After being released from prison, Kyle Houston worked his way up from a minimum wage job to becoming the Vice President of a $2B publicly traded company. Today he joins me to discuss what he learned about work. We talk about the different motivations behind work, how work can become an escape and an addiction, and how flow state is different from the grind.

Instagram: @kyledeanhouston

Buy the book: https://www.amazon.ca/Patchwork-Junkie-Prison-Surviving-Redemption-ebook/dp/B08DRV17XD

Sponsor: https://www.responsible4recovery.com use code ADDICTIVEPOD for free access

Growing up with both parents recovering from alcoholism, Madeline avoided drinking until college. Alcohol quickly became a necessary social lubricant, until it began to have negative effects such as anxiety and hangovers. Madeline shares why she decided to quit, even though she does not identify as an “alcoholic”, and she shares why these labels may be irrelevant. 

Madeline's instagram: @happiestsober

Sponsor: Responsible4Recovery https://www.responsible4recovery.com use code ADDICTIVEPOD 

Tommy has a hell of a story. Alcohol, drugs, stealing, staring down the barrel of a shotgun, selling cans for crack, and ultimately, a spiritual experience that changed everything. This episode is about powerlessness, what does it mean, and where do you go from there. 

Buy Tommy's book:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737077701/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=9781737077701&linkCode=qs&qid=1621268883&s=books&sr=1-1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thats-what-junkies-do-thomas-figlioli/1139509286?ean=9781737077701

Sponsor of the Show: https://www.responsible4recovery.com Promo code ADDICTIVEPOD for a free month

Support the show! >> Patreon.com/addictivepod

What is gambling addiction? How do you recover? Alex answers these questions by sharing his story of getting hooked on roulette, and after years of financial loss and mental health decline, finally quitting. 

Alex instagram: @theinvisibleaddiction

Website: theinvisibleaddiction.com

Learn about the steps at Patreon.com/addictivepod

Hayley does not identify as an alcoholic or addict but quit drinking since it was damaging her life. This episode is for those that engage in addictive behaviors in more mild ways, but don’t consider themselves addicted. And if you are a type three crazy addict, give it a listen anyways because it is important to understand others in this recovery journey. My guest today was only 15 when she was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that affected her ability to walk. Drinking was how she escaped from this bad news, and she continued to numb out from life into her twenties before recognizing that alcohol was causing her depression. After trying out being alcohol free for a month, she decided that this was a better way of life, and never looked back. This story is about facing the hard facts of our life, giving ourselves time to heal, and looking on the past with a learner’s perspective.

Hayley's Instagram: @thisunwastedlife @1000hoursdry

You know that feeling, you’re at a party or getting together with some friends and a voice comes up, "what I just said sounded dumb", or "they probably think I’m weird." These insecurities, these fears and inner doubts drive many people into addiction. In this episode, Mary Stuart gives her strategy for how she overcame her own mind and no longer has any desire to drink or do drugs. She is the author of a new book, Living an Alcohol Free life YOUR way, and my first guest from Australia! 

Follow Mary at these links:

Insta: @marystuart_author

Web: marystuart.net.au

What if you had a great childhood? What if there isn’t any serious event that you can think of, is it possible to still develop an addiction? Corey Harrington answers this question, YES, it is still possible to have a normal childhood, become a star athlete, and then develop a drug problem. But after admitting he had a problem, my guest turned his life around and began to keep his promises, tough promises like finishing an Iron Man. This episode is full of hope for people who may not think they fit the addiction stereotype, but still wonder if they have a problem with substance use.

Follow Corey on Instagram @coreyharringtonanew

Free Roadmap to Keeping Promises https://mailchi.mp/9361e4f8c4b3/keeping-promises

My guest today has a masters in biology, and her science background gives her a unique approach to addiction recovery. What I love most about this episode is that we talk about emotional sobriety, a piece that is so often missed in discussions about recovery, how do we handle emotions once sober, how do we manage the rage, depression, and sadness that our brains are telling us to fix with just another drink? Find out on this episode, with Gill from the Sober Powered podcast.

Her insta: @sober.powered

Website: soberpowered.com

Joshua Shea joins me to talk about that topic that no one wants to talk about, porn addiction! Yes, you can be addicted to porn, and yes it can destroy your life just like alcohol or drug addiction. My guest today was in fact an alcoholic as well as a porn addict, but it was the porn addiction that brought the police knocking at his door, leading to his experience of rehab and recovery. In this episode we go in depth on the core issue of addiction, unresolved trauma, and what to do about it.

Find Joshua's books:

paddictrecovery.com

@paddictrecovery

Support the show:

Patreon.com/addictivepod

I am joined for the first time by a fellow Canadian! Craig Pothier grew up in Nova Scotia and his drinking led him to New York City and then Texas before he managed to quit. On this episode we talk about how to quit drinking, how to handle relapse, and how to enjoy life sober.  Craig shares practical exercises for how to increase self confidence, ditch those negative beliefs about yourself, and accept your inherent self worth. Be sure to check out his website! https://linktr.ee/minduncaged