Beth McDonough is an award-winning investigative journalist, bestselling author, and speaker known for her powerful storytelling about addiction recovery, trauma, resilience, and personal transformation.
A former crime and public-safety reporter in major cities—including Houston, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis–St. Paul—Beth earned national recognition for breaking high-profile stories, most notably the miraculous escape of kidnapped teen Jayme Closs. Her transition from respected journalist to a woman fighting for sobriety is the heart of her acclaimed memoir Standby, a piercing narrative about addiction, shame, losing your identity and rebuilding a life from the ground up.
Today, Beth lives and writes in the red-rock desert of southern Utah, where she is completing her follow-up memoir Still Standing. She also speaks on topics like recovery, mental health, true crime, female friendship, and navigating life with humor and courage.
