Ep. 127 - How to Turn Grief Into Purpose & Help Others Heal with Carli Wargo

What happens when some of the most painful experiences of your life ultimately lead you toward your purpose?

In this episode of the Finding Purpose Podcast, Adam sits down with Carli Wargo, licensed clinical social worker, addiction professional, and Executive Director of the InService Foundation, for an honest conversation about addiction, grief, recovery, family trauma, mental health, boundaries, and turning loss into meaningful service.

Carli's connection to addiction is deeply personal. Growing up with instability, she experienced the impact of her father's depression and alcohol use while taking on significant responsibility at a young age. Years later, her younger brother died from a heroin overdose at just 21. Her father later passed away after years of struggling with alcohol addiction and depression.

Carli opens up about grief, guilt, anger, shame, and the complicated emotions that can come with loving someone struggling with substance use disorder. She shares how working in the addiction field eventually gave her an opportunity to turn her grief into action—and develop a deeper understanding of the disease that profoundly affected her family.

Adam and Carli explore addiction as a family disease, the stigma surrounding substance use, supporting someone in recovery, healthy boundaries, family involvement in treatment, relapse, compassion, and why getting sober is often only the beginning of the recovery journey.

They also discuss the emotional realities of working in behavioral health—the incredible moments of watching people rebuild relationships, careers, independence, and their lives, alongside the heartbreak of relapse, overdose, and loss.

Carli shares the work of the InService Foundation, a national nonprofit providing financial assistance, care coordination, and long-term recovery support to individuals who may otherwise be unable to afford the services they need.

Ultimately, this is a conversation about what can happen when grief becomes action, compassion replaces judgment, and our most difficult experiences become an opportunity to serve someone else.

About Carli

Carli Wargo is a licensed clinical social worker, addiction professional, and Executive Director of the InService Foundation. Her work focuses on addiction, mental health, recovery, and supporting families affected by substance use.

In addition to her leadership at InService, Carli maintains a private practice supporting adults navigating anxiety, depression, addiction, and the complexities of loving someone in recovery.

Connect with Carli & InService Foundation:

Carli on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carli-wargo-80116893/

InService Foundation Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/inservicefoundation/

InService Foundation:
https://inservicefoundation.org/

InService Foundation

The InService Foundation is a national nonprofit helping individuals access addiction treatment and recovery services they otherwise may not be able to afford. The organization provides individualized financial support, care coordination, and resources designed to help people build sustainable lives in recovery.

About Adam

Adam is a Recovery Coach Professional (RCP) based in Fairfield County, Connecticut, providing recovery coaching, companioning, sober travel and transition support, event and social companioning, and family guidance locally and nationwide.

Drawing on his own long-term recovery, Adam supports individuals and families navigating addiction, early sobriety, treatment transitions, relapse recovery, and rebuilding a meaningful life in recovery.

Production Partner

Produced by Claudio, Justin, and the team at Cayivisions.
https://www.cayivisions.com/

Sponsors

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Connect with Adam

Website: https://www.adamvohra.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamvohra_/
Finding Purpose Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/findingpurposepod/

If you or someone you love is navigating addiction or recovery, visit Adam's website to learn more about his recovery support services or reach out for a confidential conversation.

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