Fantasy Or Reality? The Gambling Problem Podcast

In this lovely episode I read parts of the NY Times article titled " It’s Easy (and Legal) to Bet on Sports. Do Young Adults Know the Risks?" written by Marie Fazio. It details a young man named Saul Maleks battle with Sports Betting Addiction and his recovery. I also read and try and think my way through my thoughts and feelings about some of the comments, positive and negative, left on this arti...

How are you? I'm curious how you all are doing today and in your life of recovery. In this episode I ask how are you? I detail some passages from my journal from my early days and where my mind was at compared to where it is today and how I got to the point I am today. I also speak on a recent article in USA TODAY my wife and I were in and how it made me feel and why. Questions, comments or if you...

In this episode I talk about hitting my 1 year mark bet free from my last date of bet on 5/2/21 and how my life has completely changed since then. I reflect on how I felt back in these days and weeks last year and how this year is different. I talk about what has worked for me and why. Thank you so much to everyone for listening and being here with me on this journey over the last year! We can all...

In this episode I am really excited to introduce you all to Todd S. from New Jersey! Todd and I both attend the same Monday night Zoom meeting every week. We both found this group through our friend Jamie who runs The After Gambling Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-after-gambling-podcast/id1346227100 a fantastic resource for problem gamblers seeking out recovery. Todd and I discus...

In this short episode I check in with everyone after being away from the podcast for a few weeks. I talk balance, a few ideas on recovery and mental health, and cough waaaay too much! Sorry I'm getting over a cold or something along those lines! The next one will be better I promise! New Mic next episode, hopefully!

In this episode I am pleased to be joined by Mike Bernos an Author, Musician and Journalist who turned many years of off and on gambling addiction into a positive by writing about his journey in a book titled " What Dostoyevsky Didn't Know About Gambling (150 Years Later We Are Still Vexed By It)". This was a wonderful conversation with Mike I think we all can learn a lot from. He is a talented au...

Hey Everyone! This is my first solo episode in the last 4 and I'm excited to ramble on about the happenings over the last month, whats coming up and of course how I feel! This is a special month for us recovering problem gamblers and affected others. This is PGAM (Problem Gambling Awareness Month). New York is having its annual conference this year virtually on march 9th and 10th, please come join...

In this Episode I was joined by Alex from Alabama who came to tell us his journey through a gambling addiction to Sports Betting. He was open enough to share his struggles with his addiction beginning at the age of 17 up until the age of 27. He finally began seeking help last year in 2021 through one on one therapy with one brief relapse on January 7th, but he has been bet free since then. Stories...

In this episode I am joined by Ted Hartwell from Las Vegas, Nevada. He has over 14 years in recovery and has a powerful story from start to finish in which he details his journey from controlled gambling starting at a young age, through his compulsive gambling years into his time in recovery. He is a member of the Nevada Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling and the Nation Council on Problem Gamb...

In this episode my best friend John and I talk addiction, our long friendship, the differences between being a problem gambler and a non-problem gambler. We also dive into an event from today and why I felt the way I did and how it relates back to my childhood and early adulthood with feelings of being discarded or abandoned. Thanks for listening!  Here is the link to my wife Kellys Podcast "I, Bu...

In this episode I speak on the upcoming Superbowl and recognizing triggers and how I plan to handle this weekend. I also talk on my week, upcoming plans and how my wife and I's recovery has been going. I also talk on some family issues, my thoughts and really learning on breaking down my thoughts and feelings and why I feel these things. Please reach out and share your story and I'll read whatever...

In this episode I speak on my thoughts and feelings on the story in The NY Times by Kurt Streeter titled "The Rising Human Cost of Sports Betting" as well as my thoughts and feelings on the large increase in listeners due to being featured in this story. I also speak on why therapy is so important to myself, my wife and our recoveries as well as learning to live each day with the ups and downs. NY...

Hey all! In this episode I talk about how my week has been, Gambling in the news and my thoughts and feelings on what is going on with the legalization of sports betting. I get a little worked up in this one!! I hope you enjoy! Go watch the HBO real sports episode that just came out that has a 20 minute segment on the recent legalization and its impact. Also keep an eye out for an article in the N...

In this episode I speak on some difficult topics that come along with gambling addiction and recovery. First off if you are having thoughts of suicide please call 1-800-273-8255 or reach out to someone. I talk legalized sports betting in NY, a recent suicide due to gambling addiction, read a poem on addiction and try to sing a song about being in active addiction (not as well as I would have liked...

In this episode I speak on my rough days over the holidays and how life is not always easy in this journey. It was a tough Christmas and week afterwards. I had a lot of anger as did my wife and I speak on how these days were. Thankfully New years was much better. I got to spend some great time with family, playing music, games and more. I also reconnect and make amends with an old friend. #gamblin...

In this episode Kelly and I talk on the topic of positives we have gained through our recovery process, what we have learned and what we hope for the future. We also talk on how we have brought our recover process into our family and how we discuss it with our children. For anyone wanting to try therapy at a discounted rate try betterhelp.com. This is not a promotion or ad I just have been hearing...

In this episode I discuss the differences in winning and losing playing Draftkings and Fanduel as opposed to what I call real life wins. Real life wins everytime in my book. I speak on a great weekend with my family and how through my life of reflection, change and recovery I can truly enjoy each moment. 

Hey everyone! Welcome back! In this episode I speak about 3 songs that really mean a lot to me in my recovery, read some of the lyrics and go over why they are important to me. I also speak briefly on my recent interview with Brian Hatch from All In the Addicted Gamblers Podcast, Fanduel advertising and the book the 4 agreements. Let me know what songs or music is important to you in your recovery...

In this episode I talk about the origins of my addictive behavior, what I began with and where it led to. I only discuss these things to give you a complete picture of what I've gone through and show you recovery is possible. From my early days of weed and alcohol to my days of cocaine and heroin I discuss how I got there, but also show you that it is possible to get clean/bet free and live a life...

In this episode I talk about what I believe are important steps to take in rebuilding your life after addiction. I speak on what has worked for myself, what my passions are and why I will never drink or play any type of fantasy sports again. Questions, comments reach out to me at fantasyorreality@yahoo.com

In this episode my wife Kelly comes on as my first guest and talks about her recovery as well as what it is like to be the affected other of a compulsive gambler. If you have any questions for Kelly or I email us at fantasyorreality@yahoo.com

In this episode I discuss what I've done for my recovery over the last 6+ months and what has worked for me. Everyones journey and what works for them is going to be different and thats ok. I explain the types of recovery tools I use and why they work for me. If anyone has any comments, questions or wants to be a guest email me at fantasyorreality@yahoo.com PS: Ill get better with the Mic work! st...

In this episode I talk about my relapse playing DFS Daily Fantasy Sports in 2019 until my last date of bet in 2021. I talk about the stress and overwhelming feelings I was having and go over some details of my story and the day I was caught. Coming to terms with my addiction(s) has helped me in my recovery and I explain why. If you'd like to be a guest or have comments or questions email me at fan...

In this episode I talk about how I started playing Daily Fantasy Sports and how I became addicted to it. I talk about the reasons I played up until the first time I was caught and how it happened. If you have any comments or questions or would like to be a guest on the show email me at fantasyorreality@yahoo.com

This is just a simple introduction about the podcast and why I'm here doing this. I talk about Daily Fantasy Sports, a brief intro of my recovery journey and letting go of shame and forgiving yourself. I hope you enjoy this and future episodes! For any questions, comments or if you'd like to be a future guest email the show at fantasyorreality@yahoo.com