The Recovery Circle

In this episode, we welcome Matt B., whose journey is a testament to the power of resilience and hope. Born in Quebec, Canada and adopted by a family in Brooklyn, NY Matt always felt like he didn't fit in, leading to a lifelong struggle for acceptance.

Moving to New Jersey at 16, Matt's quest for identity led him down a path of alcohol and drug addiction. A dental procedure introduced him to painkillers, which fueled years ...

In this heartfelt episode of The Recovery Circle, we invite you to join us as we delve into the inspiring journey of Mike P.

Growing up as the middle child of three boys, Mike’s childhood was filled with fond memories despite his timid and shy nature. At just 12 years old, Mike discovered a temporary escape from his social anxiety through marijuana and alcohol, marking the beginning of his battle with addiction.

Despite his struggles...

In this episode, Frankie welcomes back Matt O. to share his journey of recovery. They discuss how gratitude serves as a powerful tool against negative thinking and how Matt integrates it into his daily life. Matt recently got engaged to his longtime girlfriend at the World Convention, a significant milestone in his recovery journey.He reflects on how his recovery process evolved after a relapse and his growing willingness to try ne...

In this episode, Frankie welcomes back Denis B. to discuss the multifaceted journey of his life in recovery. Denis shares the importance of embracing both the highs and lows to truly understand personal growth. He opens up about his rock bottoms, the role of gratitude, and his relationship with his higher power.

The conversation delves into maintaining relationships in recovery, emphasizing the need to prioritize recovery to ...

In this episode of The Recovery Circle we sit with Jesse C., who's journey from a turbulent childhood to recovery is both heart-wrenching and inspiring.

Born in Delaware to parents who struggled with addiction, Jesse's early life was marked by instability. Starting to smoke weed and drink at just 11, Jesse's substance use escalated to heroin by 16, and his life spiraled into chaos with jail and constant trouble with au...

In this episode, we welcome Rob K., who shares his personal story of addiction and recovery. Born and raised in Edison, NJ, Rob was adopted at birth and grew up in a loving home. As an only child, he often found himself in trouble, earning the title of class clown. Tragically, he experienced the loss of several people at a young age.

Rob's journey into addiction began in high school when he first smoked weed. This led to selling dr...

In this episode, we sit down with Joe O, a resilient individual originally from Patterson, NJ. Joe's early life was marked by instability, moving frequently due to his family's struggles. His father, an alcoholic, separated from Joe's mother early on, leading Joe to live with his father. Seeking comfort, Joe began using substances at the tender age of 8 and was regularly smoking weed by 11.

Joe's journey took a dark...

In this episode of The Recovery Circle, we welcome Samantha D, who shares her powerful story of resilience and hope. Born and raised in Keansburg, NJ, Samantha's early life was marked by an unhappy home environment and her mother's addiction. At the age of 9, Samantha and her sister were taken away and raised by their father.

Samantha began partying at the young age of 12, despite her involvement in sports and her desire not to dis...

In this episode of The Recovery Circle, Russell R. sits with us to tell his story. Hailing from Carteret, NJ. as a child, he felt well-provided for, excelled in school and showed promise in baseball. However, his life took a drastic turn at 13 when he started using cocaine. The discovery at 18 that his father wasn't his biological father sent him into a downward spiral, leading to harder drug use and repeated incarcerations.

After...

In this episode of The Recovery Circle, The Journey Continues, Shawn L. returns to discuss his journey in recovery. A major theme is the importance of perspective, particularly how he navigates through good and bad days, gaining strength and faith during tough times. Shawn elaborates on his relationship with his higher power, emphasizing the peace he finds in relinquishing control over unmanageable aspects of his life.

The conversa...

On this episode of The Recovery Circle we sat with Ed Y., born in Iran, grew up in Bethpage, Long Island. His family fled Iran during the 1979 revolution and moved in with relatives on Long Island. Ed struggled with language and cultural barriers, feeling different and finding it hard to fit in. At 15, he stole a liquor bottle from his father and brought it to a party, where he felt noticed for the first time. Known as the party gu...

In the latest episode of The Recovery Circle, we are honored to have Ruben M. share his remarkable journey. Originally from Newark, NJ, Ruben's early life was marked by significant challenges. After losing his father to AIDS and his mother shortly after his birth, he was adopted by his aunt and uncle. Despite this, Ruben often felt disconnected from his family and was unaware of his adoption until his early twenties.

As a child, Ru...

In the latest episode of The Recovery Circle, we welcome Matt Z. to share his remarkable journey. Matt, the oldest of three brothers, was born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn in the mid-80s. His early life was marked by his mother’s struggle with addiction, which led to her leaving the family when Matt was just 7 years old. Raised by his father, Matt always yearned for his mother’s love.

Despite his popularity and being a talented three-s...

Charles C., born in 1987 in North Bergen, NJ, grew up during the crack epidemic. His father, a drug dealer, was murdered before Charles was born, and his mother, a drug addict, was intermittently present in his life. Despite doing well in school initially, Charles began associating with the wrong crowd and at 17, he faced serious charges for carjacking and hit-and-run, narrowly avoiding a 10-year sentence by serving 7.5 months and ...

We are thrilled to welcome Ricky D. to share his compelling journey. Ricky hails from West Paterson, NJ, and from an early age, he sensed that he was different from those around him. This feeling of not fitting in made it difficult for him to connect with his peers. However, Ricky found a temporary escape and comfort in sports, where he excelled. Despite his athletic prowess, a moment of rejection during a vulnerable period in his ...

In the latest episode of The Recovery Circle, we welcome Anthony B. to share his story. As the youngest child in his family, Anthony struggled to fit in with his older brothers while his parents were often busy with work. From ages 7 to 12, he battled an unknown illness that kept him frequently in doctors’ offices, worrying about his future.

Despite his talents in classical piano, baseball, and wrestling, Anthony was drawn to the a...

In this episode of The Recovery Circle, we had the honor of hosting Mike T. 

Growing up in central New Jersey as the youngest of two boys in an Italian American family, Mike had a wonderful upbringing. Despite his ability to excel academically and maintain a polished exterior, he found comfort in the world of drugs and alcohol.

Mike’s journey into addiction began in college, where he started using hard drugs and eventually develope...

In this episode of The Chop Shop, Dave N. and Dave S. come together to explore a tapestry of themes including:

1. Ayahuasca and Healing: The Daves delve into the mystical world of ayahuasca and other psychedelics and their potential for healing. They also discuss the transformative effects of these experiences, as well as the controversies that surround them.

2. Navigating Relationships: From growing apart to dealing with relatio...

In this episode of The Recovery Circle, we sit down with Tom D, a recovering addict born in New Jersey, Tom grew up as the youngest of three siblings. Despite being popular and athletic in school, he harbored a secret struggle. As he entered high school, Tom’s drug and alcohol use escalated, leading him down a dangerous path. 

Tom’s resentment toward sports pushed him away from athletics, and he turned to work instead. The allure o...