Jeannine was an active drug addict and alcoholic for fifteen years - her using led to multiple arrests, homelessness and the loss of absolutely everything - which she considers to be the best thing that ever happened to her.Sober since January 15, 2015, and now a successful fitness studio owner & entrepreneur, she is committed to sharing her stories in the hopes that they may help others. Jeannine or the featured guest will share where they were “on this day” in history, vs where they are now. Kim Walker is an LMFT who has been seeing clients for 15 years. Released every other Thursday.
The Chasing Heroin: On This Day, Recovery Podcast is an incredible podcast that explores the journey of recovery from addiction. The host, Jeannine, shares her own personal experiences and brings on guests who also share their stories of overcoming addiction. This podcast is not only entertaining, but it is also emotional and informative. It provides a sense of inspiration, hope, and understanding for both addicts and non-addicts alike.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is the raw honesty and vulnerability that Jeannine brings to each episode. She shares her story in a way that is relatable and engaging, making you feel connected to her on a personal level. Through her storytelling, she is able to shed light on the struggles and triumphs that come with addiction recovery.
Additionally, the podcast provides valuable insights into addiction and recovery. Listeners can learn about themselves, their triggers, and gain a better understanding of addiction through the various stories and commentary shared on the show. This podcast serves as a source of education and awareness for both addicts and those who have been impacted by addiction.
While there are many positive aspects to this podcast, one potential downside is the lack of interaction from the co-host. Some listeners may prefer more probing questions or deeper discussions about emotions surrounding addiction. However, this does not take away from Jeannine's engaging storytelling style and her ability to connect with listeners.
In conclusion, The Chasing Heroin: On This Day, Recovery Podcast is a must-listen for anyone who has been touched by addiction in any way. Jeannine's courage in sharing her story and passing on hope is truly inspiring. She is making a difference in changing lives through this podcast, providing insight into addiction while giving a sense of gratitude, hope, and laughter along the way.

What starts as a story about a kid from Utah with a promising football career ends somewhere nobody saw coming — including Chad himself.Growing up in Utah, Chad was the guy with a future. Athletics, ambition, a clear path forward. Then a knee injury in high school changed everything. What started as pain management turned into something much harder to put down. Weed and ecstasy in high school gave way to pain pills after the injury, and once that door opened, Chad walked through it fast.He dropped out of high school. Got into door to door sales. Found ways to fund a life that was quietly unraveling. The escalating drug use brought escalating problems, including criminal activity that started stacking consequences he couldn't outrun.A move to California was supposed to be the reset. It didn't quite work out that way, but it did lead him to the woman who would become the mother of his child. They moved back to Utah together, and Chad kept trying to get it together. He couldn't. The relationship didn't survive it.And then came the moment that actually broke through.Separation from his daughter.That was the thing that reached him where nothing else could. Chad made the decision to move back to California, and this time something was different. He found lasting sobriety in 2024 and hasn't looked back. Today he works alongside his brother at Sacred Journey Men's Recovery Center, turning everything he lived through into something that helps other men find their way out.Connect with Sacred Journey Treatment Center on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

What starts as an Adderall pill shared in a high school hallway on Long Island doesn't look like the beginning of a story about psychosis. But for McKenna, that's exactly what it was.In this episode, we sit down with McKenna Mangan - soon-to-be mom, wife, entrepreneur, and woman with over three years of sobriety — to trace the long and winding road from her ambitious beginnings to her most devastating lows, and ultimately to a life she never could have imagined for herself.McKenna was doing everything "right." She graduated from Fordham University, landed a coveted finance role on Wall Street, and had every box checked on paper. But underneath the success, what had started as casual Adderall use in high school had quietly grown into a full-blown dependency — one that Wall Street's pressure-cooker culture only accelerated. When the jobs disappeared, McKenna found herself back on Long Island with her addiction running the show, cycling through toxic and abusive relationships, and spiraling further from the woman she once was.The turning point came in the form of a two-month psychosis — a terrifying rock bottom that finally opened the door to real change.Now on the other side, McKenna shares how treatment didn't just save her life — it completely redirected it. Through connections made in recovery, she discovered a surprising new career path she never saw coming, one that lights her up in ways Wall Street never did. Today, she's building a business, a marriage, and a family, all rooted in the clarity that only sobriety can bring.Today's episode is brought to you by Seasons in Malibu. For over 18 years, Seasons has been a sanctuary for individuals seeking to reclaim their lives from addiction and mental health challenges. Our story began with a simple but profound vision: To create a luxurious sanctuary for individuals struggling with addiction or mental health issues, where they can receive the finest, evidence-based treatment in the world.Built on Compassion, Driven by ExcellenceWhat started as a small number of compassionate professionals has grown into one of the nation's most respected luxury treatment centers. But growth has never meant losing sight of what matters most—the individual engaging with our therapists, one-on-one, taking the courageous first step toward healing.From the beginning, we understood that truly transformative treatment requires more than clinical protocols. It demands a personalized approach, led by the most qualified professionals, in an environment that nurtures the whole person. That's why we've assembled a team where every primary therapist holds a Doctorate in Psychology - a distinction virtually unmatched in our field.Check out Seasons Malibu online or call 1-866-314-5160 for more information.Connect with Seasons on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me at chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

What happens when a University of Chicago-trained psychologist spends three years at Stanford's bipolar disorders clinic, deploys to four war zones with the Navy, works counterterrorism intelligence with the LA Sheriff's Department - and then lands in a Malibu addiction treatment center asking patients one simple question: where does it hurt?Dr. Matthew Schumacher joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about the science of addiction, the biology of balance, and why some of the most powerful tools for recovery are also the oldest ones. From dopamine fasting to behavioral activation to the underrated magic of a social routine, Dr. Schumacher breaks down what actually moves the needle - whether you're in a luxury treatment center in Malibu or sitting at home trying to figure out your next step.Dopamine, balance, and the modern addiction to stimulation — why our brains weren't built for constant input, and what that means for recovery and everyday mental healthThe biology of addiction and tolerance — how the brain stops producing its own feel-good chemicals and why "just stopping" is never the whole answerMood disorders and addiction — the relationship between bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use, and why treating the underlying condition matters as much as treating the addiction itselfSocial rhythm therapy — how predictable routines around sleep, meals, and social connection stabilize mood, sometimes even without medicationMilitary and law enforcement mental health — the unique trauma, culture, and stigma challenges facing veterans and first responders, including the suicide crisis inside law enforcementThe diagnostic process in addiction treatment — how Dr. Schumacher builds a full picture of a patient using medical records, family history, and collaborative team input before landing on a treatment planPeer connection and the therapeutic community — why lived experience, group therapy, and programs like AA and NA remain some of the most underrated and powerful components of lasting recoveryReasons You Need to Hear This:There's a specific reason your brain craves constant noise — and Dr. Schumacher explains exactly what's happening biologically when you can't turn it off, and what that has to do with why substances feel so necessary in the first place.There's a decades-old treatment for depression that nobody talks about — not a medication, not a complex therapy, not a $300 supplement. Dr. Schumacher reveals what it is, how often you need to do it, and why the fact that nobody profits from it is probably exactly why you've never heard of it.Your daily routine might be doing more damage than you realize — Dr. Schumacher breaks down the surprising biological link between the rhythm of your day and the stability of your mood, and why this might be the most overlooked piece of long-term recovery.The thing your body is actually trying to feel when it reaches for a substance — it turns out nature already built the answer in. Dr. Schumacher explains what it is and how to start accessing it again, especially when you feel like nothing else brings you pleasure anymore.The question he asks every single patient in their first session — it's not what you'd expect from someone with his level of training, and the reason he starts there will genuinely make you rethink what healing actually requires.There's a free, research-backed tool for anxiety that's been around since the 1960s — most people have never tried it because it sounds too simple. Dr. Schumacher makes the case for why simple might be exactly what's needed.If you've been to treatment before and it didn't stick, this episode explains why and it has everything to do with what was - and wasn't - being treated while you were there.

Dana grew up between New Jersey and New York City with a Vietnam vet father who struggled with heroin addiction. After moving to California, building a career as a celebrity hairstylist, and starting a family, everything fell apart when a back injury led to an opiate prescription. Within months she was buying pills off the street, and eventually that turned into a years-long heroin and meth addiction that cost her her marriage, her career, and nearly her children.In this episode Dana talks about using while pregnant, discovering she was six months along in an emergency room, losing custody of her youngest son to CPS, and spending years cycling through rehabs while still finding ways to get high inside them. She also shares what it took to finally get sober, the three-year legal battle to get her son back, and how she rebuilt her life, her relationships with her kids, and her own business from nothing. Eight years later, she credits her faith as the thing that carried her through all of it.DM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

If you've ever wondered why you can know exactly what's ruining your life and still keep going back to it anyway, this episode may completely change the way you understand addiction, anxiety, trauma, and even your own personality.In this deeply eye-opening conversation, Dr. Q explains that addiction is often not about pleasure or self-destruction at all. It's about survival. More specifically, it's about a nervous system trying desperately to regulate itself.Drawing from her experience working in methadone clinics, her doctoral research, and polyvagal theory, Dr. Q breaks down how different substances can serve different emotional and neurological functions. Why some people are drawn to stimulants like cocaine or meth, why others gravitate toward heroin or alcohol, and why many people cycle between uppers and downers depending on what emotional state they're trying to escape, numb, or control.Most importantly, this episode gives listeners practical, actionable tools to start regulating their nervous system without substances:Dr. Quenicka, better known as “Dr. Q,” is a clinical psychologist specializing in addiction, trauma, emotional resiliency, and nervous system regulation. Born and raised in Indonesia, Dr. Q moved to the United States as a young adult, went on to graduate with honors from UCLA, earned three master's degrees, and received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate University.Her research in neuropsychology has been published in multiple academic journals, and her clinical work focuses on helping people heal through self-compassion, empowerment, cultural understanding, and hope. With experience ranging from severe mental illness and brain injury treatment to women's intensive outpatient recovery programs, Dr. Q brings both deep expertise and extraordinary warmth to the conversation.Today's episode is brought to you by Seasons in Malibu. For over 18 years, Seasons has been a sanctuary for individuals seeking to reclaim their lives from addiction and mental health challenges. Our story began with a simple but profound vision: To create a luxurious sanctuary for individuals struggling with addiction or mental health issues, where they can receive the finest, evidence-based treatment in the world.Built on Compassion, Driven by ExcellenceWhat started as a small number of compassionate professionals has grown into one of the nation's most respected luxury treatment centers. But growth has never meant losing sight of what matters most—the individual engaging with our therapists, one-on-one, taking the courageous first step toward healing.From the beginning, we understood that truly transformative treatment requires more than clinical protocols. It demands a personalized approach, led by the most qualified professionals, in an environment that nurtures the whole person. That's why we've assembled a team where every primary therapist holds a Doctorate in Psychology - a distinction virtually unmatched in our field.Check out Seasons Malibu online or call 1-866-314-5160 for more information.Connect with Seasons on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

From USC walk-on to cartel middleman to federal inmate rebuilding his life one project at a time, this episode with Owen Hanson feels less like a crime story and more like a masterclass in what happens when ambition runs without guardrails.Known as “The California Kid” and “The Cocaine Quarterback,” Owen shares how a relentless drive for success first showed up on the football field at USC before spiraling into steroid use, smuggling, and eventually laundering millions in drug money tied to the cartel. What started with crossing the border to move steroids from Mexico evolved into a world of massive debt, high stakes pressure, and organized crime that ultimately led to a federal RICO indictment and a 21-year prison sentence in 2015.But this conversation isn't just about the rise and fall. It's about what happened after the collapse.While incarcerated, Owen refused to let prison become dead time. Instead, he turned it into a strange kind of laboratory for reinvention, earning his master's degree, writing a book, creating his business, Ice Protein, and even starring in a docuseries produced with Mark Wahlberg. Owen's story is chaotic, unbelievable, and at times cinematic, but underneath all of it is a deeper message: your lowest point does not have to be wasted time. Sometimes the same intensity that destroys a life can also rebuild one.Connect with Owen on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Somewhere between carne asada, french fries, and a paper-wrapped tortilla the size of a newborn meteor ☄️

Drew's story sounds less like a straight line and more like a lit fuse. Raised mostly in Utah, what started as early oxy use quickly escalated into heroin, methadone, benzos, and a life built around the chaos of selling drugs. But selling soon bled into something darker: robbing local heroin dealers at gunpoint, high-speed car chases, police raids, and eventually fleeing to California while living fully on the run.In California, the hustle only evolved. Pills moved online through Silk Road, bitcoin fortunes disappeared almost as fast as they came, ketamine entered the picture, and rapid detoxes became desperate attempts to outrun addiction without ever truly surrendering to recovery. Through all of it, Drew lived at full speed until a few serious injuries and and dark moments afterward finally forced him to confront what decades of chaos had cost him.Now sober since 2021, Drew has rebuilt his life from the ashes of addiction and violence. Today, he owns a men's mental health and substance use treatment center Sacred Journey, in San Diego and lives deeply rooted in a program of recovery. In this episode, Drew shares one of the wildest stories we've ever had on the podcast, but underneath the insanity is something even more powerful: proof that even the most self-destructive life can be rebuilt into one centered on purpose, service, and freedom.Connect with Sacred Journey Treatment Center on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

After addiction, divorce, losing a career, or any season that leaves life looking like a house after a storm, self-esteem can feel less “broken” and more…evaporated. In this episode, I am giving you three free, practical ways to rebuild confidence without needing a total life makeover, a 5 a.m. ice bath, or a personality transplant.We get into why keeping tiny promises to yourself matters more than giant goals, how helping other people quietly repairs the way you see yourself, and how you can make any environment work for you. Whether you're newly sober, starting over after heartbreak, or just trying to feel like yourself again, this episode is about rebuilding self-worth brick by brick instead of waiting for lightning to strike.DM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

After walking away from football, Dan Brody felt like he had lost the identity that had defined him for years. What started as partying and social connection slowly evolved from alcohol and weed into ecstasy, cocaine, and eventually oxy's. An overdose in his childhood bedroom became the moment that changed everything.In this episode, Dan shares the psychological vacuum that can follow the loss of purpose, structure, and tribe, especially for athletes and high performers. He opens up about why substances initially felt less like escape and more like belonging, and how recovery in Los Angeles helped him rebuild a life rooted in connection instead of chaos.Today, Dan is the SVP of Membership at The Maze, a membership-based social club in Manhattan designed around a radical idea: people deserve meaningful community that doesn't revolve around alcohol. From movie nights and live events to notable speakers and a top-tier culinary program, The Maze is creating a social ecosystem where sobriety feels expansive instead of restrictive.This conversation explores identity loss, addiction, recovery, fatherhood, community, and the growing movement toward substance-free connection in a culture that often confuses drinking with living. It's a story about discovering that the thing many people are actually searching for is not the substance itself, but the feeling of being seen.Today's episode is brought to you by Seasons in Malibu. For over 18 years, Seasons has been a sanctuary for individuals seeking to reclaim their lives from addiction and mental health challenges. Our story began with a simple but profound vision: To create a luxurious sanctuary for individuals struggling with addiction or mental health issues, where they can receive the finest, evidence-based treatment in the world.Built on Compassion, Driven by ExcellenceWhat started as a small number of compassionate professionals has grown into one of the nation's most respected luxury treatment centers. But growth has never meant losing sight of what matters most—the individual engaging with our therapists, one-on-one, taking the courageous first step toward healing.From the beginning, we understood that truly transformative treatment requires more than clinical protocols. It demands a personalized approach, led by the most qualified professionals, in an environment that nurtures the whole person. That's why we've assembled a team where every primary therapist holds a Doctorate in Psychology - a distinction virtually unmatched in our field.Check out Seasons Malibu online or call 1-866-314-5160 for more information.Connect with The Maze on InstagramConnect with Seasons on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

What if the very thing you've been taught to hide is actually your edge?In this episode, we flip the script on addiction and recovery by exploring a counterintuitive idea: addicts often develop strengths that many people never have to learn. One of the biggest? The ability to ask for help. While “normies” can spend years white-knuckling life solo, repeated relapse has a way of humbling us into seeking guidance, mentorship, and connection—and that skill can become a superpower.We unpack the analogy of the golf ball—originally smooth, until its “damage” (those now-famous dimples) made it fly farther and with more control. In the same way, our relapses, mistakes, and perceived failures aren't just scars…they're aerodynamic.This episode is about reframing damage as design, and understanding how the very experiences we wish we could erase are often the ones that make us more coachable, more connected, and ultimately more capable of living a directed, intentional life.DM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Dave Marquess grew up inside a reality most people only glimpse in headlines. Raised by a meth cook and heroin addict, his childhood was less about homework and more about survival. By eighth grade, violence had already entered the story. By his teens, he was moving through a world of escorts, hustles, and whatever could be stolen, stripped, and sold. PCP showed up early. Heroin followed. At one point, he even called his own mother to learn how to shoot it.The crash was inevitable. Jail forced a brutal detox and a confrontation with everything he had been outrunning. What came next was not a clean, cinematic turnaround but something more interesting. He started rebuilding from a place he had abandoned long ago: his childhood creativity.Dave tapped back into his artistic instincts and turned them into something functional, designing a game specifically for people in recovery. Not as a gimmick, but as a tool. A way to engage addicts in their own healing using strategy, storytelling, and choice. The same mind that once engineered survival in the streets now builds systems for growth.This conversation moves through trauma, accountability, and the strange alchemy of turning pain into purpose. It is about what happens when someone stops trying to escape their story and instead rewrites the rules of the game entirely.Check out Dave's games hereConnect with Dave on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Listen ad free on Patreon.In today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Tiffany Towers, Clinical Director and licensed clinical psychologist at Seasons Malibu. Dr. Towers studied psychology and theater at Barnard College at Columbia University and earned her Doctorate in Clinical Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Her work pairs her strong clinical training with a creative, narrative-based approach to therapy.Dr. Towers and I discuss how looking at addiction through the lens of story can help loosen the grip of all-or-nothing thinking. Instead of seeing yourself as permanently defined by past behavior, this approach opens the door to examining patterns, shifting roles, and building a more flexible sense of identity.We also walk through the range of modalities used at Seasons, including EMDR, Brainspotting, somatic work, equine therapy, CBT, and DBT, with a focus on what they actually look like in practice and how to find credible versions of these treatments outside of a residential setting.Dr Towers also emphasizes the value in meeting people where they are, where that is abstinence or harm reduction, and how thoughtful, individualized care can support meaningful progress in either direction.My goal with this episode is to translate high-level clinical insight into something you can use and apply to your own life. Whether you are in recovery, considering change, or working in the field, this conversation offers a grounded, practical way to think about healing and what comes next.Today's episode is brought to you by Seasons in Malibu. For over 18 years, Seasons has been a sanctuary for individuals seeking to reclaim their lives from addiction and mental health challenges. Our story began with a simple but profound vision: To create a luxurious sanctuary for individuals struggling with addiction or mental health issues, where they can receive the finest, evidence-based treatment in the world.Built on Compassion, Driven by ExcellenceWhat started as a small number of compassionate professionals has grown into one of the nation's most respected luxury treatment centers. But growth has never meant losing sight of what matters most—the individual engaging with our therapists, one-on-one, taking the courageous first step toward healing.From the beginning, we understood that truly transformative treatment requires more than clinical protocols. It demands a personalized approach, led by the most qualified professionals, in an environment that nurtures the whole person. That's why we've assembled a team where every primary therapist holds a Doctorate in Psychology - a distinction virtually unmatched in our field.Check out Seasons Malibu online or call 1-866-314-5160 for more information.Connect with Seasons on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

What happens when someone everyone counted out becomes the one who builds it all? In this episode, I sit down with Rob C, whose story starts in chaos and lands in clarity. From early drug use and crime to serving time in prison at just 20, Rob's path didn't exactly point toward success. But after getting sober in California, everything began to shift.Rob opens up about the real work of rebuilding a life from the ground up, the mindset that carried him through early recovery, and how he went from having very little to building and selling multiple businesses. Along the way, he met his wife Amanda (yes, from the Sober Girl Group Chat

Step into a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like opening a hidden door inside yourself.In this episode, I sit down with Audrey Hope, the renowned “Soul Healer” and Doctor of Divinity at Seasons in Malibu, whose work has quietly transformed the lives of celebrities, CEOs, and individuals searching for something deeper than traditional recovery.For over 15 years, Audrey has blended spiritual intuition with trauma and addiction expertise, creating a healing approach that goes far beyond talk therapy. Her philosophy is simple but striking: “Heal the soul, heal the addiction.” And in this conversation, she challenges everything we think we know about recovery.We explore why insight alone doesn't always equal healing, how someone can spend years in therapy yet still feel stuck, and what it actually means to “solve the riddle of the soul.” Audrey shares her belief that true transformation doesn't live in the intellect, it lives in the unseen layers beneath it, where pain, purpose, and identity quietly shape our lives.If you've ever asked yourself “Why am I really suffering?” or wondered if freedom is actually possible, this conversation offers a perspective that is both grounding and expansive.This isn't about fixing yourself. It's about understanding yourself in a way that finally sets you free.Today's episode is brought to you by Seasons Treatment Center in Malibu. For over 18 years, Seasons in Malibu has been a sanctuary for individuals seeking to reclaim their lives from addiction and mental health challenges. Our story began with a simple but profound vision: To create a luxurious sanctuary for individuals struggling with addiction or mental health issues, where they can receive the finest, evidence-based treatment in the world.Built on Compassion, Driven by ExcellenceWhat started as a small number of compassionate professionals has grown into one of the nation's most respected luxury treatment centers. But growth has never meant losing sight of what matters most—the individual engaging with our therapists, one-on-one, taking the courageous first step toward healing.From the beginning, we understood that truly transformative treatment requires more than clinical protocols. It demands a personalized approach, led by the most qualified professionals, in an environment that nurtures the whole person. That's why we've assembled a team where every primary therapist holds a Doctorate in Psychology - a distinction virtually unmatched in our field.Check out Seasons Malibu online or call 1-866-314-5160 for more information.Connect with Seasons on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

TRIGGER WARNING: pregnancy loss and sexual assault 4:50:00 - 15:60:00Jennifer Gimenez had the kind of life people dream about. Named one of Maxim's 100 Hottest Women on Earth, the youngest model to grace the cover of American Elle, and starring in films like Blow, Charlie's Angels, and The Sweetest Thing - on the outside, it looked like pure glamour.But behind the camera, a very different story was unfolding.In this episode, Jennifer shares how she fell in love with cocaine at the height of her modeling career, chasing a high that quietly unraveled everything. What started as part of the lifestyle led her into a cycle of addiction, brief moments of sobriety sparked by an accidental NA meeting, and relapses while still showing up on major film sets. Without a real foundation in recovery, the pattern kept repeating.Eventually, everything caught up with her—leading to treatment with Dr. Drew and a breaking point that included a failed suicide attempt.On January 15, 2005, Jennifer made a decision that would change her life forever.Now sober for two decades, she dedicates her life to helping others find recovery alongside her husband, Tim Ryan.This conversation pulls back the curtain on the illusion of “having it all” and explores what it really takes to build a life that looks as good on the inside as it does on the outside.Today's episode is brought to you by Seasons Treatment Center in Malibu. For over 18 years, Seasons in Malibu has been a sanctuary for individuals seeking to reclaim their lives from addiction and mental health challenges. Our story began with a simple but profound vision: To create a luxurious sanctuary for individuals struggling with addiction or mental health issues, where they can receive the finest, evidence-based treatment in the world.Built on Compassion, Driven by ExcellenceWhat started as a small number of compassionate professionals has grown into one of the nation's most respected luxury treatment centers. But growth has never meant losing sight of what matters most—the individual engaging with our therapists, one-on-one, taking the courageous first step toward healing.From the beginning, we understood that truly transformative treatment requires more than clinical protocols. It demands a personalized approach, led by the most qualified professionals, in an environment that nurtures the whole person. That's why we've assembled a team where every primary therapist holds a Doctorate in Psychology—a distinction virtually unmatched in our field.Check out Seasons Malibu online or call 1-866-314-5160 for more information.Connect with Seasons on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Bryan's story starts in New York, where skateboards, weed, and the raw energy of rebellion shaped his early identity. But what looked like typical teenage experimentation quickly became something others labeled as “a problem.” In the height of the 90s and early 2000s, Bryan was sent away to behavior-modification boarding programs meant to “fix” kids like him. Instead of changing him, those experiences carved in a deeper belief: something is wrong with me.That belief followed him straight into addiction.Oxy was the first opiate that hooked Bryan, and what came after was years of chasing a feeling he could never quite catch again. Methadone, Suboxone, cross-country moves between New York and San Diego, and eventually crack cocaine all became part of the cycle. There were moments that looked like escape, traveling through national parks, falling in love, even a trip to Italy, but the obsession to use never loosened its grip.After a suicide attempt brought him to his lowest point, Bryan found himself back where it all began: using again.But on April 1, 2022, something shifted.At a long-term medical treatment facility, Bryan finally found the space, structure, and willingness that allowed recovery to take root. Today, he's an active participant in a twelve-step program and living proof that even the longest detours can still lead you home.This episode is about mislabeling, survival, and what happens when someone finally stops trying to fix themselves and starts learning how to live.DM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Today is Part Two of our interview with NodPod member, Joey Rakisits. Joey's story is SO inspiring - he did the rounds of alllll the things dope fiend, modifying cars, getting involved in criminal activity, staying in motel rooms, basically running amok in all the ways we addicts can run amok - and now he's CLEAN! Multiple prison terms, county time, again - ALLL the things. Today we pick up Joey's story with a near fatal overdose and his ultimate journey to get to a suboxone clinic with two therapists that changed his life. Clean now since September 20, 2021, we hope you enjoy Joey's episode at much as we did! The article about the homicide is HEREDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Today's episode originally aired on August 24, 2023Today Jeannine and Narcan Nate interview Nod Pod member, Joey Rakisits. Joey's story is SO inspiring - he did the rounds of alllll the things dope fiend, modifying cars, getting involved in criminal activity, staying in motel rooms, basically running amok in all the ways we addicts can run amok - and now he's CLEAN! Multiple prison terms, county time, again - ALLL the things. Clean now since September 20, 2021, we hope you enjoy Joey's episode at much as we did! DM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

**TRIGGER WARNING **todays episode references child abuse, please take care while listening. Today is part two of Jeannine's interview with Matthew Hahn. Matt was a career criminal whose meth addiction and history of residential burglaries earned him three strikes by the age of 18. At 25, Matt was fresh off of parole, and back in his addiction. Returning to his old methods to support his lifestyle, Matt broke into a house and stole a safe - a choice that would change his life forever. What he discovered in that safe would pose a dilemma of choosing to turn in evidence of a crime - when to do so would cost him his freedom for the rest of his life.Part Two picks up where Part One left off, in 2005 after Matt found evidence of a heinous crime inside a safe that he had stolen from a home. Matt ultimately returns to prison and begins leaning into Buddhism as a vital part of his recovery. Connect with Matt on IG HEREConnect with Matt on TikTok HEREDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

This is encore presentation of a episode that was first released in November, 2023. All new episodes will return April 2nd, 2026.**TRIGGER WARNING **todays episode references child abuse, please take care while listening. Today Jeannine interviews Matthew Hahn. Matt was a career criminal whose meth addiction and history of residential burglaries earned him three strikes by the age of 18. At 25, Matt was fresh off of parole, and back in his addiction. Returning to his old methods to support his lifestyle, Matt broke into a house and stole a safe - a choice that would change his life forever. What he discovered in that safe would pose a dilemma of choosing to turn in evidence of a crime - when to do so would cost him his freedom for the rest of his life. Connect with Matt on TikTokDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

This is an encore presentation of an episode originally released May, 2024. After today, I will be taking a short break and returning on April 2nd with all new episodes. All Patreon memberships will be paused until we return as well. Thank you!Hey y'all! This is the ONE jail story I have yet to tell anywhere . Literally one of the craziest events of my entire life, and probably the wildest four days of my active addiction. As always though, there is purpose in the madness, and this story is no different. A few episodes ago my guest Kevin said that a "miracle" can just be a shift in perspective. I absolutely love that idea and today you and I are going to discuss the perspective shift that "rejection is protection." Typically when we are rejected for anything, or by someone, we feel it is based on our value - that we aren't "good enough." What if we can shift our belief system to believe that rejection is a good thing, and absolutely unrelated to our value? Let's talk about it! Let me know what ya'll think! DM on Instagram or email me chasingheroine@gmail.com - love you guys!Connect with show on InstagramConnect with me on TikTokConnect with me on Facebook

This week, we sit down with Bishop Snow an emerging hip hop artist whose story moves from police documentation to performance stages.Raised between Oceanside and Long Beach, Bishop grew up surrounded by instability, gang culture, and early exposure to drugs. By 16, he was already documented by the gang suppression unit, immersed in a lifestyle that felt inevitable in his neighborhood. The streets were loud. The future felt small.But somewhere between the chaos and the consequences, Bishop found a different outlet: music. Writing became his therapy. Recording became his refuge. Even as addiction tightened its grip and his focus on music faded, the spark never fully went out.In 2019, Bishop made the decision to walk away from meth. Recovery didn't just clear his mind, it reignited his discipline. With clarity came consistency. With consistency came growth. His health improved. His writing sharpened. His sound evolved.Then fatherhood shifted everything. Becoming a dad at 21 forced Bishop to zoom out and get serious about his craft. What started as personal expression turned into professional pursuit, leading to viral moments, studio production, and now a tour kicking off next week.This episode is about transformation in real time. It's about trading gang files for tour dates, addiction for ambition, and survival for legacy. Bishop Snow's story is proof that recovery doesn't just restore what was lost. Sometimes it amplifies what was always there.

Kimmy's story doesn't begin with rebellion. It begins with survival.Raised in a home where instability was the norm and addiction sat at the dinner table, Kimmy was introduced to meth at just ten years old when her own mother injected her. What followed was a childhood shaped by substance use, escalating mental health struggles, and self-harm that started in elementary school and grew alongside the chaos around her.Just as Kimmy was preparing for college, two devastating deaths in her family shifted everything. Grief deepened her addiction, and pain fueled behaviors she didn't yet have tools to heal.In this episode, Kimmy shares the raw reality of growing up in trauma, navigating mental illness, and eventually making the brave move to California in search of treatment for both her mental health and substance use. After moving through multiple treatment centers, she has remained sober since December 24th, 2024, refusing to give up on herself or her healing.This is a story about resilience, relapse risks, recovery, and the ongoing work of choosing life, clarity, and mental wellness every single day.A reminder that sobriety isn't just about putting down substances.It's about picking up hope.

This week's episode follows Rio, a woman whose story moves from chaos to clarity with raw honesty and hard-won hope.Rio began using meth in high school, a path that quickly pulled her out of her parents' home and into the control of an older woman who groomed her and introduced her to a traumatic, dangerous lifestyle. After graduating from an alternative school, Rio became a young mom, but addiction tightened its grip. She walked away from her baby and his father in pursuit of drugs, parties, and a life that only grew more volatile. What followed were years of chaos, including involvement with a motorcycle club and people who kept pushing her further into risk and destruction.Eventually Rio entered treatment, relapsed once more, and then made the decision that changed everything, choosing sobriety for real. Today, she's married, has regained custody of her son, is working on her degree at UCSD, and is driven by a powerful goal: to one day work with women in prison and help them find the same freedom she did.This is a story about grooming, addiction, motherhood, relapse, resilience, and what's possible when recovery finally sticks.

Born and raised in South Oceanside, California, Ian G grew up in the shadow of early loss. After his father passed away, Ian made a vow to himself he would never touch narcotics. Life, however, had other plans. After dropping out of high school, that promise slowly unraveled, giving way to years of heavy drinking and drug use marked by multiple DUIs, arrests, and mounting consequences.In October of 2017, Ian was arrested for the last time. That moment became a turning point, leading him to his first stretch of sobriety. After one final relapse, Ian made a quiet but decisive choice on January 1st to get sober for good and this time, he stayed.Today, Ian's life looks radically different. He's in a committed relationship, helping raise his stepdaughter, and thriving in a career in design. Alongside that, he's cultivating a deep passion and talent for photography, channeling creativity into a life built on presence and purpose. This episode is a conversation about grief, broken promises, second chances, and what can grow when you finally stop running and start living.DM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Got it. Here's the corrected version with those details tightened and accurate, keeping the same sober tone:In this episode, we sit down with Skinny Vinny, comedian, content creator, and podcaster whose journey from idolizing the Jackass crew as a kid to eventually working alongside them is anything but linear.Vinny's story begins on a skateboard, smoking weed and chasing adrenaline, before escalating into a painkiller addiction and eventually heroin. His use cost him nearly everything, including housing. At one point, he was homeless in Vermont, living in a porta potty. After making his way to Los Angeles, Vinny spent three months on Skid Row, a period that marked one of the lowest points of his addiction and survival.Instead, sobriety opened a different path. Through recovery and a series of unlikely chance encounters, Vinny found himself not only back on his feet but working with the very people he once idolized, including co-hosting Steve-O's hit podcast Wild Ride.Vinny's journey is a powerful reminder that addiction does not get the final say. Even after periods of deep suffering and instability, it is possible to reclaim creativity, purpose, and long-held dreams. This conversation is about resilience, recovery, and what can happen when someone chooses to keep going.Connect with Skinny Vinny on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Today is a little different! I'm sharing a recording from a twelve-step meeting where I gave the lead a few years ago. It's a simple, honest breakdown of the Twelve Steps and the process of actually working them, not as a rulebook or a rigid formula, but as a deeply personal experience.I've always felt that the steps are essentially free, personalized therapy. They ask us to look at our patterns, our pain, our responsibility, and our capacity for change with a level of honesty that most of us were never taught. In this lead, I walk through how the steps build on one another, why they matter, and what they've given me beyond just staying sober.Whether you're new to recovery, thinking about working the steps, coming back after time away, or just curious about why they've helped so many people for so long, this episode offers a clear, human look at the process and why it still works.No perfection. No preaching. Just one addict's experience with a framework that helped turn survival into something that finally felt like a life.

Today, I am joined by my best friends of nearly thirty years, Keri, Scott “Gumpy” and Barbara. They are not in recovery - which is actually why I wanted them on the show and what hopefully makes this conversation meaningful and different for you guys, too. I wanted to hear from the people who loved me through addiction without ever experiencing it themselves, and to explore what it is like on the other side of an addict friendship.Together, they reflect on watching a childhood friend slowly self destruct. The confusion, fear, frustration, and helplessness. The moments they tried to step in, the times they did not know how, and the emotional toll of caring deeply without having control. Their honesty offers a compassionate and often overlooked perspective for anyone who has loved someone struggling with substance use.The conversation is not all heavy, though!. Woven throughout are the shared memories that come from growing up together. Field parties, driving around in a fake cop car, and me calling Barbara as an adult to talk to my mom for me. The kind of stories only lifelong friends can tell.This episode is for friends, family members, and loved ones who have walked alongside addiction. Those who stayed close, those who pulled away, and those still trying to understand it all. Thoughtful, warm, and deeply human.DM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

This episode is a real-time holiday check in with me and my husband as we talk about what sobriety looks like during one of the most emotionally charged seasons of the year. We reflect on past holidays when substances were part of how we coped, numbed, or survived, and how different things look now with intention, communication, and boundaries.We also pause to acknowledge a milestone. My husband shares where he is at just over two years sober, specifically how his program and mental health have evolved.Together, we talk about the stress of family dynamics, expectations, grief, finances, and the nonstop pace of the season, along with the practical ways we take care of ourselves so resentment and burnout do not quietly take the wheel. From checking in with each other, to protecting our routines, to knowing when to opt out instead of powering through, this episode is about choosing sobriety on purpose when things feel loud and heavy.If the holidays have ever made you question your recovery, miss old coping mechanisms, or feel alone in the effort it takes to stay grounded, this conversation is for you. You are not weak for feeling it. You are human. And you are allowed to do the holidays differently now.Check out sponsor Worthy Wellness Center if you or a loved one are looking for residential treatment, outpatient programs or sober living, Worthy can provide a safe space to heal.Connect with Glynis on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Y'all, my guest today, Toni Becker is absolutely incredible.Toni lives in South Africa and is a content creator with twelve years sober. Toni was plagued by disordered eating years before her addictions to meth and alcohol began. Years of partying led to homelessness, meth psychosis and severe illness and kidney failure. In sobriety, Toni was still struggling with disordered eating. Treatment in sobriety finally helped her with that struggle. Later in sobriety, she developed facial dysmorphia induced by social media expectations and filters. Talking about these issues in sobriety was fascinating and I learned so much from Toni!Connect with Toni on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Glynis's journey is one of the most intense and transformative we've ever shared. She began using drugs at a painfully young age, smoking crack by 12, moving through juvie, and growing up as a ward of the state. By 18 she was stripping to survive, drifting from Massachusetts to Texas in the hope that a new place might quiet her addiction. Instead, she spent years in Dallas working as a prostitute and becoming deeply enmeshed the world of solicitation.Everything changed when she was arrested while smuggling people across the border between Mexico and California. That prison sentence became the turning point she never saw coming. Glynis got sober, stayed sober, and rebuilt her life from the foundation up.Today she has six years clean and is opening her own treatment center Peak Path Health in the Hollywood Hills, determined to give others the safety and support she never had.This episode is a powerful conversation about resilience, redemption, and the belief that no one is too far gone to find a new path.Check out Worthy Wellness CenterConnect with Glynis on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Glynis's journey is one of the most intense and transformative we've ever shared. She began using drugs at a painfully young age, smoking crack by 12, moving through juvie, and growing up as a ward of the state. By 18 she was stripping to survive, drifting from Massachusetts to Texas in the hope that a new place might quiet her addiction. Instead, she spent years in Dallas working as a prostitute and becoming deeply enmeshed the world of solicitation.Everything changed when she was arrested while smuggling people across the border between Mexico and California. That prison sentence became the turning point she never saw coming. Glynis got sober, stayed sober, and rebuilt her life from the foundation up.Today she has six years clean and is opening her own treatment center Peak Path Health in the Hollywood Hills, determined to give others the safety and support she never had.This episode is a powerful conversation about resilience, redemption, and the belief that no one is too far gone to find a new path.Check out Worthy Wellness CenterConnect with Glynis on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

This week, we sit down with Janice, an author, advocate, and nearly 20 years sober, to unpack a story that begins in a family of dive bar owners and ends in a life built on purpose and spiritual transformation.Raised around alcoholism, Janice picked up drinking and smoking weed in middle and high school before joining the Marine Corps. When an injury derailed her military path, she was prescribed pain medications that opened the door to years of dependency. By her mid 30s, she found herself addicted to methadone until she made the terrifying decision to quit cold turkey. What followed was a profound and unexpected spiritual experience that became the turning point of her life.Today, Janice has almost two decades of sobriety, has written two powerful recovery books, and dedicates her time to helping people navigate surgery and pain management without narcotics. Her story is raw, honest, and deeply hopeful, and it serves as a reminder of what is possible on the other side of surrender.Find Janice's books and info about sober surgeries: https://www.sobrietyrocks365.com/DM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Jed returns to the show for one of his most honest conversations yet. After years of sharing his growth and wisdom on this podcast, he recently experienced a relapse - and he shows up with raw transparency about what happened. We talk openly about the dishonesty and poor decision-making that comes with using, the shame that follows, and the painful reality of breaking trust with the people who love us most. Jed reflects on what it takes to rebuild that trust, how he's finding his footing again, and why this chapter, though difficult, is part of his continued journey in recovery. This is a vulnerable, grounded conversation about being human, starting over, and choosing honesty even when it's hard.DM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Gunnar grew up in what looked like the perfect family - until addiction slowly unraveled everything. After his parents fell deeper into their own substance use, his mother disappeared without a word, leaving Gunnar to navigate a childhood suddenly marked by instability and pain.By his teens, he turned to meth and heroin, beginning a long cycle of drug court, jail stays, and surviving on the streets of downtown San Diego. But Gunnar's story didn't end there. Through grit, recovery, and a community that believed in him, he rebuilt his life from the ground up.Now three years sober, Gunnar has graduated college and applied to graduate school with a mission: to advocate for the homeless community he once belonged to and push for real policy change.This episode is a powerful testament to resilience, redemption, and the impact of turning lived experience into purpose.DM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

In this explosive conclusion to Blue's story, the chaos of addiction reaches terrifying new heights. What starts as a wild meth-fueled adventure spirals into a blur of residential burglaries, near-death experiences, and cross-count geographicals between California and New Mexico. Blue narrowly survives a car explosion, brushes with death, and finds herself trapped in the same criminal underworld she once swore she'd escape.After a string of arrests, she lands in a New Mexico prison—this time with a baby in California that she's trying to get back to. Headed back to California, she was determined to find sobriety. Ending up in a federal indictment and facing years in federal prison, Blue is finally forced to confront the wreckage of her past and the possibility of a different future.Check out our sponsor Worthy Wellness CenterConnect with Blue's treatment center OC SafehouseDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

PART ONE: Krystin “Blue” grew up in New Mexico, a ballet dancer and promising student. At just 19, she smoked crack for the first time - with her mother. That moment changed everything, pulling her into a world of addiction, chaos, and survival. After an overdose and a terrifying encounter with a cartel boss, Blue was arrested for selling Oxy 80s and eventually found herself in Orange County, chasing relief in heroin. In Part One of her story, Blue opens up about the pain, love, and deep longing that drove her down this path — and the flicker of hope that would one day lead her toward healing.Check out our sponsor Worthy Wellness Center!Connect with Safehouse OC on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

In part three of Keta Loren's powerful story, everything changes. After years of addiction, trauma, and survival on the streets of Los Angeles, Keta has a profound spiritual experience that awakens something deep within her - setting her on a new path of recovery, healing, and purpose. But just as her life begins to transform, tragedy strikes, plunging her into a long season of grief. Through the pain, Keta finally reaches a point of surrender and begins to seek help for her mental health, opening the door to lasting recovery and self-discovery.Connect with Keta on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

In Part Two of Keta Loren's powerful story, we pick up in Los Angeles - where her life spirals deeper into addiction, exploitation, and survival. After being trafficked and turning to stripping to get by, Keta becomes trapped in a relentless cycle of meth and heroin use, crime, and chaos. But when she least expects it, a mystical, life-altering experience cracks everything open - ushering in the beginning of her transformation. Check out Work It Health hereConnect with Keta on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Melanie Gulde, the Vermont drug court officer who played a pivotal role in helping Phish frontman Trey Anastasio find sobriety back in 2006. Nearly two decades later, both Melanie and Trey are sober and have joined forces to create something extraordinary - The Divided Sky Foundation in Ludlow, Vermont.Together, they've built a recovery program that blends the 12 Steps, emotional sobriety, and Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (M.O.R.E.) into a truly holistic healing experience. Through immersive workshops, music-centered therapy, nature walks, and mindfulness practices, Divided Sky offers a unique space for transformation — one rooted in connection, creativity, and community.Melanie shares her personal journey to sobriety, to getting involved with Drug Court programs, and why she feels so passionate about helping women find treatment.Recently, the Divided Sky Foundation announced the launch of a Women's Scholarship Fund, created to address the unique barriers women face when seeking treatment for addiction. The Fund provides financial support so that women — regardless of income — can access a dignified and empowering path to recovery. With the assistance of women's rights attorney, Tamara Holder, Melanie and Trey continue to expand their mission of offering hope, healing, and opportunity to all who seek recovery.This episode is a testament to the power of second chances, the strength of community, and the beautiful harmony that can emerge when recovery meets purpose.Check out the website for Divided SkyDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

In this powerful first part of Keta Loren's story, we meet a woman whose voice was forged in the fire of unimaginable hardship. Raised in foster care after chaos with her biological parents, Keta's adolescence was marked by instability, incarceration, and survival. By 18, she was caught in the grips of meth addiction, hustling to survive while clinging to the one constant in her life—music.From juvenile institutions to the California Youth Authority, and later being trafficked to Los Angeles for sex work, Keta never let go of her dream to sing. Her resilience and raw talent carried her through darkness most never escape. Now sober for several years, Keta shares the truth behind her journey and the moments that led her to the edge of transformation.Part One ends with Keta in LA, standing at the crossroads between destruction and redemption—just before everything changes.Connect with Keta on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Straton's story is one of grit, chaos, and ultimate redemption. After dropping out of high school in North Carolina, he headed west to Oregon in search of opportunity, finding himself in the marijuana industry. But what started as chasing a lifestyle spiraled into a devastating heroin addiction. At his lowest, Straton chose to live in a tent on the sidewalk - steps away from the dope dealers - despite still owning a house of his own.Today, sober since 2021, Straton has rebuilt his life from the ground up. He's thriving as a successful car salesman, grounded in the principles of a twelve-step program, and living proof that recovery is possible no matter how far down the scale you've gone.In this episode, Straton shares his raw journey through addiction, the mindset that kept him trapped, and the tools he uses daily to stay connected, accountable, and free.DM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

In part two of Harold's story, we pick up in 1998 as he enters sobriety after decades of drinking and crack addiction. His journey through early recovery is anything but simple - Harold finds himself selling crack while sober, and later endures a bizarre tragedy that changes his life forever. Along the way, he receives an incredible gift from a fellow twelve stepper that reshapes the course of his recovery. Harold's honesty, wisdom, and depth of experience continue to shine as he shares the lessons that have carried him through more than two decades of sobriety.DM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

In this first part of a two-part conversation, we sit down with Harold, a beloved figure in the local recovery community who has been sober since 1998. Harold shares the powerful story of how decades of drinking and crack addiction derailed his promising football career and countless other athletic opportunities, and how the devastation of addiction ultimately brought him to the rooms of recovery. With over two decades of sobriety, Harold has become a walking encyclopedia of Twelve Step wisdom and recovery principles, offering insight, honesty, and hope to everyone he meets. This episode dives into his early life, his struggles, and the path that led him to embrace recovery and begin a journey of transformation.Our episode today ends just before Harold gets sober in 1998.DM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

his week's episode features the powerful story of a woman who endured the darkest depths of heroin and crack addiction—homelessness, sex work, selling drugs, arrests, and violent assaults. After years of chaos, she found her turning point and got sober in 2018. Her journey didn't stop there. Against all odds, she built a new life as a devoted mother, wife, and homeowner. Today, she works in the treatment field, dedicating her life to helping others heal through trauma therapy. She also shares how an unexpected arrest on her one-year sober anniversary sparked a deeper sense of spirituality that continues to guide her path. This is a raw and inspiring conversation about resilience, redemption, and the power of recovery.DM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Eric's journey begins in a small town in Ohio, where he was raised in a strict, religious fundamentalist household. The shift from being homeschooled to suddenly navigating public high school was jarring, and Eric turned to drinking and smoking weed as a way to cope. What started as a teenage escape grew into a cycle of destructive relationships and escalating substance use - Percocets, then heroin.Over the years, Eric's addiction drove him into schemes to hustle money, from petty hustles to full-blown counterfeiting operations. His criminal activity eventually caught the attention of federal authorities, leading to ten felony charges and even a visit from the Secret Service.But Eric's story didn't end there. Clean since 2014, he has become a beacon of hope - showing that it's possible to find deep spirituality without traditional faith. Today, he owns Sacred Journey Recovery, a men's treatment center in Vista, California, dedicated to an experiential approach to healing with a strong focus on trauma therapy.In this episode, Eric opens up about the chaos and consequences of his addiction, the unraveling of his life under the weight of heroin and crime, and—most importantly—the path he found to rebuild everything. His story is raw, unfiltered, and a powerful reminder that no matter how deep the hole, recovery and redemption are possible.Check out Sacred Journey RecoveryDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

From the depths of Skid Row to the heights of entrepreneurial success, Khalil Rafati's story is one of the most jaw-dropping transformations you'll ever hear. Once a homeless heroin addict, Khalil hit rock bottom before rebuilding his life piece by piece. In this episode, he opens up about the brutal reality of addiction, the turning point that sparked his recovery, and how he went on to create SunLife Organics—a superfood empire with wildly popular health bowls and smoothie shops that have become cultural staples.Khalil doesn't sugarcoat his past, and he doesn't pretend his success was easy. He shares how self-reliance, recovery, and an unwavering belief in possibility allowed him to build a life beyond his wildest imagination. Whether you're struggling to find hope, or simply looking for inspiration to start over, Khalil's journey proves that no matter how far you've fallen, a comeback is always possible.Connect with Khalil on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

This week, we sit down with ESPN reporter and former Rutgers gymnast Lauren Sisler, whose story is as heartbreaking as it is inspiring. In 2003, Lauren lost both of her parents within hours of each other to fatal fentanyl overdoses—a devastating truth she was too ashamed to share at the time. For years, she told friends and teammates that her parents had died of heart failure and respiratory issues, hiding from the stigma of addiction. It wasn't until seven years later that Lauren began to face the truth, and a full decade before she opened their toxicology reports.In this powerful conversation, Lauren shares how she found the courage to peel back the layers of shame and grief and embrace what she now calls the “Shatterproof Mindset.” She opens up about the path to forgiveness, the resilience born from tragedy, and how learning to fall in love with her own story has allowed her to honor her parents' memory while helping others find healing in theirs.If you've ever struggled with grief, shame, or the fear of telling your truth, this episode will show you that even the most shattered stories can become unbreakable.Connect with Lauren on InstagramDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookWorkout with me on PatreonConnect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!

Note from Jeannine: I am so excited for you all to meet another one of my #SGGC girlfriends, Britt! Britt absolutely blew me away with her poise, eloquence and knowledge around recovery and her journey into autism awareness. I love her and I know you will too!This week, we sit down with my friend and fellow Sober Girl Group Chat member, Britt Bernard, to hear her powerful story of transformation. Raised in Philadelphia by a police officer father, Britt's early experimentation with cough medicine spiraled into years of heavy drinking and party drugs—she even managed to get herself banned from the Eagles' stadium, “The Linc.” With her dad's badge often shielding her from consequences, the chaos continued until an abusive relationship became the breaking point that pushed Britt to make a change.Sober since 2018, Britt has built a beautiful life alongside her sober partner, Dan, raising their son, Billy. When Billy was diagnosed with autism, Britt leaned into advocacy with the same openness she brings to her recovery—using her voice and her platform to share vulnerable truths, offer advice, and break down stigma for other moms walking a similar path.Britt's story is one of grit, resilience, and love, and this episode is a reminder that recovery doesn't just change our lives—it can ripple out and change the lives of everyone around us.Connect with Britt on InstagramJoin the Facebook Private Sober Girl Group ChatDM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookWorkout with me and get access to private content on PatreonConnect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.com

In this raw and unforgettable episode, we sit down with Renzo, a man whose story takes us from the halls of an Ecuadorian naval academy to the darkest corners of addiction — and finally, to redemption and love. Sent away as a teen in hopes of “straightening out,” he returned with more of taste for alcohol than ever. By 21, he was smoking meth. A move to the East Coast meant a fresh start… until heroin took over. His desperation ran so deep he once faked appendicitis — and had a perfectly healthy organ removed — just to score pain meds.After countless relapses, he finally got sober in his forties. The same day we recorded this episode, Renzo proposed to his girlfriend and they are now engaged — a full-circle moment for someone who never thought love or freedom was possible. Now, he works in treatment and shares his story to prove that no matter how far gone you feel, it's never too late to come back.This one's wild, honest, and packed with hope. You don't want to miss it.Can't wait to hear what you guys think!DM me on InstagramMessage me on FacebookListen AD FREE & workout with me on Patreon Connect with me on TikTokEmail me chasingheroine@gmail.comSee you next week!