By: Lindsay Jeffords

When Jason Umidi began his detox journey, he was a man standing at a crossroads—broken, exhausted, and searching for something real. It was the moment that marked the boundary between who he had been and who he was meant to become.

Nearly a decade later, Jason is a published author, recovery coach, speaker, and entrepreneur. Through Jesus + Seltzer and Umidi Lifestyle Solutions, LLC, he’s helping others rediscover what he almost lost—faith, purpose, and the courage to begin again. His path to sobriety opened the door to something far greater: renewal, connection, and lasting hope.

A Second Chance Done Right

Jason’s journey began at his lowest point—a place where everything had finally fallen apart. “Checking into detox wasn’t a proud moment,” he says, “but it was an honest one.” After more than twenty years of addiction, the decision to seek help became the first act of hope he had made in a long time. Nothing about it was easy.

Over time, he began rebuilding his life piece by piece. His family started to trust him again, and, he learned to trust himself. That trust restored his belief that life could be meaningful again. Each day became its own victory—whether it lasted an hour or just a few fleeting minutes. “I stopped running from my story,” he shares. “Now, I use it to help others find their own way out.” What began as a means of survival slowly evolved into a mission of service.

Turning Struggle into Story

Writing offered Jason a lifeline—a way to process his pain and turn it into purpose. His blog, Today’s One Minute Read, began as short reflections on recovery and faith, written for himself and anyone who might stumble across them. Those pieces found their audience and became the foundation for his book, Jesus + Seltzer: Stories and Meditations on Sobriety and Recovery Vol. 1.

Its impact reached far beyond what Jason expected. He was soon featured on The 700 Club, NPR’s Watching America, and in several national and international publications. “People don’t need perfection,” he says. “They need permission—to be flawed, to heal, and to believe they can still change.”

Building on that success, Jason recently completed his second book, Jesus + Seltzer: Meditations on Addiction, Recovery and Hope, which he plans to publish this winter as part of Dry January.

Coaching Through Compassion

As a recovery coach, Jason meets people in the middle of their chaos — not above it. His approach is personal, practical, and grounded in empathy. He works with executives managing quiet addictions, parents rebuilding trust, and individuals simply trying to stay sober one more day. “I don’t coach from a pedestal,” he says. “I coach from experience.”

In his Jesus + Seltzer recovery circles, he creates spaces for honesty, healing, and connection without judgment. Some participants come from faith backgrounds, others don’t—and Jason welcomes them all with equal respect. “Not everyone wants to talk about faith and that’s okay,” he explains. His goal isn’t to persuade but to remind people that compassion and grace remain available, even when they feel undeserving.

A New Chapter of Purpose

In May 2025, Jason launched a new venture—purchasing Med Emporium, a Durable Medical Equipment (DME) store, through his company, Umidi Lifestyle Solutions, LLC. Located online at www.medemp.com, Med Emporium has become Jason’s primary focus since leaving his previous career in April.

Though he had no retail background, his experience as a parent of a disabled daughter gave him an intimate understanding of the needs of both patients and caregivers. “I know this business as a parent and a consumer,” he explains. “It’s because of that experience that I knew I could succeed in this new chapter.” Each day, he meets individuals and families searching for solutions—and he’s able to help. For Jason, this career shift is more than professional; it’s deeply personal. “It’s an opportunity every day to serve my fellowman,” he says. “This work gives me a greater sense of purpose.”

Faith Without Judgment

Jason’s message resonates across belief systems because he has lived on both sides—the closeness of faith and the emptiness of losing it. During the darkest period of his life, he stepped away from his spiritual roots, and the isolation that followed became the hard part of recovery.

Now, through his writing and coaching, he speaks to that very pain—especially for those in faith communities who feel too ashamed to ask for help. He believes healing isn’t about seeking forgiveness or hiding flaws. It’s about accepting truth with grace and allowing love to do the work that shame never could.

Hope That Brings You Home

Hope defines Jason’s journey and his life’s work. It was the force that kept him moving forward, and it was the very thing he now helps others rediscover. “Hope is what brings people back to life,” he says. “It’s the quiet belief that tomorrow can still look different from today.” That conviction runs through everything he does—his coaching, his business, and the community he’s building through Jesus + Seltzer.

By the end of this year, Jason plans to launch a podcast and membership platform, creating a space where people around the world can connect, share their experiences, and find encouragement in their recovery.

Living Redemption Every Day

Eight years into sobriety, Jason Umidi’s life stands as a testament to the power of renewal. Through Jesus + Seltzer, Umidi Lifestyle Solutions, and Med Emporium, he’s turned pain into purpose and his story into a steady light for others. His journey shows that redemption is not reserved for the perfect—it’s available to anyone willing to reach for it. “Every breath is another chance,” he says. “And as long as we’re breathing, hope is still on the table.”

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