Sydney McAllister — known on TikTok as Sober Syd — sits down with Louis Ruggiero for one of the rawest, most relatable recovery stories we’ve ever had on Nothing’s Off The Table.

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Today, I sit down with the man who saved my life, the legend of Alcoholics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous — Ronnie A.

A 35-year veteran of sobriety, a pro soccer phenom who played with the New York Cosmos, a man who’s survived addiction, destruction, loss, divorce, anxiety, gambling, and rebuilding from absolutely nothing… and came out on the other side spiritually rich, grateful, and living with purpose.

In this episode, Ronnie tells the full story — from being discovered at age 7 and sent to Manchester United…

to battling five addictions at once (alcohol, gambling, drugs, sex, and nicotine)…

to losing everything and living alone in a New York showroom for six years…

to becoming a father, a respected businessman, and one of the most impactful recovery figures in New York City.

Ronnie also breaks down:

    •    What addiction really is — and why most people never recover

    •    Why gambling is today’s cigarette industry — glamorized, marketed, deadly

    •    How he helped my parents stage the intervention that got me into rehab

    •    Why the 12 Steps are the ONLY thing that has ever saved either of our lives

    •    The brutal truth about relapse, ego, and why people die

    •    What he wishes every addict, alcoholic, and compulsive gambler understood right now

This is the most emotional, powerful, and truth-telling episode I’ve ever filmed.

If you’re struggling… if someone you love is struggling… or if you think you “just gamble casually”…

Watch this. It might save your life.

🔔 Real stories. Raw comebacks. Nothing’s off the table.

I sit down with people who’ve faced it all: addiction, loss, redemption and came out stronger. These are unfiltered conversations about resilience, recovery, and finding purpose again.

If you’re ready to take the first step in your recovery, reach out to Banyan Treatment Centers — the team I personally believe in. They’ve helped thousands of people rebuild their lives.

🎙️ Hosted by Louis Ruggiero 

📱 Instagram: @nothingsoffpod

About the Show

Hosted by Louis Ruggiero, a restaurateur, entrepreneur, and advocate for recovery, Nothing’s Off The Table is where real people share their real stories. From battling addiction to overcoming life’s toughest challenges, Louis and his guests uncover the moments that spark change and fuel unstoppable comebacks. Expect raw honesty, deep insights, and stories that hit home.

Meet Louis

Louis Ruggiero turned his life around after years of struggling with addiction, gambling, and substance abuse. Now, he’s on a mission to amplify voices — from celebrities to everyday survivors — sharing their journeys of grit, growth, and healing.

#AddictionRecovery #WeDoRecover #NothingsofftheTable #LouisRuggiero #RecoverOutLoud #ComebackStories #BanyanTreatmentCenters #BanyanxLouis #BanyanRecovery #BanyanPodcastPartner #RecoveryIsPossible #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #RecoveryCommunity 

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Disclaimer: The stories and views shared on Nothing’s Off The Table are personal experiences and not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult qualified professionals for guidance on personal matters.

Copyright: © Nothing’s Off The Table with Louis Ruggiero. All rights reserved. Feel free to share or embed episodes with proper credit and a link to our official pages.

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What happens when a $5 bet turns into a full-blown gambling addiction?

In this powerful episode of Nothing’s Off the Table with Louis Ruggiero, LJ sits down with Rob, one of the loudest voices online exposing the predatory world of sports betting and the mental destruction caused by compulsive gambling.

Rob opens up about how it all began — $5 fantasy bets in high school that spiraled into tens of thousands lost on FanDuel, DraftKings, and illegal bookies. From betting on Chinese ping pong at 3AM to losing everything on a casino bathroom floor in Paris, his story is a raw reminder that you never win against the house.

Louis also shares his own painful moments — stealing checks, chasing losses, crying in casinos — and how both men found recovery through honesty, accountability, and helping others.

This episode pulls no punches on:

    ⁃    The truth about sports betting apps and predatory marketing

    ⁃    The psychology behind compulsive gambling & chasing the rush

    ⁃    The destruction of families, finances, and self-worth

    ⁃    The real path to recovery, one day at a time

If you or someone you know is struggling, you’re not alone. Reach out. There’s a better way to live.

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From the outside, Juliet Warner had it all — a beautiful family, four kids, a loving husband, and the picture-perfect life. But behind the smiles and the Palm Beach backdrop, she was quietly unraveling. After years of sobriety and a successful life as a mom and wife, Juliette thought she was “cured.” One glass of wine turned into blackout nights… until one horrifying day in the Bahamas changed everything forever.

In this raw and unfiltered conversation with Louis Ruggiero on Nothing’s Off The Table, Juliet shares her unthinkable journey from PTA mom to heroin addict, and the powerful comeback that has made her a voice for mothers in recovery around the world.

She opens up about:

    •    Growing up in an affluent family, hiding pain behind perfection

    •    The first time she tried OxyContin and how it changed her life forever

    •    Living a double life — from corporate offices to the streets of Philadelphia

    •    Shooting heroin for the first time and losing all fear

    •    Her first attempt at sobriety — and the pink cloud that didn’t last

    •    Years of relapse, shame, and self-destruction

    •    Becoming a mother and finally finding purpose

    •    The devastating relapse that led her to lose her kids during a blackout in the Bahamas

    •    Her husband’s unconditional love and the moment she decided to surrender

    •    How she rebuilt her faith, found God again, and used her voice to inspire thousands on TikTok

Juliet’s  story is more than addiction — it’s a reminder that recovery isn’t about perfection. It’s about getting back up again, no matter how many times you fall. It’s about grace, faith, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her children.

Louis and Juliet dive deep into what true recovery looks like, what happens when ego replaces humility, and how relapse can become the greatest teacher of all.

This episode will move you, challenge you, and remind you that no matter how dark life gets, you are never too far gone to start over.

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What happens when gambling becomes deadlier than drugs?

In this raw, unfiltered episode of Nothing’s Off the Table with Louis Ruggiero, Chicago native Joe Cannon opens up about his 12-year gambling spiral — from $50 bets to risking $150,000 on a single game, chasing losses across five bookies, and losing $580,000 in just 10 days.

Joe’s story isn’t about money — it’s about survival.He shares how sports betting apps like FanDuel, DraftKings, and Caesars prey on vulnerable young men, how the dopamine rush mimics drug addiction, and how gambling drove him closer to suicide than opioids or alcohol ever did.

From hiding bets while holding his newborn daughter’s bottle…To sitting in a Chicago apartment wondering if the pipes above him could hold his weight — Joe’s brutal honesty will shake you to your core.

This episode exposes the dark truth about America’s gambling epidemic, the predatory tactics of major sportsbooks, and the silent crisis destroying millions of families behind the bright lights of “responsible gaming” ads.

Watch now to hear:

How gambling addiction destroys lives in silence

The moment Joe’s family found out and saved his life

Why self-exclusion isn’t enough to stop the spiral

How to rebuild your life after losing everything

Why recovery is possible — no matter how far you’ve fallen

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What would make a straight-A student, loving husband, and father of two paint his face black, put on a Bob Marley wig, grab a gun, and start robbing bodegas in Newark, New Jersey?

For Bo Joseph, it wasn’t greed. It was gambling — the invisible addiction that nearly took everything.

In this jaw-dropping episode of Nothing’s Off the Table, host Louis Ruggiero sits down with Bo, the author of An American Loser, for one of the most shocking, brutally honest comeback stories ever told. From being minutes away from abortion to building a $20-million business empire, Bo’s journey is a rollercoaster of chaos, crime, desperation, and redemption.

Before the money, before the mob threats, and long before success, Bo was a teenager just trying to save his family’s home. What started with $5 handball games in the schoolyard turned into a compulsive gambling spiral that left him owing hundreds of thousands of dollars to violent bookies and loan sharks. When the debts piled up, he stole, scammed, and lied — and when that wasn’t enough, he crossed the line most people never could.

“I painted my face black, put on a Bob Marley wig, and robbed bodegas to pay off my gambling debts.”

Bo’s story gets darker: mobsters beat him in public, his wife was terrorized, and his daughter was handed a note at school that said, “Next time, she won’t come home.”

That was his breaking point.

What happened next was a moment of pure transformation — a decision that changed his life forever. From that night on, Bo swore he would never gamble again. He started from nothing — sleeping in his mother’s pink childhood bedroom, working minimum-wage jobs, rebuilding his integrity piece by piece.

Now, decades later, Bo is a respected businessman, husband, and father again — living proof that even the darkest rock bottom can lead to redemption if you’re willing to face the truth.

This conversation isn’t just about gambling. It’s about the human condition — addiction, survival, forgiveness, and rebirth.

If you’ve ever battled demons, chased losses, or wondered how far desperation can push a person — this episode will shake you to your core.

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Buckle up for a no-holds-barred episode as Louis sits down with J-Mac, a Boston street kid turned graffiti artist and recovery warrior. From stealing at 8 to shooting heroin by 21, J-Mac’s life was a whirlwind of drugs, high-speed chases, and heartbreak. Witnessing domestic violence at 6, growing up with an addicted mom, and chasing the rush of graffiti and opiates, his story is as real as it gets.

But this ain’t just a sob story. J-Mac clawed his way out of addiction’s grip, turning his street art into a powerful voice for hope. With nearly 9 years sober, he’s painting murals, running groups at treatment centers, and helping others rise from the ashes. From dodging cops on Revere Beach to losing friends to overdoses, J-Mac’s journey is a gut-punch of pain, relapse, and redemption.

Louis and J-Mac dive deep into the chaos of addiction, the power of recovery, and why speaking your truth is the ultimate weapon against demons. Whether you’re fighting addiction, mental health struggles, or just life’s bullshit, this episode will hit you in the feels and leave you inspired.

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She was beaten at six, sexually abused by her stepfather, and abandoned by her mother.

By her 20s, she was trapped in addiction — living behind the mask of success while dying inside.

Today, Marci Hopkins is 10 years sober, a TV host, author, and advocate helping women find healing through faith, forgiveness, and recovery.

In this powerful and emotional episode of Nothing’s Off the Table, Louis “LJ” Ruggiero sits down with Marci to unpack her journey — from the darkest corners of childhood trauma to the light of sobriety and purpose.

“Once you surrender, life becomes so much more beautiful.” — Marci Hopkins

What You’ll Hear:

The trauma that started it all — and how she survived it

The night of her DUI and the moment she surrendered

Healing the wounds of her childhood and breaking generational cycles

The truth about recovery vs. abstinence

Finding God and spiritual freedom through surrender

Honest talk about parenting, shame, and forgiveness

This isn’t just another recovery story — it’s a roadmap to redemption, faith, and freedom.

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In this explosive episode of Nothing’s Off the Table, Louis Ruggiero sits down with Mathew Bowyer — the infamous bookmaker tied to Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter and a man whose life spiraled into the extremes of compulsive gambling, high-stakes bookmaking, federal indictments, and staggering casino losses.

Bowyer reveals:

How he went from hustling as a teenager to running one of the biggest bookmaking operations in the country.

The insane Vegas nights where he won $3.2M in 48 minutes—only to lose $13M at Resorts World.

His connection to the Ohtani scandal, wire transfers, and how the feds finally came crashing through his doors.

The dark psychology of gambling: why losing often feels more addictive than winning.

Raw confessions about addiction, family destruction, and recovery—and what it really takes to break free.

This isn’t just about sports betting scandals. It’s about the rush, the ruin, and the razor’s edge between fortune and self-destruction. If you’ve ever wondered how gambling addiction can take down anyone—from everyday hustlers to celebrity insiders—this is the story you need to hear.

Watch until the end to hear Mathew’s unfiltered truth and Louis’s powerful reflections as two compulsive gamblers face the realities of recovery.

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This episode of Nothing’s Off the Table will leave you speechless. Jenn opens up about losing both of her parents as a teenager, falling into addiction, and marrying a man whose choices nearly destroyed her family. From watching her husband get arrested on Christmas Eve in front of her children, to paying off hundreds of thousands in judgments, to almost losing everything—including her will to live—Jenn’s journey is raw, unfiltered, and unforgettable.

But this isn’t just a story of pain. It’s a story of resilience and redemption. Jenn shares how she fought her way through the darkness, raised three kids alone, built a successful business from scratch, and reclaimed her life in sobriety.

If you’ve ever doubted whether recovery is possible—or whether you can rise again after your world falls apart—this conversation is the proof you need.

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