“You couple substance abuse with PTSD and I’m wondering, ‘How do I fit in?’” -Ken Today, Ben and I are talking to Ken, a 35-year active military combat-in-arms, now veteran, discussing his alcoholism and addiction and what his post-military recovery journey has been for Ken. He is now paying it forward, helping others recover from their addiction. Ken’s Background Born in 1964 to an Irish-Catholic family and the youngest of seven, the first memory of drinking alcohol is at age eight. With an abu...
Sep 09, 2021•1 hr 11 min
“I can’t even put into words how tight-knit a community that we’re a part of.” -Ben Today, Ben and I will cover the top five unexpected benefits that have come about because of our sobriety. These positive side effects are items that naturally and organically happen through the process of sobriety. But, of course, these come with time and work on ourselves, along with setting goals. Original Thoughts On Sobriety Initially, I thought that I would spend 45 days in a sober rehab facility, then go b...
Sep 02, 2021•51 min
“You have choices in what you do with your time, and that’s up to the individual.” -Cody Today, Ben and I are chatting with Cody, who was very successful in life, and then addiction took it all away. Listen in to find out how he is rebuilding his life as a sober member of society and how drugs and alcohol can create alternative negative behaviors that aren’t a part of who you really are. Growing Up with Learning Disabilities Cody had multiple learning disabilities in grade school growing up. Bec...
Aug 26, 2021•52 min
“One day I broke into tears and told my dad I can’t stop drinking and I needed help.” -Kevin Today, Ben and I are chatting with Kevin, who is an alumnus of Rock Recovery Center. Listen in and find out how Kevin could move past his anxiety, which was the cause of his alcoholism, and move into a life of sobriety. Learn how Kevin is making amends with those he hurt while he was alcoholic, and how he is giving back by supporting other members who are recovering. Dealing with Severe Anxiety Although ...
Aug 19, 2021•54 min
“At Rock I’m getting to talk to people and come to an understanding of what each of the twelve steps means.” -Darell Today, Ben and I are chatting with Darell, who served 13 years in the United States Air Force as an EOD. We talk about his challenges post-service in the military and his progression of alcoholism through childhood, the military, and how he found solutions to his addiction when he returned to civilian life. Darell’s History with Alcohol Growing up in New York, Darell can’t remembe...
Jul 08, 2021•1 hr 5 min
“I’ve built routines here at Rock Recovery Center that I still have today.” -JP Today, Ben and I are chatting with JP Burton, an alumnus of Rock Recovery Center. We speak about essential life skill development that accompanies the treatment process and the road to recovery. Listen to our conversation about prayer, meditation, and positive lifestyle changes that have stayed with JP through his treatment and beyond. JP’s History and What Led Him to Drug Use Before drugs, JP enjoyed a life full of ...
Jun 24, 2021•40 min
“I’ve had family members that have died from addiction, but I never thought that I would have an addiction.” -Tommy Today, Ben and I are chatting with Tommy, who became an addict after taking narcotic drugs for pain relief after a motorcycle accident. Since he has addiction in his family, Tommy wasn’t a stranger to the effects of drugs and alcohol on a person and their loved ones. Why Tommy Didn’t Think Addiction was in his Future “I never saw myself as that person that has a need for anything o...
Jun 17, 2021•43 min
“My mom was my biggest enabler and as soon as she took her foot off the gas pedal my life came crumbling down around me. That’s where the biggest change and growth came from.” -Noah Today, Ben and I are chatting with Noah, who was 20 when he received his first DUI. His parents kicked him out of the house after this event. Forced to attend AA, his grandmother took him to his meetings. Not understanding the program or the benefits of completing the 12 Step Program, Noah wasn’t an engaged participa...
Jun 03, 2021•52 min
“Alcoholics Anonymous didn’t just save my life, it taught me how to live a life worthy of having been spared and changed me from the inside out.” -Eric Sheets Today, Ben and I are chatting to Eric Sheets, who is sharing his story of recovery and how he has taken his experience to give back and help other addicts become sober again. Eric’s Background with Drugs and Alcohol Eric says he came to the 12 Step Program a “broken man” and admits that this is the first time he has been honest with himsel...
May 27, 2021•57 min
“I’m able to get high on life with sobriety.” -Faith Penda Today, Ben and I are chatting to Fatih Penda, a long-term addict who has recovered and is now leading a drug and alcohol-free life. Leading to building a recovery center, Fatih is now leading other adults into recovery and positive life. Fatih’s Background with Drugs and Alcohol Born in Salem, Massechuessets with a Muslim upbringing, Fatih always felt different than everyone else. Although his uncle did drink, he isn’t sure where his add...
May 20, 2021•43 min
Today I will talk about the process and path of a person moving from being a "normie" to using drugs and alcohol and becoming an addict. In this episode, I talk with Brad Jensen, the founder of Key Nutrition, and is in recovery. He comes to us today to talk about how fitness and health have positively impacted his sobriety. Brad also talks about his struggles with sobriety. He'll talk about his experience, his awareness of the three pillars to life, and how he can assist clients with his coachin...
May 13, 2021•1 hr 2 min
“I wanted to take something hard that I had to go through that was painful and help another human being to get through without struggling as hard as I did.” -Maya Today, Ben and I are chatting to Maya who is a full-time employee at Rock Recovery Center. She is here to talk about her past history and how she became a professional in the substance abuse space. Why Maya Chose to Work with Recovering Addicts “I never thought that I’d be here working in mental health and the substance abuse field,” M...
May 06, 2021•49 min
Tom and Benjamin B. are joined by Keith. Keith is a rockstar when he plays the guitar. He is also here to talk about why it's so important to have structure within sober living. There are some places that don't have any structure, but a guy like Keith could whip them into shape really fast. Keith is a behavioral health tech. He has also been a house manager, and he is a recovering addict. He tells it like it is, but is able to do it in a way where he doesn’t offend people and is able to gain the...
Apr 29, 2021•46 min
Geographical change can help assist people going through recovery. A change that includes getting away from the people and influences that led to the addiction in the first place can be helpful. Benjamin B. and Renee L. are here today to talk about the benefits of sending your loved one to recovery someplace that includes geographical change. We talk about South Florida recovery versus Northeast recovery and Renee shares her experience with both. Renee and Ben both share their experience with re...
Apr 22, 2021•39 min
“I know people that have gotten clean and sober off of their drug of choice... and have tried this 'medical marijuana' aspect of it... and... I don't know of anybody that was able to stay that way and maintain sobriety after going down that road.” -Tom Conrad Today, Ben and I are chatting about California Sober, brought to light recently by Demi Lovato on Joe Rogan's podcast , offering our opinions on it. While we aren't here to criticize how other people recover from addiction, as we are not wi...
Apr 15, 2021•43 min
“This disease does not discriminate and it’s really hard to get sober.” -Nicole Bifano Today, Ben and I are chatting to Nicole Bifano, a primary worker at Rock Recovery Center and an LCSW, about the therapeutic process, the steps of detoxification, and the details of AL-ANON membership. Why Nicole Chose to Work with Recovering Addicts Nicole felt called by God to work in the realm of addiction treatment. Working at a treatment center was her only option when she graduated. Although Nicole didn’t...
Apr 08, 2021•48 min
“I knew I didn’t like myself, but I didn’t even know myself.” - Steve Today, Ben and I are chatting with Steve, our intern at Rock Recovery Center, who will celebrate 12 years of sobriety this week! Steve has been with us since January. He is attending university for his bachelor’s degree in social work, and we are excited to have him on the show today to talk about his recovery and his work here at Rock. What Steve is Contributing to Rock Recovery Center Being an addict in recovery, Steve under...
Apr 01, 2021•36 min
Getting clean and sober can be stressful. We try to do everything possible to help people going through recovery deal with stress. It's scientifically proven that exercise will help reduce stress levels. This is why we can't emphasize the importance of exercise enough in the process of getting clean and sober. Today’s episode is about exercise and why it is important to incorporate into your journey. Tom and Ben will be discussing this important topic along with the benefits of exercising throug...
Mar 04, 2021•38 min
Today, Ben and I are chatting with Allie Severino, host of the “Dope Sick Nation”, which premiered on VICE in 2019. Allie’s goal is to help educate and heal America with her series offering a unique, inside perspective on the addiction problems facing our country in addition to the addiction treatment industry. Allie is passionate about educating families on the advancement of addiction treatment, harm reduction, and holistic approaches. She believes in education to aid prevention and advance th...
Feb 18, 2021•53 min
Today, Ben and I are chatting to Jacob, who tells us his story of relapse, which led him to his deterioration and how he dug himself back out to sobriety again. Being introduced to alcohol at age 8, Jacob had a long and challenging life ahead of himself, which has led to his recovery with support from Rock Recovery Center. Starting His Life of Alcohol and Drugs at Age Eight At 26, Jacob has been living in Florida for over eight years. He was first introduced to alcohol at age 8, where he was giv...
Feb 04, 2021•46 min
Today, Ben and I are chatting about gaining enough positive capital into your life for relapse prevention. Many people get sober, and relapsing can be expected. In this episode, we want to teach you tools and action steps to prevent relapse. Build your emotional capital as a buffer against wanting to go back and becoming an addict again. Becoming Proactive in Your Recovery Process Being proactive in your recovery process is a big part of staying on track in your sobriety. If you do your work on ...
Jan 28, 2021•45 min
Today, I’ll be talking about three questions you want to think about and reflect on before deciding to speak with your loved one about becoming clean and sober. No matter if they are a daughter, son, parent, or friend, these are three critical questions that you want to have answered before you start the conversation on recovery. Keep in mind that drugs and alcohol are not the only two forms of addiction. Food, sex, gambling, and shopping are all conduits for addiction. These outlets are no less...
Jan 21, 2021•29 min
Are you considering methadone or suboxone prescription as a way to treat heroin addiction for you or a loved one? Is this a safe way to beat an opioid addiction or will it only make the struggle more difficult? Ben Bueno is a recovering heroin addict shares his experience of being treated with methadone. Resources mentioned in this episode: Facebook Support Group RealRecoveryTalk.com/Facebook...
Jan 14, 2021•22 min
Everyone on the planet is affected by self-esteem in one way or another. Today, Tom discusses how self-esteem in general can influence addiction. In this episode, he talks about what self-esteem is and why positive self-esteem is so important for sobriety and getting and staying sober. He shares his own battle with self-esteem issues and why finding the root cause is so important. He also stresses that it’s a process that needs to be facilitated by a good therapist. He talks about action steps t...
Jan 07, 2021•30 min
We received two phone calls a couple of days ago that two people we know quite well had overdosed on drugs. One was rushed to the hospital, treated, and released. However, the second person is in ICU and will most likely not make it through his overdose. As a result of these recent tragedies, Ben and I decided to talk about what happens when addicts come to a place where they overdose and signs you can look for to hopefully prevent this from happening to someone you love. Ben Recalls His Early D...
Dec 31, 2020•34 min
Charlie is here today to pick up his two years sobriety medallion at Rock Recovery Center. He is a graduate of our program and has successfully navigated a clean and sober life since leaving Rock Recovery Center. Charlie and his wife chat with us about how Charlie has been living his daily life as a clean and sober society member. The Beginnings of Charlie’s Addiction At age 13, Charlie left his home and started drinking socially to the point that he was drinking five gallons of alcohol a week. ...
Dec 24, 2020•36 min
“I feel that if I didn’t take that crappy job that I hated, that I wouldn’t be here on the path I was meant to be on.” - Ben Ben's First Two Years in Recovery Today, Ben and I celebrate Ben's tenth year of sobriety! "Years two through now have flown by for me," says Ben reflecting back on his journey. He remembers his first two years being rough for him as his first two years were a struggle. Ben refers to AA's founder and his recollection of having waves of resentment and self-pity through his ...
Dec 17, 2020•40 min
If you or a loved one have tried a 12-Step program like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous and weren't successful this episode is for you. Find out what works and what doesn't work in the typical 12-step recovery program. Our guest, Ron, will also teach you what it takes to conduct an intervention to get someone you love into treatment for their alcohol or substance abuse issues.
Dec 10, 2020•45 min
“There are two kinds of people in this world: people in recovery who think they’re not and people in recovery who think they are.” Tullian Tchividjian Today, I’ll be talking with Tullian Tchividjian, a pastor and active in the addiction community that Ben and I have gotten to know very well. He has come to Rock Recovery Center to share his experience and strength with our clients. Tullian is a pastor for The Sanctuary, a church in Jupiter, Florida. Tullian grew up in a laid-back Christian home t...
Dec 03, 2020•1 hr 14 min
Alex Uslar is the manager of the Hybrid Gym and the Director of Operations for the online company Hybrid Performance Method. Alex is a powerlifting, weight lifting, and crossfit coach. The Hybrid Performance Method is a virtual gym that provides accessible, affordable, and effective online workout programs to athletes of all skill and experience levels. In this episode, we talk about Alex’s journey and how he used nutrition and working out to stay sober. Like many addicts, Alex had a rough start...
Nov 26, 2020•1 hr 6 min
