Recovery Matters! Podcast

In this episode of Recovery Matters , Brian shares his powerful journey from sports and college life to struggling with alcohol, cocaine, and compulsive gambling. He opens up about the chaos of addiction, the turning points that led him into treatment, and how community and recovery gave him a new life. Today, Brian works to support others in recovery, offering hope and connection for anyone strug...

Dr. Chad McDonald is the Chief Medical Officer at InterCommunity (a not-for-profit, addiction and behavioral health leaning FQHC-LA in the Greater Hartford, CT area), where he has the privilege of helping people find hope and healing through recovery. Initially a family physician by training, Dr. McDonald became board-certified in Addiction Medicine after witnessing the impact of substance use dis...

TJ sits down with Elizabeth, a former Golden Gloves boxing champion, to talk about her journey through gambling addiction and long-term recovery. Elizabeth shares how her upbringing, athletic drive, and devastating losses fueled her compulsive gambling, and how she eventually found hope, healing, and connection through recovery. From the thrill of Las Vegas to the crushing impact of debt and shame...

Sean Hemeon shares his powerful journey from a chaotic childhood in a strict Mormon household, through struggles with identity, addiction, and dangerous high-stakes drug dealing, to long-term recovery and reconciliation with his family. He opens up about feeling “not enough” from an early age, the role alcohol and drugs played in numbing that pain, and how his life spiraled into violence, federal...

At just 22 years old and five months into recovery, Thomas opens up about his long road through addiction, street life, and nearly 25 treatment centers. From dark moments in New Haven to dancing sober at his god-sister’s wedding, Thomas shares how he finally found peace, purpose, and a way to live. ----Across the Web---- 🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us ✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/ 🎙Recov...

Derek Benson of Investing in Sobriety shares his journey from a highly structured childhood and elite athletics through pills, escalating addiction, crime, prison, and finally a sustainable recovery built on a mental-physical-spiritual blueprint and strong community.   Highlights: * Early structure: military/boarding school; learned independence and discipline. * First intoxication and growing acc...

Stephen Matos, a person in long-term recovery, joins TJ on the Recovery Matters podcast to share his incredible journey since his last use of drugs and alcohol in 1986 and his last gambling experience in 1987. Stephen opens up about his upbringing in Hartford, Connecticut, where his father was deeply entrenched in gambling activities. He recounts how his own descent into alcohol, drugs, and gambli...

Gabe shares his story of growing up in a middle-class suburb in Long Island, struggling with drug and alcohol addiction from a young age, and the ensuing legal issues and incarcerations. He discusses his turning point in 2018 after a serious overdose and his subsequent commitment to recovery, community service, and faith. Gabe talks about his work as a volunteer, recovery coach, and founder of a n...

Angel, who is celebrating six months of sobriety from Fentanyl, opens up about his path to recovery, the struggles he faced, and the life-changing moments that led him to sobriety. He shares insights into the challenges of overcoming addiction, the pivotal moments that influenced his decision to seek help, and the transformation his life has undergone since becoming sober. The conversation highlig...

Serena Saunders, founder of Pawsitive Recovery, shares her heartfelt journey from a challenging childhood marked by her mother's schizophrenia and substance use, leading to her own struggles with drugs and alcohol starting at age 12. After years of ups and downs, Serena found recovery four years ago and turned her life around by creating Pawsitive Recovery. This unique program helps people in addi...

Ben Kaye shares his powerful story of recovery after years caught in the world of chemsex —a term used to describe using drugs like crystal meth, GBL, and mephedrone to enhance sex, lower inhibitions, and feel more connected during sexual encounters, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. What started as weekend partying turned into daily drug use and emotional isolation. Ben opens up about how t...

In this episode of the Recovery Matters podcast, Michelle Ketchum celebrates her first year of sobriety. Michelle discusses her journey from a toxic relationship and substance use to finding the strength to seek help and enter rehab. She shares her experiences of personal growth, the importance of community, and her involvement in sober living and activities through organizations like The Phoenix...

In this candid episode of the Recovery Matters Podcast , we sit down with Carter Graves , founder of KMFK Safety Services and Executive Director of Grassroots Harm Reduction. Carter shares their journey of growing up in a household shaped by meth use, navigating personal trauma, and redefining recovery through harm reduction and managed methamphetamine use. With courage, humor, and radical transpa...

Recovery Matters Podcast Episode 181 | TJ and Mickey delve into Mickey's personal journey of long-term recovery. Mickey shares her raw and inspiring story, starting from her early exposure to alcohol and drugs, leading up to a DUI that became the turning point in her life. She speaks candidly about her struggles with addiction to various substances, including alcohol, cannabis, and prescription me...

Host TJ takes listeners live to the State Capitol in Hartford, Connecticut for Recovery Day. The event features an array of voices, including State Representative Robin Comey, Senator Saud Anwar, and Representatives Patrick Biggins and Devin Kearney, among others, who share their personal stories and legislative efforts to support individuals in recovery. Key discussions include the importance of...

From a childhood marked by trauma and instability to multiple incarcerations, heroin addiction, and even surviving a gunshot to the head—Rick opens up about the chaos that defined his past and the redemption he’s found in recovery. Rick reflects on the moment he finally surrendered on February 5, 2008, and how that surrender sparked a transformation that's helped him become a community leader, fat...

In this episode of the Recovery Matters podcast, host TJ takes listeners to the CCAR New London Recovery Community Center in Connecticut. The center, along with two others in the state, is at risk of losing funding. TJ interviews various individuals, including John, the impromptu center manager, and volunteers like Andrew and Ernest, all of whom share their personal recovery stories and the signif...

Recovery Matters Podcast Episode 177 | Eric shares his incredible transformation—from growing up surrounded by chaos, falling into addiction, and navigating incarceration, to building a life centered on recovery, family, and purpose. With brutal honesty and heartfelt insight, Eric reflects on the trauma he carried, the choices he made to survive, and the life-changing moment he finally surrendered...

Alexis Nicole overcame addiction and transformed her life. Alexis discusses her early struggles growing up in a middle-class family, experiencing bullying, early exposure to drugs and alcohol, and the subsequent spiral into deeper substance use. She delves into significant turning points, including encounters with domestic violence, substance use, and homelessness. Through the support of a rehab p...

Recovery Matters Podcast Episode 175 | TJ talks with Dave Ogden, a counselor from Groton and Grasso Tech, about his incredible journey of overcoming substance use and personal loss. Dave shares poignant memories from his troubled childhood, his encounters with drugs in school, and the life-changing impact of meeting his wife. He candidly recounts the traumatic experience of his son's death and the...

Recovery Matters Podcast Episode 174 | Leeroy opens up about his tumultuous childhood, growing up in a dysfunctional household where drugs were prevalent. He describes his early encounters with alcohol and marijuana, which eventually led to addiction. Leeroy speaks candidly about the impact of his lifestyle on opportunities and relationships, and the pivotal moments that drove him to seek sobriety...

In this episode of the Recovery Matters podcast, TJ, interviews Luke, who has been clean since October 2022. They discuss Luke's early life, his descent into addiction, the impact of his mother's diagnosis, and his numerous overdoses and stints in jail. Luke shares his turning point towards recovery, involving treatment, sponsorship, and service work. He emphasizes the importance of humility, serv...

Recovery Matters Podcast Episode 172 | In this episode of the Recovery Matters podcast, Mark, sober since 1992, reflects on his youth in Connecticut, the hardships faced due to substance use, and his eventual path to recovery. Mark details the turning point that led him to seek help, his prison experience, the critical role of community and step meetings, and the strategies he employs to maintain...

Recovery Matters Podcast Episode 171 | Taylor opens up about growing up in a home surrounded by substance use, the struggles of feeling unworthy, and the choices that led him deeper into addiction. He shares the harsh realities of hitting rock bottom, losing his father, and the moments that finally pushed him to embrace recovery. From living in a crack house to opening a sober home, Taylor’s trans...

Recovery Matters Podcast Episode 170 | From growing up amidst addiction in Connecticut to battling his own substance use, Vinny Imperati aka Skinny Vinny opens up about his father's tragic overdose, his time spent homeless in a porta-potty, and his near-death experiences. But the story takes a turn when Vinny finds a new purpose in film and entertainment, leading him to work with his idols from Ja...