The Sober Bodybuilder: Brad JensenThe Sober Bodybuilder: Brad Jensen
Addict II Athlete Podcast
Brad Jensen, "the sober bodybuilder", shares how years of heroin addiction, jail and repeated relapses led to a defining moment in front of his mother and a complete commitment to recovery. He talks with Blu Robinson about faith, community, fitness and fatherhood as foundations for a new life without substances.
56:20•22 Jul 2024
From Heroin to Heavy Lifts: The Sober Bodybuilder’s Road to Recovery
Episode Overview
- Recovery effort can match the relentless drive once spent on getting high, turning an addictive mindset into a powerful asset for change.
- A higher power, a supportive community, and consistent physical activity are presented as three core pillars for long-term sobriety.
- Family boundaries and Al-Anon involvement may feel harsh but can be life-saving when they stop enabling addictive behaviour.
- Fitness and movement are framed as key tools for better mood, confidence and stability, not just physical appearance.
- Openly sharing a recovery story can reduce shame, build connection, and create extra accountability to stay sober.
“"If you work even half as hard to get sober and build a life, you will be successful. And if you work just as hard, then you will be unstoppable."”
What makes a recovery story truly hit home? For many, it's hearing from someone who has been written off, hit repeated bottoms, and still found a way back. This conversation with Brad Jensen, known as "the sober bodybuilder", is exactly that kind of story. Brad talks candidly about starting substances at 13, shifting into fitness as a teen, and then descending into a decade of opiate addiction, heroin use, meth, 17 jail stays and six rehabs.
He recalls the brutal cycle of withdrawal and relapse, and that moment of realisation: "If you work even half as hard to get sober and build a life, you will be successful." His honesty strips away any glamour around addiction and shows just how relentless it can be.
One of the most powerful parts is Brad describing his mum watching him use heroin in the back seat of her car on the way to his grandfather’s funeral: "If there was a picture of heartbreak, it was my mother's face in that moment." That scene becomes his emotional rock bottom and a turning point that leads to genuine commitment to recovery.
Brad and host Blu Robinson chat about the difference between being sober and being in recovery, the role of faith, boundaries set by family, and why he believes addicts can make exceptional entrepreneurs. They also break down Brad’s three pillars for staying clean: a relationship with a higher power, a strong community, and consistent physical training.
You’ll hear how fitness moved from pure aesthetics to being a key part of Brad’s mental health, and how becoming a dad deepened his gratitude and sense of responsibility. This is raw, relatable and surprisingly funny in moments, aimed at anyone affected by addiction who wants to believe change is still possible. If you’ve ever wondered whether your past disqualifies you, could this be the proof that it doesn’t?
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