An Inspired Chat with Estil Wallace of Scottsdale, Phoenix, West Phoenix

Estil Wallace shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Estil, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
That’s a great question to start off with. Definitely walking a specific path. When I found God and recovery from alcoholism I found purpose in my life for the very first time. I became genuinely useful to other people by being able to relate to people struggling with drugs, alcohol, low self worth, and childhood trauma. By being a walking example that people who have struggled deeply can not only recover but create meaningful, purposeful lives I discovered a calling that I didn’t even know I wanted.

a couple of years into recovery I started down the path of entrepreneurship which is a challenging road as well. By the time was 3 years in I met the woman I would eventually marry, have children with, and build a life with.

Now I’m 21 years into recovery. I’m very happily married over 14 years (been together 17), we have 3 amazing children we raising, and 8 years ago we founded Cornerstone Healing Center which treats mental health and substance use disorders of all kinds.

Helping people find lasting healing, being a supportive husband and present father is more than a full time job and I love every moment of it! I feel like I’m right where God wants me and I’m pushing constantly to improve myself so can be of optimal use to my God, my family and my community.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I was born in Clinton, Missouri and placed in foster care before being adopted at two years old; I was raised in Arizona

My adoptive grandparents did their best, but my biological parents were alcoholics and trauma was part of my childhood

I started sneaking beers and cigarettes in junior high, and by sixteen I was experimenting with methamphetamine; at seventeen I was blacking out regularly and eventually dropped out of Arcadia High School my senior year.

Those years were messy, but they taught me what addiction really feels like.

After multiple “rock‑bottom” moments in my twenties I found recovery through the 12‑step program in an old school Central Phoenix halfway house called The Solution, and a willingness to face my trauma as well as all the harm I had caused. In sobriety I worked in digital marketing and tech, and started helping others through service work. Over a decade into my recovery I began to “romanticize” the idea of creating a healing center. Like The Solution but more sophisticated with a Clinical staff and family therapy. In the summer of 2017 I finally put it on paper and a few moths later, Cornerstone Healing Center opened.

Today I’m the founder and CEO of Cornerstone Healing Center in Arizona. We’re more than a treatment facility; we combine a clinically backed, evidence-based model combined with 12-step disciplines and thriving community.

Many of our clients live with us in supportive housing, train with professional coaches in our on‑site gym, meditate and pray, and then step down into our lower levels of outpatient care.

Our goal is durable healing of mind, body and spirit. We’re returning sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, employees, and employers back to our Arizona communities.

Beyond Cornerstone, I host the “Struggle & Strive” podcast. It’s an unfiltered exploration of stories, principles and strategies for people who want to “get their sh!t together” and build extraordinary lives. The show reflects my journey—twenty+ years sober, father and husband—and my belief that recovery requires honesty, self‑awareness and practical tools.

What makes our work special is that it’s built from lived experience. I know what it’s like to feel hopeless and I’ve seen what’s possible when trauma is addressed and community is cultivated. Cornerstone and Struggle & Strive are both extensions of that mission.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Years ago I worked for a guy named Michael Hilliard, a real estate investor and entrepreneur. Michael was the first really wealthy person I’d ever known and he treated me like an equal, like a first class citizen.

He taught me the basic fundamentals of entrepreneurship and above all had an almost assuming confidence in me that no one ever had. It caught me off guard. Early in life I failed at basically everything that “should’ve” been the foundation for my life and as such I believed and even told myself silently that I was destined for failure. So, when Michael truly believed there was so much more I was capable of it shifted something deep inside of me for the better.

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Failure when met with iteration and consistency has really broken down the black and white thinking of my youth.

I use to see things so 1 dimensionally, “all or nothing, us and them”, the type of stuff you see on the news and social media.

Failing and continuing to try while changing my approach has taught me that life has so much nuance, wether it’s in relationships, business etc. No one really has the answers, the best among us are still exploring and learning.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
Behavioral Healthcare has changed a fair amount during my career and I’ve seen a lot organizations come and go and for a lot of reasons.

When I see an organization built on a singular tailwind it’s not likely going to have any staying power and I would imagine that’s true in many industries.

The agency we’re building, much like our community partners that have been around a long time provide the most value they can for the communities they serve. Tailwinds, just like headwinds come and go as the landscape slowly shifts.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will remember me as someone who genuinely gave a sh*t. Someone who was down to help them if they were willing to try.

The small kindnesses extended to me along the way meant the world to me and helped me get to where I am now. I want to be remembered for doing that for others the way I fondly remember those who have done it for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cornerstonehealingcenter.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estil_wallace/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/estilwallace/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@estil_wallace

Image Credits
Cornerstone Healing Center/Estil Wallace