From Surviving to Thriving: An Interview with Author Tom Madigan (Part One)

What’s it like to grow up with a parent who struggled from alcohol abuse? What steps can the child of an alcoholic parent take to survive that trauma and move forward and thrive?

Podcast host Bob Edholm sits down to talk with his friend Tom Madigan, who grew up as the child of an alcoholic parent—his dad. Tom has written a book entitled I Survived: Living with the Trauma of a Dependent Parent, which was released in February 2026. As they discuss his book, Tom shares his life experiences and the trauma that he, his mother, and his sister faced as a result of his dad’s alcohol dependency.

In Part One of this two-part episode, Tom discusses his research into several current theories on the causes of alcohol dependency, and how genetic theories, as well as some environmental impacts, helped contribute to his dad’s alcoholism. Tom also does a “deep dive” into his family history, particularly of his dad, his mom, and his sister.