Jess Seiwert grew up in Kansas. He was abused at home from age 5 to 12. After 9/11 he joined the Army at 18, made sergeant, survived an IED blast, and came home with a Purple Heart and an Oxycontin addiction. One day he woke up in county jail charged with first-degree attempted murder and kidnapping after his best friend slept with his wife while he was passed out. He walked out with 14 felony convictions, seven rehab attempts, and 3.5 years in county jail across eight Kansas counties during Covid. He now has 1,000 days sober next month.

This episode covers his entire journey. The IED that started the pill spiral. The gang he joined within three months in prison. Coming home to Kansas and going straight into meth distribution. Gambling away his drug money at the casino, three Christmases in a row while his family was at home. Using his Purple Heart military ID to run $200,000 in forgery across three states. One childhood mentor named Bob Timmons who bailed him out, got robbed by Jess, and kept coming back anyway. Getting high ten days into court-ordered treatment. And the moment he finally threw up his hands and let God in

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0:21 Intro
2:14 Gambling: the addiction that swallowed everything at the end
4:07 Father arrested for child rape
6:45 Growing up angry
7:05 9/11 happens right after graduation. Joins the Army
8:43 First drink: the first time he ever felt normal
10:29 IED hits him + Purple Heart
11:04 Comes home on Oxycontin
13:26 Second marriage. Gets her hooked on pills.
15:00 Wakes up with 1st degree attempted murder, kidnapping
20:29 Crowley Correctional: in a gang within three months
21:47 High on meth, headbutts his parole officer. Back to prison.
25:38 Charlie Kirk assassination
38:49 Forgery across three states: $200,000
40:18 3 1/2 years in 8 county jails during Covid
41:37 Using his Purple Heart military ID to forge checks
43:11 Meets his 3rd wife in county jail
44:11 Gets out. Uses within 24 hours. She gets pregnant that night.
48:47 120 meetings in 90 days. Fires his sponsor at 3 months clean
50:04 Peer mentor in Kansas City / Social work.
50:22 Almost 1,000 days sober. 43 years old
51:19 Son with autism doing great. Rebuilding with his oldest two kids.
1:01:03 Why recovery has to be the foundation on the hardest days
1:10:34 Veterans and the VA
1:12:21 Veteran mental health access
1:17:36 "25 years of alcoholism. 15 years of addiction. Why would I give up on anybody?"