David Fields: From Addiction to Redemption | What the Hell Do I Know Podcast
- Jason Becker
- Oct 22
- 4 min read
Episode #060 of What the Hell Do I Know with JB isn’t just another podcast conversation — it’s a front-row seat to redemption.Our guest, David Fields, has lived through the kind of pain and transformation that proves grace is still the most disruptive force on earth.
From a ten-year-old experimenting with alcohol to a seventeen-year-old facing real jail time, to a man now leading others out of darkness — David’s journey shows that no pit is too deep for God to reach.
The Early Chaos: Addiction Before Adulthood
When David first picked up a drink at ten years old, he wasn’t chasing rebellion — he was chasing belonging. Growing up adopted in Odessa, Texas, with much older parents, he felt out of place long before addiction ever entered the picture.
“I felt different from the start,” he said. “And when I drank, it was like magic — all the fear and shame disappeared. I remember thinking, this is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life.”
By eighteen, he’d been through four rehabs and fifteen arrests. He’d burned bridges, broken trust, and nearly destroyed his future before it even began. But deep down, he knew something had to change — he just couldn’t figure out how.
A God Encounter in a Juvenile Rehab
At seventeen, locked in a Texas juvenile facility, David wanted nothing to do with God.He’d seen hypocrisy, he’d been hurt, and church felt like performance, not healing.But one Sunday, he went to a service for all the wrong reasons — because someone told him the pastor had twin daughters.
That’s when everything changed.
As he sat in the back row, a man grabbed him by the collar and said,
“David Fields, God wants me to tell you something.”
What happened next was undeniable.That stranger began repeating the exact thoughts David had been thinking moments earlier — word for word.
“I knew immediately,” David said. “It wasn’t him. It was God. And I realized, He’s real — and I’ve been running the wrong direction.”
In that moment, everything shifted. He began reading the Bible, journaling, praying, and sharing faith with the same guys he used to fight with.“It wasn’t me making a decision for God,” he said. “It was God showing up and making a decision for me.”
Starting Over in Dallas
After his release, David moved to Dallas to live with his sister. He threw himself into AA meetings, 12-Step recovery, and a commitment to rebuilding his life.
The amends process became a turning point:
“I went back to 7-Eleven and told them I owed them about $30,000,” he laughs.“They didn’t even have a form for that.”
He began to understand that making peace with others — and himself — was part of real freedom. Every conversation, every apology, every confession chipped away at the shame he’d carried for years.
Finding Purpose in Service
Through recovery, David discovered something deeper than sobriety — calling.He became a sponsor, a counselor, and eventually earned his Master’s in Counseling, teaching classes while studying at Criswell College and Dallas Theological Seminary.
“I’ve found that working with others isn’t just how I stay sober,” he said.“It’s how I grow.”
He helped open sober-living homes in Dallas, worked with treatment centers across the country, and began mentoring men coming out of addiction.
But even in the midst of counseling others, David never lost his creative side. He taught himself to code, launched startups, and helped build software systems for manufacturing companies — proving that redemption isn’t just about staying clean, it’s about discovering new ways to create, lead, and serve.
Marriage, Fatherhood, and the Gift of a Clean Slate
Today, David lives on Florida’s Emerald Coast with his wife and four kids.He calls it “living in the bonus round.”
“I shouldn’t even be alive,” he admits. “But I get to wake up every day, love my wife, raise my kids, and help others find the same freedom I did.”
His children have never seen the addicted version of him — a powerful testimony to what happens when generational sin is broken and grace takes over.
“The worst thing that can happen to someone in addiction,” he said, “is nothing. When nothing happens, another year goes by — and you’re still not free.”
Sponsorship, Brotherhood, and Real Accountability
David continues to sponsor men through recovery, lead faith-based men’s groups, and host his own show, Shoot Me Straight, where real conversations about faith, marriage, and manhood take center stage.
He’s also outspoken about the hidden epidemic of pornography and shame in the church:
“If men stopped watching, we could shut down an entire industry.But too many are pretending they’re fine. Freedom starts when you tell the truth.”
He often reminds men that confession isn’t about embarrassment — it’s about healing.Quoting James 5:16, he says,
“Confess your sins to one another so that you may be healed.There’s power in being known — and loved anyway.”
The Power of Testimony
David believes that personal stories are the most powerful evangelism tool on earth.“Revelation says we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony,” he said. “Our stories prove that Jesus still changes lives.”
That’s what drives him — and that’s why his appearance on What the Hell Do I Know with JB resonated with so many listeners.It’s not just a recovery story. It’s a reminder that God can meet you in a rehab cell, a church pew, or a podcast mic — and rewrite everything.
Final Reflections
Addiction, shame, and faith are words we throw around lightly — until we hear a story like David’s.His life is a vivid reminder that no matter how far gone someone feels, freedom is only one surrender away.
“Jesus is real,” David said. “I know because I met Him — and I’ve never been the same.”
🎙️ Episode Details
Podcast: What the Hell Do I Know with JBGuest: @davidfields22Hosts: JB (@_jason_becker), Juice (@juiceellis), and B-Money (@bhillenb)Sponsors: Floorzz.com | TruNorthPest.comWebsite: thejabronis.comEpisode: #060 – “Freedom from the Inside Out”
Comments