There are some conversations that stay with you long after the mics are off—and this week’s episode is absolutely one of those. I had the honor of sitting down with Jeff Richins, and wow… what a journey he’s been on.

Jeff’s story is one of radical transformation. Growing up without a father figure, raised by a single mom, and thrown into instability at an early age, he found himself caught up in addiction by the time he was just thirteen. What followed were years of struggle, pain, and eventually prison. But that’s not where his story ends. In fact, that’s where it truly begins.

After his release, Jeff committed himself fully to healing. Not the surface-level kind—the deep, messy, powerful kind. He dove into recovery, attending two AA meetings a day, doing the inner work, and discovering the power of breathwork, somatic healing, and nervous system regulation. This wasn’t just about getting clean. It was about becoming whole.

Today, Jeff is the founder of HEROS Coaching and the HEROS Community Foundation, where he supports others in breaking free from their past and stepping into who they were always meant to be. His work is changing lives—not just through mindset and coaching, but through the physical practices of strength training and fitness that reconnect people with their bodies and help rebuild self-trust from the inside out.

What struck me most during our conversation was Jeff’s ability to share his story so vulnerably while holding space for others to see what’s possible for themselves. He’s not here to sugarcoat the journey. He’s here to show that healing is available, transformation is real, and the hardest parts of our lives don’t have to define us—they can refine us.

I know you’ll be moved by this episode just like I was. Jeff reminds us that even when we feel completely lost, there’s still a path forward. And sometimes, that path begins with simply taking a deep breath.