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<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Real Recovery Talk</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/show/real-recovery-talk_1</link><description><![CDATA[Real Recovery Talk is a show that is dedicated to giving you the information and resources that you need to ensure lasting recovery from addictions.  Within this show you will better understand why addicts do what they do and what goes on in their minds both in active addiction and clean and sober.]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/3012614/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Society &amp; Culture</category><copyright>Copyright Tom Conrad</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/6333674d3bbe350188a7d5139e2436d4.jpg</url><title>Real Recovery Talk</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/show/real-recovery-talk_1</link></image><lastBuildDate>Wed, 08 Mar 2023 18:19:51 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Tom Conrad</itunes:name><itunes:email>feeds@spreaker.com</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/6333674d3bbe350188a7d5139e2436d4.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>Real Recovery Talk is a show that is dedicated to giving you the information and resources that you need to ensure lasting recovery from addictions.  Within this show you will better understand why addicts do what they do and what goes on in their...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Real Recovery Talk is a show that is dedicated to giving you the information and resources that you need to ensure lasting recovery from addictions.  Within this show you will better understand why addicts do what they do and what goes on in their minds both in active addiction and clean and sober.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture"/><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>260 - Gio had his spiritual experience inside prison: Recovery and Sobriety is possible no matter your situation!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/260-gio-had-his-spiritual-experience-ins</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode, Ben and I have on Justin, who shares his story about how he got clean and sober inside prison. Justin spent just about four years inside prison walls, but inside those walls is when he had his spiritual experience, and was then finally able to get clean and sober. Justin goes into detail about his drug addiction and ultimately want to talk from him and his life. If you have any questions about your specific situation, you can reach out to us at tom@realrecoverytalk.com and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com. ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">8fe57057-196e-49a3-af4f-6171dfec43a7</guid><pubDate>Wed, 08 Mar 2023 17:59:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/53137524/260.mp3" length="91060685" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode, Ben and I have on Justin, who shares his story about how he got clean and sober inside prison. Justin spent just about four years inside prison walls, but inside those walls is when he had his spiritual experience, and was then...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode, Ben and I have on Justin, who shares his story about how he got clean and sober inside prison. Justin spent just about four years inside prison walls, but inside those walls is when he had his spiritual experience, and was then finally able to get clean and sober. Justin goes into detail about his drug addiction and ultimately want to talk from him and his life. If you have any questions about your specific situation, you can reach out to us at tom@realrecoverytalk.com and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com. ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3795</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>259 - How Internalized Homophobia fueled his addiction and kept him from growing in his recovery: Ben Harrison</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/259-how-internalized-homophobia-fueled-h</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I have on a dear friend names BEN as well!  Ben is a man who has stayed sober for 21 years and shares his story on the struggles that he had growing up as a gay man and how it fueled his addiction.  He also shares his struggles through recovery being a gay man and the REVELATION that he had 3 years into his recovery that changed everything for him!  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can email is at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">e6109494-7b17-486d-855d-399878891000</guid><pubDate>Sun, 05 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/53099805/259.mp3" length="96909397" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode Ben and I have on a dear friend names BEN as well!  Ben is a man who has stayed sober for 21 years and shares his story on the struggles that he had growing up as a gay man and how it fueled his addiction.  He also shares his struggles...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I have on a dear friend names BEN as well!  Ben is a man who has stayed sober for 21 years and shares his story on the struggles that he had growing up as a gay man and how it fueled his addiction.  He also shares his struggles through recovery being a gay man and the REVELATION that he had 3 years into his recovery that changed everything for him!  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can email is at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>4038</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>258 - Grag W. shares his comeback story from addiction!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/258-grag-w-shares-his-comeback-story-fro</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we have on Greg who shares his story on how he got clean and sober and what it took for him to finally get there.  Greg is very open about his faith and what it has done for him this time around.  If you have any questions you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">034b0ab4-26ae-43ff-8847-64f19f317541</guid><pubDate>Wed, 01 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907336/258.mp3" length="55180352" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we have on Greg who shares his story on how he got clean and sober and what it took for him to finally get there.  Greg is very open about his faith and what it has done for him this time around.  If you have any questions you can...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we have on Greg who shares his story on how he got clean and sober and what it took for him to finally get there.  Greg is very open about his faith and what it has done for him this time around.  If you have any questions you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2300</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>257 - Hear from two licensed clinicians: How the family is impacted by addiction</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/257-hear-from-two-licensed-clinicians-ho</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we have on two therapists that work here at Rock Recovery Center!  Nicole and Maya wanted to come on and share how the have seem families impacted by their addictions and what they can do to help.  We often times look over the families and dont focus on what they can do to help themselves.  If you have questions you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">aad8e51e-86b3-45b3-ba5f-a956b2e88b79</guid><pubDate>Sun, 26 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907666/257.mp3" length="63918624" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we have on two therapists that work here at Rock Recovery Center!  Nicole and Maya wanted to come on and share how the have seem families impacted by their addictions and what they can do to help.  We often times look over the families...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we have on two therapists that work here at Rock Recovery Center!  Nicole and Maya wanted to come on and share how the have seem families impacted by their addictions and what they can do to help.  We often times look over the families and dont focus on what they can do to help themselves.  If you have questions you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2664</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>256 - At 19 Years old Nick has an opportunity to totally transform his life!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/256-at-19-years-old-nick-has-an-opportun</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we have Nick who is a 19 year old young adult who has a opportunity ahead of him that he has taken advantage of!  Nick is well on his way to create a life for himself that will serve him very well in the years to come!  You will hear a message of gratitude in this episode and we are thankful to be a part of Nicks journey!  ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2f12bdff-737e-4458-8c5e-ac4d1b0ffb27</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908208/256.mp3" length="101831493" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we have Nick who is a 19 year old young adult who has a opportunity ahead of him that he has taken advantage of!  Nick is well on his way to create a life for himself that will serve him very well in the years to come!  You will hear a...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we have Nick who is a 19 year old young adult who has a opportunity ahead of him that he has taken advantage of!  Nick is well on his way to create a life for himself that will serve him very well in the years to come!  You will hear a message of gratitude in this episode and we are thankful to be a part of Nicks journey!  ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>4243</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>255 -  He moved 3,000 miles away to get SOBER!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/255-he-moved-3-000-miles-away-to-get-sob</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we have a guest on names Tim!  Tim has decided to attend treatment here at Rock Recovery Center in Florida all the way from California!  We get into detail about why it took so long for Tim to get sober and ultimately what help him back for so long!  We have a great conversation and I know you will anjoy it!  Enjoy the Show!]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">f12d2005-33a9-47b4-b0fe-f2883230c201</guid><pubDate>Sun, 19 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908194/255.mp3" length="68519728" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we have a guest on names Tim!  Tim has decided to attend treatment here at Rock Recovery Center in Florida all the way from California!  We get into detail about why it took so long for Tim to get sober and ultimately what help him...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we have a guest on names Tim!  Tim has decided to attend treatment here at Rock Recovery Center in Florida all the way from California!  We get into detail about why it took so long for Tim to get sober and ultimately what help him back for so long!  We have a great conversation and I know you will anjoy it!  Enjoy the Show!]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2855</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>254 - Addicted to Marijuana and Fitness: Jack tells his story</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/254-addicted-to-marijuana-and-fitness-ja</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode, Ben and I have an opportunity to sit down with Jack, who decided he wanted to share his story with all of you. Jack first was addicted to many hours in the gym. Jack shared that his gym addiction was to address an internal issue that stemmed from a lot of bullying in high school. Once Jack got a hernia from too much time in the gym, he turned to marijuana. Jack shares how his marijuana use caused him to try other things and and how it all affected his life.  If you have any questions you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">90a651a6-9f59-4df8-bc9a-537f2bb08e9a</guid><pubDate>Sun, 12 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908221/254.mp3" length="82500463" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode, Ben and I have an opportunity to sit down with Jack, who decided he wanted to share his story with all of you. Jack first was addicted to many hours in the gym. Jack shared that his gym addiction was to address an internal issue that...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode, Ben and I have an opportunity to sit down with Jack, who decided he wanted to share his story with all of you. Jack first was addicted to many hours in the gym. Jack shared that his gym addiction was to address an internal issue that stemmed from a lot of bullying in high school. Once Jack got a hernia from too much time in the gym, he turned to marijuana. Jack shares how his marijuana use caused him to try other things and and how it all affected his life.  If you have any questions you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3438</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>253 - Xanax: Does it really help with anxiety?</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/253-xanax-does-it-really-help-with-anxie</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode myself, Ben and Steve have a discussion both around Suboxone and Xanax.  We discuss what our observations have been with both ourselves, and others, when is comes to taking this drugs.  We talk about the pitfalls of taking them and ultimately what it can do to you in a negative manner.  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can always reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">6fc6d221-5918-4854-8530-05842c1bc66d</guid><pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52909264/253.mp3" length="85995647" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode myself, Ben and Steve have a discussion both around Suboxone and Xanax.  We discuss what our observations have been with both ourselves, and others, when is comes to taking this drugs.  We talk about the pitfalls of taking them and...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode myself, Ben and Steve have a discussion both around Suboxone and Xanax.  We discuss what our observations have been with both ourselves, and others, when is comes to taking this drugs.  We talk about the pitfalls of taking them and ultimately what it can do to you in a negative manner.  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can always reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3583</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>252 - Why bother getting sober? There is no reason to!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/252-why-bother-getting-sober-there-is-no</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode I want to discuss with you find your WHY behind getting sober.  I know I have talked about this before but I think it is worth bringing up again.  It is easy to stop using substances, but what is going to keep you from picking up again?  This is why I ask people to define their "why" when getting sober.  If you have any questions you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">91d352a9-c49d-47ea-a87e-0ef1ee8182f3</guid><pubDate>Sun, 05 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52909270/252.mp3" length="18730131" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode I want to discuss with you find your WHY behind getting sober.  I know I have talked about this before but I think it is worth bringing up again.  It is easy to stop using substances, but what is going to keep you from picking up...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode I want to discuss with you find your WHY behind getting sober.  I know I have talked about this before but I think it is worth bringing up again.  It is easy to stop using substances, but what is going to keep you from picking up again?  This is why I ask people to define their "why" when getting sober.  If you have any questions you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>781</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>251 - 27 Treatment centers later: Anthony now has 3 years clean!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/251-27-treatment-centers-later-anthony-n</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I have a discussion with anthony who has opted to come on the show and share his experience with getting clean and sober!  Anthony is open about how many times he went to treatment and ulitmately what it took for him to finally stop using.  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">bd10fd9b-0b48-4919-8f4d-d6bfd7ad3a70</guid><pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908222/251.mp3" length="78648551" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode Ben and I have a discussion with anthony who has opted to come on the show and share his experience with getting clean and sober!  Anthony is open about how many times he went to treatment and ulitmately what it took for him to finally...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I have a discussion with anthony who has opted to come on the show and share his experience with getting clean and sober!  Anthony is open about how many times he went to treatment and ulitmately what it took for him to finally stop using.  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3277</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>250 - Your Sober? HELP OTHERS!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/250-your-sober-help-others</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I have on Matt Anderson again to have a discussion around helping other people and spreading the message of HOPE!  Far to often, people go into a 12 step meeting and dont get the message that they are needing to hear.  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">5ec681c0-23ea-47e5-83eb-1bdca6c629c7</guid><pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908153/250.mp3" length="91666935" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode Ben and I have on Matt Anderson again to have a discussion around helping other people and spreading the message of HOPE!  Far to often, people go into a 12 step meeting and dont get the message that they are needing to hear.  If you...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I have on Matt Anderson again to have a discussion around helping other people and spreading the message of HOPE!  Far to often, people go into a 12 step meeting and dont get the message that they are needing to hear.  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3820</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>249 - What it took for Billy G to finally get clean and sober</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/249-what-it-took-for-billy-g-to-finally-</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I have a discussion with Billy.  BIlly is a good friend of ours that has had his struggles with drugs and alcohol.  Billy is now clean 6+ years and he goes into detail about what it took for him to finally stop.  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">801ec833-c407-4a25-9801-7330ddc477e3</guid><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52909300/249.mp3" length="93949619" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode Ben and I have a discussion with Billy.  BIlly is a good friend of ours that has had his struggles with drugs and alcohol.  Billy is now clean 6+ years and he goes into detail about what it took for him to finally stop.  If you have...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I have a discussion with Billy.  BIlly is a good friend of ours that has had his struggles with drugs and alcohol.  Billy is now clean 6+ years and he goes into detail about what it took for him to finally stop.  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3915</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>248 - Should you work in addiction treatment?</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/248-should-you-work-in-addiction-treatme</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I discuss the process that it took for him and I to build the careers that we have lover the past 10 years.  We often times hear from people in early recovery, that they want to work in treatment.  Although we think that it is a very good field of work to be involved in, we also think that you have to be in the right position and mindset to be able to take that on.   If you have any questions about your situation you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">70963ab6-f969-456b-9385-2d388d9cd557</guid><pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908152/248.mp3" length="41913073" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode Ben and I discuss the process that it took for him and I to build the careers that we have lover the past 10 years.  We often times hear from people in early recovery, that they want to work in treatment.  Although we think that it is...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I discuss the process that it took for him and I to build the careers that we have lover the past 10 years.  We often times hear from people in early recovery, that they want to work in treatment.  Although we think that it is a very good field of work to be involved in, we also think that you have to be in the right position and mindset to be able to take that on.   If you have any questions about your situation you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1747</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>247 - 12 step people are CRAZY! Brian shares his sobriety story</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/247-12-step-people-are-crazy-brian-share</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we have a conversation with Brian who shares his story about getting sober.  Brian shares what his mindset was before deciding to get clean and sober and how things quickly changed for him when he started his recovery journey.  Brian talks a lot about how his mindset shifted once he started opening up to people and how that helped him.  If you have questions about your situation you can contact us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">9c5fe6a9-7971-4cfa-90bf-99a2efc4d88d</guid><pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907322/247.mp3" length="45443992" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we have a conversation with Brian who shares his story about getting sober.  Brian shares what his mindset was before deciding to get clean and sober and how things quickly changed for him when he started his recovery journey.  Brian...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we have a conversation with Brian who shares his story about getting sober.  Brian shares what his mindset was before deciding to get clean and sober and how things quickly changed for him when he started his recovery journey.  Brian talks a lot about how his mindset shifted once he started opening up to people and how that helped him.  If you have questions about your situation you can contact us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1894</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>246 - Can you meet your life partner in Rehab? we think not</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/246-can-you-meet-your-life-partner-in-re</link><description><![CDATA[Hey there! In this episode Ben and I discuss rehab remonaces!  We see them all to often and they 99.999% of the time never work.  We talk in detail about our specific situations when attempting this and how it ended up for us!  If you have any questions about your situation you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">662de493-7b53-471e-a10a-3919e475933a</guid><pubDate>Wed, 11 Jan 2023 17:57:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907601/246.mp3" length="48760499" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Hey there! In this episode Ben and I discuss rehab remonaces!  We see them all to often and they 99.999% of the time never work.  We talk in detail about our specific situations when attempting this and how it ended up for us!  If you have any...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Hey there! In this episode Ben and I discuss rehab remonaces!  We see them all to often and they 99.999% of the time never work.  We talk in detail about our specific situations when attempting this and how it ended up for us!  If you have any questions about your situation you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2032</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>245 - Loved ones: You are not helping....</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/245-loved-ones-you-are-not-helping</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I have a discussion around parents and loved ones of people trying to get clean and sober.  There are times when they think that they are helping when in fact all they are doing is hurting.  If parents and loved ones were able to just step back and leave things up to the professionals then it would make the situations a lot easier! It is very easy for people to get caught up in their emotions and think that they are doing good, when in fact they are not!  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">da73c611-46fe-4a7d-bc80-0acc5969c0d1</guid><pubDate>Sun, 08 Jan 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908096/245.mp3" length="39701860" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode Ben and I have a discussion around parents and loved ones of people trying to get clean and sober.  There are times when they think that they are helping when in fact all they are doing is hurting.  If parents and loved ones were able...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I have a discussion around parents and loved ones of people trying to get clean and sober.  There are times when they think that they are helping when in fact all they are doing is hurting.  If parents and loved ones were able to just step back and leave things up to the professionals then it would make the situations a lot easier! It is very easy for people to get caught up in their emotions and think that they are doing good, when in fact they are not!  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1655</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>244 - 2023: Are you living your legacy?</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/244-2023-are-you-living-your-legacy</link><description><![CDATA[It is January 1st! Can you believe it?  Another year is down, and nother one to come.  WHat are you going to do different this year?  Are you going to get sober?  If you are sober, lets do something to ANTI-UP your sobriety!  If you have any questions of comments please feel free to reach out at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">dc98a6e4-ff8d-4ace-a3a2-786b12284b7f</guid><pubDate>Sun, 01 Jan 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908164/244.mp3" length="36456198" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>It is January 1st! Can you believe it?  Another year is down, and nother one to come.  WHat are you going to do different this year?  Are you going to get sober?  If you are sober, lets do something to ANTI-UP your sobriety!  If you have any questions...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[It is January 1st! Can you believe it?  Another year is down, and nother one to come.  WHat are you going to do different this year?  Are you going to get sober?  If you are sober, lets do something to ANTI-UP your sobriety!  If you have any questions of comments please feel free to reach out at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1519</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>243 - Relapse after multiple years of sobriety: Tara shares her story</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/243-relapse-after-multiple-years-of-sobr</link><description><![CDATA[On this show, we have on Tara, who talks in detail about her recovery over the years. Tara talks a lot about her history with drug use, and how she ended up becoming an addict at a very young age. Tara talks a lot about her recovery and sobriety and how she tries to make an impact on people today. If you have any questions about your specific situation, you can reach out to us at tom@realrecoverytalk.com, and ben@realrecoverytalk.com. ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">e145c4bd-2ed0-46e2-b63c-75ecb3a6ecd2</guid><pubDate>Wed, 28 Dec 2022 21:28:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907693/tara.mp3" length="68305942" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>On this show, we have on Tara, who talks in detail about her recovery over the years. Tara talks a lot about her history with drug use, and how she ended up becoming an addict at a very young age. Tara talks a lot about her recovery and sobriety and...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[On this show, we have on Tara, who talks in detail about her recovery over the years. Tara talks a lot about her history with drug use, and how she ended up becoming an addict at a very young age. Tara talks a lot about her recovery and sobriety and how she tries to make an impact on people today. If you have any questions about your specific situation, you can reach out to us at tom@realrecoverytalk.com, and ben@realrecoverytalk.com. ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2846</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>242 - RRT Christmas Special</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/242-rrt-christmas-special</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we have on Steve!  We wanted to come on and just talk Christmas!  Steve shares about his past Christmas's when he was in active addiction and what it is like now!  If you have any questions, comments or concerns you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">a333d7be-6966-4c5c-a155-5b2d07b9e236</guid><pubDate>Sun, 25 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908202/steve.mp3" length="34209249" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we have on Steve!  We wanted to come on and just talk Christmas!  Steve shares about his past Christmas's when he was in active addiction and what it is like now!  If you have any questions, comments or concerns you can reach out to us...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we have on Steve!  We wanted to come on and just talk Christmas!  Steve shares about his past Christmas's when he was in active addiction and what it is like now!  If you have any questions, comments or concerns you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1426</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>241 - Does insurance cover addiction treatment?</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/241-does-insurance-cover-addiction-treat</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we take a deep dive into the minds of the insurance companies when it comes to covering treatment for addiction.  We have a special guest, Brad, who's job is to talk to the insurance companies and get them to cover as much treatment as possible!  It is very interesting to hear from Brads perspective what the insurance companies are looking for.  Enjoy the Show!]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">fe1c76b8-1078-4fb8-81d9-dde3ede6978f</guid><pubDate>Wed, 21 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52909256/241.mp3" length="58176492" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we take a deep dive into the minds of the insurance companies when it comes to covering treatment for addiction.  We have a special guest, Brad, who's job is to talk to the insurance companies and get them to cover as much treatment as...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we take a deep dive into the minds of the insurance companies when it comes to covering treatment for addiction.  We have a special guest, Brad, who's job is to talk to the insurance companies and get them to cover as much treatment as possible!  It is very interesting to hear from Brads perspective what the insurance companies are looking for.  Enjoy the Show!]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2424</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>240 - 17 Years in prison: Violent Offender: Matt Anderson</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/240-17-years-in-prison-violent-offender-</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we have a special guest Matt Anderson!  Matt has a heck of a story and has come on the show to share it with all of you!]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">839774cd-4ef3-445e-a25b-74063bdb3230</guid><pubDate>Sun, 18 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52909312/240.mp3" length="115170870" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we have a special guest Matt Anderson!  Matt has a heck of a story and has come on the show to share it with all of you!</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we have a special guest Matt Anderson!  Matt has a heck of a story and has come on the show to share it with all of you!]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>4799</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>239 - Athlete and Trainer struggles with alcoholism: Tom's story</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/239-athlete-and-trainer-struggles-with-a</link><description><![CDATA[ In this episode, I have a conversation with Tom, who, seemingly on the surface has it all put together. Tom does struggle with alcoholism and is on his journey of sobriety as we speak. Tom speaks in detail about how alcoholism has affected his life and ultimately taken a lot of freedoms away from him. Tom shares his gratitude for his sobriety today and the things that he is looking forward to in the future with his newfound recovery. If you have any questions, comments or concerns about your specific situation, you can always reach out to us at Tom @realrecoverytalk.com and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com. ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">7ac83bcc-ee1a-46d2-8146-7b67d05da0c8</guid><pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908125/239.mp3" length="46299764" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle> In this episode, I have a conversation with Tom, who, seemingly on the surface has it all put together. Tom does struggle with alcoholism and is on his journey of sobriety as we speak. Tom speaks in detail about how alcoholism has affected his life...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[ In this episode, I have a conversation with Tom, who, seemingly on the surface has it all put together. Tom does struggle with alcoholism and is on his journey of sobriety as we speak. Tom speaks in detail about how alcoholism has affected his life and ultimately taken a lot of freedoms away from him. Tom shares his gratitude for his sobriety today and the things that he is looking forward to in the future with his newfound recovery. If you have any questions, comments or concerns about your specific situation, you can always reach out to us at Tom @realrecoverytalk.com and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com. ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1929</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>238 - Clinical Case Worker Steve: Differences between successful treatment and not successful treatment</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/238-clinical-case-worker-steve-differenc</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we have on Steve who is a clinical case worker here at Rock Recovery Center.  Steve spends his days working with each individual client making sure that they are attaining their goals they have set for themselves all while advancing in their recovery. In this episode you will see the things that we look for when someone goes through the treatment process here at Rock Recovery Center.  If you have any questions or concerns about your specific situation you can reach us at <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@rockrecoverycenter.com</a> and Ben@rockrecoverycenter.com ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">038bfd6a-9820-4219-979f-55d4d5c02010</guid><pubDate>Mon, 05 Dec 2022 02:33:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52909286/238_lib.mp3" length="41235352" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we have on Steve who is a clinical case worker here at Rock Recovery Center.  Steve spends his days working with each individual client making sure that they are attaining their goals they have set for themselves all while advancing in...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we have on Steve who is a clinical case worker here at Rock Recovery Center.  Steve spends his days working with each individual client making sure that they are attaining their goals they have set for themselves all while advancing in their recovery. In this episode you will see the things that we look for when someone goes through the treatment process here at Rock Recovery Center.  If you have any questions or concerns about your specific situation you can reach us at <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@rockrecoverycenter.com</a> and Ben@rockrecoverycenter.com ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1718</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>237 - Having a mindset shift: Payton shares her story of failed treatment attempts to sustainable sobriety</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/237-having-a-mindset-shift-payton-shares</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I have a conversation with Payton around her failed treatment attempts and ultimately what it took for her to get sober.  She goes into detail about her mindset with past treatment attempts to what her mindset is now having 4 months of sobriety!  Payton has changed her perspective on sobriety and life in general.  She now feels that she has something to offer other women who are trying to get sober themselves.  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can always reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">6b00dadd-6fa9-4a42-b105-3118a0c68a99</guid><pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2022 17:27:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907692/payton_237.mp3" length="39666125" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode Ben and I have a conversation with Payton around her failed treatment attempts and ultimately what it took for her to get sober.  She goes into detail about her mindset with past treatment attempts to what her mindset is now having 4...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I have a conversation with Payton around her failed treatment attempts and ultimately what it took for her to get sober.  She goes into detail about her mindset with past treatment attempts to what her mindset is now having 4 months of sobriety!  Payton has changed her perspective on sobriety and life in general.  She now feels that she has something to offer other women who are trying to get sober themselves.  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can always reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1653</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>236 -  Four aspects of our recovery that we CAN ALWAYS improve upon!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/236-four-aspects-of-our-recovery-that-we</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode I discusse four aspects of our recovery that we can always work on. There are always improvements to be made in our sobriety journey and if we don't make a conscious effort to make those improvements then we will not reach our fullest potential of our sobriety. Take into consideration your current circumstances and think of ways that you can improve them. If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach out to us at tom@reelrecoverytalk.com and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com. ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">1325478d-aaae-4528-a004-2a5f7a0aa278</guid><pubDate>Sun, 27 Nov 2022 16:58:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52909311/236_lib.mp3" length="18088146" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode I discusse four aspects of our recovery that we can always work on. There are always improvements to be made in our sobriety journey and if we don't make a conscious effort to make those improvements then we will not reach our fullest...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode I discusse four aspects of our recovery that we can always work on. There are always improvements to be made in our sobriety journey and if we don't make a conscious effort to make those improvements then we will not reach our fullest potential of our sobriety. Take into consideration your current circumstances and think of ways that you can improve them. If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach out to us at tom@reelrecoverytalk.com and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com. ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>754</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>235 - Joey M: His addiction to drugs and gambling ALMOST took everything</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/235-joey-m-his-addiction-to-drugs-and-ga</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I have a guest on who we have gotten to know rather well over the past year.  Joey has decided to come on and share what his experience has been like getting sober and the areas in which he screwed up.  Joey has done a lot of work over the past year and it is finally starting to show! GOOD JOB JOE!  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can always reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">8cd92d59-89e9-455f-b38b-a17e9dc6b89a</guid><pubDate>Wed, 23 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908251/235.mp3" length="51828110" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode Ben and I have a guest on who we have gotten to know rather well over the past year.  Joey has decided to come on and share what his experience has been like getting sober and the areas in which he screwed up.  Joey has done a lot of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I have a guest on who we have gotten to know rather well over the past year.  Joey has decided to come on and share what his experience has been like getting sober and the areas in which he screwed up.  Joey has done a lot of work over the past year and it is finally starting to show! GOOD JOB JOE!  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can always reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2160</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>234 - Don't waste your time going to treatment! (If your not going to do anything)</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/234-dont-waste-your-time-going-to-treatm</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I discuss why some people end up wasting their time while in treatment.  We see it more often then we care to admit.  When we have someone that enters into the treatment process and they dont do anything, they are wasting their time!  I wish we could guarantee sobriety but we cant.  If you enter into treatment, and do everything that you are suppose to, there is a good chance that you will stay sober long term.  If you have any questions or concerns about your specific situation, you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@rockrecoverycenter.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">ae2ebf8b-9661-4e84-878f-ad12e9fa4b5a</guid><pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907727/234.mp3" length="38916933" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode Ben and I discuss why some people end up wasting their time while in treatment.  We see it more often then we care to admit.  When we have someone that enters into the treatment process and they dont do anything, they are wasting their...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I discuss why some people end up wasting their time while in treatment.  We see it more often then we care to admit.  When we have someone that enters into the treatment process and they dont do anything, they are wasting their time!  I wish we could guarantee sobriety but we cant.  If you enter into treatment, and do everything that you are suppose to, there is a good chance that you will stay sober long term.  If you have any questions or concerns about your specific situation, you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@rockrecoverycenter.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1622</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>233 - 5 Tips to staying sober during the Holiday season</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/233-5-tips-to-staying-sober-during-the-h</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss ways in which you can enjoy the holidays and stay sober at the same time!  It can be a very stressful time of year.  If not fully prepared, it could be a high risk of relapse.  If you have any questions about your situation you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">1a6f2b61-1cd1-40b0-9e4b-1674db153e97</guid><pubDate>Wed, 16 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908180/233_lib.mp3" length="22261050" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode I discuss ways in which you can enjoy the holidays and stay sober at the same time!  It can be a very stressful time of year.  If not fully prepared, it could be a high risk of relapse.  If you have any questions about your situation...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss ways in which you can enjoy the holidays and stay sober at the same time!  It can be a very stressful time of year.  If not fully prepared, it could be a high risk of relapse.  If you have any questions about your situation you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>928</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>232 - STOP CUTTING CORNERS! Sobriety is a marathon, not a race!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/232-stop-cutting-corners-sobriety-is-a-m</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss what cutting corners can do to you in the recovery process. We benlieve it is very necessary for people to put forth as much effort as possible without cutting corners. Cutting corners can prevent us from having the true growth that recovery and sobriety has to offer. Often times people think it is just about putting down the drinking and the drug and everything will be OK, when in fact, recovery and sobriety is a complete life change.  If you have westerns about your specific situation you could reach out to us at tom@realrecoverytalk.com and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">1ce57b53-b5ac-487c-9a5d-0d22c7cd8195</guid><pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2022 16:24:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908163/232.mp3" length="22011528" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode I discuss what cutting corners can do to you in the recovery process. We benlieve it is very necessary for people to put forth as much effort as possible without cutting corners. Cutting corners can prevent us from having the true...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss what cutting corners can do to you in the recovery process. We benlieve it is very necessary for people to put forth as much effort as possible without cutting corners. Cutting corners can prevent us from having the true growth that recovery and sobriety has to offer. Often times people think it is just about putting down the drinking and the drug and everything will be OK, when in fact, recovery and sobriety is a complete life change.  If you have westerns about your specific situation you could reach out to us at tom@realrecoverytalk.com and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>917</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>231 - You will relapse....If you don't pay attention to these 3 areas!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/231-you-will-relapse-if-you-dont-pay-att</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss three areas in which I believe are extremely important to pay attention to.  Sobriety is an offensive game.  We need to be stragtegic with our day to day life and not put ourselves in situations where we are vulnerable!  If you have any questions about your specific situation, you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">923e444f-4636-4765-9468-8ddcddc19f5a</guid><pubDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2022 11:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907729/231_lib.mp3" length="18658660" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode I discuss three areas in which I believe are extremely important to pay attention to.  Sobriety is an offensive game.  We need to be stragtegic with our day to day life and not put ourselves in situations where we are vulnerable!  If...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss three areas in which I believe are extremely important to pay attention to.  Sobriety is an offensive game.  We need to be stragtegic with our day to day life and not put ourselves in situations where we are vulnerable!  If you have any questions about your specific situation, you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>778</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>230 - 4 Pillars of Sobriety: Health, Home, Community and Purpose</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/230-4-pillars-of-sobriety-health-home-co</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I discuss the 4 pillars of recovery/sobriety!  We discuss having a healthy home, having our health intact, having a purpose for ourselves and having a strong community!  We believe that it is important to have a good grasp on all four of these areas!  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can always reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">7be1b88c-60c0-4fb8-b7b1-cd5154c48ccc</guid><pubDate>Wed, 02 Nov 2022 14:19:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908228/230_lib.mp3" length="51756639" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode Ben and I discuss the 4 pillars of recovery/sobriety!  We discuss having a healthy home, having our health intact, having a purpose for ourselves and having a strong community!  We believe that it is important to have a good grasp on...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode Ben and I discuss the 4 pillars of recovery/sobriety!  We discuss having a healthy home, having our health intact, having a purpose for ourselves and having a strong community!  We believe that it is important to have a good grasp on all four of these areas!  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can always reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2157</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>229 - Married with Addiction:  Brennan and Alex share their experience with addiction and their recovery</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/229-married-with-addiction-brennan-and-a</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we have on Alex and Brennan who are a lovely married couple who have agreed to come on and share their experience with addiction within their marraige and how they have recovered!  They talk in detail how addiction has effected their relationship and what they have had to do to get their marraige to where it is today!  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">58f9632a-32ee-480c-b4cc-076a79dfb2d5</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Oct 2022 11:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907723/229.mp3" length="65452117" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we have on Alex and Brennan who are a lovely married couple who have agreed to come on and share their experience with addiction within their marraige and how they have recovered!  They talk in detail how addiction has effected their...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we have on Alex and Brennan who are a lovely married couple who have agreed to come on and share their experience with addiction within their marraige and how they have recovered!  They talk in detail how addiction has effected their relationship and what they have had to do to get their marraige to where it is today!  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2727</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>228 - How to overcome obstacles in early sobriety</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/228-how-to-overcome-obstacles-in-early-s</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss with you how important it is to have obstacles in our sobriety journey!  Often times we want our sobriety to be perfect.  We don't want to have any setbacks and we dont want to go through any tough times.  Well, reality is, that we are going to have obstacles and we can understand how we can learn from them.  It is important to see them for what they are, a learning opportunity!  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can always reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">cc9e2728-afd5-4ea6-9c74-6ec5cce409f3</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Oct 2022 21:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907361/228.mp3" length="31356051" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode I discuss with you how important it is to have obstacles in our sobriety journey!  Often times we want our sobriety to be perfect.  We don't want to have any setbacks and we dont want to go through any tough times.  Well, reality is,...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss with you how important it is to have obstacles in our sobriety journey!  Often times we want our sobriety to be perfect.  We don't want to have any setbacks and we dont want to go through any tough times.  Well, reality is, that we are going to have obstacles and we can understand how we can learn from them.  It is important to see them for what they are, a learning opportunity!  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can always reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1307</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>227 - Are you an alcoholic?</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/227-are-you-an-alcoholic</link><description><![CDATA[In this epsiode I discuss the 5 stages of alcoholism!  Where do you see yourself amongst these stages?  These stages are very interesting in the sense that you can jump around from stage to stage.  We are hopeful that you can get to the recovery stage ASAP!  If you have any questions, comments or concerns feel free to reach out to <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">4d2b6ef0-405d-4dd6-955f-31b9df4174cd</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Oct 2022 11:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907388/227.mp3" length="25899176" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this epsiode I discuss the 5 stages of alcoholism!  Where do you see yourself amongst these stages?  These stages are very interesting in the sense that you can jump around from stage to stage.  We are hopeful that you can get to the recovery stage...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this epsiode I discuss the 5 stages of alcoholism!  Where do you see yourself amongst these stages?  These stages are very interesting in the sense that you can jump around from stage to stage.  We are hopeful that you can get to the recovery stage ASAP!  If you have any questions, comments or concerns feel free to reach out to <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1079</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>226 - Mom named Cheri: Discusses her experience with her son getting sober and what the process was like for her</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/226-mom-named-cheri-discusses-her-experi</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss what the process was like for a mother who was extremely helpful for her son to get sober. We discuss in detail what the relapses looked like and finally what she ended up having to do in order for him to get sober. She discusses the freedom that she has with her now knowing that he is sober but how she is also on guard in the event that he has another relapse. As always if you have any questions comments or concerns your can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">d76b39bc-5288-4db9-94d9-afc64212ac3c</guid><pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2022 11:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907385/226_lib.mp3" length="50972339" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we discuss what the process was like for a mother who was extremely helpful for her son to get sober. We discuss in detail what the relapses looked like and finally what she ended up having to do in order for him to get sober. She...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss what the process was like for a mother who was extremely helpful for her son to get sober. We discuss in detail what the relapses looked like and finally what she ended up having to do in order for him to get sober. She discusses the freedom that she has with her now knowing that he is sober but how she is also on guard in the event that he has another relapse. As always if you have any questions comments or concerns your can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2124</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>225 - How can you help, getting your loved one sober</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/225-how-can-you-help-getting-your-loved-</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss a topic that could be a massive pain point for some people.  Often times it is difficult for people to let their loved ones fight their own battles.  We need to allow people to experience struggle when getting sober!  If we do everything for them, make all the phone calls, do all the advocating, what are they actually learning?]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">8daf7ca9-9063-41e1-9104-fce6444173ea</guid><pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 14:26:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907734/225.mp3" length="15021161" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode I discuss a topic that could be a massive pain point for some people.  Often times it is difficult for people to let their loved ones fight their own battles.  We need to allow people to experience struggle when getting sober!  If we...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss a topic that could be a massive pain point for some people.  Often times it is difficult for people to let their loved ones fight their own battles.  We need to allow people to experience struggle when getting sober!  If we do everything for them, make all the phone calls, do all the advocating, what are they actually learning?]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>626</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>224 - What are you willing to neglect?</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/224-what-are-you-willing-to-neglect</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss the importance of neglecthing things in our lives in order to build a much more solid foundation of sobriety.  Often times we are to consumed with outside noise, car, job, career, relationships etc.  If we spend to much time on these things when getting sober, it takes away from the most important part of the journey, which is staying sober!  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">68eb285e-851e-4f3a-bfc2-9b86fb7a7d2d</guid><pubDate>Sun, 09 Oct 2022 11:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907407/224_lib.mp3" length="17160903" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode I discuss the importance of neglecthing things in our lives in order to build a much more solid foundation of sobriety.  Often times we are to consumed with outside noise, car, job, career, relationships etc.  If we spend to much time...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss the importance of neglecthing things in our lives in order to build a much more solid foundation of sobriety.  Often times we are to consumed with outside noise, car, job, career, relationships etc.  If we spend to much time on these things when getting sober, it takes away from the most important part of the journey, which is staying sober!  If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>715</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>223 - Listener's E-mail: I'm newly sober, can I take Kratom?</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/223-listeners-e-mail-im-newly-sober-can-</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we read to you an email that we recieved from one of our listeners!  We dont not use names of course to keep them anonomous.  In this particular email we have someone ask if it is ok for them to use Kratom when getting sober?  We go into detail with our thoughts on this and we think that you will find great value in this episode!  If you have specific questions about your specific situation you can email us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com!]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">5dc2b285-f0a5-4e1c-a7dd-e07f2a44ef15</guid><pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2022 15:48:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907430/223.mp3" length="31213109" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we read to you an email that we recieved from one of our listeners!  We dont not use names of course to keep them anonomous.  In this particular email we have someone ask if it is ok for them to use Kratom when getting sober?  We go...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we read to you an email that we recieved from one of our listeners!  We dont not use names of course to keep them anonomous.  In this particular email we have someone ask if it is ok for them to use Kratom when getting sober?  We go into detail with our thoughts on this and we think that you will find great value in this episode!  If you have specific questions about your specific situation you can email us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com!]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1301</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>222 - Eric B: His mental health struggles and how he is sober 4 years!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/222-eric-b-his-mental-health-struggles-a</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we have a guest Eric who wanted to come on the show and tlak about his mental health struggle growing up and how it influenced his addiction for many years!  Eric has done a great job at taking his sobriety and really allowing it to take him to the next level.  This yound man had a seemingly hopeless life ahead of him.  It wasnt until he decided that he was going to make a change for himself is when he really started to notice deep change within himself.  We hope that you enjoy this episode and as always you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">f9954d9e-b485-42b0-8af0-fbe184fbd388</guid><pubDate>Sun, 02 Oct 2022 11:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907284/222.mp3" length="84818883" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we have a guest Eric who wanted to come on the show and tlak about his mental health struggle growing up and how it influenced his addiction for many years!  Eric has done a great job at taking his sobriety and really allowing it to...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we have a guest Eric who wanted to come on the show and tlak about his mental health struggle growing up and how it influenced his addiction for many years!  Eric has done a great job at taking his sobriety and really allowing it to take him to the next level.  This yound man had a seemingly hopeless life ahead of him.  It wasnt until he decided that he was going to make a change for himself is when he really started to notice deep change within himself.  We hope that you enjoy this episode and as always you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3534</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>221 - Do you need to believe in God to get sober?</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/221-do-you-need-to-believe-in-god-to-get</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode Ben discusses his thoughts and opinions on Spirituality in within the confins of getting sober!  It is no secret that any 12 step program has a strong emphasis on spirituality.  Now, some people have a hard time with spirituality and dont want to buy in to the whole "God" concept.  Well, that is ok!  Enjoy the Show!]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">ff291ea3-58eb-4191-b17c-82529f5108dc</guid><pubDate>Sun, 25 Sep 2022 11:00:21 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907744/221_lib.mp3" length="22368257" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode Ben discusses his thoughts and opinions on Spirituality in within the confins of getting sober!  It is no secret that any 12 step program has a strong emphasis on spirituality.  Now, some people have a hard time with spirituality and...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode Ben discusses his thoughts and opinions on Spirituality in within the confins of getting sober!  It is no secret that any 12 step program has a strong emphasis on spirituality.  Now, some people have a hard time with spirituality and dont want to buy in to the whole "God" concept.  Well, that is ok!  Enjoy the Show!]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>932</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>220 - Service Work: Is it necessary to stay sober?</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/220-service-work-is-it-necessary-to-stay</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss the importance of doing service work when getting clean and sober!  We often times hear about how important it is to do service work, but is it really that important?  Well, in my opinion it is one of the most vital peices what we can hold on to that will take us into long last sobriety!  Take a listen and as always, you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">d93d35ae-70c1-4927-8254-bfccafd15880</guid><pubDate>Wed, 21 Sep 2022 11:00:25 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908185/220.mp3" length="14343440" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode I discuss the importance of doing service work when getting clean and sober!  We often times hear about how important it is to do service work, but is it really that important?  Well, in my opinion it is one of the most vital peices...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss the importance of doing service work when getting clean and sober!  We often times hear about how important it is to do service work, but is it really that important?  Well, in my opinion it is one of the most vital peices what we can hold on to that will take us into long last sobriety!  Take a listen and as always, you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>598</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>219 - Are 12 Step meetings right for me? Here is what to expect when going to a support program</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/219-are-12-step-meetings-right-for-me-he</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss with you what meetings look like in reality compared to what we wish that they looked like!  If we just go to meetings, it will not keep us sober.  We need to build a network of people that will help us navigate our sobriety and also hold us accountable to our actions!  If you find that you dont like the first few meetings that you attend, dont give up! Try new ones! If you have any questions about your specific situation you can contact us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">3dfd4028-ede9-4818-aead-9c87f1ce9c9e</guid><pubDate>Wed, 14 Sep 2022 18:16:51 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907700/219_luibsyn.mp3" length="17053697" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode I discuss with you what meetings look like in reality compared to what we wish that they looked like!  If we just go to meetings, it will not keep us sober.  We need to build a network of people that will help us navigate our sobriety...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss with you what meetings look like in reality compared to what we wish that they looked like!  If we just go to meetings, it will not keep us sober.  We need to build a network of people that will help us navigate our sobriety and also hold us accountable to our actions!  If you find that you dont like the first few meetings that you attend, dont give up! Try new ones! If you have any questions about your specific situation you can contact us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>711</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>218 - Taking Suboxone for 8 years! Brennan gives us his experience</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/218-taking-suboxone-for-8-years-brennan-</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we take a deep dive into a real life experience with someone that was on suboxone for a really long time! Brennan shares with all of us why he was on it and why it took him so long to come off of it!  Goes without saying, we are not medical doctors so dont take any of this as medical advice! Enjoy the show! If you have any questions about your specific situation you can always reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">cd7bbb03-a86e-4a17-8405-c07f88725144</guid><pubDate>Sun, 11 Sep 2022 11:10:59 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907404/218_final.mp3" length="54039323" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we take a deep dive into a real life experience with someone that was on suboxone for a really long time! Brennan shares with all of us why he was on it and why it took him so long to come off of it!  Goes without saying, we are not...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we take a deep dive into a real life experience with someone that was on suboxone for a really long time! Brennan shares with all of us why he was on it and why it took him so long to come off of it!  Goes without saying, we are not medical doctors so dont take any of this as medical advice! Enjoy the show! If you have any questions about your specific situation you can always reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2252</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>217 - You can't please everybody! Be selfish when getting sober!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/217-you-cant-please-everybody-be-selfish</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss why it is so important to think selfishly when first getting clean and sober.  We need to think about what is best for us and not what is best for other people.  It is easy to allow outside influence dictate our next move in sobriety.  To many times, people dont reach their fullest potential because they allow other people, places or things have inluence over them.    ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">f76d78c5-cfd6-44c0-8715-caeeaa6d5636</guid><pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2022 19:23:33 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908156/217.mp3" length="12631270" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode I discuss why it is so important to think selfishly when first getting clean and sober.  We need to think about what is best for us and not what is best for other people.  It is easy to allow outside influence dictate our next move in...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode I discuss why it is so important to think selfishly when first getting clean and sober.  We need to think about what is best for us and not what is best for other people.  It is easy to allow outside influence dictate our next move in sobriety.  To many times, people dont reach their fullest potential because they allow other people, places or things have inluence over them.    ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>527</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>216 - Three Tips to ANTI-UP your sobriety!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/216-three-tips-to-anti-up-your-sobriety</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode I give you three tips that you can implement today to anti-up your sobriety! It does not take a lot of work to implement what I am about to tell you. Just because we put down the drink in the drug doesn't mean that everything is going to be OK, it is going to take some work on our end. So strap on your running shoes because you're gonna need them! Enjoy the show ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">177c1323-e801-488c-acc3-5bd743ac2716</guid><pubDate>Sun, 04 Sep 2022 11:00:47 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908206/216_final.mp3" length="15733990" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode I give you three tips that you can implement today to anti-up your sobriety! It does not take a lot of work to implement what I am about to tell you. Just because we put down the drink in the drug doesn't mean that everything is going...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode I give you three tips that you can implement today to anti-up your sobriety! It does not take a lot of work to implement what I am about to tell you. Just because we put down the drink in the drug doesn't mean that everything is going to be OK, it is going to take some work on our end. So strap on your running shoes because you're gonna need them! Enjoy the show ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>656</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>215 - Time to make new friends!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/215-time-to-make-new-friends</link><description><![CDATA[In this I discuss the importance of making new friends when getting sober. Often times when we get sober our old friends look at us like we're an alien or something. Reality is, that you will not be able to keep the same friends that you had while you were using. Items we need to change everything about ourselves including our friends and those that we think we're friends with. It's time that we look for people that are going to add value to our lives rather than take away from our lives. If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach out at tom@realrecoverytalk.com and <a href="https://rockrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@rockrecoverytalk.com</a> ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">ad75b05b-b244-4fb9-8d55-13f9a4c2f6b6</guid><pubDate>Thu, 01 Sep 2022 19:10:50 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908215/215.mp3" length="10384322" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this I discuss the importance of making new friends when getting sober. Often times when we get sober our old friends look at us like we're an alien or something. Reality is, that you will not be able to keep the same friends that you had while you...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this I discuss the importance of making new friends when getting sober. Often times when we get sober our old friends look at us like we're an alien or something. Reality is, that you will not be able to keep the same friends that you had while you were using. Items we need to change everything about ourselves including our friends and those that we think we're friends with. It's time that we look for people that are going to add value to our lives rather than take away from our lives. If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach out at tom@realrecoverytalk.com and <a href="https://rockrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@rockrecoverytalk.com</a> ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>433</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>214 - Zach shares how sobriety has changed his life in just 2 months!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/214-zach-shares-how-sobriety-has-changed</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode I have a young man names Zach who was couragous enough to come on and share his experience in his first 2 months of sobriety!  Zach is very wise and has a lot of good information to share.  Zach has come such a long way in a short 2 months! Thanks Zach! If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach out at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2b05765b-f090-4204-a1dd-5a7ecb633a0a</guid><pubDate>Sun, 28 Aug 2022 11:00:52 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907752/214_final.mp3" length="41092410" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode I have a young man names Zach who was couragous enough to come on and share his experience in his first 2 months of sobriety!  Zach is very wise and has a lot of good information to share.  Zach has come such a long way in a short 2...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode I have a young man names Zach who was couragous enough to come on and share his experience in his first 2 months of sobriety!  Zach is very wise and has a lot of good information to share.  Zach has come such a long way in a short 2 months! Thanks Zach! If you have any questions about your specific situation you can reach out at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1713</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>213 - Take some INITIATIVE for your yourself and your recovery!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/213-take-some-initiative-for-your-yourse</link><description><![CDATA[In this that I discuss why it is so important to take some initiative not only for yourself but for your recovery. Nothing sobriety process is going to get handed to you. We have to take the initiative to put 1 foot in front of the other to attain the things that we want. Sobriety has so much to offer us but we're going to have to work to get it. If we're not willing to take the initiative needed and put forth the work that we need to then we will end up with stale sobriety and nobody wants that! If you have any questions about your specific situation you can always email us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">d5363a63-c2a7-4977-a93d-f612b35fa3ce</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Aug 2022 14:16:19 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52909323/lib_final.mp3" length="21084286" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this that I discuss why it is so important to take some initiative not only for yourself but for your recovery. Nothing sobriety process is going to get handed to you. We have to take the initiative to put 1 foot in front of the other to attain the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this that I discuss why it is so important to take some initiative not only for yourself but for your recovery. Nothing sobriety process is going to get handed to you. We have to take the initiative to put 1 foot in front of the other to attain the things that we want. Sobriety has so much to offer us but we're going to have to work to get it. If we're not willing to take the initiative needed and put forth the work that we need to then we will end up with stale sobriety and nobody wants that! If you have any questions about your specific situation you can always email us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>879</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>212 - Building rapport: Why its so important for us and our clients, with Destiny</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/212-building-rapport-why-its-so-importan</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss why it is so important to build rapport right off the bat with out clients.  Often times our clients come into treatment and they dont trust anyone, let alone want to be in treatment!  That is wny we focus so much on building a good relationship with them right out of the gate.  We want our clients to know that they can trust us no matter what they are going through.   If you have any questions about your specific situations you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a>  ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">1589029b-802d-412e-9f82-91c132ceed9b</guid><pubDate>Sun, 21 Aug 2022 14:17:43 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907451/final.mp3" length="29572410" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we discuss why it is so important to build rapport right off the bat with out clients.  Often times our clients come into treatment and they dont trust anyone, let alone want to be in treatment!  That is wny we focus so much on...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss why it is so important to build rapport right off the bat with out clients.  Often times our clients come into treatment and they dont trust anyone, let alone want to be in treatment!  That is wny we focus so much on building a good relationship with them right out of the gate.  We want our clients to know that they can trust us no matter what they are going through.   If you have any questions about your specific situations you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a>  ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1233</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>211 - Nicole Bifano LCSW: Are you making progress while in treatment for your addiction</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/211-nicole-bifano-lcsw-are-you-making-pr</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we have Nicole Bufano who is a licensed clinical social worker and works here at Rock Recovery Center. Nicole is our assistant Clinical Director and also a primary therapist here. In this episode we discuss measurable goals that we look for for each client, which helps us gauge if in fact they are making progress in the treatment process. Nicole gets into detail about things that she looks for from the client and how she can tailor the treatment plans to work best for them. We hope you enjoy this episode and if you have any questions comments or concerns about your specific situation you recovery you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Tom@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">d8a6f244-f6c8-4cd1-9fe5-e5f528d073a9</guid><pubDate>Wed, 17 Aug 2022 14:55:42 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908262/zoom0005_tr1.mp3" length="30097199" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we have Nicole Bufano who is a licensed clinical social worker and works here at Rock Recovery Center. Nicole is our assistant Clinical Director and also a primary therapist here. In this episode we discuss measurable goals that we...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we have Nicole Bufano who is a licensed clinical social worker and works here at Rock Recovery Center. Nicole is our assistant Clinical Director and also a primary therapist here. In this episode we discuss measurable goals that we look for for each client, which helps us gauge if in fact they are making progress in the treatment process. Nicole gets into detail about things that she looks for from the client and how she can tailor the treatment plans to work best for them. We hope you enjoy this episode and if you have any questions comments or concerns about your specific situation you recovery you can reach us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Tom@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2150</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>210 - Why we need to learn to trust people when getting sober</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/210-why-we-need-to-learn-to-trust-people</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss the importance of being able to trust people when getting clean and sober. Often times in our addictions we felt betrayed and felt like we didn't have any support from anybody. It is not uncommon for us to not be able to trust anybody when getting newly clean and sober. We discussed the importance of why we need to be able to trust people in our sober network and how we can rely on them moving forward.  If you have any questions about your specific situations you can always reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a>   ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">bb4f99c2-9b91-41e1-b012-e041194e7e4e</guid><pubDate>Sun, 14 Aug 2022 11:00:51 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908192/210_final.mp3" length="22272376" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we discuss the importance of being able to trust people when getting clean and sober. Often times in our addictions we felt betrayed and felt like we didn't have any support from anybody. It is not uncommon for us to not be able to...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss the importance of being able to trust people when getting clean and sober. Often times in our addictions we felt betrayed and felt like we didn't have any support from anybody. It is not uncommon for us to not be able to trust anybody when getting newly clean and sober. We discussed the importance of why we need to be able to trust people in our sober network and how we can rely on them moving forward.  If you have any questions about your specific situations you can always reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a>   ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1591</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>209 - Do you have a VISION for your sobriety?</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/209-do-you-have-a-vision-for-your-sobrie</link><description><![CDATA[ In this episode I discuss the importance of having a vision not only for your sobriety but also for your life in general. Often times we think getting sober is just about putting down a drink in the drugs, but there is so much more to it. If we do not have goals set for ourselves that are attainable it can be very difficult for us to see progress in our sobriety.  It's about that we start taking responsibility for our lives and build something with the remaining years we have left on this earth. Let's make our sobriety worth having that way we can continue living the life that we ultimately want to live. If you have questions about your specific situation you can reach out to us at tom@rockrecoverytalk.com and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">e738f0f3-6974-412e-a70b-51b5c65053d9</guid><pubDate>Wed, 10 Aug 2022 14:28:36 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52909374/209.mp3" length="22653514" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle> In this episode I discuss the importance of having a vision not only for your sobriety but also for your life in general. Often times we think getting sober is just about putting down a drink in the drugs, but there is so much more to it. If we do...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[ In this episode I discuss the importance of having a vision not only for your sobriety but also for your life in general. Often times we think getting sober is just about putting down a drink in the drugs, but there is so much more to it. If we do not have goals set for ourselves that are attainable it can be very difficult for us to see progress in our sobriety.  It's about that we start taking responsibility for our lives and build something with the remaining years we have left on this earth. Let's make our sobriety worth having that way we can continue living the life that we ultimately want to live. If you have questions about your specific situation you can reach out to us at tom@rockrecoverytalk.com and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>944</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>208 - Handling different personalities PART 2</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/208-handling-different-personalities-par</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we continue our discussion about different personalities that we come in contact with throughout the treatment process. We discuss how the different personalities that we interact with can ultimately affect our recovery in a negative or a positive way. We discussed ways in which you can identify these different personalities in the best ways to handle them. If you question about your specific situation you can always reach out to us at tom@realrecoverytalk.com and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">68046748-82a7-4dd5-bf10-4ca7d085a745</guid><pubDate>Sun, 07 Aug 2022 11:00:47 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908238/208.mp3" length="49295904" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we continue our discussion about different personalities that we come in contact with throughout the treatment process. We discuss how the different personalities that we interact with can ultimately affect our recovery in a negative...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we continue our discussion about different personalities that we come in contact with throughout the treatment process. We discuss how the different personalities that we interact with can ultimately affect our recovery in a negative or a positive way. We discussed ways in which you can identify these different personalities in the best ways to handle them. If you question about your specific situation you can always reach out to us at tom@realrecoverytalk.com and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2054</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>207 - How to navigate different personalities when getting clean and sober</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/207-how-to-navigate-different-personalit</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss a few different ways in which somone can present differently when getting clean and sober.  It can be a lot to handle and knowing how to naviagate each person differerently can be a huge advantage.  If you would like to talk about your specific situation you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">11e5d854-fbdf-4f93-9574-624c4d9ef06e</guid><pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2022 01:11:03 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52909356/207.mp3" length="40521896" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we discuss a few different ways in which somone can present differently when getting clean and sober.  It can be a lot to handle and knowing how to naviagate each person differerently can be a huge advantage.  If you would like to talk...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss a few different ways in which somone can present differently when getting clean and sober.  It can be a lot to handle and knowing how to naviagate each person differerently can be a huge advantage.  If you would like to talk about your specific situation you can reach out to us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and Ben@realrecoverytalk.com]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1689</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>206 - Be careful who you take advice from when getting sober!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/206-be-careful-who-you-take-advice-from-</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss taking advice from people when first getting sober. We discus the importance of being able to seek wisdom from those who have lived recovery. We discus situations in which you could get bad advice from people and how ultimately this whole recovery thing is based on opinion. Just because something doesn't work for one person doesn't mean I can't work for you and vice versa.  If you have questions about your specific situation you can email us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">d4f87a82-f86d-47ee-a3d7-1b6814e4d140</guid><pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2022 12:25:42 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908196/untitled_1_71822_8_39_am.mp3" length="42840316" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we discuss taking advice from people when first getting sober. We discus the importance of being able to seek wisdom from those who have lived recovery. We discus situations in which you could get bad advice from people and how...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss taking advice from people when first getting sober. We discus the importance of being able to seek wisdom from those who have lived recovery. We discus situations in which you could get bad advice from people and how ultimately this whole recovery thing is based on opinion. Just because something doesn't work for one person doesn't mean I can't work for you and vice versa.  If you have questions about your specific situation you can email us at <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1785</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>205 - Lets talk vulnerability: Why being vulnerable is a good thing in recovery</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/205-lets-talk-vulnerability-why-being-vu</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we discussed Wyatt is so important to be vulnerable in the recovery process. Often times people have a hard time opening up to others, which causes them to not have the level of growth in their recovery as they should. When we are able to be open and honest with other people about what is truly going on in our lives, it tends to catapult our recovery. It is OK to share your true feelings with other people about what is going on in your life. This is the only way that we can achieve true growth. Don't be ashamed for sharing with others your thoughts and feelings.  I encourage you to listen to this episode in its entirety.  If you start practicing bein vulnerable with others, I promise you, you will understand the benefit of it.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">3a4d4be9-dbb3-4099-b9b9-dc3b2e4b138b</guid><pubDate>Sun, 10 Jul 2022 11:00:08 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52909379/205.mp3" length="25613919" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we discussed Wyatt is so important to be vulnerable in the recovery process. Often times people have a hard time opening up to others, which causes them to not have the level of growth in their recovery as they should. When we are able...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we discussed Wyatt is so important to be vulnerable in the recovery process. Often times people have a hard time opening up to others, which causes them to not have the level of growth in their recovery as they should. When we are able to be open and honest with other people about what is truly going on in our lives, it tends to catapult our recovery. It is OK to share your true feelings with other people about what is going on in your life. This is the only way that we can achieve true growth. Don't be ashamed for sharing with others your thoughts and feelings.  I encourage you to listen to this episode in its entirety.  If you start practicing bein vulnerable with others, I promise you, you will understand the benefit of it.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1068</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>204 -  My Dad had a STROKE! This is the event turns out I was not prepared for</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/204-my-dad-had-a-stroke-this-is-the-even</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode I discussed a life-changing event that took place on June 14, 2022. My dad had a massive stroke and lost his vision. Along with that a lot of his memory has been severely affected. These are the things that we often talk about when getting sober that we need to be prepared for. Life throws things at us and if we're not ready for them it can very easily be a reason to drink or use drugs. Fortunately for myself I had a lot of support from friends and family that I could rely on to get me through this tough time. My hope for you in this episode is that you can see it is it possible to endure these challenges without using drugs or alcohol.  If you would like to reach out about your specific situation you can email me at tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com enjoy the show! ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">0149cd1c-2e93-4299-8ba4-485dfa60bfdc</guid><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jun 2022 11:00:39 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908261/ep_204.mp3" length="21726271" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode I discussed a life-changing event that took place on June 14, 2022. My dad had a massive stroke and lost his vision. Along with that a lot of his memory has been severely affected. These are the things that we often talk about when...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode I discussed a life-changing event that took place on June 14, 2022. My dad had a massive stroke and lost his vision. Along with that a lot of his memory has been severely affected. These are the things that we often talk about when getting sober that we need to be prepared for. Life throws things at us and if we're not ready for them it can very easily be a reason to drink or use drugs. Fortunately for myself I had a lot of support from friends and family that I could rely on to get me through this tough time. My hope for you in this episode is that you can see it is it possible to endure these challenges without using drugs or alcohol.  If you would like to reach out about your specific situation you can email me at tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com enjoy the show! ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>906</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>203 - Don't make these 5 excuses for going to treatment for your drug addiction</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/203-dont-make-these-5-excuses-for-going-</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss the Top 5 reasons/excuses as to why people dont go into drug treatment.  We are very good at talking ourselves out of doing the things that we know are best for us.   Realtiy is, there are no good excuse to not go to treatment when it is needed.  Dont let anyone or anybody talk you out of making the best decision of your life.   If you would like to reach out to us and discuss your specific situation you can email us at  <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a>  ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">7493dd40-a025-43ee-8e2e-0e9f9e2a546c</guid><pubDate>Sun, 19 Jun 2022 12:52:49 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907683/ep_203_take_2.mp3" length="45550572" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we discuss the Top 5 reasons/excuses as to why people dont go into drug treatment.  We are very good at talking ourselves out of doing the things that we know are best for us.   Realtiy is, there are no good excuse to not go to...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss the Top 5 reasons/excuses as to why people dont go into drug treatment.  We are very good at talking ourselves out of doing the things that we know are best for us.   Realtiy is, there are no good excuse to not go to treatment when it is needed.  Dont let anyone or anybody talk you out of making the best decision of your life.   If you would like to reach out to us and discuss your specific situation you can email us at  <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a>  ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1898</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>202 - Don't let your sobriety get STALE</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/202-dont-let-your-sobriety-get-stale</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss five tips to keep your sobriety intact and not let it get stale. No matter where you are in the sobriety journey it is important to stay active and to continue to build on your sobriety. We can do this in many different ways, but most importantly we need to continue to work on ourselves. These tips are very applicable and can be done at any moment. If you want to amplify your sobriety, take a listen and emplement these stratagies today! If you would like to reach out to us you can email us at  <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Thank you for all of your support!]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">968abc4c-945b-49a7-aff9-c3f65fb29ebb</guid><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jun 2022 13:53:54 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908224/ep_202.mp3" length="48475241" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we discuss five tips to keep your sobriety intact and not let it get stale. No matter where you are in the sobriety journey it is important to stay active and to continue to build on your sobriety. We can do this in many different...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss five tips to keep your sobriety intact and not let it get stale. No matter where you are in the sobriety journey it is important to stay active and to continue to build on your sobriety. We can do this in many different ways, but most importantly we need to continue to work on ourselves. These tips are very applicable and can be done at any moment. If you want to amplify your sobriety, take a listen and emplement these stratagies today! If you would like to reach out to us you can email us at  <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Thank you for all of your support!]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2020</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>201- Top 5 Reasons you KEEP going back to treatment</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/201-top-5-reasons-you-keep-going-back-to</link><description><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss the top five reasons why you keep going back to treatment. Unfortunately people have unrealistic expectations around what treatment is supposed to be for. We tell people all the time, if you're not doing it while you're in treatment, you won't do it when you are out of treatment. If you take these five things and really focusing on them during your treatment process it is going to be very hard for you not to be successful. Thank you everyone for your support. Remember, you can always turn your mess into your message! If you would like to reach us you can email us at tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com also please go and take a look at our Youtube Channel!!]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">7a347735-7ac1-40f0-afa8-ec8d5e6fe8e5</guid><pubDate>Sun, 05 Jun 2022 11:00:17 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908267/ep_201_take_2.mp3" length="49937890" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In this episode we discuss the top five reasons why you keep going back to treatment. Unfortunately people have unrealistic expectations around what treatment is supposed to be for. We tell people all the time, if you're not doing it while you're in...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode we discuss the top five reasons why you keep going back to treatment. Unfortunately people have unrealistic expectations around what treatment is supposed to be for. We tell people all the time, if you're not doing it while you're in treatment, you won't do it when you are out of treatment. If you take these five things and really focusing on them during your treatment process it is going to be very hard for you not to be successful. Thank you everyone for your support. Remember, you can always turn your mess into your message! If you would like to reach us you can email us at tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com also please go and take a look at our Youtube Channel!!]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2081</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>200 -  WE'RE BACK! Thanks for the undertanding</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/200-were-back-thanks-for-the-undertandin</link><guid isPermaLink="false">532e35a4-8647-46d7-91f1-e0304b794808</guid><pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2022 01:08:06 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52909392/ep_200_52922_9_09_pm.mp3" length="42555058" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:duration>1773</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>199 - How to stay sober during the holidays</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/199-how-to-stay-sober-during-the-holiday</link><description><![CDATA[The holiday season is here upon us. This can be tough for those who are in early recovery, especially being with family. Along with family comes a lot of emotions. You may have indulged in drugs and alcohol to get through previous holidays to get yourself through this time. Now, however; you are sober and you’ll need to put new tools in your toolbox to move through the holidays sober. The big question I’m going to discuss today: How can we go into the holiday season and be sure we will be OK when we get out the other side? Don’t go into the holiday season with the idea that this will be hard for you. Put your fear aside, celebrate being joyful with friends and family. Especially if you’re new to sobriety, take heart to follow these steps and make your holiday season a good and memorable one.  Here is a plan you can follow to have a safe, fun and enjoyable holiday season this year: #1 Create a plan for your holiday Not just plan where to go, but how you are going to deal with situations. If you are seeing family, you’ll most likely be going back to the same dysfunction or bad habits of the family. Think about what you are going to do and say when family members put you in a “party” situation or try to bring you to a bar. #2 Find a meeting where you are going during the holiday Find a support person locally to reach out and talk to someone who can support you.  #3 Communicate with your family members Tell your family your boundaries and expectations for your health and to support you. Let your family know if they cannot support you, that you will not be coming to the family function. They won’t know what you expect unless you communicate with them effectively. Share with them your expectations weeks before you are going to meet them for the holidays. This will relieve the awkwardness of your family so they will know what you feel comfortable with during events. Tell your family that you don’t want to be offered alcohol or drugs. If they are drinking, you may need to be in a different room. #4 Set up your accountability partners beforehand The newly recovered person should decide before they go to a family function who the responsible family members are which they can have for support. #5 Look at this as an opportunity to create new, wonderful memories with your family! Look for happy moments and fill your time with fun activities with your family and friends. Have meaningful conversations and tell them about your newfound sobriety. You may be a vehicle for others to become sober. You may have spent years not being there for your family, this is your time to show your family and friends you are sober and there for them. Have gratitude you have this opportunity to spend time with them.  <ol> <li>If your family is a party family and always uses drugs or alcohol, your best choice is to not attend a family gathering. Be proud of your sobriety and do not put yourself in a situation to lose what you have done for yourself! </li> </ol> There’s nothing on the face of this planet that is worth more than your sobriety. Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!   Show Notes: [01:44] Sobriety - you haven’t had to be sober for previous holidays, but now you do! [03:22] Going into your first holiday season as a sober person. [04:33] #1 Create a plan for your holiday [07:11]What should you do when your family puts you in a not-so-great situation? Plan ahead! [09:09] #3 Communicate with your family members [12:03] Decide what family members are supportive and communicate with them. #4 Set up your accountability beforehand. [15:59] Know that you have a say in what you do with alcohol.  [19:09] Be proud to be the sober person in the crowd. [20:15] There’s nothing on the face of this planet that is worth more than your sobriety.   Links and Resources: <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a>  ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">d44db76c-da38-4827-88a7-4f7f60c787f0</guid><pubDate>Thu, 09 Dec 2021 11:06:07 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907328/rrt199.mp3" length="16468568" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>The holiday season is here upon us. This can be tough for those who are in early recovery, especially being with family. Along with family comes a lot of emotions. You may have indulged in drugs and alcohol to get through previous holidays to get...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[The holiday season is here upon us. This can be tough for those who are in early recovery, especially being with family. Along with family comes a lot of emotions. You may have indulged in drugs and alcohol to get through previous holidays to get yourself through this time. Now, however; you are sober and you’ll need to put new tools in your toolbox to move through the holidays sober. The big question I’m going to discuss today: How can we go into the holiday season and be sure we will be OK when we get out the other side? Don’t go into the holiday season with the idea that this will be hard for you. Put your fear aside, celebrate being joyful with friends and family. Especially if you’re new to sobriety, take heart to follow these steps and make your holiday season a good and memorable one.  Here is a plan you can follow to have a safe, fun and enjoyable holiday season this year: #1 Create a plan for your holiday Not just plan where to go, but how you are going to deal with situations. If you are seeing family, you’ll most likely be going back to the same dysfunction or bad habits of the family. Think about what you are going to do and say when family members put you in a “party” situation or try to bring you to a bar. #2 Find a meeting where you are going during the holiday Find a support person locally to reach out and talk to someone who can support you.  #3 Communicate with your family members Tell your family your boundaries and expectations for your health and to support you. Let your family know if they cannot support you, that you will not be coming to the family function. They won’t know what you expect unless you communicate with them effectively. Share with them your expectations weeks before you are going to meet them for the holidays. This will relieve the awkwardness of your family so they will know what you feel comfortable with during events. Tell your family that you don’t want to be offered alcohol or drugs. If they are drinking, you may need to be in a different room. #4 Set up your accountability partners beforehand The newly recovered person should decide before they go to a family function who the responsible family members are which they can have for support. #5 Look at this as an opportunity to create new, wonderful memories with your family! Look for happy moments and fill your time with fun activities with your family and friends. Have meaningful conversations and tell them about your newfound sobriety. You may be a vehicle for others to become sober. You may have spent years not being there for your family, this is your time to show your family and friends you are sober and there for them. Have gratitude you have this opportunity to spend time with them.  <ol> <li>If your family is a party family and always uses drugs or alcohol, your best choice is to not attend a family gathering. Be proud of your sobriety and do not put yourself in a situation to lose what you have done for yourself! </li> </ol> There’s nothing on the face of this planet that is worth more than your sobriety. Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!   Show Notes: [01:44] Sobriety - you haven’t had to be sober for previous holidays, but now you do! [03:22] Going into your first holiday season as a sober person. [04:33] #1 Create a plan for your holiday [07:11]What should you do when your family puts you in a not-so-great situation? Plan ahead! [09:09] #3 Communicate with your family members [12:03] Decide what family members are supportive and communicate with them. #4 Set up your accountability beforehand. [15:59] Know that you have a say in what you do with alcohol.  [19:09] Be proud to be the sober person in the crowd. [20:15] There’s nothing on the face of this planet that is worth more than your sobriety.   Links and Resources: <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank"...]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1482</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>198 - Addicted to Meth - Devin shares his story</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/198-addicted-to-meth-devin-shares-his-st</link><description><![CDATA[“Addiction is so big in our society right now that it’s best that you let loved ones know that they can have help. They can receive help, and they can do this. It doesn’t have to kill them.” -Devin Today, Ben and I chatted with Devin, who’s an example of getting back on track. He began drug usage during childhood, and found himself in prison later. Devin gathered the strength to face himself and the beast within. He doesn’t do it alone, but with the help of the people around him. Listen in as he talks about using drugs to feel a void, getting back on track after a relapse, and how families can help their loved ones through treatment. Too Much Time on His Hands Isolation created a gap in Devin’s childhood of growing up in Atlanta, GA. He raised himself since 5th grade while his family was busy with work and life. His family’s absence made him yearn to be noticed. Devin felt lost despite knowing his family was working to give him a better life, especially his father. Devin smoked his first joint around the age of 13. As he experimented with different substances and alcohol, it progressed into something he wanted to do every day. Devin thought the drugs and alcohol changed the way he felt. Besides that, he had a lot of time on his hands, and a gap in his life to fill.  Devin tried Xanax at 15, and then Cocaine at 18. All his experimenting led him to using Meth at age 20. He lived with this addiction, even while in prison. After prison, he felt the urge to change his relationship with substances. Family and friends became a major inspiration for Devin receiving guidance about treatment, and even helping him get back on track after a relapse. Devin managed the beast within by refusing to give up on himself. A Message to Families and Friends Since family and a supportive community played a role in Devin’s treatment, he encourages other families about their role in a loved one’s recovery journey. Structure and accountability are needed in recovering and maintaining sobriety. Devin mentions the small routines, like making his bed, that helps him along the way. With the belief from himself and people around him, Devin is able to keep getting back on track day by day. Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>, 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 [02:12] - How early did Devin start experimenting with substances  [05:07] - Isolation can influence substance abuse [08:46] - What did Devin’s aunt say to him to help him get treatment [12:13] - A relapse occurs when he thinks he has his drug usage under control  [18:30] - What was Devin’s mindset when he restarted his program against drug usage [21:24] - Here are steps to support loved ones through treatment   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>  ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">03da93cc-c493-4df6-b5df-6ce88a63d958</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2021 08:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907485/rrt198.mp3" length="17297243" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Addiction is so big in our society right now that it’s best that you let loved ones know that they can have help. They can receive help, and they can do this. It doesn’t have to kill them.” -Devin Today, Ben and I chatted with Devin, who’s an example...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Addiction is so big in our society right now that it’s best that you let loved ones know that they can have help. They can receive help, and they can do this. It doesn’t have to kill them.” -Devin Today, Ben and I chatted with Devin, who’s an example of getting back on track. He began drug usage during childhood, and found himself in prison later. Devin gathered the strength to face himself and the beast within. He doesn’t do it alone, but with the help of the people around him. Listen in as he talks about using drugs to feel a void, getting back on track after a relapse, and how families can help their loved ones through treatment. Too Much Time on His Hands Isolation created a gap in Devin’s childhood of growing up in Atlanta, GA. He raised himself since 5th grade while his family was busy with work and life. His family’s absence made him yearn to be noticed. Devin felt lost despite knowing his family was working to give him a better life, especially his father. Devin smoked his first joint around the age of 13. As he experimented with different substances and alcohol, it progressed into something he wanted to do every day. Devin thought the drugs and alcohol changed the way he felt. Besides that, he had a lot of time on his hands, and a gap in his life to fill.  Devin tried Xanax at 15, and then Cocaine at 18. All his experimenting led him to using Meth at age 20. He lived with this addiction, even while in prison. After prison, he felt the urge to change his relationship with substances. Family and friends became a major inspiration for Devin receiving guidance about treatment, and even helping him get back on track after a relapse. Devin managed the beast within by refusing to give up on himself. A Message to Families and Friends Since family and a supportive community played a role in Devin’s treatment, he encourages other families about their role in a loved one’s recovery journey. Structure and accountability are needed in recovering and maintaining sobriety. Devin mentions the small routines, like making his bed, that helps him along the way. With the belief from himself and people around him, Devin is able to keep getting back on track day by day. Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>, 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 [02:12] - How early did Devin start experimenting with substances  [05:07] - Isolation can influence substance abuse [08:46] - What did Devin’s aunt say to him to help him get treatment [12:13] - A relapse occurs when he thinks he has his drug usage under control  [18:30] - What was Devin’s mindset when he restarted his program against drug usage [21:24] - Here are steps to support loved ones through treatment   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com Podcast editing and show notes by <a...]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1565</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>197 - Getting Hooked On (and Off) Drugs and Drink</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/197-getting-hooked-on-and-off-drugs-and-</link><description><![CDATA[“I have a purpose today, and I feel God steps in my life a lot and he was telling me to have courage and be fearless.” -Ira Today, Ben and I chatted with Ira, who’s a real deal addict. He’s had a ton of health issues like cancer, diabetes, and even facing death as a result of his drug and alcohol addiction. But he managed to turn his life around and now he’s going on two years sober! Listen in as he talks about getting addicted, how he overcame it, and all the people who helped save his life along the way. Struggling to Find His Place Growing up in the 70s as half Irish and half Vietnamese, Ira felt like he never fit in anywhere. He went through some verbal and physical abuse at an early age.  In seventh grade at age 13, he picked up his first beer and smoked dope for the first time. By age 15, he was an IV drug user and hooked on cocaine and opiates. Then he dropped out of high school with only a 9th-grade education and eventually became a convicted felon in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida.  Years after his father passed away from cirrhosis, Ira turned to heavy drinking. “I drank alcoholically because I was searching for the high from dope and pills or whatever it may be, and I wasn’t getting it.”  This led to frequent illness and hospital visits that did nothing to help his addiction... until a pivotal low point marked the real beginning of his turbulent recovery. Helping Others in Recovery After a lot of pain and uncertainty about where his life was headed, Ira has taken up a mantle that not many sober people choose. He shares his story in hopes of helping others recover from their addictions. Through his own experience of 35 years and newfound faith, he meets great people in places like hospitals, treatment centers, and psyche wards. Ira knows the importance of having a supportive person or group on the road to sobriety. Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>, 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 [05:26] What made Ira swear off heavy drinking for 13 years [07:26] How he got high on alcohol and drugs at the same time [10:49] Frequent hospital visits as an easy way to get a fix [14:11] Why the substance of choice plays a minor part in addiction overall [18:46] Ira’s downturn before the turnaround [29:36] An intervention that led to him getting treatment for his health problems [40:04] The place and the meeting that ended up saving his life [46:58] How the last few months of Ira’s life have changed   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>  ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">8f8f5ab2-b9e2-468d-b608-97dc2016c717</guid><pubDate>Fri, 19 Nov 2021 15:37:41 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908244/rrt197.mp3" length="33970967" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“I have a purpose today, and I feel God steps in my life a lot and he was telling me to have courage and be fearless.” -Ira Today, Ben and I chatted with Ira, who’s a real deal addict. He’s had a ton of health issues like cancer, diabetes, and even...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“I have a purpose today, and I feel God steps in my life a lot and he was telling me to have courage and be fearless.” -Ira Today, Ben and I chatted with Ira, who’s a real deal addict. He’s had a ton of health issues like cancer, diabetes, and even facing death as a result of his drug and alcohol addiction. But he managed to turn his life around and now he’s going on two years sober! Listen in as he talks about getting addicted, how he overcame it, and all the people who helped save his life along the way. Struggling to Find His Place Growing up in the 70s as half Irish and half Vietnamese, Ira felt like he never fit in anywhere. He went through some verbal and physical abuse at an early age.  In seventh grade at age 13, he picked up his first beer and smoked dope for the first time. By age 15, he was an IV drug user and hooked on cocaine and opiates. Then he dropped out of high school with only a 9th-grade education and eventually became a convicted felon in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida.  Years after his father passed away from cirrhosis, Ira turned to heavy drinking. “I drank alcoholically because I was searching for the high from dope and pills or whatever it may be, and I wasn’t getting it.”  This led to frequent illness and hospital visits that did nothing to help his addiction... until a pivotal low point marked the real beginning of his turbulent recovery. Helping Others in Recovery After a lot of pain and uncertainty about where his life was headed, Ira has taken up a mantle that not many sober people choose. He shares his story in hopes of helping others recover from their addictions. Through his own experience of 35 years and newfound faith, he meets great people in places like hospitals, treatment centers, and psyche wards. Ira knows the importance of having a supportive person or group on the road to sobriety. Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>, 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 [05:26] What made Ira swear off heavy drinking for 13 years [07:26] How he got high on alcohol and drugs at the same time [10:49] Frequent hospital visits as an easy way to get a fix [14:11] Why the substance of choice plays a minor part in addiction overall [18:46] Ira’s downturn before the turnaround [29:36] An intervention that led to him getting treatment for his health problems [40:04] The place and the meeting that ended up saving his life [46:58] How the last few months of Ira’s life have changed   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>  ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3233</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>196 - Starting an Addiction During College</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/196-starting-an-addiction-during-college</link><description><![CDATA[“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 <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>, 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 <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">d782381f-d5a4-4182-bcab-62e4d95bfbdb</guid><pubDate>Thu, 04 Nov 2021 10:20:20 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908256/rrt196.mp3" length="40841792" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“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...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“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 <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>, 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 <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3921</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>195 - Healing Trauma to Break Free From Addiction</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/195-healing-trauma-to-break-free-from-ad</link><description><![CDATA[“Life continues to show up, whether you want to be a part of it or not.” -Natalie Today, Ben and I chatted with Natalie, who endured horrible abuse as a small girl that gave her immense amounts of childhood trauma that ended up turning into a drug and alcohol addiction as a teen. Listen in to discover how Natalie overcame her addiction by healing her emotional wounds as an adult. Her Early Years Traumatized as a Child At the age of eight, Natalie was sexually molested and started drinking at the age of 14. As her disease progressed, she started using Zanax and was arrested at 17 and put on probation.  She couldn’t trust anyone by the age of 10 and didn’t know who she was or what to do in her daily life. Natalie felt a constant challenge of wanting to be the best and fitting in with other kids her age.  In college, Natalie became addicted to oxycontin, robbed her neighbor’s home, and was picked up and put in jail for 14 days. Her father wouldn’t bail her out, and she was considered the black sheep of her family. Shortly after her jail sentence, Natalie moved to Canada and started selling herself for sex to keep up with her drug addiction. Learning to Utilize Her AA Tools to Heal Surrendering is Natalie’s lifeline to healing. “Everyday you need to surrender yourself.” Natalie understands the importance of having a good, reliable support group, such as the people she’s found at Rock Recovery Center. Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>, 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 [02:32] Natalie talks about her past history growing up in a family of six children. [07:22] Using the white chip to surrender yourself so you can heal. [12:53] How surrendering leads to recovery for addicts. [17:48] Utilizing sobriety in the form of having clean people around you to help you change your lifestyle. [22:49] Moving from one addiction to another because you need the high to survive. [33:07] How Natalie’s life has changed since she started her recovery. [45:00] What she is doing to continue her recovery into sobriety.   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">f09acdd4-4a72-497e-aea4-eac0fb1d1fc8</guid><pubDate>Thu, 28 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907481/rrt195.mp3" length="31413817" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Life continues to show up, whether you want to be a part of it or not.” -Natalie Today, Ben and I chatted with Natalie, who endured horrible abuse as a small girl that gave her immense amounts of childhood trauma that ended up turning into a drug and...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Life continues to show up, whether you want to be a part of it or not.” -Natalie Today, Ben and I chatted with Natalie, who endured horrible abuse as a small girl that gave her immense amounts of childhood trauma that ended up turning into a drug and alcohol addiction as a teen. Listen in to discover how Natalie overcame her addiction by healing her emotional wounds as an adult. Her Early Years Traumatized as a Child At the age of eight, Natalie was sexually molested and started drinking at the age of 14. As her disease progressed, she started using Zanax and was arrested at 17 and put on probation.  She couldn’t trust anyone by the age of 10 and didn’t know who she was or what to do in her daily life. Natalie felt a constant challenge of wanting to be the best and fitting in with other kids her age.  In college, Natalie became addicted to oxycontin, robbed her neighbor’s home, and was picked up and put in jail for 14 days. Her father wouldn’t bail her out, and she was considered the black sheep of her family. Shortly after her jail sentence, Natalie moved to Canada and started selling herself for sex to keep up with her drug addiction. Learning to Utilize Her AA Tools to Heal Surrendering is Natalie’s lifeline to healing. “Everyday you need to surrender yourself.” Natalie understands the importance of having a good, reliable support group, such as the people she’s found at Rock Recovery Center. Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>, 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 [02:32] Natalie talks about her past history growing up in a family of six children. [07:22] Using the white chip to surrender yourself so you can heal. [12:53] How surrendering leads to recovery for addicts. [17:48] Utilizing sobriety in the form of having clean people around you to help you change your lifestyle. [22:49] Moving from one addiction to another because you need the high to survive. [33:07] How Natalie’s life has changed since she started her recovery. [45:00] What she is doing to continue her recovery into sobriety.   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2977</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>194 - Sher Canada Gets Her Life Back at Age 58</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/194-sher-canada-gets-her-life-back-at-ag</link><description><![CDATA[“You’ve got to surrender - I came here and gave it all up to you.” -Sher Today, Ben and I chatted with Sher Canada, a former client at Rock Recovery Center. We could tell that she was someone special shortly after she arrived at Rock Recovery. In our interview with Sher, you’ll find out how addicts can recover into an exciting life with a purpose and not have to live their sober days bored and complacent.  Early Life with an Alcoholic Mother When she was young, Sher discovered the slew of alcohol bottles her mom hid in their bathroom. She remembers almost being killed in car accidents and then becoming “mom” to her siblings at age 14 when her mom went away to rehab.  She decided to move to Miami to attend college, drove to Miami from her home in Nebraska, and started working in retail. “I always liked to have nice things,” says Sher. In addition, she also loved to make women feel beautiful. As a result, she was able to sell and moved up in ranks. Sher eventually became VP of the hottest retail company in the US by the time she was 30. Deciding to Take Alcohol Out of Her Life Living in California, she married her personal trainer. Having to travel often for work, she didn’t realize that her husband had become an alcoholic. When her husband lied to her about his addiction, she moved out the same day. With her dad an alcoholic, her mom a recovered alcoholic, and her sister also an alcoholic, Sher didn’t want to perpetuate the alcoholism in her life.  Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>, 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 [02:45] Sher’s childhood with an alcoholic mother. [11:33] Striking a balance between serving addicts and family life.  [21:57] Retiring at the age of 56, Sher joined a tennis club and started drinking. [25:06] Her partner starts to realize she is drinking too much.  [35:55] Figuring out what you love to do and make money at it for your career. [37:10] Sher’s partner moves out and leaves alcohol recovery center information behind. [44:03] Her first few days at Rock Recovery Center. [56:36] No matter how successful you are, alcohol and drugs can bring you down in life. [61:33] Finding her sponsor through the AA program.   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>  ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">564b0eb7-0496-4df4-91bd-00ff7a885800</guid><pubDate>Thu, 21 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908226/rrt194.mp3" length="42493528" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“You’ve got to surrender - I came here and gave it all up to you.” -Sher Today, Ben and I chatted with Sher Canada, a former client at Rock Recovery Center. We could tell that she was someone special shortly after she arrived at Rock Recovery. In our...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“You’ve got to surrender - I came here and gave it all up to you.” -Sher Today, Ben and I chatted with Sher Canada, a former client at Rock Recovery Center. We could tell that she was someone special shortly after she arrived at Rock Recovery. In our interview with Sher, you’ll find out how addicts can recover into an exciting life with a purpose and not have to live their sober days bored and complacent.  Early Life with an Alcoholic Mother When she was young, Sher discovered the slew of alcohol bottles her mom hid in their bathroom. She remembers almost being killed in car accidents and then becoming “mom” to her siblings at age 14 when her mom went away to rehab.  She decided to move to Miami to attend college, drove to Miami from her home in Nebraska, and started working in retail. “I always liked to have nice things,” says Sher. In addition, she also loved to make women feel beautiful. As a result, she was able to sell and moved up in ranks. Sher eventually became VP of the hottest retail company in the US by the time she was 30. Deciding to Take Alcohol Out of Her Life Living in California, she married her personal trainer. Having to travel often for work, she didn’t realize that her husband had become an alcoholic. When her husband lied to her about his addiction, she moved out the same day. With her dad an alcoholic, her mom a recovered alcoholic, and her sister also an alcoholic, Sher didn’t want to perpetuate the alcoholism in her life.  Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>, 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 [02:45] Sher’s childhood with an alcoholic mother. [11:33] Striking a balance between serving addicts and family life.  [21:57] Retiring at the age of 56, Sher joined a tennis club and started drinking. [25:06] Her partner starts to realize she is drinking too much.  [35:55] Figuring out what you love to do and make money at it for your career. [37:10] Sher’s partner moves out and leaves alcohol recovery center information behind. [44:03] Her first few days at Rock Recovery Center. [56:36] No matter how successful you are, alcohol and drugs can bring you down in life. [61:33] Finding her sponsor through the AA program.   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>  ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>4086</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>193 - Vince has been to 10+ treatment centers - What will be different this time?</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/193-vince-has-been-to-10-treatment-cente</link><description><![CDATA[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 <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new website</a> where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery. <ul> <li>Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!</li> </ul> Show Notes: <ul> <li>[03:09] Vince talks about his past experiences growing up in Philadelphia.</li> <li>[07:11] His first experience drinking in sixth grade.</li> <li>[13:33] Social acceptance and drug culture.</li> <li>[15:21] Personal identity associated with career for men.</li> <li>[18:25] Vince had his first experience with opiate drugs his senior year in high school.</li> <li>[19:45] He started stealing from his family to buy more opiate drugs.</li> <li>[25:11] The “Florida Shuffle” moving on from the treatment facility to another facility.</li> <li>[28:40] Ben talks about the incredible recovery culture in Florida.</li> <li>[33:10] Why Vince having his daughter wasn’t enough to keep him sober.</li> <li>[37:01] Sobriety and addiction and how these two can easily interchange. </li> <li>[40:13] What is different for Vince in this recovery process?</li> <li>[43:42] His biggest fears for the recovery process.</li> <li>[45:27] Vince’s spiritual AA experience.</li> </ul> Episode Links and Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a></li> <li><a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a></li> <li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a></li> <li><a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a></li> <li>Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a></li> <li>Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a></li> </ul>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">9ba75b0c-0fdd-4115-a1f0-0745998db36b</guid><pubDate>Thu, 14 Oct 2021 14:11:51 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908266/rrt193.mp3" length="31835987" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>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....</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[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 <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new website</a> where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery. <ul> <li>Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!</li> </ul> Show Notes: <ul> <li>[03:09] Vince talks about his past experiences growing up in Philadelphia.</li> <li>[07:11] His first experience drinking in sixth grade.</li> <li>[13:33] Social acceptance and drug culture.</li> <li>[15:21] Personal identity associated with career for men.</li> <li>[18:25] Vince had his first experience with opiate drugs his senior year in high school.</li> <li>[19:45] He started stealing from his family to buy more opiate drugs.</li> <li>[25:11] The “Florida Shuffle” moving on from the treatment facility to another facility.</li> <li>[28:40] Ben talks about the incredible recovery culture in Florida.</li> <li>[33:10] Why Vince having his daughter wasn’t enough to keep him sober.</li> <li>[37:01] Sobriety and addiction and how these two can easily interchange. </li> <li>[40:13] What is different for Vince in this recovery process?</li> <li>[43:42] His biggest fears for the recovery process.</li> <li>[45:27] Vince’s spiritual AA experience.</li> </ul> Episode Links and Resources <ul> <li><a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a></li> <li><a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a></li> <li><a...]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3020</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>192 - Growing up in Manhattan- Selling drugs and living a lifestyle of destruction- Tom Fabricitore shares his story</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/192-growing-up-in-manhattan-selling-drug</link><description><![CDATA[“What alcohol was doing for me outlaid what it was doing to me.” --Tom Today, Ben and I are talking to Tom, who works in the recovery field. Born and raised in downtown Manhattan, he became a drug dealer and eventually became sober from drugs and alcohol. He has been on the road to recovery for the past seven years. Starting the Drinking Habit at Age 10 Born and raised in New York City, Tom grew up in abusive family life, reflected in his poor behavior at school. Feeling like something was missing in his life, he discovered that alcohol filled that void at 10. From the beginning, Tom drank too much and didn’t know how to stop drinking as he was trying to impress the older adults who surrounded him. He was so obsessed with drinking and doing drugs that he had to stay an extra year in high school to finish up the credits that he missed from his addiction during the school year. Falling into Becoming a Drug Dealer Since many of his friends ended up selling weed in high school, Tom decided to go the same route as college wasn’t even on his radar. “I had a big retail business with guys delivering for me. I was a career pot dealer.” Although he knew he was living a lie as a drug dealer, the thought of becoming clean was scary because Tom realized if he left dealing drugs and his lifestyle that he would have to grow up and become responsible. Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a> 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 Notes: [02:05] Tom’s early years and how he became addicted to alcohol.  [04:22] How New York and growing up in a fast-paced environment impacted Tom’s addiction. [10:32] His circle of friends in high school was drug dealers selling weed. [14:00] The thought of getting sober was scary for Tom because he realized he would need to grow up. [16:55] The first time he decided to stop being an addict was on 9-11. [18:33] Discovering opiate drugs and how Tom thought he would be OK with opiates. [21:44] Adding cocaine to his alcohol and opiate drug addiction. [26:29] First time Tom experience hope in his life to get off of drugs and alcohol. [35:14] The point at which Tom stopped making excuses in his life. [40:16] Surrendering and how this affected his healing journey to recovering.   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">b4486ca6-2c5e-4c44-a5a8-2a3c378975f9</guid><pubDate>Thu, 07 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907772/rrt192.mp3" length="30913741" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“What alcohol was doing for me outlaid what it was doing to me.” --Tom Today, Ben and I are talking to Tom, who works in the recovery field. Born and raised in downtown Manhattan, he became a drug dealer and eventually became sober from drugs and...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“What alcohol was doing for me outlaid what it was doing to me.” --Tom Today, Ben and I are talking to Tom, who works in the recovery field. Born and raised in downtown Manhattan, he became a drug dealer and eventually became sober from drugs and alcohol. He has been on the road to recovery for the past seven years. Starting the Drinking Habit at Age 10 Born and raised in New York City, Tom grew up in abusive family life, reflected in his poor behavior at school. Feeling like something was missing in his life, he discovered that alcohol filled that void at 10. From the beginning, Tom drank too much and didn’t know how to stop drinking as he was trying to impress the older adults who surrounded him. He was so obsessed with drinking and doing drugs that he had to stay an extra year in high school to finish up the credits that he missed from his addiction during the school year. Falling into Becoming a Drug Dealer Since many of his friends ended up selling weed in high school, Tom decided to go the same route as college wasn’t even on his radar. “I had a big retail business with guys delivering for me. I was a career pot dealer.” Although he knew he was living a lie as a drug dealer, the thought of becoming clean was scary because Tom realized if he left dealing drugs and his lifestyle that he would have to grow up and become responsible. Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a> 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 Notes: [02:05] Tom’s early years and how he became addicted to alcohol.  [04:22] How New York and growing up in a fast-paced environment impacted Tom’s addiction. [10:32] His circle of friends in high school was drug dealers selling weed. [14:00] The thought of getting sober was scary for Tom because he realized he would need to grow up. [16:55] The first time he decided to stop being an addict was on 9-11. [18:33] Discovering opiate drugs and how Tom thought he would be OK with opiates. [21:44] Adding cocaine to his alcohol and opiate drug addiction. [26:29] First time Tom experience hope in his life to get off of drugs and alcohol. [35:14] The point at which Tom stopped making excuses in his life. [40:16] Surrendering and how this affected his healing journey to recovering.   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2927</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>191 - Al Dutzik- The Real Deal Alcoholic- The importance of community and benefits of Sober Living</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/191-al-dutzik-the-real-deal-alcoholic-th</link><description><![CDATA[“’Alcohol was the substance I just could not go without - I felt safe with alcohol.” -Al Today, Ben and I are talking to Al, a native of Pittsburgh, who is sharing with us today his journey and what he did to become sober. He talks with us about Foundations - a program that provides housing for men moving through their journey of sobriety. His First Experiences with Alcohol At the age of 16, Al found a bottle of homemade wine in the basement of his home and decided to try it. When he drank, Al noticed that he didn’t feel embarrassment, a common emotion he would have in public. “It seemed that alcohol was a solution for me, I didn’t realize the hell that was in for me with alcohol.” Although he wasn’t aware of becoming an alcoholic, this was the start down the path to addiction. Alcoholic’s Perspective on Drinking “I thought that everyone drank to feel good,” says Al. He didn’t recognize that there was a social aspect to drinking. Today, Al acknowledges that you need to be OK with your strengths and weaknesses and that having good self-esteem and self-worth is a key component to completely recover from an addictive state. When he talks about his addiction, Al says that his wheels fell off when the alcohol “didn’t work anymore.” At this point, there wasn’t an amount of alcohol that he could drink that didn’t make him sick. However, he didn’t know how to or who to ask for help. Today, Al is grateful that he doesn’t have to use alcohol to feel good. “It’s incredible to not have that chemical holding me hostage all day!” Now, he learns about himself daily and seeks out meaningful relationships with others. Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a> 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 Notes: [03:15] Al’s experience with alcohol and growing up with an alcoholic father. [07:04] The emotional void that alcohol fills. [10:08] Starting to drink in the morning to avoid feeling hungover. [17:56] The wheels fall off when the alcohol doesn’t work to solve your problems. [20:01] How he decided to go into rehab and who helped him get there. [24:58] Going into recovery simplified Al’s life in a very profound way. [30:39] His first conference call with an addiction counselor. [34:34] Be willing to take suggestions from others to help you on the road to recovery. [39:33] What AA is all about and how you can use AA to recover. [43:48] Giving up alcohol gave Al his entire life back.   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>  ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">d4d3a87f-970d-42c0-9339-b22603d4a046</guid><pubDate>Thu, 30 Sep 2021 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52907488/rrt191.mp3" length="33730453" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“’Alcohol was the substance I just could not go without - I felt safe with alcohol.” -Al Today, Ben and I are talking to Al, a native of Pittsburgh, who is sharing with us today his journey and what he did to become sober. He talks with us about...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“’Alcohol was the substance I just could not go without - I felt safe with alcohol.” -Al Today, Ben and I are talking to Al, a native of Pittsburgh, who is sharing with us today his journey and what he did to become sober. He talks with us about Foundations - a program that provides housing for men moving through their journey of sobriety. His First Experiences with Alcohol At the age of 16, Al found a bottle of homemade wine in the basement of his home and decided to try it. When he drank, Al noticed that he didn’t feel embarrassment, a common emotion he would have in public. “It seemed that alcohol was a solution for me, I didn’t realize the hell that was in for me with alcohol.” Although he wasn’t aware of becoming an alcoholic, this was the start down the path to addiction. Alcoholic’s Perspective on Drinking “I thought that everyone drank to feel good,” says Al. He didn’t recognize that there was a social aspect to drinking. Today, Al acknowledges that you need to be OK with your strengths and weaknesses and that having good self-esteem and self-worth is a key component to completely recover from an addictive state. When he talks about his addiction, Al says that his wheels fell off when the alcohol “didn’t work anymore.” At this point, there wasn’t an amount of alcohol that he could drink that didn’t make him sick. However, he didn’t know how to or who to ask for help. Today, Al is grateful that he doesn’t have to use alcohol to feel good. “It’s incredible to not have that chemical holding me hostage all day!” Now, he learns about himself daily and seeks out meaningful relationships with others. Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a> 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 Notes: [03:15] Al’s experience with alcohol and growing up with an alcoholic father. [07:04] The emotional void that alcohol fills. [10:08] Starting to drink in the morning to avoid feeling hungover. [17:56] The wheels fall off when the alcohol doesn’t work to solve your problems. [20:01] How he decided to go into rehab and who helped him get there. [24:58] Going into recovery simplified Al’s life in a very profound way. [30:39] His first conference call with an addiction counselor. [34:34] Be willing to take suggestions from others to help you on the road to recovery. [39:33] What AA is all about and how you can use AA to recover. [43:48] Giving up alcohol gave Al his entire life back.   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>  ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3209</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>190 - The First 30 Days of Treatment</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/190-the-first-30-days-of-treatment</link><description><![CDATA[Here we are with Real Recovery Talk! Do you know someone who is considering going to a treatment facility for up to 30 days? Today, I’m going to talk about how you most likely won’t be cured by going to treatment for 30 days. There are a few people who have been successful after just 30 days; however, they are few and far between. The first day of treatment consists of detox, which generally ranges from day one to day seven. Detox can vary from one to fourteen days, depending on the individual and specific variables. Variables that can affect the length of detox are the types of drugs you are using, how long you are using drugs, the vehicle of use of drugs. For example, are you using drugs IV, orally? Similar variables apply to alcohol, with some additional factors such as drinking alone or with others. A detox facility is a safe place where you can get meals, medical attention, and be in a safe environment when you detox. During this time, your body will start to repair the damage inflicted by drugs and alcohol. From this point, you can now transfer to a residential facility where you will be day and night for treatment. You may have a behavioral technician keeping tabs on you every 15 minutes when you join the residential treatment program. This part of the team makes sure everyone is safe and comfortable. They also ensure that you are getting to your programs, meetings, and medical appointments on time. This period is known as a “drying out period.” Therapy is still minimal, as you are usually not yet ready to start treatment. At this stage, you’re detoxed and are moving toward creating a support group, getting to know your peers, and your therapist. Next, you’ll need to figure out your personal triggers. What are your triggers? Are there specific environments in which your triggers are set off? Have you developed tools in your toolbox to deal with these triggers and to keep your calm in anxious situations? Have you considered your role or your family dynamics when dealing with triggers and healing from addiction? Listen in to find out why the first thirty days of recovery only scratch the surface. Understand why recovery is a process in which each individual needs to move through at their own pace. Learn why you’ll need to continue healing and be consistent to work through previous trauma and have a successful recovery. Check out my <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new website</a> where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery. Look for our new daily shows, which are five minutes or under! Listen in for yourself or for a friend. You can also find our new short episodes on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook page</a>. <ul> <li>Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!</li> </ul>   Show Notes: [05:48] What the first seven days of treatment will most likely be for an addict in recovery. [06:05] Variables which affect the length and severity of detox. [09:28] The next phase of your healing: moving to a residential facility. [12:24] You may have spent multiple years becoming an addict, you will most likely spend months if not years to recover to the point of not falling back to your addiction. [14:41] Have you identified your triggers? If so, what are coping skills you are using to calm your reaction to your triggers? [16:48] An example of what shouldn’t happen when you come in for recovery. [19:42] We work with clients for three to four months on a continual basis to continue their recovery process.   Links and Resources: <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a>  ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">e30d213a-5634-445f-8fc1-ad95c0707f39</guid><pubDate>Thu, 23 Sep 2021 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52909395/rrt190.mp3" length="14734484" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Here we are with Real Recovery Talk! Do you know someone who is considering going to a treatment facility for up to 30 days? Today, I’m going to talk about how you most likely won’t be cured by going to treatment for 30 days. There are a few people...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Here we are with Real Recovery Talk! Do you know someone who is considering going to a treatment facility for up to 30 days? Today, I’m going to talk about how you most likely won’t be cured by going to treatment for 30 days. There are a few people who have been successful after just 30 days; however, they are few and far between. The first day of treatment consists of detox, which generally ranges from day one to day seven. Detox can vary from one to fourteen days, depending on the individual and specific variables. Variables that can affect the length of detox are the types of drugs you are using, how long you are using drugs, the vehicle of use of drugs. For example, are you using drugs IV, orally? Similar variables apply to alcohol, with some additional factors such as drinking alone or with others. A detox facility is a safe place where you can get meals, medical attention, and be in a safe environment when you detox. During this time, your body will start to repair the damage inflicted by drugs and alcohol. From this point, you can now transfer to a residential facility where you will be day and night for treatment. You may have a behavioral technician keeping tabs on you every 15 minutes when you join the residential treatment program. This part of the team makes sure everyone is safe and comfortable. They also ensure that you are getting to your programs, meetings, and medical appointments on time. This period is known as a “drying out period.” Therapy is still minimal, as you are usually not yet ready to start treatment. At this stage, you’re detoxed and are moving toward creating a support group, getting to know your peers, and your therapist. Next, you’ll need to figure out your personal triggers. What are your triggers? Are there specific environments in which your triggers are set off? Have you developed tools in your toolbox to deal with these triggers and to keep your calm in anxious situations? Have you considered your role or your family dynamics when dealing with triggers and healing from addiction? Listen in to find out why the first thirty days of recovery only scratch the surface. Understand why recovery is a process in which each individual needs to move through at their own pace. Learn why you’ll need to continue healing and be consistent to work through previous trauma and have a successful recovery. Check out my <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new website</a> where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery. Look for our new daily shows, which are five minutes or under! Listen in for yourself or for a friend. You can also find our new short episodes on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook page</a>. <ul> <li>Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!</li> </ul>   Show Notes: [05:48] What the first seven days of treatment will most likely be for an addict in recovery. [06:05] Variables which affect the length and severity of detox. [09:28] The next phase of your healing: moving to a residential facility. [12:24] You may have spent multiple years becoming an addict, you will most likely spend months if not years to recover to the point of not falling back to your addiction. [14:41] Have you identified your triggers? If so, what are coping skills you are using to calm your reaction to your triggers? [16:48] An example of what shouldn’t happen when you come in for recovery. [19:42] We work with clients for three to four months on a continual basis to continue their recovery process.   Links and Resources: <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank"...]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1308</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>189 - Perry - Struggles with KRATOM and the anxieties that surrounds it</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/189-perry-struggles-with-kratom-and-the-</link><description><![CDATA[“Kratom feels like an opiate, you get strong feelings similar to opiates.’” -Perry Today, Ben and I are talking to Perry, a 24-year-old from Maryland and started smoking marijuana at age 16. He lost everything that he owned and had to drug and alcohol abuse in a short period of time. We talk with Perry about his experience with Kratom and how it negatively affected his life. Kratom and Kava Kratom is sourced from an Asian variety of pine trees and works the same as an opiate drug in your body. Kratom is addictive and you easily get hooked. Kava is a root herb from the Polynesian islands that is not addictive and is mostly used by people for relaxation and sleep. In many states, Kratom is illegal because of its addictive side effects. In low doses, Kratom is a stimulant. In higher doses, it’s a sedative. Perry’s Experience with Kratom After taking Kratom, Perry quickly realized that this legal street drug has very similar physical and mental effects to opiate drugs. He thought he had found the answer to his addiction issue and felt he would be able to continually use Kratom without negative side effects. What he soon learned is that he could build tolerance and that Kratom has the same effect as addictive drugs. Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a> 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 Notes: [01:33] Perry talks about his backstory and history of addiction. [04:11] How he became interested and addicted to psychedelic drugs. [06:55] Social aspect of doing drugs and participating in raves. [11:47] Ben talks about what Kratom is and why it’s a bad choice to get off of drugs. [14:44] The first time Perry tried Kratom and how he became addicted to this drug. [22:09] How Perry decided to get back on Kratom after he was clean for a year. [31:57] Different phases of Kratom use when taking it daily. [36:07] Life became unmanageable once he was addicted to Kratom. [41:57] How Perry decided to get off Kratom and his plan for his future.   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">abba16b1-89d0-4fc6-9f50-3b32969eb8df</guid><pubDate>Thu, 16 Sep 2021 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52909432/rrt189.mp3" length="32398964" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“Kratom feels like an opiate, you get strong feelings similar to opiates.’” -Perry Today, Ben and I are talking to Perry, a 24-year-old from Maryland and started smoking marijuana at age 16. He lost everything that he owned and had to drug and alcohol...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“Kratom feels like an opiate, you get strong feelings similar to opiates.’” -Perry Today, Ben and I are talking to Perry, a 24-year-old from Maryland and started smoking marijuana at age 16. He lost everything that he owned and had to drug and alcohol abuse in a short period of time. We talk with Perry about his experience with Kratom and how it negatively affected his life. Kratom and Kava Kratom is sourced from an Asian variety of pine trees and works the same as an opiate drug in your body. Kratom is addictive and you easily get hooked. Kava is a root herb from the Polynesian islands that is not addictive and is mostly used by people for relaxation and sleep. In many states, Kratom is illegal because of its addictive side effects. In low doses, Kratom is a stimulant. In higher doses, it’s a sedative. Perry’s Experience with Kratom After taking Kratom, Perry quickly realized that this legal street drug has very similar physical and mental effects to opiate drugs. He thought he had found the answer to his addiction issue and felt he would be able to continually use Kratom without negative side effects. What he soon learned is that he could build tolerance and that Kratom has the same effect as addictive drugs. Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a> 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 Notes: [01:33] Perry talks about his backstory and history of addiction. [04:11] How he became interested and addicted to psychedelic drugs. [06:55] Social aspect of doing drugs and participating in raves. [11:47] Ben talks about what Kratom is and why it’s a bad choice to get off of drugs. [14:44] The first time Perry tried Kratom and how he became addicted to this drug. [22:09] How Perry decided to get back on Kratom after he was clean for a year. [31:57] Different phases of Kratom use when taking it daily. [36:07] Life became unmanageable once he was addicted to Kratom. [41:57] How Perry decided to get off Kratom and his plan for his future.   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3076</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>188 - Ken B - 35 retired from the Army, discusses his alcoholism and addiction throughout his life and ultimately where it led him</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/188-ken-b-35-retired-from-the-army-discu</link><description><![CDATA[“You couple substance abuse with PTSD and I’m wondering, ‘How do I fit in?’” -Ken Today, Ben and I are talking to Ken, a 35-year active military combat-in-arms, now veteran, discussing his alcoholism and addiction and what his post-military recovery journey has been for Ken. He is now paying it forward, helping others recover from their addiction. Ken’s Background Born in 1964 to an Irish-Catholic family and the youngest of seven, the first memory of drinking alcohol is at age eight. With an abusive family environment, and alcohol readily available, Ken needed an escape. As a child, his escape was sports until he started drinking hard in 7th grade. He met up with a guitar player in his teens and started a band. After that, he skipped most of high school until he was thrown out of school at 16. He remembers trying everything except for heroin. “We knew the path we were on and decided that we can’t keep on this path, so we joined the service.” Having enrolled in the military in 1981, he saw much of the similar trauma he grew up with, such as suicides, fighting, and seeing a lot of blood, were familiar sites to Ken. The Military and Drugs and Alcohol Ken remembers how alcohol was a part of daily life in the military. “This is normal, this is the way we operate.” He remembers the monthly keg in the breakroom and the keg in addition to alcohol troops brought to the barracks, there was “alcohol in mass quantities.” He also recalls that the military didn’t have the same policy regarding drugs as they would “disappear.” Once he left the army, it was hard to integrate into society with a different language, no one to give orders, and a different lifestyle. So when he re-entered the civilian world, his life slowed down exponentially. Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a> where you can download any episode along with helpful information for those in recovery and the families of those in recovery. <ul> <li>Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!</li> </ul>   Show Notes: [06:20] Ken talks about the parallels between his childhood and the military. [07:38] He discusses how drinking was embedded into the military back in the 80s and 90s. [10:01] Ken recalls his experience in Iraq on a specific “crazy” mission. [13:25] Why many men in the company used heroin as their drug of choice in the military. [16:10] How the military and his marriage kept him busy enough that he drank less. [21:17] Having the root of his moral compass grounded in God. [22:52] Ken describes the series of events leading him up to his successful recovery at Rock Recovery Center. [31:59] The seven points of rehabilitation he took on his journey to recovery. [50:23] Where Ken is going from here and what his future looks like.   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by <a href="http://www.propodcastsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pro Podcast Solutions</a>  ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">a161ec40-85a7-4a92-a626-914b8a17243f</guid><pubDate>Thu, 09 Sep 2021 11:59:34 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/52908246/rrt188.mp3" length="44050393" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“You couple substance abuse with PTSD and I’m wondering, ‘How do I fit in?’” -Ken Today, Ben and I are talking to Ken, a 35-year active military combat-in-arms, now veteran, discussing his alcoholism and addiction and what his post-military recovery...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“You couple substance abuse with PTSD and I’m wondering, ‘How do I fit in?’” -Ken Today, Ben and I are talking to Ken, a 35-year active military combat-in-arms, now veteran, discussing his alcoholism and addiction and what his post-military recovery journey has been for Ken. He is now paying it forward, helping others recover from their addiction. Ken’s Background Born in 1964 to an Irish-Catholic family and the youngest of seven, the first memory of drinking alcohol is at age eight. With an abusive family environment, and alcohol readily available, Ken needed an escape. As a child, his escape was sports until he started drinking hard in 7th grade. He met up with a guitar player in his teens and started a band. After that, he skipped most of high school until he was thrown out of school at 16. He remembers trying everything except for heroin. “We knew the path we were on and decided that we can’t keep on this path, so we joined the service.” Having enrolled in the military in 1981, he saw much of the similar trauma he grew up with, such as suicides, fighting, and seeing a lot of blood, were familiar sites to Ken. The Military and Drugs and Alcohol Ken remembers how alcohol was a part of daily life in the military. “This is normal, this is the way we operate.” He remembers the monthly keg in the breakroom and the keg in addition to alcohol troops brought to the barracks, there was “alcohol in mass quantities.” He also recalls that the military didn’t have the same policy regarding drugs as they would “disappear.” Once he left the army, it was hard to integrate into society with a different language, no one to give orders, and a different lifestyle. So when he re-entered the civilian world, his life slowed down exponentially. Check out our <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a> where you can download any episode along with helpful information for those in recovery and the families of those in recovery. <ul> <li>Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!</li> </ul>   Show Notes: [06:20] Ken talks about the parallels between his childhood and the military. [07:38] He discusses how drinking was embedded into the military back in the 80s and 90s. [10:01] Ken recalls his experience in Iraq on a specific “crazy” mission. [13:25] Why many men in the company used heroin as their drug of choice in the military. [16:10] How the military and his marriage kept him busy enough that he drank less. [21:17] Having the root of his moral compass grounded in God. [22:52] Ken describes the series of events leading him up to his successful recovery at Rock Recovery Center. [31:59] The seven points of rehabilitation he took on his journey to recovery. [50:23] Where Ken is going from here and what his future looks like.   Episode Links and Resources <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Live Chat</a> <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Recovery Talk on the Web</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXePpkAu46J7fhlLJEu1F8Q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on YouTube</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-recovery-talk/id1293515369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes</a> <a href="https://rockrecoverycenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rock Recovery Center</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realrecoverytalk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Real Recovery Talk on Facebook</a> Find out more about <a href="https://al-anon.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al-Anon</a> and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="https://realrecoverytalk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer...]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>4242</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>187 - 5 advantages to sobriety that we didn't see coming</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/187-5-advantages-to-sobriety-that-we-did</link><description><![CDATA[“I can’t even put into words how tight-knit a community that we’re a part of.” -Ben Today, Ben and I will cover the top five unexpected benefits that have come about because of our sobriety. These positive side effects are items that naturally and organically happen through the process of sobriety. But, of course, these come with time and work on ourselves, along with setting goals. Original Thoughts On Sobriety Initially, I thought that I would spend 45 days in a sober rehab facility, then go back to Pennsylvania and spend time drinking beer with my buddies. As developments happened over time, I realized that I couldn’t fully comprehend the life I could potentially have for myself. Ben was living in a false reality. From his perspective, every person drank alcohol and did drugs, and that some people have figured out a way to moderate their addiction. Surrounding Yourself with Other Alcoholic and Drug Addicts  I surrounded myself with alcohol and drug addicts while living an addiction lifestyle. I thought that they were true friends, but I realized everything that we did revolve around alcohol. There wasn’t a gathering that I attended that didn’t consist of massive amounts of alcohol. So when my friends started changing, and I changed friends, my life started moving in the right direction. You can tell who wants to be sober and do the work to get better, and while in treatment, I surrounded myself with that crowd. What AA and NA Has to Offer Not only do AA and NA offer drug and alcohol recovery, but they also offer so much more! One of our clients attending AA wasn’t into the work to achieve the 12 steps. In conversation with him, I mentioned the amount of professional networking at meetings, which can potentially build his business. There are many opportunities outside of sobriety when you build trust in relationships during sessions. We encourage our clients to participate and share with others so that the community can get to know them better. Change of Hobbies with Sobriety Golfing, bowling, and archery were all activities that I used to participate in while drinking. It took me some time and effort to realize that I could again do these activities without having alcohol involved. Ben had re-tuned his life and activities and is now better at the hobbies that he enjoyed when he was an addict. Not only is his skill set increased, but he enjoys his hobbies much more now that he is sober.   Check out our website where you can download any episode along with helpful information for those in recovery and the families of those in recovery.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!    Show Notes: [02:51] Ben’s benefits from sobriety that he didn’t expect. [05:00] Ben thought that every person was an addict when he was addicted. [07:50] I talk about how my friends’ circle changed when I became sober. [11:01] How addicts typically view the AA program when they first get into recovery. [17:15] Using the sober community to support yourself during recovery. [18:17] Finding and participating in new hobbies and activities sober. [21:54] Ben explains how much time he wasted on drugs and alcohol.  [25:32] How I spent all my money before I earned my money. [30:00] Ben talks about his financial insecurities when he entered sobriety. [35:12] Hiding alcohol and drugs and learning to cope with reality without the addiction. [42:38] The importance of filling your spirit when recovering.   Episode Links and Resources Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web  Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center  Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Find out more about Al-Anon and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="mailto:tom@realrecoverytalk.com">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="mailto:ben@realrecoverytalk.com">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by  Pro Podcast Solutions  ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">0165faec-0d6b-4085-9918-ea0a863ded09</guid><pubDate>Thu, 02 Sep 2021 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/46439814/rrt187.mp3" length="32301872" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“I can’t even put into words how tight-knit a community that we’re a part of.” -Ben Today, Ben and I will cover the top five unexpected benefits that have come about because of our sobriety. These positive side effects are items that naturally and...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“I can’t even put into words how tight-knit a community that we’re a part of.” -Ben Today, Ben and I will cover the top five unexpected benefits that have come about because of our sobriety. These positive side effects are items that naturally and organically happen through the process of sobriety. But, of course, these come with time and work on ourselves, along with setting goals. Original Thoughts On Sobriety Initially, I thought that I would spend 45 days in a sober rehab facility, then go back to Pennsylvania and spend time drinking beer with my buddies. As developments happened over time, I realized that I couldn’t fully comprehend the life I could potentially have for myself. Ben was living in a false reality. From his perspective, every person drank alcohol and did drugs, and that some people have figured out a way to moderate their addiction. Surrounding Yourself with Other Alcoholic and Drug Addicts  I surrounded myself with alcohol and drug addicts while living an addiction lifestyle. I thought that they were true friends, but I realized everything that we did revolve around alcohol. There wasn’t a gathering that I attended that didn’t consist of massive amounts of alcohol. So when my friends started changing, and I changed friends, my life started moving in the right direction. You can tell who wants to be sober and do the work to get better, and while in treatment, I surrounded myself with that crowd. What AA and NA Has to Offer Not only do AA and NA offer drug and alcohol recovery, but they also offer so much more! One of our clients attending AA wasn’t into the work to achieve the 12 steps. In conversation with him, I mentioned the amount of professional networking at meetings, which can potentially build his business. There are many opportunities outside of sobriety when you build trust in relationships during sessions. We encourage our clients to participate and share with others so that the community can get to know them better. Change of Hobbies with Sobriety Golfing, bowling, and archery were all activities that I used to participate in while drinking. It took me some time and effort to realize that I could again do these activities without having alcohol involved. Ben had re-tuned his life and activities and is now better at the hobbies that he enjoyed when he was an addict. Not only is his skill set increased, but he enjoys his hobbies much more now that he is sober.   Check out our website where you can download any episode along with helpful information for those in recovery and the families of those in recovery.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!    Show Notes: [02:51] Ben’s benefits from sobriety that he didn’t expect. [05:00] Ben thought that every person was an addict when he was addicted. [07:50] I talk about how my friends’ circle changed when I became sober. [11:01] How addicts typically view the AA program when they first get into recovery. [17:15] Using the sober community to support yourself during recovery. [18:17] Finding and participating in new hobbies and activities sober. [21:54] Ben explains how much time he wasted on drugs and alcohol.  [25:32] How I spent all my money before I earned my money. [30:00] Ben talks about his financial insecurities when he entered sobriety. [35:12] Hiding alcohol and drugs and learning to cope with reality without the addiction. [42:38] The importance of filling your spirit when recovering.   Episode Links and Resources Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web  Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center  Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Find out more about Al-Anon and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="mailto:tom@realrecoverytalk.com">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="mailto:ben@realrecoverytalk.com">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by  Pro Podcast Solutions  ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3066</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>186 - Cody W - His successes, finance and all things money and how it can impact our sobriety</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/186-cody-w-his-successes-finance-and-all</link><description><![CDATA[“You have choices in what you do with your time, and that’s up to the individual.” -Cody Today, Ben and I are chatting with Cody, who was very successful in life, and then addiction took it all away. Listen in to find out how he is rebuilding his life as a sober member of society and how drugs and alcohol can create alternative negative behaviors that aren’t a part of who you really are. Growing Up with Learning Disabilities Cody had multiple learning disabilities in grade school growing up. Because of his learning disabilities and not getting support in the school system, Cody couldn’t make good grades. He wanted to play sports but could not get on a team because of his low marks in school. He quickly learned that smoking pot was a solution to lessen his school anxiety and found that it helped him in school. Using Drugs in High School When he entered high school, Cody continued to use drugs. In addition, he also decided to make an income selling drugs. At one point, he was making a better income than his mom during his high school years. Going to Prison for Drugs Cody ended up in prison for violence, acting under the influence of drugs and alcohol from the age of 17 to 21. While in prison, another inmate introduced him to AA meetings. Even though he was in prison, Cody was able to easily access drugs and alcohol through the microeconomy of the prison. Success and Addiction With his first success at age 21 creating an app, he was bringing in good money. However, since he was an addict, Cody says, “being an addict gave me no respect for the scenario, and I needed drugs and alcohol as the highlight of the situation. Drugs and alcohol always came first in my life.”   Check out our website where you can download any episode along with helpful information for those in recovery and the families of those in recovery.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!    Show Notes: [03:00] Cody talks about his drug and alcohol use starting at an early age. [04:16] Ramping up from using drugs to distributing drugs. [07:32] Attending his first AA meeting in prison at the age of 19. [12:34] Differences between jail and prison. [17:37] Why drugs and alcohol make you violent. [21:58] How addiction can take down the most successful people. [30:01] Philanthropy in addiction and recovery. [36:45] Reflecting on his previous decade of life and figuring out what he needs to do to make amends. [44:11] Negotiating and figuring out how to get money when you’re an addict. [47:34] Building blocks needed for an addict to recover their life.   Episode Links and Resources Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web  Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center  Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Find out more about Al-Anon and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="mailto:tom@realrecoverytalk.com">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="mailto:ben@realrecoverytalk.com">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by  Pro Podcast Solutions  ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">d39dab2f-3f2f-4d17-9da4-94913741c1e6</guid><pubDate>Thu, 26 Aug 2021 09:36:18 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/46439817/rrt186.mp3" length="33079519" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“You have choices in what you do with your time, and that’s up to the individual.” -Cody Today, Ben and I are chatting with Cody, who was very successful in life, and then addiction took it all away. Listen in to find out how he is rebuilding his life...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“You have choices in what you do with your time, and that’s up to the individual.” -Cody Today, Ben and I are chatting with Cody, who was very successful in life, and then addiction took it all away. Listen in to find out how he is rebuilding his life as a sober member of society and how drugs and alcohol can create alternative negative behaviors that aren’t a part of who you really are. Growing Up with Learning Disabilities Cody had multiple learning disabilities in grade school growing up. Because of his learning disabilities and not getting support in the school system, Cody couldn’t make good grades. He wanted to play sports but could not get on a team because of his low marks in school. He quickly learned that smoking pot was a solution to lessen his school anxiety and found that it helped him in school. Using Drugs in High School When he entered high school, Cody continued to use drugs. In addition, he also decided to make an income selling drugs. At one point, he was making a better income than his mom during his high school years. Going to Prison for Drugs Cody ended up in prison for violence, acting under the influence of drugs and alcohol from the age of 17 to 21. While in prison, another inmate introduced him to AA meetings. Even though he was in prison, Cody was able to easily access drugs and alcohol through the microeconomy of the prison. Success and Addiction With his first success at age 21 creating an app, he was bringing in good money. However, since he was an addict, Cody says, “being an addict gave me no respect for the scenario, and I needed drugs and alcohol as the highlight of the situation. Drugs and alcohol always came first in my life.”   Check out our website where you can download any episode along with helpful information for those in recovery and the families of those in recovery.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!    Show Notes: [03:00] Cody talks about his drug and alcohol use starting at an early age. [04:16] Ramping up from using drugs to distributing drugs. [07:32] Attending his first AA meeting in prison at the age of 19. [12:34] Differences between jail and prison. [17:37] Why drugs and alcohol make you violent. [21:58] How addiction can take down the most successful people. [30:01] Philanthropy in addiction and recovery. [36:45] Reflecting on his previous decade of life and figuring out what he needs to do to make amends. [44:11] Negotiating and figuring out how to get money when you’re an addict. [47:34] Building blocks needed for an addict to recover their life.   Episode Links and Resources Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web  Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center  Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Find out more about Al-Anon and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="mailto:tom@realrecoverytalk.com">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="mailto:ben@realrecoverytalk.com">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by  Pro Podcast Solutions  ]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3144</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>175 - Geographical Change: Assisting People Through Recovery</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/175-geographical-change-assisting-people</link><description><![CDATA[Geographical change can help assist people going through recovery. A change that includes getting away from the people and influences that led to the addiction in the first place can be helpful. Benjamin B. and Renee L. are here today to talk about the benefits of sending your loved one to recovery someplace that includes geographical change. We talk about South Florida recovery versus Northeast recovery and Renee shares her experience with both. Renee and Ben both share their experience with recovery and geographical change. We talk about medically assisted therapies like suboxone and methadone and how additional therapy geared toward abstinence, spirituality, or AA are needed along with a desire to change. Show Notes  [02:50] Prior to coming to South Florida, Renee was deep in her addiction. She actually came to South Florida for geographical change. [03:21] She didn't stay in the Northeast because of people, places, and things. [03:40] In the Northeast, there's the high-end recovery that focuses on yoga or medically assisted treatment. [04:00] Renee had tried suboxone therapy and it didn't keep her sober. [04:18] There are a lot of suboxone clinics up north. [04:47] Ben also has experience with methadone and suboxone. [06:24] When Ben was taking the methadone, he received therapy once a month. The methadone and suboxone kept him alive long enough to gather enough tools to want abstinence. [08:35] Ben went to therapy in Minnesota where his grandmother lived. [09:07] Medically assisted treatment means some type of methadone or suboxone, but there is no actual therapy. [10:02] Technically, Renee wasn't sober. She was just switching from opiates to suboxone. [11:47] Suboxone is also an abusable drug that people can become dependent on. [12:53] Geographical change removes the addict from the place where they are comfortable with their addiction. [13:17] Getting on an airplane and going 1500 miles away from home is a commitment. It's also a good way to avoid triggers. [14:25] Without geographical change, Renee doesn't think she would have gotten sober. [16:50] In the first year, Renee changed nothing other than where she was living. Relationships made getting clean the hardest for her. [18:01] When relationships failed, Renee went back to drugs. [18:57] South Florida is known for having great recovery. [20:30] It's hard to get clean when you're still surrounded by people who don't want that to happen. [22:59] By traveling for recovery, it's harder to change your mind and go home. Addicts can be extremely impulsive. [24:28] It's vital that loved ones and those involved don't make the geographical change with the addict. This includes over the phone and Skype. People need to make their journeys on their own. [27:04] Life is going to happen no matter what. You can get through things without getting high. Treatment is not easy for your love ones, you can't derail it as a family member. [30:23] Families being involved are a vital part of the process, but there is a time and a place. [33:37] Renee is hoping to start a meeting in the Northeast. She built a good foundation during the five years she was in South Florida. [35:09] Exercise abstinence first. Don't look at a MAT program as your first option. Benefits to geographical change include commitment, recovery based culture, and lack of triggers. [37:33] Geographical change is very important if it is a viable option for you.  Links and Resources:  Episode 20: Is Methadone an Effective Treatment Option?]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">e587ef3e-3d1e-4544-80f0-8f32d54be914</guid><pubDate>Thu, 22 Apr 2021 07:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/46439815/rrt175_geographical_change.mp3" length="37865468" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Geographical change can help assist people going through recovery. A change that includes getting away from the people and influences that led to the addiction in the first place can be helpful. Benjamin B. and Renee L. are here today to talk about...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Geographical change can help assist people going through recovery. A change that includes getting away from the people and influences that led to the addiction in the first place can be helpful. Benjamin B. and Renee L. are here today to talk about the benefits of sending your loved one to recovery someplace that includes geographical change. We talk about South Florida recovery versus Northeast recovery and Renee shares her experience with both. Renee and Ben both share their experience with recovery and geographical change. We talk about medically assisted therapies like suboxone and methadone and how additional therapy geared toward abstinence, spirituality, or AA are needed along with a desire to change. Show Notes  [02:50] Prior to coming to South Florida, Renee was deep in her addiction. She actually came to South Florida for geographical change. [03:21] She didn't stay in the Northeast because of people, places, and things. [03:40] In the Northeast, there's the high-end recovery that focuses on yoga or medically assisted treatment. [04:00] Renee had tried suboxone therapy and it didn't keep her sober. [04:18] There are a lot of suboxone clinics up north. [04:47] Ben also has experience with methadone and suboxone. [06:24] When Ben was taking the methadone, he received therapy once a month. The methadone and suboxone kept him alive long enough to gather enough tools to want abstinence. [08:35] Ben went to therapy in Minnesota where his grandmother lived. [09:07] Medically assisted treatment means some type of methadone or suboxone, but there is no actual therapy. [10:02] Technically, Renee wasn't sober. She was just switching from opiates to suboxone. [11:47] Suboxone is also an abusable drug that people can become dependent on. [12:53] Geographical change removes the addict from the place where they are comfortable with their addiction. [13:17] Getting on an airplane and going 1500 miles away from home is a commitment. It's also a good way to avoid triggers. [14:25] Without geographical change, Renee doesn't think she would have gotten sober. [16:50] In the first year, Renee changed nothing other than where she was living. Relationships made getting clean the hardest for her. [18:01] When relationships failed, Renee went back to drugs. [18:57] South Florida is known for having great recovery. [20:30] It's hard to get clean when you're still surrounded by people who don't want that to happen. [22:59] By traveling for recovery, it's harder to change your mind and go home. Addicts can be extremely impulsive. [24:28] It's vital that loved ones and those involved don't make the geographical change with the addict. This includes over the phone and Skype. People need to make their journeys on their own. [27:04] Life is going to happen no matter what. You can get through things without getting high. Treatment is not easy for your love ones, you can't derail it as a family member. [30:23] Families being involved are a vital part of the process, but there is a time and a place. [33:37] Renee is hoping to start a meeting in the Northeast. She built a good foundation during the five years she was in South Florida. [35:09] Exercise abstinence first. Don't look at a MAT program as your first option. Benefits to geographical change include commitment, recovery based culture, and lack of triggers. [37:33] Geographical change is very important if it is a viable option for you.  Links and Resources:  Episode 20: Is Methadone an Effective Treatment Option?]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2338</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>174 - Our Thoughts on California Sober AKA Marijuana Maintenance Program</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/174-our-thoughts-on-california-sober-aka</link><description><![CDATA[“I know people that have gotten clean and sober off of their drug of choice... and have tried this 'medical marijuana' aspect of it... and... I don't know of anybody that was able to stay that way and maintain sobriety after going down that road.” -Tom Conrad Today, Ben and I are chatting about California Sober, brought to light recently by Demi Lovato on Joe Rogan's podcast, offering our opinions on it. While we aren't here to criticize how other people recover from addiction, as we are not witch burners, we just want to offer our opinions based on our own experiences being former addicts ourselves. How We Ultimately Feel About California Sober In her interview with Joe Rogan, Demi Lovato defines what she means by being California Sober, saying, “It's a term that a lot of people use to identify this path of moderation with the help of some green plants.” Our perspective on this is that that isn't going to work for everyone. We both agree that while marijuana isn't usually a gateway drug and wouldn't likely cause us to revert back to harder substances, it wouldn't likely have any benefit in our lives and would, in fact, likely hinder productivity. Give it a go if it works for you, but our experiences suggest that, again, it does not work for everyone. How People Like Joe Rogan Have Misunderstood the Twelve Steps The first step of the twelve steps is admitting that you are powerless in your addiction, and some people seem to confuse powerlessness with helplessness. If you were helpless, then there wouldn't be recovery programs. Being helpless refers to an inability to take action, but these programs offer things that you can do, ways to fix the problem. It isn't helplessness. In fact, if anything, it can actually be empowering. Our Experiences and How They Shape Our Opinion on Marijuana MaintenanceWe, for starters, have known people who have relapsed and even died of overdose after years of sobriety because they started smoking marijuana. Living in the Palm Beach County Area in Florida, we have also seen four local treatment centers adopt the marijuana maintenance treatment method. Two of them were actually shut down by the FBI and owners got arrested because of how addicts were being taken advantage of, one voluntarily shut down because of its clientele not being serious about actually wanting to recover, and, finally, someone that we know personally throwing in the towel on the program because of his perspective that it had absolutely no benefit to him. What the Best Approach Is in Our Opinion While, again, we are not witch burners and are not even against marijuana, there is absolutely nothing to support the idea that marijuana maintenance is a more effective treatment than abstinence based treatment. While marijuana maintenance (or California Sober) works for some, that doesn't seem to be the norm, so it is our belief that it is always better to completely abstain from illicit substances, that that's always the best approach. Listen in and hear us discuss our experiences and how they shape our opinions on this topic. Be sure to check out our new website where you can download any episode along with other useful information for those in recovery.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!  Show Notes:  [04:16] What the topic of this episode will cover – California Sober. [08:19] How Tom and Ben feel about Demi Lovato's discussion of being California Sober. [09:54] Whether or not marijuana is a gateway drug and what kind of effect it could have on someone trying to maintain longterm recovery from harder drugs. [12:18] How Tom feels about Joe Rogan commenting on helplessness in the addiction and recovery community. [15:01] How Joe Rogan's perspective on the twelve steps is misguided because there is a difference between powerlessness and helplessness. [19:54] Marijuana Maintenance has been adopted in treatment centers in the Palm Beach county area of Florida, none of them successes. [24:00] Why abstinence from all illicit substances is the best path to recovery. [30:53] How recovery is not absolute or black or white. [34:45] How substance abuse is, for some people, all or nothing, which is why abstinence is the best approach. [39:16] Summary of the episode's main points about California Sober.  Episode Links and Resources  Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web  Real Recovery Talk on YouTube Tom's Instagram Page Ben's Instagram Page Demi Lovato on Relapsing and Being “California Sober”  Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Find out more about Al-Anon and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="mailto:tom@realrecoverytalk.com">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="mailto:ben@realrecoverytalk.com">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by  Pro Podcast Solutions   ]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">fd854b00-dbc8-4b09-8cd7-6fbd5bd06ac9</guid><pubDate>Thu, 15 Apr 2021 10:26:37 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/46439816/rrt174.mp3" length="27242648" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>“I know people that have gotten clean and sober off of their drug of choice... and have tried this 'medical marijuana' aspect of it... and... I don't know of anybody that was able to stay that way and maintain sobriety after going down that road.”...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[“I know people that have gotten clean and sober off of their drug of choice... and have tried this 'medical marijuana' aspect of it... and... I don't know of anybody that was able to stay that way and maintain sobriety after going down that road.” -Tom Conrad Today, Ben and I are chatting about California Sober, brought to light recently by Demi Lovato on Joe Rogan's podcast, offering our opinions on it. While we aren't here to criticize how other people recover from addiction, as we are not witch burners, we just want to offer our opinions based on our own experiences being former addicts ourselves. How We Ultimately Feel About California Sober In her interview with Joe Rogan, Demi Lovato defines what she means by being California Sober, saying, “It's a term that a lot of people use to identify this path of moderation with the help of some green plants.” Our perspective on this is that that isn't going to work for everyone. We both agree that while marijuana isn't usually a gateway drug and wouldn't likely cause us to revert back to harder substances, it wouldn't likely have any benefit in our lives and would, in fact, likely hinder productivity. Give it a go if it works for you, but our experiences suggest that, again, it does not work for everyone. How People Like Joe Rogan Have Misunderstood the Twelve Steps The first step of the twelve steps is admitting that you are powerless in your addiction, and some people seem to confuse powerlessness with helplessness. If you were helpless, then there wouldn't be recovery programs. Being helpless refers to an inability to take action, but these programs offer things that you can do, ways to fix the problem. It isn't helplessness. In fact, if anything, it can actually be empowering. Our Experiences and How They Shape Our Opinion on Marijuana MaintenanceWe, for starters, have known people who have relapsed and even died of overdose after years of sobriety because they started smoking marijuana. Living in the Palm Beach County Area in Florida, we have also seen four local treatment centers adopt the marijuana maintenance treatment method. Two of them were actually shut down by the FBI and owners got arrested because of how addicts were being taken advantage of, one voluntarily shut down because of its clientele not being serious about actually wanting to recover, and, finally, someone that we know personally throwing in the towel on the program because of his perspective that it had absolutely no benefit to him. What the Best Approach Is in Our Opinion While, again, we are not witch burners and are not even against marijuana, there is absolutely nothing to support the idea that marijuana maintenance is a more effective treatment than abstinence based treatment. While marijuana maintenance (or California Sober) works for some, that doesn't seem to be the norm, so it is our belief that it is always better to completely abstain from illicit substances, that that's always the best approach. Listen in and hear us discuss our experiences and how they shape our opinions on this topic. Be sure to check out our new website where you can download any episode along with other useful information for those in recovery.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!  Show Notes:  [04:16] What the topic of this episode will cover – California Sober. [08:19] How Tom and Ben feel about Demi Lovato's discussion of being California Sober. [09:54] Whether or not marijuana is a gateway drug and what kind of effect it could have on someone trying to maintain longterm recovery from harder drugs. [12:18] How Tom feels about Joe Rogan commenting on helplessness in the addiction and recovery community. [15:01] How Joe Rogan's perspective on the twelve steps is misguided because there is a difference between powerlessness and helplessness. [19:54] Marijuana Maintenance has been adopted in treatment centers in the Palm Beach county area of Florida, none of them successes. [24:00] Why abstinence...]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2560</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>171 - The Importance of Exercise When Getting Clean and Sober</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/171-the-importance-of-exercise-when-gett</link><description><![CDATA[Getting clean and sober can be stressful. We try to do everything possible to help people going through recovery deal with stress. It's scientifically proven that exercise will help reduce stress levels. This is why we can't emphasize the importance of exercise enough in the process of getting clean and sober. Today’s episode is about exercise and why it is important to incorporate into your journey. Tom and Ben will be discussing this important topic along with the benefits of exercising throughout the recovery process and how exercise can affect your overall physical and mental well being. It can even have an effect on heart health and inflammatory issues. Show Notes  [02:23] Stress reduction. Exercise is a natural stress reducer. It naturally correlates with the chemicals in your brain. It also gives you an opportunity to take your mind off of whatever you've been thinking about for the day. [03:42] Getting clean and sober can be stressful. There are a lot of things that you aren't used to doing that you now have to do while you're sober. [04:20] There is even research out there that shows stress can cause heart and inflammatory issues. [04:50] Exercise also incorporates into time management. Going to the gym right after work gives you an opportunity to step away from the stressors of the day. [05:46] If you exercise, you get better sleep. Most people in recovery are prescribed some type of sleep aid. It's hard to fall asleep when you first begin recovery. [06:52] It's extremely beneficial to wean off of the sleep meds, and exercise can help you do this. [09:57] Seroquel is an antipsychotic used for sleep. It makes you tired and makes you sleep. Tom became dependent on it. [11:29] Tom has to do something exercise-related during the day even if it's just going for some walks. It definitely helps him sleep. [12:15] In Ben's opinion, sleep medication helps maintain the addicts behavior and mentality. [13:11] While we're sleeping our bodies rejuvenate and repair themselves. [13:51] Improves mood. Exercising actually improves your mood. Exercise helps with the depression and anxiety that people in recovery frequently have. [15:45] We just built a gym and run our clients through a workout routine. We ask them to pay attention to their mood before and after the exercise. We frequently see people walk out of the exercise session with a smile on their face. [17:32] Opiates release endorphins. A runner's high is similar to the endorphins from opiates. It's the same chemicals on the brain. [19:48] Most people who get regular exercise aren't depressed. [20:10] CrossFit or something with a community workout gives people a sense of accomplishment. [21:15] We find exercises that we can modify for all of our clients. [22:06] Increase of energy. Energy capital. Even though exercising expends energy, by exercising you end up with more energy throughout the day. [24:05] Coffee and energy drinks are not the only way to energize. [25:26] If you work out you sleep better, if you sleep better you have more energy. It all comes full circle. [26:01] Exercise gives you a stronger immune system. It's important to have a strong immune system during recovery, because you don't want to get sick. [27:20] Exercise can help push out the last of the detox process. [28:49] Pot is fat soluble and can store in your fat cells. [30:07] Exercising as a whole will help with relapse prevention. [30:24] It's a challenge, it gives you purpose, it's something you enjoy, you sleep better and feel better. [30:59] Also add good nutrition and have a sense of community or a 12-step program, and you will be setting yourself up for success. [31:44] Tom just competed in a US powerlifting competition. [32:29] A big part of recovery is fellowship. [35:12] We have seen exercise work time and time again. It helps with mood and everything else. [35:47] This is why we incorporate exercise into our programs. We give people the tools they need and coach them through the workouts.  Links and Resources:   Ep. 27 – Is Steroid Use in Recovery Considered a Relapse?]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">be73eaf8-aa10-43e2-969f-c61b62beedc4</guid><pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:30:47 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43867832/rrt171.mp3" length="24716951" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Getting clean and sober can be stressful. We try to do everything possible to help people going through recovery deal with stress. It's scientifically proven that exercise will help reduce stress levels. This is why we can't emphasize the importance...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Getting clean and sober can be stressful. We try to do everything possible to help people going through recovery deal with stress. It's scientifically proven that exercise will help reduce stress levels. This is why we can't emphasize the importance of exercise enough in the process of getting clean and sober. Today’s episode is about exercise and why it is important to incorporate into your journey. Tom and Ben will be discussing this important topic along with the benefits of exercising throughout the recovery process and how exercise can affect your overall physical and mental well being. It can even have an effect on heart health and inflammatory issues. Show Notes  [02:23] Stress reduction. Exercise is a natural stress reducer. It naturally correlates with the chemicals in your brain. It also gives you an opportunity to take your mind off of whatever you've been thinking about for the day. [03:42] Getting clean and sober can be stressful. There are a lot of things that you aren't used to doing that you now have to do while you're sober. [04:20] There is even research out there that shows stress can cause heart and inflammatory issues. [04:50] Exercise also incorporates into time management. Going to the gym right after work gives you an opportunity to step away from the stressors of the day. [05:46] If you exercise, you get better sleep. Most people in recovery are prescribed some type of sleep aid. It's hard to fall asleep when you first begin recovery. [06:52] It's extremely beneficial to wean off of the sleep meds, and exercise can help you do this. [09:57] Seroquel is an antipsychotic used for sleep. It makes you tired and makes you sleep. Tom became dependent on it. [11:29] Tom has to do something exercise-related during the day even if it's just going for some walks. It definitely helps him sleep. [12:15] In Ben's opinion, sleep medication helps maintain the addicts behavior and mentality. [13:11] While we're sleeping our bodies rejuvenate and repair themselves. [13:51] Improves mood. Exercising actually improves your mood. Exercise helps with the depression and anxiety that people in recovery frequently have. [15:45] We just built a gym and run our clients through a workout routine. We ask them to pay attention to their mood before and after the exercise. We frequently see people walk out of the exercise session with a smile on their face. [17:32] Opiates release endorphins. A runner's high is similar to the endorphins from opiates. It's the same chemicals on the brain. [19:48] Most people who get regular exercise aren't depressed. [20:10] CrossFit or something with a community workout gives people a sense of accomplishment. [21:15] We find exercises that we can modify for all of our clients. [22:06] Increase of energy. Energy capital. Even though exercising expends energy, by exercising you end up with more energy throughout the day. [24:05] Coffee and energy drinks are not the only way to energize. [25:26] If you work out you sleep better, if you sleep better you have more energy. It all comes full circle. [26:01] Exercise gives you a stronger immune system. It's important to have a strong immune system during recovery, because you don't want to get sick. [27:20] Exercise can help push out the last of the detox process. [28:49] Pot is fat soluble and can store in your fat cells. [30:07] Exercising as a whole will help with relapse prevention. [30:24] It's a challenge, it gives you purpose, it's something you enjoy, you sleep better and feel better. [30:59] Also add good nutrition and have a sense of community or a 12-step program, and you will be setting yourself up for success. [31:44] Tom just competed in a US powerlifting competition. [32:29] A big part of recovery is fellowship. [35:12] We have seen exercise work time and time again. It helps with mood and everything else. [35:47] This is why we incorporate exercise into our programs. We give people the tools they need and coach them through the workouts....]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2307</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>170 - Allie Severino - Host and Producer of "Dope Sick Nation"</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/170-allie-severino-host-and-producer-of-</link><description><![CDATA[Today, Ben and I are chatting with Allie Severino, host of the “Dope Sick Nation”, which premiered on VICE in 2019. Allie’s goal is to help educate and heal America with her series offering a unique, inside perspective on the addiction problems facing our country in addition to the addiction treatment industry. Allie is passionate about educating families on the advancement of addiction treatment, harm reduction, and holistic approaches. She believes in education to aid prevention and advance the recovery of people with substance abuse. Allie’s goal is to help families and loved ones affected by addiction. Allie’s Addiction History After getting arrested at 17 for drug use and receiving probation, Allie admitted herself into recovery. She earned her GED and started working full-time, obtaining her real estate license in the process. Allie wasn’t enjoying real estate as she had hoped, so she started her own Fresh Start magazine. She wrote and published under a fictitious name, not wanting anyone to know who published this magazine. Pitching “Dope Sick Nation” To get “Dope Sick Nation” picked up by a production company, Allie and her friends had to go in and pitch it more than once. The first time, they hated it; the second time, they loved the idea. She talks about how several of her friends died during the filming of the series. “There was a lot of emotional stuff going on while we were filming.” While there were definitely positive memories, such as Shane, who is still in recovery doing well, much of it was very intense. Alex’s Story of Addiction, Relapses and Recovery Starting treatment in Florida last year, he heard of “Dope Sick Nation” being filmed. In 2020, he had relapsed very severely and was drinking heavily daily. Since he was looking for treatment in Florida, he decided to reach out to Allie to be in the series. Listen in and find out what you can expect from watching “Dope Sick Nation”, and how Alex decided to stay in recovery instead of going home to Arizona. Check out our new website where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!  Show Notes:  [03:15] Allie gives us a bit of her history from addict to recovery. [07:11] How Allie’s friend decided to create a movie on patient brokering.  [10:21] From the movie American Relapse to getting syndicated as a TV series. [16:50] Ben and Allie discuss drug addiction recovery options.  [19:18] Allie’s experience with couples recovery. [22:35] What you can expect when you watch “Dope Sick Nation”. [25:45] Alex tells us his story of addiction, relapse and recovery. [30:10] Allie’s visit with Alex in recovery. [33:37] How we incorporate physical fitness at Rock Recovery Center. [40:39] Alex’s plans for the near future.  Episode Links and Resources  Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web  Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="mailto:tom@realrecoverytalk.com">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="mailto:ben@realrecoverytalk.com">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by  Pro Podcast Solutions Visit Allie Severino on the web Check out American Relapse]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">d1107e35-bb05-4c4e-8770-7e09676e257e</guid><pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2021 08:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43646001/rrt170.mp3" length="33333083" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Today, Ben and I are chatting with Allie Severino, host of the “Dope Sick Nation”, which premiered on VICE in 2019. Allie’s goal is to help educate and heal America with her series offering a unique, inside perspective on the addiction problems facing...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Today, Ben and I are chatting with Allie Severino, host of the “Dope Sick Nation”, which premiered on VICE in 2019. Allie’s goal is to help educate and heal America with her series offering a unique, inside perspective on the addiction problems facing our country in addition to the addiction treatment industry. Allie is passionate about educating families on the advancement of addiction treatment, harm reduction, and holistic approaches. She believes in education to aid prevention and advance the recovery of people with substance abuse. Allie’s goal is to help families and loved ones affected by addiction. Allie’s Addiction History After getting arrested at 17 for drug use and receiving probation, Allie admitted herself into recovery. She earned her GED and started working full-time, obtaining her real estate license in the process. Allie wasn’t enjoying real estate as she had hoped, so she started her own Fresh Start magazine. She wrote and published under a fictitious name, not wanting anyone to know who published this magazine. Pitching “Dope Sick Nation” To get “Dope Sick Nation” picked up by a production company, Allie and her friends had to go in and pitch it more than once. The first time, they hated it; the second time, they loved the idea. She talks about how several of her friends died during the filming of the series. “There was a lot of emotional stuff going on while we were filming.” While there were definitely positive memories, such as Shane, who is still in recovery doing well, much of it was very intense. Alex’s Story of Addiction, Relapses and Recovery Starting treatment in Florida last year, he heard of “Dope Sick Nation” being filmed. In 2020, he had relapsed very severely and was drinking heavily daily. Since he was looking for treatment in Florida, he decided to reach out to Allie to be in the series. Listen in and find out what you can expect from watching “Dope Sick Nation”, and how Alex decided to stay in recovery instead of going home to Arizona. Check out our new website where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!  Show Notes:  [03:15] Allie gives us a bit of her history from addict to recovery. [07:11] How Allie’s friend decided to create a movie on patient brokering.  [10:21] From the movie American Relapse to getting syndicated as a TV series. [16:50] Ben and Allie discuss drug addiction recovery options.  [19:18] Allie’s experience with couples recovery. [22:35] What you can expect when you watch “Dope Sick Nation”. [25:45] Alex tells us his story of addiction, relapse and recovery. [30:10] Allie’s visit with Alex in recovery. [33:37] How we incorporate physical fitness at Rock Recovery Center. [40:39] Alex’s plans for the near future.  Episode Links and Resources  Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web  Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="mailto:tom@realrecoverytalk.com">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="mailto:ben@realrecoverytalk.com">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by  Pro Podcast Solutions Visit Allie Severino on the web Check out American Relapse]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>3169</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>169 - Jacob tells his story about relapse - What happened after 3.5 years!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/169-jacob-tells-his-story-about-relapse-</link><description><![CDATA[Today, Ben and I are chatting to Jacob, who tells us his story of relapse, which led him to his deterioration and how he dug himself back out to sobriety again. Being introduced to alcohol at age 8, Jacob had a long and challenging life ahead of himself, which has led to his recovery with support from Rock Recovery Center. Starting His Life of Alcohol and Drugs at Age Eight At 26, Jacob has been living in Florida for over eight years. He was first introduced to alcohol at age 8, where he was given sips of drink at a New Year’s Eve party. Jacob liked taking whatever activity he participated into the extreme, and drugs were no exception. He had his first introduction into a drug and alcohol rehab program at the age of 14. Although he was there for a week, he participated but didn’t take the program seriously. Jacob Meets Ben at Rock Recovery Center At 18, Jacob came down to Florida to Rock Recovery Center and first met Ben. He didn’t like anyone telling him what to do and was always in trouble. When he turned 20, Jacob finally took his recovery seriously and was able to pick up his 90-day celebration chip on his 21st birthday. Taking Recovery to Heart “The steps were easy for me in the beginning, and looking back on it now, I wasn’t fully honest through all the steps.” At nine months sober, Jacob lost a best friend who was like a little brother to him and promised him that he would throw his heart and soul into recovery. Jacob spent three and a half years sober before he fell into the cycle of drugs again. His relapse started when he stopped connecting with his support group and supporting the recovery community. Jacob began to manipulate the people around him. “The depression, the anxiety, and the anger set in, and it was taking over me.” Listen in and find out what Jacob had to do to change his mindset and stay sober after his harrowing experience on and off of drugs. Check out our new website where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!  Show Notes:  [06:00] Jacob’s first experience in a drug rehab program at age 14. [09:15] Promising the soul of his lost best friend that he would put his heart into recovery. [12:42] What his first two years of sobriety looked like for Jacob. [19:05] Jacob’s ego got the best of him and started drifting back to drugs. [26:03] Users and recovering addicts should avoid kratom as it binds to your opioid receptors. [32:01] He thought he had arrived when he started drinking himself to a blackout when he felt depressed. [38:08] Why Jacob went back out and did drugs and alcohol. [40:43] Dealing with past trauma and how that affected his addiction.   Episode Links and Resources  Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web  Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="mailto:tom@realrecoverytalk.com">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="mailto:ben@realrecoverytalk.com">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by  Pro Podcast Solutions]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">f38f2a84-084b-434f-8f72-71a913ee5d96</guid><pubDate>Thu, 04 Feb 2021 08:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43396944/rrt169.mp3" length="29179790" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Today, Ben and I are chatting to Jacob, who tells us his story of relapse, which led him to his deterioration and how he dug himself back out to sobriety again. Being introduced to alcohol at age 8, Jacob had a long and challenging life ahead of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Today, Ben and I are chatting to Jacob, who tells us his story of relapse, which led him to his deterioration and how he dug himself back out to sobriety again. Being introduced to alcohol at age 8, Jacob had a long and challenging life ahead of himself, which has led to his recovery with support from Rock Recovery Center. Starting His Life of Alcohol and Drugs at Age Eight At 26, Jacob has been living in Florida for over eight years. He was first introduced to alcohol at age 8, where he was given sips of drink at a New Year’s Eve party. Jacob liked taking whatever activity he participated into the extreme, and drugs were no exception. He had his first introduction into a drug and alcohol rehab program at the age of 14. Although he was there for a week, he participated but didn’t take the program seriously. Jacob Meets Ben at Rock Recovery Center At 18, Jacob came down to Florida to Rock Recovery Center and first met Ben. He didn’t like anyone telling him what to do and was always in trouble. When he turned 20, Jacob finally took his recovery seriously and was able to pick up his 90-day celebration chip on his 21st birthday. Taking Recovery to Heart “The steps were easy for me in the beginning, and looking back on it now, I wasn’t fully honest through all the steps.” At nine months sober, Jacob lost a best friend who was like a little brother to him and promised him that he would throw his heart and soul into recovery. Jacob spent three and a half years sober before he fell into the cycle of drugs again. His relapse started when he stopped connecting with his support group and supporting the recovery community. Jacob began to manipulate the people around him. “The depression, the anxiety, and the anger set in, and it was taking over me.” Listen in and find out what Jacob had to do to change his mindset and stay sober after his harrowing experience on and off of drugs. Check out our new website where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!  Show Notes:  [06:00] Jacob’s first experience in a drug rehab program at age 14. [09:15] Promising the soul of his lost best friend that he would put his heart into recovery. [12:42] What his first two years of sobriety looked like for Jacob. [19:05] Jacob’s ego got the best of him and started drifting back to drugs. [26:03] Users and recovering addicts should avoid kratom as it binds to your opioid receptors. [32:01] He thought he had arrived when he started drinking himself to a blackout when he felt depressed. [38:08] Why Jacob went back out and did drugs and alcohol. [40:43] Dealing with past trauma and how that affected his addiction.   Episode Links and Resources  Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web  Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="mailto:tom@realrecoverytalk.com">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="mailto:ben@realrecoverytalk.com">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by  Pro Podcast Solutions]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2754</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>168 - How to NOT RELAPSE with Ben and Tom</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/168-how-to-not-relapse-with-ben-and-tom</link><description><![CDATA[Today, Ben and I are chatting about gaining enough positive capital into your life for relapse prevention. Many people get sober, and relapsing can be expected. In this episode, we want to teach you tools and action steps to prevent relapse. Build your emotional capital as a buffer against wanting to go back and becoming an addict again. Becoming Proactive in Your Recovery Process Being proactive in your recovery process is a big part of staying on track in your sobriety. If you do your work on the front end, it’s easier to resist those cravings and stay clean when you do have desires. One way to be proactive is to go to meetings regularly - skipping meetings gives cravings a chance to sneak back into your thoughts. Make sure to consistently be doing the work to keep your sobriety. Sobriety Before Relapse Someone sober has made strides and put forth the effort to become sober. A dry person has put down the drugs and alcohol for the time being, but they haven't done the emotional work necessary to fix the addiction's root. It's possible for an individual to go to meetings and be dry because they haven't created the internal rearrangement to become sober. When a person relapses, they have experienced emotional trauma or stress, which has made them crave drugs to feel better again. Rearranging Yourself Internally During our addiction, behaviors ingrained in us are negative, selfish actions used to acquire our drug of choice takes a lot of effort to redirect. You also must build recovery capital by becoming proactive. Gaining capital is a good cushion against relapse because withdrawals happen through negative experiences, and if we overdraw your account, relapse can happen. Check out our new website where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!  Show Notes:  [05:26] Relapse prevention is not a black-or-white topic. [07:26] A prerequisite for relapse is for a person to be in active recovery. [09:21] It's possible to go to meetings and be dry because that person hasn’t created the internal rearrangement to become sober. [12:50] Start your day ready to add emotional capital to your account. [18:21] The importance of keeping challenges in your life to prevent boredom and relapse. [24:06] Having more responsibility results in more chances for negative circumstances to occur. [32:08] Learning how to be sober and deal with negative emotional feelings on your own is important to preventing relapse. [41:05] Enjoy activities for the activity, not for the past memory of what you did previously.  Episode Links and Resources  Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web  Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="mailto:tom@realrecoverytalk.com">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="mailto:ben@realrecoverytalk.com">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by  Pro Podcast Solutions]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">52af0fe3-a908-4e73-bfd0-bea2a2677b51</guid><pubDate>Thu, 28 Jan 2021 08:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43396943/rrt168.mp3" length="28754360" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Today, Ben and I are chatting about gaining enough positive capital into your life for relapse prevention. Many people get sober, and relapsing can be expected. In this episode, we want to teach you tools and action steps to prevent relapse. Build...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Today, Ben and I are chatting about gaining enough positive capital into your life for relapse prevention. Many people get sober, and relapsing can be expected. In this episode, we want to teach you tools and action steps to prevent relapse. Build your emotional capital as a buffer against wanting to go back and becoming an addict again. Becoming Proactive in Your Recovery Process Being proactive in your recovery process is a big part of staying on track in your sobriety. If you do your work on the front end, it’s easier to resist those cravings and stay clean when you do have desires. One way to be proactive is to go to meetings regularly - skipping meetings gives cravings a chance to sneak back into your thoughts. Make sure to consistently be doing the work to keep your sobriety. Sobriety Before Relapse Someone sober has made strides and put forth the effort to become sober. A dry person has put down the drugs and alcohol for the time being, but they haven't done the emotional work necessary to fix the addiction's root. It's possible for an individual to go to meetings and be dry because they haven't created the internal rearrangement to become sober. When a person relapses, they have experienced emotional trauma or stress, which has made them crave drugs to feel better again. Rearranging Yourself Internally During our addiction, behaviors ingrained in us are negative, selfish actions used to acquire our drug of choice takes a lot of effort to redirect. You also must build recovery capital by becoming proactive. Gaining capital is a good cushion against relapse because withdrawals happen through negative experiences, and if we overdraw your account, relapse can happen. Check out our new website where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!  Show Notes:  [05:26] Relapse prevention is not a black-or-white topic. [07:26] A prerequisite for relapse is for a person to be in active recovery. [09:21] It's possible to go to meetings and be dry because that person hasn’t created the internal rearrangement to become sober. [12:50] Start your day ready to add emotional capital to your account. [18:21] The importance of keeping challenges in your life to prevent boredom and relapse. [24:06] Having more responsibility results in more chances for negative circumstances to occur. [32:08] Learning how to be sober and deal with negative emotional feelings on your own is important to preventing relapse. [41:05] Enjoy activities for the activity, not for the past memory of what you did previously.  Episode Links and Resources  Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web  Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="mailto:tom@realrecoverytalk.com">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="mailto:ben@realrecoverytalk.com">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by  Pro Podcast Solutions]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2711</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>167 - Ask yourself these 3 things before speaking to your son or daughter about getting clean and sober!</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/167-ask-yourself-these-3-things-before-s</link><description><![CDATA[Today, I’ll be talking about three questions you want to think about and reflect on before deciding to speak with your loved one about becoming clean and sober. No matter if they are a daughter, son, parent, or friend, these are three critical questions that you want to have answered before you start the conversation on recovery. Keep in mind that drugs and alcohol are not the only two forms of addiction. Food, sex, gambling, and shopping are all conduits for addiction. These outlets are no less of an addictive substance than drugs or alcohol as the process ignites the same pleasure systems in the brain. Common Themes Parents Talk About with their Addicted Children While deciding to have a conversation with your child about their drug habit is a good choice, you first want to consider if this is a fear-based or care-centered conversation. Parents who have conversations out of fear speak out of emotion, leading to a charged conversation with negative side effects. Words such as “need to”, “should”, “do you realize”, “how can you”, don’t belong in a conversation in which your goal is to get your loved one to rehabilitation. What do You Want for Your Son or Daughter? Many parents have a big plan for their children for what they want for their son or daughter based on what they want out of life. We want them to live a happy life with a caring partner, have children, and experience grandchildren for themselves. However, we must pause and reflect on what we are asking of them. Are we basing our children's plans based on what we want for them or what they want out of life? I’ve experienced parents who have expectations of their children based on what they want for them, not what their children want. For selfish reasons, parents are looking for their kids to live a certain lifestyle because it’s easier for the parent, not the child. Evaluate your motives when you are thinking about what your children “should or should not do.” Give your kids space to breathe and space to make decisions on their own. Do You Have Realistic Expectations for Sobriety? I can’t tell you the number of parents who had no realistic expectations of their children for their recovery. Children are set up for failure when they can’t achieve their parent’s goals. Understand that when your child enters into sobriety, they are most vulnerable. They must solely focus on themselves to successfully move ahead in the process and become clean again. Check out our new website where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!  Show Notes:  [05:41] Conversations I have with parents about talking to their children about recovery.  [08:41] Negative side effects of having a conversation out of fear. [13:38] Tom recalls the conversation with his dad in which he decided to become clean. [17:37] Make sure your goals for your children are based on what they want and need out of life. [23:50] How children decide who is involved in their recovery process.  [27:38] Reasons to reflect on these questions before you talk to your son or daughter.  Episode Links and Resources  Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web  Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="mailto:tom@realrecoverytalk.com">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="mailto:ben@realrecoverytalk.com">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by  Pro Podcast Solutions]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">50011523-c22e-4f6d-b879-cfafe0e2bc69</guid><pubDate>Thu, 21 Jan 2021 11:39:17 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43139939/rrt167.mp3" length="19257742" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Today, I’ll be talking about three questions you want to think about and reflect on before deciding to speak with your loved one about becoming clean and sober. No matter if they are a daughter, son, parent, or friend, these are three critical...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Today, I’ll be talking about three questions you want to think about and reflect on before deciding to speak with your loved one about becoming clean and sober. No matter if they are a daughter, son, parent, or friend, these are three critical questions that you want to have answered before you start the conversation on recovery. Keep in mind that drugs and alcohol are not the only two forms of addiction. Food, sex, gambling, and shopping are all conduits for addiction. These outlets are no less of an addictive substance than drugs or alcohol as the process ignites the same pleasure systems in the brain. Common Themes Parents Talk About with their Addicted Children While deciding to have a conversation with your child about their drug habit is a good choice, you first want to consider if this is a fear-based or care-centered conversation. Parents who have conversations out of fear speak out of emotion, leading to a charged conversation with negative side effects. Words such as “need to”, “should”, “do you realize”, “how can you”, don’t belong in a conversation in which your goal is to get your loved one to rehabilitation. What do You Want for Your Son or Daughter? Many parents have a big plan for their children for what they want for their son or daughter based on what they want out of life. We want them to live a happy life with a caring partner, have children, and experience grandchildren for themselves. However, we must pause and reflect on what we are asking of them. Are we basing our children's plans based on what we want for them or what they want out of life? I’ve experienced parents who have expectations of their children based on what they want for them, not what their children want. For selfish reasons, parents are looking for their kids to live a certain lifestyle because it’s easier for the parent, not the child. Evaluate your motives when you are thinking about what your children “should or should not do.” Give your kids space to breathe and space to make decisions on their own. Do You Have Realistic Expectations for Sobriety? I can’t tell you the number of parents who had no realistic expectations of their children for their recovery. Children are set up for failure when they can’t achieve their parent’s goals. Understand that when your child enters into sobriety, they are most vulnerable. They must solely focus on themselves to successfully move ahead in the process and become clean again. Check out our new website where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!  Show Notes:  [05:41] Conversations I have with parents about talking to their children about recovery.  [08:41] Negative side effects of having a conversation out of fear. [13:38] Tom recalls the conversation with his dad in which he decided to become clean. [17:37] Make sure your goals for your children are based on what they want and need out of life. [23:50] How children decide who is involved in their recovery process.  [27:38] Reasons to reflect on these questions before you talk to your son or daughter.  Episode Links and Resources  Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web  Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="mailto:tom@realrecoverytalk.com">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="mailto:ben@realrecoverytalk.com">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by  Pro Podcast Solutions]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1761</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>166 - Is Methadone an Effective Treatment Option?</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/166-is-methadone-an-effective-treatment-</link><description><![CDATA[Are you considering methadone or suboxone prescription as a way to treat heroin addiction for you or a loved one? Is this a safe way to beat an opioid addiction or will it only make the struggle more difficult? Ben Bueno is a recovering heroin addict shares his experience of being treated with methadone. Resources mentioned in this episode: Facebook Support Group RealRecoveryTalk.com/Facebook]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">f25f2a99-6228-49cb-8ae2-c3eb7c8b96f6</guid><pubDate>Thu, 14 Jan 2021 08:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/43139938/rrt_20_6_14_18_methadone2.mp3" length="15631271" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Are you considering methadone or suboxone prescription as a way to treat heroin addiction for you or a loved one? Is this a safe way to beat an opioid addiction or will it only make the struggle more difficult? Ben Bueno is a recovering heroin addict...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Are you considering methadone or suboxone prescription as a way to treat heroin addiction for you or a loved one? Is this a safe way to beat an opioid addiction or will it only make the struggle more difficult? Ben Bueno is a recovering heroin addict shares his experience of being treated with methadone. Resources mentioned in this episode: Facebook Support Group RealRecoveryTalk.com/Facebook]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1304</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>165 - How Self Esteem Directly Affects Our Recovery</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/165-how-self-esteem-directly-affects-our</link><description><![CDATA[Everyone on the planet is affected by self-esteem in one way or another. Today, Tom discusses how self-esteem in general can influence addiction. In this episode, he talks about what self-esteem is and why positive self-esteem is so important for sobriety and getting and staying sober. He shares his own battle with self-esteem issues and why finding the root cause is so important.  He also stresses that it’s a process that needs to be facilitated by a good therapist. He talks about action steps that anyone can take to start building up their self-esteem in a positive way. By the end of the show, you'll be able to understand how the health of one's self-esteem can directly impact whether someone will have or develop an addiction problem.  Show Notes:  [02:03] Just after we did a show on the dangers of Suboxone, we found out that the manufacturers have been ordered to pay a 1.4 billion dollar settlement for negligent marketing. [04:14] Everybody has self-esteem. It can be good or bad, and it's learned over a period of years. [04:51] Traumatic events are a driver of negative self esteem. [05:41] The majority of the way someone feels about themselves will develop during their childhood state. [06:35] If someone has negative self-esteem growing up, the likelihood of them turning to something like addiction is higher. [07:43] One of the first things Tom and his team try to do is help clients identify where their negative self-esteem is coming from. [08:48] Figuring this out comes through therapeutic process. [09:19] If we can figure out what it is that's causing low self-esteem, we are in a position where we can reinforce positive things to build self-esteem back up.  [09:26] Once self-esteem is built up, it won't be necessary to act out the way an addicted person did in the past. [11:20] Tom shares his childhood abandonment issues and how when he first began counseling he didn't believe that it was a problem. [12:12] Once Tom realized that he did have abandonment issues, it was a good place for him to start building upon that. [14:05] We want to know what happened prior to your drinking and using drugs that made you turn to them in the first place. One of the biggest reasons for this is one's self-esteem. [14:45] Providing a life that reinforces positive self-esteem will reduce the likelihood of your child turning to drugs and alcohol.  [17:19] Once the self-esteem issues are established, it's time to reinforce and build up things that will encourage positive self-esteem. [17:33] People have to have some type of sense of identity and sense of security where they are okay with themselves. [18:00] Community and having friends is a big part of the sobriety process. [19:03] Take the top five people that you surround yourself with the most and you are the average of those five people. [19:39] Having a sense of purpose is a big part of the process. Having something to work towards will keep you going when you are sober. [21:59] It takes internal search to find your purpose. It's also okay to reach out to people and be vulnerable. [22:48] You also have to feel capable and have a sense of self-confidence. [23:19] Tell yourself that today might be hard, but you can get through it. If you don't believe this, you'll never achieve it. [24:22] Make a list of your strengths and things that you have accomplished in the past. [26:04] Eat good food and exercise. What you put in your body will directly impact the way that you feel. [26:57] Have some quiet time and go for walks on your own or listen to a podcast. [27:24] Be clean and take care of yourself and your hygiene. [27:38] Make sure you're home and living area is clean and organized. [28:10] Do things that you enjoy. Try things that you haven't done before to see what you like. [28:35] Doing all of these things will really help to build up your self-esteem.   Links and Resources:   Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Ep. 75 – Suboxone – Our Opinions – The Pros and Cons]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">fd6c9fbe-71fe-4e06-b049-0e40729354bd</guid><pubDate>Thu, 07 Jan 2021 14:48:51 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/42895061/rrt165.mp3" length="19759256" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Everyone on the planet is affected by self-esteem in one way or another. Today, Tom discusses how self-esteem in general can influence addiction. In this episode, he talks about what self-esteem is and why positive self-esteem is so important for...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Everyone on the planet is affected by self-esteem in one way or another. Today, Tom discusses how self-esteem in general can influence addiction. In this episode, he talks about what self-esteem is and why positive self-esteem is so important for sobriety and getting and staying sober. He shares his own battle with self-esteem issues and why finding the root cause is so important.  He also stresses that it’s a process that needs to be facilitated by a good therapist. He talks about action steps that anyone can take to start building up their self-esteem in a positive way. By the end of the show, you'll be able to understand how the health of one's self-esteem can directly impact whether someone will have or develop an addiction problem.  Show Notes:  [02:03] Just after we did a show on the dangers of Suboxone, we found out that the manufacturers have been ordered to pay a 1.4 billion dollar settlement for negligent marketing. [04:14] Everybody has self-esteem. It can be good or bad, and it's learned over a period of years. [04:51] Traumatic events are a driver of negative self esteem. [05:41] The majority of the way someone feels about themselves will develop during their childhood state. [06:35] If someone has negative self-esteem growing up, the likelihood of them turning to something like addiction is higher. [07:43] One of the first things Tom and his team try to do is help clients identify where their negative self-esteem is coming from. [08:48] Figuring this out comes through therapeutic process. [09:19] If we can figure out what it is that's causing low self-esteem, we are in a position where we can reinforce positive things to build self-esteem back up.  [09:26] Once self-esteem is built up, it won't be necessary to act out the way an addicted person did in the past. [11:20] Tom shares his childhood abandonment issues and how when he first began counseling he didn't believe that it was a problem. [12:12] Once Tom realized that he did have abandonment issues, it was a good place for him to start building upon that. [14:05] We want to know what happened prior to your drinking and using drugs that made you turn to them in the first place. One of the biggest reasons for this is one's self-esteem. [14:45] Providing a life that reinforces positive self-esteem will reduce the likelihood of your child turning to drugs and alcohol.  [17:19] Once the self-esteem issues are established, it's time to reinforce and build up things that will encourage positive self-esteem. [17:33] People have to have some type of sense of identity and sense of security where they are okay with themselves. [18:00] Community and having friends is a big part of the sobriety process. [19:03] Take the top five people that you surround yourself with the most and you are the average of those five people. [19:39] Having a sense of purpose is a big part of the process. Having something to work towards will keep you going when you are sober. [21:59] It takes internal search to find your purpose. It's also okay to reach out to people and be vulnerable. [22:48] You also have to feel capable and have a sense of self-confidence. [23:19] Tell yourself that today might be hard, but you can get through it. If you don't believe this, you'll never achieve it. [24:22] Make a list of your strengths and things that you have accomplished in the past. [26:04] Eat good food and exercise. What you put in your body will directly impact the way that you feel. [26:57] Have some quiet time and go for walks on your own or listen to a podcast. [27:24] Be clean and take care of yourself and your hygiene. [27:38] Make sure you're home and living area is clean and organized. [28:10] Do things that you enjoy. Try things that you haven't done before to see what you like. [28:35] Doing all of these things will really help to build up your self-esteem.   Links and Resources:   Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Ep. 75 – Suboxone – Our Opinions – The Pros and Cons]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1811</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>164 - The Unfortunate Truths of Addiction</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/user/10643772/164-the-unfortunate-truths-of-addiction</link><description><![CDATA[We received two phone calls a couple of days ago that two people we know quite well had overdosed on drugs. One was rushed to the hospital, treated, and released. However, the second person is in ICU and will most likely not make it through his overdose. As a result of these recent tragedies, Ben and I decided to talk about what happens when addicts come to a place where they overdose and signs you can look for to hopefully prevent this from happening to someone you love. Ben Recalls His Early Days of Addiction While addicted, his mom would warn him to make sure that his drug source was “OK” because she was worried that his source could be laced with another drug. His mom was concerned, and now, Ben feels the same. When Ben would doctor shop, he knew his opiates would be regulated through a pharmacy.  The “Wash and Rinse Cycle” of Treatment People will go to treatment, get clean time, and then their tolerance to drugs and alcohol drops as they haven’t had their drug of choice in their system for some time. At this point, you can get the wrong combination when you buy drugs off the street and you can easily overdose. It’s playing Russian roulette if your drug of choice is opiates and you choose to purchase them off the street. The majority of clients coming in for treatment have dabbled in opiates, even if their main drug of choice is alcohol. It’s rare to see a client that hasn’t tried opiate drugs. The primary drugs we see people recovering from at Rock Recovery Center are heroin and opiates, although many identify as an alcoholic. Relapsing to Drugs Via Alcohol Alcohol is a gateway drug to other harder street drugs. We’ve seen people start to drink from an office party, then slide back into drug addiction. Whether or not alcohol has been a problem for someone in the past, if you’ve been an addict to drugs, you also need to stay away from alcohol so as not to relapse back into your old pattern. 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.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!  Show Notes:  [04:41] Differences in drug addicts and alcoholics. [07:19] The dangers of laced drugs in the 21st century. [10:08] What it means to have a case of severe jitters when you’re addicted.  [14:05] Alcoholics typically die slow, painful deaths. [16:46] Relapsing into drugs starting with alcohol. [18:53] The ease of covering up alcoholism as it is socially accepted and easily available. [22:25] Why alcoholism needs to be recognized as a powerful drug. [26:38] Addiction needs to have more resources to be combated. [30:20] This circumstance has been heartbreaking and we don’t want to see another person overdose again.  Episode Links and Resources  Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web  Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="mailto:tom@realrecoverytalk.com">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="mailto:ben@realrecoverytalk.com">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by  Pro Podcast Solutions]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">c4e884a3-d90c-4299-9067-a109931514f7</guid><pubDate>Thu, 31 Dec 2020 08:00:00 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/42895062/rrt164.mp3" length="22279211" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Tom Conrad</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>We received two phone calls a couple of days ago that two people we know quite well had overdosed on drugs. One was rushed to the hospital, treated, and released. However, the second person is in ICU and will most likely not make it through his...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[We received two phone calls a couple of days ago that two people we know quite well had overdosed on drugs. One was rushed to the hospital, treated, and released. However, the second person is in ICU and will most likely not make it through his overdose. As a result of these recent tragedies, Ben and I decided to talk about what happens when addicts come to a place where they overdose and signs you can look for to hopefully prevent this from happening to someone you love. Ben Recalls His Early Days of Addiction While addicted, his mom would warn him to make sure that his drug source was “OK” because she was worried that his source could be laced with another drug. His mom was concerned, and now, Ben feels the same. When Ben would doctor shop, he knew his opiates would be regulated through a pharmacy.  The “Wash and Rinse Cycle” of Treatment People will go to treatment, get clean time, and then their tolerance to drugs and alcohol drops as they haven’t had their drug of choice in their system for some time. At this point, you can get the wrong combination when you buy drugs off the street and you can easily overdose. It’s playing Russian roulette if your drug of choice is opiates and you choose to purchase them off the street. The majority of clients coming in for treatment have dabbled in opiates, even if their main drug of choice is alcohol. It’s rare to see a client that hasn’t tried opiate drugs. The primary drugs we see people recovering from at Rock Recovery Center are heroin and opiates, although many identify as an alcoholic. Relapsing to Drugs Via Alcohol Alcohol is a gateway drug to other harder street drugs. We’ve seen people start to drink from an office party, then slide back into drug addiction. Whether or not alcohol has been a problem for someone in the past, if you’ve been an addict to drugs, you also need to stay away from alcohol so as not to relapse back into your old pattern. 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.  Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review!  Show Notes:  [04:41] Differences in drug addicts and alcoholics. [07:19] The dangers of laced drugs in the 21st century. [10:08] What it means to have a case of severe jitters when you’re addicted.  [14:05] Alcoholics typically die slow, painful deaths. [16:46] Relapsing into drugs starting with alcohol. [18:53] The ease of covering up alcoholism as it is socially accepted and easily available. [22:25] Why alcoholism needs to be recognized as a powerful drug. [26:38] Addiction needs to have more resources to be combated. [30:20] This circumstance has been heartbreaking and we don’t want to see another person overdose again.  Episode Links and Resources  Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web  Real Recovery Talk on YouTube  Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Ideas for a show? Email us <a href="mailto:tom@realrecoverytalk.com">tom@realrecoverytalk.com</a> and <a href="mailto:ben@realrecoverytalk.com">ben@realrecoverytalk.com</a> Podcast editing and show notes by  Pro Podcast Solutions]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2063</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/968ab6828c55cd0f2c360ba62ef121e9.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
