The Courage to Look Back: Childhood Wounds and Adult GrowthThe Courage to Look Back: Childhood Wounds and Adult Growth
The Agents of Recovery Podcast
Coach Blu Robinson and Wendell Wood talk openly about childhood wounds, masculinity and the inner child, showing how past experiences can still shape addiction and relationships. Their stories and practical ideas offer a gentle invitation to approach your own history with honesty, curiosity and courage.
51:55•16 Oct 2026
The Inner Child, Tough Blokes and True Healing
Episode Overview
- Unresolved childhood experiences can feed addiction, anger and emotional shutdown in adult life.
- Healing the inner child isn’t about blaming parents, but about honest storytelling and being truly seen.
- Curiosity ("help me understand") opens safer conversations than blame or fight talk in families.
- Protector parts and learned coping behaviours aren’t bad; they can be redirected towards healthier roles.
- Healing is an ongoing process, marked by faster recovery from triggers, clearer boundaries and kinder self-talk.
“None of us just grow old together. We heal together.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation between Coach Blu Robinson and co-host Wendell Wood digs into that question by looking straight at childhood wounds and how they show up in adult life, addiction, and relationships. You’ll hear them chat about the "inner child" as a way of describing the subconscious part of us that holds old hurts, unmet needs, and learned defence mechanisms.
Wendell shares his own story of childhood sexual abuse and school humiliation, showing how those moments shaped later patterns of isolation, anger and acting out. Blu adds moving family anecdotes, including a painfully honest story about first reacting with anger after accidentally leaving his young son at church, then choosing to apologise and repair emotional safety. The tone stays warm and down-to-earth, with both men poking gentle fun at themselves while talking about serious themes like trauma, addiction, and masculinity.
They question messages many men grew up with – "don’t cry", "do it yourself", "perform to be loved" – and contrast them with a healthier approach built on curiosity rather than blame. As Wendell puts it, healing isn’t about proving parents wrong; it’s about being honest enough to say, "this was my experience" and to seek being truly seen.
Therapeutic ideas such as EMDR, Internal Family Systems, story work and inner child exercises are discussed in simple language, making this episode useful for anyone in recovery who senses their past is still driving their present. One standout moment is Blu reading notes he once wrote about Wendell’s growth, showing what healing can look like in everyday life: naming feelings, setting boundaries, recovering faster after triggers, and trusting safe people.
If you’ve ever asked yourself, "What did that younger version of me really need?", this episode might be the nudge to start that conversation with yourself – and maybe with the people you love.
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