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BottomsUp
Fam

"One man's worst day. A lifetime of making it right."

A podcast about sobriety, accountability, and finding your way back — for those climbing out, and for those who lost someone on the way down.

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The Fight

—

Days Paroled. Still Held.

He was granted his freedom. They won't give it back.

Two degrees. 30+ recovery programs. Nine years sober in AA. Josh did everything asked of him. A California lawsuit is keeping him in a cell anyway.

The Work

What 10 years of accountability looks like

Josh didn't serve his time waiting — he transformed it. While the system decided his fate, he kept building the person he wants to be.

3 Degrees & Certificates
30+ Recovery Programs
2 yrs Training Service Dogs for Veterans
9 yrs Active in AA

Associate of Arts · 2022

Human Development & Human Services

Cuesta College

Associate of Arts · 2022

Liberal Arts: Social & Behavioral Sciences

Cuesta College

Certificate of Achievement · 2022

Addiction Studies Foundation

Cuesta College

Selected Programs & Certifications

AA — Alcoholics Anonymous (2017–present) New Life K9s — Service Dog Trainer (2020–2022) Circle Keeper Certification — Prisoners of Peace Solar PV Installer — NCCER (2019) Electrical Level 1 — NCCER (2019) Victim's Impact Workshop DUI Workshop Alternatives to Violence Project GOGI — Getting Out by Going In (×3) Forgiveness & Recovery Workshop The Denial of Self-Management Program Restorative Justice — Kid CAT (6 months) Change in Perception PREP Correspondence (18 lessons) Anger Management (×2) Narcotics Anonymous (2017–2022) Criminal & Gangs Anonymous Cognitive Awareness — ACCI
"I began participating in as many groups as I could — from AA and NA to Managing Emotions, Anger Management, Victim's Impact, Prisoners for Peace, and Restorative Justice. With each group, I honed my skills in self-assessment and slowly adopted healthier patterns of thinking and living while remaining honest with myself about my past." — Josh, in his own words

The Show

What BottomsUp Fam is about

This isn't a redemption arc wrapped in a bow. It's honest, sometimes funny, always respectful — to Josh's struggle, and to everyone alcohol has touched.

Sobriety & Struggle

Raw conversations about the climb and the falls. No Instagram version of recovery — just what it actually looks like when alcohol has its hooks in you.

Accountability

Owning what happened — every episode, no excuses. Josh doesn't get to move on without honoring the truth of what his worst day cost.

For the Victims

A space for those who lost someone to alcohol-related tragedy. Their grief isn't a subplot here — it's part of every conversation.

The Story

He paid the price.
Then kept paying.

On August 13, 2015, Josh got behind the wheel drunk and took the life of a wife, a mother of three, and a beloved member of her community. He has never once minimized that or looked away from it.


He grew up in a home with an alcoholic parent and never properly addressed his own drinking — until a tragedy forced the reckoning. From his first days in San Diego County Jail, he began reading the AA Big Book. He hasn't stopped working since.


He earned two Associate degrees and a Certificate in Addiction Studies from Cuesta College while incarcerated. He trained service dogs for veterans and first responders. He completed over 30 self-help and recovery programs — several more than once. He was granted parole.


And then California decided to keep him anyway.

"I know the path I took could be used to prevent someone from making those same mistakes. That's what this podcast is for." — Josh, host of BottomsUp Fam

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