What happens when a Hollywood power broker responsible for managing millions for stars like Beyoncé and Alanis Morissette loses everything through addiction and embezzlement? Jonathan Todd Schwartz takes us on his extraordinary journey from "Diva Whisperer" to federal prison inmate to recovery advocate with unflinching honesty.
Schwartz doesn't shy away from the brutal truth – he stole $7 million from clients to fund his cocaine and gambling addictions, actions that destroyed his career, marriage, and relationship with his children. Yet his story isn't defined by his spectacular fall, but rather by his remarkable redemption. Now celebrating nine years of sobriety, Schwartz reveals how he transformed his greatest failures into a platform for helping others.
The conversation delves deep into the psychology of addiction and recovery, exploring how childhood abandonment created patterns that went unresolved for decades. Schwartz shares powerful insights about making amends (including to yourself), developing self-awareness, and learning to practice compassionate self-talk to break free from shame while maintaining radical accountability. His practical recovery tools – including writing down potential relapse consequences and practicing daily gratitude – offer tangible strategies for anyone struggling with addiction.
Perhaps most compelling is Schwartz's ability to hold two seemingly contradictory truths: complete ownership of his actions without crushing shame. Though some relationships may never be repaired – two of his sons still don't speak to him – he's found purpose as a program director at a treatment center, where his lived experience provides unique insight for clients battling their own demons.
Ready to transform your relationship with yourself? Take Schwartz's powerful advice to heart: "Have the courage to be vulnerable. Ask for help. You're worth it."
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