17 Felonies, 9 Years in Prison… Then She Changed Everything | Ginny Burton on Redemption

“I Should Be Dead”, Benjamin Lerner on Addiction, Relapse & Redemption

Today on Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Benjamin Lerner, rapper, composer, recovery advocate, and the great-grandson of legendary songwriter Irving Berlin. Behind the music, talent, and family legacy was a devastating battle with fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine that nearly cost Benjamin his life.Now sober since 2016, Benjamin has turned his pain into purpose. Through a unique blend of classical piano and hip-hop, he’s built an audience of hundreds of millions by speaking openly about addiction, relapse, shame, recovery, and redemption. This conversation dives deep into generational pressure, self-destruction, creativity, sobriety, and what it really takes to face the truth and rebuild a life from the ground up.If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, this episode is proof that recovery is possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

She Beat a 13-Year Addiction — Now She’s Exposing What Recovery Really Looks Like | Mandi West

This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Mandi West — a Certified Drug & Alcohol Counselor, Certified Recovery Specialist, and Certified Gambling Counselor with over 10 years in sustained recovery after a 13-year battle with substance use disorder. Mandi shares her powerful journey from addiction to recovery, the realities of rebuilding a life after chaos, and how her lived experience now fuels her work helping others heal. Together, they dive into the truth about addiction treatment, stigma, gambling addiction, recovery communities, social media advocacy, and the systemic challenges people face when seeking help. With both clinical expertise and firsthand experience, Mandi brings an honest, compassionate, and deeply informed perspective to one of the most important conversations happening today. If you or someone you love has struggled with addiction, this episode is a reminder that recovery is possible — and that purpose can be found on the other side of pain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

17 Felonies, 9 Years in Prison… Then She Changed Everything | Ginny Burton on Redemption

What happens when someone society gave up on refuses to give up on themselves? This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Ginny Burton — speaker, reform advocate, and living proof that redemption is real. After 30 years in addiction, 17 felony convictions, and nearly a decade spent in prison, Ginny lost everything: her freedom, family, identity, and hope. But her story didn’t end there. Now over 13 years sober, Ginny has transformed her life into a mission — going from incarcerated woman to scholar, policy advisor, and founder of the OUT Impact Coalition. Today, she’s helping reshape recovery, reentry, and criminal justice reform from the inside out. In this powerful conversation, Pej and Ginny discuss: Addiction and survival Prison and systemic failure Motherhood, shame, and forgiveness Recovery and rebuilding identity Turning pain into purpose Why no one is beyond redemption This is a story of transformation, resilience, and what can happen when someone is finally given a second chance. Subscribe to Primary Purpose with Pej for more conversations on recovery, transformation, and purpose-driven living. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Eric Zink Reveals the Moment That Changed His Life Forever

Today on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Eric B. Zink, mental health advocate, addiction recovery mentor, and speaker whose message of hope has impacted millions around the world. With more than 2 million followers across social media, Eric has become a powerful voice for those struggling with addiction, trauma, depression, and the difficult journey of rebuilding a life after darkness. Drawing from his own lived experience, Eric opens up about recovery, emotional healing, identity, and the mindset shifts that helped him transform pain into purpose. In this deeply honest conversation, Pej and Eric explore what it truly means to survive the things that tried to break you, and how healing can become a way to serve others. From overcoming addiction and navigating mental health struggles to finding resilience, meaning, and hope, this episode is for anyone searching for strength in difficult seasons. If you’ve ever felt lost, stuck, or beyond saving, Eric’s story is proof that change is possible and no one is too far gone to heal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

How Structure, Community, and Mentorship Changed My Life

In this episode, Pej is joined by therapist Dima Puchkarare for an honest conversation that blends both professional insight and lived experience in the addiction and recovery space. Together, they share what early sobriety really looks like—from navigating intense emotions and struggling with consistency to the challenge of letting go of familiar environments and habits. Drawing from their work with individuals facing substance use and mental health challenges, as well as their own recovery journeys, they speak openly about the parts of recovery that often go unspoken. Dima offers perspective from his experience as a therapist in Los Angeles, supporting clients through life after treatment, while also reflecting on his own path—learning to build stability through structure, community, mentorship, and a willingness to do things differently. Pej adds his own personal and professional lens, breaking down what helped him move from uncertainty to a more grounded, meaningful life. Whether you’re new to recovery, supporting someone who is, or simply looking for a deeper understanding of what lasting change takes, this episode provides practical insight and a grounded, real-world perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]