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Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler

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

Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler

Richard Ostler

Religion & Spirituality

4.7855 Ratings

🗓️ 19 May 2026

⏱️ 79 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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 how his heart was full of love, a big hug, and support for both of them. Rod talks about his mighty change of heart from his earlier years to where is his now to love all of God’s children. Super powerful podcast. I encourage everyone to listen/share this episode and read Rod’s book. If you are in a tough spot—feeling alone and losing hope—please listen and share Rod’s podcast/book. Thank you Rod for your courage to share your story. You give all of us more hope and help us better understand God’s love for each of us. You are a good man. Links: Rod’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rod.gardner.509 Rod’s IG: @ rodneyg21 Rod’s E-mail: rodneytgardner@yahoo.com

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Welcome listeners to another episode of Listen, Learn, and Love hosted by Richard Osler.

0:08.9

This is the first, after 890 audio-only episodes that were attempting a video episode.

0:16.3

And this hopefully will be one of many and will appear on YouTube.

0:20.2

And it'll be a way to connect our podcast listeners,

0:23.9

not until audio, that this will still be an audio-only version, but video.

0:28.7

And my brave guest has agreed to be the very first video participant,

0:33.5

and we've been chuckling as we've been trying to figure out exactly how to do this.

0:37.7

Let me introduce.

0:39.7

My guest is joining us from Boxelder County, Rod Gardner.

0:43.4

Welcome to the podcast, Rod.

0:46.3

Thank you.

0:47.0

Thanks for having me, Richards.

0:48.4

I honor to be here.

0:50.5

I got an email listeners to introduce Rod from Beth at Signature Books, Beth Reeve.

0:57.5

And she talked about the book that Rod has written called Second Chance Again by Rod Gardner, who's a dentist.

1:06.1

And let me read his own Facebook post to introduce his book on his Facebook when it came out.

1:13.7

We all have a story to share, and this is mine.

1:17.2

Mine has some ugly and some beauty from stealing Grandpa's Playboy magazines,

1:22.8

shooting out Brigham City Main Street Christmas lights, and punching it out with a rival dentist

1:28.5

on his front lawn, to drug addiction, rehab, jail, prison, excommunication, and losing almost

1:36.2

everything, to rebuilding my life with my wife and kids and all the unexpected angels who played

1:42.4

a part in the beauty. I'll be forever grateful

...

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