Leonard left school in year 7. He couldn’t read or write at that stage. He was getting in and out of prison as a teenager and picked up his first drugs in between those sentences. As the addiction got serious, his crime got serious too. Leonard had been in A, D and H Division at Pentridge, Bendigo, Ballarat, Dhurringile and various other Correctional Centres, but the worst prison for him is ‘the prison of the mind’. 

His recovery journey began when Leonard was first introduced to meetings in 1989. Leonard went through multiple relapses, and in the final stint of his arrest for supplying drugs, Leonard got bail to a private rehab, where he stayed clean and recently just celebrated 17 years clean and sober.

Leonard is now the Founder and CEO of Vicdor Living Centre, a not-for-profit organisation that provides support for people in their recovery journey of substance abuse. 

http://www.leonardottone.com/vlc 

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au 

Johnny Lewis is well known as Australia’s greatest fight trainer, who has trained six World Boxing Champions. To me, he is a good old family friend that I have known forever since my childhood days. ‘I’m not a toughie, I’m a sook.’ - Johnny Lewis

John grew up in Erskineville, with the Erskineville Oval being his proud backyard. John never has a bad thing to say about anything. His intention is always to help, and that’s what he’s been doing his whole life, being a good friend, good trainer, good neighbour, great humanitarian and just a good human being as a whole. John thinks the Indigenous People are the best race on earth and always shows his love for them. 

Today at 78 years young, he is still training fighters with a passion and a champion mindset.  

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au 

On today’s episode, I had a really good chat with my friend and tattooist, Rhys Gordon, whom I have known for nearly 30 years. We discussed tattoos, our addiction in tattoos and our ‘beginnings’ before tattoos became the ‘normal’ form of self expression.  

I had a chance to extensively narrate my story of the journey to getting my bodysuit done. Tattoos actually opened up doors for me to meet many good people, people that have my complete respect and kept as friends in my heart. 

We discussed the different eras of tattoos, the tradition and modern tattoists, and the big names in the industry: Paul Braniff, Filip Leu, Ron Ackers, Mike Malone, Ed Hardy, Jack Rudy, Greg James, Freddy Corbin, Kari Barba… 

On another note, do yourself a favour, visit Little Tokyo in Sydney. Here, you will find the best tattoo studio in the world, and Rhys is the man - the only person that I have let tattoo myself and my family in the past 20 years. 

@littletokyo @rhysgordon

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au

Lucky Diamond Rich is well known as the most tattooed person on earth. This street artist, performer and Guinness World Records holder is one of the most recognisable person you ever come across. 

Lucky, an Indigenous Australian man, grew up around domestic violence. When a community circus group went to his school in West End, Brisbane to teach basic circus skills, he took to it like a duck to water. Lucky’s escapism was through arts and circus performing. 
 Lucky never discovered substances until the legal age of 18, when he found alcohol to be ‘the best thing ever’. His self esteem came from being accepted by people, when he performed, when people told him what he wanted to hear. He was a people pleaser. Lucky traveled around the world performing and partying hard for a long time, which gradually led him down to the path of destruction. 

In this episode, Lucky narrates his life story from his childhood, to the discovery of his passion in circus, drugs and tattoos, and finally the gift of recovery. Lucky is 6 years clean and sober. 

Instagram @theofficialluckyrich

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au
@thetruthabout_addiction

Disclaimer: Photo of Lucky was taken from Guinness World Records webpage

Mary remembers her father as the most dedicated, passionate doctor and a loving father. When her father went to AA to stop the drinking, Mary decided that she would do the same, stop drinking and partying as well. In her early 20s, Mary dreamt of being a lawyer, so here she is today, an absolutely beautiful, intelligent, thriving strong woman who is a highly respected barrister. She is also a devoted mental health and human rights advocate. 

Mary talks about her childhood, her family, about working on herself, finding spirituality and her healing journey, and most of all, being your authentic self.

Youtube @marykeaney
Instagram @likejimisaid

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au
@thetruthabout_addiction

‘Everybody in the fire brigade knew I was a junkie’. Dan Resnick disclosed his early days as a fire fighter who was always nodding off on heroin. From the age of 15, Dan was smoking pot everyday, then gradually acid and heroin were introduced into his life. Heroin was his love, and so ‘that started off his journey as a junkie’.

Dan shares some funny stories on his multiple detox attempts, doctor shopping for prescription drugs, and the one time when he was beguiled into being the voluntarily unpaid/unsuspected international drug mule. 

Dan is 35 years clean today. 

Former Black Power president Phil Paikea was born in a little country town, Helensville, when ‘respect was paramount’. His parents were hard working, they didn’t even have a Tv, life was hard, and there were a lot of domestic violence. Phil ran away from home at 16 years old and was introduced to alcohol, drugs and gang life. 

Phil now works to help other men living a violence free life. He is the Lead Facilitator of Safe Man Safe Family, and plays a vital role in It’s Not Ok campaigne and White Ribbon ride, promoting healthy masculinity and challenging stereotypical gender roles. He is ‘still very much in love’ with his beautiful wife Rowena after 44 years of marriage. Together they have fostered 243 children in the last 20 years.

Phil’s redemption story is raw and powerful.

Www.safemansafefamily.org.nz

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au

I met Michelle in 1982. Michelle was one of the founding members of recovery in Australia. She got clean in February 1979, after the love of her life, heroin, gave up on her. She first started using heroin at 12 years of age. At 14 years old, she left school. By the age of 15, young, bold and fearless, Michelle left Australia heading to South East Asia, where the best heroin was, because she wanted to just live in an opium den and use everyday for the rest of her life. That was her heaven.

Michelle articulately narrates her very colourful life, brimming with laughter, honesty and momentous events. 

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au

Logan had a perfect childhood. He excelled at baseball, though was really shy. When Logan first experienced his first drink, he felt like it took away the insecurity. Alcohol became the solution to his social life. As his alcoholism exasperated, Logan lost his baseball and college scholarships.

Logan wrote his very first song during his stay at a treatment centre, and performed it for the first time in front of the other recovering addicts. His rock bottom moment was when he was sitting outside a pawn shop contemplating selling his last valued possession, his guitar. But he couldn’t do it. He got up, walked away and checked into a treatment centre the next day.

Logan is now 6 years clean and sober.
@loganbrucemusic

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au

Richard has always made good use of his entrepreneurial skills since his younger years. Together with his brother, they built a chain of successful car care centres that were later sold on to become Ultratune. Following 17 years of active addiction, Richard has stayed substance free from November 1985 He has gone through AA, NA and Al-anon. ‘First 90 days I did 210 meetings. Next 2 years, I did 2 meetings a day.’ 

Richard established the first Hader Clinic in 1997, branching out to Queensland and overseas, which is now known as the most respected private rehabilitation centres in Australia. 

http://www.richardsmith.com.au/

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au