The Payoff - Stories of Sobriety

In addiction, Hannah Sward’s life was dark. Living under a cloud of crystal meth, while working as an escort and stripper, she masked childhood trauma and spiritual sickness with drug abuse. Now, with more than 12 years on the sunny side of the street in sobriety, she shares strength and hope in her memoir “Strip”, while revealing all her scars. Feel the sunlight of the spirit shine through Hannah...

Luke Timm was a two-time all-state wide receiver in New York before he decided to play college football at Princeton. At Princeton, it wasn't long before he was arrested for fighting with a police officer who found him with cocaine and marijuana. A short time later, he'd hit a bottom, as he couch surfed and failed to hold a steady job. It's easy to relate to Luke and his alcoholism if you are an a...

Amy Dresner is a journalist, an author, a former comedian, and most importantly sober. Her book "My Fair Junkie: A Memoir of Getting Dirty & Staying Clean" has been hailed by critics and readers alike and it gives people struggling with addiction hope. She's got another book on the way and a successful podcast called "Rehab Junkie" but she also has real-life problems in recovery that she's ver...

Doug Overton scratched and clawed his way to 12 seasons playing in the NBA, followed by a career coaching with the Sixers and Nets. But at 46 years old he took a season off to spend time back at home, while his daughter finished up her final year of high school. That's when Doug smoked his first joint. What followed was six years of abuse, denial, and a couple of highly publicized run-ins with pol...

Stephen Hill is the founder of Speak Sobriety and has been sober for 10 years. He's also a young person in recovery, a bestselling author, a recovery coach, and a fierce attorney advocating for treatment over incarceration. Stephen is a renowned national speaker on substance use prevention and mental health awareness with a truly inspiring comeback story that everyone must hear.  https://speaksobr...

Megan Racer is a light in the world of recovery but for so long she was living in darkness. Her heroine addiction led to work for a cartel and a run-in with law enforcement, while moving almost 90 lbs. of meth across the border. That led to more than a year in prison. Today she works at Camelback Recovery in Phoenix and is more than 4 years sober. Megan’s story is beyond inspiring and compelling....

Tom has carried the message of recovery since his brother Chris lost his battle with addiction in 1997.  But only over the last five years has Tom truly embraced sobriety himself. His work as a recovery advocate has always seen him push to smash the stigma around addiction and carry his brother’s legacy, but now it includes his own story of sobriety. Amazing dude. The Chris Farley Show: A Biograph...

Kristen has been sober since she was 17-years old but her suffering up to that point could've spanned a lifetime. A full-blown addict, in the wake of sexual abuse, she entered treatment and her recovery took flight. She radiates recovery and carries her message as an advocate. Kristen is amazing! https://mindingyourmind.org/book-a-speaker/ https://www.instagram.com/tv/CfeikEUKCXR/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M...

By the time he was 18-years old, Peter Meyerhoff's drug addiction led to a 12-year prison sentence. When he was behind bars he not only survived but became a shot caller. Released from prison at 30-years old, Peter embraced the road less traveled by felons, becoming a sober inspiration who enjoys major personal and professional success. https://petermeyerhoff.com/ https://petermeyerhoff.com/pages/...

Hilary Phelps (one of the best swimmers in America in the late 90s) is back with her 15 years of sobriety and recent experience speaking to student-athletes at her Alma Mater the University of Richmond. Hilary and Pete spoke about addiction to the athletes and on this episode, they share the need for mental health among college athletes and talk about recovery. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

Damian Holbrook's life reads like a drama he might review as a Senior Writer for TV Guide Magazine. But being a closeted gay guy while going to catholic high school in the '80s, as you cultivate an appetite for alcohol is probably something you can't make up. Forget about the part where bottoms out at a high school reunion, gets sober, and has his life and career both take flight. Time for over 25...

Courtney's transparency is textbook recovery and is probably one of the big reasons she's a walking miracle. Her story includes raw emotion and 15 years of sobriety after several brushes with the law and a broken soul brought her to her knees. Now she uses the pain she experienced in addiction to help other women in recovery. She's the real deal and she's also really cool. Learn more about your ad...

Chris Thompson is a successful serial entrepreneur; recently featured in ‘Fortune Magazine. But the fact he’s sober is what he features when you talk with him and his hope is contagious. By the way, his story is unreal. Now, he continues to grow as a person and professional, while his app ‘Sober Sidekick’ has come with a tidal wave of success. https://www.sobersidekick.com/ https://instagram.com/s...

Chris Therien's NHL career spanned 12 years and 764 games. He was a guy you could count on bringing 100% every night on the ice, but all the while Chris was counting on drinking, especially late in his career. The tragic death of his sister, coupled with the pressures of NHL hockey led him to rock bottom in 2006. That's when he checked into Caron Treatment Center with a blood alcohol level of 0.63...

Randy Grimes grew up a humble kid, from a good family, in Tyler, Texas. Football was life, which worked out for Randy because he was very good at it. After dominating the Southwest Conference at Baylor he was selected in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft. Quite possibly one of the best drafts ever. Randy saw drugs as a necessary evil, trying to stay on the field. His willingness to take whate...

Tara Zoe has created a lifesaving app called @yoursoberbuddy. This incredibly thoughtful conversation is for anyone with shame or a substance abuse disorder that is looking for a way out. Loads of gratitude for Tara and her mission. https://linktr.ee/soberbuddy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy...

Courtney Friel spent six years working at FOX News Channel before becoming an anchor at KTLA in Los Angeles. But it's the more than 11 years of sobriety she likes to talk about the most. She's also very open about the 15 years before she got sober, including cocaine-fueled college days and living fast in New York City while at FOX News. Her book “ Tonight at 10: Kicking Booze and Breaking News ” d...

It’s said less than ten percent of people with addiction problems can stay sober and .03% of high school basketball players can make it up the NBA. So it’s safe to say Jayson Williams and Mike Gminski have beaten the odds. But they haven’t done it without hard work and having strong teammates in life. Mike was Jayson’s mentor in the NBA and then 30 years later, Jayson had the opportunity to show G...

Ben Tuff recently swam 25 miles in under 15 hours but it's his 10 years of sobriety he'll tell you about first. He's raised almost $200k for Clean Ocean Access through his swimming but he's also out to smash the stigma associated with addiction. https://youtu.be/Vo2Mb9mK0dc https://www.cleanoceanaccess.org/bentuffswim2021 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more ab...

Gentry Jones is a social media star, who uses vulnerability and humor to carry an incredible message of sobriety to millions.  The mom of four is smashing any stigma of shame connected to addiction and shining brightly while doing it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com...

The only thing that could get between Quincy Carter and success was addiction and that’s exactly what happened. Drafted 52nd overall by the Cubs and a second-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys, Quincy escaped the pressures of pro sports and life through drugs and alcohol and it nearly killed him. Now he uses his amazing story to help others struggling with addiction. https://www.quincycarter17.com/...

John Boel has won 99 Emmys and completed 13 Ironman's, but the number he's most proud of is his almost 12 years of sobriety. John's two very public DUIs led to a stint in rehab and the gift of sobriety. His work as an amazing journalist speaks for itself but he feels his real legacy will be his work in addiction recovery. https://www.wave3.com/authors/john-boel/ https://www.amazon.com/News-Journal...

Pete actually shares his experience of what it was like, what happened, and what it's like now. The story is evergreen but the podcast is from a few months ago when Pete appeared on the Busy Living Sober Podcast. He covers finding out he had a heart issue and losing out on playing college football, after years of abusing drugs and alcohol as a teen. Then he takes us through a roller-coaster career...

Ryan Leaf might be synonymous with the term 'Bust' but today he's redefining the word 'comeback'. The former No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft ended up in prison thanks to an insatiable addiction to opioids. But long before his drug abuse put him behind bars, an inability to cope with success and life in general, something most addicts struggle with, prematurely ended his NFL career. Today he's...

Brandon Novak was discovered by Tony Hawk and was a pro skateboarder by the time he was 14 years old; filming commercials with Michael Jordan and traveling all over the world to compete. But soon, alcohol and heroin became his number one priority, and eventually, fame and stardom couldn't keep him afloat anymore. After crashing through the bottom after bottom, Brandon received the gift of sobriety...