The One Word That Saved His Life with Todd Sylvester (How the Story You Tell Yourself Changes Everything)

**Olivia Burnett** (0:00)
Todd, welcome to Twenty Something.

**Todd Sylvester** (0:01)
Thanks for having me.

**Olivia Burnett** (0:02)
I am so excited and grateful that you took the time to come down to the studio today. Your story is one that I feel like is pretty well known, and I just, every time I've heard it, I have been so inspired, and you've been someone that I'm like, man, it is so important that we get him on here, sharing these truths and the lessons that you've learned. So thanks for being here.

**Todd Sylvester** (0:23)
It's great to be here. Thanks for having me.

**Olivia Burnett** (0:25)
Yeah. So for the person who's spending a little bit of their time with us today, what about their life, their mindset is going to change based on our conversation?

**Todd Sylvester** (0:35)
Well, we're going to bring awareness to that negative voice in your head. That's what you're going to get from this. That you're going to be aware of it. You're going to write it down and you're going to create a new story. And that new story is going to save your life.
I really believe that. That might be a bold thing to say for that hour. But again, I really believe that stories save lives.
You might be in a dark place that you come here. You might be lost. You might feel like you're not enough. This episode is for you. And you're going to take this and you're going to run with this. You're going to share it with your family and friends. But I'm telling you, when you start changing that narrative, which we're going to, you're going to get that from this episode, you're going to see how astonishing you really are. And I really mean that you are astonishing. And I don't say that lightly. And that's one of the big takeaways. The other one is that, ultimately, there's nothing wrong with you. To your core, you're inherently good. You got stuff to work on, just like I do, just like Olivia does. But you are good, period.
And that's what you're going to walk away with.

**Olivia Burnett** (1:39)
Man, that answer is exactly why I was so excited to bring you on the podcast today. I think that's a really beautiful sentiment, that stories save lives. I couldn't agree with that more. So I'm really excited for this conversation. Let's get into it.
Wait, are we recording?
Hey guys, it's Liv, and welcome back to Twenty Something. Before we jump into the podcast today, it really would mean so much to us if you'd take a second to leave a review. It just helps us reach more people who need these conversations. But today's guest is someone who has spent decades helping people overcome some of life's hardest challenges. Todd Sylvester is a mental fitness coach, substance use disorder counselor, best-selling author, and host of the Belief Podcast. He's also a regular host on Good Things Utah and was selected as one of the 2024 Freedom Award honorees. But the thing is, what makes Todd's message so powerful, isn't just what he's learned or what he teaches professionally, it's what he's lived and learned personally. After battling addiction, self-hatred, and despair, Todd found a path to recovery and completely transformed his life. Today, he's conducted more than 18,000 coaching sessions, spoken to thousands of audiences at thousands of conferences, and dedicated his life to helping people discover that they are not broken. They are capable of change and there is nothing wrong with you.
In this conversation, we talk about addiction, recovery, identity, self-worth, mental fitness, and what it actually takes to create lasting change. So whether you're struggling yourself or someone that you love is struggling, Todd's perspective is filled with hope, honesty, and practical wisdom. I didn't leave this conversation the same, and I promise that you won't either. So here's Todd Sylvester. Todd, I know that you have told your story, like we said, probably eight gajillion times, which it's a story that is worth being told because I think so many aspects of it are not only extremely relatable and universal, but also just so inspiring. So would you mind retelling your story for the one millionth and eightieth time because it's one that, you know, if our listeners have already heard it, it's worth hearing again. And for those who haven't, it's one that they need to hear.

**Todd Sylvester** (4:07)
Well, thank you. And I'm so glad to be on the show and I admire you and everything that you do. So this is an honor to be here.

**Olivia Burnett** (4:13)
I'm so grateful you're here.

**Todd Sylvester** (4:14)
Stories Heal Stigma Kills are stories that that's why this is a powerful thing. That's why your podcast is so powerful, because stories are healing things and healing people, maybe healing the person who's actually even just sharing the story stigma, you know, like I'm broken, I'm damaged, I'm no good. That's what kills us. The shame of all that. And so I'm grateful to be able to share, you know, I'll give the short version, you know, and you can pick it away.