Built, Not Broken

DONATE TO MATT'S DANCING WITH THE SPECIAL STARS: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/26DFSSGF/FundraiserDuring this episode, Matt and Max discuss how important your energy is. How having positive energy can shift the mood of not only yourself but those around you. We also talk about how our energy has changed since recovery and the things we do to maintain it. Your energy is everything, and it can be worked on like a muscle. Don't underestimate the power of positivity.

How are you actually showing up right now - in your relationships, your work, your recovery, your life?In this episode, we unpack what “showing up” really means. Is it effort? Energy? Honesty? Consistency? We talk about the difference between performing and being present, showing up tired versus inspired, and how incarceration, recovery, and re-entry reshaped the way we show up for ourselves and others. We also introduce a new segment - “Rate Your Week” - where we break down where we showed up strong… and where we ghosted ourselves.Because growth isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.

On today's episode, Max shares the things he is currently struggling with and the tools he uses to push through. Secrets keep you sick, and the first step to working through things is to share honestly. This is part two of a two-part series.Reach out to us at "support@built-notbroken.com"

On this episode of Built Not Broken, we check in with Matt about some things he is currently struggling with. We dive deep into his current hardships, along with the tools he uses to persevere. This is part one of a two-part series.Reach out to us at "support@built-notbroken.com"

Isolation is one of the biggest threats to mental health, recovery, and overall well-being - and it often goes unnoticed. In this episode, we talk about why community matters more than ever, how isolation quietly harms people, and how to find healthy connections without settling for unhealthy relationships to avoid being alone. We also break down where real community is built and how to start building it without forcing it.Strength is in connection.

Most people avoid silence without realizing it. The moment things get quiet, we distract ourselves. In this episode, we talk about why silence feels uncomfortable, what it exposes, and how constant stimulation affects mental and emotional control. We also break down practical ways to build tolerance for silence without overthinking it.Because silence isn’t weakness - avoiding it is.

Most people know what would help them feel better, and still avoid it. In this episode, we talk about why that happens. We break down avoidance as a survival strategy, how it quietly keeps people stuck, and the small, practical ways to interrupt the cycle. This conversation isn’t about willpower or discipline; it’s about understanding yourself well enough to move forward.Because growth doesn’t start with motivation. It starts with honesty.

Everyone falls off track. Sometimes that looks like slipping on habits - and sometimes it means relapse. The real danger isn’t the slip itself, but the shame, silence, and spiral that follow. In this episode, we talk honestly about what to do when you fall off track, including relapse, and how to respond without quitting on yourself. We break down why setbacks happen, how shame fuels relapse, and the practical steps that help you stabilize, reconnect, and move forward.Because progress isn’t about never falling - it’s about coming back.

Everyone wants something: better habits, more peace, stronger relationships, better health. But most goals fall apart because people don’t plan for what gets in the way. In this episode, we break down the WOOP method, which stands for Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan - a simple, science-backed framework that helps turn intentions into action.This isn’t just for recovery. It’s for anyone trying to change anything - and tired of starting over.

Every year people make New Year’s resolutions - and every year most of them fall apart. In this episode, we break down why that happens and how to set goals that actually stick. We talk about SMART goals, why vague motivation isn’t enough, and how to build realistic goals that support recovery, mental health, and real life.This isn’t about “new year, new you.” It’s about clarity, consistency, and becoming someone you trust - one small, intentional step at a time.

In this episode, we talk about how to survive Christmas without losing yourself. We cover the pressure to perform happiness, how grief shows up louder during the holidays, ways to protect your sobriety on Christmas Day, and healthy ways to celebrate that don’t drain you emotionally or mentally.This is about redefining celebration, protecting your peace, and getting through the season honestly - not perfectly.Because sometimes the best way to celebrate is to take care of yourself.

In this episode, we talk about what it really means to become someone you trust. We break down how addiction and chaos destroy self-trust, why rebuilding it is essential for recovery and mental health, and the simple, practical habits that help you prove to yourself that you’re reliable again.Because when you trust yourself, everything else gets steadier.

In this episode, we break down Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - why winter hits so hard emotionally, how it affects recovery, and the science-backed tools that actually help. From light therapy and movement to mindset, connection, and routine, we get real about staying steady when the days get dark.Because winter might be heavy - but you don’t have to carry it alone.

Today, we sit down with Dormen H. Lisby Sr., a man who served 25 years and 8 months in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and came home determined to rebuild his life with purpose, service, and discipline. Dormen shares what it was like to grow up inside the system, how time in segregated housing shaped him, and how he transformed from survival mode into a man grounded in faith, creativity, leadership, and emotional sobriety.While inside, he became a Certified Peer Support Specialist, served as a deacon, lifted weights religiously, taught in the education department, and found deep purpose through the arts, including having his drawings published by Shining Light. Today, he’s a full-time Program Specialist and Lead Facilitator for Shining Light’s Academy, helping others change their lives from the inside out. We talk about discipline, accountability, identity, recovery, creativity, the trauma of isolation, and what it really takes to become the man you were supposed to be.This is a story about resilience, faith, service, and transformation, proof that your past does not define your future.IF YOU WANT TO DONATE, OR REACH OUT TO DORMEN ABOUT HIS ART INSTALATION, YOU CAN REACH HIM AT Artby.Dorm245@gmail.com

In this episode, we talk about how to handle the holidays sober - one of the hardest seasons for anyone in recovery. We break down why the holidays are full of triggers, family stress, and drinking culture, and we share real, practical tools to stay grounded, prepared, and sober through it all.Tools we go over: 1) Make a plan before you go. 2) Have a script ready. 3) Bring your own drink.4) Identify your exit strategy. 5) Tap into your support system. 6) Expect triggers. Don't fear them. 7) Protect your peace.8) Change your environment. 9) Have a "Safe Person" at the event.10) Celebrate the next day. Because the holidays don’t have to be a relapse.They can be a reminder of how far you’ve come.

In this episode, we break down the 11 Shining Light Community Codes - the values that shaped us in and after incarceration, and still guide how we move through recovery, relationships, and community today.The 11 codes...1. Be Open, Be Curious2. Brush Off the Small Stuff3. Accept Non-Resolution4. Start Simple5. "Speak Life"6. One Mic7. Step Forward/Step Back8. Speak from the "I"9. Debate the Topic, Not the Person10. Listen and Learn Before Offering Advice11. Confidentiality. We talk about what each code looks like in real life: from “Be Open, Be Curious” and “Start Simple” to “Speak Life,” “One Mic,” and “Confidentiality.” We share where we’ve lived these codes well, where we’ve failed, and how they’ve helped us build something solid instead of slipping back into chaos.Because strong men aren’t built by accident. They’re built by the codes they live by.

In this episode, we talk about The Energy You Keep - how the people, places, and habits in your life can either protect your peace or poison it. We share our own experiences with changing our circles, setting boundaries, and learning how to be intentional with who we let influence us.Because your peace is sacred - and it’s up to you to protect it.

In this episode, we talk about emotional sobriety - how to stay grounded when your emotions try to take over. We break down what emotional relapse looks like, why stress and isolation are the biggest triggers, and the real tools that help you regulate, reset, and respond instead of react.Because getting sober is one thing, staying emotionally sober - that’s where the real work starts.

In this episode, we break down how to feel better — starting today. From sunlight and movement to food, gratitude, and cleaning your space, we cover the small daily habits that science proves can change your brain chemistry and your mood.Because recovery isn’t just about not falling apart — it’s about building habits that make you feel alive.

In this episode, we talk about kindness — not the fluffy kind, but the kind that takes real strength. We break down what kindness looks like in recovery, in conflict, and in everyday life, and how it’s not about being soft — it’s about staying grounded when your ego wants to react.Because being kind isn’t about being weak. It’s about being in control.