TradesFormation Unlocked

Sell. Scale. Systemise - The no BS podcast for Tradies

Author: Adrian Fadini

Description: Welcome to TradesFormation Unlocked with Adrian Fadini the no-BS podcast for tradies ready to break free from the tools and build real businesses. We dive deep into the sales, systems, and strategies that drive serious profit and sustainable growth. Whether youre scaling your team, systemizing your ops, or just sick of doing it all yourself this is your blueprint to sell smarter, scale faster, and systemize like a pro. Raw insights. Real stories. Tactical gold. Lets get you off the tools and into control.
Be a guest on this podcast

Language: en

Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship, Marketing

Contact email: Get it

Feed URL: Get it

iTunes ID: Get it

Get all podcast data

Listen Now...

The Truth About Addiction With Ron Isherwood
Episode 27
Tuesday, 27 January, 2026

In this episode of TradesFormation Unlocked, Adrian Fadini sits down with Ron Isherwood to have the conversation too many trade business owners avoid… addiction, recovery, and what it really takes to get your life (and business) back.If you’re running a plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing, or any trades business and the “Thursday beers” keep turning into a weekend you can’t remember… this one hits hard.Ron Isherwood is the founder of The Truth About Addiction, which he launched in 2020 after more than 42 years working with people in recovery across a wide range of rehabilitation settings. Drawing on both his professional experience and his own journey through addiction and recovery, Ron identified a major gap in how addiction is understood and treated. That insight led him to build The Truth About Addiction, a program grounded in lived experience, compassion, and a strong belief in transformation. Ron also hosts The Truth About Addiction Podcast, continuing the conversation and sharing real stories that help people find a better way forward.In the podcast, Ron shares his story; heroin addiction, prison time, recovery, and the mindset shift that changed everything:“You’re not a bad person trying to get good. You’re a sick person trying to get well.”They unpack why cocaine has become a silent epidemic in the trades, how “functional” addiction hides in plain sight, and why the opposite of addiction isn’t willpower… it’s connection. This isn’t a scare campaign. It’s a wake-up call with a path forward.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why addiction isn’t weakness, it’s pain looking for relief“Functional” addiction vs street-level addiction (and why both destroy lives)The real cost of hangovers, comedowns, and missed mornings (you’re not just losing time, you’re losing trust)Ron’s 8 demands for rebuilding a life: openness, acceptance, reliability, consistency, congruence, thoroughness, respect, honestyWhy mentorship is non-negotiable when your “one bag” turns into threeHow trade business owners can get help without blowing up their work and family lifeWhy taking ownership is the first step to recoveryEpisode Highlights“Recovery means finding what you lost: yourself.”“The opposite of addiction is connection.”“If you can’t guarantee your behaviour once you start… you need a mentor.”“When you show up hungover, you’re stealing from your boss, your family, and yourself.”In this episode:00:00 You’re not a bad person, you’re a sick person trying to get well04:20 Cocaine + alcohol in the trades: the real-world fallout06:45 The 8 demands that rebuild character (and business standards)12:40 Ownership: the “Porsche with a flat tyre” lesson16:05 Street-level vs functional addiction (and why denial is deadly)18:00 Why “party drugs” aren’t a party, they destroy families fast22:30 The trades epidemic: big money, no support, bad habits25:40 How Ron’s program works (mentorship, flexibility, real accountability)29:30 Why people don’t ask for help (and the consequences)37:30 Identity...