Welcome to Recovery Uncensored, the #1 recovery and community-based podcast in the Midwest that focuses on addiction, mental health, recovery, and community and cultural change. Your host, Ty A. Bechel, brings 15 years of lived experience after escaping the hell of addiction, depression, and misery as the show will provide a wide range of guests to speak on topics from addiction to being part of the LGBTQ community in recovery and much more. Guests bring personal and professional testimonies, exposing their vulnerabilities, to highlight struggles and change in their individual lives or in the community. Monthly episodes allow a great conversation to take place so we can all learn something new and call out societal b.s. Sponsored by Gateway Foundation. Produced by WBGZ 107.1/Nick Darr.
Have you ever wondered how roller skating could be a form of therapy? Our guest, Jackie Butler, shares her fascinating journey of finding solace in roller skating amidst the turmoil of her parents' divorce and the ensuing sense of isolation. Jackie's raw and emotional account of her struggles with substance use and mental health issues is a powerful testament to her resilience.The conversation takes a deeper turn as we navigate through Jackie's tumultuous teenage years, marred by her parents' divorce, her father's addiction, and her own substance use. She bravely discusses her mental health breakdown, her stint in a state hospital, and her relentless pursuit of human connection. Jackie's candid account of her experiences with drug court and her subsequent transition to sobriety is a beacon of hope for anyone dealing with similar struggles.Jackie's story is not just one of trials and tribulations, but also of redemption, recovery, and personal growth. She shares how she overcame her addiction, found connection within the 12 Step community, and regained control and found balance in her life. Join us for a conversation that redefines the narrative of addiction and recovery, emphasizing that individual recovery journeys are unique, and reminding us that progress indeed trumps perfection.Support the showwww.myrecoverypodcast.comwww.facebook.com/recoveryuncensoredwww.twitter.com/recoveryuncens1
Giving up was not an option for Brittany, even though she was only one wrong decision away from a life full of despair and possibly death. She joined Ty in the Big Z Media studio and shared how she flew under the radar with her drug and alcohol use, shocking her parents at the kitchen table while pleading for help from the grip heroin had on her everyday life. Brittany recounts frequently moving to different cities (and states) due to her father's work and having the gnawing feeling she doesn't truly fit in anywhere. She found ways to relate to kids in high school, as many adolescents do, by dating, drinking, and sometimes drugging. Alcohol introduced her to cocaine and Benzos, which inevitably led to intravenously using Dilaudid for the first time. She turned to stripping to support the newly found heroin addiction that took her down Salisbury St., Kingshighway Blvd., and Hall St. while evading the Jump Out Boys to stay out of jail. After four stints in residential treatment, Brittany knew she had to make a drastic change and plunged into a 12-step community where she has been ever since with almost 12 continuous years of recovery. She now works as a social worker, giving her heart and soul to help parents escape their own Hell and unify with their children. Â www.myrecoverypodcast.comwww.facebook.com/recoveryuncensoredwww.twitter.com/recoveryuncens1
Rhiannon Gancheff joined Ty in the Big Z Media studio from Florida, traveling to Illinois to meet her mother and brother for a week. There is a saying, "Addiction is not a spectator sport, and the entire family gets to play," and Rhiannon was a central teammate in her mother's addiction. Rhiannon recounts the struggles she saw her mother and father experience, from drug and alcohol addiction, toxic encounters, and infidelities, to the separation of her family that led to moving over seven hours away from Colorado to a small town in Illinois. After her mother and new step-father attempted a blended family while her mother focused on drug use, Rhiannon was left to take on the hero role in her family and help raise her younger sister and brother. The annoyance of her mother's constant drug use became full-blown resentment and rage. Eventually, through a series of events over a few years, the momentum of hate, feelings of abandonment, and sadness for her own mother, Rhiannon decided to help her mother find recovery, though, through her own admittance, was not kind to her at all. After a three-hour conversation at the kitchen table with her mom, Rhiannon let a decade of anger, sadness, shame, and resentment out, which ultimately became the pivotal moment of her healing and repairing the relationship with her mother. A true story of how families are affected by addiction and how the power of healing and recovery is possible. www.myrecoverypodcast.comwww.facebook.com/recoveryuncensoredwww.twitter.com/recoveryuncens1
Katie O'Malley joins Ty in the Big Z Media studio and discusses her ups and downs that led to her almost 4 years of continuous recovery. Born in the St. Clair County, Illinois, Katie is the daughter of her late father, Michael, a prominent and respected judge, who shares her travels to Manhattan and where she was on September 11th, 2001. She also discussed with transparency how her addiction spiraled after she tried heroin for the first and fell in love immediately. As she descended into her active addiction, she accidentally struck a pedestrian with her vehicle, which led to darker and more depressive days after St. Louis news agencies picked up on the story and it was publicized. She felt she was a failure and an embarrassment to her family and had to seek professional guidance to deal with her conflictions. She eventually turned her life around after completing a residential treatment program and is now happily married, attending a Certification Peer Recovery Specialist program at SIUE, a local university, and interns at a local Recovery Community Organization (RCO), Amare. www.myrecoverypodcast.comwww.facebook.com/recoveryuncensoredwww.twitter.com/recoveryuncens1
Jessica joins Ty at the Big Z Media studio to discuss her obsession with alcohol and how it affected her day-to-day life. Coming from a supportive marriage and in-laws, Jessica shares her secrets about hiding her love for alcohol from those closest to her and her co-workers. While working at an upscale restaurant, hints were becoming apparent that alcohol may have been causing more problems in her life than she liked to admit. Call it spiritual, the universe, or pure coincidence, she kept running into clean and sober people, like the new neighbor she met while she was toasty during a day-drinking episode that later became her first sponsor in a 12-step program. Toying with the idea of recovery, she admits she was "California" sober and was on a strict marijuana maintenance diet that led to her last dab pen and anxiety-ridden stoner episode. Join us on Episode 54 and hear Jessica's remarkable turnaround and how she maintains recovery today. www.myrecoverypodcast.comwww.facebook.com/recoveryuncensoredwww.twitter.com/recoveryuncens1
Liz, Outreach Worker for Oxford Inc. and a Kentucky native, joins Ty at the studio and discusses many challenging topics. Some will call her brave, and that she is, but it is also safe to say she is working an "honest program" because healing and recovering from a past riddled with active addiction and the need to fit in is essential to her health and success for years to come. She shares growing up in poverty and a dark moment in her past when she lost her young sister at three years old to murder. After what she thought was finding her tribe, drinking and drugs became her norm. After years of substance use and toxic relationships, Liz found herself in jail often. The mother of three shares her vulnerabilities from a place of honesty and transparency. She also updates us on all the great things Oxford Inc. is up to in the State of Illinois.www.myrecoverypodcast.comwww.facebook.com/recoveryuncensoredwww.twitter.com/recoveryuncens1
In case you missed our live show that airs on Saturday nights, we gotchu covered! Host Ty Bechel, as always, was joined by his co-host, Bri on the Radio, and a returning guest from the recorded podcast, Dorie Hebblethwaite. We discussed what Dorie, a junior in high school, is seeing around her campus regarding drugs and what kids are up to these days. She also remembers growing up when her dad was in active addiction. We also released a new segment, Hell Naw!, where we talk about some messed up stuff revolving around addiction, drug policy, and beyond. Dorie and Bri go head-to-head on trivia right before Dorie gets put in the hot seat to answer some tough questions. Our live show can be heard on 107.1 FM in the St. Louis market on the 3rd Saturday of the month form 6-8 pm (CST) or streamed live HERE. But if you missed it, check out our live show full of comedic and sincere balance. We also have some big news coming about the live show and podcast. www.myrecoverypodcast.comwww.facebook.com/recoveryuncensoredwww.twitter.com/recoveryuncens1
Amber Kite joins us in the studio to talk about everything recovery, but not before she gave a shout-out to her close friend, Ben, who tragically lost his life to suicide recently at the young age of 25. We discuss the importance of checking on our people and letting them know we love them. Remember, you can call 988 if you feel you are in a crisis and need someone to speak with. After her heartfelt memorialization to Ben, Amber takes us down a road of active addiction that seemed to grow after a long-time relationship of nearly seven years abruptly ended. Confessing the relationship had become toxic, and she was admittingly co-dependent, she descended into heavy drug use that led to her mother constantly worrying about her and having police contact, resulting in probation and attending Madison County, IL Drug Court under the Honorable Judge Napp; Amber was court-ordered to go to long-term treatment and was admitted to CRC, a long-term recovery home in Irving, Ill. (Montgomery County), a village of only 600. She stayed nearly two years, even during the strictest COVID-19 lockdowns. Today, she celebrates her family, friends, and working in the recovery field, helping others find a new way to live. Learn more about the 988 crisis hotline by clicking HERE.www.myrecoverypodcast.comwww.facebook.com/recoveryuncensoredwww.twitter.com/recoveryuncens1
Michael Wooten, owner of Effervescent Studios and person in recovery, joins Ty to discuss the past three years since he and his partner were last on the show. As many argue relapse if relapse is, or isn't, part of recovery, today's interview shows the monumental growth that can take place after a brief taste of recovery goes awry when relapse finds its way into our mind, body, and soul. Michael bares all and holds nothing back from the struggles his methamphetamine used caused with his closest relationships. After being asked to leave the home he and his partner began building, Michael was left to reevaluate his life, drug use, and if recovery was something he truly wanted. Realigning his values and desires, he realized a life with organic happiness and supportive people in his life was more important than the stimulants. Today, Michael owns his dance studio, is happily involved with his partner, and is learning peer work with Amare as a Family Recovery Coach Intern.  www.myrecoverypodcast.comwww.facebook.com/recoveryuncensoredwww.twitter.com/recoveryuncens1
Ted Perkins, a former Warner Bros. and Universal Studios Executive, joins Ty Bechel from Los Angeles to share his expertise in films, writing, recovery, and his recently published book, Addicted in Film. The 300-page paperback travels into unknown territory by mixing and bending Ted's recovery journey with his 30 years in Hollywood and great love for films and storytelling; Addicted in Film is truly a piece of nonfiction literature that is one of a kind.During his interview, not only does Ted share his recovery journey and how he turned to 100 movies about addiction to help in his early months of healing, but he drops nuggets of truth about what it takes to become a writer and producer in the industry of filmmaking. As he continues to use his immense talent to write and sell scripts to various studios and production companies, he is also assisting in expanding the recovery movement through the power of storytelling so people can find a better way of living. If you love recovery and films, this is an episode you don't want to miss!Visit www.addictedinfilm.com to learn more about Ted, his new book, Addicted in Film, and movies reflecting struggles and victories relating to substance use. www.myrecoverypodcast.comwww.facebook.com/recoveryuncensoredwww.twitter.com/recoveryuncens1
Nate Hartmann, Vice President of Operations at Symetria Recovery, joins host Ty A. Bechel, all the way from Oswego, Illinois, a suburb outside of Chicago, to discuss his personal and professional journey. Nate, an Illinois native from Naperville, Illinois, struggled with drug and alcohol addiction hindered by debilitating depression as a young adult. His parents were concerned, and after seeing a therapist for his depression, later revealing his alcohol and drug habits, he decided to seek residential treatment recommended by his therapist. Nate credits his decision to go to treatment in 2003 after seeing a television show where the rock-n-roll hall of famer, Ozzy Osbourne's son, Jack Osbourne, decided to seek help for his spat with alcohol and drugs. He lived in a halfway house after his first (and last) stay at a treatment center. He later went on to work at a call center in 2008 for an intervention organization where he helped families and individuals find the resources they needed to find recovery. Fast forward a few years and a Master's Degree later, Nate is helping shape the professional world; he is keeping his roots in mind on how he was treated like a human being and had many of his needs met by his therapist and the admissions team at the residential facility he began his recovery journey at. This remarkable transformation leads him to return to Naperville, Illinois, after an 18-year hiatus with his wife and two children.Â
Attorney, past specialty court judge (drug court), and social entrepreneur, Katie Sullivan, joins Recovery Uncensored from her home to share a remarkable story of trials, tribulations, and success that took her all the way to working with the Trump Administration's Department of Justice.  Having nearly 26 years of continuous recovery from alcoholism, Katie was nothing short of honest with her challenges with alcohol, later attending 12 step meetings, and being challenged as a judge of Colorado's 5th judicial district for being in recovery by defense attorneys and their clients. Before becoming a judge, she had a private practice and later served as Deputy District Attorney in Colorado. Katie was appointed by William Barr as the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs. Today, she and her husband, Dr. Art Kleinschmidt, have retired from government positions and began a new journey with their organization Recovery for America Now Foundation, where the well-known Dr. Drew Pinsky sits on their Advisory Board. Their mission, "saving lives through treatment scholarships." Â
Zach George joined us in studio to talk about being an "everywhere man" and his struggles with homelessness and how it fueled his active addiction. From spending time in Ohio, Washington, and Texas, Zach knew he had to make a change. After finding recovery in Texas, he was given safe, supportive, and secure housing through an Oxford House. Now loving life, he gets to give back and help set up new recovery homes with Oxford Inc. in the State of Illinois and surrounding states. This is his story.
Author, publisher, counselor, and Hollywood socialite, Leonard Buschel joins Recovery Uncensored all the way from Los Angeles, California, to discuss his journey through marijuana and MDMA addiction and share about his newly released memoir, HIGH: Confessions of a Cannabis Addict. Recently celebrating 28 years of continuous recovery, Buschel shares how he had no intentions of taking getting clean and sober seriously but something inside him changed at the Arizona rehab during a gruesomely hot summer that made him question his drug and alcohol use and his practice of drug dealing. After losing what he describes as the love of his life, he nearly had a nervous breakdown that lead to the rehab and the beginning of his unsuspected transformation. He navigated through recovery and developed the Reel Recovery Film Festival, Writers in Recovery, and the Addiction and Recovery eBulletin. His film festival is in its 14th year, and in 2016, earned him the Link Award by In Recovery Magazine for promoting recovery "using film, panel discussions, and speakers to understand and encourage compassion for people living with addictive disorders."Â
Tara Demand joins host, Ty Bechel in the studio to discuss alcoholism and Adderall dependency finding her in her 30's. From experiencing a case of empty nest to climbing the corporate ladder in the medical field, Tara found herself hiding how bad her drinking had gotten. She shares with us how she slowly progressed with her drinking and Adderall use to completely uprooting her life with her husband. The mother of 4 and 2 bonus kids, she discovered her trauma was more severe than she thought. Pinpointing her abandonment trauma to her biological father leaving her at a young age, she would find herself putting other people's needs first so they wouldn't leave her. After finally revealing her secret of alcoholism to her husband, and later one of her sons, she was able to finally begin her path of healing and recovery. From the discovery of recovery, Tara has launched a new blog and inspirational site for women called the Recovered Woman Project at www.therecoveredwoman.com. Join us for an emotional interview of a mother that was on the verge of a alcoholic collapse before she decided to give recovery a shot (pun intended).Â
Hello, Recovery Uncensored fans! In case you didn't know, we started a spinoff show called Recovery Uncensored LIVE! that is live on the radio in the St. Louis region on 107.1 FM/1570 AM; you can stream live too! This is our 4th live episode captured for your Recovery Uncensored needs! Michael Wooten, owner and lead dance instructor of Effervescent Studio joined me and my co-host, Bri on the Radio, to discuss his last relapse, dealing with losing his partner when his active use became too much, and how well he is doing today with over a year of continuous recovery. Michael shares how he is helping transform lives at his dance studio and shares his class catalog with dance styles he teaches like the hustle, salsa, and more! We have fun on the live show and sometimes get off topic and even have challenges for our guests. Check out our live episode and don't forget to visit our website www.myrecoverypodcast.com for past episodes, our blog, and much more!Â
The infamous Grandpa Jack, aka Jack Wilcox, joined us to discuss addiction, recovery, and losing his son to an opiate overdose that lived in Dayton, Ohio, one of the places hardest hit nationally by the opioid epidemic. Jack goes into great detail about his personal struggle with alcoholism and the fateful day he got the call many parents dread. Grieving his son, Jack was not entirely sure what he would do, but what he chose to do next to carry a message with hopes of at least saving one life would shock those attending his presentations. Â
Erica and Pam join us all the way from Hillsboro, Illinois, to discuss their journey through recovery and how the recovery movement has been taken shape in their region. Pam shares honestly about hiding her attraction to other women in a time that being gay was not acceptable. Erica doesn't hold anything back either and shares about her time in a drug court program, trauma, and how she has been working to heal while admitting her emotions can be more intense than she would like.Â
Katie McKenna joins me from her home in Pana, Illinois, via Zoom to share her story of daydreaming as a young kid of wanting to listen to rock-and-roll music and party with friends, becoming ungovernable as a teenager, and trying meth for the first time at 12 years old. Her do-what-I-want attitude lead her to 25 months in prison after a fatal car accident. After her release from prison, she had to experiment for a few more years before she believed she was worth the effort of turning her life around.Â
Casey Arrillaga joins Ty all the way from Wimberley, Texas; Casey is a clinical social worker and chemical dependency counselor who has lived with and around addiction for all his life. He is now a therapist specializing in family counseling for addiction. In both his book, Realistic Hope: The Family Survival Guide for Facing Alcoholism and Other Addictions, and his podcast, Addiction and the Family, he shares the knowledge gained from conducting hundreds of family workshops and helping thousands of family members and also weaves his own narrative of recovery both as an individual and a family member. Casey also shares his journey through recovery and how he and his wife balance both of their personal programs.Â
In Ep. 38: Rock-N-Roll Recovery, Shaun Howard, lead singer of the band Foreplay and the Shaun & Mike Duo, joins Recovery Uncensored to share his struggle with alcoholism that accompanied his night life as a talented vocalist and natural-born rocker. We sit down and discuss the car wreck that changed his motivation for recovery, depression, writing original music, cartoons like Adventure Time and anime, and how grateful he is to have four years of continuous sobriety. He shares a lighter and more intimate side by performing an acoustic version of his original song "Blame it on Gravity" on the ukulele. Join us for another amazing interview with a talented and humble guest.Â
On Recovery Uncensored Ep. 37: Trauma Unveiled, Rick stops by the studio to share one of the most honest stories of adversity filled with extreme trauma, abandonment, and trying to find his place in a world where he could be accepted and loved. He takes us through being raised by his great grandparents and his sacred trust of an older family being extremely violated. Rick holds nothing back and even shares his most recent wound of losing his son to an accidental overdose.Â
A new year, with a new guest all on Recovery Uncensored! On our first episode of 2022, our host, Ty Bechel, brought on Duke Rumely, founder of Sober AF Entertainment out of Colorado. Ty and Duke discuss Duke's history with alcohol abuse and how he crossed the border into Mexico, later to be arrested and detained by Mexican federales. The jail put a $25,000 bond on his head that his mother walked away from. Not wanting to keep Duke in Mexico, the jail reduced the bond to $4,000 and his mother came to his rescue. Join us for episode 36 to discuss his detainment and deportation from Mexico, his blackout on a plane, and how he turned his life around, developing Sober AF Entertainment, a nonprofit that organizes sober tailgate parties and works with sporting venues to provide sober sections for those in recovery.Â
The controversial topic of harm reduction and syringe services programs (SSPs) - needle exchange - is discussed with our guest, Jen Nagel, who may seem radical in her ideology but has a glaring passion for helping those suffering from addiction and treating her participants at her organization, The Porchlight Collective, with nothing but compassionate-filled attention and love. Parts of the discussion will leave some with the faintest of hearts to say, "WTF!", while those that are open-minded will at least listen to the methodology and goals of needle exchange programs. Jen also discusses her struggle with drug addiction, mental health, and how she finally made a decision to give recovery a serious try.Â
Jake Grant joins us to discuss his three DUI's, three years in prison, and the romantic relationship he found while in residential treatment. Struggling to stay clean and sober, he worked day in and day out to find continuous recovery and get his two children back in his custody from DCFS. A story of perseverance and resiliency, Jake shares an honest look into his life and what he had to do to find happiness and the meaning of fatherhood.
Jason joins us in the studio to discuss his past trauma, mental health, time in the Navy, and his near-death experience. Troubled as a child and not feeling like he fits in, our guest found a way to make himself feel sociably accepted through alcohol and later drugs. When he realized that the drugs and alcohol consumed him in darkness, he felt there was no escaping the abyss. Jason found a way to escape the treacherous waters in recovery. Join us to hear his remarkable story and a discussion about different pathways to recovery. Sponsored by Gateway Foundation
Episode 32 with host, Ty Bechel, discusses pathways to recovery. There is a lot of chatter as of late that there are only a few ways that you can recover from a substance use disorder, but we have found in our guests' testimony there are many different pathways to recovery one can take like 12-step model, science-based, Medical-Assisted Treatment, and more. In this intimate episode, we discuss a less known pathway to recovery. We read an excerpt from The Red Road to Wellbriety In The Native American Way and discuss some of the principles found in this spiritual text. Sponsored by Gateway Foundation
Heather sits down with Ty, host of Recovery Uncensored, at the Big Z Media studio. She discusses growing up after the divorce of her parents and adjusting to having two homes. As tension grew between her and her father, she found comfort in attending raves, dropping ecstasy, and couch surfing. The uncertainty and chaos became a comfortable passenger for Heather until she decided to turn her life around and find recovery. Sponsored by Gateway Foundation
Allison stops by the Big Z Media studio and hangs out with Recovery Uncensored and drops the skinny about her remarkable story. Escaping Illinois and migrating to Florida, she entered a Disney intern program and began planting roots in the Sunshine State. After the internship, there were drug dealers, multiple jobs, and daily drug use. Allison and I put on our tiaras and she let it all loose from going to jail to her mom taking a flight to Florida to rescue her daughter from death or prison. Sponsored by Gateway Foundation
Brian began telling his story that he once thought was boring... once he no longer felt nervous his narrated journey unpacked the insidious side of alcohol and prescription medication addiction that he hid from his family and friends, or so he thought. The thing about addiction is it makes us lie to everyone, even ourselves when we are in full-blown use. Brian's tale luckily has a happy ending... for now. Sponsored by Gateway Foundation
From a small town to multiple prisons, Colby joins us in the Big Z Media studio. He shares how his release from prison and reflecting on the years of using drugs and alcohol inspired him to make a change and give recovery a chance. Wearing himself down from being homeless and couch surfing, Colby highlights that he had enough. Thank you Colby for such a fantastic interview.Â
Episode 27 is unlike any other episode we have produced. During this episode, we shift gears into discussing sex and love addiction with Hollywood actress (True Blood, Prom Night, Jarhead), Brianne Davis, that is in recovery from sex and love addiction. We talk about recovery from sex and love addiction in Hollywood, why the movie The Notebook is off limits for those in recovery from sex and love addiction, and her new book Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex & Love Addict. Brianne leaves nothing on the table during this shocking, revealing, and sex-y episode that will leave the listeners questioning their sex and love life and raising awareness of a much-needed topic that affects millions of people globally. Sponsored by: Gateway Foundation
Two sisters, Brittney Yotter, and Rachael Capriglione stop by the Big Z Media Studio and sit down with our host, Ty Bechel, to discuss family, addiction, and their love and support for one another in their recovery journey. One was meth, the other fentanyl... two different stories that had an uncommon ending. Join us for one of the most intriguing interviews to date. Sponsored by: Gateway Foundation
Mike joins us at the Big Z Media Studio to share his journey of recovery. From growing up with a single mom to experiencing secondary trauma, Mike takes us on a wild ride of cocaine binges and alcohol-induced blackouts. Through the drunken oblivion, heroin whispered into his ear, ushering in a new level of chaos and waking life misery. His recovery revitalized his love for writing and playing Magic the Gathering, leading him to a life he never expected. Join us for an honest, brave, and open conversation with Mike's amazing testimony. Sponsored by: Gateway Foundation
Lacey joins us in the Big Z Media Studio to discuss going from telling on herself at a house party to hiding her cocaine and heroin use from her family and friends. Moving around a lot during her childhood to many military bases, Lacey found her roots when she moved to Illinois when she was 8. She lived a relatively quiet and safe childhood and after her cocaine love affair, she stumbled upon heroin and her life became a lot less quiet and a bit more dramatic. She never gave up, found recovery, and now is giving back to those that are in the shoes she was once in. Join us to hear a remarkable story of perseverance, hope, and redemption. Sponsored by: Gateway Foundation
Morgan joins Recovery Uncensored's Ty Bechel at the Big Z Media studio and shares some of the most intimate moments of her life that makes us respect her even more. From foster care to her home going up in flames, she came to a crossroad in her life where she felt suicide was the only way out to escape her addiction that was ravaging her life. She shares her struggles and her triumphs in this jaw-dropping interview you don't want to miss. Sponsored by Gateway Foundation
Erin joins Recovery Uncensored's host, Ty Bechel in the Big Z Studio and reveals the shocking truth that mothers drink too. Her riveting testimony reveals what used to be fun turned into a bleak, resentment-fueled relationship she had with alcohol. Her family at a loss did the only thing they thought was right to save their mother, wife, and daughter. In this heartfelt story of a family saved from the grips of addiction, Erin shares her darkest secrets that lead to her brightest triumphs. Sponsored by Gateway Foundation
Professional MMA fighter, Brandon "QuickDraw" Lowe stops by the studio to meet with the host (and his brother) and share what it was like trying to love a brother that was spiraling out of control. We break the rules on Episode 21 and talk about family, addiction, and recollect some of his greatest fight moments. Sponsor: Gateway Foundation
From a small town of only 1,250, Ryan tells it all about growing up in Shawneetown and going to juvenile prison. He describes in detail how his addiction progressed and his struggle to feel accepted during active addiction was never met until he made the decision to turn his life around and find recovery. From couch surfing to a business owner and a father of 4, this is an interview you don't wanna miss. WARNING: this one is tear-jerker. Sponsor: Gateway Foundation
Leah joins us in the studio to take us on a wild ride of hitchhiking, mailing marijuana, and making sure she was hydrated with Gatorade while Vodka controlled her life. From Illinois to California, this unique and beautiful soul provides a testimony of tragedy turned triumph. Sponsor: Gateway Foundation
Briana joins us in the studio to discuss growing up and not feeling like she fit in. From drunken cornfields to drug court, she not only struggled with drug addiction but a temper, too. After experiencing a traumatic event with her son, she didn't know how to cope and fell into a dark abyss of drug-induced escape. Luckily, she was able to turn her life around and now rocks it as an empowered saleswoman at a large car dealership. You don't wanna miss this interview. Sponsored by: Gateway Foundation
Alida joins us in the studio to talk about leaving Colorado, its beautiful landscape, and family behind for a man to come to an industrialized abyss in Madison County, Illinois, where her addiction took her places she never dreamed, and drug court was one of them. She is witty, full of sass, and takes no shit off of nobody, and that is why we love her and her journey in recovery. Sponsored by Gateway Foundation
On this episode of Recovery Uncensored, Meagan shares her story with us on her journey with addiction, panhandling, living in a vacant building, and how she recovered. She answers the Hot Seat questions and Ty gives you a brief preview of his new podcast "Threads"! Thanks to our sponsor Gateway Foundations.
There comes a time when an interview produces testimony that is moving, emotional, and inspirational. Well, this episode is all of those. Danielle puts it all out on the table for our listeners to experience. From moving to California and working in Hollywood to crossing the border in Mexico and living there for some time, Danielle is a survivor of adversity and trauma. We thank her for coming on the show and sharing so bravely. Sponsor: Gateway Foundation
Wow! What an interview with Angela. From boosting anything she could get her hands on to a severe Adderall addiction, it is remarkable she was able to escape the grips of her addiction. Humility taught her that recovery is more than just putting down the drugs. It taught her to look inside and change what is necessary for happiness and her children. Sponsored by Gateway Foundation
Jeremiah "HD" Reeves, funnyman and stand-up comedian, shares stories about life doing comedy shows and how the alcohol and lifestyle were no longer funny. We talk about music and when he met Jelly Roll, we talk about relationships, and we talk about the future of his comedy career. Thank you, Jeremeah, for being such an amazing guest. Sponsored by: Gateway Foundation
Sponsored by: Gateway FoundationWhat... An... Interview! Benjamin Thompson, World Famous Car Salesman, brought honesty, truth, and a whole lotta chaos turned redemption with his brutally straightforward testimony. He held nothing back when discussing what his early years selling cars was like while drinking alcohol and snorting cocaine only later to move to methamphetamines. His family later surrounded him as he turned his life around.
Episode 11 breaks all the molds when our host's daughter joins us in the WBGZ 107.1 studio for an intriguing and insightful interview. 14 year old, Dorie Mae, takes the listeners down memory lanes of what she recalls of her father's drug and alcohol use, his frequent absence from her life, and how she felt when her father found recovery. She was honest and didn't hold back as she reminds us how addiction affects more than just the person using drugs and alcohol. Thank you to our sponsor, Gateway Foundation.
In this special episode, a past guest shows up to interview the host, Ty. You have heard much of his story through bits and pieces of the show, but Kevin serves as an astounding guest host and wasted no time to pull back the layers on Ty. Tears, laughs, nostalgic moments - Ty shares from a place of love, trauma, vulnerability, and pain, allowing our fans to see from a transparent and honest lens. We hope you enjoy. Thanks for doing such a good job, Kevin.
Melody blew us AWAY with her testimony of when she was led to selling crack, getting high on her own supply, nearly losing her life to two men, and turning her life around by finding God and Recovery after her two children were taken from her. Her sincere honesty allows all our listeners to hear a story that went from hopeless to hopeful.
How long can one person hide their active addiction before family, friends, and co-workers know the person we used to be was no more? Kevin joins us to discuss his escalation of alcohol use that led to taking pain medication and lying to his family daily. Was he able to escape the use of heroin? Join us to hear a Kansas City native's compelling story of intervention from opiates.
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