The After Gambling Podcast

In the last episode, I highlighted some things about shame and stigma that I found interesting. In this episode (part II), I discuss why exploring this topic is so important.

We often discuss the importance of language and the role of shame and stigma in addiction. However, it came to me today that this discussion is likely much more complex than we've considered in the past. In this episode, I share what I think is a very different view on shame and stigma.

I get asked this question all the time, so I decided to do an episode on it. It's also something I need to be reminded to get back to myself.

While it's been over 11 years since I ran off the riverboat, there are still things in my life I need to address. In this episode, I share the unique framework I'll be using to go to war with my negative behaviors and actions. 365 Lovely Thoughts for Each Day of the Year https://www.sugarbooandco.com/365-lovely-thoughts-pad/

Over the past three years, I've been on a bit of a journey with my health and fitness. I've seen just how impactful diet and exercise can be on my mental and physical well-being. In this episode, I share the things that work (and haven't worked) for me.

For the past several years, I've become concerned that the way we discuss mental health and mental health disorders might be preventing successful outcomes. In this episode, I share why I believe this and what I think we can do to correct the issue.

For the past several years, I've become concerned that the way we discuss mental health and mental health disorders might be preventing successful outcomes. In this episode, I share why I believe this and what I think we can do to correct the issue.

Recovery can no doubt be challenging. However, the mindset we bring into a difficult task can influence our outcomes. In this episode, I share my thoughts on making recovery a bit more fun and enjoyable.

In this episode, I share insight into how/why advertising works to influence us and how a simple change of mindset renders them useless.

One of the worst parts of addiction is the loneliness it creates. In this episode, I discuss that loneliness as well as how reconnecting can be so helpful in recovery. 

In this episode, I discuss how seeing others recover along with the growing number of tools available has shifted my view on pacing ourselves in recovery.  

In this episode, I discuss my ultimate goal for you. I also share a few foundational concepts that I'll be mentioning quite a bit in future episodes.

As I get ready to kick-off Season 6, I wanted to share my goals for the podcast and prepare you for upcoming episodes which will dive into more complicated and controversial topics. For anyone that might be new to the podcast, this is the new starting point! Please start here and move to the most recent episode, then head back to Episode 1.

Matt had his dream job working for talkSPORT, the world's biggest sports radio station. He was traveling the world watching sport and to a casual observer, everything in his life was going great. However, he was slowly being consumed by gambling. In this episode, Matt shares not only his struggles, but the success he has found as he now hasn't gambled in 6 years! You can thank Matt and give him a follow on Instagram @stinkingthinking

"I can't wait for 2020 to be over!" I think we've all said or felt this at some point during the year. However, it's important to keep life in perspective.

This one is a long time in the making and I can't wait for you to get to know Thomie! Thomie Isreal has been at the top running successful businesses, but struggles with gambling took everything away from him including his freedom and family. When Thomie first reached out to me, he was living in a homeless shelter in New York City. Now, Thomie shares his journey as he once again climbs the mountain on his Instagram page @FindingSummit and The Daily Bag Podcast. Be sure to follow his page!

With today being Halloween, I thought it would be a great time to talk about fears. GRAB A FREE 1 MONTH TRIAL OF AUDIBLE https://www.audibletrial.com/aftergambling Mark Manson's The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

In this episode, I discuss a great quote and framework for changing our lives from Sarah Wilson's First, We Make the Beast Beautiful: A New Journey Through Anxiety. GRAB A FREE 1 MONTH TRIAL OF AUDIBLE https://www.audibletrial.com/aftergambling Louise Hay's You Can Heal Your Life

After a four-month break, I'm back to share my thoughts on self-sabotage and the role it plays in my life.

After two months away from gambling due to COVID-19 lockdowns, Nancy was drawn back to the casino. In this episode, we discuss the challenges of quarantine, how a big win was the hook for future problem gambling, how casino marketing creates issues as she tries to quit, and her definition of success going forward. I also provide a few tactical tips Nancy can implement today to help her as she looks to improve her life. 

In this episode, I answer questions from Episode 047 Guest Andy Margett (@andymargett). I mention books by Ramit Sethi (@ramit) and Mark Manson (@iammarkmanson) that I highly suggest you check out.

In this episode, I answer questions submitted on Twitter from former guest Steve (@gambling_free). You can listen to Steve's full story of gambling and recovery by listening to Episode 41.

With COVID-19 casino shutdowns, many gambling that was taking place at casinos and other retail locations have now shifted online. A listener of the podcast (Melanie) reached out with her concerns for not only problem gamblers, but also casual gamblers that might shift their gambling online as a result of quarantine. In this episode, we'll cover 9 key differences that make online gambling unique and that could increase the chance for increasing gambling harm.

In this episode, I reflect on the five big things that have been working for me thus far as we have been quarantined at home due to COVID-19.

I was scrolling through Twitter when I came across this Tweet by @birthofclarity (an awesome Twitter follow). Rather than try to answer with 30 Tweets, I recorded this episode.  

In this episode, I share a few ideas to get your days off to a great start using a morning routine. The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod https://amzn.to/39U3Hj2

It's awesome when people agree with us. It makes us feel smart and is nice to know that others share the same point of view. But does it help us grow? I'll tackle that question, whether to recline your seat on an airplane, and gambling terms in everyday life on this Valentine's Day episode of The After Gambling Podcast.

This past week, executives from several of the largest gambling firms in the UK were called in to discuss VIP programs with Parliament. In this episode, I discuss what I think represents a massive opportunity for change within the industry. VIDEO https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/ecb79c87-d947-4005-a214-1f0f8d034457

In this episode, we cover the 7 Stage of Grief and how they relate to life as a problem gambler as well as in recovery.    https://www.healthline.com/health/stages-of-grief#7-stages Mark Manson https://twitter.com/iammarkmanson

Here we go with Season 4! The Before Gamling Project The Before Gambling Project is an independent effort to reduce problem gambling and gambling harm through public awareness and improvements across the industry from operators to treatment facilities. The project is driven by relentless internal curiosity and belief in an open sharing of best practices to most quickly and efficiently address problem gambling and gambling harm.  https://beforegambling.com/ Follow on Twitter Dyve Agency Providing stakeholders of the global gaming industry with insight into how to best position their brand to address and manage risks around problem gambling and other related social issues. https://dyveagency.com/ Follow on Twitter

After a long hiatus, I'm back to celebrate nine years free from my gambling addiction and also to share an update on what to expect in the future.

Can personality test help us to learn & grow? I think the answer is yes. I recently participated in a study on recovery from compulsive gambling and it was a very positive experience. The second half of the study was self-guided completion of various questions similar to those found on a personality test. As I answered the questions, several things jumped out and I'll be using what I learned to improve going forward. The Jordan Harbinger Show https://www.jordanharbinger.com/

If we are going to discuss gambling as a form of entertainment, then we need to separate it into two parts: A) entertainment derived from the game B) entertainment derived from the wager size/risk taken. If the entertainment level DOES NOT change with wager size/risk taken, then entertainment is from the game itself. but... If the entertainment level DOES change wager size/risk taken, then entertainment is from the risk-taking.

I'm a firm believer that addiction is strengthened by isolation. Removing the isolation through communication weakens the addiction and allows us to begin a path of recovery. In this episode, I share my thoughts on how over-communicating is key for both the addicted and their support system in order to find success.

In this episode, I'm joined by Tom Brew. Tom is celebrating 25 years clean from gambling with the release of his latest novel Darkness that highlights the mind and struggles of a problem gambler. Darkness is a follow-up to Tom's first novel The Ties That Bind. Tom and I discuss many different topics including how quickly the frequency and sizes of his wagers increased, the impact gambling had on his professional and personal life, and how diving headfirst into recovery helped him become a better person. Check out Tom's Books https://hilltop30.com/ The Ties That Bind Check it out on Amazon Darkness Check it out on Amazon

In this episode, I dive into game theory (finite vs infinite games) and discuss why it's literally impossible to win at the game of gambling. Simon Sinek https://startwithwhy.com/  

In this episode, I discuss my thoughts on using self-exclusion as a part of your recovery plan when quitting gambling.

With a new year comes New Year's Resolutions. In this episode, I discuss New Year's Resolutions and other big proclamations that we often make when attempting to quit gambling. I also suggest an alternative approach which has been much more successful in my life.

Are we being curious enough? In this episode, I dive into why I encourage everyone to be more curious when it comes to problem gambling, regardless of your position or views. 

In this episode, I answer the Gamblers Anonymous 20 Questions and share thoughts and reflections on each question and how my life was impacted by my gambling. Gamblers Anonymous 20 Questions http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/content/20-questions

We often view recovery as a straight line of perfect performance. However, the reality is that recovery is messy and sometimes results in relapse. In this episode, I discuss what relapse tells us and how we can avoid relapses through education and actions.

It's always great to connect with others that are sharing their story of recovery from a compulsive gambling problem. In this episode, I'm joined by YouTube Vlogger and Tweeter Andy Margett. You can connect with Andy using the links below. Subscribe to Andy's Vlog on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXyRpLSwjGYAmbb_IQ8blg Follow Andy on Twitter: @baronmad79

What's the best way to move forward after deciding to quit gambling? Is it really a good idea to remind ourselves? Or should we forget it ever happened and move on with our lives? In this episode, I share what I've seen in order to help you with your recovery plan.

It's often said that problem gamblers chase losses. While it's fundamentally true, I come at this with a different angle that I believe can help us to see the full story.

In this episode, I'm joined by Keith Whyte, Executive Director of the National Council on Problem Gambling here in the United States. We discuss the Responsible Gaming Principles for Sports Gambling Legislation outlined by the NCPG and wonder aloud why there is widespread support for the guidelines, until it comes time to implement them. NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING https://www.ncpgambling.org/  NCPG on Twitter @NCPGambling  

What good is coming from arguing with each other? What good is trying to censor recovery resources? What the hell is our goal?

I wanted to shake up the format of the show a bit, so I figured let's call it season III and get to work. I'll be posting shorter, but more frequent episodes. However, we'll still have the longer format for interviews. Also, I'll be doing a lot more on social media, so follow along there: INSTAGRAM @aftergambling TWITTER @aftergambling FACEBOOK After Gambling Page

In this episode Steve (@gambling_free) joins the show to share his story. He discusses how he became a compulsive gambler, the lies and hiding, relapse and successful recovery as he is now 4 years clean from his gambling addiction. Follow & Thank Steve on Twitter: @gambling_free  

Living with a gambling addiction is both mentally and physically exhausting. Even in recovery, exhaustion can lead to anxiety and depression. In this episode, we talk about exhaustion from gambling and I suggest ideas to help in recovery.

When in the midst of a gambling, we create walls of lies that separate us from our family, friends and work lives. In recovery, we need to begin to remove these walls to return to the person we were prior to our addiction.

Bans and potential bans on gambling—especially during live sport—are a hot topic these days. In this episode, I share a unique solution to this complicated issue that. SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_KgK9NQB1Il