The Hopeaholics

Latest Episodes:

Bare Knuckle Fighting Addiction with Brooke Evans| The Hopeaholics Podcast Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

Bare Knuckle Fighting Addiction with Brooke Evans| The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this powerful episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Brooke Evans shares her unfiltered journey through addiction, trauma, and recovery, revealing the stark contrast between outward strength and inner struggle. A competitive fighter and athlete, Brooke opens up about using drugs and alcohol while training, escalating into heroin addiction, public injection, relapse after periods of sobriety, and moments where survival felt uncertain. She speaks candidly about motherhood, the guilt and motivation tied to her son, and the spiritual turning points that helped shift her path when she believed she was beyond saving. Brooke’s story dives into relapse triggers, the reality of losing control once substances are introduced, and the courage it takes to choose sobriety daily. This episode is an honest look at resilience, accountability, and the hope that can still emerge even after repeated setbacks. Brooke also reflects on how discipline in recovery replaced chaos with structure and purpose. She shares hard-earned insight into recognizing warning signs before relapse takes hold.
#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie
Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics
Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!
Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics
Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com
Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.
Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com
Timestamps:
00:01:27 - Fighting Through Extreme Pain in Bare Knuckle Boxing
00:02:36 - Her Son Becoming Her Biggest Supporter
00:06:07 - Using Drugs While Competing as a Fighter
00:07:00 - Training and Running While Using Heroin
00:10:35 - First Time Getting Drunk in Sixth Grade
00:11:42 - Blacking Out Regularly as a Teen
00:16:26 - Reaching Over Six Years of Sobriety
00:18:48 - Relapsing After Taking Diet Pills
00:19:42 - Realizing Substances Take Control Once Used
00:21:01 - Being Triggered After Dental Surgery
00:22:49 - Refusing Fentanyl During Surgery
00:28:28 - Leaving Detox to Go Get High
00:31:11 - Injecting Drugs in Public at a Gas Station
00:36:01 - “God Sent Me to You” Moment
00:40:40 - Admitting She Didn’t Believe She Could Get Sober

Growing Up in Chaos and Choosing Sobriety with Jasper Wilkins | The Hopeaholics Podcast Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

Growing Up in Chaos and Choosing Sobriety with Jasper Wilkins | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this raw and deeply emotional episode, Jasper Wilkins shares his life story of growing up in chaos, addiction, and trauma, and how those experiences ultimately led him to the brink of death before finding recovery. Jasper opens up about being raised by parents battling substance use, enduring neglect, sexual abuse, and repeated loss, including the devastating death of his mother to addiction. He recounts years of numbing pain with opiates, surviving an overdose, and reaching a moment where asking for help became a matter of life or death. Through sobriety, Jasper began confronting long-buried trauma, learning forgiveness, and discovering purpose in helping others who feel unseen and hopeless. His story is a powerful testament to resilience, the impact of reaching out for help, and the possibility of breaking generational cycles of addiction. Jasper also reflects on how recovery restored his ability to feel, connect, and truly live for the first time. He speaks to the daily choice of sobriety and the responsibility that comes with surviving when so many do not. This episode serves as a reminder that even at rock bottom, hope can still find you.
#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie
Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics
Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!
Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics
Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com
Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.
Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com
Timestamps:
00:07:17 - Parents in Prison and Alcoholism From the Start
00:09:29 - Being Left on His Mom’s Doorstep
00:11:00 - Asking Why His Parents Couldn’t Choose Him
00:11:37 - Realizing He Never Truly Forgave His Mom
00:16:43 - Finding the Podcast While Praying for Help
00:17:35 - Texting for Help at 3 AM Knowing He Would Die
00:18:59 - Overdosing at Work
00:21:03 - Breaking Down in Front of His Family
00:22:01 - Saying the Podcast Saved His Life
00:26:11 - Finding His Mother After She Died
00:27:17 - Learning His Mom Had a Rehab Date Scheduled
00:29:29 - Trauma and Nightmares That Drove His Addiction
00:33:02 - Being Sexually Abused and Not Believed
00:36:18 - Living Without Food, Water, or Safety as a Child
00:31:22 - Surviving When He Should Not Be Alive

The Downward Spiral of Addiction with Ashleigh Ethridge | The Hopeaholics Podcast Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

The Downward Spiral of Addiction with Ashleigh Ethridge | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this powerful and deeply vulnerable episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Ashleigh Ethridge shares her full story of addiction, recovery, and spiritual awakening, offering an unfiltered look at how alcoholism can quietly take over a life that once appeared stable and successful. She walks through her early years, the influence of the LA nightlife and service industry, and how drinking slowly evolved from social fun into daily survival, leading to blackout episodes, escalating drug use, and a complete loss of control. Ashleigh recounts terrifying experiences with withdrawal seizures, alcohol-induced psychosis, and the physical deterioration that came with drinking around the clock, including moments where she knew she was dying yet still resisted help. She opens up about the role of shame, denial, and toxic relationships in keeping her trapped, as well as the emotional toll addiction took on her family—especially the moment she called her mother from the floor of her apartment, unable to save herself. The episode also explores her journey into treatment, the fear of starting over in her thirties, and the difficult but necessary inner work that followed, including therapy, rebuilding her faith, and confronting the deeper wounds beneath the drinking. Through honesty, humility, and reflection, Ashleigh shares how recovery restored her sense of purpose, healed fractured relationships, and gave her a life she never thought possible, making this episode a raw, hopeful testament to what can happen when someone finally surrenders and chooses to live.
#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie
Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics
Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!
Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics
Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com
Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.
Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com
Timestamps:
00:03:42 - First Time Drinking and the Anxiety That Followed
00:05:38 - Parents’ Divorce and the Beginning of the Spiral
00:08:33 - Falling in Love With the LA Party Scene
00:10:06 - First Time Cocaine and Molly in the Hollywood Hills
00:11:03 - Life Becomes One Long Party Cycle
00:12:25 - Reporting Her Own Car Stolen While Blacked Out
00:15:14 - Realizing the Car Was Never Stolen
00:19:42 - Selling Everything to Move to Mexico
00:22:18 - Drinking Half the Inventory as a Manager
00:25:14 - Looking in the Mirror and Not Recognizing Herself
00:26:01 - Living Next to the Cecil Hotel
00:27:21 - Drinking Just to Function and Get to Work
00:28:45 - Two Bottles of Liquor a Night
00:31:18 - First Withdrawal Seizure Behind the Bar
00:33:23 - Second Seizure and Waking Up on the Floor
00:35:21 - DTs and Seeing Demons in Her Apartment
00:37:46 - Finding Peace Sitting Outside a Church
00:38:34 - Thirty Days Sober and Deciding to Drink Again
00:39:04 - Final Seizure and Calling Her Mom for Help
00:40:30 - Realizing She Never Wants to Feel This Way Again
00:40:54 - Entering Treatment on Medi-Cal
00:42:51 - Choosing to Stay for 60 Days
00:43:10 - Feeling Her Grandparents’ Presence in Recovery
00:46:07

Geoffrey Blaylock Returns: The Information That's Gap Killing Addicts | The Hopeaholics Podcast Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

Geoffrey Blaylock Returns: The Information That's Gap Killing Addicts | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this powerful return episode, Geoffrey Blaylock comes back to the Hopeaholics Podcast to continue the conversation on addiction as a brain-based disease, diving even deeper into the realities that families and individuals often misunderstand. Building on his previous appearance, he expands on trauma, attachment, and epigenetics, while challenging outdated intervention models and the damaging belief that addiction is simply a choice. He explains how impaired decision-making, toxic shame, and nervous system dysregulation keep people trapped in cycles of relapse and self-destruction. Through compelling analogies and real-world clinical examples, he clarifies why education is one of the most critical tools in saving lives. Geoffrey also discusses how addiction affects not just the individual, but entire family systems, often pulling loved ones into their own form of emotional dysregulation. The conversation emphasizes the importance of compassion without enabling, accountability without punishment, and support rooted in neuroscience rather than fear.
Check out Geoffrey's First Episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeJN23-Gsx4
#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie
Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics
Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!
Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics
Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com
Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.
Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com
Timestamps:
00:03:17 - Subjective vs Objective Decision Making
00:04:29 - Critique of Traditional Intervention Model
00:06:03 - Memory-Based Intervention Approach
00:07:13 - Frontal Cortex Shutdown in Addiction
00:09:32 - Toxic Shame and Fight-or-Flight
00:17:39 - Is Addiction a Choice or a Disease
00:18:50 - Who Would Choose Skid Row
00:19:32 - Addiction as a Brain Disease
00:20:15 - What Makes Us Human and the Frontal Cortex
00:21:14 - Education Creates Empathy
00:23:01 - Why Addiction Is Not Purely Genetic
00:24:03 - Epigenetics Explained
00:26:16 - Cultural Trauma and Addiction Myths
00:29:15 - Identical Twins With Different Outcomes
00:32:22 - Why Children Self-Medicate
00:34:57 - Addiction as a Disease of Decision Making
00:37:34 - Donuts, Dopamine, and Survival Brain
00:39:12 - Unacceptable Lack of Addiction Education
00:41:07 - Attachment and Early Development
00:43:18 - Toxic Ownership and Core Beliefs
00:48:19 - Trauma Profiles and Identity Formation

Mommy Wine Culture Hid Her Addiction w/ Olivia Flynn | The Hopeaholics Podcast Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

Mommy Wine Culture Hid Her Addiction w/ Olivia Flynn | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this raw and deeply moving episode of the Hopeholics Podcast, Olivia Flynn shares her journey through generational addiction, early exposure to alcohol, and the quiet ways substance use became normalized long before anyone called it a problem, opening up about growing up with an alcoholic father, getting drunk for the first time and feeling relief, how bartending culture fueled addiction, and the internal unraveling that led to pregnancy, custody battles, and a moment driving home when she no longer wanted to live, before describing the turning point of admitting she was an alcoholic, praying to a God she didn’t yet believe in, and experiencing a radical shift through faith that led not only to sobriety but to confronting hidden addictions like weed, dismantling “mommy wine” culture, releasing shame tied to motherhood, and ultimately breaking generational cycles for her daughters while redefining what real freedom, healing, and identity look like beyond abstinence alone.
#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie
Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics
Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!
Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics
Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com
Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.
Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com
Timestamps:
00:03:51 - Growing up with an alcoholic father
00:04:44 - Drinking normalized at twelve years old
00:05:01 - First time getting drunk and feeling relief
00:06:43 - Bartending culture normalizing addiction
00:08:11 - Getting pregnant and staying sober during pregnancy
00:09:07 - Custody battle triggering relapse patterns
00:09:41 - Driving home and wanting to die
00:09:59 - Praying to a God she didn’t believe in
00:12:04 - Admitting “I’m an alcoholic” to her mom
00:13:13 - Baptism and sudden freedom from alcohol
00:18:38 - Confronting toxic mommy-wine culture
00:31:54 - Realizing weed replaced alcohol as addiction
00:34:31 - Deliverance session and quitting weed
00:44:56 - Breaking generational addiction for her daughters

How Denial Keeps Addiction Alive w/ Anthony Zorzetto | The Hopeaholics Podcast Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

How Denial Keeps Addiction Alive w/ Anthony Zorzetto | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this powerful episode of the Hopeholics Podcast, Anthony Zorzetto shares an unfiltered story of addiction, identity loss, and rebuilding from the ground up as casual drinking and recreational drug use slowly spiral into full-blown addiction alongside a failing marriage, a collapsing construction business, and overwhelming financial pressure, opening up about how substances stopped being social and became a means of survival, the false confidence addiction gave him, ignoring warning signs from banks and loved ones, and the moment he found himself unable to afford even basic necessities, all while reflecting on the painful contrast between who he once was — disciplined, driven, and convinced addiction could never touch him — and the reality of hitting rock bottom, discovering hidden family history with addiction, and ultimately choosing sobriety, responsibility, and fatherhood as the foundation for a new life built on honesty, accountability, and hope.
#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie
Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics
Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!
Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics
Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com
Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.
Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com
Timestamps:
00:12:44 - Getting sober shortly after meeting his partner
00:13:01 - Accidentally getting married too young
00:13:17 - Addiction worsening as marriage deteriorates
00:13:35 - Cocaine shifting from recreational to coping mechanism
00:14:17 - Using drugs to escape business and marriage collapse
00:14:32 - Living parallel addictions inside the marriage
00:23:01 - Discovering hidden family history of opioid addiction
00:24:06 - Construction business failure accelerating
00:25:14 - Cocaine creating a false sense of power and control
00:25:23 - Ignoring bank warnings and financial reality
00:25:58 - Unable to afford basic necessities
00:26:00 - Being left alone after his wife walks out
00:26:17 - Confronting the contrast between past discipline and addiction
00:30:33 - Anger at entitlement and loss of personal responsibility

"GETTING SOBER AT 17 NEARLY BROKE ME" w/ Teddy Tarantino | The Hopeaholics Podcast Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

"GETTING SOBER AT 17 NEARLY BROKE ME" w/ Teddy Tarantino | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this episode, Teddy Tarantino shares his raw and unfiltered journey from severe addiction at a young age to more than 17 years of sobriety. Getting clean at just 17 years old, Teddy built a disciplined recovery foundation that led him to open a successful treatment center in his mid-20s, helping countless people find their way out of addiction. Along the way, he navigated complex questions around identity, sexuality, ambition, and purpose, ultimately transitioning into a successful career in adult entertainment while remaining deeply committed to recovery, therapy, and personal growth. Teddy speaks candidly about addiction, recovery culture, stigma, self-honesty, and what it means to build a life that is both authentic and responsible, offering a powerful perspective on long-term sobriety, reinvention, and staying true to yourself. He also reflects on childhood trauma, early exposure to drugs, and the moment that finally shifted his commitment to recovery. The conversation explores how discipline, service, and self-awareness have shaped his evolution over the years. This episode offers insight for anyone questioning their path, redefining success, or seeking hope through radical honesty and accountability.
#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie
Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics
Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!
Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics
Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com
Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.
Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com
Timestamps:
00:02:23 - 17 Years of Sobriety
00:05:47 - Never Missing a Meeting
00:06:05 - Getting Clean Before Adulthood
00:07:49 - Falling Deeply in Love
00:11:18 - First Male Escort Experience
00:13:35 - Turning Adult Content Into Art
00:15:39 - Opening a Treatment Center at 25
00:18:46 - First Viral Porn Video
00:23:22 - Deleting Everything for Integrity
00:24:56 - Personality Test Sparks Career Crisis
00:27:23 - Leaving the Treatment Center
00:39:22 - First Time Smoking Crack at 14
00:42:42 - Ray’s Share That Changed Everything

Untitled EpisodeThe Version of Him That Couldn’t Survive w/ Dave Puhky | The Hopeaholics Podcast Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

The Version of Him That Couldn’t Survive w/ Dave Puhky | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this powerful one-on-one conversation, Dave Puhky shares a brutally honest look at how alcohol quietly became the center of his life, blurring the line between control and collapse. What started as normal drinking slowly evolved into isolation, secrecy, and crossing boundaries he once swore he never would, all while trying to convince everyone around him that he had everything handled. Dave opens up about hiding his drinking, facing serious consequences, and the moment his family confronted a truth he could no longer deny. He walks through the fear and uncertainty of entering treatment, the physical and emotional toll of withdrawal, and the humility required to finally ask for help. This episode captures the raw reality of addiction and the hard-won decision to choose recovery, offering a message of hope for anyone struggling in silence. Dave also reflects on rebuilding trust one day at a time and learning how to live without alcohol as a coping mechanism. His story highlights how accountability, support, and honesty can change the trajectory of a life. Above all, it’s a reminder that recovery is possible, even when it feels too late.
#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie
Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics
Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!
Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics
Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com
Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.
Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com
Timestamps:
00:02:56 - You don’t owe disrespectful people anything
00:03:31 - Social media haters and secret supporters
00:05:27 - Life before social media and starting a podcast
00:06:33 - Disconnecting from phones and rediscovering creativity
00:07:10 - The danger of constant consumption over creation
00:10:56 - Retreats, hard resets, and reclaiming creativity
00:11:21 - What got Dave into social media
00:12:23 - Fitness as a mask and mental biceps
00:13:45 - Teaching self-worth and mindset in the gym
00:15:21 - Getting sober after hitting a breaking point
00:16:38 - Hatred as proof you’re doing the right thing
00:19:45 - Rehab at 20 and early sobriety attempts
00:21:22 - Getting sober for yourself, not others
00:22:35 - Choosing authenticity over approval
00:23:17 - Hate as a form of admiration
00:25:22 - Subtraction over addition in life choices
00:27:40 - Victim mentality versus personal responsibility
00:31:59 - Bad moments versus a bad life
00:36:24 - Giving what you have even on low-energy days
00:38:54 - Enjoying the view instead of chasing destinations
00:41:43 - Falling in love with the process over outcomes

When Drinking Becomes a Daily Requirement w/ Mike Schuab | The Hopeaholics Podcast Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

When Drinking Becomes a Daily Requirement w/ Mike Schuab | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this deeply personal episode, Mike Schuab shares an unfiltered account of how alcohol gradually took control of his life while he worked tirelessly to convince everyone—including himself—that everything was fine. What began as normal social drinking slowly evolved into secretive behavior, isolation, and a daily reliance on alcohol just to feel steady, leading to broken relationships, constant lying, and an overwhelming sense of shame. Mike walks through the moments when drinking stopped being fun and started feeling necessary, the fear of being exposed, and the painful realization that his life was shrinking around his addiction. He opens up about confronting his family, facing the possibility of losing everything he cared about, and finally surrendering by walking into treatment emotionally exhausted and out of options. This conversation dives into the emotional toll of addiction, the mental gymnastics of denial, and the relief that comes with radical honesty. Mike also reflects on the difficult process of learning how to live, cope, and find meaning without alcohol, and how recovery forced him to rebuild trust one day at a time. This episode is a powerful reminder that addiction doesn’t always look dramatic on the outside—but the internal struggle can be just as devastating—and that real change begins the moment someone admits they need help.
#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie
Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics
Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!
Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics
Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com
Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.
Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com
Timestamps:
00:01:12 – Growing Up Around Alcohol and Chaos
00:05:48 – First Time Drinking Changes Everything
00:09:31 – Realizing He Can’t Drink Like Other People
00:13:06 – Drinking Becomes the Solution to Everything
00:17:42 – Alcohol Turns Into an Everyday Requirement
00:22:15 – Lying to Everyone While Falling Apart
00:27:08 – Drinking Alone and Hiding Bottles
00:31:54 – The Moment He Knows He’s Out of Control
00:36:29 – Family Finally Sees How Bad It Is
00:41:03 – Consequences Catch Up All at Once
00:46:18 – Facing the Reality of Losing Everything
00:50:42 – Saying “I Can’t Do This Anymore”
00:55:09 – Walking Into Treatment Broken
01:02:37 – Learning to Live Without Alcohol
01:11:44 – Finding Purpose Through Recovery

The Inner Shift That Ends the Need to Escape with Jay Stinnett | The Hopeaholics Podcast Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

The Inner Shift That Ends the Need to Escape with Jay Stinnett | The Hopeaholics Podcast
In this powerful and deeply reflective episode, longtime sober member, historian, spiritual teacher, and filmmaker Jay Stinnett shares an extraordinary journey that spans addiction, surrender, awakening, and a lifetime of conscious spiritual practice. With more than four decades of continuous sobriety, Jay recounts hitting bottom at a young age, walking into his first recovery meeting broken and desperate, and experiencing a profound inner shift that changed him on a cellular level. He explores addiction as a spiritual malady, the illusion that something outside ourselves can make us whole, and how true healing comes through rigorous honesty, amends, service, prayer, and meditation. The conversation weaves through raw personal stories of early recovery, sponsorship, marriage, grief, and loss, while also diving into the deeper spiritual roots of the recovery movement and the importance of conscious contact with a higher power. Jay also shares the remarkable story behind producing the award-winning documentary Bill W: Conscious Contact, including risking everything to tell a story he felt spiritually called to share. This episode is a moving testament to faith, resilience, creativity, and the idea that a fully lived life—no matter how painful or beautiful—is the greatest spiritual adventure of all.
#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie
Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics
Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!
Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics
Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com
Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.
Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com
Timestamps:
00:01:31 - Sober Since May 2nd, 1979
00:04:43 - Alcoholism as a Spiritual Malady
00:05:20 - The First Drink and the Unitive Experience
00:08:22 - Addiction as the Illusion Something Outside Makes Us Whole
00:13:47 - Arrests, Living in a Pinto, and Knowing the Jig Was Up
00:15:53 - Told to Choose AA or Die Trying
00:17:34 - Walking Into His First AA Meeting
00:19:28 - “You Don’t Ever Have to Feel This Way Again”
00:20:28 - Changed on a Cellular Level and Never Picking Up Again
00:26:37 - Listening to the Inner Voice for the First Time
00:28:35 - First Prayer and Spiritual Surrender
00:32:09 - Sponsoring Someone at 28 Days Sober
00:36:48 - Choosing Not to Act in Pain During Marriage Crisis
01:02:05 - Betting His Home to Tell the Story

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