Before he could start his incredibly popular shoe empire, Steve Madden needed to overcome his own struggles with addiction. Inspired by the principles that guided his recovery – showing up, doing the next thing, acknowledging his mistakes - Steve built a business that would become known worldwide.

Throughout his life and career, Steve has recovered, relapsed, and recovered again; gone to prison; and came back with grit in spades. In the 13th episode of Heart of the Matter with Elizabeth Vargas, Steve reflects on the arc of his life, coming from a family with a history of substance use disorders, managing ADHD and, most importantly, learning to let go and to grow.

Related reading:

 After you listen, explore these resources from Partnership to End Addiction to learn more about the topics and themes discussed in this episode:

• Risk Factors for Addiction
• What Types of Addiction Treatment are Available?
• Substance Use + Mental Health: Your Guide to Addressing Co-occurring Disorders

To learn more:
Partnership to End Addiction website
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