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Artwork for Success is Subjective: Real People. Raw Stories. Embracing a Non-Linear Life!

Success is Subjective: Real People. Raw Stories. Embracing a Non-Linear Life!

Joanna Lilley, MA, NCC
Mental Health
Recovery
Substance Abuse
ADHD
Education
Parenting
Sobriety
Addiction Recovery
Residential Treatment
Therapy
Personal Growth
Intervention
Trauma
Neurodiversity
College Experience
Advocacy
Wilderness Therapy
Success
Addiction
Foster Care System

Interviews of people who took a break from life at one point or another to get help, grow up, or just to reassess their life direction. Some guests struggled with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, a death in the family, or just decided college was not the place for them. These stories are all-to-real, and yet we don't talk enough about how common it is for those who took a gap year to defer co... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes370Founded7 years ago
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Mental HealthBusinessCareersHealth & Fitness

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Artwork for Success is Subjective: Real People. Raw Stories. Embracing a Non-Linear Life!

Latest Episodes

For Sally Littlefield, success once meant earning top grades, attending prestigious schools, and building an impressive career. After graduating with honors from UC Berkeley and landing a promising job in San Francisco, her future seemed bright. But ... more

For Patrick Flanagan, success was once measured by the size of his paycheck. But after alcoholism cost him his career, marriage, home, and relationships with his children, everything he believed about success began to change. Following multiple stays... more

Mallie Lake grew up feeling like she was always behind. Diagnosed with a learning disability at a young age, she struggled academically, masked her insecurities, and entered adulthood unsure of where she fit. After flunking out of college and finding... more

Dr. Graham Husick once thought his future was clear: he was on his way toward becoming a professional athlete, and nearly every decision and sacrifice he made pointed toward that goal. Then an unexpected health crisis brought that dream to an abrupt ... more

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Recent Guests

Sally Littlefield
Schizophrenia advocate, speaker, and consultant with lived experience of schizoaffective disorder
Episode: Episode 371 - From Berkeley Honors to a Schizophrenia Diagnosis: Sally Littlefield on the Life She Never Saw Coming
Patrick Flanagan
Founder and interventionist at The Irishman and Associates; co-founder of Lion House Properties; CIP designation; President & CEO-designate of The Retreat
The Irishman and Associates; Lion House Properties; The Retreat
Episode: Episode 370 - “Dad, I Just Want to Be Happy Like You:" Patrick Flanagan on Finding a Success Money Could Never Buy
Mallie Lake
Founder of Glide, executive functioning coach with 17+ years in substance use treatment and recovery
Glide
Episode: Episode 369 - Masking, Flunking Out, and Finding Her Purpose: Mallie Lake on the Path That Led to GLIDE
Dr. Graham Husick
Clinical psychologist and director of clinical assessment; creator of the target testing method
Husick Psychology; Lakeside Independence Program
Episode: Episode 368 - You Can Be Anything You Want to Be…But Should You? Dr. Graham Husick on Knowing Yourself
Dave Frost
Program manager at Echo Springs, youth and family mentor in adventure-based education
Echo Springs
Episode: Episode 367 - Stop Rescuing, Start Preparing: Dave Frost on Raising Young Adults Who Can Stand on Their Own
Candy Finnigan
Interventionist and author of When Enough Is Enough
Intervention (TV show), MAP/Musician's Assistance Program
Episode: Episode 366 - There’s Another Way to Live: Candy Finnigan on Recovery, Purpose & Success
Kevin Petersen
Guest on the Success is Subjective podcast
Lilley Consulting / Jay Walker Lodge (as described in episode)
Episode: Episode 365 - If Not Now, When? Kevin Petersen on Changing the Direction of Your Life
Henry Maxwell
Founder of Maxwell Recovery Services; addiction counselor; professional coach; certified interventionist
Maxwell Recovery Services
Episode: Episode 364 - From Art School Portfolios to Addiction Recovery: The Sharp Left Turn That Changed Henry Maxwell’s Life
Morgan Grace
Founder of Alchemy Collective; Intensive Therapeutic Retreat Director and Facilitator; LCSW, LCDC
Alchemy Collective
Episode: Episode 363 - From Music to Mental Health: Morgan Grace on the Journey to Alchemy Collective

Host

Joanna Lilley
Host of Success is Subjective; therapeutic consultant for young adults

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 70 ratings
  • Grateful for the opportunity to join such an important podcast

    So grateful to Joanna Lilley for creating a podcast that truly celebrates real life and non-linear journeys. This space allows people to share raw, honest stories about struggle, growth, and what success actually looks like beyond the highlight reel.

    Being able to openly share my journey through addiction, mental health, and finding my own version of success was an incredible experience. This podcast is a powerful reminder that success isn’t linear, and we don’t all arrive the same way and that... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LifeLaunchRecovery
    United States9 months ago
  • A must have for parents and people seeking Success!

    Efficient, informative, impactful - this podcast packs a lot into a short amount of time! You absolutely could not spend your time more effectively as a parent or a person trying to figure out their path and their version of success!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    darla9175
    United States2 years ago
  • Heartfelt Thanks

    Thoughtful, funny, inspiring, rich and always informative! This podcast is one I keep in my regular rotation. Most of all I appreciate all the insider insight Joanna shares as a consultant who works with young adults.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    snlpask
    United States2 years ago
  • Must Listen For All Of Us

    Joanna Lilley interviews experts in the field of mental health and she thoughtfully includes the voices of family and people with lived experiences. Her informative podcasts have helped me & many families learn about numerous options which might not be thought of while one is in crisis. Highly recommend listening and learning from Joanna and her guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JackieLLT
    United States2 years ago
  • A Great Listen: Rich and Fun

    Love this pod. Great guests. Great messages. Conversational but deep. Deep but funny. A great listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ned Garver
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Parents and professionals cite practical, applicable guidance for supporting young adults.
Listeners praise the show for candid, real conversations about non-linear paths.
Guests and host are described as warm, insightful, and compassionate, with a focus on destigmatizing mental health and addiction recovery.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 371 - From Berkeley Honors to a Schizophrenia Diagnosis: Sally Littlefield on the Life She Never Saw Coming
Q: If there is a parent listening whose loved one is hospitalized or having a psychotic episode, is there any piece of advice you would give them?
Littlefield advises parents to express unconditional love directly and consistently, making clear that it remains even when their child is hospitalized, symptomatic, or struggling to function.
Episode 371 - From Berkeley Honors to a Schizophrenia Diagnosis: Sally Littlefield on the Life She Never Saw Coming
Q: Do you see yourself as successful now?
Littlefield says she has achieved things she once thought impossible but still struggles to feel that they are enough. Working for herself helps her define success around what she needs to feel fulfilled rather than someone else's performance standards.
Episode 370 - “Dad, I Just Want to Be Happy Like You:" Patrick Flanagan on Finding a Success Money Could Never Buy
Q: Do you see yourself as successful?
Yes, because I'm able to share meaningful moments with my kids, be engaged in their lives, and lead a new path in recovery work that aligns with helping others.
Episode 359 - The Canary in the Coal Mine: Finding Answers When Nothing Else Has Worked with Karla Gomez
Q: What advice would you give a young person listening right now?
Karla emphasizes reducing external noise, building internal awareness, and creating quiet to hear one's own values and goals, highlighting the importance of internal stamina and eliminating overwhelming social media influence.
Episode 359 - The Canary in the Coal Mine: Finding Answers When Nothing Else Has Worked with Karla Gomez
Q: What's your current role and the core approach of Canary House?
She explains that Canary House combines integrative health, functional and physiological testing, and collaborative co-regulation to address root-level dysregulation and help high‑functioning clients achieve sustainable performance.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show features candid conversations with real people who took non-linear paths to success, often featuring parenting, mental health, education, and personal transformation. Episodes spotlight recovery, college decisions, career pivots, and non-traditional routes to purpose, with a strong emphasis on practical guidance for families, young adults, and professionals guiding them. A standout through-line is redefining what success looks like when conventional ladders aren't the path, and a focus on empathy, resilience, and actionable insights from practitioners, coaches, and advocates.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. SmartLess
2. Hopestream: Parenting Kids Through Addiction & Mental Health
3. Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
4. The Oprah Podcast
5. Good Hang with Amy Poehler

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 7 years ago and published 370 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Sally Littlefield
2. Patrick Flanagan
3. Mallie Lake
4. Dr. Graham Husick
5. Dave Frost
6. Candy Finnigan
7. Kevin Petersen
8. Henry Maxwell

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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