Welcome back to Sober Town! This week, host King 13 (Debs) sits down with Andrew J. Minuto, author of Fatally Resilient, for a raw and honest conversation about addiction, recovery, and resilience.
Andrew opens up about his childhood move from Brooklyn to Las Vegas, the emotional isolation that planted the seeds of his addiction, and the four attempts at recovery it took to finally find lasting sobriety. He shares the devastating loss of both parents within months of each other, a painful divorce, serious health struggles including sepsis, and the custody battle for his daughter — and how he came out the other side stronger, more self-validated, and finally free from needing others to tell him who to be.
Together, Andrew and Debs dig into themes of self-worth, the difference between sobriety and true recovery, the importance of community and support, and why humility is the key to never repeating the same mistakes twice.
If you or someone you love is struggling, this episode is a powerful reminder: you are not alone, and it's never too late to turn your past into your greatest strength.
🎧 Grab Andrew's book Fatally Resilient on Amazon, Apple Books, and audiobook platforms. 📩 Connect with Andrew on Instagram: @andrew.minuto
For most of my life, I was searching for what recovery would ultimately give me, only without realizing that's what I was doing. Actively avoiding the recovery community, I looked for it in achievement, relationships, career success, and countless attempts to outrun adversity, but nothing could fill the void I was trying to escape.
Everything changed when recovery itself became the foundation instead of the destination.
My addiction started in college and quickly became a problem until a collective family effort arrested it. However, learning that both of my parents were terminally ill several years later sent me on a downward spiral, ultimately ending in divorce and every conceivable consequence. These were the precipitating events that propelled me into recovery. Since then, my life has been defined by rebuilding rather than surviving. I would later face two separate diagnoses of testicular cancer, discovering that resilience isn't something you're born with—it's something you build one decision at a time.
Professionally, I've served as a special education teacher, Director of Operations for an inpatient substance abuse facility, and now work as an independent health insurance broker. I'm also the author of Fatally Resilient, a memoir that explores grief, adversity, resilience, and the transformative power of choosing growth over surrender.
Today, my passion is helping others recognize that recovery isn't simply about breaking free from what holds us back—it's about building a life so meaningful that we no longer want to escape it.
Deborah Battista aka King 13 began hosting podcasts not long after Sobertown launched. With their aligned values & passion to help others, Deborah changed career paths and became a qualified counsellor & established her own practice Counselling For Wellness. Deborah credits connection & sharing with likeminded folk as the foundation to maintaining her sobriety to date. Her holistic client-centered approach, active listening, collaborating and knowledge of useful tools will help you work out the best way to handle the challenges of life & addiction. If you would like a complimentary 'get to know you' zoom email Deborah to arrange a time.
Deborah.battista17 @gmail.com
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