The Modern Meeting

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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Adam gets a promotion and hits another jackpot. Adam sits down with Dr. Nathan Smith, Executive Director of Research at Kindbridge Research Institute. Growing up as an affected loved one — his uncle’s struggle with substance use brought him into AA meetings as a young boy, offering support from the sidelines. Following in his parents’ footsteps as academics, he dedicated his career to understanding addiction, with a special focus on gambling. In Part 1 of a 2-part conversation, he breaks down how addiction is defined, explains the importance of peer-reviewed research, and shares insights from his early work in the gambling addiction space.

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Adam is joined by his friend Eric. From meeting in 2017 at Twin River while Adam dealt to Eric on the poker table, to starting a pandemic podcast together, they had developed a strong bond over a short period of time. But over the years, Adam’s gambling addiction would test — and nearly break — that bond through loans, lies, and manipulation. We get to hear Eric’s side of the story, as they revisit unforgettable moments, hard-learned lessons, and the impact addiction can have on friendship. 

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Adam is NOT a Disney Adult...He's a Disney Enthusiast. Eric is a compulsive gambler in recovery. He recounts his early gambling experiences, the role his sexuality played in shaping his addiction, and the deep financial and emotional consequences that followed. Eric highlights the life-saving value of community and connection in recovery. Adam and Eric discuss the challenges within Gamblers Anonymous, including its need to evolve and become more inclusive. Eric also shares the personal growth he's experienced through the 12 steps — and how the process helped him reclaim his life.

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Adam rings in the New Year and this time he's not alone. Kitty Martz is the Executive Director of Voices of Problem Gambling Recovery. She's also someone with lived experience and is the Founder of The Lived Experience Collective. After starting over three different times, Kitty has found peace and purpose working in recovery. Adam and Kitty talk about what it means to be "clean now" and how important it is to find your own path. Kitty and Adam explore harm-reduction vs. abstinence and the different ways to combat the expanding accessibility of gambling. 

Adam meets Glenn and The Buffallllooooo Machine. Katrina Arroyo has been in gambling services since 2016. She is currently the Manager of Clinical Programs for the PGNO (Problem Gambling Network of Ohio). Adam sits down with Katrina as she opens up about breaking the stigma, advocating for greater awareness around gambling harm, and what it means to truly show up for her clients. They also discuss what makes Gambling different than Drugs or Alcohol, her style and approach as a clinician without lived experience, and how the young demographic is particularly at risk. 

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Adam finds a new home away from home. Fresh off the National Conference on Problem Gambling (NCPG) 2025, Adam returns with some strong reflections—and serious concerns. From dwindling GA attendance to gambling operators skirting advertising guidelines, the conversation gets real about what's broken in the current recovery landscape. Stephen and Ken help unpack Adam's conversations with advocates, specialists, and lived-experience voices from across the country—and asks a big question: What does the future of recovery look like, and how can we evolve GA to meet the moment?

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