Tony’s story is a whirlwind of loss, chaos, identity struggles, and years spent chasing anything that would make him feel whole. Growing up without a father, he searched for belonging everywhere except within himself. That search eventually pulled him into a fast-moving lifestyle that brought consequences, arrests, and years of feeling stuck in a cycle he couldn’t escape.

Everything changed when a moment in detox — triggered by a story on TV — cracked him open and forced him to confront the life he’d built. That spark became surrender, and surrender became a complete transformation. Tony rebuilt his life from the ground up: he found purpose, lost over 100 pounds, restored his driver’s license after 15 years, and today he works at the CCAR New Haven Recovery Community Center, helping others find the hope he once needed.

His story is proof that discipline, purpose, and community can pull anyone out of the darkest places — and into a life they never believed they deserved.

0:00 — Introductions
0:24 — Growing Up Without a Father
1:02 — Early Behaviors & Searching for Belonging
2:20 — First Experiences With Substances
3:10 — Feeling “Not Enough” as a Kid
4:12 — Losing Control in Young Adulthood
5:07 — Slipping Into a Dangerous Lifestyle
6:05 — Trouble, Consequences & Prison Time
7:20 — The Cycle of Relapse
8:32 — The Breaking Point
9:43 — Spiritual Awakening in Detox
10:58 — Starting Over at Davenport House
12:18 — Beginning His Fitness Journey
13:12 — Losing 100 Pounds
14:10 — Food, Obsession & Filling the Void
15:22 — Finding Purpose at CCAR
16:30 — Coaching Others in Recovery
17:50 — Living With Hope & Discipline
18:45 — Gratitude, Growth & Becoming a Better Man
20:00 — Rebuilding His Life Step by Step
22:00 — Getting His License Back After 15 Years
23:40 — Working, Volunteering & Relearning Life
25:00 — Big Wins & Small Steps Forward
26:40 — Advice for Someone in Their First 24 Hours

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Mark Mongiardo shares the shocking truth behind years of being misunderstood, judged, and even criminally charged — all caused by a rare condition called Auto-Brewery Syndrome (ABS). Without drinking a drop of alcohol, his body would suddenly produce dangerously high blood-alcohol levels, leaving him intoxicated, confused, and fighting for his freedom and reputation.

Mark opens up about losing his teaching career, facing felony prison time, and being labeled an alcoholic by coworkers and even family — all while knowing deep down that something wasn’t right. His emotional diagnosis came only after two DWIs, a glucose challenge test, and relentless research by his mother and aunt. Once he finally had the truth, he began the long, painful journey of rebuilding his life from scratch.

Through strict diet changes, nonstop monitoring, and unbelievable family support, Mark has become a voice for others silently suffering from ABS. His vulnerability, advocacy, and message of E + R = O — Event + Response = Outcomemake this episode one of the most gripping stories we've ever shared.

00:00 – What Is Auto Brewery Syndrome?
00:36 – Mark’s Symptoms and Early Confusion
02:00 – Blood Alcohol Spikes Without Drinking
03:20 – Two DWIs While Sober
05:50 – The Turning Point: Something Was Wrong
07:25 – Arrested Sober… Again
09:00 – Living With Constant Accusations
10:15 – The Search for Answers Begins
12:00 – The Glucose Challenge Test
13:35 – The Emotional Diagnosis
15:10 – Family Misunderstandings and Strain
17:00 – Years of Being Labeled an Alcoholic
19:00 – Learning to Manage Daily Flares
21:00 – Fears About His Children and Genetics
24:00 – Rebuilding His Life From Nothing
27:00 – Losing His Career and Home
29:00 – Starting Over With E+R=O
30:20 – The Strict Zero-Carb, Zero-Sugar Lifestyle
32:00 – Support Groups and Advocacy Work
34:00 – Finding Community and Spreading Awareness

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Ryan’s story is a powerful journey through early substance use, deep loss, incarceration, and ultimately finding real recovery. From growing up seeking acceptance, to losing his closest friend at 16, to years of cycling between numbness and despair, Ryan opens up about the turning points that shifted his life. He reflects on the moment he almost gave up, how connection inside prison planted the first seeds of recovery, and how service, honesty, and community helped him rebuild his life. Today, with six months in recovery, a thriving small business, and strong family relationships, Ryan talks about healing, purpose, and the simple daily actions that keep him grounded. His message to anyone struggling: you’re not alone, and recovery is absolutely possible.

00:00 – Intro & Recovery Dates
00:52 – How They First Met
01:19 – Reuniting Inside AA Meetings
02:07 – Ryan’s Childhood
03:26 – Meeting the Friend Who Shaped Everything
04:00 – First Time Trying to “Feel Something”
05:00 – Becoming the “Go-To” Guy
05:36 – The Night Everything Changed
07:27 – Grief He Never Faced
08:30 – Homeless at 18
09:30 – Crossing Lines & Getting Arrested
10:19 – “Recovery Curious”
12:43 – Hearing the 15-Year Offer
14:17 – The Serenity Prayer Moment
16:05 – Tier 4 Program & Real Change
17:15 – Coming Home With Purpose
18:44 – Finding Community Again
19:58 – Being Around Recovery vs. In Recovery
21:42 – Substitution & Spiraling
22:28 – Losing Himself Again
23:08 – New Year’s at His Friend’s Grave
24:21 – Choosing Recovery For Real
25:00 – Returning to CCAR
25:46 – Life in Recovery Today
26:43 – Rebuilding Family Bonds
27:27 – Growing His Landscaping Business
28:20 – Daily Program & Service
28:59 – “If I Can Do It, Anyone Can”
29:25 – Advice for the First 24 Hours

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Tyler shares his raw and emotional journey, detailing a chaotic childhood where addiction was the family norm. He recounts the shocking progression of his own drug use, the moment his mother introduced him to heroin, and how his father was the first person to put a needle in his arm. After years of the "jail, rehab, rehab, jail" cycle, hear how the loss of his 'perfect' life and a moment of desperation led him to a permanent path of recovery. Now sober and working at the very treatment center that saved him, Tyler discusses finding his identity, the power of fellowship, and how he navigated the grief of losing both parents while staying clean.

[00:00] Podcast Introduction and Tyler's Clean Date (October 1st, 2023) 

[00:00:45] The Host's Initial Doubt: "He's not gonna make it" 

[00:02:29] Finding God and a "Physically New Person" 

[00:03:30] Growing Up in a Vicious Cycle of Family Addiction My Mother Gave Me My First Perk; Sniffing Heroin Together 

[00:07:28] "My Father Was the First Person to Put a Needle in My Arm"

[00:07:47] Playing the Shitty Cards: Winning with the Disease of Addiction 

[00:09:26] The 10-Year Cycle: Jail, Rehab, Rehab, Jail 

[00:11:37] The Gift of Desperation: Leaving the "White Picket Fence" 

[00:14:13] The Genetic Factor of Opiate Addiction

[00:15:55] Identity Crisis: Who Am I Without Drugs? 

[00:17:59] Life in Recovery & The Power of Fellowship (NA/AA) 

[00:20:18] Faking the Funk: Why Half-Stepping the Work Fails

[00:30:52] Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes 

[00:31:35] Grieving in Sobriety: Losing Both Parents 

[00:34:33] Final Thought: It's Easier to Keep Your Seat Than to Get It Back 

[00:36:06] Conclusion and Gratitude

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From shining shoes at the Connecticut State Capitol to surviving gang violence, addiction, and multiple prison sentences—Luis Flores has lived through it all. In this gripping episode of Recovery Matters, Luis opens up about his descent into Hartford’s drug trade, the pain of losing friends, and the night five guns were pointed at him—and didn’t go off. But his story doesn’t end in tragedy. After years trapped in addiction and incarceration, Luis found faith, redemption, and purpose through writing. Today, he’s the author of Don’t Judge Me, a raw memoir soon to be adapted into a movie. His transformation is proof that no matter how far you’ve fallen, recovery—and even greatness—is still possible.

----Across the Web----

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At 21 years old, Lucas has never had a legal drink—yet he’s already survived alcohol addiction, Kratom dependence, and the brutal withdrawals that followed. His story begins in a chaotic household where nightly drinking and fighting were the norm. By 19, Lucas was mixing alcohol with pills, throwing up blood, and blacking out behind the wheel. That night at home became his rock bottom—and the start of change.

But when he stopped drinking, Kratom slid in to fill the void. Sold right next to the energy drinks at gas stations, it seemed harmless—“all natural.” In reality, it’s a partial opioid agonist that hooks into the brain’s mu receptors. Lucas thought it was helping him stay functional—until he couldn’t go a day without it. 

Lucas shares what recovery looks like when you do it on your own, the painful truth about “functional” addiction, and how community ultimately helped him heal. If you or someone you love is experimenting with Kratom, this episode is a wake-up call.

00:00–Meet Lucas (21 )& early sobriety dates

00:00:53–Rock-bottom night at mom’s house

00:02:40–Vomiting blood, drunk driving, half-handle a day

00:04:06–From quitting alcohol to “dabbling” in kratom

00:05:00–What kratom is; 7-OH & partial opioid agonist

00:08:20–Gas-station access, concentrates, no ID check

00:11:16–The “functional” phase (school/work on kratom)

00:12:44–Extracts arms race:“Feel Free,” kava mix, escalation

00:16:03–Physical dependence & morning withdrawals

00:21:13–Choosing to quit & what helped (and what didn’t)

00:24:58–Early-recovery anxiety & doing it alone vs.support

00:29:15–Finding community (AA/RCO) as a young person

00:31:42–Day-one advice:“It gets better one day at a time”

----Across the Web----

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For years, musician Matthew Check drank to hide pain, pressure, and perfectionism—until one brutal morning on an old wooden floor made him face the truth. In this Recovery Matters episode, Matthew opens up about the spiral of blackout drinking, the shame that followed, and the quiet relief of his first AA meeting. He shares how he rebuilt his life through connection, spirituality, and creative expression—and why August 14, 2014 marks the day he truly began living in recovery. His story proves that recovery isn’t the end of fun—it’s the start of freedom.

Purchase Matthew's new book here: https://a.co/d/ePFvVgD

00:00 Intro – Matthew Check’s Early Years  

02:15 College Drinking & Blackouts  

05:40 The Morning That Changed Everything  

08:10 Finding Sobriety on August 14, 2014  

11:05 Early AA Meetings & Emotional Healing  

15:20 Music, Spirituality & Recovery  

19:45 Final Reflections & Hope for Others

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TJ sits down with Meghan Blanchette, a woman whose journey through addiction, relapse, and self-discovery offers a powerful look at what long-term recovery truly means.

Meghan shares how her first sobriety date in 2015 marked the beginning of a new chapter—but a prescribed medication after surgery tested her honesty and recovery principles. She chose to reset her sobriety date, a humbling act that redefined her integrity and commitment to healing. Her story opens an important conversation about prescribed medication, relapse, and the moral choices that often accompany recovery.

Growing up as an only child who moved frequently, Meghan reflects on how instability and self-blame laid early groundwork for addiction. Introduced to alcohol in middle school and later to opiates through a prescription, her dependency quickly escalated. By her twenties, Meghan was battling homelessness, withdrawal, and despair—until a moment of clarity walking along a busy road pushed her to seek help.

Calling her mother and entering detox through Connecticut’s 2-1-1 system became the turning point. Meghan went from living in a tent to completing multiple recovery programs—detox, 90-day treatment, halfway housing, and eventually independent living—each step teaching her life skills, self-respect, and community connection.

Today, Meghan thrives as a speaker, coach, and the chairwoman of the board at InterCommunity, the very organization that once helped her rebuild her life. Through her platform FiercelyMeghan.com, she empowers others with lessons in emotional intelligence, self-worth, and recovery principles that apply far beyond addiction.

----Across the Web----

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Host TJ sits down with author Ian Fee, who shares his raw and unfiltered journey through addiction, family struggles, and the path to lasting recovery. From taking his first sip of alcohol at just one year old, to believing booze was his “superpower,” Ian’s story is filled with both chaos and redemption.

He opens up about how alcohol shaped his childhood, his career, and his relationships—including two failed marriages and painful letters from his children describing life with a “party dad.” Ian also recounts his turning point in rehab, where he realized that true change had to start with himself.

Now eight years sober, Ian talks about rebuilding his life through gratitude, community, and daily habits. He shares practical advice for those in early recovery, the importance of your “circle,” and how he transformed his pain into purpose by writing his book Wild Ride to Sobriety. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking hope, resilience, and proof that it’s never too late to change.

Ian's book Wild Ride To Sobriety: A Transformation from Drunken Oblivion to Profound Clarity can be purchased on Amazon: https://a.co/d/due58IO 

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction

00:34 – Growing up in an alcohol-centered home

02:00 – Childhood party life & first jobs serving drinks

03:40 – College years: booze as a “superpower”

05:00 – Alcohol and career success in the hotel industry

05:43 – Marriage, kids, and the cost of addiction

07:14 – Stacking “rock bottoms” and going to rehab

08:30 – Turning point: realizing change starts with self

09:19 – Emotional impact: letters from his children

11:06 – Life after rehab & the power of community

13:39 – Learning to feel emotions & forgive himself

15:29 – Writing Wild Ride to Sobriety

17:11 – Building transformation through daily habits

18:26 – The practice of gratitude

19:16 – Advice for the first 24 hours of recovery

20:44 – The importance of your circle & relationships

21:09 – Book launch & where to find it

22:26 – Setting small, achievable goals in recovery

23:18 – Closing thoughts & inspiration

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In this episode of Recovery Matters, TJ sits down with Matt, a young person in recovery who now works as a Young People and Family Services Coordinator with CCAR. Matt opens up about his journey, beginning with his first treatment at just 13 years old. Despite having parents in recovery, he struggled deeply with drugs, arrests, and time in the juvenile justice system.

He shares the progression of his addiction—weed and pills leading to heroin, crack, and near-fatal lows including homelessness, suicidal thoughts, and severe health complications. A turning point came when he entered detox and long-term treatment programs, where structure and community support helped him rebuild his life.

Matt also talks about relapse, rebuilding quickly, and how building a strong network of sober friends became crucial to his recovery. His story highlights both the tragedy of losing friends to overdose and the joy of discovering a fulfilling sober life—travel, motorcycles, relationships, and most importantly, fatherhood. Becoming a dad gave Matt a new sense of purpose, grounding his recovery in love and responsibility.

00:00 – Introductions

00:36 – First Treatment at 13

05:00 – Escalating Addiction

07:00 – First Arrests & Juvenile Justice

08:00 – Hitting Rock Bottom at 18

10:00 – Sober House & Overdose Scare

13:00 – Relapse After Heartbreak

15:00 – Waterbury & Heavy Addiction

17:30 – Final Turning Point

19:00 – Structured Recovery & Torrington Move

22:00 – Slip & Quick Return to Recovery

23:00 – Building a New Life

25:00 – Meeting His Fiancée & Becoming a Father

29:00 – Parenthood in Recovery

34:00 – Advice for Newcomers

----Across the Web----

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