Lion Counseling Podcast

🎙️ Episode 65 – UFC Hall of Famer Mark “The Hammer” Coleman on Addiction, Redemption, Faith & Fighting Back

UFC Hall of Famer and MMA pioneer Mark Coleman joins the Lion Counseling Podcast for one of the most raw, emotional, and inspiring conversations we’ve ever had.

Known as the “Godfather of Ground and Pound,” Mark Coleman helped shape modern MMA and became the first-ever UFC Heavyweight Champion. But behind the championships, Olympic wrestling career, and legendary fights was a much deeper battle involving addiction, trauma, shame, broken relationships, recovery, and ultimately faith in God.

In this powerful Lion Legacy Conversation, Mark opens up about nearly losing everything to alcoholism and benzodiazepine addiction, hitting rock bottom in isolation, entering rehab, rebuilding his life through sobriety, and the life-changing role faith played in his recovery.

This episode goes far beyond fighting.
It’s about suffering, masculinity, redemption, forgiveness, resilience, and learning how to truly live again.

✅ In this episode, you’ll learn:
☑️ The untold story behind Mark Coleman’s addiction and recovery journey
☑️ What rehab taught him about resentment, shame, and forgiveness
☑️ How faith and surrender transformed his life
☑️ Why many successful men secretly struggle with addiction and emotional pain
☑️ The psychology of rock bottom and why some men never escape it
☑️ How trauma, pride, and isolation fuel destructive behavior
☑️ Why sobriety is “the toughest fight” Mark has ever faced
☑️ The emotional story behind rescuing his parents from a house fire
☑️ What Mark would say to his younger self today
☑️ The mindset that helped him survive, rebuild, and find peace

This may be the deepest interview Mark Coleman has ever done publicly.
Whether you’re a UFC fan, someone battling addiction, or simply a man trying to become stronger spiritually and emotionally, this conversation will stay with you.

📘 Get Mark’s FREE book:
https://escapethecagenow.com/subscribe/

📚 Explore Mark Odland’s books and resources:
https://escapethecagenow.com/books/

📅 Book a Clarity Call with Lion Counseling:
https://escapethecagenow.com/call/

Click here to watch a video of this episode.’
💬 Comment below:
What part of Mark Coleman’s story impacted you the most?

About the Lion Counseling Podcast
The Lion Counseling Podcast exists to help high-achieving men break free from anxiety, trauma, addiction, burnout, resentment, and emotional isolation. Hosted by licensed therapist and EMDR clinician Mark Odland, the show combines psychology, faith, leadership, and practical wisdom to help men become the lions God created them to be.
New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Creators and Guests

Host
Mark Odland
Founder of Lion Counseling, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist

What is Lion Counseling Podcast?

The Lion Counseling Podcast helps men escape the cages that hold them back and become the Lions they were created to be. It exists to help men obtain success, purpose, happiness, and peace in their career and personal lives. The podcast is hosted by the founder of Lion Counseling, Mark Odland (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified EMDR Therapist), and Zack Carter (Counselor and Coach with Lion Counseling). In their podcasts, they address a variety of topics relevant to men, including: mental health, relationships, masculinity, faith, success, business, and self-improvement.

Mark Coleman:

You know, Don Fry had called my daughters up when I when I was laying in the hospital. You know? I was out, but Don Fry called them or texted them one or two. He said he said, well, I'm sure glad your dad's alive. But he said

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

I kinda wish he was dead. He said, I kinda wish he was dead. Not in the way you're thinking, not because he hated me for beating him up. He said, I kinda wish he was dead because that would be the greatest way in the world for for a man to go out.

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

And and well, I love down fry, man. And Mhmm. Hell, yeah. That's been my set. But then at the same at the same time, I kinda wanna do it again.

Mark Coleman:

You know what I'm saying?

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

I I get what Don's saying.

Mark Odland:

I'm Mark Odland, licensed therapist, EMDR clinician, and host of the Lion Counseling Podcast, where we explore healing, identity, faith, leadership, and what it means to become the men God created us to be. My guest today is Mark the Hammer Coleman, a true pioneer of mixed martial arts. He's an NCAA wrestling champion, an Olympian, the first ever UFC heavyweight champ, and a member of the UFC Hall of Fame. Considered the godfather of ground and pound, he helped shape MMA into what it is today. But this conversation goes beyond just fighting.

Mark Odland:

Over the years Mark has spoken openly about addiction and recovery, about tragedy and loss, what it means to persevere against all odds, Say his story is one of resilience and redemption and continuing to get back up when life knocks you down. So without further ado, Mark, Mark Coleman, welcome to the Lion Counseling Podcast.

Mark Coleman:

Hey, buddy. Thank you. That was a that was a cool introduction.

Mark Odland:

Well, I'm curious, Mark. So before the titles, before the the the fame, the recognition, all of that, what was it like what was it like growing up in the Coleman family as a kid? I don't know if you've talked about this much in other interviews, but I'm just so curious about kinda how you were raised, how that shaped you. Yeah. I mean, did you have siblings?

Mark Odland:

Where where'd you grow up? Tell tell me all that. I'd love to hear about growing up in the Coleman family.

Mark Coleman:

Small town called Fremont, Ohio, about two hours north of Columbus. I had four brother one brother, three sisters. My mom and dad were amazing. I was raised with my mom and dad. I I I can't believe what all I was in the middle and, the middle child, but, we were poor.

Mark Coleman:

My dad worked real hard in construction and, five kids. But we went camping a lot on the weekends. We did a lot of camping because, I realized that's a pretty cheap way to have a good time. Nice. And, and it it immediately, I was like, I I wanted to be an athlete from the because young as age as I can remember, like five years old, I already had in my mind that I wanted to be like the greatest athlete in the world.

Mark Coleman:

And I I could I was doing push ups and sit ups every night. I could do I could do a 100 push ups in a row at the age of five. My uncle would come over and he'd give me a penny of pushups. So back then as a dollar, that's good money. Wow.

Mark Coleman:

But lived out in the country. There was some farms around. You you get up in the morning. You you you maybe get a little breakfast. I find out now breakfast is garbage, but, get a little breakfast, open the back door, and I'm outside and I'm gone.

Mark Coleman:

You know, I'd be off. No phones, no one out there. I'd be off. We got gone to the woods, and then on the other side of the woods would be a river, so all kinds of stuff to do. And, of course, I with the neighbors and stuff, we'd do a lot of play play sports, man.

Mark Coleman:

We'd find games to play, and we'd compete. And Nice. That was it until my mom until my mom would yell my name, I'd be a mile away, but I could hear her calling. Until she called to come home, I had to come home and eat. As soon as I'd eat something, I'd be right back out the door, pretty much.

Mark Coleman:

But that's as a young kid, and and I I just really, really got into, what as soon as I I got a weight set at the of 10, they got me some weights, and and I played football. I played football and baseball. I wanted to be I wanted to be in the pros and football and baseball. I wanted to be Olympic champion. So I did those sports year round.

Mark Odland:

Wow.

Mark Coleman:

And and my mom and dad never missed, man. They were they were at every event almost, man. Like, in wrestling, hell, they ended up over in Turkey. You know I mean? I don't know how they got there, but Bulgaria, Turkey, Barcelona, we were poor, but somehow they got there.

Mark Coleman:

And they went to all my college matches, all my high school wrestling, football games, everything. I had a pretty good childhood.

Mark Odland:

Dang. Yeah. I mean, from what you're saying, it sounds pretty ideal. You're you're no no phones, no screens. You're just out playing playing playing sports with the neighbors.

Mark Odland:

You're out in the woods. You got some freedom. Your your parents worked hard, and, and they supported you. I mean, it sounds like they really had your back, and they really tried to show up. And, all the way to Turkey, I mean, that's that's that's no joke, especially if you don't have a lot of extra money

Mark Coleman:

to make. Yeah. So so I'm in I'm I'm in Turkey rest of the world championships or Bulgaria one or two.

Mark Odland:

Yep.

Mark Coleman:

And all of a sudden, I hear my mom say, Mark. That's what she used to call me in when I was outside playing. She I could hear a mile away.

Mark Odland:

Oh, dang.

Mark Coleman:

But then all of sudden, all of sudden, I yeah. So I heard I heard this voice, and I looked up, and, hell, there they were. I didn't know they were coming, and next thing you know, they're in Bulgaria. So yeah, just amazing and I still have them. My mom my mom's 81, my dad's 85, so it's it's pretty cool, pretty amazing.

Mark Odland:

It's a it's a huge blessing. I mean, definitely. So okay. So good childhood, supportive parents. You know, I'm so interested in psychology, Mark.

Mark Odland:

I always ask I like to ask one question that sometimes it's kinda hard to to to put your put your mind around, but do you have an earliest memory growing up? Because for for a lot of us, we don't remember much earlier than four or five, six years old, but I was just curious if you had one, if you think way back.

Mark Coleman:

I got a lot.

Mark Odland:

Do you? Yeah. What's is there one that stands out that, is a is a really positive early memory for you?

Mark Coleman:

No. Really? No.

Mark Odland:

Oh, okay. Well

Mark Coleman:

This one in particular. I I was five years old again, and, I was a real shy kid, but I was pretty feisty ornery. But I don't like playing with matches. I was a pyro. I loved fire.

Mark Coleman:

My dad always had matches around because he was in the air conditioning and heating business. So we always had so I'd grab the matches and I'd crawl underneath my bed, and I I would light matches, and I would put them out in the carpet. I would just sit there and light them and put them out. So you you see little you see little burn holes in the carpet, but, you know, but then I'd get caught because my mom would see she'd find new burn holes in the carpet, and she knows I was doing it again. So I get set up into my bedroom, and they called fire marshal Joe on me.

Mark Coleman:

Uh-oh. They called Okay. They called the fire marshal on me. Yeah. And I'd be up I'd be up in my room waiting for this this person to come over and laying in my bed scared, terrified.

Mark Coleman:

Mhmm. And then the door would open slowly, and it would it would peak in this big guy. He was a big guy, but he had a pair of pantyhose over his head. And he just looked at me, and he said, you've been playing with matches again, boy. And I was scared.

Mark Coleman:

I said, no. No. And then he would just tell me, you know, you can't be playing with matches, blah blah blah. Just So so so then so then he would leave, and I would lay there in the bed. And, yeah, I I was I I I wanted to I wanted to get him back.

Mark Coleman:

Oh. I I I didn't like him. I didn't like being bullied or anything. I didn't get bullied, but even maybe a little bit even, but not much. But I just knew I had to get bigger, faster, stronger.

Mark Coleman:

And to me, that was the answer to all my problems in life even at at a very young age. But it's it stuck with me, and it still is today because, today, that answers a lot of my problems. I I exercise and work out. Yep. So much, like, hours and hours a day because I like I like being strong.

Mark Coleman:

I like being healthy. And when I'm exercising and working out, I'm at total peace, man. I feel like and I am accomplishing something because it makes me happy. That's all that really matters. Why do I And do I like to look look good.

Mark Coleman:

I like to feel good. And I like to be able to if I have to, I like to be able to get through a fire and and and save my parents. So I just threw that out there. But my point is, if I hadn't been training like I was, I would've never got my mom and dad out. It wouldn't have been possible.

Mark Coleman:

So I'm just saying, bigger, faster, stronger. And, well, Joe the fire marshal, you know, I I grew up planning on getting him back. When I get when I got old enough and big enough, I was gonna get I was gonna give him a whooping. It's what I was just saying. That's that's kinda how I live.

Mark Coleman:

You know I mean? If you mess with me, I'm a get your back. You know what I mean? But and and so Wow. That is what it is.

Mark Coleman:

The five months ago, but I did have nightmares and stuff like that. I'm not I'm not blaming my dad for anything, man. He did he had a problem on his hand, and it was me, man. When I when I wanted something to do something, I did it. And if if it was so I I was gonna burn the house down is what I'm getting there.

Mark Coleman:

So that's the way he tried to figure out to get me to stop. What eventually got me to stop was a few years Joe never stopped me. I kept playing with matches, but then I I was playing with matches in the garage, and I started a mattress on fire, an old mattress that was in there. And I burnt the whole garage down, and it was real close to burning the whole house down also, but they got it put out. But after that, I quit playing for a while because I was pretty pretty scared.

Mark Coleman:

But and then, I still like to play with matches, my friend.

Mark Odland:

Man, well, that that's so I

Mark Coleman:

mean I tell I tell you what, though. Yeah. I I I tell you what, though. I mean, yeah, I always like building fires out in the country. I like the the bigger the fire, the better, man.

Mark Coleman:

I just loved it. Fire fascinated fascinated me. But then, you know, and then I seen it face to face, on its own terms and man. It's a it's a terrifying beast, man. It it it is wild, scary looking.

Mark Coleman:

When it's out of control

Mark Odland:

Yep.

Mark Coleman:

It's by far the scariest thing I've ever saw. So wow.

Mark Odland:

Man. That that's crazy.

Mark Coleman:

Yep. So at the same time, you know, Don Fry had called my daughters up when I when I was laying in the hospital. You know? I was out, but Don Fry called them or texted one or two. Said he said, well, I'm sure glad your dad's alive.

Mark Coleman:

But he said

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

I kinda wish he was dead. He said, I kinda wish he was dead. Not in the way you're thinking, not because he hated me for beating him up. He said, I kinda wish he was dead because that would be the greatest way in the world for a man to go out.

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

And well, I love down fry, man. And hell yeah. That's him on set. Oh, At time, the I kinda wanna do it again. You know what I'm saying?

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

I mean, he I I get what Don's saying. I mean, I'd like to do it again. It was he was a fireman. You know what mean? That would be that would be a cool job.

Mark Coleman:

Yeah. Fireman, but you get to wear a mask, you leave.

Mark Odland:

Oh my gosh. Yeah. Well, I don't know. Do you do you believe Mark, do you believe that the world is kinda random and things just happen, or do you believe they're coincidences? Do you believe it's all part of a bigger plan?

Mark Odland:

Like, how how do you make sense of all this? Fire marshal as a kid, playing with matches, important memory in your life. And now flash forward, you're rescuing your mom and dad from a fire.

Mark Coleman:

That was the you know, I was I I went to a Catholic high school, so my mom went to a Catholic high school. My dad went to the public school, but she went out when they got married. So we went to the to the small Catholic school. Okay. And, yeah, we went to church three to three times a week for twelve years.

Mark Coleman:

You know what

Mark Odland:

I mean? Okay.

Mark Coleman:

My mom for school, and then my mom, I you know, we had to be there on Saturday at five or Sunday morning, you know, but but so, yeah, I grew up I I I was afraid of God. I I feared him for sure.

Mark Odland:

K.

Mark Coleman:

And and but, you know, I didn't know if I believed, you know, I had a lot of questions and all that shit, but I didn't wanna I didn't wanna sin. I didn't wanna be bad because, know, I thought God punished you. I thought he would punish you now when you're on earth. So I tried to be a good kid because I didn't wanna lose the WrestleMania. To me, that's how God's gonna punish me

Mark Odland:

Sure.

Mark Coleman:

For doing something bad. So but but I I didn't really you know, I so I just kinda used God. I prayed and all that stuff.

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

But but then, you know, it it just continued like that. And then, you know, after high school, you're on your own. You know, I didn't go to church. I didn't have to. My mom didn't make nobody made me.

Mark Coleman:

So I didn't I loved church. I didn't love it, but I, you know, I actually liked not going. It was easy to not go.

Mark Odland:

But Right.

Mark Coleman:

Now I love church where I'm getting at. But, but anyways, you know, it didn't, you know, and then when I got, when I got, when the disease was taken over, when my alcoholism and drug addiction had had total control. Yeah. I was I was powerless, but so I kept, you know, I kept, you know, praying to him, to God that come on. Help me.

Mark Coleman:

But Yeah. It wasn't until it wasn't until finally I hit rock bottom, stayed in an extended stay hotel for over a year, nobody ever came in the room. It was as it was as disgusting as you can imagine. Only once.

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

Worth. 30 bags of trash in it when when I finally checked out. Little room, 30 bags of trash. But but, you know, I I I didn't give up. I was there thinking I was I knew I had a problem.

Mark Coleman:

I wasn't in denial. I knew I had addiction problem, but I just wasn't ready. I mean, I just wasn't ready to quit, and I wasn't at rock bottom can be anywhere, but for me, I was still doing okay. Yeah. And I knew I was gonna pull through this, but I I I didn't know how to do it.

Mark Coleman:

But I knew how to do it, but I was wasn't ready.

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

And I was terrified because alcohol I was taking benzos benzodiazepines

Mark Odland:

Yep.

Mark Coleman:

And alcohol. I was taking those two drugs because I kinda thought they were the safest. You know what mean? I didn't wanna die. I thought they were the safest, so I stayed away from you know, I liked the I liked all the other drugs, but they were powerful.

Mark Coleman:

Cocaine is very power pain meds. Pain meds turned me into Superman. Yeah. I loved it, but coming down was hard. You know?

Mark Coleman:

Listen to me. So you know? But but alcohol and benzos, I thought they were safe, but it it turns out those are the two hardest drugs to come off of of any of them.

Mark Odland:

Yep.

Mark Coleman:

I mean, you you can't really do it cold turkey, or you you you definitely could die.

Mark Odland:

So Dangerous. Yep.

Mark Coleman:

So I wanted it off, but since I was struggling with a lot of things, you know, constant relationship. My my fight career was over, hip replacement. Mhmm. And, basically, you know, I just it just kept going down and down, but the alcohol picked up more and more. It just got it it just became more.

Mark Coleman:

And then eventually, towards the end of the of right before I quit, it was around the clock. I I had needed I had needed alcohol to function.

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

You know, I stayed in this hotel, but I I couldn't function in life. I was a functioning drunk. Because without it, I couldn't function. So it got to the point where but I wasn't just I was spreading them out. I was trying to moderate it.

Mark Coleman:

So I was taking I would drink just enough for my body to feel okay. You know I mean? I I wasn't trying to get wasted and hammered. I just wanted enough to numb it. So so, yeah, I'm I'm in the hotel, and it's rock bottom.

Mark Coleman:

You can have rock bottom anywhere, but it definitely was rock bottom. But but, you know, and and God's been in my life always, but I kinda more or less didn't know if I believed. And Sure. And I was just using him so bad things didn't happen to me. And it wasn't about making it to heaven and all that being good.

Mark Coleman:

But then finally, you know, yeah, I I started really praying seriously, like like because I I need you. I need you to take a session. God, I need you. And, you know, so then I think, you know, you sent Wes Sims in there, sent my buddy, who I I you cut off everybody. You isolate yourself from everyone.

Mark Coleman:

You know? I Right. Stopped taking calls, this and that pretty much. Had a few people. I I I did talk to Wes quite a bit towards the end, but, of course, I was lying to him about how bad it was.

Mark Coleman:

Yep. And then finally, you know, I was doing the hard praying. Sims came over. He came in, and, you know, he's the one that told me there was 30 bags of trash because he cleaned it up. I was sleep.

Mark Coleman:

I let him in, and, you know, I don't remember. I barely remember letting him in. I laid back on my bed. You know, there's just a tiny pat to the bed, and and that's it. So and and and when I he he came back the next morning, knocked on the door again.

Mark Coleman:

You know, I didn't even really notice the room was clean. I mean, ain't the first thing know, it's just cup you know, to me, was just but I answered the door, and I barely remembered him being there the night earlier. And then I just sat down at the end of the bed and he walked up to me and and, you know, I was his mentor. I I helped him out as an 18 year old kid, and I took him and we did end up doing everything together. But he was the handful, man.

Mark Coleman:

He he had his own way of doing things, and he he was a strong minded man.

Mark Odland:

Yep.

Mark Coleman:

And but now so he walked up to me, and I'm sitting on the end of the bed. My head's kinda down. I'm just sitting there. You know what mean? I'm wondering I'm wondering what he's gonna say.

Mark Coleman:

You know what I mean? And and finally, just looked at me. He said he said, well, what are you, you know, what are you doing? He's like, are you trying to kill yourself? And and I just looked him right in the eye and said, no, Wes.

Mark Coleman:

No. I don't wanna die. I'm not trying to kill myself. I said, look. I'm gonna get through this.

Mark Coleman:

I'm going I'm gonna come back. I said, I just I don't know how. Yeah. And I'm and I'm just not sure how to do it. And he he looked at me and said, well, he had already checked he already looked into a rehab place, and he looked at me and said, I got a rehab place saying you can come there today.

Mark Coleman:

And I looked him right in the eye and said, no way. Right. No no way, Wes. I'm not dying today, and I'm not dying in no freaking rehab place. And I said I said, I know.

Mark Coleman:

I'm not in denial. I know about my addiction. And alcohol and benzos, you can't come off those things cold turkey west. That's the biggest problem. I would do it myself, but I can't.

Mark Coleman:

Yeah. But anyways so now he was stymied. Because I said, I'm not going in there, and and and I'm not I'm not ready to go through that kind of pain today. Because the pain of coming off alcohol and benzos, you know, is second to nothing. I mean, the it and I I just wasn't ready to go through that and then possibly die.

Mark Coleman:

So he was now he was he just didn't know what to do. Now he he thought he had the answer, but now all of sudden, I stymied him and said, no way. Right. And and then so I came up with the idea. Let's go let's call the ambulance, and I'll go to the hospital.

Mark Coleman:

Because I knew I knew the hospital was treated a little bit differently than a rehab center. They would being and an addict, I knew this. I I knew they would give me pain medicine.

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

And that's all I wanted was some pay. I wanted the pain medicine, so I'm sub I'm gonna substitute, you know, one drug for another. I'm gonna get off the booze. They're they're gonna have to wean me off the Klonopin. You can't just you know, you'll you'll have all kinds of problems.

Mark Coleman:

You know? But but I wanna get off the booze, and the the the pain meds will lessen that pain. And then, you know, after I got off the booze, you're not addicted to the pain meds that I'm saying, so I got off those as well. So I got rid of two drugs, and I got Klonopin down, way, way down. K.

Mark Coleman:

And now after a week, you know, the doctor, you know, the doctor came in there, and and after about three days, he came in there because I was three hundred pounds, two hundred and eighty pounds of blubber. I mean, I hadn't I hadn't worked out in hadn't worked out in twelve years, man. It was Dang. It was disgusting. I didn't shave.

Mark Coleman:

I didn't shower. Didn't shower for almost a year probably. I didn't shower. It is that that's a fact. And then, you know, the nasty ass beard was nasty, and I'm laying there after about two days of going through this withdrawal.

Mark Coleman:

It's it's tough. Don't get me wrong. Just because you're on some pain meds don't mean it ain't brutal. Right. And I'm laying there just miserable.

Mark Coleman:

Just you know? Plus your mind's so my mind was so fogged up from ten years of this. Mhmm. Yeah. You you can't explain what's going through the head.

Mark Odland:

Right.

Mark Coleman:

You know? And and and then the doctor came up and said, Mark. He said, Mark, he goes, you gotta take a shower, man. He goes, you stink, dude. You know what I mean?

Mark Coleman:

And and, basically, I'm not all I'm saying is that happened. What did it do to me at that moment? I just thought I didn't care about anything. I really didn't care, and I didn't really wanna get up and take the shower. But, you know, I went and took the shower, this and that, but but I I I forget where I was going.

Mark Coleman:

So yeah. So now the week the week of, the hospital, and then they released me. I told Wes to take me home

Mark Odland:

Yep.

Mark Coleman:

See my parents. I go hang out with my parents. I shave up, this and that. And then I told Wes, I'm gonna I'm gonna spend a couple days with my mom and dad. And at three, put his foot down.

Mark Coleman:

Thank god he did because this this is where Wes needed to take charge for sure.

Mark Odland:

K.

Mark Coleman:

Because I don't listen to anybody. I don't listen to people. I got my own mind. Yep. But he put he he said, no.

Mark Coleman:

We're going I'll take you to your parents. It was after about spending a day with my parents, I said, let's you're almost stay here. He's like, no. We're going to the rehab. Right.

Mark Coleman:

We're going now. Yeah. And and I I didn't fight it at all. That's where I kinda I didn't fight it at all. That's where I surrendered.

Mark Coleman:

That's it. That's why I I said I I said, let's go. I'll give this a shot. And I got in there, and and it was I checked in for three hours, but I don't even remember checking in. I mean, I talked to he was a therapy he was a teacher there.

Mark Odland:

Yep.

Mark Coleman:

But a week later after checking in, he's leading the class. This guy said, well, I know I said something. He's like, well, I already know that, Mark. I said, well, how do you know? He said, checked you in.

Mark Coleman:

And I said, what? You know? He said, yeah. We talked for three hours. And I I didn't remember any of it.

Mark Coleman:

And and and then I'm I'm just I'm in the right place. At first, I'm kinda I'm being a little goofy. I'm playing around with I make friends. You're living with eight guys now. I'm living with eight guys.

Mark Coleman:

You get up at six. You make your bed. It's just it's nice. Yeah. Structure.

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

You know? It it's not nice, but it's real nice. Let's go back to where it's stuck. And then but you got a lot of you got a lot of angry, you know, recovering addicts in there, so don't don't mess around with people's food. You know?

Mark Coleman:

But but I'm in I'm in the I'm in the classes all day long, and and at first, I'm just being I'm not I'm I'm being a kind of a goof. I'm playing around like a little kid in in high school, and and and and and then finally, you know, a couple of weeks in, something just was starting to click. The fog was lifting a little bit.

Mark Odland:

K.

Mark Coleman:

And I just started listening. And in every class, I started listening and taking notes and asking questions. And then about thirty days in, one of the girls looked at me and said, how's it going today, Mark? And I remember telling her, we're still friends. I said, well, it's going amazing.

Mark Coleman:

I'm just wondering when it's all gonna fall apart.

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

Wow. I'm I'm just wondering when it's all gonna fall apart. He looked at me and said, well, maybe it never will, Mark. And here we are five years later.

Mark Odland:

Dang. Praise god, brother. That is amazing.

Mark Coleman:

It falling apart. I mean, what what what I've I've got the experience and learn in the last five years being sober and and having god just guide me. Holy crap. Pretty amazing life, brother. I I I'm pretty damn blessed.

Mark Coleman:

I got a I got an amazing life, and I got great fans. And because of them, I don't have to work nine to five because I get to go do stuff.

Mark Odland:

And Yep.

Mark Coleman:

You know, I get to do meet and greets and and make people happy just by shaking their hand and and, you know, just tell them stories. So Beautiful. You know, things are pretty good. And like you said, glory to God, baby. That's just true, man.

Mark Coleman:

Once once you find it and got it, you get it, man. It's just and then don't get me wrong. I'm gonna have all kinds of tough times, ups and downs. Just because you got God in your life doesn't mean bad things are gonna happen, but it's just you learn how to accept it, and you don't sit there. I was the why me Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

My whole life. I was greedy. I was ungrateful, greedy. I did everything. I lived I lived a man's dream life.

Mark Odland:

Yep.

Mark Coleman:

But me, why me? You know? Why? No. Just because.

Mark Coleman:

The question you talked about how we got on this subject. Yeah. Know, know, God's got his reasons for everything, and it's things are gonna happen. And what I learned in rehab is it it things are gonna happen, but what matters is how you respond. And that's a big one.

Mark Coleman:

And, basically, you know, I I I was I was always filled with anger and and why me and stuff like that. But, no, now I just like, every day, I I sit there and say it's the greatest day of my life. Mhmm. At some point, I'm, like, sitting there doing something, and I'm like, wow. It's another amazing day.

Mark Coleman:

But but really, even if bad things happen throughout the day, it's just still a great day. You just gotta accept it.

Mark Odland:

And

Mark Coleman:

he don't want don't worry about it. Quit worrying about everything. I worried about everything. The smallest things. No.

Mark Coleman:

You just Yeah. You you gotta handle you gotta you gotta think about things and handle them, but you can't worry because most of the time, you're worried about something that doesn't even happen.

Mark Odland:

Oh, yeah. That that's that's such good advice. I mean, it reminds me there's this bible verse where Jesus says, don't worry about tomorrow because tomorrow's got enough troubles of its own. Right? So try to be at peace.

Mark Odland:

Try to just sit yeah.

Mark Coleman:

Yeah. You worry about tomorrow, then that's all you did was ruin today. You know what I mean? That's right. Worry just worry just ruins today.

Mark Coleman:

You know what I mean? So

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

But

Mark Odland:

Yeah. Well, you've got such a positive attitude, Mark. I mean, seems like you're just embracing each day as a gift from God and controlling what you can control.

Mark Coleman:

Exactly. But, yeah, once you know, I always know tomorrow ain't promised all this and that, but until you know, to me, I look at that so differently now because since that house fire, until you really until I face death. You you just you just think you got you you you just think you got tomorrow. I'll be here tomorrow. But now I really it helps me because tomorrow may not come, but that means today is all that matters.

Mark Coleman:

And today, I'm happy. Today I'm grateful. And and and when tomorrow comes, that's good.

Mark Odland:

That's so good. That's so good. Well, I I can imagine in that the you said, like, that twelve years you didn't work out when things were rough.

Mark Coleman:

And Well, and drink. You know what

Mark Odland:

drinking. I mean, what what kind of toll did that take on your relationship with your daughters? Was it was that pretty rough at the time?

Mark Coleman:

Well, we my daughters were my life. My oldest two daughters were my life, and and they they they accepted the drinking, and and they they they drink themselves sometimes. But, for the most part, the drinking wasn't the problem. It was the problem, but we didn't know it. Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

And we had a great relationship. But, you know, then after I got the divorce and this and that, well then, you know, what happened is after my fight, 2010 was my last fight, they're they're now heading you know, about to head into seventh and eighth grade now. They're getting older. Sure. And, well, I I I met a woman and well Uh-oh.

Mark Coleman:

It it got her pregnant. I'm 50 years old. Just got just had hip replacement surgery, drinking all this, got her pregnant. Now I have a beautiful 10 year old Skyler. But at the time, my kids knew because they knew the lady.

Mark Coleman:

They just knew the situation. Yeah.

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

And they were up until this, you know, this point, you know, I every day we was talking and hanging this and that, but, you know, they they immediately told me no, dad. When I started seeing the lady, they're like, no, not her because I'm not gonna go into it.

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

It kinda turned out to be right. And I had my daughter at the age of 50, and it's a toxic relationship. It it it was toxic. And and I stayed with my I stayed with her for five years because I wasn't gonna leave my daughter. You know what mean?

Mark Coleman:

I wasn't gonna leave my youngest daughter. I did not trust this woman. And and and for me, the worst thing ever, I I hurt my kids a lot during those five years of drinking and and being you know? I was I was still talking to him, willing to see him, but it just, you know, it just didn't happen. And then and then finally, I left the lady and got got back in my daughter's relationship, but now I'm I'm eight years into, you know, heavy drinking now.

Mark Coleman:

Right. And I got back in their relate back into their life, but I'm just I'm I'm missing my youngest daughter. I left, and now I can't and and then finally, I checked into rehab, and bam. Now yeah. Now you you you heal Yep.

Mark Coleman:

And and you heal, and I live with my older. It's amazing. I'm on I'm I'm back on great terms with them.

Mark Odland:

Good.

Mark Coleman:

And that's the be most beautiful thing in my life. But at the same time, unfortunately unfortunately, I don't see my youngest daughter very much at all, and that's something that an old Marcomann, it would kill me.

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

But right now and I'm I'm trying to figure out God's plans because it's just I'm losing, and and I'm just hopeful. I know what's going on. I know she's being fed a lot of bad stuff about her daddy. Hoping that's a problem because when she gets old enough yeah. Hoping she just doesn't hate me right now because I don't know.

Mark Coleman:

I mean, it just we don't talk much. But Yeah. I I'm pretty damn sure this is and like I said, everything I've it's in God's hands. I can't control it. So

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

I'm not gonna let it kill me because something like this kills a lot of men.

Mark Odland:

That's right.

Mark Coleman:

It messes them up real bad, and I'm trying my best just to accept it.

Mark Odland:

That's right. That's that's not easy. That's not easy, but but you're totally right because, man, if you let that destroy you and unravel you, then think about the impact that would have on your other daughters and the other people who love you.

Mark Coleman:

Well, if I let it yeah. If I let it, I lose everything.

Mark Odland:

You lose everything.

Mark Coleman:

Just just just like that. And, you know, and, you know, the the sobriety, you know, five years now, but it truly is one day at a time and an everyday battle because if you don't live the lifestyle and you don't work the 12 steps, you will fail just like that. It's that powerful. And only only four percent of people that check into rehab and get sober make it. So some people that aren't alcoholics and stuff, they don't get it.

Mark Coleman:

They don't understand. Well, it's a disease, and it's the it's the toughest fight of my life. And

Mark Odland:

I'm winning. You're winning, man. So God is God is good. Win. That that is so powerful.

Mark Odland:

I mean, it's

Mark Coleman:

Well, he took away well, with without him, it's not powerful. He took away my obsession to drink. I asked him, and and he did.

Mark Odland:

Dang. Wow. That is a truly a miracle. Truly a miracle that that that happened for you. And do do you feel I mean, it seems like do you feel like you've been able to forgive yourself for the hard times in the past?

Mark Odland:

Do you feel like that's because God forgives us. Right? I mean, God forgives you. He's got your back. Sometimes as men, though, it can be hard to forgive ourselves.

Mark Odland:

I I was just kinda curious if that's something you think about.

Mark Coleman:

Everybody thinks about that. Yeah. That's the that's the that's one of the first things you learn in rehab. In rehab is, you you find out you you find out about not being able to forgive yourself in rehab. You don't really think about it until you're in there, and that's what they teach you.

Mark Coleman:

Because when you when you sober up, the the guilt is powerful. Yeah. And that's when you realize what an idiot you were.

Mark Odland:

Right.

Mark Coleman:

All closed. But if if you don't forgive yourself, you're stuck. Right. So so that's the that's the first person you gotta forgive. Wow.

Mark Coleman:

And and I help. Good. And it's an apology, but now I just try to be I try to be more like him and less like me every day. For me, just like anybody else, that quick. But I just put the Christian Rock on.

Mark Odland:

And I

Mark Coleman:

know it works. It blows my mind that I know it works. The Christian Rock is crazy how I I know the words, and there's about four, five, or six of them that when they come on, it, like, immediately just hits me. I gotta I gotta I I don't have to fight back, but I could easily just cry.

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

Or I could just sit there and let's not cry. Let's just really listen to the song and enjoy life. So yeah.

Mark Odland:

I love that, Mark. I mean, that's a yeah. I mean, it sounds like you've been able to come out on the other side of all this and connect more to your heart, connect more to your the love you have for everybody, forgive yourself, feel things again instead of being numb.

Mark Coleman:

Well, that's it. Yeah. You nailed it there. That's that's all. That's all I was you know, I I numbed everything, and now now I gotta learn, you know, how to feel all them emotions.

Mark Odland:

That's right. I mean, you know, one one of the last questions I have for you, Mark, is, I mean, man, I could talk with you for hours. You joked before a thing that you only have six hours to commit to our podcast interview today. I won't take you up on that. I wanna be I'm I'm sure you gotta work out to get to, but, hypothetical.

Mark Odland:

Hey.

Mark Coleman:

Go ahead. You you you oh my god. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

It's it's 12:30, so, you know, it's it's 03:00 now, but hell yeah, brother. Yeah. I just k. I work out. I do yoga and stretching all day long throughout the day.

Mark Coleman:

I don't need a gym to go to. Nice. But to actually go to it but actually to go to the gym, I get so excited. I can't just wait to get there. I like the atmosphere, and I and I've always loved you know, working out is all it's all cool, but the lifting weight part of working out for me, that is just like I get so high from

Mark Odland:

Nice. I've got two two questions, and then I wanna let you kind of end the conversation however you want to, Mark. But I'm thinking about two imaginary conversations. Right? So one, if you could just use your imagination for a second.

Mark Odland:

If you could imagine knowing everything you know now, everything you've been through, If you could go back in a time machine back to five year old Mark Coleman, put your arm around that kid, what would you say to him?

Mark Coleman:

That's like way, way deep question, brother. Holy crap.

Mark Odland:

I hear you. Take your time.

Mark Coleman:

I mean, for for me, you know, shyness was like what what control my what control me. I was terribly, terribly shy. And I was I was afraid to look stupid.

Mark Odland:

Mhmm.

Mark Coleman:

You know? So or sound stupid or I didn't like the way I looked. So just for many reasons, I was super shy. I, you know, I didn't mind being out on the wrestling mat or on the football field or the baseball field. That's where I was comfortable, and I wanted everybody to be looking at me.

Mark Coleman:

Yeah. I wanted the spotlight, but I I when I had to go accept awards, for example Yeah. And maybe give us talk, that ruined, you know, that kind of ruined, you know, the sport thing. But now because I I just think I I don't know how to explain shyness is what it is, but somehow I was just able to get rid of it. I'm not sure how, but really it was just me accepting, you know, who I am and what I I look like and who I am and and worrying less about trying to impress everybody and this and that.

Mark Coleman:

Yeah. This so I I was able to get rid of my sinus, so I I don't know. It all depends on the kid, but basically

Mark Odland:

Yep.

Mark Coleman:

Yo. Of course, figure out what you wanna do in life, set a lot of goals, figure out the things you wanna possibly do in life, set goals, but then always work super hard. Yeah. Work everybody to achieve these lifetime goals and be aggressive and don't be afraid to fail. And that's one of the biggest things.

Mark Coleman:

I I wasn't afraid to fail in wrestling and fighting.

Mark Odland:

K.

Mark Coleman:

But I was afraid to fail in life and and other things. But you you you won't get no you won't get nothing done if you don't attack your goals and set them high, and you're going to fail, but if you don't fail, you haven't done anything. That's the only reason you haven't failed. You know, try to eat healthy. Try to eat right.

Mark Coleman:

Be healthy. Health health is gonna become your wealth. Yeah. You just you just don't know it yet. Even many people don't know it ever, but until until they get sick, but then they realize all the money they made is worthless.

Mark Coleman:

Right. So health is wealth. You need to you need to eat healthy. You need to exercise. You need to do you need to stay off the drugs and booze.

Mark Coleman:

So I talked about this whole time. You gotta make wise choices. There's always gonna be choices put in front of you. And you know which one is right, and you know which one is wrong. So and you will pay the consequences for the wrong choices you made.

Mark Coleman:

So

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

Be wise and then let let let wisdom settle in before before you make too many mistakes. Don't be afraid to try things, but don't be afraid to try and fail, but don't at things you are wrong.

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

Because wrong wrong things there's a lot there's a lot of them out there, and a lot of them are very fun or can look to be fun.

Mark Odland:

Oh, yeah.

Mark Coleman:

And can look to be tempting. But if if it goes wrong

Mark Odland:

Yep.

Mark Coleman:

Gotcha. So and then, you know, I'll preach God. Just let I'll just let y'all know, well, he's always been in my life, but eventually, I asked hard. You know, how do you pray? You can pray any way you want and just talk to the guy.

Mark Coleman:

Yeah. But then finally for me, thankfully, I needed I needed something bad, but it it it took you know? Yeah. You know, God, he wanted me to believe, though. He gave me something that I really was gonna need him for to to to find him.

Mark Coleman:

So Wow. He so I found him. Yeah. And he helped.

Mark Odland:

Yeah. I mean, is that feels like that's still still really hits the heart. That's still still emotional thinking about that, Mark. Is that right?

Mark Coleman:

Hard to say, brother.

Mark Odland:

Yeah. I bet. I well, I

Mark Coleman:

It's hard to say because when when you find him, you understand. Yeah. Well He he can take away all the problems.

Mark Odland:

That's right.

Mark Coleman:

All the problems, it's just all everything's controlled by your own mind. Everything begins with a thought. Well, you can let it take you downhill Yeah. Or you can just stay strong with what you just found out and then change your thoughts. If you're thinking about the wrong things, that's what's gonna bring you down.

Mark Coleman:

You're allowed to be happy. You're allowed to be positive.

Mark Odland:

Yeah. Well, that's, I appreciate you sharing all that. And I I know that that's gonna there are a lot of guys out there, a lot of guys that I work with. They are successful on the outside. Right?

Mark Odland:

They look strong on the outside. They look like they haven't put together. But inside their soul, they're hurting. They're numbing out. Things are falling apart.

Mark Odland:

Right? And and in some ways, I think it's harder for for strong men to kick addictions and to surrender. Right? Because you have the strong body. You have the strong willpower.

Mark Odland:

It takes more to break you down. And it's it's not easy to to know that how how far you have to get to get to that rock bottom, but you you felt it. You got there.

Mark Coleman:

Well, rock bottom can be anywhere. Yeah. It could it it could it could have been for me. It could have been it was probably ten years to rock bottom. You just you know what Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

I mean, you just keep going. And and well, there were some good year there were some good times during that ten years, so I can't But, explain you know, it it it just took for me it just took for me the absolute rock bottom ish for me to finally it it just took a miracle for me to of Wes coming in there and and timing. You know, timing is everything. Yep. And and it just worked out.

Mark Coleman:

But what what what actually did did you just ask me about people? Yeah. Well yeah. It it doesn't really matter, but Mhmm. Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

A lot of people are putting on a face on a show. They gotta they gotta act. They gotta play they gotta play the role, play the part. You're talking millions, millions, and millions.

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

You know? You just gotta one day just and they're all worried about nothing because they're worried about what everybody thinks about them. And the truth is nobody really cares. Right. So when you find that out, Mark Colman, nobody really cares what you're up to.

Mark Coleman:

And all these other people, when you realize that, it's one of the best days of your life because now you can you have to you're not doing things for other people. You gotta do things for yourself. And when it comes to forgiving yourself, yeah, I had to forgive myself to move on. But at the same time, you can you gotta learn to forgive everybody else. You can't have resentments.

Mark Coleman:

Resentments. I had so many resentments. I checked into rehab, and I'm talking to the therapist about this guy pisses me off. And they're like, what the hell, Mark? That was twenty years ago.

Mark Coleman:

So what? He stole $5,000 from you. Who cares? It's over. Resentment.

Mark Coleman:

You know, get rid of the resentment. They mean nothing. You know, that's it. I forget what else I said.

Mark Odland:

No. But that's that's powerful. I mean, that's like poison resentment. I mean, it just eats you up inside. And and I think, I mean, when I'm

Mark Coleman:

your mind, people people living in your mind

Mark Odland:

Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

Free. You know what I mean? It's true. Yeah. It's just true.

Mark Coleman:

You know, you might you'll need you'll need that little problem in your mind. Your mind's got it's got positive things to to do for you.

Mark Odland:

Heck yeah. Well, I mean, yeah, I mean, if I'm if I'm standing back and and and thinking about what you'd all that you just said, there's so much so much wisdom that you the hard earned wisdom and god's grace in what you said. It sounds like going back to having that imaginary conversation with that five year old Mark Coleman, it would be a combination of work hard, know that you have to use make wise decisions because there can be big consequences. But then this other part of you that just kinda hopes that that that that version of you or another kid out there would also not be so shy or too scared of going after life and and being comfortable in their own skin, knowing that they're that I think that's kind of the the paradox for us as men, right, to know that in this world, the decisions we make matters. Right?

Mark Odland:

It matters to our family. It matters to our career. It matters to other people. In a way, our worth is kind of tied to these accomplishments. But then at the very same time, we have a loving God who loves us and forgives us as we are even apart from those accomplishments.

Mark Odland:

Right? Even even if everything were taken away, we're still his his kids. Right? He we belong to him.

Mark Coleman:

Look. You you nailed things. When when I give you time to talk, you're you're you're spot on, brother. But no. That that's that's another, when it comes down to, you know, I have everything I need, man.

Mark Coleman:

With, you know, could I want a bigger car, a bigger home, all that shit? But I have everything I need, a bed, a house, a car, but I earn more, but that's it. I you got God, you got everything. Amen. You don't need anything else at all.

Mark Coleman:

So and and I I hope people can find him or find their higher power because it totally it just it manages your life.

Mark Odland:

Yeah. That's huge. Well, so the first imaginary question was the five year old Mark. The second imaginary question is you shared so much about your faith, how important that is to you, Mark. If somehow I mean, I know he's with us.

Mark Odland:

You know, Jesus says he's he's with us. But if he was actually with you in the flesh right now, if he was sitting down next to you right there looking you in the eyes, what would you ask him? If you could ask him one question, is there anything that what what would come to mind for you?

Mark Coleman:

No. I no. That's way that's way too out there, but, I just when you were when when you were asking me that question, I was getting nervous. Uh-oh. I mean, I

Mark Odland:

was a

Mark Coleman:

bit worried and that, you know, what I wonder about is if he walked through that door right now, I I would I would be worried, you know, Have I have I done enough I

Mark Odland:

hear that. To make them

Mark Coleman:

happy. Yeah. So

Mark Odland:

I hear

Mark Coleman:

What did you tell me to ask him?

Mark Odland:

Yeah. Well, no. I was just curious if you had anything you anything you'd wanna ask him or anything you'd wanna tell him.

Mark Coleman:

Oh, we'll just leave it at that, but go ahead and you tell me what you would ask him. How does that sound?

Mark Odland:

Well, you know what? There's a part of me there's a part of me that would feel like you. It'd be like, oh my gosh. Like, he's done so much for me, and I'm I'm pretty sure I haven't lived up to his his expectation. But you know what I'm thinking?

Mark Odland:

I'm thinking if he were here with you or with me, he probably would say, you know what, Mark? Well, hey. It's a good name. Mine mine is Mark too, so we can we can both be Mark in the story. Right?

Mark Odland:

But I think he'd say, Mark, you know, you're right. You made a lot of mistakes and but I but I but I love you, and I've forgiven you for everything, and I'm still proud of you. And and I've got your back. You know? We're okay.

Mark Odland:

I went all the way to the cross for you. And so I appreciate that you wanna make me happy each day. You're you're striving to make me happy and do the right thing, but my love for you doesn't waver depending on the day, depending on this decision or that decision. Like you know what I mean? Like, he he's he's got your he's got your back.

Mark Odland:

That that's that's my my feeling about the gospel, about the good news. That's my hope. I don't know how that feels if that rings true or not, Mark, but that that's that's my sermon for the day.

Mark Coleman:

Well, yeah, that's what I would have said. Yeah. That was yeah. You that that was yeah. That was right on, bro.

Mark Odland:

Oh, good. Well, I didn't I didn't mean to put you on the spot either. I I I was just I was just trying to get to the heart of things, and and I just really appreciate how

Mark Coleman:

Oh, I've just got that I'm not that smooth. Hey. Tough question. You had you handled the you you're super well spoken, sir.

Mark Odland:

Well, I I appreciate that, Mark. And I I imagine if I try to get in the cage, I wouldn't do so well either. So we we all

Mark Coleman:

You're saying I don't speak well? What's that? You're saying you're saying I don't you're saying I don't speak well?

Mark Odland:

No. I'm saying I do great in the cage. That's what I'm saying. No. No.

Mark Odland:

You speak you speak great. You speak great. I you got you got great stories to tell.

Mark Coleman:

Well, just just just, you know, being able to look people in the eye, you get sober, you don't have to lie all the time. You know what I mean? So

Mark Odland:

Yeah. Yeah. Well, it's freeing. It's it's very freeing. Just

Mark Coleman:

me accepting me accepting that I'm handsome as hell. No. I'm joking. Me just me looking in the mirror and liking what I see, you know, and and I'm able to look other people in the eye now. Mhmm.

Mark Coleman:

It's just, like, unbelievable. You know? So Yeah. I was blessed somehow somehow just I mean, I don't know. I surrendered to God, and now he knows for me to do his work.

Mark Coleman:

I have to look people in the eye. So he took away that fear.

Mark Odland:

Yeah. Wow. Well, you've you've lived a incredible life, Mark, and more to come, much more to come, God willing. Right? And, I mean, like, it's crazy to think about, you know, the this this big movie that came out, the smashing machine, and it was focused more on your buddy, Kerr.

Mark Odland:

But I'm just thinking this a whole movie could very easily be your life as well. It's it's just a it's such a powerful story of redemption. And Well

Mark Coleman:

Yeah. Yeah. Well, yeah. I would I hope so. Yeah.

Mark Coleman:

I mean, but I'm working hard. Mhmm. Yeah. There's yeah. I think there's a nice little movie in there, but I'm working hard just to keep adding to my story.

Mark Odland:

Heck yeah. Well, this has been an amazing conversation, Mark. What And is there anything that's on your heart that you'd like to share with before we end our conversation today? Or just practically, like, how do people find you? Anything you're excited about that you wanna share share with everybody?

Mark Odland:

How would you like to go out today?

Mark Coleman:

Oh, I mean, I I talked a lot today. So, yeah, you guys can find me, follow me on Instagram, Mark Coleman UFC. And and yeah, I I love social media. You know, I I get a lot of DMs. I try to get back to as many as I can because I offer I offer my help in getting sober.

Mark Coleman:

So that's the DMs I check out. But but when I get back to you, people aren't usually happy. They just wanna when you when you reach out for help from me, it's not to hang out and just chat. I'm gonna help you by telling you exactly what you need. Oh.

Mark Coleman:

Here's what it is. You need to put the you need to drop everything, and you need to check-in the rehab today. And, oh, wait a minute. I ain't got time for that. Well, that's what I said.

Mark Coleman:

You know? And if you don't got time, then it ain't gonna work. The only chance you got is put the bottle down, surrender, check-in the rehab, pay attention, and then work real hard because, it's it's gonna be hard, but, man, the reward is freedom, is life, and and and everything you I gave up everything. I gave up everything to have one thing, booze. And now I gave up one damn thing, and I truly feel like I have everything in the world right in front of me.

Mark Coleman:

And it's it's amazing, and it's that simple because that's how powerful this addiction is. So if the only chance you got, check-in the rehab, people.

Mark Odland:

Mark, I think you're the smooth talker after all. That was that was awesome. And I'm

Mark Coleman:

good when it comes to I'm I'm good at I'm good at when it comes to motivating people and and and sports. And when it's my subject, I'm gonna throw it on you, and it's gonna be I want it to be powerful.

Mark Odland:

It is. It is powerful. And and hopefully someone and then that's the prayer. Someone out there who's hearing this podcast, will take your words to heart, and god will stir something up in them, and they'll get the help that they need. And that's music to my ears, man.

Mark Coleman:

Yeah. It happens, but unfortunately, it's only 4%, man. So more people need to talk. I don't I don't recover in silence. I'm not ashamed.

Mark Coleman:

I'm not ashamed at all. I'm proud. I don't so I don't I don't recover in silence or quietly because I want other people to to to get help, and and I'm gonna help them find help and feel like I do. And sober is cool, and you're damn right I mean it when I say that. Don't be a fool.

Mark Coleman:

I was always worried about, oh my god. What am I gonna do sober? You know? What is there to do? Holy shit, man.

Mark Coleman:

You can find a whole world sober, and you remember it. It's it's amazing. So Mhmm. Yeah.

Mark Odland:

It's a good word, Mark.

Mark Coleman:

I need to book some of these I need to book some of these high high paying speeches and go talk to people.

Mark Odland:

There you go.

Mark Coleman:

Paid to do it.

Mark Odland:

Well Yeah. No doubt you'd be very successful with that. That's a that's a powerful message. So I I hope that works out. I think it will.

Mark Coleman:

Just whatever. It's it's always on the table. I do it sometimes. You know what mean? But when the opportunity comes, I mean, I I just I book things all the time, and it it's pretty pretty cool to find out what what what I find out what I can book and do.

Mark Coleman:

You know what mean? So Oh, yeah. I'm I'm happy and happy and blessed. I like to travel, but I love to come home.

Mark Odland:

That's good.

Mark Coleman:

Love to travel, but love coming home, man. Yeah. Ohio. Nice. Nice.

Mark Odland:

Alright. Well, Mark the Hammer Coleman, this has been a great conversation. Thank you. It's been an honor. God bless you, brother.

Mark Odland:

Take care.

Mark Coleman:

Alright. God bless you. Have a good day.

Mark Odland:

What a blessing to be able to talk with Mark Coleman, to be able to hear his heart on some deeply painful issues around addiction, being in that dark place, not only hitting rock bottom, but staying there for far too long, broken relationships, lost opportunities, but also the power of God and, and healing and recovery. The importance of rehab. Right? I mean, at Lion Counseling, that's what we do. We are there to help high achieving men to break free, to heal deep, to become the lions God created them to be.

Mark Odland:

And so if anyone's listening out there, besides just the practical wisdom, that Mark shared and and and besides just, man, surrendering to God and asking for his help. If, you're looking for professional support out there, check out escapethecagenow.com. Me and my team are are available to do a clarity call to see if, more formal therapy counseling might be a good fit. And we're not gonna pressure you into it. And and if rehab is needed, we'll refer you in another direction.

Mark Odland:

All things in God's timing. But thanks for listening, everybody. Like and subscribe if you wanna hear more conversations like this. And, drop something in the comments if there's another UFC Hall of Famer that you'd like me to to talk with next, to go beyond, the highlights, beyond the fights, into the deeper matters of the heart. Let me know, and hopefully, we'll get that guy on the calendar too.

Mark Odland:

Take care. God bless. Until next time.