The Hopeaholics
The Hopeaholics is a long-form interview podcast about addiction, mental health, and recovery, launched by Chad Carlsen after his soon-to-be son-in-law died of fentanyl poisoning. Hosted by Chad and WWE superstar Natalie Eva Marie, it features unfiltered conversations with people in recovery, families who have lost someone, and professionals working in the addiction treatment system. New episodes arrive twice a week, with a catalog of more than 300 episodes. The show also shares a helpline number for listeners seeking help with substance use.
Episodes
"Losing Custody of My Daughter Was My Wake-Up Call" - Abbey Fickley | The Hopeaholics Re-release
At the height of her addiction, Abbey Fickley lost custody of her daughter to her own parents. Then, in one of the most painful turning points of her life, her father pressed felony charges against her. What followed was a journey through addiction, motherhood, sobriety, and the difficult reality of rebuilding a life in recovery.In this powerful episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, we sit down with
$1.2 MILLION in Debt & Facing Federal Prison with Ian Bick | The Hopeaholics Rereleased
At 18 years old, Ian Bick was running a nightclub and booking major artists. Just a few years later, everything came crashing down — leaving him facing massive debt, federal charges, and ultimately three years in federal prison.In this episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Ian Bick shares the unbelievable rise, fall, and comeback that completely changed the course of his life.Ian opens up about the
We Should Have Seen the Fentanyl Crisis Coming w/ Sheriff Don Barnes | Re-Release #109
In this re-released episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast #109, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes shares warnings about fentanyl, the rise of counterfeit pills and the programs his department developed as the crisis grew. Sheriff Don Barnes has spent more than 35 years in law enforcement and has been confronting the fentanyl crisis in Orange County since his department began seeing the drug in 2015. B
Firefighter PTSD, Addiction & the Cost of Being "Tough" w/ James Owen | The Hopeaholics Podcast #363
Retired Long Beach Fire Captain James Owen spent his career running toward other people’s emergencies while addiction, trauma, and post-traumatic stress were building behind the badge.In this episode of The Hopeaholics, James opens up about the murder of his close friend and fellow firefighter Captain Dave Rosa, surviving a motorcycle crash that broke his neck, losing and rebuilding his sobriety,
My AA Friend Got Me Drunk In My First 90 Days w/ Rachel Sereni | The Hopeaholics Podcast #362
Rachel Sereni is co-host of the 2 Girls in a Chair podcast and sober for over 2 years. She grew up mostly alone with her little sister while their dad worked two jobs, because their mother was addicted to opiates and spent most of Rachel's early childhood nodding out on the couch. Rachel got a DUI after she left work early to drink and forgot to pick up her son from school, woke up in jail wi
I Hid My Heroin Addiction from My Wife for 3 Years w/ Jesse Sanchez | The Hopeaholics Podcast #361
Jesse Sanchez was 11 the first time he smoked weed, 14 when he tried cocaine and opiates, and 17 when he looked up from a carpet covered in crack and thought "holy s***, what are we doing." He eventually landed on heroin as his drug of choice and spent three years hiding it from his wife, driving 4.5 hours round trip to his dealer while she thought he was at work, once using a co-worker&
My Dad Was My First Dealer w/ Jessica Nolin | The Hopeaholics Podcast #360
Jessica Nolin is a content creator, recovery advocate, and co-host of 2 Girls in a Chair podcast. Jessica's dad dealt drugs her entire childhood and helped manage her anxiety by giving her a vodka orange at 12 along with random pills she didn't even know the names of. By 15 she was drinking daily. A few years ago she detoxed at home alone over nine days without telling anyone, sleeping a
I Used To Do Heroin At Work Now I'm 10 Years Sober w/ Adam Wittbrodt | The Hopeaholics Podcast #359
Adam Wittbrodt is a personal trainer and recovery advocate. He grew up with an alcoholic father who walked out on his 12th birthday and died before Adam turned 19. Carrying grief Adam spent the next decade and a half burying under IV heroin, forged checks, and 8 felonies. One day he collapsed at the front desk where he worked after injecting what he thought was heroin. It was laced with fentanyl a
I Called 911 Mid Psychosis And They Hung Up On Me w/ Riley Jensen | The Hopeaholics Podcast #358
At 18 Riley moved to LA, got into the adult entertainment industry, made fast money, found cocaine & alcohol, and ran that combination through her entire 20s. In 2023 she got pregnant but couldn't stop using. She missed 2 Christmases that she blamed on her daughter being sick when it was Riley being hungover. Riley's breaking point was being in closet at 4am doing coke, convinced th
(TW) I Tried Committing Suicide Now I Help Prevent Them w/ Nate Block | The Hopeaholics Podcast #357
Nate Block is a professional crisis de-escalation instructor with Jumpstart Mastery, traveling the country to train correctional departments and agencies on how to work with people in crisis. Nate dropped out of high school and spent the years that followed bouncing between apartments, bar shows, and eventually a college town he moved to chasing a girl, working odd jobs and drinking past the point
America Has A Prescription Culture Issue w/ Shannon Hatfield | The Hopeaholics Podcast #356
Shannon Hatfield grew up in section 8, her dad in federal prison, and her mom spent 2 decades working through OxyContin, black market heroin, and finally fentanyl. She's now a chiropractor running Evolve Sport and Spine working with professional athletes and anyone needing help. Shannon talks about what growing up inside that house actually looked like: finding her mom nodding out with cigare
Breaking A Generational Addiction Curse w/ Noel Arevalo | The Hopeaholics Podcast #355
Noel Arevalo returns to the show to talk about three things she's been sitting with: how your breakthrough gives the people closest to you permission to do the same, how deep alcohol gets woven into your identity without you ever noticing, and how the people, places, and patterns that were dragging you down start to fall away naturally once you surrender the thing that was holding it all toge
(TW ED) My ED Caused Heart Failure & Almost Killed Me w/ Kate Avnaim | The Hopeaholics Podcast #354
(TW ED) My ED Caused Heart Failure & Almost Killed Me w/ Kate Avnaim | The Hopeaholics Podcast #354Kate Avnaim's father was diagnosed with brain cancer when she was just 6 months old. When Kate was 13 they found it had spread through his whole brain. He chose quality time over more rounds of chemo. She was furious at him but she just didn't understand yet. He passed away and her mom
We Fell In Love Thanks To Sobriety w/ Nic And Ant (@nic_n_ant) | The Hopeaholics Podcast #353
We Fell In Love Thanks To Sobriety w/ Nic And Ant (@nic_n_ant) | The Hopeaholics Podcast #353Nicole and Anthony one of the most recognized and popular sober/recovery couples in social media. They met in a recovery meeting in 2018. She had six years and he was 60 days out of detox. His first year clean was a mess. Lies, cheating, not working a program. Both going through divorces simultaneously, hi
Purple Heart, Addict, 14 Felonies, and 1000 Days Sober w/ Jess Seiwert | The Hopeaholics Podcast #352
Jess Seiwert grew up in Kansas. He was abused at home from age 5 to 12. After 9/11 he joined the Army at 18, made sergeant, survived an IED blast, and came home with a Purple Heart and an Oxycontin addiction. One day he woke up in county jail charged with first-degree attempted murder and kidnapping after his best friend slept with his wife while he was passed out. He walked out with 14 felony con
From Running Drugs To Teaching At USC 31 Years Sober w Gregg Champion | The Hopeaholics Podcast #351
Gregg Champion's father was killed in a head-on collision with another drunk driver when Gregg was 4. He grew up angry, filled that with alcohol and attention, and spent his 20s collecting DUIs, assaults, a marijuana trafficking operation out of a van, and two arrests in the same 24-hour stretch at Mardi Gras. He got sober at 25, went back and finished his ASU degree sober with a 4.0, sits on
Golf Prospect w Full Ride to UCLA. Meth Took It All w/ Danny Dalton | The Hopeaholics Podcast #350
Golf Prospect w Full Ride to UCLA. Meth Took It All w/ Danny Dalton | The Hopeaholics Podcast #350 Danny Dalton grew up in Huntington Beach playing golf when Tiger Woods was the standard everyone chased. He was good enough to earn a full scholarship to UCLA. He lost it junior year and spent the next decade filling the gap with cocaine, then meth, then heroin. This episode covers the whole run. The
They Said I'd Never See My Kids Again. Got Them Back Sober w/ Ian Day | The Hopeaholics Podcast #349
They Said I'd Never See My Kids Again. Got Them Back Sober w/ Ian Day | The Hopeaholics Podcast #349Ian Day grew up a standout athlete in a one-stoplight town in Indiana with one bar. His first drinks were sips of Miller Lite off his grandpa's lawn mower. By 17 he was smoking weed every day and panhandling in his high school hallways for lunch money because he'd spent it all on drug
My Baby Passed In The Car Because I Blacked Out w/ Carolina Ayala | The Hopeaholics Podcast #348
My Baby Passed In The Car Because I Blacked Out w/ Carolina Ayala | The Hopeaholics Podcast #348 Chad and Natalie sit down with Carolina Ayala, founder of The Happier Life Project, a recovery community organization built to give people the peer support she never had. She was drinking, using, and married by 15, and had watched two of her closest friends get killed before she was old enough to gradu
From USC Football to Cartel Cocaine w/ "Cocaine Quarterback" Owen Hanson | The Hopeaholics Podcast #347
From USC Football to Cartel Cocaine w/ "Cocaine Quarterback" Owen Hanson | The Hopeaholics Podcast #347The "Cocaine Quarterback" Owen Hanson was a volleyball player at USC who wanted to get stronger and start again. That led him to smuggling steroids in from a vet in Tijuana. He walked onto the football team and began selling Adderall, Xanax, and cocaine to teammates. After the
I Was A Lawyer Smuggling Heroin for the Mexican Mafia w/ Jason Keller | The Hopeaholics Podcast #346
I Was A Lawyer Smuggling Heroin for the Mexican Mafia w/ Jason Keller | The Hopeaholics Podcast #346Jason Keller was a criminal defense attorney with his own firm when he started smuggling drugs into jail for his clients. Papers that looked like textbook material turned out to be black tar heroin flattened between the pages. Then it was a cell phone. Then a charger. All for the Mexican Mafia. He w
He Collapsed My Lungs & Ended Up WANTED w/ Kristin Swan (TW abuse) | The Hopeaholics Podcast #345
He Collapsed My Lungs & Ended Up WANTED w/ Kristin Swan (TW abuse) | The Hopeaholics Podcast #345Kristin grew up in Lakeville, Massachusetts, an hour south of Boston, in a house where disease was already present before she arrived at it. Her mother drank and went to meetings and died the day right after Mother's Day. Both her cousins are gone from fentanyl poisoning. By 15 she was cycling
The Shohei Ohtani Bookie Who Ended Up On ESPN w/ Mathew Bowyer | The Hopeaholics Podcast #344
Chad and Natalie sit down with Matt Bowyer, the Orange County bookie at the center of the Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal, for the full story behind the headlines. Matt ran one of the largest illegal sports betting operations in the country for over 30 years. At his peak he had 1,250 clients nationwide, 48 agents, and processed over $1 billion in wagers in 2023 alone. He was also betting millions o
Doing Zoom IOP With Beer In The Closet Behind Me w/ Sean Couper | The Hopeaholics Podcast #343
Chad and Natalie sit down with Sean Couper, a personal trainer and 4.5 year sober alcoholic who spent three decades functioning at a high level in corporate healthcare. Sean covers his full story: growing up between Florida and California without a real father figure, a first drink at five years old, thirty years of high-functioning alcoholism that nearly ended with liver and kidney failure, three
Doing Ketamine At A Wedding In Front Of A Flower Girl w/John Nettles | The Hopeaholics Podcast #342
In this episode, Chad and Natalie sit down with John Nettles for an unfiltered conversation about addiction, recovery, identity, and finding hope after years of chaos.John shares his journey from being adopted and discovering his biological family years later, to a decade-long battle with alcoholism, cocaine addiction, prescription Xanax dependence, and the nightlife lifestyle as a DJ and concert
The Psychic Medium the FBI Actually Calls | The Hopeaholics Podcast #341
Nichole Duncan used to be a tennis pro and now she's a forensic psychic medium who works cold cases for local law enforcement and federal agencies, the kind of work where the FBI will use what she finds but will never say her name out loud in court.She walks through her first real cold case (a domestic violence victim who "came through like a stinking freight train" with the exact l
Being Addicted to Founding a Record Label w/ Blake Mathews | The Hopeaholics Podcast #340
In this episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Blake Mathews shares his story of addiction, adoption, and finding faith through music. Adopted at birth and raised in a Jewish household in Phoenix, Blake started DJing weddings and bar mitzvahs at 13 and built a career in music and nightlife while quietly hiding a worsening addiction for over a decade. By the time he moved to Nashville in 2014 to chase
From Drinking Everyday to Winning a World Championship w/ Ryan Foley | The Hopeaholics Podcast #339
In this episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Ryan Foley shares his powerful story of alcoholism, mental health, surrender, fatherhood, and the unexpected life recovery gave him. Ryan grew up outside of Chicago, went on to attend Cornell University, built a successful career, and eventually worked at companies like Google and Groupon before addiction began taking over his life. For years, he was abl
The 10-Car Crash That Exposed Her Secret Addiction w/ Elisa Saunders | The Hopeaholics Podcast
The 10-Car Crash That Exposed Her Secret Addiction w/ Elisa Saunders | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Elisa Saunders shares an incredibly raw story of addiction, trauma, survival, and the long road to recovery after decades of chaos behind the scenes of both alcoholism and the treatment industry. Elisa spent nearly 30 years drinking while maintaining the image o
The Opposite of Addiction Isn’t Sobriety with Stefanos Sifandos | The Hopeaholics Podcast
The Opposite of Addiction Isn’t Sobriety with Stefanos Sifandos | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Stefanos Sifandos joins the show for a deep and thought-provoking conversation about trauma, relationships, addiction, personal growth, and the journey toward true emotional freedom. As an internationally recognized relationship coach, author, and speaker, Stefanos h
California’s Failed Addiction Policies Explained with Laurie Davies | The Hopeaholics Podcast
California’s Failed Addiction Policies Explained with Laurie Davies | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, California Assemblywoman Laurie Davies joins the show for an important conversation about addiction, fentanyl, homelessness, mental health, and the policies shaping recovery across the state. Representing California’s 74th Assembly District, Laurie has become a l
The Day He Finally Got Tired of Being Homeless w/ CRASH | The Hopeaholics Podcast
The Day He Finally Got Tired of Being Homeless w/ CRASH | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Crash shares the incredible story of how he went from living homeless on the streets of Santa Ana for years to finding recovery, purpose, and a new life in sobriety. After first experimenting with heroin as a teenager, Crash spent more than a decade trapped in addiction, cyc
The Fentanyl Crisis Is Worse Than You Think w/ Luis Romero | The Hopeaholics Podcast
The Fentanyl Crisis Is Worse Than You Think w/ Luis Romero | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Luis Romero shares his incredible journey from heroin addiction, gang involvement, and felony charges to becoming a powerful voice in recovery and fentanyl awareness. With over 13 years sober, Luis opens up about the darkest moments of his addiction, the impact of losing
Losing Everything and Building a Better Life with Dan Sachkowsky | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Losing Everything and Building a Better Life with Dan Sachkowsky | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Dan Sachkowsky shares the life lessons, failures, victories, and wake-up calls that completely transformed his perspective on success, happiness, and purpose. Dan opens up about the heart attack that forced him to reevaluate everything, losing nearly all of his weal
HelpUcompli: Raising the Standard in Addiction Treatment Compliance | The Hopeaholics Podcast
HelpUcompli: Raising the Standard in Addiction Treatment Compliance | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Laura Weeks reveals the hidden side of the addiction treatment industry that few people ever see. After losing a close friend to a fentanyl overdose, Laura dedicated her life to helping treatment centers operate ethically, legally, and successfully through her co
Inside the Mind of an Addicted Police Officer with Scott Graham | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Inside the Mind of an Addicted Police Officer with Scott Graham | The Hopeaholics PodcastFrom corrupt cop to nationally respected interventionist, Scott Graham shares one of the wildest and most powerful recovery stories we’ve ever heard. In this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Scott opens up about living a double life as an LA County Sheriff battling addiction, getting arrested while on duty,
The Truth About Wealth Most People Never Learn with Bart Zandbergen | The Hopeaholics Podcast
The Truth About Wealth Most People Never Learn with Bart Zandbergen | The Hopeaholics PodcastReturning guest Bart Zandbergen joins the Hopeaholics Podcast for a powerful conversation about wealth, discipline, purpose, and what it really takes to build a meaningful life. As a nationally recognized wealth advisor, entrepreneur, and financial educator, Bart has spent decades helping successful famili
Brad Jensen: Using Heroin While His Mom Drove | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Brad Jensen: Using Heroin While His Mom Drove | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Brad Jensen, widely known online as “The Sober Bodybuilder,” joins the Hopeaholics Podcast for a brutally honest conversation about addiction, homelessness, recovery, and rebuilding a life from rock bottom. Before becoming a successful fitness coach and helping millions through his c
“I HAD NO SAFE PLACE GROWING UP” with Blaire White | The Hopeaholics Podcast
“I HAD NO SAFE PLACE GROWING UP” with Blaire White | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Blaire White opens up about the trauma, addiction, and chaos she experienced growing up in a small rural town surrounded by drugs, family dysfunction, and cult influences. Known for her outspoken commentary, viral YouTube presence, and controversial takes on culture and identity,
Kevin Lanning: A Google Executive's Addiction | The Hopeaholics Podcast (RE-RELEASE)
Kevin Lanning: A Google Executive's Addiction | The Hopeaholics Podcast (RE-RELEASE)In this powerful episode of the The Hopeaholics Podcast, we sit down with Kevin Lanning, a former Google executive who shares the raw and deeply personal story of his battle with addiction, the pressures that came with success, and the painful reality of trying to maintain a high-level career while struggling
RE-RELEASED EPISODE: The Dark Side of Mob Wives w/ Renee Graziano | The Hopeaholics Podcast
RE-RELEASED EPISODE: The Dark Side of Mob Wives w/ Renee Graziano | The Hopeaholics PodcastThis re-released episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast revisits a powerful and unforgettable conversation with Renee Graziano, known for her role on Mob Wives, as she opens up about her life journey with raw honesty and vulnerability while celebrating nine months of sobriety. Renee reflects on growing up in a p
RE-RELEASED EPISODE: The Neverending Betrayals w/ Bam Margera & Dannii Marie | The Hopeaholics Podcast
RE-RELEASED EPISODE: The Neverending Betrayals w/ Bam Margera & Dannii Marie | The Hopeaholics PodcastThis re-released episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast brings back one of the most talked-about and unforgettable conversations featuring Bam Margera and Dannii Marie, as Bam opens up in a raw and unfiltered way about addiction, betrayal, relationships, and the ongoing battle for sobriety while l
A Relapse That Started in the Closet with Jessica Wood | The Hopeaholics Podcast
A Relapse That Started in the Closet with Jessica Wood | The Hopeaholics Podcast In this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Jessica Wood shares her deeply emotional and raw story of addiction, trauma, eating disorders, relapse, and recovery, opening up about growing up under intense pressure, experiencing abuse, and turning to alcohol, cocaine, and heroin at a young age to cope with pain and iden
Robbing a Convenience Store To Fuel An Addiction with Corey Warren | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Robbing a Convenience Store To Fuel An Addiction with Corey Warren | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Corey Warren shares his powerful and deeply personal story of addiction, crime, alcohol abuse, and recovery, opening up about growing up around alcoholism, seeking validation through drugs and reckless behavior, and eventually spiraling into heroin, armed robbery,
A Life Built on Lies, Addiction, and Broken Trust with Tony Johnson | The Hopeaholics Podcast
A Life Built on Lies, Addiction, and Broken Trust with Tony Johnson | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Tony Johnson shares his raw and unfiltered story of addiction, manipulation, crime, prison, and recovery, opening up about growing up with childhood neglect in Seattle, getting shot, chasing money and power through drug dealing, and spiraling into Xanax, pills, a
Arrested Before He Could Unalive Himself with Jaron Lyle | The Hopeaholics Podcast #324
Arrested Before He Could Unalive Himself with Jaron Lyle | The Hopeaholics Podcast #324In this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Jaron Lyle shares his powerful story of addiction, prison, suicide attempts, faith, loss, and redemption, opening up about growing up in Arlington, Texas, his struggles with drugs and alcohol, losing relationships, the death of his younger brother, and the moment his l
9 Years of Heroin and Meth Addiction with Ashley Moore | The Hopeaholics Podcast
9 Years of Heroin and Meth Addiction with Ashley Moore | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this emotional episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Ashley Moore shares her powerful story of trauma, addiction, motherhood, and recovery. Growing up with deep emotional pain and the loss of her father at a young age, Ashley struggled to cope and began searching for validation and escape, eventually leading to cocain
Facing 13 Years in Prison Over Meth and Cocaine with Joe Taback | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Facing 13 Years in Prison Over Meth and Cocaine with Joe Taback | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this intense episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Joe Taback shares his powerful story of addiction, crime, prison, and ultimate redemption. Growing up in Orange County as the oldest of six kids, Joe was surrounded by chaos early on, including a brother serving life in prison, which shaped his outlook on lif
Trapped in Addiction With No Way Out w/ Natalie Miotti | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Trapped in Addiction With No Way Out w/ Natalie Miotti | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Natalie Miotti shares her raw and emotional journey through addiction, loss, and recovery. Growing up in Ojai, California, Natalie opens up about how her substance use escalated from partying in college to a dangerous cycle involving heroin and meth, leading to black
Getting 3 DUI's Before 18 with Laisha Martinez | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Getting 3 DUI's Before 18 with Laisha Martinez | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, we sit down with Laisha Martinez to share her raw and inspiring story of addiction, recovery, and redemption. Laisha opens up about growing up in North Carolina, starting substance use at a young age, and quickly spiraling into a dangerous cycle of Xanax and alcohol abu
Healing through BRAIN SPOTTING with Sonia Guilfoos | The Hopeaholics Podcast #319
Healing through BRAIN SPOTTING with Sonia Guilfoos | The Hopeaholics Podcast #319In this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, we sit down with Sonia Guilfoos to talk about her powerful story of addiction, trauma, faith, and recovery. Sonia opens up about one of the darkest moments of her life, when she found herself alone in a hotel room deep in addiction and questioning whether she even wanted to
"I CALLED EVERY REHAB IN LA AND THEY HUNG UP ON ME" with Keta Loren | The Hopeaholics Podcast
"I CALLED EVERY REHAB IN LA AND THEY HUNG UP ON ME" with Keta Loren | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode, we sit down with Keta Loren to talk about her powerful journey through addiction, survival, and rebuilding her life with purpose. Keta opens up about leaving home, finding herself in dangerous situations, and eventually falling into meth and heroin addiction while trying to figur
Destroying My Life Until God Stepped In with Britt Gusmus | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Destroying My Life Until God Stepped In with Britt Gusmus | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, we sit down with Britt Gusmus to talk about his journey through addiction, recovery, and finding purpose through faith. Britt shares powerful stories from his past, the challenges he faced along the way, and how his relationship with God helped transform his life. The conv
Tackled by 6 Cops During Meth Psychosis with Marley May | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Tackled by 6 Cops During Meth Psychosis with Marley May | The Hopeaholics PodcastOn this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Marley May shares her powerful story of growing up around addiction, losing her father to suicide at 13, and spiraling into substance abuse as a teenager—including drinking at 14, using cocaine and meth with family members, and experiencing full-blown psychosis. She opens up
Showing Up to AA Completely Drunk with Ryan Kennedy | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Showing Up to AA Completely Drunk with Ryan Kennedy | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful episode, Ryan Kennedy opens up about his raw journey from the depths of addiction to 16 months of hard-earned sobriety. From hitting true rock bottom—complete with a brutal fall down concrete stairs after a seizure, hiding wine bags under his bed during relapses, terrifying cocaine-induced psychosis where
Chris Van Vliet: Stop Doing This If You Want to Succeed | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Chris Van Vliet: Stop Doing This If You Want to Succeed | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode of the The Hopeaholics Podcast, we sit down with Chris Van Vliet to talk about the mindset, discipline, and persistence it takes to build a successful career in media and content creation. Chris shares his journey from getting started in broadcasting to landing major opportunities, navigating career se
1 Billion Hugs with Reed Byers | The Hopeaholics Podcast
1 Billion Hugs with Reed Byers | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful episode of the The Hopeaholics Podcast, we sit down with Reed Byers to share his raw and inspiring journey through addiction, consequences, recovery, and purpose. Reed opens up about how substance use gradually took control of his life, the painful turning points that forced him to confront reality, and the mindset shifts tha
What It Really Takes to Get Clean and Stay Clean w/ David Gates | The Hopeaholics Podcast
What It Really Takes to Get Clean and Stay Clean w/ David Gates | The Hopeaholics Podcast In this powerful episode of the The Hopeaholics Podcast, we sit down with David Gates to talk about addiction, recovery, faith, and the realities families face when a loved one is struggling. David shares his personal journey through loss, survival, and transformation, opening up about the friends he’s lost,
Five Years Trapped With Her Cocaine Dealer with Gladys Seisay | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Five Years Trapped With Her Cocaine Dealer with Gladys Seisay | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Gladys Seisay shares her raw and unfiltered journey from growing up in Sierra Leone to navigating trauma, addiction, domestic violence, jail, and ultimately fighting her way back to freedom. What started as teenage rebellion turned into alcohol abuse, cocaine
The 12th Arrest That Changed Everything with Samantha Jurado | The Hopeaholics Podcast
The 12th Arrest That Changed Everything with Samantha Jurado | The Hopeaholics Podcast In this deeply emotional episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Samantha Jurado shares her unfiltered story of trauma, addiction, loss, and long-term recovery—from surviving childhood abuse, early suicide attempts, and meth addiction, to becoming a young mother, experiencing homelessness, incarceration, and the dev
How Addiction Nearly Killed Three Sisters w/ Amanda Crossley | The Hopeaholics Podcast
How Addiction Nearly Killed Three Sisters w/ Amanda Crossley | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Amanda Crossley shares her raw and unforgettable story of addiction, survival, and recovery—from growing up in New Jersey, stealing pills while working in a pharmacy, and descending into heroin use alongside her two sisters, to writing a desperate letter to Doc
Facing a Life Sentence After Getting Sober w/ Vinsent Franke | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Facing a Life Sentence After Getting Sober w/ Vinsent Franke | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this intense and deeply emotional episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Vinsent Franke shares a raw, unfiltered account of trauma, addiction, crime, faith, and recovery that spans decades. He opens up about early childhood exposure to drugs and alcohol, severe abuse that shattered trust, and a life split between
Why Money, Power, and Women Didn’t Fix the Pain with Michael Lynch | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Why Money, Power, and Women Didn’t Fix the Pain with Michael Lynch | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this raw and powerful episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Michael Lynch sits down to share an unfiltered story of survival, addiction, crime, success, and redemption. From growing up in foster care and running the streets, to building a viral underground fight empire funded by prison hustles, Michael ope
Bare Knuckle Fighting Addiction with Brooke Evans| The Hopeaholics Podcast
Bare Knuckle Fighting Addiction with Brooke Evans| The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Brooke Evans shares her unfiltered journey through addiction, trauma, and recovery, revealing the stark contrast between outward strength and inner struggle. A competitive fighter and athlete, Brooke opens up about using drugs and alcohol while training, escalating into he
Growing Up in Chaos and Choosing Sobriety with Jasper Wilkins | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Growing Up in Chaos and Choosing Sobriety with Jasper Wilkins | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this raw and deeply emotional episode, Jasper Wilkins shares his life story of growing up in chaos, addiction, and trauma, and how those experiences ultimately led him to the brink of death before finding recovery. Jasper opens up about being raised by parents battling substance use, enduring neglect, sexual
The Downward Spiral of Addiction with Ashleigh Ethridge | The Hopeaholics Podcast
The Downward Spiral of Addiction with Ashleigh Ethridge | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful and deeply vulnerable episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Ashleigh Ethridge shares her full story of addiction, recovery, and spiritual awakening, offering an unfiltered look at how alcoholism can quietly take over a life that once appeared stable and successful. She walks through her early years, the
Geoffrey Blaylock Returns: The Information That's Gap Killing Addicts | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Geoffrey Blaylock Returns: The Information That's Gap Killing Addicts | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful return episode, Geoffrey Blaylock comes back to the Hopeaholics Podcast to continue the conversation on addiction as a brain-based disease, diving even deeper into the realities that families and individuals often misunderstand. Building on his previous appearance, he expands on tra
Mommy Wine Culture Hid Her Addiction w/ Olivia Flynn | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Mommy Wine Culture Hid Her Addiction w/ Olivia Flynn | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this raw and deeply moving episode of the Hopeholics Podcast, Olivia Flynn shares her journey through generational addiction, early exposure to alcohol, and the quiet ways substance use became normalized long before anyone called it a problem, opening up about growing up with an alcoholic father, getting drunk for the
How Denial Keeps Addiction Alive w/ Anthony Zorzetto | The Hopeaholics Podcast
How Denial Keeps Addiction Alive w/ Anthony Zorzetto | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful episode of the Hopeholics Podcast, Anthony Zorzetto shares an unfiltered story of addiction, identity loss, and rebuilding from the ground up as casual drinking and recreational drug use slowly spiral into full-blown addiction alongside a failing marriage, a collapsing construction business, and overwhel
"GETTING SOBER AT 17 NEARLY BROKE ME" w/ Teddy Tarantino | The Hopeaholics Podcast
"GETTING SOBER AT 17 NEARLY BROKE ME" w/ Teddy Tarantino | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode, Teddy Tarantino shares his raw and unfiltered journey from severe addiction at a young age to more than 17 years of sobriety. Getting clean at just 17 years old, Teddy built a disciplined recovery foundation that led him to open a successful treatment center in his mid-20s, helping countles
Untitled EpisodeThe Version of Him That Couldn’t Survive w/ Dave Puhky | The Hopeaholics Podcast
The Version of Him That Couldn’t Survive w/ Dave Puhky | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful one-on-one conversation, Dave Puhky shares a brutally honest look at how alcohol quietly became the center of his life, blurring the line between control and collapse. What started as normal drinking slowly evolved into isolation, secrecy, and crossing boundaries he once swore he never would, all while
When Drinking Becomes a Daily Requirement w/ Mike Schuab | The Hopeaholics Podcast
When Drinking Becomes a Daily Requirement w/ Mike Schuab | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this deeply personal episode, Mike Schuab shares an unfiltered account of how alcohol gradually took control of his life while he worked tirelessly to convince everyone—including himself—that everything was fine. What began as normal social drinking slowly evolved into secretive behavior, isolation, and a daily re
The Inner Shift That Ends the Need to Escape with Jay Stinnett | The Hopeaholics Podcast
The Inner Shift That Ends the Need to Escape with Jay Stinnett | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful and deeply reflective episode, longtime sober member, historian, spiritual teacher, and filmmaker Jay Stinnett shares an extraordinary journey that spans addiction, surrender, awakening, and a lifetime of conscious spiritual practice. With more than four decades of continuous sobriety, Jay reco
Breaking the Cycle of Addiction as a Family w/ Rafael & Nodia | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Breaking the Cycle of Addiction as a Family w/ Rafael & Nodia | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this emotionally charged episode, Rafael and Nodia sit side by side to share a raw, multi-generational story of addiction, denial, fear, and ultimately healing. What begins as Rafael’s attempt to escape the shadow of his past and Nodia’s effort to prove control through drinking spirals into cocaine, meth,
“HEROIN ALMOST TOOK MY LIFE” w/ David Cohen | The Hopeaholics Podcast
“HEROIN ALMOST TOOK MY LIFE” w/ David Cohen | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, a raw and unfiltered story of survival takes center stage as David Cohen shares the gripping truth of his journey through addiction, chaos, and redemption. From forging prescriptions on Windows 95 to surviving a near-fatal heroin overdose that left him in a coma for days, his l
Getting Used To Saying NO with Justin Wenzel | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Getting Used To Saying NO with Justin Wenzel | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this highly anticipated return to The Hopeaholics Podcast, Justin Wenzel sits down for an incredibly open and transformative conversation about self-worth, personal growth, and the journey he’s been on since his last appearance. Known for his bold transparency and massive impact on social media, Justin dives deep into the emo
How a DUI Left Him Stranded in the Desert w/ Patrick Overholt | The Hopeaholics Podcast
How a DUI Left Him Stranded in the Desert w/ Patrick Overholt | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Patrick Overholt shares his deeply personal journey through addiction, loss, trauma, and redemption. From rising as a gifted young athlete to facing career-ending injuries, legal troubles, and the devastating loss of his mother, Patrick opens up about the dark
Inside a Soldier’s Fight Beyond the Battlefield w/ Carter | The Hopeaholics Podcast
Inside a Soldier’s Fight Beyond the Battlefield w/ Carter | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Carter shares an unfiltered and deeply moving journey through addiction, trauma, recovery, and personal transformation. From growing up in a turbulent environment to joining the military at a young age, Carter takes listeners through the intense realities of war,
The “Blanket of Love” That Changed Everything w/Geoffrey Blaylock | The Hopeaholics Podcast
The “Blanket of Love” That Changed Everything w/Geoffrey Blaylock | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, we dig deep into the wild, emotional, and brutally honest life story of Geoffrey Blaylock, tracing his path from a childhood marked by Tourette’s and isolation to the gang-ridden streets where he searched for identity, connection, and escape. Geoffrey opens up abou
What Eating Disorders Don’t Tell You with Karina Chandler | The Hopeaholics Podcast
What Eating Disorders Don’t Tell You with Karina Chandler | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this powerful episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, guest Karina Chandler shares an extraordinary journey of resilience, vulnerability, and transformation. Opening up about her long battle with an eating disorder, complex PTSD, childhood trauma, substance use, and a harrowing medical crisis involving encephalitis a
