In Season 2, Episode 24 of the Element Q Podcast, host TJ Woodward welcomes Brian Nachreiner, a queer man in long-term addiction recovery. They discuss Brian's journey and the podcast's mission to highlight individuals making a difference in the lgbtqia community. This conversation explores gay self-acceptance and strategies for healing shame, fostering shame resilience, and supporting a thriving recovery. and the internalized shame many LGBTQ+ people carry—especially those raised in religious environments. Growing up in a Catholic household, he shares how early messages of “being wrong” became embedded as core beliefs, shaping his self-perception long into adulthood. Together, they unpack how internalized homophobia often becomes indistinguishable from shame and why true healing requires more than intellectual understanding. The discussion moves beyond cultural commentary into the heart of recovery and self-discovery, touching on 12-step foundations, therapy, meditation, inner child work, sobriety, emotional rock bottoms, and the myth that we are fundamentally broken.

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🔗 Learn more: Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com

TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com