The Truth About Addiction

Chris’ artworks are unique, provoking and powerful, with a focus on existentialism. The purpose is to articulate feelings through visual, so when he felt something, he put it on canvas. As he was building his works, he shifted to more unconventional themes such as substance abuse, male depression state of mind…  Chris started drinking at the age of 15 and found that “alcohol was the answer to all...

Eleanor believes that she was suffering from the disease of addiction before she even started using drugs. She hated the fact that her parents were alcoholics, so when she turned 18 ,she didn’t drink. She went to university, got a good job, got on with life like a ‘normal’ kid, but still felt depressed, alone, and “like it’s just never enough”. Started drinking at the age of 20, she also started s...

109 days sober from alcohol on the day of recording, this is the first time Beats shares his story of addiction on a public platform, as he believes in passing on the message to help people.  Beats talks about family, experiencing drugs in school, being a functioning ‘junkie’, going to university and his light bulb moment. Beats is now a happy, wonderful family man, with an immense passion to help...

Brett, a proud Wakka Wakka man from the majestic Bunya Mountains, South Burnett region. When Brett first went to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, he was the only Indigenous there. That was Friday night, 1/1/1999.  Now over 23 years clean, Brett still attends at least 2 meetings a week to share his story and his gains, to make sure other recovering addicts understand and practice ‘the message’. 

JJ grew up in a dysfunctional home, and from that dysfunctional family, he learnt to survive life. Most of his memories are from traumatic events. He had been through foster homes and various institutions.  Wise, knowledgeable and inspirational, JJ is now a recovery coach helping people through their addiction and recovery journey.  

John Killick made international headlines in 1999 when he escaped from Sydney’s Silverwater Jail by a helicopter. Our podcast today focuses on the John Killick today, the Author, the human being, the guy that mentors children and gives back to people in and out of prison.  John talks about the failing system, the traditions, past heavy gambling addiction, to supporting current and ex-prisoners, an...

Jess Kennedy, 2 years clean, a tenacious, passionate advocate for addiction recovery and mental health from Melbourne.  Jess was a black-out drunk started from the young age of 10 and progressively went through the hard use of both street and prescription drugs over the next 20 plus years. She was diagnosed with ADHD and bipolar. Jess is now a lived experience peer worker, who works in a drop in c...

“I used to see bank robbers and criminals coming home from jails, and they were treated like war heroes.. They were the sort of blokes I looked up to.”  Russell grew up in Western Sydney and spent a total of 23 years in various jails in NSW, NT and QLD. Russell is a survivor of institutional child sexual abuse. He carried the heavy secret for 30 years before finding the courage to talk about his e...

'I'm a hope dealer, not a dope dealer.' - Gary, who served multiple sentences for drug charges, shares his recovery and redemption story to help youth staying off the path he walked earlier in life. With over 50K followers on TikTok, known as TiktokGarry, he is sharing his story on a daily basis, passing on the message and is inspiring many to stay drugs and crime free. ‘I’m always...

Dean King, author of the highly acclaimed book King Hit, was born in Balmain, Sydney to alcoholic parents. In and out of boys’ homes and at the age of 14, Dean was put in a maximum security prison charged for murder. In this chat, Dean talks about his moment of ‘spiritual awakening’, and how addiction recovery has brought so much changes, so much positive influences to his life and the people arou...

The fears you have to face when you first realise that you have a problem with the disease of addiction. For me, it was the fear of the unknowns. Fear of going to a detox center, fear of judgement, fear of having to tell people that I am an addict, fear of loss…  Don’t be ashamed to ask for help. If you could do it on your own, you could have done it by now. So please, reach out. 

Jeffrey Morgan, mental health and wellbeing coach. Jeffrey grew up in the notoriously disadvantaged suburb of Redfern NSW, where crime rates and poor mental health were high.  Jeffrey left home at the age of 12, overcame many adversities in the early days including losing his parents, brother and sister.  Listen to Jeffrey underline the importance of gratitude and positive thinking, ‘tap into bein...

Meet Mario, my spiritual advisor for the last 36 and a half years. Mario has always been there for me, through many of life obstacles, through my divorce, jail time and when I was in the middle of losing everything. He provided tremendous source of guidance and strength, and all in all, simply a very loyal friend.

Jenna comes from Manchester, UK, in a family of both mum and dad being heavy drinkers. One day she had a burning desire to leave, so she booked a one way ticket to Australia, where she discovered Yoga practice and started on her spiritual journey of inner peace and self discovery.  Jenna’s message is strong. ‘Learn to cope, or fall victim to life’s struggles’. She chose the former. Jenna sets her...

Broc Martin has an incredible story to tell. Story of redemption, story of recovery and story of being a good human being. An Aboriginal man descendant from the Punthamara Mithika people (now Southwest Queensland), Broc was disconnected from his culture as a young boy through the disease of addiction. He went through the criminal justice system early, and was looking up to the wrong people in the...

Warning: Distressing contents regarding sexual and emotional abuse Lara grew up in a family of Catholics. From the frequent beatings from her volatile father to the severe canings by the nuns at school as a young girl, Lara experienced fear and terror throughout her early childhood. She started smoking at 9 years of age, was sent to youth centres at 12 and was in prison by 18. Listen to her very c...

Growing up with a violent father, Wayne went through a childhood of fear, rebellion and crime. He wasn’t interested in school, desperately wanted to fit in, so he used drugs at a very young age. Over the years, Wayne and I have supported each other through our lowest points. I remember detoxing on his floor after a relapse 36 and a half years ago, while his eldest daughter was being born.  Today,...

Mark was in active addiction for 26 years, using anything he could get his hands on. After multiple relapses, losing his wife and beautiful children, today he is clean and sober for 11 years 3 months. Mark works in a private rehabilitation centre helping people in all walks of life breaking negative habits. As a single father, Mark looked after his children when they moved in with him the same yea...

Jack, 17 years old and 55 days clean on the day of recording. Jack had years of drugs use before, in his own words, got sick of being 'zombified'. He is now a happy young man who is grateful for his loving and supportive family. Jack's back!

David tells us story of life before, during and after prison, and the remarkable vision he has for his current work @the_felon_show. David is now a man of God. He believes in rehabilitation and redemption by forming a movement through his stories at The Felon Show. "Never ever let the world talks you out of your vision" - David. 

Lyle talks about how broken he was during his using days and finding a will to get clean. "The pain of using was so great, that getting clean was going to be easier." It was important to get clean, but then you have to continue to treat the addiction. Addiction is a thinking problem. If it was just a 'drug' problem, once you stop using it, wouldn't it be just fine? NO, you...

Edan shares her story growing up with a father who was in active addiction most of his life. Edan knew that he was 'painstakingly in love with being her dad', though he could not get away from his addiction. He is no longer here, "The thing that happens when you have, especially an addict parent is, you grieve them a long time before they go." - Edan. 

From a life of crime, Doug ex bank robber and recovering heroin addict, shares his story of redemption and recovery. "My worst days in recovery are much better than my best days using" - Doug. 

Mick shares his story on the devastating effect having his teenage son using, how it affected everyone in the family. Speaking as a parent, he shares his heartache, distress and frustration when his son was using, and now, being a recovering addict, the moments of joy and relief of having his son back.

Rick Grossman talks about his recovery from heroin addiction days. As the bass guitarist for the iconic bands Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus, he tells us the story of hiding heroin in cassette players while on tours and his past struggle to stay drug free. Rick since then performed with other Australian bands: Matt Finish, Ghostwriters, Persian Rugs, The Kelly Gang and Men at Work, and has been inducte...