In this episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Blake Mathews shares his story of addiction, adoption, and finding faith through music. Adopted at birth and raised in a Jewish household in Phoenix, Blake started DJing weddings and bar mitzvahs at 13 and built a career in music and nightlife while quietly hiding a worsening addiction for over a decade. By the time he moved to Nashville in 2014 to chase a career in the arts, he was a high functioning alcoholic leaning on psychedelics, convinced they made him a better artist, while the people closest to him had no idea how bad it had gotten.

Blake opens up about hitting bottom in Nashville, calling his dad for help, and getting into treatment within 48 hours, only to relapse after walking away from music entirely and moving back to Phoenix. He found lasting sobriety on a sober hike up a mountain he stumbled onto by chance, and he's been sober since. Today, Blake is the founder of Sober House Records and co-founder of Formerly Intoxicated, a nonprofit bringing music and healing arts into treatment centers and prisons. He shares how a chance encounter with two strangers praying in a coffee shop changed everything, and how he turned his pain into a mission: redemption is real, prevention is possible, and recovery is for everyone. #TheHopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie

Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics

Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!

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https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
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Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.

Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro

1:26 Meet Blake Matthews

2:27 Handing flip flops to a barefoot stranger in 100 degree heat

4:33 The fentanyl crisis hiding in plain sight

6:14 The DM Chad got this morning

7:13 Chad's stance on calling it fentanyl poisoning

9:43 Adopted at birth, and the search for belonging

12:12 Functioning addict, DJing weddings since age 13

13:50 Chasing music to Nashville, and hitting a wall

17:21 The night he called his dad

19:09 What his graduation photos actually showed

20:31 Moving home, and walking away from music

22:00 Relapse, one beer with an old friend

23:00 The mountain hike that changed everything

26:40 The recover out loud movement

29:08 Connection as the opposite of addiction

31:35 The lie that drugs make you more creative

33:51 Bringing music into treatment centers and prisons

35:15 The starving artist trap

47:01 First job in recovery, teaching kids life skills

49:20 Leaving it all to go full time into Sober House Records

51:22 Opening his first sober living home

53:39 Raised Jewish, and why Jesus was a bad word

56:19 Two strangers praying in a coffee shop

57:25 The 10pm Bible study that didn't end until 4am

58:21 The night he gave his life to Jesus

1:01:34 Inside his album, Unbury Your Burdens

1:03:11 Still wrestling with depression after finding faith

1:04:22 Stacking wins

1:05:43 The fastest way out of depression

1:09:08 How his family sees him now

1:13:11 What Formerly Intoxicated actually does

In this episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Ryan Foley shares his powerful story of alcoholism, mental health, surrender, fatherhood, and the unexpected life recovery gave him. Ryan grew up outside of Chicago, went on to attend Cornell University, built a successful career, and eventually worked at companies like Google and Groupon before addiction began taking over his life. For years, he was able to function on the outside while drinking every day, but behind the scenes his body was shutting down. He opens up about drinking a handle a day, waking up in withdrawal, shaking, sweating, and reaching the point where doctors told him that if he kept drinking, he could die.

Ryan also shares his experience being diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 20 years old, the shame he carried around mental health, and why getting sober was the only way he could truly begin treating what was underneath. Today, Ryan is nearly five years sober, a husband, father of two with a third baby on the way, a performance coach, and a world champion professional sailor. He shares how recovery brought him back to athletics, led him into a completely different career, and gave him a life he never thought was possible. From surrendering in treatment to launching "Big Tuesday," a movement encouraging men to lift heavy, stay disciplined, and take ownership of their health, Ryan's story is a reminder that recovery does not just save lives — it can completely transform them.
#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie

Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of 'Off the Record', exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics

Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors.

Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!

Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics

Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com

Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.

Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com

The 10-Car Crash That Exposed Her Secret Addiction w/ Elisa Saunders | The Hopeaholics Podcast


In this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Elisa Saunders shares an incredibly raw story of addiction, trauma, survival, and the long road to recovery after decades of chaos behind the scenes of both alcoholism and the treatment industry. Elisa spent nearly 30 years drinking while maintaining the image of a functioning professional, all while cycling through alcohol, Xanax, cocaine, and the kind of self-destruction that nearly killed her. She opens up about the pain of childhood abuse, the emotional wounds that followed her into adulthood, and how addiction became both an escape and a prison she couldn’t break free from. The conversation dives into her time working in the treatment world during some of its most corrupt years, where she witnessed body brokering, fraud, and the exploitation of vulnerable people seeking help. Elisa also shares the terrifying consequences of her own addiction, including a DUI, a devastating ten-car pileup, and the moment she realized she was either going to get sober or die. Even after getting clean, she reveals the brutal emotional reality of early recovery, including the shame, depression, and suicidal thoughts she had to fight through without numbing herself. Today, Elisa uses her story and experience to advocate for ethical treatment, real recovery, and better solutions for people trapped in addiction.


#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie


Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics


Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!


Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics


Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com


Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.


Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com


Timestamps:
00:05:09 - 30 Years of Drinking While Working as a Schoolteacher
00:05:32 - Booze, Xanax and Cocaine Becoming Her Routine
00:08:17 - Entering the Wild West of the Treatment Industry
00:08:54 - The Real Story Behind Body Brokering in Florida
00:10:29 - Watching Corrupt Treatment Operators Get Busted
00:11:09 - Seeing People Brokered Out of AA Meetings
00:12:30 - Testifying Against Her Half Brother After Childhood Abuse
00:16:58 - Realizing She Could Never Stay Stopped
00:18:50 - The DUI That Exposed How Out of Control Her Life Had Become
00:19:12 - Causing a Ten-Car Pileup and Hiding It as a Teacher
00:22:22 - Reaching the Point Where She Knew She Was Going to Die
00:22:47 - Going to Treatment Because Jail Was the Alternative
00:24:50 - Getting Sober and Still Wanting to Kill Herself
00:25:58 - “I Never Felt Good Enough” Without Alcohol
00:58:57 - The Recovery App She Believes Could Help Save Lives

The Opposite of Addiction Isn’t Sobriety with Stefanos Sifandos | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Stefanos Sifandos joins the show for a deep and thought-provoking conversation about trauma, relationships, addiction, personal growth, and the journey toward true emotional freedom. As an internationally recognized relationship coach, author, and speaker, Stefanos has spent years helping people understand the hidden wounds that shape their behaviors, beliefs, and connections with others. He opens up about growing up in a household marked by violence, chaos, and emotional struggle, and how those early experiences led him on a lifelong search for healing and self-discovery. The conversation explores the powerful link between addiction and disconnection, why so many people avoid their emotions, and how unresolved childhood experiences continue to influence adult relationships. Stefanos also shares his perspective on attachment, vulnerability, masculinity, fatherhood, and the importance of developing a deeper relationship with yourself. Throughout the episode, he explains how generational trauma gets passed down, why meaningful connection is essential for healing, and what it takes to break destructive patterns that keep people stuck. With a unique blend of personal experience, psychology, spirituality, and practical wisdom, Stefanos offers insights that challenge conventional thinking and encourage lasting transformation.

#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie

Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics

Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!

Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics

Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com

Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.

Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com

Timestamps:
00:13:24 - Growing Up Overweight, Insecure and Finding Fitness
00:14:37 - Violence, Chaos and Trauma Inside His Childhood Home
00:16:17 - Why His Difficult Childhood Sparked a Lifelong Study of Relationships
00:23:12 - The Human Need for Belonging
00:23:32 - Why the Opposite of Addiction Is Connection
00:24:13 - Addiction, Isolation and the Emotions We All Share
00:25:15 - Discovering He Was Neurodivergent
00:35:03 - Why Society Teaches Us to Avoid Feeling
00:36:23 - How Generational Trauma Gets Passed Down
00:57:16 - Living in Denial and Hiding in the Shadows
00:58:46 - Insecurity, Jealousy and Going Through Your Partner’s Phone
01:01:13 - How Fatherhood Opened His Heart
01:05:08 - Working With His Wife and Confronting His Ego
01:06:33 - The Meaning Behind His Book Tuned In and Turned On
01:07:12 - How Childhood Shapes Adult Relationships, Love and Attachment

California’s Failed Addiction Policies Explained with Laurie Davies | The Hopeaholics Podcast


In this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, California Assemblywoman Laurie Davies joins the show for an important conversation about addiction, fentanyl, homelessness, mental health, and the policies shaping recovery across the state. Representing California’s 74th Assembly District, Laurie has become a leading voice in the fight to improve treatment access, protect recovery programs, and address the devastating impact of the fentanyl crisis. She shares how personal experiences with addiction, mental illness, and loss have influenced her work and strengthened her commitment to helping vulnerable families. The conversation explores the unintended consequences of policies like Proposition 47, the challenges surrounding homelessness and accountability, and why many people seeking treatment still struggle to find available beds when they are finally ready for help. Laurie also discusses insurance fraud in the treatment industry, legislative efforts to protect patients, and the importance of expanding quality recovery resources throughout California. Throughout the episode, she offers a candid look at what is happening behind the scenes in government and what still needs to change to save lives. From mental health reform and public safety to recovery, faith, and personal responsibility, this conversation tackles some of the most urgent issues facing communities today.


#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie


Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics


Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!


Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics


Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com


Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.


Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com


Timestamps:
00:13:42 - Protecting Treatment Centers and Stopping Fraud
00:14:52 - The Insurance Fraud Crisis Hurting Treatment Centers
00:18:32 - New Legislation to Protect Addiction Treatment Patients
00:22:23 - How Prop 47 Changed Addiction and Homelessness
00:24:18 - Prop 36 Passes but Goes Unfunded
00:28:40 - Why Consequences Can Help Save an Addict’s Life
00:30:52 - Homelessness, Addiction and Accountability
00:35:01 - Addiction as a Spiritual Problem
00:36:47 - Her Family’s Experience With Severe Mental Illness
00:40:56 - The Crisis of Finding Treatment Beds in California
00:41:24 - Every Hour Matters When Someone Asks for Help
00:42:05 - Losing a Loved One to Fentanyl
00:42:49 - Why She Carries Narcan Everywhere
00:52:21 - “You’re Only One Person Away From a Fentanyl Death”
00:56:14 - The Audit That Exposed Major Oversight Failures

The Day He Finally Got Tired of Being Homeless w/ CRASH | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Crash shares the incredible story of how he went from living homeless on the streets of Santa Ana for years to finding recovery, purpose, and a new life in sobriety. After first experimenting with heroin as a teenager, Crash spent more than a decade trapped in addiction, cycling through homelessness, arrests, failed treatment attempts, and countless moments that could have ended his life. He opens up about sleeping on the streets, losing hope, and believing that recovery simply wasn't possible for someone like him. The conversation dives into the realities of addiction, what life is actually like for people living unhoused, and the devastating toll drugs take on families, friendships, and self-worth. Crash also shares the turning points that led him to treatment, the people who refused to give up on him, and the moment he finally became willing to change. Today, he dedicates his life to helping others escape the same darkness by connecting people struggling with addiction to treatment and recovery resources. His story is a powerful reminder that no one is too far gone, no matter how hopeless their situation may seem.

#wedorecover #TheHopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie

Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics

Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!

Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics

Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com

Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.

Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com

Timestamps:
00:04:21 - First Experiences With Heroin at 15 and 17
00:05:06 - Living Homeless on the Streets of Santa Ana for Seven Years
00:06:04 - Dropping Out of School and Spiraling Into Addiction
00:07:33 - More Than a Decade Living on the Streets
00:09:53 - Waking Up at His Dad’s House After Hitting Rock Bottom
00:10:27 - First Attempt at Rehab in Florida
00:11:00 - Relapsing Immediately After Treatment
00:18:07 - 110 Days Sober and Rebuilding His Life
00:18:52 - “I Hit Rock Bottom and Found a Basement”
00:19:50 - Helping Other Homeless Addicts Get Into Treatment
00:20:20 - The Viral Recovery Story That Started a Movement
00:21:58 - How Victor and Fresh Start Rescue People From the Streets
00:30:56 - Helping 15+ Friends Get Clean Together
00:31:50 - What Recovery Looks Like Today
00:32:32 - Accepting a Higher Power in Recovery
00:36:01 - The Reality of Open Drug Use in Santa Ana
00:36:25 - Getting Swept, Arrested and Losing Everything
00:37:19 - Why Hope Matters More Than Resources
00:38:11 - Getting a Taste of Sobriety for the First Time
00:39:01 - Becoming an Inspiration to Friends Still Struggling
00:43:14 - Why Service Is Essential to Recovery
00:44:06 - The Story Behind the Nickname “Crash”
00:44:55 - Opiates Left His Neck Permanently Bent Forward
00:57:24 - Celebrating Sobriety and Looking Toward the Futur

The Fentanyl Crisis Is Worse Than You Think w/ Luis Romero | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Luis Romero shares his incredible journey from heroin addiction, gang involvement, and felony charges to becoming a powerful voice in recovery and fentanyl awareness. With over 13 years sober, Luis opens up about the darkest moments of his addiction, the impact of losing his father at a young age, and how searching for belonging led him down a destructive path. He shares the life-changing decision to stay in treatment longer than planned, the challenges of being a "dry drunk," and the personal growth that allowed him to become someone his family could be proud of. We also dive into the fentanyl epidemic, the dangers of counterfeit pills, fentanyl-laced drugs, and the heartbreaking losses that inspired Luis to launch Fuck Fentanyl San Diego and dedicate his life to saving others. This conversation is filled with powerful recovery insights, raw honesty, and an important message about grief, purpose, and honoring the people we've lost by living a meaningful life. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, this episode offers hope, perspective, and proof that lasting recovery is possible.

#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie

Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics

Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!

Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics

Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com

Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.

Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com

Timestamps:
00:03:30 - Why He Started Fuck Fentanyl San Diego
00:06:57 - 13 Years Sober and Life After Heroin
00:14:59 - Living an Animalistic Life Chasing Heroin
00:16:08 - Family Taking Him In During Addiction
00:17:14 - Heroin Addiction, Gangs and Catching a Felony Case
00:18:08 - Running From Police After a Party Gone Wrong
00:26:45 - Staying in Treatment an Extra Four Months to Survive
00:33:30 - Recovery Turned Him Into Someone His Family Could Be Proud Of
00:34:10 - The Pain of Being a Dry Drunk for Nine Years
00:43:24 - Losing His Father at 10 and the Impact on His Addiction
00:45:24 - His Father Died of a Heart Attack at 33
00:46:31 - Seeking Validation Through Gangs After Losing His Dad
00:48:11 - How His Friend’s Death Sparked His Mission and Podcast
00:58:04 - Why Illicit Fentanyl Is Pure Poison
01:00:39 - The Shocking Reality of Fake Fentanyl Pills
01:01:48 - A Celebration Turned Fatal After Fentanyl-Laced Cocaine
01:05:24 - Honoring Loved Ones Instead of Letting Grief Destroy You
01:06:02 - Living Life in Honor of His Father and Best Friend

Losing Everything and Building a Better Life with Dan Sachkowsky | The Hopeaholics Podcast

In this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Dan Sachkowsky shares the life lessons, failures, victories, and wake-up calls that completely transformed his perspective on success, happiness, and purpose. Dan opens up about the heart attack that forced him to reevaluate everything, losing nearly all of his wealth during the 2007 financial crash, navigating divorce, raising three children, and overcoming addiction through drug court. He explains why chasing money, status, cars, and material success left him feeling empty, and how true fulfillment comes from personal growth, service, and self-awareness. We also dive into leadership, entrepreneurship, coaching, mental health, and the mindset shifts that helped him rebuild his life and business from the ground up. Dan shares powerful advice for anyone facing adversity, struggling through major life changes, or searching for a deeper sense of purpose. This conversation is packed with wisdom, hard-earned lessons, and practical tools for building resilience in every area of life.

#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie

Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics

Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!

Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics
https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics

Buy Merch:
https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com

Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com
If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction.

Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:
https://www.infinitigroupllc.com

Timestamps:
00:02:21 - Speaking on How Pressure Builds Your Life
00:03:00 - Heart Attack That Changed Everything
00:15:54 - Chasing Money, Mansions, Cars and Validation
00:16:25 - Losing Everything During the 2007 Crash
00:17:50 - Why Real Success Has Nothing to Do With Cars or Houses
00:18:17 - Exposing Fake Wealth on Social Media
00:42:37 - Secretly Entering Drug Court During a Divorce
00:43:18 - Marriage, Divorce and Raising Three Kids
00:46:38 - Why Happiness Can’t Come From Other People
00:48:19 - “Don’t Go Through Things, Grow Through Things”
00:49:49 - Powerful Advice to a Divorced Uber Driver
01:01:20 - From Construction Business Owner to Executive Coach
01:02:06 - The Biggest Problem in Your Business Is You
01:06:52 - Defining the Legacy He Wants to Leave Behind
01:10:00 - Podcaster Guest Opens Up About Depression Then Dies 7 Days Later
01:21:35 - Building Big D Coaching and His Personal Brand