In this powerful episode of Addicted to Recovery, Max and Chris sit down with Gab — a former talent manager whose gambling addiction spiralled into a devastating double life involving secret debts, celebrity clients, court cases, and eventually prison.

Gab opens up about the hidden reality of compulsive gambling, from the early warning signs as a child to chasing losses through the night, gambling away hundreds of thousands of pounds, and living in complete mental torment while trying to maintain the appearance of success. He shares how addiction became his escape, his comfort, and ultimately the thing that nearly destroyed everything.

The conversation dives deep into:

• The similarities between gambling addiction and substance addiction
• Living with secrecy, shame, and obsession
• The emotional toll of chasing losses
• How recovery began through honesty and therapy
• The reality of prison after addiction-fuelled fraud charges
• Why addiction is so often misunderstood by society

Alongside Gab’s story, the hosts also announce an important new chapter for the podcast as Addicted to Recovery moves into a seasonal format to prioritise balance, recovery, and sustainability moving forward.

A raw, honest, and deeply insightful episode about addiction, consequences, recovery, and hop

In this honest and deeply relatable episode of Addicted to Recovery, the boys sit down with returning guest Chris to explore what recovery really looks like beyond the meetings.

Two years on, Chris opens up about life with a growing family, the daily challenge of applying recovery principles at home, and the constant tug-of-war between selflessness and self-centered thinking. From isolation and intrusive thoughts to relationships, parenting, and the struggle for presence, this conversation gets real about the messy middle of recovery.

Together, they unpack:

• Why family often gets a “different version” of us than the outside world
• The role of fear, control, and emotional sensitivity in addiction
• Intrusive thoughts, escapism, and the addict’s tendency to catastrophize
• The importance of service, presence, and small daily actions
• How recovery evolves over time through experience, not perfection

With humour, vulnerability, and brutal honesty, this episode shines a light on the internal battles that don’t disappear when the substances do—and the tools that help navigate them.

If you’ve ever struggled with being present, battled your own thoughts, or wondered why you react the way you do, this one will hit home.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.

In this powerful episode of Addicted To Recovery, the hosts sit down with Greg, a close friend and recovering addict, to explore his journey through addiction, trauma, and long-term recovery.

Greg shares how a devastating accident—shattering his heel after a fall—became a turning point in his life. With over a dozen surgeries, chronic pain, and uncertainty about his future, he was forced to slow down and fully commit to recovery. What could have been a breaking point instead became a foundation for growth, resilience, and spiritual connection.

The conversation dives deep into:

• Navigating recovery through physical pain and injury
• The mental battle of uncertainty and fear
• Managing prescribed medication in recovery
• Building integrity, trust, and self-awareness
• The realities of long-term sobriety (not perfection, but progress)
• Finding purpose, peace, and connection in everyday life

Greg also reflects on major life milestones in recovery, including marriage, fatherhood, and rebuilding relationships—proving that transformation is possible with commitment and support.

This episode is an honest, raw, and inspiring look at what it truly means to stay clean, face life head-on, and grow into a better version of yourself.

In this powerful episode of Addicted to Recovery, the hosts sit down with John, who returns two years after his first appearance to share what’s changed—and it’s nothing short of remarkable.

Now nearly four years clean, John opens up about rebuilding his life from the ground up: becoming a full-time father, working in drug and alcohol services, and even being invited to Buckingham Palace for his contributions to the recovery community.

The conversation dives deep into:

• Life in recovery and the reality of “life on life’s terms”
• Overcoming grief after losing his son and finally finding acceptance
• The challenges of parenting, relationships, and responsibility in sobriety
• Letting go of old behaviours like ego, anger, and pride
• The power of the 12-step program, service, and spirituality

John’s story is raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful—a testament to what’s possible when someone fully surrenders and commits to change.

“From crack house to Buckingham Palace in four years.”

If you’re struggling, in recovery, or supporting someone who is—this episode is a must-listen.

In this powerful episode of Addicted to Recovery, Chris and Max welcome back returning guest Kent—nearly 10 years clean and sober—for an honest and deeply moving conversation about addiction, recovery, and what it really means to rebuild a life.

Kent shares his journey from high-flying success—playing elite rugby, studying at Oxford, and earning millions in the finance world—to hitting rock bottom in rehab, feeling completely empty despite “having it all.” He opens up about the hidden struggles of high achievers, the dangers of chasing external success, and how addiction can thrive behind wealth, status, and ambition.

Now working as a counselor and mentor, Kent helps clients around the world navigate addiction, imposter syndrome, trauma, and the pressures of success. Together, the hosts explore:

• Why success doesn’t equal happiness
• The link between high performance and addiction
• The reality of recovery and long-term consequences
• How helping others becomes the greatest reward
• Misconceptions about addiction and the stigma surrounding it
• The power of fellowship, connection, and staying teachable

This episode is a raw reminder that recovery isn’t just about getting clean—it’s about finding purpose, connection, and meaning beyond the chaos.

If you’ve ever felt like external success wasn’t enough—or you’re on your own recovery journey—this conversation will resonate deeply.

In this episode of Addicted to Recovery, Jack shares his powerful journey from early addiction to nearly two years clean. Growing up with a lack of emotional support, he spent much of his life searching for validation in external things—first through food and obsessions, and later through drugs and alcohol. What began as experimentation quickly escalated into dangerous and destructive behaviour, driven by a desire to escape his own thoughts and feelings.

After reaching a breaking point in his relationship, Jack found hope in recovery meetings and made the decision to change. Now a father, he reflects on how connection, honesty, and community helped him rebuild his life and find a new way to live.

This episode of Addicted to Recovery focuses on a major milestone, as Max celebrates seven years of sobriety. The conversation reflects on how life has changed since active addiction, highlighting the contrast between past behaviors and the present sense of freedom, gratitude, and connection.

The hosts begin by discussing a recent stag weekend, showing that it’s possible to fully enjoy social events without alcohol or drugs. Despite late nights and high-energy environments, they describe feeling genuinely present, free, and even euphoric while sober. This stands in stark contrast to their past, where substance use often led to insecurity, paranoia, and a lack of real enjoyment.

A key theme throughout the episode is the idea of an internal “void.” During addiction, both hosts tried to fill this emptiness with material success, money, and status, believing these things would bring lasting happiness. However, they explain that the more they chased these external rewards, the more empty they felt. Even in wealthy, image-driven environments, feelings of comparison and inadequacy can still surface, reinforcing the idea that external validation doesn’t solve internal struggles.

Instead, recovery has taught them that true fulfillment comes from connection. Building relationships, being honest about struggles, helping others, and engaging in recovery communities have become essential tools. These practices replace substances as coping mechanisms and provide a deeper, more sustainable sense of purpose and wellbeing.

The episode also explores how recovery has transformed their relationships, particularly with family. Where addiction once caused distance, selfishness, and instability, sobriety has allowed them to be present, caring, and emotionally available. Both hosts reflect on how close they came to losing their families, and how that fear became a turning point that pushed them to fully commit to change.

Ultimately, the episode emphasizes that real freedom doesn’t come from substances, money, or status, but from living authentically and being connected to others. Max describes feeling “rich inside,” highlighting a shift from external success to internal peace and gratitude. The conversation reinforces that recovery is not just about stopping harmful behaviors, but about building a meaningful and fulfilling life.

In this episode of Addicted to Recovery, we sit down with Martin, who shares an honest and powerful account of his journey through addiction, relapse, and long-term recovery.

Growing up in a loving home, Martin always felt like he didn’t quite belong. That underlying feeling followed him into his teenage years, where alcohol quickly became the solution — giving him confidence, connection, and a sense of ease he’d never experienced before. From there, things escalated. What started as partying turned into years of drug and alcohol use, eventually becoming a daily necessity.

Despite building a successful career in the city and maintaining the appearance of a normal life, addiction was always at the centre of everything. Behind the scenes, Martin was living a double life — lying, hiding, and constantly chasing the next escape.

It wasn’t until his mid-40s, when the consequences began to catch up with him, that things started to unravel. Relationships broke down, work suffered, and he found himself back at square one — forced to confront the reality of his situation.

Martin talks openly about hitting rock bottom, returning to recovery, and what finally changed this time around. From daily routines like prayer and meditation to the importance of consistency, connection, and humility, he shares what it really takes to stay sober long term.

This conversation dives deep into the mindset of addiction — the self-centred thinking, the denial, and the illusion of control — as well as the growth that comes with recovery.

Today, Martin is nearly seven years clean. He’s rebuilt relationships with his family, found peace in his daily life, and now helps others on their own journey through sponsorship and service.

This episode is a reminder that no matter how far things go, change is always possible — but it requires honesty, willingness, and action.

In this episode of Addicted to Recovery, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas speak with their friend Dev about his personal journey through addiction, relapse, and recovery.

Dev describes growing up in a loving and stable home in Watford with both parents and a younger brother. Despite having a supportive upbringing and no major trauma, he often felt uncomfortable in his own skin and struggled with low self-esteem. From a young age he craved approval and wanted to be liked, particularly by his father.

Looking back, Dev recognises that addictive patterns were present long before he ever used drugs. As a child he displayed obsessive behaviours such as overeating and compulsively collecting items like Pokémon cards and football stickers. These behaviours were ways of coping with uncomfortable feelings.

Dev first used cannabis in secondary school. Although he initially disliked the feeling, he continued using because it helped him fit in socially. Being part of a group that used drugs gave him a sense of belonging and attention he had always sought.

Over time his drug use expanded to alcohol, ecstasy and cocaine. Selling drugs at school gave him a sense of power and popularity, which reinforced his lifestyle and pushed him deeper into addiction.

As Dev’s addiction progressed, the consequences became severe. He experienced multiple prison sentences, legal trouble, job loss, and broken relationships. At one point he overdosed after taking MDMA at a rave and woke up in hospital days later with no memory of the event.

Even after these frightening experiences, he continued using, showing how powerful addiction can be.

When Dev’s daughter was born, he experienced a powerful emotional shift. Holding her for the first time made him determined to become a better father and stop using drugs.

However, despite his genuine desire to change, he discovered that willpower alone was not enough. Without understanding addiction or having support, he quickly fell back into old patterns.

Dev eventually entered treatment at the Lighthouse recovery centre, where he began to understand addiction for the first time. Hearing others share similar experiences helped him realise he was not alone.

He started attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings and became part of a recovery community. While he experienced periods of sobriety, his journey included setbacks, dishonesty, and relapse before he began to fully engage with the recovery process.

After achieving three and a half years clean, Dev relapsed and lost many of the things he had built in his life. Returning to recovery was difficult, and he struggled emotionally.

During this time he began attending church and exploring faith. In October he committed his life to Christianity and was later baptised in December. He describes this spiritual awakening as a major turning point in his recovery, helping him find inner peace and purpose.

Today Dev has eight and a half months clean and lives a calmer, more balanced life. He maintains a strong relationship with his daughter and works in supported housing helping men in recovery.

He emphasises that recovery requires honesty, service to others, community support, and a spiritual foundation.

Dev’s story demonstrates that addiction can affect anyone, regardless of background, and that recovery often involves setbacks before lasting change occurs. Through community, faith, and helping others, he has built a new life grounded in purpose and compassion.

In this episode of Addicted to Recovery, the hosts speak with Tony, who shares his powerful life story of addiction, trauma, and ultimately recovery.

Tony grew up on a council estate in East London, raised by hardworking parents alongside his brother and sister. When Tony was young, his sister was tragically run over and lost her leg, an event that deeply impacted the family. Although the trauma was never openly discussed, Tony believes it contributed to his father becoming a heavy drinker and created an emotionally difficult home environment. tony

As a child, Tony found escape and confidence through football, where he excelled and even attracted interest from professional clubs like Arsenal and West Ham. On the pitch he felt confident and valued, but off the pitch he struggled with insecurity and fear, particularly within the challenging environment of the council estate. tony

Tony began experimenting with substances at a young age. What started with cigarettes and cannabis gradually escalated into more serious drug use as he searched for relief from feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. Eventually, he discovered heroin, which he describes as providing the first true sense of internal peace and comfort he had ever experienced. tony

However, this relief quickly turned into a decades-long addiction. Tony spent nearly 30 years using Class A drugs, trapped in a cycle of crime, desperation, and daily survival. His addiction caused immense pain to his family, including witnessing the death of his brother at 26, which still wasn’t enough to stop his own addiction at the time. tony

Eventually, after years of despair and failed attempts to quit, Tony reached a point where he internally knew he needed help. Through the criminal justice system, he entered a 12-step rehabilitation program, where he finally found hope. Seeing counselors and other recovering addicts who had transformed their lives inspired him to believe recovery was possible. tony

Tony embraced treatment, completed rehab, and began working the 12-step recovery program. Through this process he developed self-awareness, confronted past trauma, and rebuilt his life.

Today Tony has been clean for over 11 years and now uses his experience to help others struggling with addiction. His story highlights how unresolved trauma, emotional pain, and the search for belonging can lead people into addiction — but also how connection, honesty, and recovery communities can help people rebuild their lives.