What happens when a man spends years chasing the next high, the next bet, the next escape, only to realize he’s really been running from himself?

Today’s guest, Tom Jenkins, knows that story all too well. His journey has taken him from gambling and alcohol addiction to a relentless search for meaning, purpose, and recovery. Originally from the UK and now living in Colombia, Tom has spent years asking the hard questions: What drives addiction? Why do we keep self-destructing? And what does true recovery actually look like?

He’s also the author of a book that explores many of these themes, which we’ll dive into later in the episode.

Let’s get started.

Today’s guest is someone who has become one of the leading voices in gambling addiction awareness and prevention, especially when it comes to young adults and sports betting culture.

Saul Malek grew up in Houston, Texas, in a loving family. What started as a fun way to connect with friends eventually evolved into sports betting after being introduced to a local bookmaker during college.

And like so many stories we hear in this space, the escalation happened fast.

In less than two years, Saul lost sleep, money, relationships, peace of mind, and nearly his life. But today, more than five years removed from gambling, he’s turned his pain into purpose ,using his lived experience to educate others and expose the realities of modern gambling addiction.

You may have seen him featured on Dr. Phil, PBS, or USA Today, but beyond the headlines, Saul is someone making a real impact through honesty, advocacy, and education.

I’m honored to welcome Saul Malek to Gambling Recovery: Taking Back Your Life.

For a long time, gambling felt harmless to Mickie.

Some addictions are easy for the world to recognize. Others hide behind success, routines, and a smile.

From the outside, Mary D. looked like she had built a beautiful life, a thriving career, a family, stability, and everything many people spend years chasing. But behind closed doors, she was fighting a private war with gambling addiction that nearly took everything from her.

Mary’s story did not begin in a casino. It began in childhood, growing up with an alcoholic father and leaving home at just nine years old. Like so many people, the pain started long before the addiction ever showed itself. Gambling would later become an escape, a place to numb, avoid, and survive wounds that had never fully healed.

For years, Mary lived a double life. By day, she was a respected executive leading teams and meeting deadlines. By night, she was trapped in the grip of slot machines, secrecy, emotional exhaustion, and despair. Her addiction strained her marriage, impacted her relationship with her daughter, and pushed her to a place where hope felt far away.

But this is not just a story about addiction.

It is a story about survival. About the moment pain became greater than denial. About walking into a Gamblers Anonymous meeting on July 1, 2011, and beginning a new life one day at a time.

This is an honest conversation about trauma, resilience, healing, and what it means to truly come back to life.

Please welcome Mary D.

Renée Siegel has spent over 40 years helping people heal, grow, and better understand themselves. As a mental health counselor and Enneagram coach, she also works closely with individuals and families impacted by gambling addiction.

In this episode, Renée shares how the Enneagram became a powerful tool in her practice, while also opening up about her personal experience with a gambling addict in her life. She speaks to the often-overlooked role of family in recovery, and how support, involvement, and understanding from loved ones can make all the difference.

This is a powerful conversation about awareness, connection, and what it really takes to begin the journey of healing.

In this episode, I sit down with Reeve L., whose story didn’t start with gambling, but with growing up in it.

He watched it tear his family apart and swore he would never become that person.

But years later, during a battle with cancer, gambling became his escape… and slowly turned into the very thing he once feared.

What followed was years of silence, isolation, and losing himself completely, until September 15, 2024, when after losing everything, he finally surrendered.

This is a conversation about what gambling really takes… and what it means to finally let go.

Father George A. spent his life guiding others through faith, offering strength, hope, and spiritual direction to those in need. But behind the collar and the calling, he was quietly fighting a battle of his own.

Today’s episode is an honest look at gambling addiction and recovery. Mason B. shares how gambling quietly took over his time, his work, his relationships, and his mental health, all while appearing functional on the outside. He opens up about secrecy, shame, bipolar disorder, and the constant pull to escape, numb, and chase more.

I wanted to share Mason’s story to show what recovery can look like in under a year just seven months, when someone commits fully, gets honest, and asks for help.