Dr. S interviews ultrarunner and author Charlie Engle about addiction, wellness, and the choices people make in response to hardship. Engle recounts his years of crack cocaine and alcohol addiction, prison time, and later extreme endurance running, and discusses how “healthy” addictions can still be criticized due to others’ fear of losing belonging. He traces contributing factors to insecurity, loneliness, and early life experiences, describing how alcohol initially brought comfort but led to predictable cycles of destruction and attempted resets. He explains the codependent dynamics with his first wife, argues ultimatums don’t work, and emphasizes caregiver self-care, avoiding enabling, and letting consequences land. Engle lists prior attempts to change (AA, church, a shaman, meditation) and describes a final binge after his son’s birth that led to a sincere prayer to stop feeling his inner burden. He advises asking how a behavior is serving you rather than debating labels.

00:00 Meet Charlie Engle
03:38 Addiction and Wellness
06:29 Fear and Tribe Dynamics
11:35 Roots of Addiction
19:15 Wiring and Binge Patterns
22:01 Codependency and Enabling
29:02 The Moment of Sobriety
32:35 What He Tried Before
36:57 Ask the Right Question
39:17 Part One Wrap Up

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