Nationally recognized crisis coach and CNN Hero Scott H Silverman premiered his podumentary 'Building Heroes' on February 19, 2026, coinciding with Scott H Silverman Day. The San Diego City Council originally proclaimed this annual day in 2008 to recognize Silverman's decades of service in addiction recovery and community leadership. The program release represents a symbolic alignment of timing and purpose, expanding his advocacy work into a new media format.
The podumentary blends long-form conversation with documentary storytelling to provide an unfiltered examination of addiction, rehabilitation, and second-chance advocacy. Silverman shares his personal journey, including his statement about November 10, 1984: "I wanted to end my own life. The only way I was going to be able to move forward — and there was no path forward, I felt." This raw honesty characterizes the program's approach to addiction recovery narratives.
'Building Heroes' reinforces themes from Silverman's latest book, 'You're Not God — That Job Is Taken,' which argues that lasting recovery requires humility, accountability, and relinquishing control. The book offers practical insights for individuals and families navigating addiction and personal responsibility. Viewers can access the podumentary through the official program page, while information about the book is available here.
Although conceived as a standalone feature, Silverman indicated the project might evolve into a full series. "We approached this as a one-episode event," Silverman explained, "but the response and the need for these conversations make it clear — this could very well grow into a full series. There are too many stories left to tell." This potential expansion suggests the program could become a sustained platform for recovery narratives.
The debut's timing on Scott H Silverman Day connects the media initiative to Silverman's established work in workforce development, treatment navigation, and recovery advocacy. By launching on this commemorative day, the program extends his mission into educational media that confronts stigma and amplifies voices in addiction recovery. Silverman emphasized the fundamental challenge many face: "Three of the hardest words anyone can ever say out loud are: 'I need help.'"
'Building Heroes' enters the emerging podumentary space as a defining entry that could influence how addiction recovery is discussed in media. By combining personal testimony with documentary realism, the program offers both intimate perspective and broader context about addiction's realities. This approach may help shift public understanding and reduce the isolation often experienced by those affected by addiction.
The program's release represents a strategic expansion of recovery advocacy into accessible digital media, potentially reaching audiences beyond traditional support networks. As addiction continues to affect communities nationwide, media initiatives like 'Building Heroes' provide crucial platforms for education and destigmatization. Silverman's official website offers additional background on his work, though the podumentary itself stands as a self-contained educational resource.
