Have you ever felt completely hopeless watching someone you love spiral out of control? Do you have a family member/loved one srtuggling with addiction? https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode of Real Recovery Talk, we sit down with our close friend and coworker, Shermain, who shares how he went from the streets of Memphis—deep in gang life and heroin addiction—to now celebrating over 5 years of sobriety . Charmaine opens up about: Growing up in poverty and addiction His darkest mom...
Jul 13, 2025•51 min
Do you have a family member/loved one srtuggling with addiction? https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, Ben and I are talking about something that came up during our Family Reconnect call that really stuck with us… setting boundaries for yourself. A lot of times, families are focused on setting rules for the addict — but we don’t stop to ask: What about me? What am I doing to protect my own peace and sanity? Here’s what we cover: Why boundaries only work when you stick to them Wha...
Jul 11, 2025•35 min
Do you have a family member/loved one who struggles with addiction?: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In today’s episode, Erik takes us through How It Works from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous Part III Treatment Prep Guide: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/treatmentprep SoberLink: https://www.soberlink.com/partners-family-and-friends/rrt Join our Big Book Study! https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/bigbookstudy Join our FREE FB Support group!: https://www.facebook.com/groups/realrecoveryta...
Jul 09, 2025•34 min
Do you have a family member/loved one who struggles with addiction?: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, Tom, Ben, and Dr. Tamberi talk about why weed (marijuana) is not as harmless as many people say it is—especially for young people. A lot of big influencers and celebrities are telling kids that weed is totally safe, but we don’t agree. We’ve seen many people come into treatment because of weed, and it’s not just “no big deal.” Some struggle with serious anxiety, depression, ...
Jul 06, 2025•36 min
Do you have a family member/loved one who struggles with addiction?: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this powerful and emotional episode, we sit down with Sage, who shares her journey of trying everything to get clean and sober — from treatment centers across the country to an experience in Mexico involving ibogaine. Despite her desperate efforts, nothing seemed to work. Sage opens up about the moment she cried out to God, asking Him to just let her die — and how that moment of surrender...
Jul 04, 2025•40 min
Do you have a family member/loved one who struggles with addiction?: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In today’s episode, Erik takes us through the second half of How It Works from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Treatment Prep Guide: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/treatmentprep SoberLink: https://www.soberlink.com/partners-family-and-friends/rrt Join our Big Book Study! https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/bigbookstudy Join our FREE FB Support group!: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rea...
Jul 02, 2025•28 min
Do you have a family member/loved one who struggles with addiction?: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, we sit down with our friend Destiny, who just celebrated eight years of continuous sobriety! Destiny shares her incredible journey — from the depths of addiction to a life filled with purpose, hope, and service. We talk about what it really takes to stay sober long-term, how her mindset has evolved over the years, and the ways she continues to grow in her recovery. Whether y...
Jun 29, 2025•41 min
Do you have a family member/loved one who struggles with addiction?: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc DONT LET DOUBT TAKE YOU OUT: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Let-Doubt-Take-You/dp/1636414346 Christ Fellowship: https://www.christfellowship.church/ In this episode, I’m joined by Ryan Laabs and Pastor Todd Mullins, lead pastor of Christ Fellowship Church here in South Florida. Pastor Todd shares the story behind his new book Don’t Let Doubt Take You Out - and how doubt shows up in our addictio...
Jun 27, 2025•59 min
Do you have a family member/loved one who struggles with addiction?: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In today’s episode, Erik takes us through the first half of How It Works from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. This is one of the most read and quoted sections in all of AA — but do people really understand what it’s saying? Erik breaks it down line by line, shares how it applied to his own recovery, and calls out some common ways people misinterpret this chapter. If you’ve ever wondere...
Jun 25, 2025•27 min
Do you have a family member/loved one who struggles with addiction?: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, Tom, Ben, and Dr. Tamanini sit down for a real conversation about antidepressants. We break down common questions like: Do they really work? Should people in sobriety take them? Are they overprescribed? Dr. Tambini brings her clinical experience to the table, and we talk openly about what we’ve seen in the addiction and recovery world when it comes to these medications. Whet...
Jun 22, 2025•31 min
Do you have a family member/loved one who struggles with addiction?: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc Treatment Prep Guide: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/treatmentprep SoberLink: https://www.soberlink.com/partners-family-and-friends/rrt Join our Big Book Study! https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/bigbookstudy Join our FREE FB Support group!: https://www.facebook.com/groups/realrecoverytalk Download our free guides!: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/guides Tom IG: https://www.instagram.com/re...
Jun 20, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, we dive deeper into We Agnostics, continuing the conversation around developing a relationship with a Power greater than ourselves. This section of the chapter challenges us to look at our past beliefs—or lack thereof—and how those ideas may have blocked us from getting sober. We break down the spiritual logic laid out in the Big Book, discuss how fear and ego can keep us stuck, and explore what it really means to b...
Jun 18, 2025•30 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode of Real Recovery Talk, Tom Conrad, Benjamin B, and their guest, Josh, discuss Josh's eight-year sobriety journey. They dive into topics such as geographical change sparked by divine intervention, how life continues to challenge sobriety, and the significant impact of a spiritual journey. 00:00 Introduction of the Episode and Guests 00:21 Josh's Sobriety Journey and Key Moments 00:58 Sponsor Segment - Soberlink 02:29 ...
Jun 15, 2025•47 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, we’re joined by Kevin Lanning, host of The Rise Above Podcast, who shares his powerful story of recovery after nearly a decade of battling opiate addiction. Now with 7½ years clean, Kevin opens up about what it truly took for him to achieve long-term sobriety — from hitting bottom to finding purpose through service and connection. Kevin talks in detail about how working with others has been the driving force behind ...
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In Week 9 of our Big Book Study, we dive into the first half of We Agnostics — one of the most pivotal and misunderstood chapters in Alcoholics Anonymous. This section speaks directly to those who struggle with the idea of a Higher Power, offering both challenge and invitation. We break down how the Big Book addresses resistance, doubt, and past experiences with religion, and why belief doesn’t have to come all at once — or look any...
Jun 11, 2025•31 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc This one’s for the person who’s stuck—tired of using, tired of lying, tired of being miserable, but terrified of what sobriety actually looks like. I’m not here to sugarcoat it. Getting clean isn’t easy. It takes grit, honesty, and a willingness to do things differently. But it’s possible. In this episode, I’m talking directly to you—the addict who knows they need to change but doesn’t know where to start. If you’ve been waiting for...
Jun 08, 2025•30 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, we sit down with Kat, who opens up about what it finally took for her to get sober after years of fighting recovery. She shares how she never saw herself as someone who would walk into an AA meeting — and definitely didn’t think it would work. But when nothing else worked, Kat made the decision to surrender. That decision changed everything. Kat talks in detail about how Alcoholics Anonymous helped her rebuild her l...
Jun 06, 2025•55 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the Big Book with Part Two of “More About Alcoholism.” This section pulls no punches — it lays out what makes us different from the “average drinker,” and why self-knowledge, willpower, and good intentions just aren’t enough to stay sober. We break down the powerful stories in this chapter that show just how cunning, baffling, and powerful alcoholism really is — especially when we star...
Jun 04, 2025•34 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In today’s episode, we open by talking about the latest news surrounding Britney Spears — not to add to the media frenzy, but to reflect on the heartbreaking reality that unfolds when someone you love is in emotional or mental crisis. Her public struggles mirror what so many families quietly go through when a loved one is battling addiction or mental health issues behind closed doors. That sparks a deeper question we explore in this...
Jun 01, 2025•55 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, we sit down with Kat, who opens up about what it finally took for her to get sober after years of fighting recovery. She shares how she never saw herself as someone who would walk into an AA meeting — and definitely didn’t think it would work. But when nothing else worked, Kat made the decision to surrender. That decision changed everything. Kat talks in detail about how Alcoholics Anonymous helped her rebuild her l...
May 30, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, we dive into Part One of “More About Alcoholism” from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. This chapter hits hard — it forces us to confront the delusion that so many of us hold onto: that somehow, someday, we’ll be able to control and enjoy our drinking. We break down the stories and examples laid out in this section, and we talk honestly about how dangerous that kind of thinking can be. If you’ve ever thought, “M...
May 28, 2025•40 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, Tom and Steve react to Chrissy Teigen’s recent announcement that she started drinking again after a period of sobriety. This sparks a bigger conversation: why do people relapse — even when life looks “good” on the outside? We break down some of the most common reasons people pick up again, including emotional triggers, social pressure, unresolved trauma, and lack of support. Whether you’re in recovery or supporting ...
May 25, 2025•34 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, we dive into the idea of "sponsor families" — you’ve probably heard someone say, “My sponsor’s sponsor was sponsored by so-and-so,” almost like a sobriety family tree. But is that even a real thing? Or is it something we made up to feel more important in the rooms? We talk about where the concept might have come from, why some people cling to the lineage of their sponsorship like a badge of honor, and whether this c...
May 23, 2025•43 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, we continue breaking down one of the most impactful chapters in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous — There Is a Solution. This time, we dive into the second half of the chapter, where the Big Book gets into what the real solution actually is. We talk about the idea of spiritual experience, the power of the fellowship, and the critical role that working with others plays in long-term recovery. This isn’t about quic...
May 21, 2025•32 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Labor — a medical doctor who also happens to be in long-term recovery from drug addiction. Her story is powerful: from the outside, she had it all together — a successful career in medicine — but behind the scenes, addiction was slowly taking over her life. Today, she not only shares her personal experience getting sober but also helps us understand why addiction is so misunderstood — especially ...
May 18, 2025•52 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, we sit down with Brian, who shares his powerful journey through nearly four years of sobriety. Brian opens up about the brutal depths his addiction took him, and what it finally took for him to get clean. But his story takes a turn — even after spending a full year in treatment, he relapsed almost immediately upon leaving. Why? That’s what we dig into. Brian reflects on his lack of willingness during that time and t...
May 16, 2025•55 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, Eric picks up where we left off with the second half of Bill’s Story from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. This part dives deeper into Bill’s spiritual awakening, the critical moments that led to lasting sobriety, and how his experience laid the foundation for what would become the AA program. Eric walks us through the powerful shift that took place once Bill fully surrendered—highlighting the principles, the p...
May 14, 2025•44 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, we dive into all those one-liners and slogans you hear tossed around in and outside of 12-step rooms — from “One Day at a Time” to “Let Go and Let God” to “Fake It Till You Make It.” Some of them carry real depth and meaning… others? Not so much. We talk about which ones have actually helped us in our sobriety, which ones we think are overused or misunderstood, and how sometimes people repeat them without really kno...
May 11, 2025•44 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, we’re joined by Brave—someone who not only got clean and sober but has dedicated his life to helping others do the same. Brave walks us through his personal recovery journey, what it took to finally surrender, and how he rebuilt his life one day at a time. But his story doesn’t stop with his own sobriety. Brave is now deeply involved in the substance abuse field, working hands-on with those still struggling. He shar...
May 09, 2025•57 min
Family Reconnect Waitlist: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/frc In this episode, Eric picks up where we left off with the second half of Bill’s Story from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. This part dives deeper into Bill’s spiritual awakening, the critical moments that led to lasting sobriety, and how his experience laid the foundation for what would become the AA program. Eric walks us through the powerful shift that took place once Bill fully surrendered—highlighting the principles, the p...
May 07, 2025•31 min
