# Interventionist interview-Pej Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLhFxO1lI-M Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/tLhFxO1lI-M Generated: 2025-12-26T11:35:05.493+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Pej, an interventionist featured in the Soft White Underbelly series, recounts the tragic car accident at age 17 where he struck and killed a child, an event that profoundly shaped his life and career path toward helping others in recovery, despite his own ongoing struggles with addiction. **Key Points:** - Pej was born in Berlin but grew up in Utah until age 15, before moving to Orange County/Los Angeles, California. - His childhood was good, but his father was emotionally and sometimes physically abusive, leading to tension at home and his parents splitting when he was 17. - At age 17, while driving, Pej was involved in a fatal car accident where he hit a child riding a bicycle, resulting in the child's death. - He was charged with vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence, but he felt the accident was partially his fault and partially the city's fault due to an obstructed stop sign. - Following the accident, he moved out, lived on the streets, and became heavily involved in substance abuse, dropping out of college and art school. - He eventually found recovery through Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and later became an interventionist, attributing his current path to a priest who introduced him to recovery principles. - Pej now runs Zoom classes teaching others how to connect with people struggling with addiction and how to help them find recovery. ![Screenshot at 04:04: Pej recounts the car accident at age 17 where he killed a child, noting the event profoundly impacted his life and subsequently led him to recovery work.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/tLhFxO1lI-M/00-04-04.jpg) **Context:** This video features an interview with Pej, an interventionist based in Los Angeles, as part of the 'Soft White Underbelly' series by Mark Laita. Pej discusses his difficult early life, marked by parental conflict and an early involvement with drugs, which culminated in a life-altering car accident at age 17. This event, coupled with subsequent struggles, ultimately led him to recovery and his current career helping others overcome addiction. ## Detailed Analysis Pej was born in Berlin but grew up in Utah before moving to California. He describes his childhood as good, though marked by tension due to his father's abusive behavior, leading to his parents' separation when he was 17. That same year, he was involved in a fatal car accident while driving, hitting a child who was on a bicycle, which resulted in the child's death. Pej vividly recalls the trauma of the event, including the appearance of the child's body and the smell of gasoline, and he immediately felt guilt, believing it was his fault despite systemic issues like an obstructed stop sign. Following this, he left home, lived on the streets, and became deeply involved in heavy drug use (meth, cocaine, alcohol) throughout his teens and early twenties, eventually dropping out of college and art school. His turning point came when he was 35; his mother confronted him about his drug use, prompting him to seek help. He credits a priest who introduced him to Narcotics Anonymous (NA) principles and a recovery home for guiding him. Pej eventually became a respected interventionist, teaching others how to connect with struggling addicts and show them a path to a better life, noting that his experience with meth-related psychosis and his own recovery gives him insight when working with clients. He concludes by stating that helping others find recovery is his life's purpose. ### Early Life and Trauma - Born in Berlin, grew up in Utah (ages 5-15) then LA - Parents separated when he was 17 due to father's abusive nature - Had a gruesome car accident at 17, killing a child. ### Descent into Addiction - Felt immense guilt over the accident, leading him to use drugs (meth, cocaine, alcohol) heavily throughout his teens and 20s - Dropped out of college and art school due to addiction. ### Path to Recovery - His mother confronted him about his drug use at age 35, leading him to seek help - Credits a priest for introducing him to NA principles and recovery homes (Essence House, Limitless Journey). ### Current Work as Interventionist - Now works as an interventionist, teaching recovery skills and meeting people where they are at, including those with meth-related psychosis - Success rate of interventions is estimated at 70-80%. ![Screenshot at 01:01: Pej discussing his childhood background, noting he was born in Berlin and grew up in Utah before moving to California.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/tLhFxO1lI-M/00-01-01.jpg) ![Screenshot at 04:24: Pej recounting the fatal car accident at age 17 where he struck a child on a bicycle.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/tLhFxO1lI-M/00-04-24.jpg) ![Screenshot at 06:35: Pej explaining that he was sober the morning of the fatal accident, but he never stayed sober for long during those times.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/tLhFxO1lI-M/00-06-35.jpg) ![Screenshot at 10:59: Pej discussing how he started distributing substances and became involved in the crime world, calling himself the 'worst customer' and 'best customer' for drugs.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/tLhFxO1lI-M/00-10-59.jpg) ![Screenshot at 28:07: A montage of images from the 'Soft White Underbelly' book series being flipped through, showing various subjects and quotes.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/tLhFxO1lI-M/00-28-07.jpg)