581: Should You Date in Early Recovery? (This Answer Will Surprise You)
Real Recovery Talk
Do you have a family member/loved one struggling with addiction? Join Our FREE WEBINAR! Getting into a relationship in early recovery can feel amazing… until it quietly becomes the thing that takes you out. In this episode, we talk honestly about why early-recovery relationships are so intense, why they so often end badly, and what actually makes a relationship healthy in long-term sobriety. And we finally share something big with the Real Recovery Talk family: Ben and Destiny are in a committed relationship now. 🎙❤️ We use their story as a real-life example of what can work in...
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580: Top 5 Tips To Getting Your Loved One Sober (You Won't Believe This!)
Real Recovery Talk
Do you have a family member/loved one struggling with addiction? Join Our FREE WEBINAR! Learn how you can stop focusing on your addict loved one and RECLAIM your life back! Join our SKOOL Group: MindPump Media: Join our Big Book Study! Tom IG: Ben IG: RRT IG: https://www.instagram.com/realrecoverytalkpodcast/
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579: How To Get Sober In Your 40's (It's Not What You Think!)
Real Recovery Talk
Do you have a family member/loved one struggling with addiction? J oin Our FREE WEBINAR! A lot of people think if they haven’t gotten sober by 40, it’s too late. That the damage is done. The truth? It’s not too late — but it is different. In this episode, we break down what it really takes to get sober after 40. From rebuilding your health and relationships to rediscovering your purpose, this conversation is raw, practical, and full of hope. We talk about how to stop comparing your journey to everyone else’s, how to get your body and mind back after years of neglect, and how faith...
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578: How Do You Forgive an Addict? Omar El Takrori
Real Recovery Talk
Do you have a family member/loved one struggling with addiction? Join Our FREE WEBINAR! When your own dad struggles with addiction, it changes everything. In this episode, Omar shares the painful truth about growing up with an alcoholic father — the fear, the confusion, and the faith that eventually brought healing. We talk about what addiction does to families, how faith can transform even the darkest situations, and why true recovery goes far beyond just “getting sober.” Omar opens up about his father’s alcoholism, his mother’s strength, and how God used all of it to shape...
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577: Adopted at Birth, Addicted by 12: Rachel’s Fight for Freedom
Real Recovery Talk
Do you have a family member/loved one struggling with addiction? Join Our FREE WEBINAR! When Rachel was adopted as a baby, she didn’t understand why she felt so different. By age 12, she was already using drugs — searching for a sense of belonging she never felt. For the next 26 years, addiction took everything from her — her health, her peace, her identity. But through it all, she discovered a truth that changed everything In this episode, Rachel shares her powerful story of addiction, adoption, and redemption — from childhood confusion and rebellion to finally finding purpose,...
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576: Why Addicts Lie, Guilt-Trip, and Play the Victim (and HOW TO stop it)
Real Recovery Talk
Do you have a family member/loved one struggling with addiction? Join Our FREE WEBINAR! You’ve probably heard the promises: “I swear I’ll change.” “You don’t trust me?” “If you loved me, you’d help me.” These are phrases many families hear over and over again — and it’s exhausting. In this video, we break down how addicts manipulate the ones who love them most, why it happens, and what you can do to stop getting caught in the emotional trap. This isn’t about blaming or shaming — it’s about understanding the psychology behind addict manipulation so you can finally...
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575: Why You Keep Using Even When You Don’t Want To
Real Recovery Talk
🥃 Do you have a family member/loved one struggling with addiction? Join Our FREE WEBINAR! Why do we keep going back to drugs or alcohol — even when we swear we’re done? In this episode of Real Recovery Talk, Tom, Ben, and Jeff dive deep into the uncomfortable truth: for many, addiction becomes worship. It’s not just about the substances — it’s about what we’re running from, what we’re trying to fill, and the void that only a higher power or spiritual awakening can heal. Jeff, from Reprieve Treatment Center, shares his personal story of overdose, survival, and discovering...
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574: What to Expect in Alcohol Rehab (Step by Step Guide)
Real Recovery Talk
Do you have a family member/loved one struggling with addiction? Join our next FREE webinar! We are discussing alcohol treatment. What to know and how to MAKE SURE you get what you need. Contact me: Join our FREE FB Support group!: https://www.facebook.com/groups/realrecoverytalk Download our free guides!: https://www.realrecoverytalk.com/guides
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573: Should You Date in Early Sobriety? Ali shares the truth!
Real Recovery Talk
Do you have a family member/loved one srtuggling with addiction? 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/
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572: I Stayed Sober 15 Year: Here’s the Methods I Still Use
Real Recovery Talk
Do you have a family member/loved one srtuggling with addiction? Fifteen years. Zero drinks. Thousands of days in recovery. In this special episode of Real Recovery Talk, Tom reflects on what it takes to reach a milestone few ever see: 15 years of continuous sobriety. 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“I have a place that I was comfortable with that I was already a part of for my recovery.” -Reed
Today, Ben and I chatted with Reed, who tells his story about how his addiction started in college. Raised locally in Palm Beach Gardens, Reed had a good life growing up with loving parents who gave him many opportunities in life. However, with his parents being conservative regarding drinking, Reed didn’t get drugs and alcohol from his parents.
Experimenting with Drugs
While in high school, Reed did drink and smoke weed, but drugs and alcohol weren’t a big problem at this point in his life. However, when he went to the University of Mississippi, he started to heavily get into drugs and alcohol. In his second year at university, his roommate sold multiple forms of hard drugs.
With easy access to drugs and alcohol, it was easy for Reed to become addicted to his personality. “That opened the door of my first year of solid, heavy drug use.” When his house was raided by the DEA, and his roommate passed away from an overdose, Reed was charged, went to jail, and left school.
Talking to Your Kids About Drugs and Alcohol
Reed agrees with us when we talk about being overly strict with your kids about drugs and alcohol, especially in teen years. Instead of telling them not to do anything, be open and frank with your children and have discussions with them about the adverse effects of drugs and alcohol.
When kids aren’t allowed to do anything and have a very restrictive home life, they will generally go out and start to party hard out of control because they were too sheltered in high school.
Check out our website, where you can download episodes with helpful information for those in recovery and their families. Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!
Show Highlights
[06:04] Starting by experimenting with drugs and alcohol during his high school years.
[09:48] Reed’s progression from college drinking and drugs to DEA raids.
[21:27] Why being a helicopter parent can persuade your kids to do drugs.
[32:19] Entering into his first treatment program.
[41:27] Needing a geographical change depends on your home life.
[50:11] We discuss the pros and cons of methadone.
[57:46] Speaking to other through AA to educate college students on drugs and alcohol.
Episode Links and Resources
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Ideas for a show? Email us tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com
Podcast editing and show notes by Pro Podcast Solutions