Shoutout From The Pit

Episode 0073 A Therapist’s Journey – From Shame to Service

The Old Rucker sits down with this week’s guest Paul Louis, a retired therapist with over 30 years helping vets at the Veterans Administration. Louis shares the remarkable story of his life, recovery, and decades of service helping veterans overcome addiction, trauma, and PTSD. Growing up in a large but chaotic South Louisiana family marked by alcoholism, dysfunction, and shame, Louis reflects on the experiences that shaped him, his own battle with addiction, and his sobriety journey that began in 1988. He opens up about the devastating loss of his longtime partner during the AIDS crisis, the challenges of living authentically as a gay man in an era of stigma and secrecy, and the lessons he learned through therapy, Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, and Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families (ACA). Through stories of resilience, gratitude, emotional sobriety, and healing, Louis offers hope to anyone struggling with family dysfunction, addiction, grief, or shame while demonstrating the transformative power of recovery, service, and self-acceptance.   June 20th: Arkansas Soberfest Picnic at the VFW in Cabot, Arkansas Text Us at 501-613-8915 team@shoutoutfromthepit.com [team@shoutoutfromthepit.com] Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

Episode 0072 Grace and Mercy

The Old Rucker talks on the theme of grace and mercy framed through personal recovery experience, mentorship, and reflection on human behavior under stress. Bob recounts formative encounters with a sponsor in a treatment setting, including a hospital visit preceding the sponsor’s death and a later interaction with a priest that reframed judgment toward a panhandler through the lens of unconditional compassion. These events become anchors for exploring the difference between receiving unearned goodwill and withholding deserved consequences, and how both concepts shape ethical behavior and personal growth. The discussion extends into recovery principles, self regulation, and the difficulty of extending the same compassion inward that is often offered to others. Practical reflections include mindfulness of speech, structured self assessment, and reframing adversity through perspective rather than avoidance. The episode also touches on internal dialogue, higher vs lower motivational forces, and the role of practice in developing consistent behavior aligned with recovery and spiritual frameworks. June 20th: Arkansas Soberfest Picnic at the VFW in Cabot, Arkansas Text Us at 501-613-8915 team@shoutoutfromthepit.com [team@shoutoutfromthepit.com] Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

Episode 0071 Dead or Dead Broke – Wealth Mgmt

The Old Rucker sits down with Clark of Oak Crest Wealth Management for a practical conversation about money, retirement, and long-term financial responsibility. Moving beyond stock tips and investment hype, the discussion explores the difference between investing and gambling, the importance of starting early, the power of compound growth, and why financial planning matters regardless of where someone is starting from. Drawing on personal experience, biblical principles, and nearly two decades of advising clients, Clark shares insights on building wealth through discipline, intentionality, and consistency rather than chasing shortcuts. For anyone recovering from past financial mistakes or simply looking to create a more secure future, this episode offers a grounded perspective on designing a life with purpose instead of leaving it to chance. Oak Crest Wealth Management https://www.oakcrestwm.com/ [https://www.oakcrestwm.com/] June 20th: Arkansas Soberfest Picnic at the VFW in Cabot, Arkansas Text Us at 501-613-8915 Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

Episode 0070 Michaela

The Old Rucker sits down with digital creator, speaker, and author Michaela Mulroe to discuss resilience, identity, and living authentically with Treacher Collins syndrome. Michaela shares how she transformed years of feeling different, mental health struggles, and public scrutiny into a platform built around confidence, advocacy, and purpose through her upcoming book Unconditionally Confident and her new venture, Unconditionally Confident Solutions. The conversation moves from deeply personal moments including a mental health crisis that became a turning point to humor, faith, disability advocacy, family support, and the power of rewriting your own narrative. With honesty, humor, and perspective, Michaela delivers a grounded message about self-worth, service, and refusing to let circumstances define who you become. [https://i0.wp.com/www.shoutoutfromthepit.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/05/71Mf6HCOSGL._SL1500_.jpg?resize=193%2C300&ssl=1]https://amzn.to/4tRQZKp “Unconditionally Confident” via Amazon. Pre-order available 23 June. Release date is 4 August. [https://amzn.to/4tRQZKp] Learn more about Michaela at Michaelamulroe.com [https://www.michaelamulroe.com/] Support link for GiGi’s Playhouse: https://gigisplayhouse.org/madison/3-2-1-believer/  [https://gigisplayhouse.org/madison/3-2-1-believer/] Support link for Moving Out, Inc: https://www.movin-out.org/donate [https://www.movin-out.org/donate]   June 20th: Arkansas Soberfest Picnic at the VFW in Cabot, Arkansas Text Us at 501-613-8915 Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915

Episode 0069 Clash of Cultures

The Old Rucker reflects on the emotional collision between what he calls the “culture of darkness” and the “culture of light,” exploring how stress, grief, road rage, media negativity, politics, and everyday frustrations can slowly pull people into chaos and despair. Drawing from personal experiences, including the pain of losing longtime pets and navigating seasons of “death by a thousand cuts,” he breaks down the role emotions, habits, and personal responsibility play in shaping character and recovery. The episode centers on practical tools for rebuilding mindset and stability through positive habits like reading, exercise, meditation, kindness, prayer, and intentional living, while encouraging listeners to reject doom-driven culture and pursue hope, self awareness, and spiritual growth one small action at a time. [https://i0.wp.com/www.shoutoutfromthepit.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/05/81pFo9SS0L._SL1500_.jpg?resize=194%2C300&ssl=1]https://amzn.to/4nAn2x0 Character Carved in Stone by Pat Williams. [https://amzn.to/4nAn2x0] June 20th: Arkansas Soberfest Picnic at the VFW in Cabot, Arkansas Text Us at 501-613-8915 Leave a voicemail 501-613-8915