In this powerful episode of Across the Table, James Finochio sits down for a raw and unfiltered conversation about addiction, incarceration, and the difficult road toward recovery and renewal. This discussion goes beyond headlines and stereotypes to uncover the human side of choices, consequences, and healing.
Together, they explore what it means to rebuild life after prison—balancing the weight of past decisions in the drug trade with the ongoing work of recovery, parenting, and personal growth. The conversation touches on the stigma of media representation, the struggle of feeling like a burden, and the importance of living in the present moment as a tool for resilience and mental health.
With honesty and vulnerability, the episode highlights how uncomfortable experiences can spark growth, why empathy is essential in understanding incarceration, and how finding purpose becomes a turning point in life after addiction.
💡 Key Topics Covered
- Addiction, recovery, and the lifelong process of healing
- Life after incarceration and the challenges of re-entry
- Navigating relationships, parenthood, and family dynamics
- The consequences of choices in the drug trade
- Media misrepresentation and its personal impact
- Anxiety, presence, and the pursuit of mental health
- Finding purpose and meaning through personal growth
💬 Memorable Quotes
⚖️ “I don’t trust the black market at all.”
💭 “I always feel like a burden to everybody.”
🌱 “You need to be like that.”
🕒 Episode Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
07:52 Addiction and Its Consequences
13:44 Legal Troubles and Incarceration
19:07 Media Misrepresentation
25:08 The Nature of Addiction
30:32 Living in the Present
44:46 Car Troubles and Family Dynamics
49:21 Life in Prison: Education and Experience
55:04 Parenting Challenges and Reflections
01:01:16 Trust and Betrayal in the Drug Trade
01:04:25 Reflections on Life Choices and Consequences
01:07:01 The Challenge of Inviting Guests
01:13:30 The Impact of Addiction on Family
01:18:40 The Role of Anxiety in Personal Growth
01:23:37 Finding Peace in Nature and Family Connections
📌 Tags for SEO
addiction recovery podcast, life after incarceration, drug trade consequences, personal growth after prison, navigating parenthood in recovery, mental health and anxiety, media misrepresentation, re-entry challenges, human side of incarceration, relationships and recovery, family impact of addiction, purpose after prison, storytelling on resilience
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