427: Ian Morgan Cron Exposes the Hidden Anatomy of Addiction and the Illusion of Pain Relief

What if addiction isn’t just about substances—but about the way we all seek relief from pain? This week on Win Today, Ian Cron exposes the truth about addiction, pain, and why we’re all hooked on something. Whether it’s work, achievement, relationships, control, or substances, we all have our own ways of numbing discomfort. But here’s the real question: Is relief keeping you from real change?

• Are we all addicts? The hidden ways we self-medicate pain
• Pain relief vs. transformation: Why numbing doesn’t work
• How the Twelve Steps can lead to lasting freedom—even if you’re not an addict
• Why addiction is a spiritual crisis—and how to find true healing

For over eight decades, the Twelve Steps have led millions out of addiction—not just from substances, but from self-sabotaging behaviors that keep us stuck. As someone who has walked the road of recovery firsthand, Ian knows that the real breakthrough isn’t just in quitting bad habits—it’s in having a spiritual awakening that radically reorients your life.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck in cycles of unhealthy coping, or if you long for real joy beyond self-help quick fixes, this episode is for you.

Listen now and take the first step toward real transformation.

Guest Bio

Ian Morgan Cron is a bestselling author, nationally recognized speaker, trained psychotherapist, Dove Award-winning songwriter, and Episcopal priest. His books include the novel Chasing Francis and the spiritual memoir Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me. Ian draws on an array of disciplines—from psychology to the arts, Christian spirituality, and theology—to help people engage more deeply with God and the mystery of their own lives.

Dive Deeper

If you enjoy this episode, I’m sure you’ll also enjoy:

• 393: Tasha Cobbs Leonard on Unmasking a Root of Rejection, Freedom from Self-Hatred, What it Means to Live a Planted Life, and Grieving with Hope
• 358: Dr. Anita Phillips on What’s Missing in the Mental Health Conversation, Why Science and Faith Are Not in Conflict, Why We Must Stop Demonizing Emotions, and Healing the Nervous System

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Guest Links

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Resources Mentioned This Week

• Healing What You Can’t Erase: Transform Your Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health from the Inside Out
• The Fix: How the Twelve Steps Offer a Surprising Path of Transformation for the Well-Adjusted, the Down-and-Out, and Everyone

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