In this episode of Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma, Matt sits down with Daniel Ramson, known online as TalkToBigDan, for a raw, provocative and unapologetically direct conversation about recovery, responsibility and the limits of traditional services.

Dan charts his journey from partying with rock stars to being sectioned, surviving drug-induced psychosis, and navigating the family fallout that followed. Rejecting the disease model of addiction, he advocates instead for radical accountability, discipline, structure and ownership - an approach that has made him one of Europe’s most in-demand and controversial recovery coaches.

This conversation does not shy away from division. Dan pulls no punches, challenging assumptions about treatment, personal responsibility and what it actually takes to change your life. While his views are not universal, they are rooted firmly in lived experience and delivered with a level of honesty that forces reflection.

Whether you agree or disagree, this episode sparks vital debate around the future of recovery, the limits of conventional approaches, and the role of personal agency in rebuilding a meaningful life after addiction.

In this episode:

• The rise of TalkToBigDan and his tough-love philosophy
• Drug-induced psychosis, crisis points and being sectioned
• Family fallout, shame and rebuilding identity
• Why Dan rejects the disease model of addiction
• Radical accountability, discipline and structure as recovery tools
• The tension between lived experience and traditional services
• Debates that challenge and reshape how recovery is understood

Search terms: addiction recovery podcast UK, tough-love recovery, recovery coaching, drug-induced psychosis, lived experience stories, trauma and recovery, discipline and addiction.

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Browse the full archive at 👉 www.believeinpeoplepodcast.com

This podcast is a toolkit for recovery & resilience. Whether you’re in recovery or seeking to understand addiction, there’s something here for everyone.

If you want to change your direction, grow as a person, and live life to its full potential, Change Grow Live is here to help you. We’re here for you if you need help with challenges including drugs or alcohol, trouble with housing, domestic abuse, or your mental and physical wellbeing. Change Grow Live services are free and confidential. Click the link below to refer yourself to your local service.

https://www.changegrowlive.org/local-support/find-a-service

📩 Podcast Contact: [email protected]
🎵 Music: “Jonathan Tortoise” by Christopher Tait (Belle Ghoul / Electric Six)

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