Adam previews the beginning of the end with some clips from his past.   With addiction and recovery in her family, Jodie Nealley had her own struggles with alcohol until her late 30's. She stopped drinking and had years sober when she developed a gambling problem at the age of 50. This led to a two-year spiral that cost her hundreds of thousands of dollars, her relationships, and eventually her freedom. From that rockiest of rock bottoms, she found recovery. Now 17 years from her last bet, she is a leader in the space as the Director of Recovery Services at the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health, using her lived experience to help those who are still struggling.

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Adam and Hillary drive cross country. Adam sits down with Odessa Dwarika, Chief Programs Officer for the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health. Drawing from more than 30 years in public health and seven years at MCGH, Odessa shares insights on why gambling often goes underfunded compared to drugs and alcohol, the overlooked links between gambling and domestic violence, and the role organizations like MCGH play in prevention and recovery. Together, they discuss what it will take — from individuals, communities, and society at large — to address the rise of gambling-related harm and create a healthier future.

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Adam says goodbye to MGM Springfield and consolidates his debt. Inspired by today's guest, Adam starts a research project. Rob Bumbaco is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Mental Coach, former Division 1 athlete, and is the COO of The Better Institute. He sits down with Adam to discuss how it was founded, his work specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as the unique risks athletes face, and the urgent need for awareness and support in an era of widespread legalization.

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Adam begins to prepare for another move. In Part 2 of Daniel's story, he arrives in Australia and it feels like a second chance. His credit was reset, his slate was clean, and for a while he stayed away from the casino. But in 2017, a new temptation appeared — Bitcoin. What looked like opportunity became another trap, drawing him into secrecy, lies, and manipulation to fund his trading. Even after surrendering control of his finances, he found ways to keep going. Recovery wasn’t linear. Daniel stumbled again even after treatment, but since 2021, with the help of many he has been able to stay away from all forms of gambling — and today he is using his story and YouTube Channel to help others break free.

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Adam starts looking for a way out. Daniel Bullen, host of the Addicted Recovery YouTube channel, sits down with Adam to share his powerful story of gambling addiction and recovery. Daniel began gambling at just 12 years old — horses, sports betting, and those infamous UK slot machines quickly pulled him into a destructive cycle. Over the years it had ruined relationships, as he found himself drowning in debt, dodging collectors, and even working for free to pay off what he owed his boss. As his addiction deepened, alcohol entered the picture, leading to the first of many rock bottoms — a serious drunk-driving accident that nearly cost him everything.

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Adam can't even enjoy a 33-0 Patriots Win. Adam sits down with Linda, a mother of five and grandmother of 12, who for nearly 30 years, gambled "once or twice a year for 50 bucks." But in her mid-50s, after major traumas shook her world, casual play spiraled into compulsion. Soon, Linda was stealing from family to fund her addiction, drowning in shame, and even considering self-harm because she couldn’t stop no matter how hard she tried. It wasn't until she stumbled upon The Broke Girl Society and attended their Zoom meetings that she had found some hope. Now 15 months into her recovery, she is a fixture on the BGS Zoom Meetings -- staying connected, showing up, and leaning into growth. 

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Deep in debt, Adam tries "The System," at the craps table. Adam sits down with Dan Spencer, Principal Consultant for EPIC Global Solutions. Dan shares his powerful journey through gambling addiction. From childhood exposure to betting, to forty-hour poker weeks, to a cliff’s edge where he nearly ended his life, Dan’s story shows the devastating pull of gambling addiction and the hope that recovery can bring. Through 12-Step Meetings, therapy, and the unwavering support of loved ones, Dan finally found recovery. Today, he channels his experience into his work with EPIC, leading prevention and education efforts to ensure others don’t follow the same path.

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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In Part 2 of Kim and Kurt’s story, the road to recovery gets even harder before it gets better. Kurt tries rehab and therapy, but nothing seems to stick—his gambling escalates, his drug use intensifies, and his parents are forced to face the painful truth: sometimes love means stepping back and letting consequences take hold. For Kurt, those consequences came in the form of an arrest and a weekend in jail.

But this breaking point became a turning point. After a second rehab—10 months of hard work and healing—Kurt finally found a path forward. Today, he’s thriving in Gamblers Anonymous, building friendships, overcoming social anxiety, and proving that even when you’re the youngest person in the room by decades, recovery is still possible.

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Adam has a disatrous 72 hours in Las Vegas. In the first part of a two-part conversation, Adam sits down with Kurt, a 22-year-old compulsive gambler in recovery, and his mother Kim. At just 11 years old, Kurt discovered a world hidden inside video games — where buying and trading skins quickly blurred into online gambling. What started as play soon escalated into winning thousands of dollars in middle school, sneaking bets during class, and hiding an addiction that his mom thought was nothing more than gaming. By the time he got to college, severe social anxiety and isolation had him living in filth, gambling for hours on end, even during therapy sessions meant to help him recover.

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Adam saves money...to gamble. In part two of Adam’s conversation with Dr. Nathan Smith, Executive Director of Research at Kindbridge Research Institute, the focus shifts to his work with veterans and military members and the fight to better understand problem gambling. Dr. Smith shares how Kindbridge is expanding research efforts far beyond what’s been done in the past for Veterans, why the lived experience community is important to the cause, and the urgent need for more studies in this field. He tackles big questions—like what it will take to secure greater funding for gambling research—and offers insight into how data, advocacy, and awareness can shape the future of prevention and treatment.

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