#217: From Drug Addict to NYU Professor: Dr. Peter Rios's Radical Turnaround

What a Marine, Rehab, and a Mirror Taught Him About Leadership ↳ Connect with the host, Tara LaFon Gooch (https://linktr.ee/taragooch) on all platforms What does a Marine Corps veteran, former drug addict, and NYU professor have in common? He's the same man and his story will completely change how you think about purpose, failure, and leadership. In this episode of the GRASP Confidence Podcast, Tara sits down with Dr. Peter Rios — global leadership strategist, clinical associate professor at NYU, and partner to Fortune 500 companies, Harvard, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Peter grew up in public housing in upstate New York, barely graduated high school, flunked out of community college twice, and found himself in a rehab center at 25 with nothing left. What happened next is the kind of transformation that faith-based leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs need to hear right now. This episode covers exactly why gifted, high-achieving people stay stuck, what it means to drift — in life, in business, and in faith — and why discipline is supposed to feel boring. You'll walk away from this conversation with a completely new framework for purpose-driven leadership, a gut-check on whether you're burying your gifts or multiplying them, and the permission you didn't know you needed to start today — not someday. Whether you're a physician, a corporate executive, an entrepreneur, or someone who has simply lost their way, Dr. Rios delivers the kind of raw, unfiltered wisdom that only comes from someone who has lived it. Your leadership has the power to shape lives, organizations, even nations. Connect with Peter on LinkedIn (  / drpeterrios  ) or at www.peterriosconsulting.com (http://www.peterriosconsulting.com) for keynotes, consulting, or strategic partnership and don't miss his free gift to our listeners, the 30-day devotional "The Marketplace Is My Pulpit," at https://www.peterriosconsulting.com/R.... 🎧 Loved this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...) and share your biggest takeaway, it means the world! What does GRASP stand for? Gratitude. Responsibility. Action. Sight. Purpose. These five pillars are the foundation of authentic, confident leadership and every episode is designed to help you embody them more fully in your life, business, and calling. 🎙️ Not subscribed yet? Join thousands of high-performing leaders who tune in weekly for powerful conversations with world-class guests; real stories, mindset shifts, and actionable insights you can use immediately. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If today's episode moved you, a quick review helps us reach more leaders like you. Thank you! 🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3CpfzhP...) | Amazon/Audible (https://www.amazon.com/GRASP-Confiden...) | iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-gr...) Follow Tara: LinkedIn (  / tara-lafon-gooch  ) | YouTube (   / @taralafongooch  ) | Instagram (  / taralafongooch  ) | Facebook (  / tara.lafon.gooch  ) 🚀 Ready to elevate your brand? Tara's agency, Best Branding Solutions (https://bestbranding.solutions/) , helps leaders and businesses build a brand presence that's as powerful as their vision. Let's grow together. 💛 Share the love — send this episode to someone who needs it, or post it on your favorite platform. We rise by lifting others.