In this gripping and deeply personal episode, Maj. Donovan is joined by John Graham, a former diplomat, mountain climber, and self-described adrenaline junkie. Together, they explore the surprising parallels between thrill-seeking and substance use disorder.
John reflects on a life spent on the edge—scaling perilous peaks, navigating war zones, and diving headfirst into revolutions. But what happens when the rush fades and the risks take their toll? For John, the path to healing wasn’t through more danger—it was through service.
Discover how John found purpose in The Giraffe Heroes Project, a global movement encouraging people to "stick their necks out" for the greater good. From the battlefield to the community, John’s journey illustrates how bold action and service can be the antidote to addiction and restlessness.
He now shares his hard-won wisdom and stories on TikTok as Badass Granddad, inspiring a new generation to live with courage and compassion.
In This Episode:
- The psychology behind thrill-seeking and addiction
- John’s harrowing and heroic adventures
- How service can ground and transform a life
- The origins and impact of The Giraffe Heroes Project
- Why John believes "wisdom is worthless unless it's passed on"
Resources & Mentions:
- 🌍 Learn more about The Giraffe Heroes Project: https://www.giraffe.org
- 🎥 Follow John Graham on TikTok: @BadassGranddad
- 📚 John’s books and talks: johngraham.org
Veterans 4 Recovery
All Things Recovery! Join your host, Maj. (Retired) John Donovan, a noted author, lecturer and person in long-term recovery from substance use disorder, as he and his guests will breakdown current trending topics and research along with all things related to increasing recovery resilience and capital within our Veteran and service-member communities.
Major John Donovan is the co-founder of the Recovery Community Network (RCN) in St. Cloud, Minnesota, an organization devoted to serving and advocating for the recovery community of Central Minnesota. John is a person in long-term recovery with over 45 years of recovery. He is a highly decorated 27-year veteran of the Armed Forces and has deployed three times in the service of our nation since 9-11. He holds an associate’s and bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State University and a master’s degree from Boston University. John serves on several recovery related boards and he is an active and energetic advocate for recovery. He is a popular speaker and workshop facilitator and he contributes monthly to a recovery blog. John’s book, “A Soldier’s Recovery Journey”, was published in April of 2021 and he was a contributing author to Hazelden's veterans' daily meditation book entitled "Leave No One Behind."