Adam's "Winter Routine," in 2021 is not productive. Ken Feldstein joins to talk about his unique path of recovery from substance abuse. Growing up in 1960's Long Island as a teenager caught up in heroin use and the legal trouble that followed, Ken was sent to an 18-month therapeutic program that would end up changing the direction of his entire life. He’s been clean for more than fifty years — without ever returning to any "traditional" recovery work.  And now, after retiring, and being inspired after watching someone close to him struggle with the same demons, he now works as a counselor helping others find their way. 

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Mike Sciandra didn’t fall into gambling — he was brought up in it. He placed his first bet at 9 years old, growing up in a family marked by addiction, chaos, and incarceration. What felt normal as a kid turned into decades of hustling, secrecy, and living a double life through his 20's and 30's. Keno bars. Casino nights. Pull Tabs. Whatever he could find. Today, Mike hasn’t placed a bet since December 2020, and he now serves as the Executive Director of the Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling, using his lived experience to help others break the cycle he grew up inside.

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Adam has his work cut out for him at his new job. Adam sits down with Janice Pierce, a financial planner who specializes in helping people rebuild their relationship with money — especially after chaos, addiction, and life transitions. Janice breaks down the behavioral side of finances: why we spend the way we do, how old habits follow us into recovery, and what it really takes to create a healthy plan that lasts. She also answers common questions about budgeting, debt, savings, and financial shame — then turns the conversation toward Adam’s own money habits, offering clarity, guidance, and a framework for long-term stability.

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Adam settles in to another new place. In Part 2 of the conversation with Brian Hatch, he talks about how he continued to battle with his gambling addiction. Suffering from relapse, loss, and the chaos that followed him across state lines, Brian eventually found a path that allowed him to rebuild his life, his recovery, and his purpose. Brian shares how his story became a lifeline as he launched the first podcast of its kind, and why he feels a responsibility to speak up for people still suffering. 

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Adam does a live Cold Open with his Cousin Casie. Adam sits down with Brian Hatch, host of All In: The Addicted Gambler’s Podcast — one of the original voices in the gambling recovery space. In Part 1 of a 2-Part conversation, Brian opens up about his first experiences gambling in college, the early warning signs he didn't take seriously, and how the cycle of relapse and recovery defined much of his twenties. 

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Deanna grew up in a strict religious home, under the weight of a tough mother and a childhood that she spent in isolation in her room. Decades later, while raising her daughter with her husband, she experienced loss and she found gambling. She never set foot in a casino, yet she lost millions. All in truck stops, bars, and restaurants. What started as a distraction became destruction. Deanna began borrowing and eventually embezzling from her husband’s business. When he passed away suddenly, the grief nearly consumed her. Her road through recovery hasn’t been a straight line — relapses, setbacks, and moments of reckoning — but today, she’s finally finding her footing with nearly 6 months since her last bet. She’s learning what true recovery feels like, what accountability means, and what it takes to rebuild when the world never seemed to fit.

Content Warning:

This episode contains discussions of suicide and mental health, which may be distressing for some listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling, please consider seeking support. Help is available. In the U.S., you can contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 — available 24/7.

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Adam accepts the job at MGM National Harbor. Saul Malek’s gambling story is short in years — but deep in impact. What began as casual sports betting in college quickly turned into chaos. In less than two years, Saul was juggling debt, hiding lies, and chasing losses through every bailout and bookie he could find. But after hitting his breaking point after a year of GA meetings while still gambling, Saul found hope and with the help of his sponsor, he rebuilt his life from the ground up. Today, Saul travels the country sharing his story, speaking to young people about gambling addiction and recovery. His work is a reminder that you don’t need decades of damage to justify getting help — you just need a moment of honesty.

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Adam and TMM Field Correspondent Alex, discuss the recent allegations surrounding NBA players and coaches involved in gambling scandals. They explore the implications of legalized sports betting, the historical context of gambling in sports, and the impact of gambling addiction on athletes. They also touch on media coverage, the NBA's struggle to maintain integrity while profiting from gambling, and the need for greater awareness and regulation in the industry. 

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In Part 2, I pick up where I left off on October 4, 2020. After a couple wins and being "up" early, the night turned into the kind of long and quiet downfall that defined so much of my gambling. Most of the footage is silent. Just me, a slot machine, and the delusion that this night was going to be different. As I watched it back five years later, I tried to put words to what was happening inside my head during those stretches of silence — the hope, the denial, the self-talk that kept me chasing. 

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On October 4 2020, during my last few weeks living in Las Vegas, I decided to record myself on what I planned to be my last night gambling. I wanted to capture what one of my typical nights in the casino really looked like. I filmed everything from start to finish — rambling to the camera about betting strategies, chasing losses, and dying a slow death at the Keno Slots.

Five years later, in 2025, I’m watching the footage -- some of which I am seeing for the first time. Nothing is edited or filtered. It’s a real, uncut look at how I thought, talked, and justified my actions while deep in addiction.

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