Chasing Heroine: Addiction Recovery and Sobriety

his week’s episode features the powerful story of a woman who endured the darkest depths of heroin and crack addiction—homelessness, sex work, selling drugs, arrests, and violent assaults. After years of chaos, she found her turning point and got sober in 2018. Her journey didn’t stop there. Against all odds, she built a new life as a devoted mother, wife, and homeowner. Today, she works in the tr...

Eric’s journey begins in a small town in Ohio, where he was raised in a strict, religious fundamentalist household. The shift from being homeschooled to suddenly navigating public high school was jarring, and Eric turned to drinking and smoking weed as a way to cope. What started as a teenage escape grew into a cycle of destructive relationships and escalating substance use - Percocets, then heroi...

From the depths of Skid Row to the heights of entrepreneurial success, Khalil Rafati’s story is one of the most jaw-dropping transformations you’ll ever hear. Once a homeless heroin addict, Khalil hit rock bottom before rebuilding his life piece by piece. In this episode, he opens up about the brutal reality of addiction, the turning point that sparked his recovery, and how he went on to create Su...

This week, we sit down with ESPN reporter and former Rutgers gymnast Lauren Sisler , whose story is as heartbreaking as it is inspiring. In 2003, Lauren lost both of her parents within hours of each other to fatal fentanyl overdoses—a devastating truth she was too ashamed to share at the time. For years, she told friends and teammates that her parents had died of heart failure and respiratory issu...

Note from Jeannine: I am so excited for you all to meet another one of my #SGGC girlfriends, Britt! Britt absolutely blew me away with her poise, eloquence and knowledge around recovery and her journey into autism awareness. I love her and I know you will too! This week, we sit down with my friend and fellow Sober Girl Group Chat member, Britt Bernard , to hear her powerful story of transformation...

In this raw and unforgettable episode, we sit down with Renzo, a man whose story takes us from the halls of an Ecuadorian naval academy to the darkest corners of addiction — and finally, to redemption and love. Sent away as a teen in hopes of “straightening out,” he returned with more of taste for alcohol than ever. By 21, he was smoking meth. A move to the East Coast meant a fresh start… until he...

At just 24 years old, Ashley’s life changed in an instant. After years of struggling with meth addiction and surviving the brutal realities of sex work at just 17l, a tragic accident left her a quadriplegic. But rather than giving up, Ashley found the strength to do the unimaginable—she got sober. In this raw and deeply inspiring conversation, Ashley shares how she rebuilt her life from rock botto...

With over 5 million followers across platforms, content creator and entrepreneur Gabbie Egan built an empire sharing her unfiltered life online—from motherhood and marriage to bold opinions and viral moments. But behind the scenes, alcohol and marijuana were slowly pulling her away from the version of herself she knew she could be. In this raw and inspiring conversation, Gabbie shares how a single...

Note from Jeannine: I am so honored to introduce you guys to Steve Ellis, the sober living house manager that saved my life. Many of my stories are about Steve and the wisdom he shared with me in the darkest days of my active addiction and early sobriety. His insight and way of speaking to me was instrumental in my success in sobriety. Please let me know what you think! Episode Description: In thi...

Note from Jeannine: I am so honored to bring you an encore run of my episode with Rachel, recorded in April 2024. Since this interview, Rachel and I have become great friends, traveling to NYC and LA together. I admire and adore her, and I know you will too - enjoy! Today we have the pleasure. of chatting with Rachel Slocum, aka @rachelelizabethxo on social media. The incredibly popular social med...

Note from Jeannine: hey, y'all! I was so excited to interview Alexis! I was of course interested in interviewing her as a a participant in The Bling Ring, but as I learned more about her I became even more intrigued about her range of knowledge and experience in therapy and recovery. I learned so much from her, and I know you will, too! Episode description: In this powerful episode, we sit down wi...

**trigger warning: suicide Note from Jeannine: this is going to be one of y'alls favorite episodes of all time. I was blown away by Carrie's vulnerability and resilience. She also shared one of the most profound meditation and prayer practices that I have ever heard - I started it this week, actually. Please let me know your thoughts! On New Year’s Eve, Carrie's life shattered with the...

Note from Jeannine: So, this is a pretty big one for me. In 2020, while my studio was closed, I started manically listening to various podcasts every day looking for motivation and insight. One morning while sitting on the floor of our strength room, I heard the story of The Coffee Bean, as told through Clemson coach, Dabo Sweeney. The origins of that story begin in a jail cell in Texas - with tod...

Note from Jeannine: I had a great time chatting with Patrick. I found him to be incredibly insightful, vulnerable and honest. He is someone is consistently doing work to try to become the best version of himself, and I think we can always learn from people who are willing to take accountability, and share their solutions. Enjoy! Episode description: Patrick Holbert is a stand-up comedian whose spe...

Y'all are gonna love Deana as much as I did. Deana was adopted into a family in Calabasas and thrown into the entertainment industry as a child. Enduring childhood abuse by her adoptive mother led to teen rebellion and drug use. Addicted to crack cocaine by eighteen years old, Deana spent the next thirty years of life addicted, homeless and lost. Deana finally got sober in 2020 and is thriving in...

Jimmy's using career began and ended early. Starting with weed and massive amounts of cough syrup eventually progressed to cocaine and meth. Jimmy's meth use descended into homeless and countless stints in jail - quickly. Locked up on nine warrants - plus a new charge of breaking and entering into his family home - Jimmy went to jail on July 20th, 2013 for the last time. He has now been so...

Note from Jeannine: Thank you guys so much for your patience over the last few weeks as I prepared for my TedX Talk! I think it went well and hopefully it'll be published to the TedX YouTube in a few months! CJ's episode is incredible, I learned so much from him and I know you will, too. Let me know your thoughts! Episode description: CJ grew up bouncing around amongst three separate and v...

Note from Jeannine: Christina's story is one of my favorite all time episodes of the show. Just an incredible story of strength and resilience. This is an encore run of her episode, new episodes return next week after my TedX Talk! Thank you for being patient with me, I love you guys! TRIGGER WARNING*** ***sex trafficking, domestic abuse, assault, SA and pregnancy termination My conversation t...

Note from Jeannine: Vegas's episode is one of my favorite all time episodes! With my Tedx Talk happening next Saturday, I felt it was a good time to revisit a popular episode - back with new episodes next week! I got to sit down with Michael "Vegas" Gialketsis. Vegas talks to us about growing up in Las Vegas, getting into drugs young, being sent to an institution as a teenager, going...

Note from Jeannine: Hey, y'all! Today's episode originally aired in 2023 and it's one of my all time favorite episodes and I feel it deserves a revival! My friend, Sara Clark, grew up using very early with her dad and eventually her use developed into full blown addiction. Sara was arrested multiple times, including twice in one week! After finally getting sober, Sara returned to schoo...

Note from Jeannine: Hey, y'all! Today's episode is a bit different, but really fun and informative. Today, Fausto Castellano returns to the show to discuss his specialty as a therapist, codependency in relationships. I share some stories about my past dating history that I have never shared before and we discuss what codependency looks like, why it can be consequential for your mental heal...

Note from Jeannine: Ooooh, Y'ALL. This is another banger. Louie Mandrapilias was a young gay man in Louisiana in the 70s...when it really wasn't okay to be a gay man anywhere, much less Louisiana. Checking out New York, or as Louie tells me "gay mecca," for two weeks the summer before his senior year of high school turns into a years long run as an international drug smuggler. Lo...

Note from Jeannine: Joey Rakisits is back! Narcan Nate and I interviewed Joey a few years ago, and his episodes (Part One and Two), remain two of the highest rated shows we've published. Definitely go back and listen to those! When we interview Joey, he had about two years sober. He had recently tapered himself off of suboxone and felt solid in his recovery. A few months after our episode aired, J...

Note from Jeannine: Y,all this episode is FUN. I totally fell in love with Jessy during this interview and you will, too. From raves in high school as the "Persian Kitten," to goofballs and grand theft auto, Jessy Lauren has done it all and lived to tell her story. Facing three years in prison in her thirties, Jessy OD'd in a trap house and finally decided to make a genuine attempt at sobriety. No...

Note from Jeannine: Hey, y'all! I decided to switch it up today! We had two back to back incredible episodes that were heavy on the recovery, mental health struggled and treatment, so this week we're going with a bit more light hearted subject - motel stories! (If you have any motel stories, btw, I'd love to hear them! Send an email or voice message to chasingheroine@gmail.com) Jed is...