Are you looking for inspiration to start your journey into sobriety and become a better Dad? Has that hard wired feeling of “suck it up and deal with it”, gotten to a point where you had to sedate the weight of it with something else? Me too! Im Nick Barnett, Founder of the domestic dad project, A brand that strives to create a community that breaks the stigma around dads reaching out for help to get their lives back on track and become better Fathers. Welcome to The Domestic Dad Podcast, your go-to destination for candid discussions on journeys into sobriety, parenting, and personal growth. Ive been a dad since I was 18 years old. Im also a trauma survivor, alcoholic, divorced, happily re-married, proud, hard working, humbled by life domestic Dad. I remember realizing I was in the pit of addiction when I couldn’t leave the house without planning a stop to grab a few shooters at the gas station before I got home. Or Making up reasons to go to the grocery store just to make a un-necessary food purchase to bury a bottle of booze or wine in my cart and Stashing “back up bottles” around the house.. Only to wake up in the middle of the night, parched with a glass filled with vodka disguised as water on my night stand to quench my thirst so I could get through the next few hours without getting sick… Just to get hit with another devastating hangover that left me with debilitating heart burn, bloating, vomiting and shaking so bad that I couldn’t write an email, send a text or complete sentence without stammering over words… all while coming up with reasons in my head that every person in the world was against me and I was the “victim” Looking back at the way addiction stained my days and nights, stole time from me, my wife, and my kids left me embarrassed and ashamed. Because of this, I struggled with the pit of mental health issues in some of the darkest ways imaginable. But I fought my way out. With the help of community resources, life changing coaches, mentors, pastors and raw will power. Since then, I’ve embarked on an unbreakable journey into sobriety and life that has changed in some the greatest ways imaginable. There is not one goal I have set for myself that I haven’t had the confidence to go after, most which I’ve achieved. Today I feel great when I wake up in the morning, I’m productive with my work, my 40 year old body feels great, I’m present with my family and friends, I sleep through the night, I don’t have the fear of dying from my disease, I no longer doubt my value to my family and I know I have a meaningful future! My mission here is to share the resources that worked for me, with you! In the form of candid interviews and conversations around journeys into sobriety. But that’s not all – we also tackle the sheer delight and trials of parenting, sharing practical tips, heartfelt anecdotes, and expert advice to help you navigate the wonderful adventure of raising children and being the glue that not only allows your family to survive but more importantly THRIVE! Because you’re worth it, you have value in this world, there is a bright future for you here, and there is a son or daughter that needs and wants a meaningful relationship with you. My hope is that you will subscribe to this podcast and that it inspires you to join our growing community! So grab a mop and let’s start cleaning up the mess! Website: www.domesticdadproject.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/@DomesticDadProject Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DOMESTICDADPROJECT Insta: https://www.instagram.com/the_domestic_dad_project
Episodes
Monday Oct 20, 2025
Monday Oct 20, 2025
In one of the most emotional and powerful episodes of Domestic Dad: Cleaning Up the Mess, host Nick Barnett sits down with Jason Comer, a husband, father of five, and living testimony of how God’s grace can turn devastation into destiny.
Jason’s life is a raw reflection of brokenness, rebellion, incarceration, relapse, forgiveness, and divine restoration. This episode traces his complete journey—from a troubled childhood and early substance use, to meth addiction, prison, family separation, and the miraculous road back to sobriety, faith, and fatherhood.
Through tears, laughter, and hard truths, Jason opens up about what it means to be a man redeemed. He shares how Hope City Church, mentorship, and a community of believers gave him the spiritual and emotional tools he never had growing up. His story reveals the brutal reality of addiction—but more importantly, the beauty of God’s redemption story when we finally stop running.
This is more than a story about getting sober. It’s a story about becoming whole, about how God can take the pieces of a shattered life and build something new—something strong enough to lead a family, raise kids with love, and inspire others to believe that no matter how dark the pit, there is always a way out.
If you’re a parent fighting your own battles, a man seeking purpose, or someone walking through the ashes of addiction or shame—this episode will meet you right where you are.
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🧭 The Journey — A Timeline of Redemption
00:00 – Podcast Introduction and Technical Glitch
00:08 – Guest Introduction and Initial Conversation
01:06 – Jason’s Childhood and Family Background: growing up without consistent structure, navigating ADHD, and early identity struggles.
02:25 – Dealing with ADHD and Early School Experiences: learning challenges and emotional disconnection.
04:13 – Struggles with Authority and Early Rebellions: the seedbed of anger and defiance that would shape his teens.
12:25 – Teenage Years and Substance Use: alcohol, marijuana, and the first taste of escape.
14:25 – Yearning for Connection and Role Models: the father-shaped void that fueled destructive choices.
19:37 – High School Challenges and Moving in with Dad: searching for belonging and the impact of a broken home.
26:23 – Legal Troubles and Incarceration: addiction catches up—arrests, consequences, and a wake-up call.
29:57 – Finding Faith and Mentorship in Jail: discovering the Bible behind bars and realizing God still had a plan.
40:12 – Struggles with Alcohol and Meth: the relapse cycle and the deception of “just one drink.”
40:48 – The Gateway of Alcohol: the door that reopened old chains.
41:58 – Impact on Family and Self: the heartbreak his wife and kids endured as addiction took over.
44:12 – The Turning Point: the night everything fell apart—and God began to rebuild.
48:12 – Meeting My Future Wife: the divine appointment that would change everything.
55:39 – Adoption and Family Life: building a blended home, holding onto hope.
01:05:01 – Relapse and Consequences: the fall after progress and the battle to get back up.
01:19:03 – Repairing Relationships: forgiveness, humility, and doing the real work of restoration.
01:24:49 – Embracing Forgiveness and Love: rediscovering grace through his wife’s unwavering faith.
01:25:53 – Struggles and Poor Decisions: lessons learned in failure.
01:27:20 – A Life-Changing Accident: a moment that shifted everything.
01:30:53 – Rebuilding and Relapse: learning that healing isn’t linear.
01:35:22 – Finding Faith and Community: Hope City, mentorship, and rediscovering purpose through service.
01:43:05 – Family and Personal Growth: thriving in sobriety and watching his children flourish.
01:56:28 – Lessons in Sobriety and Fatherhood: hard-earned wisdom, legacy, and learning to fight from victory, not for it.
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🔥 Key Themes and Takeaways
•Faith Over Failure: How surrendering to God’s will became the foundation for healing.
•Fatherhood in Recovery: What it takes to rebuild trust, show up, and lead your family after addiction.
•Power of Community: How Hope City Church and mentorship gave Jason and Brie the tools to thrive.
•Marriage Restoration: A love story rebuilt on forgiveness, prayer, and obedience.
•Generational Healing: Turning pain into purpose and breaking the cycle for the next generation.
•Practical Sobriety Lessons: “Stay away from the fence,” “failure isn’t final,” and “change your association.”
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🙌 Why This Episode Matters
Jason’s story embodies everything Domestic Dad: Cleaning Up the Mess stands for—honesty, redemption, and the power of showing up. This is a masterclass in grace under fire, a guide for any parent trying to rebuild from chaos, and a testament that God restores what the enemy tried to destroy.
By the end, you’ll understand why Jason says, “We didn’t smell like smoke anymore—we smelled like victory.”
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🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube to hear how one man turned pain into purpose, addiction into anointing, and fatherhood into a daily act of faith.
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🕊️ Keywords
faith-based recovery, Christian podcast, addiction recovery, fatherhood, sobriety, redemption, healing families, overcoming meth addiction, recovery journey, domestic dad podcast, Nick Barnett, Hope City Church, Waterloo Iowa, inspirational podcast, testimony, family restoration, relapse and forgiveness, God’s grace, purpose after pain, parenting in recovery
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/domestic-dad-cleaning-up-the-mess-sobriety-parenting/id1732379029
Spotify podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/12eQNKuS1adoNiclmfn3wS
Website: www.domesticdadproject.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@DomesticDadProject
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DOMESTICDADPROJECT
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/the_domestic_dad_project
Jason on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jason.comer.182/
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