Episode 894: Rod Gardner, Drug Addiction (Lost Dental Practice, Excommunicated, Prison), New Book “Second Chance Again”

Episode 894: Rod Gardner, Drug Addiction (Lost Dental Practice, Excommunicated, Prison), New Book “Second Chance Again”

From Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler by Richard Ostler

May 19, 2026 · 1h 19m

About this episode

Rod Gardner shares his journey through addiction, prison, and redemption, emphasizing the importance of love and support for his family.

In one of our bravest, raw, and most vulnerable episodes, my friend Rod Gardner (married father of 5, lives in Northern Utah, dentist, age 60) shares his story/new book called “Second Change Again: A Dentist’s Journey from Professional Success to Prison, Addiction, and Ultimate Redemption”. Rod shares how drugs became a coping mechanism to deal/escape with the anxiety/scrupulosity he experiences as a teenager. He talks about putting this all behind him for his mission and the first part of his marriage—and then how the cycle came back to escape/deal with the stress of dental school. Rod talks about how that cycle repeated itself—getting worse and worse—until almost all hope was lost. Rod talks about kneeling in prayer in the 5-person jail cell—at the end of his rope—and how that was the beginning of hope/peace which led to sustained recovery (back with his wife Jill, family, regained his dental license and practice, rebaptized). I will never forget Rod talking about praying in the jail cell (and the inmates that ended up joining him). Rod concludes the podcast talking about his love and support for his queer son Kaden and his partner—the first time they came to the home—and his…

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