Recoverycast: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Stories

How do you keep going when the person you love most suddenly disappears? Lucas Curtin (known online as Fitzgerald Checksworth) opens up about the intersection of cyclical alcohol struggle, sudden grief, and the "snap" in the brain that changed everything.

In this vulnerable episode, Lucas shares his journey from being the high school "class clown" to using alcohol to "shut up the voices" of deep-seated anxiety and depression. He recounts the heartbreaking loss of his girlfriend, Marissa, who passed away at just 27, and how that tragedy initially fueled a desperate need to escape through drinking. Lucas discusses...

From walking the halls of the White House to facing homelessness due to a severe OxyContin and heroin addiction, Ryan Hampton’s story is unforgettable.

Ryan Hampton was a rising political organizer and White House staffer when a hiking injury introduced him to highly addictive prescription opioids like Dilaudid and OxyContin. What started as a doctor-prescribed treatment quickly spiraled into a decade-long struggle with opioid use disorder, leading him to the streets and eventually to heroin when his pill supply was suddenly cut off. In this episode, Ryan opens up about the deep-rooted childhood trauma, including his fa...

What do you do when the very thing you have feared since you were three years old actually happens—and you have to face it while five years sober? In this episode of RecoveryCast, Brittany Barnard talks with recovery advocate and media personality Patrick Custer about his intense journey through alcohol addiction and a life-altering medical crisis. Patrick opens up about a childhood shaped by hypervigilance and a "fear of God" that led to chronic anxiety. He describes how his first drink didn't feel like euphoria, but like finally reaching a "ba...

Tiffany Jenkins, the New York Times bestselling author and voice behind "Juggling the Jenkins," joins Recoverycast to share her raw journey from facing 20 felony charges to 13 years of sobriety. Tiffany opens up about her childhood struggles with undiagnosed OCD and how a single sip of alcohol in high school led to a decade-long spiral into alcohol, weed, and eventually a devastating opiate addiction. She reveals the harrowing details of staging a burglary in her own home to fund her habit and the rock-bottom suicide attempt in a jail cell that eventually led to her transformation.

Find mental...

From Marvel’s Lady Sif to a hospital bed fighting for her life, actress Jaimie Alexander shares the raw truth about her battle with bourbon and burnout. Jaimie, the celebrated lead of Blindspot, opens up about the "lone wolf" mentality that nearly cost her everything. Despite a thriving career, she used alcohol to medicate social anxiety and the extreme physical toll of performing her own high-octane stunts.

She recounts the terrifying moment her appendix ruptured, leading to sepsis and a profound spiritual encounter that finally broke the "death grip" of addiction. Jaimie details her "white light" experience in...

"It was not about getting high, it was about not being sober." In this raw and deeply moving episode of Recoverycast, nationally touring comedian and recovery advocate Sam Miller joins Brittany Bernard to share his incredible journey from the streets of Olympia to the comedy stage. Sam opens up about the intersection of ADHD and addiction, the profound impact of childhood trauma, and the cycle of methamphetamine, alcohol, and benzodiazepine use that led to years of homelessness and incarceration.

Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/

How does a celebrity chef dominate the culinary world while hiding a life-threatening cocaine and alcohol addiction? In this episode of Recoverycast, we are joined by Devan Rajkumar, popularly known as Chef Dev, who reveals the "unimaginable" double life he led for years. From national TV appearances and Times Square billboards to late-night after-parties and debilitating chest pains, Devan’s journey is a raw look at the high cost of high-functioning addiction. 

Devan discusses how early habits formed at age 13 evolved into a progressive disease fueled by the "work hard, play hard" culture of...

Grace Adams seemed to have it all: a prestigious advertising job, a New York City apartment, and a background as a classical ballet dancer. But behind the "perfect" Type-A exterior, Grace was trapped in a cycle of secret binge drinking and 48-hour blackouts. In this vulnerable episode of Recoverycast, Grace opens up about the "emotional bottom" that brought her to her knees on her apartment floor and the courageous phone call to her mother that changed everything.

Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/

We dive deep into the unique pressures...

Carl Radke from Bravo’s Summer House shares his raw journey through high-functioning cocaine and alcohol addiction. In this vulnerable episode, Carl opens up about growing up in Pittsburgh where alcohol was the family fabric and how his brother’s struggle with heroin addiction created a life of fear. He details the $2,000-a-weekend cocaine habit he hid behind his reality TV persona and the rock-bottom moment in January 2021 that finally forced him to choose life.

Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/

Carl dives deep into the non-linear road of recovery, from...

Shannon Hughes and her daughter, Mistena Renteria-Elliott, share a raw and harrowing journey through the depths of methamphetamine addiction, domestic abuse, and the long road to generational healing. Shannon opens up about using substances to cope with severe anxiety while trapped in a manipulative and abusive relationship with a stepfather who controlled every aspect of their lives. Mistena reflects on a childhood defined by survival mode, moving constantly, and the trauma of watching her mother disappear into addiction and homelessness.

The turning point came during a high-stakes crisis involving a psych ward hold and a last-chance family...

Critical care nurse practitioner Brandi Mac shares the harrowing journey of her daughter’s IV Fentanyl addiction and the moment Brandi shaved her head to release years of trauma.

In this vulnerable episode of Recoverycast, Brandi Mac discusses the reality of navigating nine treatment centers in four years and the "rehab industry" failures that left her family feeling hopeless. As a medical professional, Brandi reflects on her own stigmatized views of addiction prior to it hitting her home, and how she eventually found peace by abandoning "tough love" to lead with empathy. We dive deep into the sc...

At six years old, Bobby Kazz was already asking his mom how to lose weight; by college he was trapped in a cycle of starvation, binge eating and guilt. This episode of Recoverycast shines a light on male eating disorders—a story we rarely hear. Bobby Kazz explains how teasing at his sixth‑birthday pool party and growing up in a thin family planted seeds of insecurity. In high school he decided to “just run and see what happens” and began skipping meals, lying to his parents about eating, and running miles every day until his body felt worse and wors...

Struggling with Dry January or thinking of cutting back on alcohol? In this bonus Recoverycast episode, guest host Riley Whelan fields the 14 most‑asked questions about Dry January and sober curiosity. She explains how a social media challenge became a powerful way to explore your relationship with alcohol. Whether you’ve never gone a week without drinking or you’re just curious about sobriety, Riley shares practical tips for starting one day at a time, coping with emotional and physical withdrawals, and understanding the true benefits of a 30‑day alcohol detox.

Find mental health and addiction treatment near you...

After hitting one year of sobriety, TikTok star Gabbie Egan joins us again and opens up about quitting alcohol and nightly weed use to reclaim her life and mental health.  In this candid conversation she recounts the surprising truth that the first months of sobriety felt harder than her chaotic partying days, yet staying off alcohol and cannabis eventually allowed her to feel “more me than I ever have” and maintain a healthier baseline despite her bipolar I diagnosis.  Gabbie describes reading the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book, leaning on a group chat of sober women and her husband’s own reco...

Kevin Kreider’s raw story of adoption, alcoholism and healing challenges everything you think you know about recovery. A Korean adoptee raised by a German‑Irish Catholic family in Philadelphia, Kevin battled depression, anxiety, alopecia and a desperate need to belong. Alcohol and weed offered brief relief but quickly spiraled into 20‑hour drinking sessions, broken relationships and career collapse.

We hear how Kevin’s father captured him on camera at his worst, how high‑school partying cost him a promising athletic career, and how pain drove him toward acting in New York, where booze felt more necessary than audit...

In this powerful Recoverycast episode, Jason & Ashley Wahler share their raw journey through alcohol addiction, relapse, OCD and postpartum depression. On their very first date, Jason told Ashley that his sobriety and faith came before everything. To support him, she even stopped drinking for over a year. Despite years of sobriety, Jason’s unresolved OCD, shame and anxiety fed his alcoholism, leading to multiple relapses and his thirteenth trip to rehab. Ashley describes the codependency and secrecy that defined their marriage during these dark years, and how Al‑Anon and therapy gave her tools to reclaim her identity and set...

Jason Wahler opens up about OCD, alcohol misuse and an Adderall‑fueled relapse, revealing how he found hope and became a recovery advocate. Growing up in a supportive family in Laguna Beach, Jason began compulsively washing his hands until they bled and wore neoprene gloves full of Neosporin to hide the damage. This early battle with obsessive‑compulsive disorder created a double life – popular and athletic on the outside, but wracked with shame and validation‑seeking behind closed doors. Years later a brain scan revealed he had PANDAS, a strep‑related autoimmune condition that triggers OCD, helping him finally understand h...

Imagine going from a college‑bound basketball star to stealing change jars just to stay high. That’s the raw path Dakota Mortensen opens up about in this candid conversation. Growing up on a bird farm with a tight‑knit Mormon family and a deep love for sports, he never imagined that a knee injury would introduce him to pain pills—or that popping a couple to get through practice would snowball into snorting pills, moving to 30‑milligram “blues,” and eventually chasing heroin.

Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/

Dakota recounts how h...

After postpartum depression triggered a relapse, Brittany Jade lost custody of her three children and spiraled from alcohol back into cocaine, Suboxone and even heroin and meth. Raised by an alcoholic father and introduced to drinking at 13, she later turned to weed, cocaine and acid during her teens and early twenties. Her story includes serious suicide attempts, a turbulent marriage, and a desperate move to California where she hoped a new start would help her get sober. Instead, postpartum stress and hidden drinking escalated into hiding vodka in cabinets and drinking nightly. A relationship with a man from detox...

What happens when two sisters face the same trauma but walk completely different paths to healing? In this deeply moving episode of Recovery Cast, host Brittani Baynard sits down with Alyson Stoner and her sister Correy O’Neal for a raw, emotional, and inspiring conversation about addiction recovery, childhood abuse, family trauma, and the long road to rebuilding trust.

Find addiction and mental health treatment near you: https://recovery.com/
Learn more about Movement Genius: https://www.movementgenius.com/

From surviving an abusive home and struggling with eating disorders, substance abuse, and homelessness, to re...

In this mental health & addiction recovery story, Adriana Sansam shares how her husband’s four‑year sober streak ended in relapse and fatal accidental overdose — and how she chose to stay “just for today” so she can stay sober for her children and rebuild their family life.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Adriana: https://www.instagram.com/adrianasansam/, https://www.facebook.com/p/Adriana-Sansam-100086399725563/, https://www.tiktok.com/@adriana.sansam

Just for Today Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/justfortodaypodcast/, https://www.youtube.com/@justfortodaypodcast

Key talking...

Trigger Warning:
In this episode, we talk about experiences of abuse and self-harm. These topics can be difficult to hear, so please take care of yourself and listen at your own pace. If you or someone you know needs immediate support, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline anytime.

Caitlyn Boardman shares a mental health & addiction recovery story of early alcohol use, adoption trauma from South Korea, BPD symptoms, an eating disorder, and self-harm—and how she got sober in 2021 after cops were called, then rebuilt through fitness, meditation, and self-compassion. A...

Courtney Anderson’s addiction recovery story sheds light on what it means to live as a high-functioning drinker — appearing to “have it all together” while secretly battling alcohol dependence. In this episode, the sober coach shares 10 key lessons from her sobriety journey and how she finally escaped the moderation trap for lasting freedom.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Courtney: https://www.courtneyrecovered.com/, https://www.instagram.com/courtney___andersen/,  https://www.courtneyrecovered.com/podcast, https://www.instagram.com/sober.vibes/

Key talking points: 
1. Courtney lived for years...

Suzanne Warye’s addiction recovery story explores her journey from high-functioning binge drinking to building a sober life rooted in authenticity. She shares the hidden dangers of mommy wine culture, her struggles with postpartum OCD, and the healing power of choosing sobriety—before hitting rock bottom.

Find alcohol treatment near you: https://recovery.com/condition/alcohol/
Find OCD treatment near you: https://recovery.com/condition/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/

Learn more about Suzanne: https://thesobermomlife.com

Chapters:
00:00:00 Opening & “Brain on Drugs” vs Alcohol Norms
00:01:00 You Qualify for Sobriety Without Rock Bottom
00:02:00 Wisconsin Culture...

Former child star Alyson Stoner opens up about eating disorders, anxiety, and the trauma of growing up in Hollywood. This mental health & addiction recovery story explores their journey from overwork and disordered eating to therapy, sobriety, and becoming a mental health advocate.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Alyson: https://www.instagram.com/alysonstoner, https://www.alysonstoner.com/, https://www.facebook.com/alysonstoner/

Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything: https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/semi-well-adjusted-9781250353498/

In this addiction recovery story, salon owner & recovery advocate Lauren Welch opens up about her struggles with alcohol, postpartum anxiety, grief, and the pandemic’s impact on her drinking. She shares how an epic meltdown became the turning point toward sobriety and inspired her to create the Sober Curious Society.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Lauren: https://www.instagram.com/lowelch/, https://www.thesobercurioussociety.com/

Key talking points:

This mental health & addiction recovery story with Kelly U dives deep into childhood trauma, binge eating, depression, and her powerful decision to get sober from marijuana in 2020. From navigating a toxic relationship to healing through EMDR therapy, Kelly shares her raw and hopeful journey.

Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Kelly: https://www.instagram.com/kellyu/, https://www.tiktok.com/@_kellyu, https://www.youtube.com/@kellyuu, https://tr.ee/1quoaSmuNj

Key talking points:
1. Kelly developed disordered eating at age 10 after a triggering comment about her body.<...

In this powerful mental health & addiction recovery story, Kody Green shares how early symptoms of schizophrenia led to meth addiction, incarceration, and ultimately a life-changing diagnosis. Now sober for 10 years, Kody is a nationally recognized recovery coach and mental health advocate.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Kody: https://www.kodygreen.com/, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZfYNa7ygWpc-1bDw4wy5JA, https://www.instagram.com/schizophrenichippie/, https://www.tiktok.com/@schizophrenichippie

Key talking points: 
1. Kody was a teen caregiver for his mother, who had undiagnosed s...

This powerful addiction recovery story features Kori Leigh, who opens up about childhood loss, alcohol addiction, abusive relationships, and self-harm. She shares how 12-step recovery, therapy, and spiritual growth led her to sobriety, purpose, and peace after years of chaos.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Kori: https://www.korileigh.com/, https://www.instagram.com/korileigh, https://open.spotify.com/show/6HeZtt4fp198P8J1hTgcM8

Key talking points:
1. Kori Leigh lost her father at age six, sparking deep trauma and mistrust in God.
2. She...

Hilary Phelps shares her addiction recovery story after a 15-year battle with alcohol, depression, and perfectionism. From high-achieving athlete to struggling with secret drinking and shame, she opens up about her long-term sobriety, healing through 12-step recovery, and building a new life as a recovery advocate and mother. This mental health & addiction recovery story is powerful, honest, and deeply inspiring.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Hilary: https://www.hilaryphelps.com/, https://www.instagram.com/hilaryphelps_

Key topics:

This is Zac Clark’s raw addiction recovery story—his journey from heroin, alcohol, and crack use to over a decade of sobriety. Zac opens up about childhood experiences, battling a brain tumor, opioid addiction, relapse, and the turning points that led to founding Release Recovery. A powerful mental health and addiction recovery story about hope, resilience, and lasting change.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Zac: https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/, https://www.instagram.com/thezacclarkshow/, https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark

Release Recovery: https://www.releaserecovery.com...

In this powerful addiction recovery story, Parker Schley shares his journey from teenage binge drinking, cocaine use, and repeated arrests to finding hope in rehab. After a decade of alcoholism that began at 15, Parker entered treatment in 2025 and embraced a 12-step program. Now 6 months sober, he’s rebuilding relationships, discovering life beyond alcohol, and inspiring others with his vulnerability.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Parker: https://www.tiktok.com/@parkerschley

00:00 The Decision to Go to Rehab

00:25 Introduction to Recovery Cast

01:15 Parker's Early St...

In this mental health & addiction recovery story, Fausto Castellanos shares his harrowing battle with meth, ecstasy, alcohol, and the trauma behind his substance use. From psych ward holds to becoming “The Hope Dealer,” Fausto opens up about his journey through epilepsy, suicidal thoughts, and eventual recovery.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Fausto: http://www.hopedealer.org/, https://www.instagram.com/hopedealerfausto, https://www.youtube.com/@NotYourAverageCounselor, https://www.facebook.com/faustocastellanoss/

00:00 The Hope Dealer: Fausto's Introduction

02:22 Early Struggles: Anxiety and Seeking Validation

04:29 Chil...

Corey Warren’s addiction recovery story begins with heroin use in high school and escalates into daily vodka consumption, an alcohol-induced seizure, and incarceration for armed robbery. After multiple stints in rehab, Corey not only found sobriety but also built Rise Recovery Community to help others. This is a raw and inspiring journey of transformation through accountability, faith, and community.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Corey: https://www.instagram.com/icoreywarren, https://www.youtube.com/@icoreywarren

Rise Recovery Community: https://www.rrclansing.org/

00:00 A Ni...

This addiction recovery story follows Tony Hoffman’s journey from OxyContin, heroin, and meth use—along with incarceration and homelessness—to becoming an Olympic coach and national speaker. His honesty about mental health, trauma, and redemption offers a message of hope and purpose.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Tony: https://tonyhoffmanspeaking.com/, https://www.instagram.com/tonymhoffman

00:00 From Prison Cell to Olympic Dreams
00:27 Introducing Tony Hoffman: BMX Pro to Recovery Advocate
02:45 Tony's Early Struggles and BMX Beginnings
04:17 The Pressu...

This is Abbey Fickley’s addiction recovery story—from early alcohol use in high school to postpartum depression, Xanax, and Percocet abuse that spiraled into IV heroin use and multiple rehab stays. Abbey shares how relapse, jail threats, and a powerful disownment letter led to lasting sobriety, and how she’s now a thriving sober mom, speaker, and advocate.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Abbey: https://www.tiktok.com/@abbeyfickley, https://www.instagram.com/abbeyfickley/

00:00 Introduction to Recoverycast

01:22 Abbey's Early Struggles with Alcohol

02:3...

In this episode of Recoverycast, we sit down with Tony Hoffman, an inspirational figure whose life story is a testament to the possibilities of redemption and recovery. Once a troubled teen who went from Wasco State Prison to becoming a pro BMX rider, Tony managed to turn his life around after battling addiction, mental health challenges, and incarceration. Today, as a motivational speaker, founder of pH Wellness, and Olympic BMX coach, Tony shares his incredible journey of how he rebuilt his life, emphasizing the importance of balance, honesty, and community support. Listen as Tony discusses the pivotal moments that...

Elizabeth Pearson shares her powerful addiction recovery story, detailing her struggles with alcohol, OCD, sexual trauma, and deep depression. From secretive drinking, an abusive relationship, and a near-suicide, she found healing through 12-step recovery, community, and running marathons. A story of transformation, faith, and finding purpose in sobriety.

Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Elizabeth: https://www.instagram.com/eatlizabeth/

00:00 Introduction and First Impressions

00:30 Meet Elizabeth Pearson

01:55 Early Struggles with Alcohol

03:43 College Life and Drinking Culture

06:51 Dealing with Trauma...

Kat Sorensen shares her deeply moving addiction recovery story—battling alcohol, cocaine, Xanax, Molly, and Adderall—while climbing the corporate ladder and enduring emotional collapse. Now nearly a decade sober through AA, she’s the CEO of Laguna Shores Treatment Center and founder of Change to Change. A must-hear journey of relapse, surrender, and service.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Kat: https://www.instagram.com/socalkattt,
https://www.tiktok.com/@socalkattt

00:00 Introduction and Initial Struggles
00:24 Welcome to Recovery Cast
01:21 Kat Sorensen's Early Life and Ad...

Gabby Egan shares her raw and unfiltered addiction recovery story, from getting pregnant at 13 to battling severe alcohol and marijuana addiction, being diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder, and finding sobriety after a viral Vegas arrest. This is a powerful mental health & addiction recovery story about redemption, resilience, and healing.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Gabbie: https://www.tiktok.com/@bbyegan_ 
https://www.instagram.com/bbyegan/

00:00 A Shocking Awakening in Jail
00:27 Introduction to Recovery Cast
01:28 Gabbie Egan's Recovery Journey
01:49 The Struggles and S...