How He Broke Free From Opioid Addiction & Restructured His Entire Life with Hans Weygoldt

Hans Weygoldt (0:00)

To the outside, I looked like I had everything anyone can dream of. But in the inside, I felt completely hollow, empty and disconnected. Over the years, I started developing depression and anxiety.

Although I had a lovely wife and children, I just didn't feel I belonged there.

Jim Fielding (0:19)

I just am like looking at your face and your eyes, and I'm like, I can't believe this is the man that, you know, struggled with these decisions, struggled with addiction in his life.

Hi, I'm Jim Fielding. Welcome to Ask For An Answer.

Hello, kind, curious, talented human beings. It is time for another episode of Ask For An Answer with Jim Fielding. This one is really special because our guest is joining us all the way from Germany. You know I love to find interesting, unique guests and curate my guest list for you. Hans and I were introduced through mutual friends and had an amazing kind of pre-talk to get to know each other. And he's going to tell you what's going on because he's going through a major life move. And I'm just so grateful for him for making time. Hans, welcome so much. Thank you for making the time because I know you're in the middle of this transition. Tell everybody who you are, what you do and where you are. I know they're going to be fascinated by this.

Hans Weygoldt (1:28)

Yeah. Thank you so much, Jim. It's an honor to be on your podcast today.

Jim Fielding (1:33)

Thank you.

Hans Weygoldt (1:34)

As Jim mentioned, I just moved back, relocated to Germany from North Carolina where I spent 20 years. And so it's a major life transition for me. When I originally moved, I was alone and now I'm moving back with a wife and two kids and 20 years of history.

And I'm a breathwork facilitator and emergence coach and I work with people who are stuck in their life, struggle with emotional suppression, addictive patterns and generally feel there's more to life than their current responsibilities or their current occupation.

Jim Fielding (2:19)

Right. I mean, so I told you, listeners and viewers, I was bringing you somebody unique. You know, Hans, I haven't hit anybody like you yet on the podcast. I learned so much from you in our pre-work. I know our audiences, our viewers and our listeners are going to learn as well. Let's start with the move because it's so top of mind. And then I want to come back to the breathwork and all the other work you do with your clients.

20 years, you move when you were single to the States.

And talk to us about the decision making process to move back because you're moving back to your hometown, right? Or near your hometown.

Hans Weygoldt (3:04)

Yes, exactly. I'm moving back to five minutes to where I grew up.

Jim Fielding (3:09)

Which is fascinating. Well, take us all the way back. Take us back to why you came to the States first. That's an interesting story, too. Like, what drew you 20 years ago to the States? And then we'll contrast it to what drew you back home.

Hans Weygoldt (3:27)

Yeah, what drew me to the United States was a family business in North Carolina. And the decision I made at that time, I was studying electrical engineering and decided to move to the United States to join a veneer manufacturing industry.

And I truly believe now, as I see it, the decision was made from wanting to make as much money as fast as possible, no matter what it takes, and also taking the easy path.

Jim Fielding (4:06)

And how old were you when you moved? I forget.

Hans Weygoldt (4:09)

I was about 25

Jim Fielding (4:11)

Yeah.

Okay. So the family has a business. You're like, this is a way to make a lot of money quickly. I'm going to move. I'm going to. And you weren't married at this point. You were single at this point.

Hans Weygoldt (4:25)

I was single. I just graduated from college. Okay.

Jim Fielding (4:30)

Which is a good time to make a move, honestly. I mean, if you're going to move, like you're kind of unencumbered.

And you moved right to North Carolina, right? I forget. Yes. Yeah.

Hans Weygoldt (4:40)

Exactly.

Jim Fielding (4:41)

Because that's where the business was.

Hans Weygoldt (4:44)

In Beaufort, North Carolina, right on the coast.

Jim Fielding (4:47)

Yeah. Beautiful area. I mean, incredible area.

And I'm sure your English was good because you're German and you went to good schools and you studied electrical engineering.

Hans Weygoldt (4:59)

German, English is mandatory in German school. So I had English in school for nine years. Right. I spent almost every summer in North Carolina.