The 1% in Recovery Successful Gamblers & Alcoholics Stopping Addiction

Text and Be Heard

Support the show

Recovery is Beautiful.   

Go Live Your Best Life!!

Facebook Group - Recovery Freedom Circle | Facebook

Your EQ is Your IQ
YouTube -    Life Is Wonderful   Hugo V

Recovery Freedom Circle
The System That Understands Recovery, Builds Character  and Helps People Have Better Relationships.
A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks
www.lifeiswonderful.love  


Instagram -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
TikTok -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
Pinterest -   Lifeiswonderful.Love
X -     LifeWonderLove
LinkedIn -   Hugo Vrsalovic    

LinkedIn -   The 1% in Recovery

Text and Be Heard

We explore the surprising parallels between pizza and recovery, using the iconic pizzas of New Haven, Connecticut as our inspiration. Through this unexpected metaphor, we reveal how the components of a great pizza—from burnt spots to golden crust, sauce, and cheese—mirror the essential elements of a successful recovery journey.

• The burnt spots on pizza represent our past—they must be acknowledged and accepted as part of what makes us who we are
• The perfectly cooked golden-brown crust symbolizes our progress in recovery—working the steps and finding serenity
• Different sauces represent the various relationships in our lives that add flavor and push us forward
• The cheese represents life's joys—hobbies, travel, family, pets—that make recovery worthwhile
• Recovery requires going through difficult times to reach your best life, just as pizza needs high heat to become delicious
• Your EQ is your IQ—you cannot outthink an emotional issue

Join our Facebook group, Recovery Freedom Circle, where you can discuss the steps, recovery, life goals, dreams, and find support for any struggles you're facing.

Support the show

Recovery is Beautiful.   

Go Live Your Best Life!!

Facebook Group - Recovery Freedom Circle | Facebook

Your EQ is Your IQ
YouTube -    Life Is Wonderful   Hugo V

Recovery Freedom Circle
The System That Understands Recovery, Builds Character  and Helps People Have Better Relationships.
A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks
www.lifeiswonderful.love  


Instagram -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
TikTok -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
Pinterest -   Lifeiswonderful.Love
X -     LifeWonderLove
LinkedIn -   Hugo Vrsalovic    

LinkedIn -   The 1% in Recovery

Text and Be Heard

Recovery from addiction takes many forms, but as our guest John G explains after 30 years without placing a bet, the journey follows distinct layers. First comes arresting the illness through changing daily behaviors and becoming accountable. The deeper work involves addressing character defects that drain serenity, making amends to those harmed, and developing a spiritual connection that sustains long-term recovery.

The digital age has dramatically transformed gambling addiction. What once required visiting a casino or calling a bookie now happens silently through smartphone screens, creating a new breed of gambler who's more isolated and depressed. College campuses have become ground zero for sports betting companies targeting young males through aggressive advertising and peer pressure. As John points out, "It's toxic, but it's intoxicating," especially for young people who haven't yet learned the value of earning and saving money.

Perhaps most alarming is the industry's promotion of live betting, which accelerates addiction by encouraging continuous play and chasing losses. This practice compresses what once took decades of addiction development into just a few years. The parallels to Big Tobacco are unmistakable—from targeting youth to denying harmful effects while hiding behind hollow "responsible gambling" messages. As John wisely observes, "Everyone thinks coming in that it's a gambling problem. They realize after a while it's a living problem." Ready to understand how recovery goes beyond just stopping the behavior? Listen now and discover what it takes to truly heal from gambling addiction.

Support the show

Recovery is Beautiful.   

Go Live Your Best Life!!

Facebook Group - Recovery Freedom Circle | Facebook

Your EQ is Your IQ
YouTube -    Life Is Wonderful   Hugo V

Recovery Freedom Circle
The System That Understands Recovery, Builds Character  and Helps People Have Better Relationships.
A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks
www.lifeiswonderful.love  


Instagram -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
TikTok -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
Pinterest -   Lifeiswonderful.Love
X -     LifeWonderLove
LinkedIn -   Hugo Vrsalovic    

LinkedIn -   The 1% in Recovery

Text and Be Heard

From rock bottom to keynote speaker, Ron's remarkable 32-year sobriety journey reveals the transformative power of recovery when proper foundations are laid. After treatment at Carrier Foundation, Ron followed crucial advice that changed everything: attending a meeting his very first day out and never leaving without knowing when his next meeting would be.

The magic of recovery lies not just in the program but in human connection. When Ron nervously attended his first meeting, he wasn't bombarded with recovery talk—instead, a member named Jimmy simply chatted with him about the New York Rangers. This moment of normalcy became a lifeline, creating a sense of belonging that's still strong decades later. Through small steps like coffee commitments and gradually sharing his experience, Ron rebuilt his shattered self-esteem, transforming from someone who "couldn't hold a job" into a successful leadership trainer running his own company for over 20 years.

What makes Ron's story so powerful is how recovery delivered on its promises. Dreams that seemed impossible during active addiction became beautiful realities—becoming a leadership trainer after admiring his ex-wife's career from the sidelines, enjoying 30 seasons as a Giants ticket holder, and experiencing the majesty of an African sunset with his wife. Standing on stage as a keynote speaker, Ron had a profound realization: none of these achievements would have happened without sobriety. His journey reminds us that recovery isn't just about stopping destructive behaviors—it's about creating a life so rich with meaning that returning to addiction loses all appeal. As Ron said while watching an African sunset with his wife: "It doesn't get better than this."

Support the show

Recovery is Beautiful.   

Go Live Your Best Life!!

Facebook Group - Recovery Freedom Circle | Facebook

Your EQ is Your IQ
YouTube -    Life Is Wonderful   Hugo V

Recovery Freedom Circle
The System That Understands Recovery, Builds Character  and Helps People Have Better Relationships.
A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks
www.lifeiswonderful.love  


Instagram -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
TikTok -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
Pinterest -   Lifeiswonderful.Love
X -     LifeWonderLove
LinkedIn -   Hugo Vrsalovic    

LinkedIn -   The 1% in Recovery

Text and Be Heard

Recent tax changes in the "big beautiful bill" affect how gambling winnings are taxed, but this misses the larger issue of gambling becoming a serious public health crisis in America. The gambling industry continues to profit while individuals chase the dream of easy money, often with devastating consequences for their financial stability and mental health.

• Gambling winnings can now be taxed at 100% while losses can only be deducted at 90%
• Professional gamblers considering relocation due to unfavorable tax laws
• Gamblers rarely consider tax implications when placing bets
• All gamblers believe the "big win" is just around the corner
• Gambling companies invest heavily in advertising to attract more players
• The house always maintains mathematical advantage over players
• Gambling products designed to increase betting frequency for higher profits
• Most compulsive gamblers have experienced a "big win" that reinforces their behavior
• The "dream world" of gambling creates unrealistic expectations of wealth without work
• Gambling addiction leads to debt, credit problems, foreclosure, and educational disruptions
• Gambling is becoming a significant public health and mental health issue
• State governments seek gambling revenue without acknowledging the social costs

Join our Facebook group "Recovery Freedom Circle" to learn about recovery, discuss the steps, and get support for achieving your goals. We focus on building character traits and spiritual principles to address underlying issues like self-esteem, insecurity, depression, and anxiety.

Support the show

Recovery is Beautiful.   

Go Live Your Best Life!!

Facebook Group - Recovery Freedom Circle | Facebook

Your EQ is Your IQ
YouTube -    Life Is Wonderful   Hugo V

Recovery Freedom Circle
The System That Understands Recovery, Builds Character  and Helps People Have Better Relationships.
A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks
www.lifeiswonderful.love  


Instagram -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
TikTok -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
Pinterest -   Lifeiswonderful.Love
X -     LifeWonderLove
LinkedIn -   Hugo Vrsalovic    

LinkedIn -   The 1% in Recovery

Text and Be Heard

We explore the concept of "orgasms" beyond the bedroom as metaphors for peak experiences of joy and contentment in everyday life. By understanding these intense feelings of pleasure, we can transform our approach to recovery and pursue greater emotional fulfillment across all areas of life.

• Orgasms represent intense feelings of joy and pleasure that can be experienced in many contexts beyond sex
• Physical intimacy produces oxytocin, but so do 20-second hugs, 6-second kisses, and skin-to-skin contact
• Food can create peak experiences of joy through extraordinary flavor combinations and culinary discoveries
• Exercise and physical activities can produce "sports orgasms" when you hit your stride or reach the zone
• Travel to new destinations can trigger overwhelming sensations of joy and contentment
• Professional accomplishments like landing contracts or launching projects can generate similar euphoric feelings
• True freedom comes from finding contentment in who you are, what you do, and who surrounds you
• Honest self-assessment forms the foundation for identifying and pursuing your sources of joy
• Life ultimately revolves around beliefs about God, experiences of love, and feelings about money and sex

Join our Facebook group Recovery Freedom Circle to share your experiences and discover more ways to find joy in recovery.

Support the show

Recovery is Beautiful.   

Go Live Your Best Life!!

Facebook Group - Recovery Freedom Circle | Facebook

Your EQ is Your IQ
YouTube -    Life Is Wonderful   Hugo V

Recovery Freedom Circle
The System That Understands Recovery, Builds Character  and Helps People Have Better Relationships.
A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks
www.lifeiswonderful.love  


Instagram -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
TikTok -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
Pinterest -   Lifeiswonderful.Love
X -     LifeWonderLove
LinkedIn -   Hugo Vrsalovic    

LinkedIn -   The 1% in Recovery

Text and Be Heard

"Healing is possible, but time alone won't heal trauma – emotional work does." This powerful insight frames our conversation with Jackie, who brings 28 years of sobriety and hard-won wisdom to the discussion of trauma recovery.

What happens when you've maintained your sobriety but still feel emotionally broken? Jackie illuminates the path many recovery journeys follow: first comes the "grace period" where simply being sober feels miraculous, followed by the inevitable surfacing of underlying trauma that originally drove the addiction. As she explains, "All of the reasons that we escaped reality are going to surface because we haven't healed any of them."

The conversation takes unexpected turns through lighthearted french fry preferences before diving deep into why facing our past is essential for true freedom. Jackie shares her journey through multiple 12-step programs, therapy, and internal family systems work, explaining how each step brought different pieces of healing. Her explanation of how childhood trauma creates protective "parts" that continue running our adult lives offers a profound framework for understanding seemingly irrational behaviors and reactions.

Most compelling is Jackie's perspective on generational healing. "In my family, I am probably the first person willing to look at any of it," she shares, illuminating how our willingness to heal stops patterns that might otherwise continue for generations. Her sister and mother's contrasting approaches to emotional pain demonstrate that while not everyone chooses healing, those who do create ripple effects of transformation.

Whether you're in recovery, supporting someone who is, or simply interested in emotional health, this episode offers compassionate insights about the courage it takes to heal. As Jackie reminds us, "Pay attention to what life is trying to get your attention on, because life is talking to you all the time." Let this conversation be one of those signs pointing toward your own healing journey.

Join our Facebook group Recovery Freedom Circle to connect with others walking similar paths of transformation.

Support the show

Recovery is Beautiful.   

Go Live Your Best Life!!

Facebook Group - Recovery Freedom Circle | Facebook

Your EQ is Your IQ
YouTube -    Life Is Wonderful   Hugo V

Recovery Freedom Circle
The System That Understands Recovery, Builds Character  and Helps People Have Better Relationships.
A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks
www.lifeiswonderful.love  


Instagram -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
TikTok -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
Pinterest -   Lifeiswonderful.Love
X -     LifeWonderLove
LinkedIn -   Hugo Vrsalovic    

LinkedIn -   The 1% in Recovery

Text and Be Heard

Spiritual retreats offer a transformative opportunity to strengthen the three relationships essential for recovery: with yourself, your higher power, and your recovery community. By unplugging from daily distractions, we create space for self-discovery, spiritual connection, and authentic relationships that sustain long-term recovery.

• Recovery and life are fundamentally about connection and relationships
• The relationship with yourself develops through quiet reflection, reading, and journaling
• Reading and writing produce more growth than just attending meetings and sharing
• Relationship with your higher power comes from letting go of control
• Connection with others in recovery provides the human help we all need
• Success includes mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial health
• Understanding others is more valuable than being understood
• Giving love freely results in receiving love tenfold in return

Join our Facebook group Recovery Freedom Circle where we focus on recovery, the steps, your goals, dreams, and provide a supportive community for any questions you might have.

Support the show

Recovery is Beautiful.   

Go Live Your Best Life!!

Facebook Group - Recovery Freedom Circle | Facebook

Your EQ is Your IQ
YouTube -    Life Is Wonderful   Hugo V

Recovery Freedom Circle
The System That Understands Recovery, Builds Character  and Helps People Have Better Relationships.
A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks
www.lifeiswonderful.love  


Instagram -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
TikTok -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
Pinterest -   Lifeiswonderful.Love
X -     LifeWonderLove
LinkedIn -   Hugo Vrsalovic    

LinkedIn -   The 1% in Recovery

Text and Be Heard

Elaine, Alcoholic Talks about Peace, Grief and Community.  Recovery Rocks!!!

24 Years in Recovery.  

LinkedIn:  Elaine Williams | LinkedIn  

Support the show

Recovery is Beautiful.   

Go Live Your Best Life!!

Facebook Group - Recovery Freedom Circle | Facebook

Your EQ is Your IQ
YouTube -    Life Is Wonderful   Hugo V

Recovery Freedom Circle
The System That Understands Recovery, Builds Character  and Helps People Have Better Relationships.
A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks
www.lifeiswonderful.love  


Instagram -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
TikTok -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
Pinterest -   Lifeiswonderful.Love
X -     LifeWonderLove
LinkedIn -   Hugo Vrsalovic    

LinkedIn -   The 1% in Recovery

Text and Be Heard

Live from Peace & Justice Memorial in Montgomery, AL!!  

Find Your Peace and Freedom.  Heal from our Past.  Embrace History and Your Story.

Support the show

Recovery is Beautiful.   

Go Live Your Best Life!!

Facebook Group - Recovery Freedom Circle | Facebook

Your EQ is Your IQ
YouTube -    Life Is Wonderful   Hugo V

Recovery Freedom Circle
The System That Understands Recovery, Builds Character  and Helps People Have Better Relationships.
A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks
www.lifeiswonderful.love  


Instagram -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
TikTok -  Lifeiswonderful.Love
Pinterest -   Lifeiswonderful.Love
X -     LifeWonderLove
LinkedIn -   Hugo Vrsalovic    

LinkedIn -   The 1% in Recovery