CROSSTALK PODCASTS

They say children inherit their parents' struggles, but Lucky Church rewrote his destiny. What began as survival in Bronx crack houses - watching his mother shoot up behind the stove at 5, carrying buckets of his stepfather's overdose blood at 10 - nearly became his own story of addiction. In this visceral Cross Talk episode, Lucky exposes the generational cycle he broke through sheer will and a heart that literally burst to wake him up.

From forgotten birthdays eating dry cake mix to gorging on hero sandwiches to numb the pain, Lucky traces how trauma morphed into food/alcohol addiction - until a surgeon told him "You have a 10% chance to survive tonight."

Access the full show notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.com

Video is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

They say children inherit their parents' struggles, but Lucky Church rewrote his destiny. What began as survival in Bronx crack houses - watching his mother shoot up behind the stove at 5, carrying buckets of his stepfather's overdose blood at 10 - nearly became his own story of addiction. In this visceral Cross Talk episode, Lucky exposes the generational cycle he broke through sheer will and a heart that literally burst to wake him up.

From forgotten birthdays eating dry cake mix to gorging on hero sandwiches to numb the pain, Lucky traces how trauma morphed into food/alcohol addiction - until a surgeon told him "You have a 10% chance to survive tonight."

Access the full show notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.com

Video is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

From surviving the brutal streets of Kensington to being slowly pulled into a hidden prostitution ring, Alison Van Horn’s story takes an even deeper turn in Part 2 of this Crosstalk Podcast episode, recounting the devastating reality of addiction, exploitation, and the underground world she found herself trapped in.

But it was getting arrested, not rescued, that finally gave her a way out. Alison shares the gritty truth about withdrawal from jail, being court-ordered into long-term treatment, and how she slowly began to rebuild trust, dignity, and hope in recovery.

Access the full show notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.com

Video is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Meet Alison Van Horn, a driven academic from suburban Philadelphia who grew up in a loving Catholic Italian household, but felt different from the start. Her journey began with stolen candy and cigarettes in grade school and spiraled into a full-blown heroin addiction by her twenties.

In this episode, Alison opens up about her descent from a straight-A student with two master’s degrees to a secret life in Kensington, PA. She reveals how her relationship with a heroin user pulled her in, and how denial masked her pain for years. Today, Alison is over a decade sober and works in the recovery field helping others transform their lives.

Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of addiction's roots, the power of family patterns, and the strength it takes to reclaim your life.

Access the full show notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.com

Video is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Meet Jimmy—a man whose early life was scarred by abuse, alcoholism, and abandonment. His father, a traumatized WWII veteran, once told him, “I never loved you.” That moment, and many like it, shaped a young man who would spiral into addiction, bouncing from jails to detox centers, chasing relief and belonging.

Jimmy’s story unfolds with raw vulnerability—from his chaotic childhood and dropping out of school, to seizures, blackouts, and sleeping next to padlocked doors. But amidst the pain, a turning point: a man named JoJo, a Maverick-driving, toothless AA sponsor, who told Jimmy he could stay with him. That day, hope was born. It’s been 42 years since that drink. This episode dives into the power of brotherhood, mentorship, and the kind of love that addiction tries to destroy.

If you’ve ever felt unloved, alone, or hopeless, this episode is for you. Jimmy’s honesty reminds us that it’s never too late to start over—and that sometimes, one person’s belief in you is enough to change everything.

Whether you're in recovery, questioning your relationship with alcohol, or love someone who’s struggling, Big John's story will move you deeply. Tune in for hope, wisdom, and the reminder that it’s never too late to change.

Access the full show notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.com

Video is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Meet Big John—a former football star, loving husband, and father—who seemed to have it all but was silently losing a generational battle with alcohol. In this powerful episode, John shares his raw and honest journey from secret binges to spiritual breakthroughs.

John grew up in a home where alcohol quietly haunted every corner. Despite early success in sports and business, his drinking spiraled—straining his marriage, endangering his son’s future, and ultimately leading to a heartbreaking ultimatum from his wife. Alone and ashamed, John walked into his first AA meeting in October 1990, not knowing it would change his life forever. Today, John lives a life of service and sobriety. With over three decades of continuous recovery, he honors the men who helped him heal, the fellowship that gave him purpose, and the power greater than himself that continues to guide him. His story is a testament to grace, grit, and the incredible power of connection.

Whether you're in recovery, questioning your relationship with alcohol, or love someone who’s struggling, Big John's story will move you deeply. Tune in for hope, wisdom, and the reminder that it’s never too late to change.

Access the full show notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.com

Video is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Meet Christine — a high-functioning professional, mother of two, and by all external measures, a woman who "had it all." But beneath the surface, she was fighting a war with alcohol that nearly destroyed her family, her career, and her sense of self.

Christine opens up about her long, spiraling relationship with alcohol: the hidden drinking, the emotional chaos at home, and the terrifying moments when she feared she’d lose her children. Despite maintaining a successful career and image, Christine reached a breaking point — alone on her favorite island, surrounded by empty bottles and haunted by shame. What followed was an unplanned intervention and an unexpected surrender.

In recovery, Christine discovered faith, community, and a deeper connection to herself and her family. From detoxing on Benadryl to finding safety in rehab and building a new life through therapy, meetings, and daily routines — her story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to change.

This episode will speak to anyone silently struggling, anyone feeling like they “don’t look like an addict,” and anyone curious about what recovery can really look like. Christine’s courage to share may just be the permission someone else needs to seek help. Whether you're in recovery, considering it, or supporting someone who is — this one is not to be missed.

Access the full show notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.com

Video is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Meet Christine — a successful professional, loving mother, and the last person you'd expect to battle addiction. But behind the polished exterior was a woman drowning in alcohol, trauma, and guilt. This is the raw, powerful story of how she found the courage to get sober at 50.

Christine grew up surrounded by alcohol, in a culture that normalized overindulgence and blamed victims for their trauma. After surviving a date rape in college and a physically abusive relationship, she buried her pain under years of high-functioning alcoholism. Her world began to spiral when her daughter developed a life-threatening eating disorder, triggering Christine’s emotional collapse and dangerously ramped-up drinking. At her lowest, her children checked if she was still breathing.

Today, Christine is in recovery, working with the very treatment center that helped save her life. She's using her voice and experience to support others navigating the darkness of addiction and the weight of generational trauma. Her story is a testament to the fact that it’s never too late to change your life.

Whether you're struggling in silence or supporting someone who is, this episode will offer you hope, compassion, and a deeper understanding of how addiction can affect even the most “put-together” lives. Tune in for real talk, honest healing, and proof that recovery is always possible — no matter your age or your story.

Access the full show notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.com

Video is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Meet Matt Butler—NYC-born singer-songwriter, former Universal-signed artist, and founder of the nonprofit Art That Serves. From music-fueled isolation and addiction to sharing songs in prisons across the country, Matt’s story is a powerful reminder of transformation through honesty, service, and purpose.

Matt opens up about his early life in Manhattan, his struggle with abandonment issues, and how alcohol and drugs offered a false sense of belonging. By the time he reached college at NYU, his substance use escalated, leading to arrests, broken relationships, and deep isolation. The turning point came not in a courtroom, but in an office—when he finally admitted to his employers that he was struggling. That moment of accountability led him to treatment and began his 11-year journey in recovery. Today, he’s a touring musician bringing music into correctional facilities, using his story to inspire healing where it's needed most.

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt lost, isolated, or unsure of their worth. You'll leave with hope, insight into the power of art in healing, and a deep reminder that your past doesn’t define your future.

Access the full show notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.com

Video is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Caitlin's story is one of resilience, pain, and profound transformation. Born into an alcoholic home and labeled the family's "problem child," Caitlin struggled with intense anxiety from a young age. Her early life was overshadowed by physical symptoms of stress, family denial, and the silent pressure of feeling fundamentally flawed.

Her journey into addiction escalated quickly, beginning with medications at age 12 and spiraling into IV drug use by 15. Multiple failed attempts at sobriety, including years on Suboxone, left her trapped in cycles of self-medication and denial. It wasn't until a brutal, life-changing withdrawal and an intense confrontation with herself in treatment that Caitlin found lasting recovery.

Today, Caitlin works passionately in addiction recovery, helping others break cycles of generational trauma, guilt, and shame. By tuning into Caitlin’s raw and honest story, listeners will gain powerful insights into breaking free from addiction's grip, finding compassion for themselves, and embracing a meaningful, substance-free life.

Access the full show notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.com

Video is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!