Oliver Trevena: Surviving Trauma, Building Brands, and Staying Sober in Hollywood
Oliver Trevena joins the Painful Lessons Podcast to share how he turned near-death trauma into triumph. The actor, producer, and Caliwater co-founder opens up about being beaten into a coma, rebuilding his face, and reclaiming his life through sobriety and entrepreneurship. From working with Vanessa Hudgens and Gerard Butler to launching wellness brands and indie films, Oliver’s journey is one of resilience, humility, and relentless hustle.This candid episode covers:Rebuilding after brutal physical traumaGerard Butler’s hilarious role in a tooth-related dating disasterThe voice that tells creatives they're never enoughHow sobriety transformed his success and peaceStarting Caliwater with Vanessa Hudgens & top investorsParenting, forgiveness, and emotional maturityA raw and inspiring conversation for anyone walking the line between ambition and authenticity.Intro & Oliver’s Outlook on Humor and PainThe Gerard Butler “tooth” storyBeaten into a coma at 22 — and what came afterWinning Best Breakout Actor at 43The hustle of an actor/producerMental patterns & battling the “not enough” voiceLearning to pause and live in the nowSobriety, shame, and reclaiming joyParenting, forgiveness, and self-compassionFrom ballet shoes to boardroomsLaunching Caliwater with Vanessa HudgensBrand integrity: product before celebrityNew ventures: hot sauce, ice cream, and red light therapyRelationship building over networkingFinal reflections: living from the inside out