Drinks You Can Snort
• 46:20 – Corporate Hustle Meets Party Animal: Shawn Joins the Family Biz
• 51:31 – The Lake House Turns Into a Blown‑Out Frat Mansion
• 52:28 – Consequences: The House Always Wins
• 56:23 – Chasing the First High Straight Into Hell
• 59:31 – Chaos, Camaraderie, and the Power of Unlikely Brotherhood
• 01:01:47 – Why Vulnerability Feels Like Taking Your Skin Off
• 01:03:24 – Addiction Is an Equal Opportunity Destroyer
• 01:06:12 – Love, Lust, and Lines of Blow: Relationships in the Wreckage
• 01:10:14 – Sobriety Isn’t a Destination — It’s a Fucking Fight
• 01:19:30 – Owning the Fallout, One Step at a Time
• 01:26:13 – Looking Back to Move Forward (Even When It Hurts Like Hell)
• 01:29:36 – Early Recovery: Welcome to the Emotional Blender
• 01:32:19 – Community, Accountability, and Not Doing This Shit Alone
• 01:39:08 – Prayer, Presence, and Getting Intentional With Life
• 01:47:04 – From Snorting Lines to Coaching Lives: Shawn’s Next Chapter

Check out Shawn’s coaching work at: https://xpansion.com

Sponsored by:

• McKelvey Insurance – https://www.mckelveyins.com/
• LightSource Psychotherapy – https://findyourlightsource.com/