I was slowly killing myself - Cody Carroll

For years, people told **Cody Carroll from Pronto Junk** that his dad would be proud of him. But Cody knew there was a period of his life where that wasn’t true. At 19, Cody was on his way towards the professional football career he’d dreamed about since he was a kid. Then his dad was diagnosed with stage four cancer and passed away. Cody lost more than his dad. He lost a huge part of his identity. What followed were years of depression, gambling, drugs and partying, until Cody reached a point where he knew something had to change. In this conversation, Cody shares what it took to start rebuilding his life, getting professional help, understanding his addictions and triggers, and learning that recovery wasn’t always a straight line. We also talk about becoming a dad himself to Hudson, the kind of man he wants his son to grow up watching, and how supporting his partner Jess through postpartum depression and anxiety changed the way he approached both family and business. We talk about: - Losing his dad and the identity he’d built around football - Depression, gambling, drugs, alcohol and seeking professional help - Relapse, recovery and changing the people and environments around him - Learning to make **himself proud first** - Fatherhood and becoming a role model for Hudson - Jess’s experience with postpartum depression and anxiety - Stepping away from the tools and how it helped Pronto Junk grow - Why empathy, giving back and zero judgement sit at the heart of Pronto Junk There’s a lot in this conversation about grief, addiction, fatherhood, business and starting again. But perhaps the biggest shift for Cody was this: **At first, he wanted to make his dad proud. Now, he wants to make himself proud first.** Find Cody & Pronto Junk Instagram: **@theprontojunkteam** Facebook: **The Pronto Junk Team** Website: www.theprontojunkteam.com.au Be part of The 100 Stories Project Have a story you’d love to share or know someone we should sit down with? **DM @iamtashmiller and tell me about it.** Follow **@100storiesproject** for more stories and conversations. About your host **Tash Miller** is a Marketing Partner, storyteller and founder of **The 100 Stories Project**, capturing 100 people, 100 conversations and 100 stories worth remembering. Follow **@iamtashmiller** **Join World360** Earn rewards with your travel: https://www.world360rewards.com/?referralCode=1JU4M0LN *This episode includes discussion of grief, depression, gambling, drug and alcohol addiction, suicidal thoughts, postpartum depression and recovery. Cody and Jess are sharing their personal experiences, not providing medical advice.*