Episode 0: Rooted & Recovered – Our Story, Our Mission, Your Journey

In the very first episode of Rooted & Recovered, co-hosts Dan Pyles and Justin Miller lay it all on the table. This isn’t just another recovery podcast—and it’s definitely not watered-down or sugarcoated. It’s raw. It’s real. And it’s rooted in the truth of God’s Word.

Dan and Justin share their personal journeys through addiction, brokenness, restoration, and purpose. With powerful testimonies and Holy Spirit-led honesty, they introduce the vision behind Rooted & Recovered: a place where biblical truth meets practical recovery. A space for honest conversation, real hope, and lasting transformation.

This episode also kicks off the excitement for Season One: The 12 Truths Series, where each episode will unpack one of the 12 Steps through a faith-based lens—reminding listeners that recovery isn’t just possible, it’s powerful when Christ is the foundation.

Whether you’re walking through addiction, love someone who is, or just need encouragement for the journey, this podcast is for you.

Transcript

0:00

This world doesn't hand out healing. It offers quick fixes, cheap highes and empty promises, but real recovery. It takes roots. Roots that dig deep into truth, into identity, into the unshakeable grace of God. We're not here to sugarcoat the struggle. We've lived it. Addiction, shame, relapse, regret, but we've also seen resurrection. We've seen what happened. Happens when broken people get anchored in something real rooted and recovered is more than a podcast. It's a battleground for the soul. A place where scars tell stories, where scripture speaks louder than shame, where freedom isn't just a word. It's a war we win daily. So if you're tired of surface level answers, if you want truth that convicts, hope that heals, and conversations that cut through the noise, you're in the right place. Welcome to Rooted and Recovered.

Dan: 1:08

Welcome to the first ever episode of Rooted and Recovery. Guys, I wanna make this. From the very start that this is just not another podcast. This is not a podcast that you're gonna be listening to that's just dry and redundant and boring. I want this to be a podcast that is about building a life that lasts, and I'm. Honored to have my host with me. I don't have a co-host. I have a partner in this whole program, and his name is Justin Miller and there is just a phenomenal God story how we got put together. But Justin man, how are you doing today, brother? It's so good to be sitting in this room with you,

Justin: 1:56

man. Blessed and highly favored, Dan. The fact that we're here doing this, and the way it came about, it truly just touches my heart and it even, it brings tears to my eyes almost to think about how God could look at somebody like me. And think I'm going to use him like you said, that vessel. It's just such a beautiful thing that we get to be and remind people that recovery is possible first and foremost, but more than recovery, there is a restoration in Jesus Christ. There is hope, there is joy unspeakable and full of glory in Jesus Christ. And that's what this is about to me, is reminding people of what that looks like. And it's not always what we think it is, but man, it's good when our eyes are open to it.

Dan: 2:39

Dude, and that is so powerful because you know, that's why God has put you and I together, man, because. I, I want this podcast and I know you do too. I want it to be about real talk. I want it to be about biblical truth but I want it to be about practical steps to bring lasting change for somebody, not just to get you into the door recovery, but I'm talking about to where you can be one day behind a microphone talking to somebody and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with somebody. Before we jump into this though, I've got to Justin. I've gotta share how rooted and recovered even came to be and to let the audience know that this is a God thing. I love teaching. I love ministering to people. I love sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and how he can take a wretch. As the song Amazing. Grace says how he took a wretch like me and brought me to something better than I ever could. I love that revelation that Jesus downloads into me, and I love sharing that with people, and I love people catching that revelation. God has been downloading to me to do a podcast for quite some time, and he really hit me with it. Last week. In fact, that's how quick this is happening, guys. He hit me with this last week and downloaded the name rooted and recovered into my mind. And then he placed Justin on my heart and. I knew, I felt through the Holy Spirit that God was aligning this together and allowing and was going to allow me and Justin to be able to get together and do this. And I remember I went to work the very next day excited and was just ready, like Justin, dude, God downloaded something into my mind, man, I gotta tell you about this. Justin, what did you tell me?

Justin: 4:41

The first thing I said was, well, Dan, that's a funny story because a week before I had been joking at work about you starting a podcast back up and me coming with you and just talking to pastors about what recovery looked like, and in that moment it was just God saying, I did this

Dan: 4:58

for a reason. And that's what's insane we literally sat down and it has just been. A blast. We're recording our first episode today. We wanna introduce ourselves to you. You know, you know, you know, you hear Dan and you hear Justin, but I want you to know a little bit more about us and I want to introduce my brother in this mission. Justin man, if you would you please just tell everyone a little bit about yourself and why you're passionate about walking alongside people in recovery?

Justin: 5:32

This isn't where my story begins, and it's not where it ends. But on August 29th, 2004 in Tarrytown, Louisiana, Dan, this was during one of the worst storms in United States history. Hurricane Katrina. At this time, I was 21 years old. I was lost, I was broken, I was hurting, and I felt alone and. I stood out in the middle of the street, right? I wasn't allowed to be at my mom's house. They didn't want me there. I didn't even want to be there. That's how bad I had gotten at this time. And I offered a challenge to God. I said, God, show me what you got, right? Because I thought nothing could hurt me. You know, 21 years old, you're big, you're bad. You think you've got it all figured out. And man, I use that. And I go back to that because while that may have been one moment in my life, it was kind of a metaphor for my entire life. It was the same storm, different day. I was lost, I was lonely. I was broken and hurting every day of my life. And it eventually led to me. Looking at some pretty serious time. Dan, and I'm a pastor, and so the fact that God uses me still amazes me. But if you would've known me five, six years ago and I told you I was gonna church on Sunday, you said you're lying to get outta work, Justin. But I found myself in Williamson County jailhouse during Covid, and I got told that I was looking at six to 10 years and. That I was being held into court with no bond. And I remember coming back to my cell, and in this moment it was during Covid, so there was no phones. I couldn't call my mom and dad and yell at'em. But you know, for what they had done to me my whole life, I couldn't. Call my lawyer and tell him how bad a job he'd done. There was also nobody in the cell with me, so I couldn't even sit there and vent about all these things. There was no tv, no books, and no Bible. It was just me and Dan. Can I tell you something, brother? In that moment, I broke even more than I thought I could. Right? I came to the end of me and in that moment I had a son whose mom had already been taken from this world and. I just remember thinking, I hate me. I remember that feeling of just, I hate everything about me. And I started to cry and it wasn't a oh, poor pity party, Justin, and another crying moment. Everything's wrong. It wasn't a woe is me. It was a man. My whole life's a lie, cry. Everything I put my trust in up until this moment has failed me and never paid back anything that I gave to it. I just hated everything about me. And I don't know, you ever had one of those moments, okay? God spoke and it wasn't in an audible voice, but when you know that, you know. And with every ounce of who I was, from the tips of my fingertips, to my hair, to my feet, I felt God say, but I still love you, Justin. And he said that to me in my soul, there was a peace that I had never known in that moment. And I remember the first phone call. We weren't supposed to get phone calls. I remember saying, I gotta call my mom. So I called her and I said, mom, what's John three 16? And so I sat there in the jail cell on my top of my lunchbox with the tip of my fork and carved John three 16. For God so loved the world. In that moment, I realized that he so loved the world and he wanted me to go love the world the same. And that's why I want to do this. That's why I wanna remind people there's hope. Because you might not be in a prison cell, but you're in a prison of addiction. You're in a prison of just struggle and depression and anxiety, and I'm here to tell you there's freedom and God so loved the world so that you could have everlasting life and life more abundantly, and that's found in Jesus Christ. And that's why I'm excited about this dance so that we can get that message out there. What about you?

Dan: 9:12

Dude, I just. I feel the Holy Spirit just sitting in his room talking with you right now about it. You know, we share a very similar story. Mine wasn't in a jail cell but mine was in a jail cell that I created in my own home. I struggled 14 years family with an opioid and benzo addiction, I know what it's like to be at rock bottom. I know what it's like to lose everything. I know what it's like to watch your family just disown you and turn their back on you and walk away from you and tell you that you're never gonna amount to nothing. Tell you that you're always gonna be a junkie, tell you that you're a waste of life, and that they're. Family is better off without you. I've seen what it's like when your wife walks out the front door with your children and you're sitting there staring at yourself in the mirror and you're looking at this mess. Guys, I'm six foot one. I was down to 140 pounds. I was up to a$700 a week drug habit. And I seen for the first time what addiction had stolen from me. Guys, I know what it's. And just like you, Justin, I heard the voice of the Lord that day. Nobody will ever convince me that I didn't. I heard the Lord speak to me that day in that bedroom and said, damn, when are you going to give it to me? Amen. When are you going to give it to me? And it took me a minute, family. I'm not gonna lie to you and tell you that I threw the dope away and I walked into a church immediately. But a few weeks later, October 16th, 2016, I walked into a church in West. Frankfurt, Illinois. I walked in that front door. I didn't care what the sermon was, I didn't care what the program was. I didn't care who I offended. I didn't care whose way I got in. Justin, I had one mission and one mission only buddy. And that was to touch the hymn of his garment because I knew that one touch from the master, my life would never be the same again. Family, and I'm telling you. Eight years later, I am rooted and I am recovered. Was it an easy journey? No. Did I have a lot of ups and downs? Yes. Did I fall and crash and burn? Yes. But his grace is sufficient. Family because where I'm weak, that's where he's at. His strongest, that's where he is at his best, and that's why I am so excited about this podcast. Justin, is not to share war stories. I'm here to talk about the other side of addiction. Yes, I struggled 14 years with an addiction, but I wanna tell people the goodness of God and how he. Can restore. That's why I'm doing this podcast. Justin, you didn't tell anybody what you do for a living and the name of your church. Share that real quick before we move on.

Justin: 12:16

First and foremost, what I do for a living is I live for God. My life now is turned over to him completely and fully. Like you said, Dan, I don't always live up to that. I'm still a sinner saved by grace, but his grace is sufficient. You know, brother Dan told me something when I first started. So I work for take action today as a certified peer recovery specialist, and it's really allows me to still remind myself what Jesus has taken me from and it gives me a chance to share that love of Christ that so many people don't get the feel because we don't want to work with the least of these. But one of my first days in the truck, me and Dan was riding together and he said, brother, he goes, his mercies are new. Every morning. Every morning. And that stuck with me, and that changed my mindset of how I started dealing with people and even with myself at times. Because Dan, you know, like you said, it can be rough at times. And there's a whole population of people out there. There's a whole generation of people who don't understand that God's grace is sufficient. That's why we do this. That's why I'm here is to remind people like, Hey, he is enough. Yes, these programs, they are great. They are good, but you can find what you need in Christ that you can't get anywhere else in this world.

Dan: 13:30

Man, that is so powerful too because, you know, I've got the privilege and honor family to be able to work alongside Justin. I'm a certified peer recovery specialist too for take action today. I don't get to really work with participants anymore. I'm now the director of program, so I help create and establish and maintain the programs that we offer at take action today. But. I enjoyed my time as a peer recovery specialist, and I enjoy my time now getting to help people. You know, I this is how good recovery is. Family. If you would've told me eight years ago that I would be. Number one, literally about six months away from graduating with my Master's in clinical psychology, about to pursue a doctorate program preaching as the executive pastor at Community of Faith Church. My family back, bro. I have my wife, I have my children back. My house is a home. I'm established. I, you know, am I perfect? No, nobody is, dude. But his mercies are new. Every single morning, just like you said. And that is the beauty of rooted and recovered. Not just to be recovered, but to be rooted in Christ. Why Justin? Because the storm is coming, bro. There is a storm coming and it's called life Dude. It's going to sucker punch you in the face. It is going to gut punch you, and we got to be rooted into something. And that's what this whole podcast is about, man, you know, I'm. Thankful man, and I'm honored to be able to do this with you. But as we kind of move along and transition along, Justin, what can the listeners expect with this podcast? Man, I know we said at the beginning that this ain't gonna be, this ain't gonna be your ordinary, boring podcast, but what can the listeners expect, man?

Justin: 15:30

So. I know earlier you asked what I did. I'm also a Pastor Dan at Ezra Church of God in West Frankfurt. What they can expect is just two guys who love God, who love his word, who love His grace, but more importantly are loved by him. It's two guys just talking about what he can do. Like you said, Dan, I now have a relationship with my son. I have a relationship with my father, with my stepfather, with my mom, things, and as you get. As we go along this journey, you'll get to hear more about that when we start talking about the steps and the things that we're going over. But guys, this is just gonna be life on life's terms. Just because I'm a pastor doesn't mean that everything's great and grand and gravy. I still deal with the same daily struggles as everybody else. And guys, it doesn't matter. The mission field is the world out there. And so what this is to me is a place to spread that hope and remind people that there are people out there. Who understand and wanna walk with you.

Dan: 16:33

Real stories, man, real struggles, but more importantly, real hope. That's what I want people, Justin, to be able to expect when they listen to us weekly. I don't want fluff. I'm not here to feed you sugar. I'm here to feed you the truth. I'm here to feed you what the Bible says. And the Bible offers you and I hope, and that's what people need more than ever, man. When I was in addiction, Justin, I didn't need another feel. Good story. I didn't need another pat on the back saying, go tiger. Go. I needed hope, bro. I needed real hope. I needed to talk to somebody. I didn't need somebody, dude, turning to page 34 in a book and telling me what to do. I needed to little look somebody in the eyeballs that's been there, done that, seen that, got their name carved in that tree over there, walked the same path I did, and be able to offer me hope. Dude. Honest conversations that challenge and inspire, man, that's what this whole thing is gonna be about, and it's gonna be on the foundation of Biblical truth.

Justin: 17:47

And that's what the only foundation we need to build upon, in my opinion. Too many times. You, like you said, Dan, I'm not looking for fluff, I'm not looking for feel good. I want the truth. When I was in my addiction, I had enough people telling me it was gonna be okay. I needed somebody telling me I needed to change. And that's what this is about, that change that can happen when you live by that biblical truth. When you look to that biblical truth and the hope that's found, because it's easy to tell somebody, this too shall pass, but when you've actually seen it passed, then it means something. A word spoken in season. Is good is what the Bible tells us, and that's what this is about. Speaking a word in season for somebody that's going through that troubled time, that's going through, that's that recovery that people don't talk about. That's not drugs and alcohol.'cause drugs and alcohol is a part of it, but we recover from life. We recover from trauma. You asked me what I recover from. It's from a lifetime of bad decisions that I still have to look at the consequences daily because God may have forgiven me, but I still have to walk this road out. But I walk it out rooted in Christ. I'm built upon that foundation and it's changed my outlook on everything, and that's what this is about to me.

Dan: 19:04

So powerful, man. I mean, just. To be rooted in Christ. And like you said, man, that you know, it's so much more than being recovered from drugs and alcohol or porn addiction or whatever. And we are not here to downplay that. We celebrate that with you. But guys, we gotta be honest with ourselves. There's so much more to recovery than that because if I don't know how to be a. Dad, I'm not recovered Justin. If I don't know how to be a husband, I'm not recovered. If I don't know how to be a productive member of society, I'm not recovered. And that's what this podcast is about. It's not so much the addiction, it's the other side of addiction, and it's finding it. In the hope and the help of Jesus Christ. And I'm excited, man, about our upcoming series. Guys, we are gonna jump right into it with a 12 week series on the 12 steps. And the reason that I wanted. To do that is because, you know, and it's hard to find statistics for it, Justin, but I mean, when you look at aa, when you look at na when you look at Celebrate Recovery you know, and the list goes on and on, there are so many support groups that utilize a 12 step, and I figured what a great way to kick this first season one off than literally going step by step, going through the 12 steps, but. Using it as a biblical approach?

Justin: 20:36

Well, and that's the thing I don't think many people understand. It began as a biblical approach. So what we're doing is we're not creating something new, Dan, to me, we're just taking back what God's given and putting it where it belongs in his glory and his grace and his mercy. And that's why I'm excited because so many people fail to realize that they're living out biblical truths. On a daily basis by taking these steps. And maybe you're here and you've never done a 12 step group, but can I tell you something, Dan? If you're living how the Bible tells you and that's your path to recovery, guess what? You're walking those steps out daily and that's what we're gonna get into to help Christians realize that this isn't about some new age worldly thing. This is the Bible placed in words and making it where we can

Dan: 21:24

understand it. So powerful too. And that's why, man, I am excited about this because, and I'm, we're starting guys. We are literally starting at step one. And I, you know, I cannot wait to get into that. But guys, I mean, we got ha we have so much that we want to share with you. Not that we have all the answers, not that, you know, we've got it all figured out because Justin said, just a few moments ago. Guys, I'm learning something new every single day. But here's the deal, guys. Rooted and recovered. It's not just a podcast, Justin, it's a community. and that's what we are here to do. That is the mission of rooted and recovered. It's not just a. Kick out a weekly podcast. It's to build a community of like-minded people who literally has Jesus Christ at the center of their life, leading them and guiding them all the way. And we're building a space, Justin, where we can be real. Where we can ask those tough questions and where we together, me, Justin, the listener, the audience where we can walk this journey together, because guys, this is something I learned a long time ago. Freedom is not found in isolation. It's built in community.

Justin: 22:55

You know, as you was talking, Dan, like you said, I feel the Holy Spirit here with us. A verse came to mind. Galatians six, to bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. That's what this is about. It's not just about me and Dan talking for 20 minutes. It's about people understanding that we are here for support. We want to know your, we wanna know your victories. If you want to share your struggles, we want to know that because that's what it's about. Living for Christ is being there for one another. That community, like Dan talked about, and it's not. Just a community. It's a forever family in Christ that we're

Dan: 23:30

welcome to. So powerful Justin, and thank you so much for sharing that guys. That's why it is so vital that you like and subscribe and share this podcast because guys, the whole podcast is gonna be built just like that. We are coming with excitement. We are coming with. Energy, we are coming to stand up against the devil because me and Justin are tired of seeing the enemy of addiction rip families apart. I'm sick and tired of watching moms and dads lose their sons and daughters. I'm sick. Sick and tired of watching sons and daughters lose moms and dads. I'm sick and tired of watching community members lose vital people in the community because addiction enough is enough. We put our feet down. We speak the name of Jesus over this, and you need to join us with us. You need to be in this movement with us. You need to be praying with us and seeking the face of God with us, that when this podcast hits. The air that somebody that needs to hear this podcast hears it. If you've got a family member at home and they're struggling with addiction or they're new in recovery, get them connected with us like and subscribe. Go to Facebook and like our Facebook page, rooted in recovered. Send us a message. Share your testimony. Post a prayer request. We will pray with you. If you have given your life to God, share that. We want to celebrate that with you. We want to be there with you to support you and guide you. But as we get ready to wrap this podcast up guys, because we, I could keep going on and on. Tune in next week as we kick off season one, episode one of the 12 truth series. When I can't, God. Can Justin, do you got anything that you want to close with, brother?

Justin: 25:34

No, honestly I'm just excited about this, Dan. I can't wait to see where this is going because I can already tell. Guys, like Dan said, this isn't gonna be your normal podcast. This isn't scripted. You're going to hear us pull up verses on our phone as we're talking. That brings stuff to memory. And look, maybe you're here and Dan talked about, if you're an addiction or you know somebody, but maybe you're here and you have that family member and you just want to know what they're going through, this is for you because this is two people who know Christ. This is two pastors who are living the word, who are held above reproach. Getting real, raw and honest and saying, I. Guys, life can be hard at times, but we have a savior who is willing to meet us wherever we are. We just gotta be willing to reach out and touch that garment, like Dan said. And it's not a one and done thing, it's an every day I reach out to touch that garment. So guys, I'm excited for season one. I'm excited to see what God's got and I can't wait to talk to you guys next week.

Dan: 26:33

Justin, what a perfect way to close it out, brother. Guys, we are so glad you're here and we can't wait to kick off the 12 Truth series, step one, when I can't. God can the first episode drop soon, guys. So stay tuned. Welcome to Rooted and Recovered. Let's get to work.

26:59

You are not just surviving. You are becoming, becoming rooted in truth, becoming recovered by grace, and becoming the person God always knew you could be. Thanks for joining us on Rooted in Recovered. If this episode stirred something in you, don't keep it to yourself. Share it, live it, let it take root. We'll see you next time right here where scars become testimonies and hope rises from the ashes.