In this episode of the Courageous Crossroads Podcast, Andrew Allen shares how a farm kid from Iowa with an early path marked by delinquency, addiction, and repeated arrests eventually found sobriety at 17 and rebuilt his life through faith, recovery, and service, leading him from a 15-year career at Principal Financial Group to becoming President and CEO of YSS (Youth & Shelter Services), the very organization he credits with saving his life. A husband and father of three grown, entrepreneurial kids, Andrew reflects on how adversity shaped him, why he now defines courage with a single word, “surrender,” and how a pivotal moment in treatment, falling to his knees in a bathroom and asking God for help, became the foundation for everything that followed. He also discusses the power of encouragement to transfer courage, the importance of admitting powerlessness, and the mission of YSS across Iowa, including prevention and mentoring programs, residential addiction treatment, and innovative initiatives like Rooftop
Gardens and the Ember Recovery campus, all grounded in his belief that even the worst pain can become purposeful. Andrew welcomes connections from families, community members, and partners and can be reached through YSS at www.yss.org. He has openly shared his personal phone number, 515-291-5684, for those seeking guidance, resources, or hope.
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See you in the next episode! Be blessed!
