365 Proof by Defining Wellness

Episode #14: Becoming the Man You Were Meant to Be with Heather Lary

In episode 14 of the 365 Proof Podcast by Defining Wellness, Daniel Phyfer and Courtney Milan sit down with Heather Lary, Director of Referral Relations and Marketing at The Carpenter’s Shed in Monroe, Louisiana. Heather shares her journey from special education and pharmaceutical sales into the mental health and recovery field, where she now helps young men ages 16 to 20 find structure, purpose, accountability, and direction. This conversation dives into the struggles facing young men today, including THC use, online gambling, lack of life skills, family system challenges, school issues, and the need for real mentorship. Heather explains why labels are not always helpful, why young men need more than just clinical treatment, and how coaching, community, fitness, education, spirituality, and accountability can help them rebuild their lives. This episode is a powerful reminder that young men are not broken, they are still becoming. With the right support, structure, and love, change is possible. Produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode #13 - Serving Those Who Served: Ray Coleman on Veterans, Communication, and Purpose

In episode 13 of the 365 Proof Podcast, Courtney and Carly sit down with Ray Coleman, Director of Communications for Mississippi Veterans Affairs, for a powerful conversation about leadership, crisis communication, public service, and honoring Mississippi’s veterans. Ray shares his journey from sports broadcasting to state government, the pressure of communicating during high-stakes situations, and how Mississippi Veterans Affairs serves veterans through benefits assistance, veterans homes, cemeteries, and community support. This episode is a reminder that every veteran has a story worth hearing, a life worth honoring, and benefits they have earned through service. Produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions. #365ProofPodcast #VeteransAffairs #MississippiVeterans #VeteranSupport #MentalHealthMatters #RecoveryAndPurpose #Leadership #PublicService #MississippiPodcast #AudioAlchemyProductions

Episode #12: When Mental Health Gets Real, Building a Path Back with Alta Loma

Episode 12 of 365 Proof by Defining Wellness brings a raw and eye-opening conversation with Robert McCaslin and Patrick Cheney of Alta Loma Transformational Services. This episode pulls back the curtain on a side of mental health most people don’t understand, severe mental illness, psychosis, and what happens when traditional systems fall short. Robert and Patrick break down the gap between short-term stabilization and real, long-term healing, and how Alta Loma is creating something different, a place where people aren’t just managed, but rebuilt. The conversation dives into the reality of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and complex mental health conditions, and challenges the all-or-nothing thinking around “success.” It’s not just about diagnoses or labels, it’s about stability, purpose, connection, and giving people a real shot at life again. There’s also an honest look at risk, faith, and what it takes to walk away from comfort to build something that actually matters. From early recovery to fatherhood, from burnout to purpose, this episode reminds you that growth is messy, slow, and worth it. If you’ve ever wondered what real mental health care should look like, or if someone in your life is struggling beyond what quick fixes can handle, this one will stick with you. This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions. #365Proof #DefiningWellness #MentalHealth #Recovery #AltaLoma #Psychosis #BipolarDisorder #Schizophrenia #AddictionRecovery #Healing #Purpose #LongTermRecovery #FathersInRecovery #Growth #AudioAlchemyProductions

Episode #11: Healing What Addiction Breaks, with Victoria Hardy

In Episode 11 of the 365 Proof Podcast, Daniel Phyfer and Courtney Milan sit down with Victoria Hardy for a deeply honest conversation about the pain addiction brings into families, and the hope that healing is still possible.   Victoria, a licensed marriage and family therapist and Certified Family Life Educator at Defining Wellness, shares why family work matters so much in recovery and why addiction is never just about one person. This episode explores the heartbreak, dysfunction, fear, shame, and emotional exhaustion that families often carry in silence, while also shining a light on the healing that can begin when people are finally willing to face the truth and do the work.   Together, they talk about codependency, broken trust, boundaries, grief, emotional sobriety, and the reality that recovery is not instant. It takes time. It takes humility. It takes courage. But this conversation is a powerful reminder that no family is too far gone, no person is beyond help, and no story is too broken for restoration.   If you are struggling, love someone who is struggling, or have ever wondered whether peace is possible after chaos, this episode will meet you right where you are. There is hope, there is help, and you do not have to walk through it alone.   Produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.   #365ProofPodcast #DefiningWellness #VictoriaHardy #DanielPhyfer #CourtneyMilan #AddictionRecovery #FamilyHealing #MentalHealth #RecoveryJourney #Codependency #EmotionalSobriety #HopeAfterAddiction #HealingFamilies #YouAreNotAlone #WellnessPodcast

Episode #10 - From Narcotics to Recovery: Colonel Steven Maxwell

In Episode 10 of 365 Proof by Defining Wellness, Daniel Phyfer and Courtney Milan sit down with Colonel Steven Maxwell, a 30-year public service veteran and current leader in corrections investigations, for one of the most eye-opening conversations yet. Colonel Maxwell brings a rare perspective shaped by decades on the front lines of narcotics enforcement, leadership, and public health. What he reveals is hard to ignore: the drug landscape has evolved, the risks are higher than ever, and the threat is closer to home than most people realize. This episode dives deep into the shift from plant-based drugs to synthetic substances like fentanyl, how “harmless” products like gummies and gas station supplements are being used to mask deadly compounds, and why addiction today looks completely different than it did even a decade ago. From children being exposed earlier than ever, to the dangers of unregulated products like kratom, this conversation exposes the reality families are facing right now. But this isn’t just about the problem, it’s about the solution. Colonel Maxwell shares powerful insight on leadership, self-accountability, and the importance of seeing people beyond their worst moments. He unpacks the connection between mental health, addiction, and environment, and challenges listeners to think further upstream, where real change begins. You’ll also hear: * Why detox is not treatment and where the system is falling short * The role of communication, parenting, and early intervention * What law enforcement is seeing across Mississippi communities right now * How stigma, misunderstanding, and lack of education continue to cost lives * Why “loving yourself enough to show up” might be the most important message of all This episode is raw, honest, and urgent, but it’s also grounded in hope. Because as Colonel Maxwell says, “As long as the flag is flying, we’re winning.” If you care about your family, your community, or the future of the next generation, this is a conversation you need to hear. #365ProofPodcast #DefiningWellness #StevenMaxwell #DanielPhyfer #CourtneyMilan #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthMatters #FentanylCrisis #KratomAwareness #SubstanceAbuse #PublicHealth #Leadership #RecoveryJourney #Mississippi #CommunityHealth #AudioAlchemyProductions This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.