Veteran Nashville realtor and host Nick Woodard sits down with Christian author and recovery advocate Jana Woodbury for a powerful conversation on addiction, faith, mental health, and family restoration.
Jana shares her story of growing up in a dysfunctional, alcohol-ridden home, sliding into addiction through postpartum pain meds, and the hard work of getting sober alongside her husband. She opens up about how shame keeps people stuck, why the digital age is wrecking our ability to connect, and how her family’s journey landed them on Sesame Street in a special episode about parental addiction.
Nick and Jana dig into striving, overwork, and the fear of losing it all, contrasted with radical dependence on God’s provision. Jana also explains her path through New Age spirituality back to Christ, the role of Christian meditation, and why she wrote her book “Prayers of a Prodigal” to help others heal their identities and behaviors.
If you or someone you love is battling addiction, shame, or burnout, this conversation will give you both honesty and hope.
Timed highlights:
0:42 Meet guest: Jana Woodbury
2:05 Military childhood and family dysfunction
3:48 Marriage, postpartum, and pain meds
4:43 What addiction really looks like
5:02 Nick’s “addicted to progress” confession
8:20 Quitting her job to write and trust God
12:07 Digital age, phones, and mental health
16:44 The Sesame Street episode and Celia’s story
20:13 Parenting, big feelings, and journaling
22:25 Shame vs guilt in addiction
23:39 Jana’s work in crisis and treatment
25:44 New Age searching and identity
28:02 Returning to church and encountering God
31:22 Christian meditation explained
34:07 Why she wrote “Prayers of a Prodigal”
37:12 Why Jana loves Middle Tennessee
#AddictionRecovery #FaithAndRecovery #MentalHealth #ChristianFaith #Testimony #FamilyHealing #ShameAndGuilt #Sobriety #RecoveryJourney #RedemptionStory
What is The 615 Podcast?
A Podcast about Nashville's entrepreneurs and leaders of business.
Fifteen year veteran Realtor, Nick Woodard was raised right here in Williamson County, Tennessee. Graduate of Brentwood High School and Middle Tennessee State University, his roots were firmly planted here many years ago. Growing up in the Nashville area has provided him a vast knowledge and love for “The 615.” Understanding that he was extremely fortunate to be raised in such an incredible area, he has made it his passion to help others call Middle Tennessee “home.” Nick is married to his beautiful wife Kathryn and is the proud father of 3.