A Recovery Journey and Helping Students with Alysia Lajune of the William Magee Center | Ep 37
I sit down with Alysia Lajune, who helps lead the William Magee Center at Ole Miss — the same center that carries my son’s name. Alysia's story is powerful, real, and full of hope. She opens up about her own journey through addiction and recovery, and how it led her to the work she’s doing now to help students find healing and purpose.
We talk about what recovery really looks like — the honesty, the setbacks, the grace. Alysia shares how one person’s pain can become another person’s lifeline, and how small steps toward openness and understanding can literally save lives.
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Essay on Life: Importance of Hearing, Seeing Our Children
As parents, we all like to think we know our children completely. We keep up with their grades, go to their games, check their posts, and tell ourselves they’re doing okay. But sometimes, we really don’t know what’s going on. I learned that the day my daughter finally said the words I didn’t even realize I needed to hear: I need help.
That moment changed how I listen. It reminded me that struggle doesn’t always look like struggle, and sometimes “I’m fine” means the opposite. In this episode, I talk about what it means to slow down, ask better questions, and make space for our kids to be honest. Because that’s when real healing and connection start.
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Essay on Life: Save Me
One night after my son William died, I sat on his couch. I was alone. I was cold. I was afraid. I whispered two words, “Save me,” and something shifted. What I saw, what I felt in that quiet moment, showed me where my life was headed if I didn’t change—and where it could go if I did.
That night taught me that prayer isn’t some practiced speech from a pulpit. Sometimes it’s just a whisper in the dark, a desperate pleading that’s enough to open a new path. If you’ve ever been lost in grief or fear and longed for peace, this episode is a reminder that you can find it—that even in the silence, you’re not alone.
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Owning Your Story, Taking Charge of Your Life | Ep 35
I talk about what it means to take charge of your own story. Too often, we move through life feeling like characters in someone else’s script—reacting instead of writing. But when we stop and decide to name our current chapter, to rewrite what came before and imagine what comes next, we begin to heal and take back control of the narrative.
I share how I’m living in my “Second Chances” chapter right now, and how even my son William’s story has been rewritten through the lives he continues to touch. You can’t erase the hard parts, but you can learn from them, revise them, and move forward. Wherever you are, pick up the pen and start writing your next steps forward to where you want to go.
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Essay on Life: A Family's Last Photograph
I share the story of the last photograph our family of five ever took together. What felt like a moment of survival and reunion—a rare weekend of laughter, hope, and grace—would later become a reminder of how fragile and fleeting life really is.
Looking back, that picture wasn’t about victory over storms, but about grace in the middle of them. It’s a reminder that every dinner, every laugh, every moment with the people we love is a gift we can’t take for granted.
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Are you seeking deeper connection at home—and real-life wisdom for the hard parts?
I’m David Magee, bestselling author and speaker. Each week I host raw, hopeful conversations with family, friends, and remarkable guests about the things we all face: parenting and marriage, addiction and recovery, mental health, grief, and growth. You’re not the only messy family on the block. Together we’ll explore life’s big questions and small joys—and share practical steps that help you feel less alone and move toward progress.
Years ago, I lost everything. Rebuilding taught me how to find meaning again—and I’m passionate about helping others do the same. Though I became a husband and father young, I didn’t truly begin to flourish until my mid-40s. At 59, I’m still learning—and I invite you to grow with me.
If you’re ready for honest conversation, vulnerability, and resilient hope, this show is for you. Let’s walk it together—one episode at a time.
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