95. The 'Caped Crusader' - from the FIGHTER in his addiction to the Advocate for Recovery95. The 'Caped Crusader' - from the FIGHTER in his addiction to the Advocate for Recovery
This is Your Wake-Up Call
Duner shares how he went from a violent, high-functioning alcoholic to a sober father and certified peer support specialist. His story focuses on surrender, daily recovery work, and the message that no one has to face addiction alone.
39:28•21 Sept 2026
From Barroom Brawler to Recovery Champion: Duner’s Wake-Up Call
Episode Overview
- Recovery is not a solo mission; asking for help and accepting support is essential.
- Surrendering control and committing to daily recovery work can transform a life shaped by addiction.
- Past experiences such as jail, court and family conflict can become powerful tools to help others in recovery.
- Service to others—whether through peer support, meetings or small acts—helps keep sobriety strong and meaningful.
- There are many paths to support, from meetings and podcasts to peer specialists and community groups; you are not alone.
“You don't have to do it on your own. There is support around you, and all you need to do is ask for that help and surrender to whatever that looks like.”
How do individuals turn their lives around after addiction? This conversation follows Duner, once known as the guy you called when you needed a fighter, now using that same intensity to fight *for* recovery instead of inside a bar or a jail cell. From his first drink at 11, Duner recalls an instant craving for alcohol and a childhood shaped by fear, violence and "liquid courage".
He talks openly about becoming a high-functioning alcoholic, the blackout nights that everyone brushed off as normal, and the ‘caped crusader’ mentality that landed him in repeated trouble with the law. Things hit breaking point when he faced jail time while fighting for custody of his youngest son, a moment he describes as his rock bottom and true wake-up call.
Duner shares how a straightforward challenge from his attorney—"Do what me and the judges tell you to do"—helped push him into sobriety on 11 December 2017. From there, he leaned into surrender, daily work on his recovery, and rebuilding his connection with his higher power, which he simply describes as love and nature. You’ll hear how that commitment led to full custody of his son and a new career as a certified peer support specialist in Washington State.
Now he walks alongside others in intensive outpatient groups, using his lived experience of jail, court, child custody battles and relapse risk to offer real hope. One of his key messages is simple but powerful: you do not have to do this alone—help is everywhere if you’re willing to ask and surrender to the process.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your past disqualifies you, or if it could someday help someone else, this story might be the nudge you’ve been waiting for.
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