When Brian fell off a ladder, it wasn’t just his ankle that broke—it was the illusion of control. In this episode, Brian shares how surrender became his turning point: from chasing escape through alcohol and cocaine to finding freedom in honesty, humility, and service. This is a story about learning to let go, live fully, and find wholeness one day at a time.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Speaker Meeting wherever you get your podcasts.

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📞 Struggling? Call the SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) — free, 24/7, and confidential.

John Burke is a writer, performer, firefighter, and father from Jersey City, New Jersey. With nearly eight years sober, John reflects on the journey that brought him here—from discovering alcohol as a teenager at punk shows, to the toxic relationships and dark moments that nearly ended it all, to the night he decided it was time to change.

In this conversation, John opens up about the role community, therapy, and fatherhood have played in his recovery, and how staying sober is as much about resilience as it is about surrender. We talk about the Wheel of Fortune reversed, the cycles of change, and what it means to keep showing up even when the ground feels like it’s shifting beneath you.

John’s story is raw, honest, and full of the hard-won wisdom that reminds us: no matter where you are in your journey the wheel always keeps turning.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Speaker Meeting wherever you get your podcasts.

📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @gemineyesproductions

💬 Want to share your story? Visit gemineyesproductions.com/thespeakermeeting

📞 Struggling? Call the SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)—free, 24/7, and confidential.

Madeleine’s story is proof that recovery is not just survival—it’s reinvention. From early struggles with substances and years of living on the street, to moments of despair and near-death, she found herself wishing on a star for change. That wish carried her into recovery, where she discovered acceptance, community, and a new sense of self as a trans woman. Today, she works at Serenity Star Recovery, leads Rainbows for Recovery, and continues to rebuild her life with purpose, service, and love.

This conversation, guided by The Star card, reminds us that hope is always possible—even when it feels out of reach.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Speaker Meeting wherever you get your podcasts.

📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @gemineyesproductions

💬 Want to share your story? Visit gemineyesproductions.com/thespeakermeeting

📞 Struggling? Call the SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)—free, 24/7, and confidential.

In this episode of The Speaker Meeting, Liz T. reflects on how recovery and Buddhism intertwined to help her rebuild her life. Her story moves from risk-taking rebellion and the allure of substances, to health scares, legal troubles, and the moment she realized she needed to live differently.

The card that opened our conversation was the Ace of Pentacles—a symbol of new beginnings and planting seeds for growth. For Liz, it was the perfect mirror: each step in sobriety became an act of cultivation, tending to a life rooted in patience, clarity, and intention.

Through Buddhist practice, recovery groups, and the support of community, Liz has found one year of sobriety—and a new way forward. Her story is about relapse and resilience, self-forgiveness and spiritual practice, and the reminder that with care and nurturing, even the smallest seed can flourish.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Speaker Meeting wherever you get your podcasts.

📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @gemineyesproductions

💬 Want to share your story? Visit gemineyesproductions.com/thespeakermeeting

📞 Struggling? Call the SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)—free, 24/7, and confidential.

In this powerful episode, Gil shares his journey from the depths of addiction to five years of sobriety, reflecting on the family history, cultural influences, and mental health challenges that shaped his relationship with alcohol. From a volatile childhood in a Latino household to years of self-medicating across the globe, Gil’s story spans continents, career highs and lows, and the pandemic’s isolating grip. His turning point came with an arduous journey from Asia to a rehab program in Puebla, Mexico—an experience that not only addressed his addiction but uncovered and treated the depression fueling it. Today, Gil’s life is rooted in authenticity, intentional friendships, service, and simple joys like gardening, travel, and caring for his three rescue dogs.

The card pulled for this conversation was the Six of Swords Reversed, a card that reflects the difficulty of letting go of the past and stepping fully into new beginnings. Gil’s story mirrors this energy, as he navigated the pull of old habits, the pain of fractured relationships, and the discomfort of change—ultimately learning to move forward with purpose and self-awareness, even when the waters were rough.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Speaker Meeting wherever you get your podcasts.

📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @gemineyesproductions

💬 Want to share your story? Visit gemineyesproductions.com/thespeakermeeting

📞 Struggling? Call the SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)—free, 24/7, and confidential.

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, J.C. Clark shares her powerful journey from addiction to rediscovery of purpose. After years of losing herself in the sex industry and the lifestyle that comes with it, J.C. found refuge and direction at Serenity Star Recovery, a program that offered more than sobriety: it gave her community, honesty, and a sense of belonging. From early struggles to becoming a house manager and eventually joining the board, J.C.’s story is a testament to what becomes possible when we allow ourselves to be seen, supported, and of service. This is a conversation about resilience, identity, and the healing power of showing up for others while learning to show up for yourself.

The card pulled for this episode was the Ace of Swords Reversed, representing the challenge of cutting through confusion, finding clarity, and finally voicing the truth. That energy lives at the heart of Jaycee’s journey—where breakthroughs don’t come easily, but come all the same.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Speaker Meeting wherever you get your podcasts.

📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @gemineyesproductions

💬 Want to share your story? Visit gemineyesproductions.com/thespeakermeeting

📞 Struggling? Call the SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)—free, 24/7, and confidential.

Chris C. got sober in 1995—but his recovery didn’t end there. In this honest and illuminating conversation, Chris reflects on what it means to go deeper after decades in recovery. From substance addiction to compulsive behaviors and unresolved trauma, he shares how sobriety opened the door—but it was therapy, meditation, and Buddhism that helped him walk through it.

We pulled the Two of Pentacles for this episode, a card about balance, adaptability, and the delicate dance of holding it all together. That energy shows up in Chris’s story as he shares how he’s learned to juggle emotional healing, aging, spiritual exploration, and service to others—without losing himself in the process.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Speaker Meeting wherever you get your podcasts.

📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @gemineyesproductions

💬 Want to share your story? Visit gemineyesproductions.com/thespeakermeeting

📞 Struggling? Call the SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)—free, 24/7, and confidential.

In this raw and deeply personal episode, Lobo shares their story of survival, recovery, and reclaiming sacred space. From the intense highs of early party culture to the harrowing depths of isolation, betrayal, and near-death experiences, Lobo walks us through a journey that is both spiritual and deeply human. We explore what it means to really confront the illusions we once lived in—and how painful clarity can lead to real transformation.

The card pulled for this conversation was The Moon Reversed, a symbol of illusions breaking apart and truth rising to the surface. That energy echoes throughout the episode as Lobo recounts how the fog of addiction gave way to a brutal, but necessary, awakening.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Speaker Meeting wherever you get your podcasts.

📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @gemineyesproductions

💬 Want to share your story? Visit gemineyesproductions.com/thespeakermeeting

📞 Struggling? Call the SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)—free, 24/7, and confidential.

What happens when the drive to succeed becomes the mask we wear to survive? In this episode, Justin H. shares his journey from overachieving executive to burned-out addict, and how surrendering to the process of recovery helped him reconnect with himself—and his purpose. Now, as the Executive Director of an LGBTQ+ youth shelter, Justin uses the tools he gained in recovery to help others find their way out.

The Six of Pentacles guided this conversation, and its theme of mutual support echoed throughout—from the people who helped Justin get sober, to the youth he now serves with compassion and care. It’s a powerful reminder that in giving, we receive. And in community, we heal.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Speaker Meeting wherever you get your podcasts.

📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @gemineyesproductions

💬 Want to share your story? Visit gemineyesproductions.com/thespeakermeeting

📞 Struggling? Call the SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)—free, 24/7, and confidential.

In this episode of The Speaker Meeting, Ben B. shares his powerful story of survival, transformation, and reclaiming his voice after decades of addiction. From early childhood trauma and secrecy to experiencing euphoric highs that masked deep pain, Ben takes us through his years of substance use, houselessness, incarceration, and ultimately, his radical shift into a life of purpose, service, and leadership. Now the CEO of a San Antonio-based nonprofit, Ben speaks candidly about the moment he almost lost his life—and the choice he made not to.

The card pulled for this conversation was the Seven of Swords, a symbol of secrecy, survival, and the masks we wear to get by. That energy shows up in every twist of Ben’s journey, from childhood silence to street hustles to the courageous decision to live with integrity and nothing left to hide.

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📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @gemineyesproductions

💬 Want to share your story? Visit gemineyesproductions.com/thespeakermeeting

📞 Struggling? Call the SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)—free, 24/7, and confidential.