The Zac Clark Show

Latest Episodes:

3 Things On My Mind: Empathy & Social Media, Pete Davidson & My Hairline Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

What If Guys Just Said It Out Loud?

Zac Clark goes solo this week and gets honest – uncomfortably, refreshingly honest. It starts with something small: he's losing his hair, and he's embarrassed about it. But that admission opens the door to something much bigger.

If a guy in recovery, with years of hard-won self-awareness, can barely say that out loud – what hope is there for the man who hasn't yet found words for his anxiety, his depression, or his darkest thoughts? Zac connects the dots between the small silences men keep and the devastating ones, and makes the case that permission to be vulnerable starts earlier than we think.

He also reflects on the wave of DMs he received after speaking out about The Bachelorette, the surprising power of Theo Von and Pete Davidson modeling sobriety to millions of young men who don't even realize they're being influenced, and why saying something out loud – even on a microphone, even to strangers – is sometimes the fastest way to take its power away.

Raw, real, and a little bit of a therapy session. The best kind of episode.

Connect with Zac:

https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 https://twitter.com/zacwclark

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:

(914) 588-6564

releaserecovery.com @releaserecovery

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Phone Call That Changed Everything | A Brother & Sister’s Recovery Story Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

When addiction hits a family, everyone feels it – but recovery can ripple through a family too.

In this powerful episode of The Zac Clark Show, Zac sits down with siblings Sean and Kathleen McGowan, two people whose lives were once consumed by addiction and chaos, and who today both work in the behavioral healthcare field.

Sean shares the moment that changed his life: waking up in a hotel room after a cross-country road trip, facing the reality of his heroin addiction, and finally surrendering to treatment. Kathleen tells her own devastating story – from drug arrests and life on a California weed farm to a severe nitrous oxide addiction that left her unable to walk.

Their paths diverged for years until a desperate phone call brought their family back together. Today, both siblings are sober, working at High Watch Recovery Center, and using their experiences to help others find hope.

This episode includes:

The cross-country trip that ended with Sean entering treatment
What heroin addiction looked like behind closed doors
Growing up in a loving family that didn’t talk about addiction
The hidden addiction that nearly left Kathleen paralyzed
Nitrous oxide abuse and its devastating neurological effects
How denial can persist even in the face of life-threatening consequences
The moment Kathleen called her father and asked for help
Sean driving overnight to rescue his sister from an abusive situation
What it’s like when siblings recover together
How recovery rebuilds families, trust, and relationships
Why families should never give up hope

This is a very honest and raw conversation about family, accountability, second chances, and the power of showing up when someone you love asks for help.

Connect with Zac:

https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 https://twitter.com/zacwclark

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:

(914) 588-6564

releaserecovery.com@releaserecovery

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kratom: Natural Supplement or Addictive Drug? | Dr. Michael McCormick Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

Is kratom safe – or is it quietly becoming the next opioid crisis?

In this quick-hit episode, Zac sits down with recurring medical contributor Dr. Michael McCormick, Chief Medical Officer at Release Recovery, to clear the air on one of the most polarizing substances in America right now: kratom.

Marketed as a natural herbal supplement and sold openly at gas stations and smoke shops, kratom is used by millions for energy, focus, pain relief – and even to help curb opioid withdrawal.

But inside treatment centers, doctors are seeing something very different.

In this episode, we break down:

What kratom actually is (and how it works in the brain)
Why low doses act like a stimulant — and high doses act like an opioid
Whether kratom withdrawal requires medical detox
Why it’s showing up more and more in addiction treatment
The truth about “legal” substances and who is most at risk
Why some experts believe it should not be sold over the counter

We’re not here to attack people who use it responsibly. We’re here to speak to the 10–15% of people predisposed to substance use disorder – the ones who may not know the risk until it’s too late.

If you or someone you love is using kratom, this conversation could change how you think about it.

Connect with Zac
https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/
https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark
https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553
https://twitter.com/zacwclark

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:
(914) 588-6564
http://releaserecovery.com
@‌releaserecovery

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ken Rideout: From Opioid Addict to World Champion Feb 24, 2026

Show notes

When you look up Ken Rideout, you get a wild list of labels: prison guard. Wall Street trader. Opioid addict. Fastest marathoner in the world over 50.

In this episode, Ken sits down with Zac to talk about reinvention – and what it actually takes to change your life. From crushing opioids and cocaine, and hiding addiction while building a career in finance, to detoxing, rebuilding from the ground up, and eventually becoming a World Champion marathoner, Ken’s story is one of radical ownership.

We talk about:

The brutal reality of opioid addiction
Suboxone, Vivitrol, kratom – and the hard truths about “shortcuts”
Why getting sober is the foundation for everything
Running 4,000 miles a year as a new addiction
Therapy, trauma, and what Onsite taught him
Marriage, cancer, fatherhood, and what actually matters
Why the timing is never perfect to make a change

They also discuss Ken’s new book, The Other Side of Hard, is for anyone standing at the edge of a decision – sobriety, career shift, health reset – wondering if it’s possible.

His message is simple:

No one is coming to save you. You can reinvent yourself. Take the first step.

Connect with Zac

https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 https://twitter.com/zacwclark

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:

(914) 588-6564releaserecovery.com@releaserecovery

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He Stole $50K for Heroin – Now He’s a VP at a leading Recovery Company | Blake Porter Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

Seven years ago, Zac Clark walked into a treatment center to speak at a Tuesday night meeting – and met a guy in pajama pants wearing a “Grateful Dead” tee who had no idea if he was going to make it.

That guy was Blake Porter.

In this episode, Zac and Jay sit down with Blake – now Vice President of Business Development at Release Recovery – to trace the full arc: growing up in a small town in upstate New York, the fear and insecurity that shadowed his talent, the slow slide from booze and cocaine into opioids and heroin, and the moment his dad found a needle and the truth finally had nowhere to hide.

Blake opens up about what early sobriety actually looked like: structure, accountability, humility, and the near-relapse that still scares him to remember – five months sober, back home, texting a dealer from a hotel bathroom… right up until something intervened and he chose honesty instead.

Topics include:

The AA meeting in treatment that changed everything
Small-town upbringing, big fear, and the need to escape
Addiction, grief, and the cost of avoiding pain
The truth-telling moment with Blake’s dad
Why Release Recovery felt like “home”
A near-relapse story that shows how real the obsession can be
Building a life (and career) rooted in service

If you’re trying to get sober right now, Blake’s message is simple – and it might save your life: be honest.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Corey Davis: Building the Sober Golf Movement Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

Corey Davis is 15 years sober – and he left a high-paying corporate career to build Soba Golf, a fast-growing community at the intersection of sobriety, wellness, and golf.

Corey joins Zac and Jay to share how golf became more than a hobby: a daily practice in presence, humility, discipline, and emotional regulation – the same muscles recovery demands. He tells the origin story: during COVID, living with his in-laws on a golf course, buying clubs on eBay, and dropping his handicap from 30 to 3 in four years.

They also unpack the “sober lifestyle” boom – what’s real vs. performative – and why Soba Golf is different. Corey reflects on back-to-back PGA Tour wins by sober players Chris Kirk and Grayson Murray, and how Murray’s tragic death later deepened the urgency behind his mission.

Soba Golf now includes a digital community to find sober playing partners, weekly Thursday night meetings, and upcoming retreats designed to reimagine golf culture – with breath work, mindset coaching, meditation, and real connection.

Plus: rapid-fire on shame, early sobriety, accepting help, and what “freedom” means on the other side.

Connect with Zac

https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 https://twitter.com/zacwclark

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:(914) 588-6564releaserecovery.com@releaserecovery

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rivkah Reyes: From School of Rock to a Life in Recovery Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Zac and Jay sit down with Rivkah Reyes – actor, musician, and the bass player from School of Rock – for a candid, nuanced conversation about growing up in the spotlight, addiction at a young age, and finding sobriety.

Together, they walk through Rivkah’s journey from child stardom into substance use, the role drugs and alcohol played in coping with pressure and identity, and how getting sober transformed her relationship with herself, her emotions, and her life.

Rivkah opens up about the realities of addiction behind the scenes, and reflects on the stigma, shame, and courage involved in getting sober while still figuring out who you are – including coming out and embracing her sexuality.

This is an honest, grounded exploration of what it means to heal, grow, and build a life in recovery.

Connect with Zac:

https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 https://twitter.com/zacwclark

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery: (914) 588-6564releaserecovery.com@releaserecovery

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should You Take Drugs in Recovery? A Top Addiction Doctor Explains Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Zac sits down with Release Recovery’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Michael McCormick, for a candid, nuanced conversation about one of the most controversial questions in recovery: can drugs ever help sobriety?

Together, they break down three major categories of medications – benzodiazepines, stimulants, and opioid medications like Suboxone, methadone, and Vivitrol – and explain how each works in the brain, why they can be both lifesaving and dangerous, and how clinicians decide, case by case, when medication is part of recovery and when it becomes a risk.

Dr. McCormick challenges black-and-white thinking about “being sober,” addresses the stigma many people face in the rooms of recovery, and shares how careful monitoring, individualized care, and real behavioral change are essential if medication is used at all.

This is not a pro-drug or anti-drug episode – it’s an honest, clinically grounded exploration of the gray area where medicine, addiction, and recovery meet.

Connect with Zachttps://www.instagram.com/zwclark/https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c 746b96254/https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 https://twitter.com/zacwclark

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:(914) 588-6564 releaserecovery.com@releaserecovery

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ASK ME ANYTHING: The Questions Everyone Has About Sobriety Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

In this Ask Me Anything episode, Zac kicks off 2026 by answering real questions from the community about sobriety, recovery, and mental health.

Zac shares honest, grounded insight on topics people are often afraid to ask about – including California sober, medication-assisted treatment like Suboxone, dry January, cravings, acceptance, and whether a relationship with alcohol can ever truly change. He breaks down why recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all, why community and purpose matter more than labels, and how autonomy plays a critical role in lasting change.

The conversation also speaks directly to partners and loved ones: how to support someone in sobriety, how to recognize when drinking may be a problem, and why taking care of yourself is essential when someone you love is struggling.

If you’re sober, curious about sobriety, supporting someone else, or just trying to make sense of it all, please give his episode a listen.

If you’re struggling, you don’t have to do it alone.

Connect with Zac https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/ https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 https://twitter.com/zacwclark

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery: (914) 588-6564 releaserecovery.com @releaserecovery

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What Getting Sober ACTUALLY Looks Like Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of The Zac Clark Show, Grace Adams joins Zac and Jay for an honest and funny conversation about what early sobriety actually looks like.

They start with a hot topic that brings all sorts of opinions: dating in sobriety. Is “don’t date for a year” real wisdom… or an arbitrary rule people cling to? Zac and Jay break down why recovery can’t be one-size-fits-all – and how the wrong guidance can push people into obsession, fear, or dependency on personalities rather than recovery-building principles.

Then Grace opens up about her story: a disciplined performing arts kid who hit college freedom like a hurricane, the moment the police found her blacked out in her dorm, and the brutal truth that shame didn’t make her stop drinking. She shares what it looked like to “control” drinking — switching alcohols, counting glasses, and even going to a restaurant with a journal to write about her relationship with alcohol… while getting drunk.

The conversation gets real about the hidden danger for young women: blackout culture, risky situations, sexual trauma, and the isolating belief that you should be able to fix it alone. Zac, Jay, and Grace land on the thing that keeps showing up: peer-to-peer recovery — one person sharing their story with another so shame breaks, hope shows up, and life becomes possible again.

If you’re newly sober, thinking about getting sober, or love someone who is – this is a great conversation for you.

If you’re struggling, you don’t have to do it alone.

Connect with Zac https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/ https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 https://twitter.com/zacwclark

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery: (914) 588-6564 releaserecovery.com @releaserecovery

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected