Shows / Primary Purpose with Pej
Primary Purpose with Pej
Welcome to Primary Purpose with Pej, the podcast where host Pejman "Pej" Alaghamandan dives deep into the moments that define us. Through raw and insightful conversations with entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, recovery advocates, and thought leaders, Pej explores what truly drives people to change, grow, and find purpose. Each episode unpacks powerful stories of resilience, transformation, and personal discovery—offering inspiration for anyone seeking direction, clarity, or motivation…
Episodes
Primary Purpose with PejHomeless at 17, Rehab After Rehab, Prison… What Finally Worked
On this episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Joseph Casaceli, founder of Sober Living Companion, for a raw and unfiltered look at 15 years of…
Primary Purpose with PejThe Substances Weren’t His Only Addiction | How Sasha Overcame Addiction
This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Sasha who shares his journey through meth addiction, hacking, crime, and prison to recovery and…
Primary Purpose with PejFrom Opiate Addiction to 17 Years Sober: Chris Howard’s Recovery Story
This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with interventionist and recovery expert Chris Howard for an honest conversation about addiction, mental…
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From a Devastating Car Accident to Helping Others Overcome Addiction | Katherine Russell
This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Katherine Russell who shares how a devastating car accident and a prescription for narcotic pain…
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3 DUIs, Addiction and the Decision to Get Sober
This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Laisha Martinez who shares her journey through substance use, X**ax dependency, and three DUIs and…
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Why I Relapsed After 8 Years Sober: Danny’s Journey Back to Sobriety
This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Danny. He shares how growing up in an abusive household led him to use drugs and alcohol to cope with…
Primary Purpose with PejJenny Leone: The Hidden Addiction Behind a Picture-Perfect Life
Jenny Leone lived a picture-perfect life while secretly falling apart behind the scenes. In this raw conversation with Pej, she reveals the hidden addiction…
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I Lost My Father to Cancer—Then Almost Lost Myself to Heroin
This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Sam Funger about his years-long battle with heroin addiction, severe mental health struggles, and…
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The Doctor Who Hid a Heroin & Crack Addiction | Dr. Nicole Labor
This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Dr. Nicole Labor to discuss her powerful journey through addiction, recovery, and sobriety. While…
Primary Purpose with PejKristy Edwards: Her Foundation to Freedom From Addiction
Recovery doesn't just mean leaving addiction behind. Sometimes, it's the beginning of an entirely new life. This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits…
Primary Purpose with PejBen Culler Breaks Down 7Oh Kratom and Other Modern Day Gas Station Substances
Addiction treatment is supposed to help people build a life beyond addiction, but what happens when the system itself becomes part of the problem? This week on…
Primary Purpose with PejAfter Losing Her Son to Addiction, Maggie Fleitman Chose Hope
Some losses change your life forever. But sometimes, even through unimaginable pain, a new purpose can emerge. This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits…
Primary Purpose with PejWhy Are Some People Opposed to the 12-step Community/Process?
Recovery is about more than simply putting down a substance—it's about changing the way you live, think, and connect with others. In this special solo episode…
Primary Purpose with PejMark Kerr: The Smashing Machine's Battle with Addiction & Recovery
Behind every champion is a battle the world doesn't always see. This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with MMA legend Mark Kerr, a two-time UFC…
Primary Purpose with PejLillo Brancato Jr.: From A Bronx Tale to Addiction, Prison & Recovery
Fame doesn't make you immune to addiction, and recovery is possible no matter how far you've fallen. This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with…
Primary Purpose with PejDr. Kenneth Clark Lost Everything to Addiction—Then Rebuilt His Life
Addiction doesn't discriminate. This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Dr. Kenneth Clark, whose extraordinary journey proves that no matter…
Primary Purpose with PejDre Ramirez Exposes the Dark Side of the Recovery Industry
Recovery is about more than getting sober—it's about rebuilding a life when everything has fallen apart. This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down…
Primary Purpose with PejInside the Body Brokering Industry: Michael "Solo" Lynch Reveals What Really Happens
What really happens inside the body brokering industry? In this eye-opening episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, Michael "Solo" Lynch pulls back the curtain on…
Primary Purpose with PejDr. David Wiss: What If Your Anxiety Isn't All in Your Head?
What happens when you've done everything you're supposed to do to improve your mental health—and you're still struggling? This week on Primary Purpose with…
Primary Purpose with PejDr. Peter Coleman Helped Thousands Beat Addiction, Here's What He Learned
What if everything you thought you knew about addiction was incomplete? This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with addiction medicine pioneer…
Primary Purpose with PejHow Michael Dean Built a Legacy Across Music, Media & Entrepreneurship
Before podcasts, before social media, and before artists had direct access to fans online, Michael Dean was already building communities, creating content, and…
Primary Purpose with PejRelapse & Survival: The Truth About Addiction Recovery with Sam Kamkar
For years, Sam's life was trapped in a cycle that seemed impossible to break. Addiction, fentanyl, Xanax, jail, treatment centers, relapse, and…
Primary Purpose with Pej“I Should Be Dead”, Benjamin Lerner on Addiction, Relapse & Redemption
Today on Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Benjamin Lerner, rapper, composer, recovery advocate, and the great-grandson of legendary songwriter Irving…
Primary Purpose with PejShe Beat a 13-Year Addiction — Now She’s Exposing What Recovery Really Looks Like | Mandi West
This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Mandi West — a Certified Drug & Alcohol Counselor, Certified Recovery Specialist, and Certified…
Primary Purpose with Pej17 Felonies, 9 Years in Prison… Then She Changed Everything | Ginny Burton on Redemption
What happens when someone society gave up on refuses to give up on themselves? This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Ginny Burton —…
Primary Purpose with PejEric Zink Reveals the Moment That Changed His Life Forever
Today on Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Eric B. Zink, mental health advocate, addiction recovery mentor, and speaker whose message of hope has…
Primary Purpose with PejHow Structure, Community, and Mentorship Changed My Life
In this episode, Pej is joined by therapist Dima Puchkarare for an honest conversation that blends both professional insight and lived experience in the…
Primary Purpose with PejWe Have To Stop Playing God...Both The Enabler & The Addicted
In this solo episode of Primary Purpose, Pej dives into one of the most dangerous mindsets in recovery: the belief that we’re in control of everything…
Primary Purpose with PejHe Stepped Up When Everything Fell Apart… Now He’s Saving Lives | Nick Plaskett
Nick Plaskett’s story is one of resilience, responsibility, and purpose forged through loss. After the passing of his father in 2021, Nick was suddenly thrust…
Primary Purpose with PejShe Survived Addiction, Trauma & Eating Disorders… Now She Helps Others Heal
In this powerful episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Shireen Janti, a mental health and addiction recovery professional whose life story is a…
Primary Purpose with PejThis Changed Everything… Chassity Ebbole on Faith, Purpose & Reinvention
In this powerful episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, Chassity Ebbole shares her incredible journey from tattoo artist and athlete to conceptual engineer, dog…
Primary Purpose with PejBreaking Chains: Adam Stephens on Helping Addicts Reclaim Their Lives
Adam Stephens joins Primary Purpose with Pej for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about addiction, recovery, and what it truly takes to change your…
Primary Purpose with PejThe 3 Boundaries That Actually Save Lives with Brian Schultz
On this episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, Brian Schultz recounts the life-altering moment on May 24, 2018, when he walked into his sister’s home to find a…
Primary Purpose with PejThe Truth About Addiction and Family Recovery
Today on Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Carlton Norwood, a recovery advocate whose life story is defined by resilience, responsibility, and a deep…
Primary Purpose with PejThe Cost of Living Fast: Motorcycles, Rebellion, and Finding Purpose with Randy Underwood
The "Fast Life" wasn’t just a phase for Randy Underwood—it was his identity. In this week’s episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Orange County…
Primary Purpose with PejCutting Through the Chaos: How to Move from Paralysis to Clarity with Matt Brown
In this episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we are joined by Matt Brown, a professional interventionist who has spent over 20 years guiding families through…
Primary Purpose with PejStop Enabling, Start Helping: How to Love an Addict Without Losing Yourself | Katie Sanders
"You don't steal someone's comeback story, you support it." In this episode of Primary Purpose, Pej sits down with Katie Sanders (NCACIP, NCFRC), a family…
Primary Purpose with PejFinding Your Rhythm in Recovery, Patrick O’Neill on Music, Sobriety, and Purpose
In this heartfelt episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Patrick O’Neill, a Southern California native whose life story is rooted in adventure…
Primary Purpose with PejThe Truth About Interventions, Boundaries, and Family Recovery | Scott Stein
On this episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Scott Stein — family coach, interventionist, and founder of Capital Companion and Transport — for…
Primary Purpose with PejI Manifested My Worst Nightmare — Until Faith Set Me Free with Marco Ferrante
In this powerful episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, Pej sits down with Marco Ferrante — pastor, mentor, nonprofit leader, and founder of Journey to Solutions…
Primary Purpose with PejFrom Survival to Strength | Allison Smith’s 10 Years of Sobriety & Faith
Today on Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Allison Smith — a domestic violence survivor, single mother, and woman who has walked the path of sobriety…
Primary Purpose with PejThe Best Conversations of the Year
This year on Primary Purpose with Pej, we sat down with some of the most powerful voices in recovery, mental health, performance, leadership, and personal…
Primary Purpose with PejFrom Psychosis to Purpose | Michael’s Journey Through Addiction, Homelessness, and Recovery
Michael’s life took him across the world — from New Jersey to Puerto Rico to Hong Kong — but addiction followed no matter how far he ran. Despite a strong…
Primary Purpose with PejThe Doctor Who Saved 80,000 Lives | The Untold Story of Dr. Faried Banihamd
Today on Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with a man whose life’s work has quietly transformed tens of thousands of lives — long before addiction medicine…
Primary Purpose with PejShe Breaks Generational Trauma — And This Is What It Really Looks Like
On this episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, licensed psychotherapist Dr. Vicky Truong, LMFT, Ph.D. breaks down what it really looks like to heal generational…
Primary Purpose with PejHe Lost Everything and Then Spent 23 Years Helping Others Find Hope: The Story of Freeman Palmore
This week on Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Freeman Palmore — a man whose life is living proof that redemption is real and recovery is possible…
Primary Purpose with PejCharlie Engle Faced Addiction, Prison, Ran Across the Sahara, and Found Freedom One Step at a Time
Meet Charlie Engle — the man who ran across the Sahara Desert, climbed ice-covered volcanoes, swam with crocodiles, and even served time in federal prison. But…
Primary Purpose with PejFrom the Strip Club to Recovery: Stripping Away the Stigma
In this powerful and eye-opening episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, Paula shares her incredible story of resilience and recovery. Once a sober stripper who…
Primary Purpose with PejThe Woman Who Never Gave Up On Me | A Mother & Son’s Story of Redemption
Today’s episode is one of the most emotional and personal conversations I’ve ever shared. For the first time, I’m sitting down with the person who knows my…
Primary Purpose with PejThe Power of Boundaries: How Sam Davis and His Family Broke the Cycle of Addiction
In this powerful return to Primary Purpose with Pej, Sam Davis shares his remarkable journey from addiction and family chaos to a life of freedom and purpose…
Primary Purpose with PejBreaking the Stigma: One Man’s Mission to Heal Mental Health
In this episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Mark C. Manderson, a pioneer in the fields of addiction recovery and mental health. With decades…
Primary Purpose with PejFrom Numb to New Life: Kat B’s Story of Redemption and Recovery
In this powerful episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Kat B, a courageous mother and survivor whose life took a dark turn through addiction…
Primary Purpose with PejHomeless, Broken, and Lost… Until He Found God | Dre Weil’s Story
In this episode of Primary Purpose, Pej sits down with Dre Weil, who shares his remarkable story of resilience, redemption, and faith. Born in Slovakia and…
Primary Purpose with PejMy Story of Recovery, Resilience & Purpose
In this very special episode of Primary Purpose, host Pejman "Pej" Alaghamandan turns the mic on himself to share his own powerful journey. From struggles with…
Primary Purpose with PejFrom 9 Years Homeless to Finding Purpose with Ryan Kendall
Ryan Kendall’s story is one of resilience, hope, and transformation. After spending nine years living homeless, Ryan made the life-changing decision to turn…
Primary Purpose with PejFrom Prison Cells to Saving Souls with Danny Lansdale
Once trapped in a cycle of heroin, meth, alcohol, and prison, Danny Lansdale has been clean and sober since January 2, 2012. Today, he’s a counselor…
Primary Purpose with PejFrom Chaos to Redemption: Eric Duffner's Journey Through Addiction
In this gripping episode of Primary Purpose with Pej, we sit down with Eric Duffner — a man whose life has been defined by extremes. From teenage ICU stays and…
Primary Purpose with PejLauren Carter From Homeless Addict to Hope
Lauren Carter’s journey is one of pain, perseverance, and ultimately, redemption. At her lowest point, she was homeless and trapped in the cycle of addiction…
Primary Purpose with PejFrom Struggles to Strength: Ottis Johnson's Inspiring Recovery Will Leave You Speechless!
In this episode of Primary Purpose, Pej sits down with Ottis Johnson, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor at New Directions for Women, to discuss one of the…
Primary Purpose with PejMeet Jennifer Hope Founder of H.O.P.E. for Families of Those in Recovery
In this inspiring interview, meet Jennifer Hope, the founder of H.O.P.E. for Families of Addicts, a remarkable organization dedicated to providing support and…