In this powerful and unfiltered episode of Addicted to Recovery, we sit down with Charlotte, a courageous woman from Clacton who shares her harrowing and inspiring journey through 23 years of addiction. From her early exposure to drugs at age 11, brushes with the law, and years of using crack and heroin, to experiencing the devastating effects of psychosis and repeated prison sentences—Charlotte opens up with raw honesty about the darkness that once consumed her life.

But this episode is about more than suffering—it's about transformation. Charlotte takes us through the moment she found hope through the 12-step program, the daily practices that keep her grounded, and how connection, community, and a higher power have helped her rebuild a life she once thought was beyond saving.

Whether you're in recovery, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking inspiration, Charlotte’s story is a must-listen. It’s a testament to the human spirit and the life-saving power of recovery.

🎙️ Plus, hear how Zoom meetings, spiritual connection, and showing up every day helped Charlotte turn her pain into purpose.

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Chris and Max sit down with their friend Dan, who shares a raw and unflinching account of his journey through addiction and recovery.

Dan reflects on a difficult childhood marked by emotional discomfort, parental separation, and a persistent feeling of being on the outside looking in. Even from a young age, he felt fear, rejection, and a lack of belonging.

Introduced to ecstasy at just 12 years old while in care, Dan describes the initial relief it brought him — the silence of fear and anxiety — and how this instant escape became his "medication" of choice.

He candidly recounts being bounced through children’s homes, a secure unit, and juvenile prisons, gradually adopting a hardened persona that masked his internal pain. The story paints a sobering picture of how institutional settings shaped his identity.

Dan talks openly about committing robberies, bullying, manipulating loved ones, and living with overwhelming guilt and shame. One particularly harrowing moment includes self-inflicted injuries to deceive his family for drug money — a stark illustration of addiction’s depths.

A moment of clarity comes during a stint in solitary confinement, where Dan breaks down emotionally and begins to accept that he needs help. This turning point, sparked by the echo of a support group’s moment of silence, sets him on the path to recovery.

Dan’s journey through rehab, Narcotics Anonymous, and therapy helped him begin rebuilding his life. He shares what it’s like to come out of prison and into recovery, experiencing community, kindness, and eventually giving back through service.

Despite periods of clean time — even working in addiction services — Dan experienced multiple relapses, underscoring how fragile recovery can be without consistent effort. He reflects honestly on the mistakes that led him back to using and the lessons those experiences taught him.

Now five months clean at the time of recording, Dan emphasises the importance of staying connected, attending meetings, and practising the principles of recovery daily. His story is one of perseverance, self-awareness, and hope.

🔔 Special Announcement:

Chris and Max also introduce their new Patreon channel, offering bonus content, video episodes, live chats, and shout-outs for supporters. It’s a call to the community to help sustain the podcast and deepen the connection.

📍 Join us at: Patreon.com/AddictedToRecoveryPodcast

In this powerful and candid episode of Addicted to Recovery, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas are joined by Kaitlin, a mother and recovering addict, who shares her deeply personal journey to sobriety as she marks an incredible milestone: 1,000 days clean.

Kaitlin reflects on a childhood marked by instability, emotional neglect, and early signs of addictive behaviours such as escapism and secretive eating. As a teenager, she turned to alcohol and cannabis to self-soothe, which quickly led to heavier drug use and a progressive addiction that continued into adulthood. Despite becoming a mother, her dependency deepened, culminating in physical and emotional breakdowns, paranoia, and brushes with death. At one stage, she was even told she might never walk again.

Her turning point came in the form of a spiritual epiphany — a moment of clarity that led her to seek support through a 12-step fellowship. Kaitlin speaks openly about the initial difficulties of recovery, particularly detaching from cannabis, which she describes as her hardest substance to quit. She also reflects on the grief she experienced in letting go of her old lifestyle and the fear of losing her children, which had long kept her from seeking help.

Now 1,000 days sober, Kaitlin has found a sense of peace, stability, and renewed purpose. She is passionate about helping others, especially mothers who may be silently struggling with addiction. Through her social media channel, Sober as a Mother Focused, she shares honest insights, experiences, and support to challenge stigma and offer hope.

This episode is a moving reminder of the strength it takes to get clean, the importance of community and honesty in recovery, and the life-changing rewards of staying the course.

In this episode of Addicted to Recovery, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas speak with Sarah Jane Clark, who shares her powerful story of overcoming food addiction.

Sarah explains how ultra-processed foods are designed to be addictive, using combinations of sugar, fat and salt to override the body's natural signals. She draws parallels between food addiction and drug or alcohol dependency—highlighting the shame, secrecy and emotional pain that often drives compulsive behaviours.

As a teenager, Sarah was caught in the cycle of dieting and bingeing, influenced by damaging messages from the diet industry. By 25, she weighed nearly 22 stone and was warned by her GP that she might not live to 40. That moment pushed her to make a change, starting with a walk in the dark to avoid being seen.

Rather than extreme diets, Sarah focused on sustainable habits—swapping sugary drinks for water, cooking at home, and walking daily. These small steps eventually led to a 12-stone weight loss, improved mental clarity and the return of her overall health.

Crucially, Sarah began working on her emotional wellbeing. Through books like You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay, she learned to confront her past, build self-worth, and introduce healthy boundaries. She now helps others through her support group, Step by Step with Sarah Jane, offering guidance rooted in lived experience.

The hosts explore shared themes of addiction, stigma, and recovery. They discuss the limitations of NHS support and how social media and marketing create confusion around food and health. Sarah recommends practical tools like the Yucca app and the book Ultra-Processed People by Dr Chris van Tulleken to help people make more informed choices.

Sarah’s message is clear: change is possible with consistency, compassion and community. Her story is not just about weight loss, but healing—physically, mentally and emotionally.

In this episode, Nick from Brighton shares his compelling journey through addiction, denial, and eventual recovery. Raised in a supportive yet emotionally reserved family, Nick describes how early struggles with insecurity and a need for approval led to escalating substance use, beginning with alcohol and cannabis and progressing to cocaine and daily use.

Working in high-pressure construction roles, Nick’s substance use intensified. Despite multiple attempts to moderate or stop, it was not until a pivotal moment of self-realisation that he chose to seek change. He discusses the limitations of mere abstinence and the significant impact of engaging with a structured recovery program.

Nick outlines the transformative role of community, consistency, and spiritual growth in sustaining long-term recovery. He credits service, step work, and regular meetings as key elements of his progress and now dedicates time to helping others.

This episode provides a candid account of the realities of addiction and offers clear insight into the practical steps and mindset required for lasting recovery.

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas welcome guest Sid, a recovering addict and now a pastor, to share his incredible journey from chaos to redemption. Sid opens up about a loving but challenging childhood, early defiance, school struggles, and the lure of attention-seeking behaviors that led him into a life of crime, addiction, and repeated incarceration.

Sid’s story is marked by profound experiences — including the trauma of alopecia at a young age, years lost to heroin addiction, and time spent in both youth and adult prisons. He speaks openly about the insanity and devastation caused by his drug use, relationships that suffered, and the deep shame he carried.

However, the turning point came when Sid had a spiritual awakening while serving time. Introduced to faith through a prison chaplain, Sid began to reconnect with the values his parents instilled in him. He shares how this encounter sparked a transformation, eventually leading him to Bible college, a new life with his wife, and a calling to become a pastor.

The conversation also touches on the addictive design of modern life — from smartphones to fast food — and the importance of long-term gratification, self-awareness, and community in recovery. Sid’s testimony illustrates that while the road is long and messy, real change is possible with honesty, connection, and spiritual grounding.

A moving reminder that recovery isn’t linear — but it is worth it.

In this deeply moving episode of Addicted to Recovery, titled From Civil War to Self-War: Raph's Recovery Story, Raph shares the powerful and unfiltered story of his life—from a childhood marked by abuse and trauma to the grip of addiction and the eventual road to healing. Growing up in Sierra Leone during a brutal civil war, Raph witnessed and experienced extreme hardship that left lasting emotional scars. Upon returning to the UK, he found himself struggling with the familiar environment that reignited past pain and unresolved trauma. With no healthy outlet for coping, he turned to substance use, which quickly spiraled into addiction and drug dealing.

Raph’s journey illustrates how deeply family dynamics, childhood experiences, and environmental triggers can shape a person’s path. What started as a way to numb the pain soon became a dangerous lifestyle with serious consequences. His story serves as a reminder that addiction doesn’t discriminate and can escalate faster than expected. It was only after hitting rock bottom—facing the full weight of his decisions and their consequences—that Raph found the strength to begin again.

Recovery, as Raph explains, is not a one-time event but a continuous, evolving process. He credits his transformation to the unwavering support of a recovery community, the commitment to personal growth, and the powerful sense of purpose he discovered through serving others. Today, Raph not only lives free from addiction but also helps others who are walking the same path he once did. His story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the healing power of connection, compassion, and change.

Throughout the episode, Raph’s raw honesty is captured in unforgettable sound bites such as, “I was getting beats every night,” “I was eating out of dustbins,” and “I promised my nan I'm not gonna smoke no more.” His words resonate deeply, painting a vivid picture of suffering, survival, and ultimately, redemption.

In this powerful episode of Addicted to Recovery, hosts Chris White and Max Thomas are joined by Shamil, who shares his remarkable story of addiction, rock bottom, and transformation. Shamil speaks openly about growing up in London, his early encounters with alcohol, and how casual substance use developed into a full-blown addiction to cocaine and alcohol by his late twenties.

He reflects on the struggles of working in education while secretly battling addiction, repeated hospital admissions, and the painful descent into homelessness, life-threatening health conditions, and profound isolation.

However, Shamil’s story is ultimately one of hope and redemption. Through full surrender, deep spiritual work, and complete commitment to the 12-Step programme, he found a new way to live. Now, with over two and a half years' sobriety, Shamil works in the same hospital where he was once a patient, helping others on their journey to recovery.

This episode is filled with powerful insights about emotional healing, the importance of honesty, and the ongoing need for consistency, humility, and spiritual maintenance. Shamil’s authenticity and humility shine as he reminds listeners that "everywhere I go, I take God with me" — a moving testament to living a sober life, one day at a time.

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Addicted to Recovery, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas sit down with guest Alex, a fellow recovering addict, to explore his lived experience of gambling addiction.

The conversation starts with a nostalgic reflection as Alex and Max realise they once attended the same school — both unaware at the time that beneath the surface, they were already battling the early signs of addiction. Alex shares his story openly, tracing the roots of his compulsive gambling back to childhood, shaped by family separation, emotional instability, and early exposure to betting through his father’s habits.

Alex’s journey is marked by emotional vulnerability, financial ruin, and the manipulation that so often accompanies addiction. He speaks candidly about his pattern of deception, the toxic cycle of winning and chasing losses, and the crushing shame that kept him isolated for years. His story highlights the often invisible nature of gambling addiction — one that doesn’t always carry the visible signs of other dependencies but is just as destructive.

Throughout the conversation, Max and Chris reflect on the shared emotional struggles underlying addiction — the inner void, the hunger for validation, and the disconnect between how they appeared to the world and how they felt inside. Alex recounts the moments where addiction had him trapped, including the extraordinary highs and lows of gambling away over £120,000 in a single weekend, and the devastating impact this had on his relationships, self-worth and mental health.

Despite the setbacks, Alex also shares how he has begun rebuilding his life. He talks about finding strength through community, his experiences in rehabilitation, and the importance of peer support. Now four months clean — the longest since his addiction began — Alex has also founded Walking and Talking, a safe and non-judgemental group for those struggling with gambling, offering connection and support through simple conversation and companionship.

The episode closes on an uplifting note, with Max and Chris emphasising the importance of fellowship, recovery programmes, self-reflection, and honest conversation. Together, they highlight that addiction is about far more than substances or behaviours — it’s about the internal battles and emotional wounds we try to numb — and that lasting recovery is possible through connection, action, and community.

This week on Addicted to Recovery, Chris and Max sit down with a very special guest: Michelle Heaton, singer, television personality, and beloved member of the pop group Liberty X. Michelle shares her powerful and deeply personal story as she approaches a major milestone — four years of sobriety.

In an open and heartfelt conversation, Michelle reflects on her rise to fame, her early life growing up in Newcastle, and the pressures of the music industry that quietly fed into her struggle with addiction. Despite having no family history of addiction, Michelle speaks candidly about always feeling “different” as a child, and how performing became her first emotional escape long before substances entered the picture.

The trio explore the complex path from social drinking and partying at the height of Liberty X’s success, to the slow and painful progression into daily dependence. Michelle bravely recounts her battles with alcohol and how her early menopause after a hysterectomy acted as a turning point in her descent into addiction. She discusses the devastating impact it had on her relationships, her health, and her self-worth — including hospital visits where doctors warned her she would not survive if she continued drinking.

Michelle opens up about her rock bottom moment, the pivotal support from her husband, close friends like Katie Price, and her journey into rehab during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares the emotional experience of receiving letters from loved ones during treatment, which forced her to confront the full scope of her addiction and the damage it had caused.

Throughout the conversation, Michelle also highlights the ongoing importance of fellowship meetings, spiritual growth, and daily routines that sustain her sobriety. She now uses her platform to break the stigma around addiction, offering hope and inspiration to others who are struggling.

This is a raw, honest, and uplifting episode about resilience, recovery, and the life-changing gift of living fully present — just in time for Michelle to celebrate her incredible four-year sobriety anniversary.