From NFL to TV Stardom: Akbar Gbajabiamila on Identity, Addiction & Resilience

On this episode of We’re Out Of Time, host Richard Taite sits down with Mike Bayer for an unfiltered conversation about addiction, long-term sobriety, relapse, and redemption. Mike opens up about growing up in Orange County, excelling in high school basketball, and how early struggles with mental health led to substance use. After heading to New York to play basketball at Fordham University, his partying escalated and ultimately landed him in treatment at just 22 years old.Richard shares how his own sobriety journey led him to open a treatment center, setting the stage for Mike to walk through his path to recovery and purpose. Mike details his rise in the recovery space, including becoming a New York Times bestselling author with the help of Dr. Phil, who later mentored him for four years and helped launch his media career.The conversation takes a powerful turn as Mike reveals relapsing after 19 years of sobriety due to a medication prescribed by a doctor—an experience that deeply reshaped his understanding of recovery. He reflects on what relapse after long-term sobriety taught him, the emotional toll it took, and why humility and honesty remain essential to sustained recovery.The episode closes with raw discussions on freedom, identity, and compassion, including Mike’s belief that he is no better than anyone else and his decision to help an assistant who is now serving four years in prison—highlighting the complexities of service, boundaries, and humanity in the recovery world.

On this episode of We’re Out Of Time, host Richard Taite sits down with Dr. Ken Spielvogel, Senior Medical Officer at Carrera Treatment Wellness & Spa, to explore one of the most talked-about breakthroughs in addiction medicine: GLP-1 medications. Originally developed for diabetes and weight loss, emerging research now suggests GLP-1s may significantly reduce cravings, compulsive behavior, and relapse risk in people struggling with substance use disorders.Dr. Spielvogel explains how GLP-1 medications are being used in addiction treatment, including why injectable options outperform oral medications when it comes to compliance and effectiveness. The conversation breaks down how GLP-1s impact dopamine signaling in the brain, why they can decrease urges to use drugs or alcohol, and how their effects differ in individuals with substance use disorders. Richard and Dr. Spielvogel also discuss nicotine replacement therapy, brain fog, and the broader public health reality that over 50% of Americans are obese.As the episode continues, Richard Taite makes a bold statement, calling GLP-1s “the best drug I’ve ever seen for the treatment of drug addiction and alcoholism.” Dr. Spielvogel expands on why the medication may be a game-changer, outlines the four leading causes of death these drugs may help reduce, and addresses side effects associated with rapid weight loss. The discussion emphasizes that medication alone is not enough without self-work, exercise, and lifestyle change. The episode concludes with a look at falling prices, expanded access, and the future of GLP-1s as preventative medicine.

On this episode of We’re Out Of Time, host Richard Taite sits down with former NFL player turned Emmy-nominated television host Akbar Gbajabiamila for an honest, deeply personal conversation about identity, resilience, and reinvention after professional sports. Best known as the longtime host of American Ninja Warrior and former co-host of CBS’ The Talk, Akbar opens up about the moments that shaped his life on and off the field.Akbar reflects on traveling to Nigeria and witnessing his father reunite with his mother after 32 years apart, an experience that allowed him to see his father as a child for the first time. He shares how watching his Nigerian immigrant parents build businesses from nothing instilled discipline, grit, and resilience at an early age. The conversation moves into Akbar’s journey to the NFL, the pressure of becoming a professional athlete, and the identity crisis that followed when his football career ended.He speaks candidly about financial struggles after leaving the NFL, including working two years for free, earning under $30,000 a year, moving back into his childhood home with his wife and kids, and watching his savings dwindle to his last $40,000. Akbar explains how betting on himself eventually led to a breakthrough in broadcasting, landing roles at the NFL Network and American Ninja Warrior.The episode also dives into injuries, brain health, and the hidden dangers of painkillers, as Akbar shares his experience unknowingly developing a Vicodin dependency after football. He discusses overcoming that habit, confronting sugar addiction, and rethinking how everyday substances impact mental and physical health. Akbar also shares the inspiration behind launching his new podcast One54 Africa, dedicated to telling stories from across the African diaspora, and reflects on the pride and purpose behind hitting the American Ninja Warrior buzzer himself.

In this episode of We’re Out Of Time, Richard Taite sits down with viral creator Ryan Burton to unpack the real story behind online success, mental health, and personal growth in your 20s. Ryan opens up about building a YouTube career from the ground up—going from 13,000 subscribers to over 5 million, eventually reaching 10 million subscribers across platforms and 50M+ likes through relentless experimentation, consistency, and creative risk-taking.Ryan shares how he began earning $4,000 a month at just 18–19 years old, and why early success didn’t protect him from anxiety, panic attacks, burnout, and depressive waves. The conversation dives into the mental toll of being online, why you can’t thrive with poor mental health, and how physical movement, real connection, and discipline became essential tools for stability.The episode explores emotional intelligence and relationships, including why men often want to fix problems while women want to feel heard, and how pain is often the catalyst for real change. Ryan reflects on internal dialogue, explaining how the “good voice” represents your healthiest self while the opposing voice stems from your inner child.As the conversation deepens, Richard offers life advice for people in their 20s, touching on financial lessons, purpose, and responsibility. They discuss the concept of “failure to launch,” why so many young adults feel stuck, and how growth can happen rapidly when guided by the right teacher. The episode closes with reflections on meaning, faith, long-term fulfillment, and the importance of leaving the world better than you found it.

On this episode of We’re Out Of Time, host Richard Taite sits down with Dr. Katie Held, Chief Clinical Officer, and John Lieberman, CEO of Visions Teen Treatment Center, to expose the harsh realities adolescents face in today’s drug crisis. Drawing from frontline experience treating teens with substance use disorders, they break down what parents, educators, and clinicians urgently need to understand.The conversation begins with a sobering look at how adolescents are unknowingly using fentanyl, often without realizing it’s present in the substances they consume. Dr. Held and Lieberman explain what they’re seeing inside teen treatment centers and why fentanyl exposure has become increasingly common. They then explore how high-potency THC and cannabis extracts are triggering psychosis in teens, particularly among young brains that are still developing.Toxicology data reveals the scope of the problem, with 10–15% of teen admissions testing positive for fentanyl, a number that continues to climb. The discussion moves into the dangers of street vape cartridges and counterfeit products, highlighting how teens casually pick up unknown carts with potentially lethal consequences.Beyond substances, the episode confronts human trafficking risks tied to drug access, including real cases where teens normalize dangerous situations just to obtain drugs. The emotional weight deepens with stories of parents receiving hospital calls after overdoses—one father worrying about school while his son fights for his life, and another asking, “Can help get here fast enough to save my son?”Dr. Held and Lieberman address parental responsibility, denial, and fear, unpacking common misconceptions teens and families have about drugs. They examine the post-COVID and social media impact on adolescent mental health, emphasizing the urgent need for resilience-building. The episode also explores what it’s like to seek treatment for your own child while running a treatment center, the critical role of family support, and the key differences between treating adolescents versus adults.The conversation closes with a powerful reflection on why they choose to work with adolescents—because early intervention can change the trajectory of an entire life.

World-renowned interventionist Candy Finnigan joins host Richard Taite on We’re Out of Time for a deeply emotional and unfiltered conversation about addiction, recovery, accountability, and compassion. A pioneer in the intervention space and one of the first three women interventionists, Candy reflects on her 32-year career helping families confront substance use disorder—while also sharing her own lived experience with alcoholism.Candy opens up about hiding alcohol, being confronted by her mother-in-law, and facing the threat of losing her children, a pivotal moment that led her into sobriety. From there, she shares powerful stories from her time on the television series Intervention, including a man reuniting with his sons after 22 years, meeting an estranged family member and an unknown child, and witnessing the devastating clarity that can come—even amid cognitive decline—when someone realizes the harm addiction has caused their family.The episode explores memory loss during periods of severe alcoholism and homelessness, the tragic arc of a former lightweight boxing champion who became unhoused, and the long-term impact of trauma, brain injury, and substance abuse. One story highlights the moment a man, despite cognitive delay, instantly understood what he had done to his loved ones—an example of how awareness and remorse can still surface in unexpected ways.Richard Taite then shares one of his most painful experiences as an interventionist: a woman he believes he failed. He recounts running out of time, walking away knowing she would die, and carrying that grief years later. The moment underscores the emotional weight interventionists bear and the reality that outcomes are never guaranteed.Throughout the episode, Candy reinforces a core truth of the work: intervention is not about control or rescue, but about offering people a chance to choose recovery. As she says, “Our life work is helping people who suffer, get better.”

On this week’s episode of We’re Out Of Time, host Richard Taite sits down with former NFL running back Montee Ball, whose journey from childhood Broncos fan to 2nd-round draft pick for the Denver Broncos reads like a dream—until it didn’t. Montee shares the surreal moment he was drafted, including the text he received from Peyton Manning, and how playing alongside legends like Manning and Tom Brady was both inspiring and overwhelming.At the height of his career—during his best year on the field—Montee was living his worst year off of it. He opens up about addiction, the pressure to perform, and the moments he declined calls from NFL teams to keep drinking and partying. He reflects on losing everything and the painful realization that his addiction had begun to push away the people who cared about him most.Montee revisits the expectations he set for himself—believing he’d “run off into the sunset with a gold jacket”—and the spiritual shift that redirected his path toward helping others. Richard highlights Montee’s rare athletic ability with the unforgettable line: “You’re the most impressive athlete I’ve ever met. EVER.”Now nine years into recovery, Montee says it’s been “better than any touchdown I’ve ever scored.” He talks about choosing sobriety, why making it to ten years becomes a life-changing milestone, and reflects on his NCAA all-time touchdown record. Today, he lives by a core belief: when you show up with the heart of a servant, committed to lifting others out of addiction, there’s no limit to the impact you can make.The episode dives into letting go of the past, the transformative moment Montee learned he was going to be a father after being released from jail, and the profound truth he discovered: you don’t know real love until you have a child. With purpose, humility, and renewed clarity, Montee shares why his mission is far from over: “I’m ready to continue helping more people. I’m not done yet, Richard.”

On this episode of We’re Out Of Time, host Richard Taite is joined by Dr. Ben Shapiro and Dr. Brett Shurman, two leading addiction psychiatrists and co-owners of three psychiatric clinics specializing in substance use, mood disorders, and innovative mental health treatments. Together, they break down the realities of modern psychiatric care and the science behind addiction.The doctors begin by exploring why TMS has become one of their favorite and most effective tools in psychiatric treatment. They then dive into the neuroscience of addiction, explaining the true “reasons” people use substances and how these brain-based mechanisms shape dependency. The conversation shifts to the Fentanyl crisis, exposing what the public isn’t hearing and revealing how fentanyl contamination is impacting clinics behind the scenes. They warn that if someone is buying anything off the street—or unverified online sources—the risk is now higher than ever.Richard, Dr. Shapiro, and Dr. Shurman discusses why psychiatric illness and addiction must be treated in tandem rather than separately. They explain how childhood trauma, early mood issues, and developmental challenges often lay the groundwork for addiction later in life. The doctors also clarify how clinicians differentiate Bipolar Disorder from Borderline Personality Disorder, and why chronic mood problems starting at a young age shape attachment, personality structure, and long-term psychiatric health.The conversation covers the importance of a strong therapist–patient relationship and the dangers of misdiagnosis—especially when patients are given antidepressants or stimulants instead of proper addiction treatment. They offer essential guidance for families of loved ones battling addiction and compare classic psychotherapy to newer, emerging solutions. Finally, they break down how psychedelics, ketamine, and MDMA are being used in clinical settings—and why many first-time adult users report “seeing God.”

On this episode of We’re Out Of Time, host Richard Taite sits down for the first time with one of his own clients, Shane Neal—a Marine Corps veteran who has been sober for 18 months. Shane served 8 years in the Marines, leaving as a sergeant after a medical discharge due to a back injury. In this powerful conversation, he opens up about his journey through addiction, recovery, mental health treatment, and finding purpose after the military.Shane shares how treatment completely transformed his life and credits Richard for guiding him through the process. He talks about entering treatment initially for alcohol use, and how that opened the door for him to begin mental health treatment, breaking the cycle that had held him back for years. Shane also reveals how a DUI arrest became a turning point—one that led him to inspire change among his fellow inmates by sharing his own story and encouraging them to seek help.The episode also explores the 250th birthday of the Marine Corps, including its unexpected origins in a bar, and how Marine tradition continues to shape identity long after service ends. Shane closes with heartfelt advice for anyone struggling with substances, speaking directly to those who feel lost, stuck, or unsure if recovery is possible.

On this episode of the We’re Out Of Time podcast, host Richard Taite sits down with world-renowned psychiatrist, bestselling author, and brain health pioneer Dr. Daniel Amen. Known for transforming the conversation around mental health through his groundbreaking SPECT imaging work, Dr. Amen has helped millions understand one core truth: when you change your brain, you change your life.Dr. Amen begins by sharing how his fascination with the brain started in medical school, noticing how psychiatry rarely looked at the organ it was treating. He highlights the alarming reality that many mental health struggles are deeply connected to underlying brain issues—yet the brain is often ignored. He explains why antidepressants, while helpful for some, can actually harm others, emphasizing the need for personalized treatment instead of one-size-fits-all solutions.He then dives into the modern crisis affecting today’s youth, warning that “we are thrilling our children to death with screens” and reinforcing how brain health and mental health are inseparable. Referencing his bestselling book Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, Dr. Amen stresses the importance of lifestyle choices—avoiding junk food, alcohol, marijuana, and drugs—to protect and optimize brain function.Dr. Amen also shares one of his most practical tools: recognizing that it’s not your thoughts that create suffering, but the thoughts you attach yourself to. He discusses how giving his brain a name helps him separate from unhelpful or irrational thinking. The conversation expands into what happens in the brain when someone breaks free from addiction, and what the brain looks like in a state of total peace. He also outlines the dangers of environmental toxins like aspartame, citing studies on how these substances affect brain function.In closing, Dr. Amen reiterates his foundational message: you are not stuck with the brain you have. With the right tools, awareness, and habits, you can change your brain—and in turn, transform your entire life.