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193 - Vince has been to 10+ treatment centers - What will be different this time?

Real Recovery Talk

Release Date: 10/14/2021

544: Big Book Study: How It Works: Part 2 show art 544: Big Book Study: How It Works: Part 2

Real Recovery Talk

Do you have a family member/loved one who struggles with addiction?:  In today’s episode, Erik takes us through the second half of How It Works from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.  Treatment Prep Guide:  SoberLink:  Join our Big Book Study!  Join our FREE FB Support group!:  Download our free guides!:  Tom IG:  Ben IG:  RRT IG: https://www.instagram.com/realrecoverytalkpodcast/

info_outline 543: I Shouldn’t Be Alive... 8 Years Sober: Destiny's Story show art 543: I Shouldn’t Be Alive... 8 Years Sober: Destiny's Story

Real Recovery Talk

Do you have a family member/loved one who struggles with addiction?:  In this episode, we sit down with our friend Destiny, who just celebrated eight years of continuous sobriety! Destiny shares her incredible journey — from the depths of addiction to a life filled with purpose, hope, and service. We talk about what it really takes to stay sober long-term, how her mindset has evolved over the years, and the ways she continues to grow in her recovery. Whether you’re brand new to sobriety or years into the journey, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration. Treatment Prep...

info_outline 542: Stop Doubting Yourself: Pastor Todd Mullins: Don't Let Doubt Take You Out show art 542: Stop Doubting Yourself: Pastor Todd Mullins: Don't Let Doubt Take You Out

Real Recovery Talk

Do you have a family member/loved one who struggles with addiction?:  DONT LET DOUBT TAKE YOU OUT: Christ Fellowship: https://www.christfellowship.church/ In this episode, I’m joined by Ryan Laabs and Pastor Todd Mullins, lead pastor of Christ Fellowship Church here in South Florida. Pastor Todd shares the story behind his new book Don’t Let Doubt Take You Out - and how doubt shows up in our addictions, recovery journeys, and everyday life. We all opened up about our own experiences with self-doubt: how it creeps in, how it can pull us off track, and what it takes to break...

info_outline 541: Big Book Study: How It Works Part 1 show art 541: Big Book Study: How It Works Part 1

Real Recovery Talk

Do you have a family member/loved one who struggles with addiction?:  In today’s episode, Erik takes us through the first half of How It Works from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. This is one of the most read and quoted sections in all of AA — but do people really understand what it’s saying? Erik breaks it down line by line, shares how it applied to his own recovery, and calls out some common ways people misinterpret this chapter. If you’ve ever wondered why “rigorous honesty” is so emphasized — or if you’ve gotten hung up on words like “spiritual awakening” —...

info_outline 540: Mental Health Medications: Do They Really Work? show art 540: Mental Health Medications: Do They Really Work?

Real Recovery Talk

Do you have a family member/loved one who struggles with addiction?:  In this episode, Tom, Ben, and Dr. Tamanini sit down for a real conversation about antidepressants. We break down common questions like: Do they really work? Should people in sobriety take them? Are they overprescribed? Dr. Tambini brings her clinical experience to the table, and we talk openly about what we’ve seen in the addiction and recovery world when it comes to these medications. Whether you’ve taken antidepressants yourself, know someone who has, or are just curious about their role in mental health and...

info_outline 539: Why Men’s Mental Health Still Gets Ignored; AA is 90 YEARS OLD show art 539: Why Men’s Mental Health Still Gets Ignored; AA is 90 YEARS OLD

Real Recovery Talk

Do you have a family member/loved one who struggles with addiction?: Treatment Prep Guide: SoberLink:  Join our Big Book Study!  Join our FREE FB Support group!:  Download our free guides!:  Tom IG: https://www.instagram.com/realrecoverytalktom/ Ben IG: https://www.instagram.com/realrecoverytalkben/ RRT IG: https://www.instagram.com/realrecoverytalkpodcast/ In this episode of Real Recovery Talk, Tom Conrad and Benjamin B. discuss the impactful history and personal influence of Alcoholics Anonymous, the significance of Men's Mental Health Month, and their own experiences...

info_outline 538: Big Book Study: We Agnostics: Part 2 show art 538: Big Book Study: We Agnostics: Part 2

Real Recovery Talk

Family Reconnect Waitlist:  In this episode, we dive deeper into We Agnostics, continuing the conversation around developing a relationship with a Power greater than ourselves. This section of the chapter challenges us to look at our past beliefs—or lack thereof—and how those ideas may have blocked us from getting sober. We break down the spiritual logic laid out in the Big Book, discuss how fear and ego can keep us stuck, and explore what it really means to be open-minded when it comes to spirituality in recovery. Whether you’re new to the steps or revisiting them, this part of...

info_outline 537: From Heroin in the Hospital to 8 Years Sober – Josh’s Story of Redemption show art 537: From Heroin in the Hospital to 8 Years Sober – Josh’s Story of Redemption

Real Recovery Talk

Family Reconnect Waitlist:  In this episode of Real Recovery Talk, Tom Conrad, Benjamin B, and their guest, Josh, discuss Josh's eight-year sobriety journey. They dive into topics such as geographical change sparked by divine intervention, how life continues to challenge sobriety, and the significant impact of a spiritual journey. 00:00 Introduction of the Episode and Guests 00:21 Josh's Sobriety Journey and Key Moments 00:58 Sponsor Segment - Soberlink 02:29 Introductions Continued 03:42 Discussion on the Reality of Sobriety 14:31 Josh's Experience in Sober Living 17:42 The Importance of...

info_outline 536: He Recovered from a TERRIBLE OPIOID ADDICTION! show art 536: He Recovered from a TERRIBLE OPIOID ADDICTION!

Real Recovery Talk

Family Reconnect Waitlist: In this episode, we’re joined by Kevin Lanning, host of The Rise Above Podcast, who shares his powerful story of recovery after nearly a decade of battling opiate addiction. Now with 7½ years clean, Kevin opens up about what it truly took for him to achieve long-term sobriety — from hitting bottom to finding purpose through service and connection. Kevin talks in detail about how working with others has been the driving force behind his recovery and how The Rise Above Podcast has helped him build meaningful relationships, spark honest conversations, and stay...

info_outline 535: Big Book Study Week 9: We Agnostics: Part 1 show art 535: Big Book Study Week 9: We Agnostics: Part 1

Real Recovery Talk

Family Reconnect Waitlist:  In Week 9 of our Big Book Study, we dive into the first half of We Agnostics — one of the most pivotal and misunderstood chapters in Alcoholics Anonymous. This section speaks directly to those who struggle with the idea of a Higher Power, offering both challenge and invitation. We break down how the Big Book addresses resistance, doubt, and past experiences with religion, and why belief doesn’t have to come all at once — or look any certain way. If you’ve ever thought, “I want recovery, but I’m not sure about all this God stuff,” this is the...

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In today's episode, Ben and I talk with Vince, a 25-year-old recovering addict from Philadelphia. He stole a bottle of vodka and drank the entire bottle in sixth grade. In the summer of his freshman year of high school, Vince started smoking pot. Cocaine became a weekend sports celebration during his junior year of high school. Vince became an addict after his team coach gave him a prescription narcotic drug in his second college year.

Vince was involved in sports as early as he could remember. His family consisted of three sisters, one of the older and two of them younger than him. Both of his parents were supportive of him and good, hard-working people. "Growing up, I was instilled with morals and values." He was brought up to respect elders, women, and to have good social manners.

"I remember going to this fight in third grade. Everybody started cursing and fighting. Immediately after that, I said my first curse word, then I went home and started watching fighting videos." He isn't sure if this one incident brought him down a negative road, but his life was very different after this experience. The next year in fourth grade, he ended up getting kicked out of school for fighting. "I was fighting and cursing and doing things kids that age shouldn't be doing."

He felt a purpose playing sports as he was always asked to play with the older kids in the next league up. "Everything on the outside just mattered so much, and I thought that was who I was. I thought that I was based on all external things." However, if anything went wrong, he immediately turned to anger and aggression, which he remembers his father modeling for him at an early age.

His school discipline record was horrible. However, the school let him slide because of his athletic abilities. Vince remembers not having any consequences for fighting during his high school years. This enabled him to continue this behavior, along with smoking pot with his friends.

Listen in as Vince tells his story of how he lost his scholarship to Rutgers, what happened when he became addicted to opiate drugs, and his multiple attempts at getting sober.

At Rock Recovery Center, we take a humanistic approach to recovery, teaching our clients how to live independently in a sober world. We care about the success and safety of each and every one of our clients from the moment they step into our center to the future of their well-being.

Check out my new website where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery.

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Show Notes:

  • [03:09] Vince talks about his past experiences growing up in Philadelphia.
  • [07:11] His first experience drinking in sixth grade.
  • [13:33] Social acceptance and drug culture.
  • [15:21] Personal identity associated with career for men.
  • [18:25] Vince had his first experience with opiate drugs his senior year in high school.
  • [19:45] He started stealing from his family to buy more opiate drugs.
  • [25:11] The “Florida Shuffle” moving on from the treatment facility to another facility.
  • [28:40] Ben talks about the incredible recovery culture in Florida.
  • [33:10] Why Vince having his daughter wasn’t enough to keep him sober.
  • [37:01] Sobriety and addiction and how these two can easily interchange. 
  • [40:13] What is different for Vince in this recovery process?
  • [43:42] His biggest fears for the recovery process.
  • [45:27] Vince’s spiritual AA experience.

Episode Links and Resources