183: Voices of Courage with Ken D. Foster - Episode 183183: Voices of Courage with Ken D. Foster - Episode 183
UK Health Radio Podcast
Retired fire captain James Owen shares how unprocessed childhood and job trauma led to addiction, and how accepting he was "the last patient" pushed him towards sobriety and self-healing. He and host Ken D Foster talk openly about recovery, different therapeutic approaches and the quiet suffering behind a strong exterior.
46:14•12 Sept 2026
The Last Patient: A Fire Captain’s Fight for Sobriety and Self-Healing
Episode Overview
- Sobriety is described as the "floor of healing" and a challenging but essential starting point.
- Recovery is portrayed as iterative, with relapses and multiple treatment attempts being part of the process.
- Trying different modalities such as breathwork, yoga, therapy and 12-step programmes helps identify what actually supports healing.
- Building a trusted tribe or accountability group provides honest feedback and helps break through denial.
- Recognising yourself as "the last patient" shifts focus towards self-care and the belief that you are not beyond repair.
“"Situation screwed, still survivable."”
What emotional and inspiring tales of recovery are out there? This conversation on UK Health Radio’s Voices of Courage brings one right to you, as host Ken D Foster talks with retired firefighter and paramedic Captain James Owen about the hidden cost of being "the strong one". Across nearly three decades on the front lines, James faced fires, medical emergencies and line-of-duty deaths, all while carrying childhood trauma from an alcohol-fuelled, combative home.
He explains how those early wounds met years of job-related stress and unprocessed grief, eventually leaving him "wrapped up in addiction" after retirement. His turning point came with a simple but powerful message he kept hearing: "Save the last patient" – a phrase he thought applied to others until he realised, during a rainy run along the LA River, that he was the last patient.
James shares how sobriety became "the floor of healing", describing recovery as messy, iterative and filled with "stops and starts" including multiple stints in treatment and trying various approaches. He talks candidly about what helped – breathwork, yoga, Christian-based therapy, 12-step programmes like Alcoholics Anonymous and Adult Children of Alcoholics, and a men’s accountability circle (Kaizen Dojo) that holds up a mirror when self-awareness falls short.
His book, *The Last Patient*, lays out that journey from chaotic childhood to burned-out fire captain to someone proposing to his future wife in France. It’s written for first responders, high-stakes professionals and the families who love them, spelling out his core mantra: "Situation screwed, still survivable" and challenging the belief that anyone is beyond repair.
Ken and James also talk through warning signs that "strong" people might be quietly falling apart: suicidal thoughts, failing relationships, stalled self-care, growing anger and a sense of hopelessness. Throughout, James urges anyone in that place to keep seeking help and reminds them: you’re not broken, and there is a path forward. Could recognising yourself as "the last patient" be the first step towards your own healing?
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