In this episode of Circle of Chairs, I sit down with Brandon Burley, Marine Corps veteran, former law enforcement officer, educator, and the founder of the Redemption Project - for a deeply hopeful conversation about addiction, incarceration, and what it really takes to help people rebuild their lives.

Brandon shares how his career in narcotics exposed him to the revolving door of recidivism: the same people cycling through the system, wanting treatment but facing barriers like lack of beds, insurance, and support. He talks honestly about the stigma that exists not only toward people who’ve been incarcerated or struggled with addiction, but even within law enforcement itself—and why enforcement alone can’t create safer communities without real rehabilitation on the back end.

We explore how recovery is both a public health and public safety strategy, and why community and belonging are often the missing pieces.

If you care about recovery, reentry, or what it looks like to become the kind of community that helps people truly come home, this conversation will leave you thinking—and hoping.

You can find Brandon at TheRedemptionProject.news (plus his podcast and Substack), and connect in his Facebook community, The Redemption Group.

00:14 Meet Brandon Burley: Marine, Law Enforcement & the Redemption Project

02:20 Breaking the Silos: Collaboration, Stigma & Compassionate Policing

06:04 Why Recidivism Happens: What Brandon Saw in Narcotics Work

09:41 Recovery as Public Safety: Community as the Missing Pillar

14:05 The First 30 Days After Release: IDs, Medication & Reentry Barriers

18:29 What’s Working Now: Redemption Project, Veterans Advocacy & Men of Valor

22:18 How to Connect + Final Thoughts

For more resources, visit carolinebeidler.com.

Pre-order the book: When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction.

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her next book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, is coming Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.

Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com