CROSSTALK PODCASTS
Crosstalk Podcasts is the inspiring safe space to find out how people live happily, free from addiction. There aren’t many places to go where people transparently share what’s going on inside. You’ll learn all about an individuals journey from childhood to present, and how addictions can create a devastating path. CROSSTALK’S guests will take you from their “bottom” to the steps they took to get it together and live a more happy and purposeful life.
He Lived in a Car, Went to Jail & Lost Everything | David Bianchi’s Recovery Story
What happens when addiction, trauma, and the search for belonging take you to your breaking point?
On this episode of Crosstalk Podcast, actor and recovery advocate David Bianchi shares his raw journey through addiction, jail, and finding sobriety.
He opens up about 9+ years of sobriety, learning to face himself without substances or distractions, and how recovery transformed his life, relationships, and purpose.
This is an honest conversation about addiction, recovery, resilience, spirituality, and the gifts of sobriety. If you're navigating recovery or supporting someone who is, this story may give you hope and...
From Trauma & Addiction to 21 Years Sober: Christina Simos’ Incredible Recovery Story
What happens when childhood trauma, generational alcoholism, addiction, and years of self-destruction collide? Christina Simos shares an incredibly raw story of growing up in a chaotic home, surviving trauma, struggling with alcohol and drugs, and eventually finding a path to sobriety and purpose.
Now 21 years sober and CEO of Friendly House, Christina has dedicated her life to helping women recover from addiction.
In this episode of Crosstalk Podcast, she opens up about suicide attempts, substance abuse, motherhood, breaking generational cycles, recovery, forgiveness, and why lasting sobriety requires community, consistency, and time.
If you...
From Addiction to Hitmaker: Bonnie McKee on Trauma, Sobriety & Surviving the Music Industry
What does it really take to chase your dreams?
In this episode of Crosstalk Podcast, hit songwriter, Bonnie McKee shares her journey through childhood trauma, addiction, the music industry, and 14 years of sobriety.
From signing a record deal as a teenager to writing chart-topping hits, Bonnie opens up about recovery, resilience, working with Katy Perry, and finding purpose after addiction.
Whether you're on your own healing journey or simply love honest conversations, this episode is filled with hope, insight, and inspiration.
Access our website for the full notes for this episode: <...
I Thought Getting Sober Was the Hard Part… I Was Wrong | Jaime Hindlin
Sobriety wasn't the end of Jaime Hindlin's story. It was the beginning of her greatest challenges.
In this deeply honest episode of Crosstalk Podcast, Jaime shares how addiction recovery gave her the strength to survive unimaginable loss, including the death of her father, pregnancy loss, postpartum heart failure, trauma, and the journey to rebuilding her life through healing.
This conversation explores addiction recovery, mental health, trauma, grief, motherhood, resilience, self-care, and why sobriety became Jaime's greatest superpower. Whether you're in recovery, supporting someone who is, or navigating life's hardest moments, this episode offers hope, perspective...
What Sobriety Really Feels Like: 20+ Recovery Stories That Will Change How You See Addiction
What does life after addiction really look like?
In this inspiring episode, more than 20 people in recovery share how sobriety transformed their lives... from rebuilding relationships to finding purpose, joy, and hope at the No Matter What Foundation charity golf event.
Whether you're on your own recovery journey or supporting someone who is, these powerful stories prove that healing is possible.
Subscribe for more conversations on recovery, mental health, resilience, and personal growth.
Access our website for the full notes for this episode:
Video is available on https://www.youtube...
From HIV, Addiction & Shame to 30 Years Sober | Tom McDermitt
What happens when you're told you have just two years to live?
In this powerful episode of Crosstalk Podcast, Tom McDermitt shares his remarkable journey from childhood bullying and struggling with his identity to addiction, an HIV diagnosis, crystal meth dependency, and ultimately finding hope through recovery.
His story is a powerful reminder that no matter how dark life becomes, healing and purpose are possible. Tom opens up about the AIDS epidemic, internalized shame, hitting rock bottom, Alcoholics Anonymous, the mentors who changed his life, and how he now helps others overcome addiction at Caron...
He Lost Everything to Heroin. Now He's Changing Lives.
Justin Garland opens up about his powerful journey from heroin addiction, isolation, and rock bottom to long term recovery and creating The Maze, New York City's alcohol free members club.
In this deeply honest conversation, he shares how addiction took over his life, the family intervention that saved him, and why true recovery is about connection not just sobriety.
From childhood struggles and substance abuse to rehab, recovery, and finding purpose, this episode explores the realities of addiction, healing, mental health, community, and what it really takes to build a meaningful life after recovery.
<...He Lost Two Brothers. The Lesson That Saved His Life Will Stay With You | John Morello
What keeps one person from following the same path as everyone around them?
In this powerful episode of Crosstalk Podcast, comedian, actor, and storyteller John Morello shares how growing up surrounded by addiction, losing two brothers, and the influence of a few remarkable people shaped the man he became.
This conversation goes beyond addiction. It's about grief, identity, purpose, and the life changing impact of someone believing in you when you can't believe in yourself. If this episode resonates with you, like, subscribe to Crosstalk Podcast, and share it with someone who needs this message.<...
From Heroin Addiction to Healing Others | Eric Rodriguez's Powerful Recovery Story
What happens when someone battling heroin addiction becomes the person helping others recover?
In this episode of Crosstalk Podcast, licensed therapist Eric Rodriguez shares his journey from addiction and jail to recovery and a career helping others heal. He opens up about trauma, loss, resilience, and the power of connection in overcoming substance use.
If you're in recovery, supporting a loved one, or looking for hope, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.
Like, subscribe, and share to help us reach more people with stories of hope and recovery.
...
How These Women Got Sober & Found True Happiness | The Life Changing Power of Recovery
What happens when you stop numbing the pain and start rebuilding your life?
In this powerful episode of Crosstalk, we sit down with inspiring women from the Sober Is The New Cool community to explore addiction recovery, sobriety, purpose, healing, and the surprising joy that comes after alcohol.
From mothers and coaches to recovery advocates and healthcare professionals, each guest shares a raw and honest story of transformation. You'll discover how community, faith, personal growth, and meaningful connections help people overcome addiction and create lives they never thought possible.
Whether you're sober, sober-curious...
From Addiction to Purpose: How Recovery Helped Us Rebuild Our Lives | Brad & Yasmin's Story
What happens when addiction strips away the life you've built and forces you to confront who you really are?
In this powerful episode of Crosstalk Podcast, Brad and Yasmin share their deeply personal journeys through addiction, treatment, trauma, and recovery. From DUIs, fake IDs, and destructive relationships to finding healing, purpose, and becoming leaders in the recovery space, their stories offer hope to anyone struggling with substance use or supporting a loved one through it. overy, or simply looking for inspiration, this conversation sheds light on the realities of addictio
Whether you're exploring sobriety, navigating...
How Childhood Trauma Fueled Alcohol Addiction | Ginny's Powerful Recovery Story
In this powerful episode of Crosstalk Podcast, Ginny shares her deeply personal journey through alcohol addiction, recovery, childhood trauma, and healing. Growing up in a large family, Ginny struggled with feelings of not belonging, people-pleasing, and unresolved emotional wounds that eventually contributed to her battle with alcoholism.
Ginny opens up about how hidden childhood experiences, family dynamics, codependency, and the need for acceptance shaped her relationship with alcohol. She also reveals the turning point that led her to seek help, embrace sobriety, and rebuild her life through recovery programs, therapy, and community support.
Whether you're...
She Lost Her Son to Addiction… Then Rebuilt Her Life | Recovery Story That Will Change You
What happens when addiction takes over your life and the people you love most?
In this emotional episode of Cross Talk Podcast, Joyce shares her powerful story of addiction, relapse, recovery, and the heartbreaking loss of her son to a fentanyl overdose.
From years of substance abuse and rebuilding her life through rehab and sobriety, to learning how to heal from grief and guilt, this is a raw conversation about recovery, second chances, and hope after rock bottom
Access our website for the full notes for this episode: https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/she-lost-her-son-to-addiction-then-had-to-learn-how-to-live-again<...
Paul Trudeau Opens Up About Sobriety, Sex Addiction & Healing
What happens when the addictions stop… but the pain doesn’t?
Musician Paul Trudeau sits down for one of the most honest conversations yet about sobriety, shame, self-destruction, relationships, and recovery. From getting drunk at 12 and spiraling through years of alcohol, drugs, and impulsive behavior to losing his marriage and confronting sex addiction head-on.... Paul shares the moments that forced him to finally face himself.
This episode dives deep into childhood trauma, emotional pain, recovery programs like AA, Al-Anon, and SLAA, and the difficult process of rebuilding your life after rock bottom. Paul also opens up a...
Addiction, Fame, Rock Bottom & Recovery | Powerful Sobriety Stories That Will Change You
What really causes addiction? And what does recovery actually look like?
In this episode, multiple guests share deeply personal stories about fame, alcohol, drugs, relapse, prison, rehab, sobriety, and rebuilding their lives from rock bottom. From Hollywood success to homelessness, this conversation explores the emotional realities behind addiction and the long road back to healing.
Topics include: • Addiction & alcoholism • Dopamine, trauma & escapism • Prison, relapse & rehab • 12-step recovery & sobriety • Mental health & isolation • Gratitude, healing & community
A raw, honest, and hopeful conversation for anyone struggling or supporting someone who is.
Access our website for the full...
From Overdose & Jail to Sobriety at 21 | Alex’s Raw Recovery Story
What happens when addiction takes everything... and still isn’t enough to make you stop?
In this episode of Cross Talk, Alex shares his journey from early escape and substance use to overdose, arrest, and recovery. He opens up about chasing acceptance, hitting rock bottom, and waking up handcuffed in a hospital bed... only to keep using.
Because the truth is: addiction isn’t just about substances. It convinces you there’s no way out.
This conversation breaks down what recovery really looks like.... not instant change, but a slow shift. A new way of...
I Didn’t Know I Was Becoming an Addict… Until It Was Too Late | Manny
A recovery story that didn’t start with chaos… but slowly became one.
Manny opens up about how alcohol, weed, and cocaine started as “normal experimentation” and quietly turned into addiction.
What makes this story powerful is how invisible the shift felt.. until he realized he had crossed a line he couldn’t ignore.
This episode of Crosstalk Podcast breaks down how addiction really builds, and why most people don’t see it coming until it’s deep.
Access our website for the full notes for this episode: crosstalkofficial.com/episode/when-just-tryi...
After 40 Years Sober… The Reality of Addiction Is Not What You Think | Laurie D.
After 40 years of sobriety, the conversation around addiction changes in a way most people don’t expect.
In this episode of Crosstalk Podcast, we sit down for a deeply honest conversation that goes beyond the surface of recovery, into the parts most people never talk about. It’s not just about getting sober.. it’s about everything that comes after it.
If you think you already understand addiction and recovery, this episode may challenge that in ways you didn’t see coming. Watch till the end because something about this conversation stays with you long after it...
He Knew It Wasn’t Good, But He Did It Anyway… And That’s What People Don’t Understand
Why can someone lose everything… and still go back?
In this powerful episode of Crosstalk, Matt Anderson shares the raw truth about addiction, recovery, and the mental obsession that keeps people trapped even after prison, overdoses, and near-death experiences.
Matt spent 17 years in prison, lost loved ones to addiction, and still found a way back not through luck, but through understanding what addiction truly is.
This is not just a story.
This is an education most people never get...and you definitely need to watch it.
Access our website fo...
From ICU 25 Times to 1 Year Sober at 23 | Miya B.
What does it actually feel like to get sober in your 20s… when everyone else is still partying? Everyone glamorizes your 20s.. until you realize it’s slowly destroying you.
Maya was hospitalized over 25 times… and still believed she had it under control.
This conversation pulls back the curtain on addiction, mental health, and the mindset shift it takes to finally change your life.
If you’ve ever told yourself “I’ll stop later”… watch this before it’s too late.
Access our website for the full notes for this episode: crosstalkofficial...
The Dark Truth About Recovery No One Talks About – My Relapse & Breakthrough Story | Blake E. Cohen
Ever wonder what really happens behind the scenes of addiction recovery? Most people only see the surface, but the deep, raw moments are where true transformation happens.
In this episode of Crosstalk Podcast, we speak with Blake E Cohen to dive into the unfiltered journey of relapse, therapy, and self discovery. From painful interventions to breaking down emotional walls, our guest shares what it really takes to confront addiction and rebuild a life.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, ashamed, or afraid to ask for help, this episode is a must watch. Learn how honesty, vu...
This Is What Addiction Really Feels Like
What happens when the person helping others recover… is secretly struggling themselves?
In this powerful episode of Crosstalk Podcast, CJ shares his raw and unfiltered addiction recovery story from being sent to rehab at 19, to relapsing while working inside a rehab facility, and the moment everything finally broke.
If you’ve ever wondered why some people can’t “just stop,” or why recovery is more than just quitting substances, this conversation will change how you see addiction.
We dive into relapse, hidden addiction, opiate abuse, the pressure of pretending to be okay, and how true r...
“I Lived With Two Alcoholics During COVID — This Is How I Stayed Sober”| Cory M.
Locked in an apartment with two alcoholics during COVID… and I stayed sober. How?
In this episode of Cross Talk, we break down the hidden truths about addiction, recovery, and the power of relationships. Therapy isn’t the only path, and support doesn’t always look like what you expect.
You’ll discover:
-Why relationships can make or break recovery
-How self-destructive behaviors start and how to navigate them
-The unconventional lessons I learned while surviving lockdown
This isn’t just another recovery story it’s a real look at...
“I Prayed for My Dad to Die… Then He Actually Did.” | Sam Miller
Before sobriety, Sam Miller was a master of escape; drugs, lies and pretending to be someone else.
In this brutally honest conversation, stand up comedian Sam Miller opens up about the chaos that shaped his life growing up afraid of his father, praying for his death as a kid… and the complicated emotions that followed when it actually happened. But that was only the beginning.
Watch the full conversation and hear the story behind the jokes.
Access our website for the full notes for this episode:https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/rock-bottom-to-recovery-a-sobriety-journey-that-could-save-your-life
Vi...
“My Dad Pulled a Gun on My Best Friend’s Father…” | Addiction & Recovery Story
What drives addiction? Stand up comedian Sam Miller opens up about growing up around alcohol, childhood trauma, and why he turned to substances at a young age.
He shares a powerful truth about addiction: it wasn’t about chasing a high it was about escaping the feelings that came with being sober.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, this episode offers powerful insights about recovery, resilience, and transformation.
Access our website for the full notes for this episode:https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/rock-bottom-to-recovery-a-sobriety-journey-that-could-save-your-life
Video is available on https://ww...
Eating Disorders, Urges & Recovery: The Truth No One Talks About
What happens after treatment ends?
In this deeply honest conversation, Emily opens up about eating disorder recovery, urges vs cravings, fear foods, nighttime triggers, body image in the entertainment industry, and learning to live with balance instead of restriction.
This episode goes beyond food; it's about identity, ego, self compassion, boundaries, family dynamics, and learning how to respond to hard thoughts with love instead of shame.
Access our website for the full notes for this episode:https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/food-was-my-drug-eating-disorder-recovery-story
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos
Follow CROS...
“Food Was My Drug | Eating Disorder Recovery Story”| Emily T
In this episode, we dive deep into complex trauma, emotional regulation, and the journey to becoming a better parent, partner, and individual
From overcoming childhood wounds to navigating marriage, sobriety, and parenting, Jared Devin shares actionable insights on breaking patterns, connecting with your kids, and healing relationships.
Access our website for the full notes for this episode:https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/food-was-my-drug-eating-disorder-recovery-story
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos
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𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharin
Breaking Generational Trauma: Parenting, Sobriety & Emotional Healing
In this episode, we dive deep into complex trauma, emotional regulation, and the journey to becoming a better parent, partner, and individual
From overcoming childhood wounds to navigating marriage, sobriety, and parenting, Jared Devin shares actionable insights on breaking patterns, connecting with your kids, and healing relationships.
Access our website for the full notes for this episode: https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/my-dad-told-me-not-to-come-home-unless-i-got-sober
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos
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𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharin
"My Dad Told Me Not to Come Home Unless I Got Sober"
From the outside, he looked successful. Inside, he was spiraling. When his dad finally sat him down and said, “We don’t want you here unless you’re serious about your drinking,” everything shifted.
Jared shares his story from his first black out to almost loosing everything
This episode reveals what it really takes to start over at Day One!
Access our website for the full notes for this episode: https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/my-dad-told-me-not-to-come-home-unless-i-got-sober
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos
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I Lost $1,000 to an Instagram Scam… and Got COVID the Same Week
He thought he was making a smart investment Instead, he lost $1,000 to a scam and got hit with consequences he never expected
In this raw and powerful episode of Crosstalk Podcasts, we dive into a real life testimony of greed, humiliation, obedience, and redemption
If you’ve ever ignored the warning and paid for it, this conversation will hit differently.
Access our website for the full notes for this episode https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/from-compton-streets-to-spiritual-freedom-alex-isaac
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos
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" How Faith & Mentorship Saved Me From a Life I Never Chose" | Powerful True Story
From childhood trauma and growing up in a dangerous environment to life-changing mentorship and faith, this story proves that surrender, guidance, and small acts of love can transform your life completely.
Watch as one young man shares how he overcame fear, temptation, and challenges without ever touching drugs or alcohol and how faith and intentional mentorship shaped his journey.
Access our website for the full notes for this episode https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/from-compton-streets-to-spiritual-freedom-alex-isaac
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos
Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkp...
From Compton Streets to Spiritual Freedom | Alex & Isaac
This episode of the Crosstalk Podcast features a raw, unforgettable conversation about growing up in Compton, surviving street violence, and finding freedom from addiction through faith and personal transformation. Alex Johnson shares his early life experiences in gang heavy neighborhoods, exposure to trauma at a young age, and how normalized violence shaped his worldview while growing up in Southern California.
The discussion dives deep into topics many people silently struggle with, including pornography addiction, fatherlessness, shame, and emotional isolation. Alex opens up about the moment he was exposed, the humiliation that followed, and how those...
From Trauma to Transformation: One Man’s Journey Through Addiction, Accountability, and Recovery| Mike PART 2
In this deeply human episode of CrossTalk Podcast, we sit down with Mike to explore a lifetime shaped by addiction, recovery, service, and conscious choice. Mike opens up about a tragic accident that altered his life forever and the hard-earned wisdom that followed.
From early struggles with alcoholism to finding stability through sobriety and the 12-step program, this conversation is a raw reflection on accountability, personal growth, and spiritual awakening. We dive into the reality of recovery why there’s no single “right” way to heal, how changing behavior reshapes thinking, and why daily practices like meditation, gratit...
From Trauma to Transformation: One Man’s Journey Through Addiction, Accountability, and Recovery| Mike
In this powerful episode of Crosstalk Podcast, we sit down with Mike, a longtime member of the recovery community whose life story spans early exposure to substances, generational sobriety, devastating trauma, and ultimately, long-term recovery. Growing up around Alcoholics Anonymous through his father’s sobriety, Mike’s relationship with alcohol and drugs began young and escalated quickly fueled by experimentation, denial, and a culture where chaos felt normal.
Mike walks us through the pivotal moments that shaped his addiction, including multiple arrests, DUIs, blackout drinking, and a life-altering accident that left a permanent emotional imprint. Rather than avoi...
Adaptive Survival: When "Disorders" Are Actually Coping Skills | Jeffrey B.
In this thought-provoking episode of Crosstalk Podcasts, we welcome Dr. Jeff from PCH (Psychological Care and Healing) for a deep dive into the flaws of our current mental health system. Challenging the very foundation of psychiatric diagnosis, Dr. argues that the DSM manual often creates more problems than it solves, turning adaptive survival responses into lifelong "disorders." He reveals how the split between anxiety and depression was arbitrarily decided and how the pharmaceutical industry benefits from this fragmented model.
We explore the PCH treatment philosophy, which rejects a one-size-fits-all, medication-heavy approach. Instead, they focus on a holistic...
Feeling vs. Fleeing: Reclaiming a Childhood Lost to Addiction | Jenna G.
In this powerful episode of Cross Talk Podcast, we sit down with Jenna to explore the profound impact of growing up with a mother struggling with alcoholism. From the age of six, Jenna learned to disconnect from her body and her feelings, a coping mechanism that later manifested in disordered eating and complex relationships. She opens up about her journey of reclaiming those lost emotions, the struggle for control in a chaotic environment, and how her path led her toward recovery, wellness, and ultimately, helping others.
We delve into themes of honesty, trust, and the delicate balance...
The Rock & Roll Philosopher: Wisdom from 57 Years of Sobriety & Stardom | Dion D. & Adam J. - Part 2
In Part 2 of our extraordinary conversation with music icon Dion and his protégé Adam, we dive deeper into the wisdom gathered from 57 years of sobriety and a legendary life in rock & roll. They discuss their new book, “The Rock & Roll Philosopher,” a collection of stories that blend music history with profound life lessons—from dealing with lawsuits and managers to finding spiritual freedom.
Dion reveals the critical importance of having mentors (“not once in 57 years did my mentor say, ‘that’s a good idea’”) and the humility required to stay grounded (“there are no big shots in here”). Adam shar...
A Sick Mind Can’t Cure a Sick Mind: Legendary Path to Recovery | Dion D. & Adam J. - Part 1
In an unprecedented episode, we sit down with music legend Dion (of “The Wanderer” and “Runaround Sue” fame) and his spiritual protégé, Adam. Dion opens up with staggering humility about getting sober on April 1st, 1968—57 years ago—after his father-in-law took him to a meeting and told him, “A sick mind can’t cure a sick mind.”
Adam shares his harrowing entry into recovery, including a profound spiritual experience with a Catholic priest who used a UV light to reveal the “invisible fingerprints” of a Higher Power that had been guiding him all along. Their bond, which began when a 12-ye...
White Light Experience: Hopeless to Hope in an Instant | Kiefer W.
Kiefer, a director at Clear Behavioral Health, joins us for a raw and hopeful episode. With a seemingly ideal suburban upbringing, he traces his path from a 3.9 GPA high school student to a college dropout with a 0.9, all while his addiction to alcohol, benzos, and cocaine progressed from age 14. He shares the terrifying reality of his blackouts, the family interventions he missed, and the moment he "came to" in a treatment center with no memory of how he got there.
His story is one of profound surrender—not something he did, but something that happened to him. A...
A Therapist's Raw Detox Story | Laura S. - Part 2
In this powerful second part of our conversation with trauma therapist Laura Sorte, we dive into the brutal reality of her active addiction. Laura recounts the dangerous "disguises" of being a "wine connoisseur," the horrifying blackouts that led to her being found unconscious on NYC streets and strapped to a hospital bed, and the family intervention that was called off when they collectively decided she'd been "mugged."
Hitting her point of powerlessness at 29, Laura details her journey to detox and a six-month treatment program. She shares the transformative, difficult work she did there—from being ba...
