In this episode of The Redemption Project, Brandon Burley sits down with TK, a licensed therapist and recovery professional whose life was nearly ended by addiction before it was rebuilt through faith, accountability, and community.
TK’s story challenges stereotypes. He didn’t grow up in poverty or chaos—he grew up privileged. And yet addiction still took hold, escalating from early alcohol use to prescription opioids, pain clinics, dealing, methamphetamine, and ultimately a near-fatal overdose that left him on life support.
After being revived with Narcan nine times, TK faced prison, the loss of his career, and the collapse of his family. What followed wasn’t a shortcut to redemption—it was treatment, humility, consequences, and years of rebuilding from the ground up.
Today, TK is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC II) in Tennessee—despite felony convictions that nearly disqualified him from licensure. His journey offers rare insight into addiction, recovery, criminal justice, and what actually sustains long-term change.
This conversation explores:
• Why addiction doesn’t discriminate by class or background
• The moment TK realized he couldn’t save himself
• Near-death, faith, and the cost of recovery
• Employment barriers for people with felony records
• Why community—not independence—keeps people alive
This is not a slogan-driven recovery story. It’s a real one.
I am a retired detective and criminal justice / government educator based in Tennessee. I am a commentary write for Tennessee Lookout and a weekly columnist with Knox TN Today. My work examines public policy, public safety systems and civic responsibility. My reporting and commentary have also appeared in Governing, The Arizona Capitol Times, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Police1, among other state and regional outlets.
