Kevin Barhydt is the author of Dear Stephen Michael’s Mother. Abandoned by his mother at birth, Kevin was enveloped in a labyrinth of adoption, addiction, and child sexual abuse. By age 20, a shell of the boy he once was, Kevin succumbed completely to a suicidal lifestyle of drug dealing and prostitution. At 45, after many years of recovery, Kevin began a painful journey to uncover his origins, and the hopeful search for his mother. His book, “Dear Stephen Michael’s Mother”, chronicles the unfolding of these stories. The interwoven perspectives offer an unflinching look at the myriad ways life can cloak us in darkness and helplessness yet still resonate with joy and recovery. Kevin Barhydt’s life is summed up with these eight words: to be of service to God and others. His YouTube channel creates a safe space for survirors of addiction, abandonment, adoption and child sexual abuse, and to explore the healing process. As a YouTube creator, author, actor and educator – as a son, husband, father and friend – he gives of himself with one expectation: that you can only keep what you have by giving it away.
J. Maxwell is a recovering addict and published poet of the book “Sober Thoughts from the Crazy House,” which depicts his struggles with mental illness and addiction and his road to recovery. He was originally born in Bellevue, WA, and raised in Las Vegas, NV. He started his struggle with addiction when he went to school for a degree in Creative Writing and Philosophy in Reno, NV. His addiction lasted for nearly 11.5 years and after finally going through an IOP program, was able to maintain a sober lifestyle. He has now been clean for a little over 1.5 years.He is now 31 and will be returning to school for a new degree in Substance Abuse Counseling.
Zachary Small is a 34 years old, married to high school sweetheart, father of 2, Navy Veteran of 8 years with 2 deployments. He has 1.5 years sober after 20 years binge drinking (13-33 yrs old). He founded TheFamilyAlpha.com in 2015 and it includes a blog, YouTube, & Podcast. He also founded ForebearClothingCo.com, a Family focused clothing brand in 2020. He is the owner of FraternityofExcellence.com, a private men’s community.
Matthew is a powerful recovery activist who had a dream of opening a sober living program to give back what was so freely given to him in early recovery. He is the Founder and Director of Operations for Learn to Live Recovery LLC which is that dream. Matthew graduated with his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUe) in May 2019. While attending SIUe he was elected President of the Student Social Work Association and he was the Service Award recipient. He graduated with his master’s degree in Social Work from Saint Louis University with honors in December 2020. He has accumulated over 4 years of substance abuse treatment experience at Preferred Family Healthcare and holds a credential for Missouri Associate Alcohol Drug Counselor II. Matthew has been sober since January 3, 2011 which gives him 11 years of sobriety and first-hand experience. He was a co-house parent in the Joe’s Place Organization which is a non-profit organization that houses homeless boys in the Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District in Saint Louis.
Carl is a person in long term recovery who just celebrated 4 years clean. Carl has his own podcast that airs every Friday called, ”The Drunken Worm Podcast”. Carl works in the recovery field and is the clinical supervisor at the House of Acts located in Vallejo, CA. When Carl is not working he enjoys spending time with his boyfriend and having amazing adventures together. Carl is also an avid golfer and is an amateur photographer.
