In this powerful and deeply moving episode, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas sit down with Gavin, a leader in Believers in Recovery UK, to hear his extraordinary journey through addiction, recovery, and faith. Gavin opens up about his traumatic past—from life on the streets and multiple relapses, to surviving paralysis and spiritual despair. His turning point came not just from 12-step programs but through a life-changing encounter with faith.

Listeners will hear raw, unfiltered truths about addiction, the importance of spiritual growth in recovery, and why Gavin believes healing must happen on three levels: with God, yourself, and others. He shares how he went from IV drug use and homelessness to leading a national recovery movement and being asked to become a church leader.

This is an episode about hope, purpose, and the transformative power of recovery—wherever you are on your journey.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Addicted to Recovery, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas sit down with their courageous friend Anthea to hear her incredible journey through addiction, loss, recovery, and resilience.

Anthea opens up about her early life, the emotional impact of fractured family dynamics, and how trauma shaped her path. She shares harrowing experiences from teenage years marked by substance abuse and unstable living conditions, including the devastating loss of her first child to cot death—a tragedy that became a turning point in her spiral into addiction.

With raw honesty and heartfelt emotion, Anthea talks about living on the streets, encounters with the criminal justice system, and ultimately, the moment she knew something had to change. She walks us through her transformative journey into recovery, the miracle of reconnecting with her children, and the strength she’s found through fellowship and support.

This episode is a testament to the power of recovery, the beauty of redemption, and the unbreakable human spirit. Whether you're in recovery, know someone who is, or are simply drawn to real stories of hope and transformation—this one will stay with you.

🔗 Support the Podcast:

Love the show? Access bonus content and support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/addictedtorecoverypodcast

In this deeply moving episode, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas are joined by special guest Stacey—a fellow recovering addict whose story comes full circle in a way that’s nothing short of inspiring.

What starts with a brave Instagram message to Christopher becomes a life-changing journey of healing, connection, and service. Stacey opens up with raw honesty about his early struggles, the traumatic experiences that shaped his addiction, and the moment he decided he could no longer run from the truth. From daily drug use and family heartbreak to 447 days clean, Stacey's story is a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of recovery.

The trio explores the emotional weight of childhood trauma, the misconceptions surrounding recovery meetings, and the crucial role of community and vulnerability in healing. With moments of laughter, insight, and real-talk about navigating life clean, this episode is as heartbreaking as it is hopeful.

If you or someone you know is struggling, this conversation may be the encouragement they need to reach out.

Join the community: patreon.com/addictedtorecoverypodcast

In this powerful and emotionally charged episode, Chris and Max sit down—just the two of them—to explore one of the most personal and universal themes in addiction recovery: relationships. With no guests and no filters, the conversation dives deep into the damage caused by addiction to romantic partnerships, family bonds, and friendships, and the long, often painful journey of rebuilding those connections in sobriety.

Chris and Max open up with raw honesty. Max reflects on the pain he caused his wife and family during active addiction, and how his recovery journey helped him regain trust and deepen the love that had once been broken. Chris shares how his addiction led him to hurt those closest to him, and how shame, guilt, and the need for change pushed him to finally seek help and start rebuilding his life. They speak candidly about the realities of being absent fathers and broken sons, and how consistency, service, and spiritual growth have helped them become dependable, loving partners, parents, and friends.

This episode also explores the emotional toll of manipulation and dishonesty, the importance of walking away from unhealthy relationships, and the joy of forging meaningful connections within sober communities. Chris and Max reflect on the strength of their friendship and the unique bonds formed in recovery, underlining the importance of community, accountability, and mutual support.

It’s a moving and relatable conversation that reminds listeners that no relationship is beyond repair. With time, honest action, and a willingness to grow, healing is not only possible—it’s transformative.

In this gripping episode of Addicted to Recovery, Christopher and Max sit down with David — a man whose addiction story defies stereotypes. After decades of casual drug and alcohol use, David’s life was turned upside down at age 50 when he tried ketamine for the first time. What began as curiosity spiraled into daily dependency, health crises, isolation, and ultimately near-death.

David shares his brutally honest account of falling in love with the disconnection ketamine offered, the physical and mental toll it took, and the moment he finally surrendered. His story is a powerful reminder that addiction can strike at any age — but so can recovery.

In this powerful and candid episode, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas welcome their friend and fellow recovering addict, Dave — aka Lord David Hogg — to share his remarkable story of addiction and recovery.

Dave opens up about his upbringing in a loving but emotionally detached household, his early experiences with drugs, and how his high-octane lifestyle spiraled out of control. From a successful career in the City, rubbing shoulders with the elite and dating royalty, to living in his car while battling crack and heroin addiction, Dave’s story is both gripping and humbling.

Listeners will hear about the critical turning points in Dave’s life — including a failed suicide attempt, interventions from loved ones, and his eventual commitment to recovery through the 12-step program. He discusses the transformative power of getting a sponsor, working the steps, and finding real connection in the recovery community.

With humour, raw honesty, and heartfelt gratitude, Dave reflects on his 16 months clean and the daily practices that keep him grounded today. This episode is a testament to the miracles that can happen when we surrender and embrace recovery.

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.