Gambling Recovery: Taking Back Your Life

#22 -A Greek Orthodox Priest’s Journey Through Gambling Addiction, Recovery, and Forgiving Himself

Father George A. spent his life guiding others through faith, offering strength, hope, and spiritual direction to those in need. But behind the collar and the calling, he was quietly fighting a battle of his own.
What began as a harmless escape slowly became something far more powerful, an addiction to gambling that pulled him into secrecy, shame, and a life that felt completely at odds with the man he believed he was meant to be.
For years, Father George lived between two worlds: the one where he stood at the altar preaching faith, forgiveness, and discipline, and the one where he struggled privately with a compulsion he could no longer control.
In this deeply personal conversation, Father George shares the truth about how gambling addiction took hold, the weight of living a double life, and the moment he realized something had to change. His story is not just about addiction, but about humility, redemption, and learning to forgive yourself.This is the story of a priest who discovered that faith alone doesn’t make someone immune to struggle, but honesty, recovery, and grace can lead the way back.

#21 Gambling Addiction in Plain Sight: What Recovery Can Look Like in Seven Months. The Story of Mason B.

Today’s episode is an honest look at gambling addiction and recovery. Mason B. shares how gambling quietly took over his time, his work, his relationships, and his mental health, all while appearing functional on the outside. He opens up about secrecy, shame, bipolar disorder, and the constant pull to escape, numb, and chase more.
I wanted to share Mason’s story to show what recovery can look like in under a year just seven months, when someone commits fully, gets honest, and asks for help.

Season 2- #20 The Human Cost of Gambling, and the journey to Healing with Jody Bechtold, LCSW, ICGC, IGDC, PC

My guest is Jody Bechtold, LCSW, ICGC, IGDC, PC — a clinician, educator, and advocate who has spent her life standing at the intersection of addiction, mental health, and human suffering. As the CEO of The Better Institute, Jody works daily with individuals and families whose lives have been quietly fractured by gambling addiction.
What sets Jody apart is not just her credentials or expertise, but her understanding of what this addiction takes from people , trust, time, relationships, and hope. She speaks to the emotional weight carried by gamblers and the often-unseen pain carried by those who love them.
In this episode, we explore how gambling has evolved, why the harm is reaching deeper than ever before, and how Jody’s path led her to this work. This is not a conversation about numbers or policy alone , it’s about people, connection, and the moments where intervention can change a life.
This episode is an opportunity to slow down, listen, and reflect. I’m deeply grateful to share this conversation with someone whose work continues to bring light into a space that desperately needs it.

#19 Season 1 Recap – Returning for Season 2 February 3rd

Thank you to every single person who has listened, shared, and supported this podcast. Whether you’ve been here since episode one or you tuned in for just a single conversation, thank you. Your presence matters more than you know. As we close out Season 1, this recap isn’t just about numbers or milestones, it’s about growth. I’ll be talking about what I learned, the mistakes I made along the way, what surprised me, what challenged me, and how each step shaped the mission we’re building. We’ve reached listeners in over 50 countries, which humbles me , but it also fuels me. Because the goal is never less, it’s always more. Our mission is simple and unwavering: reach as many people as we possibly can. If this podcast helps save just one life, that alone is a miracle. Let’s be honest gambling isn’t just a public health problem, it’s a public health emergency. And if you’re struggling right now, please hear this: you are not alone, and you are not beyond hope. We will keep pushing, keep learning, and keep showing up . I’m looking forward to Season 2 on February 3rd. Thank you for supporting our mission.

#18 Massachusetts State Senator John F. Keenan and the Bettor Health Act: A call to help save lives from Gambling

Today’s guest is someone who chose integrity over silence.  Massachusetts State Senator John F. Keenan, who represents the Norfolk and Plymouth District, has emerged as one of the most courageous voices in America calling out sports betting for what it has become: a growing public-health crisis. While many celebrate the revenue, Senator Keenan has been willing to confront the human cost. Insanity, jail and death.  He is leading the charge behind the Bettor Health Act, a bold legislation that would ban prop bets, restrict in-game wagering, remove gambling advertisements from broadcasts. Finally placing much needed  guardrails around a growing addiction.  What makes Senator Keenan’s voice so powerful is his honesty. He has publicly expressed regret for his vote to legalize sports betting, something rarely seen in politics, and apologized to those in recovery, to families affected, and to those who have lost loved ones to gambling-related suicide. This conversation isn’t about politics. It’s about people. It’s about sounding the alarm before more lives and families are torn apart, and about what happens when someone with a voice chooses to listen, learn, and speak up.

#17 The Wife of a Gambler: Karen S.’s Story of Love, Empathy, and Accountability

You heard Bob S. share the night his gambling addiction finally brought him to his knees in episode 2, along with the years of secrets, anxiety, and quiet unraveling that led him there.
Today, we’re turning toward the other side of that story.
Karen, Bob’s wife, lived through every part of this journey without a guide: the confusion, the red flags, the half-truths, the moment everything came crashing down, and the long, deliberate work of rebuilding trust while keeping her family safe.

This isn’t a story about blame. It’s about the very real human cost of addiction , and the strength, clarity, and courage it takes to stand beside someone you love while also protecting your own well-being.
 
In this conversation, Karen opens up about what it was like to love someone in active addiction, how she navigated finances and safety, what helped and what didn’t after disclosure, and what recovery looks like for an entire family, not just the gambler.

#16 A Father’s Reckoning: The War Within, and the Love & Empathy That Pulled Him Back

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Dane L, someone who’s lived through many painful layers of gambling addiction: the rush, the secrets, the chaos, and the fallout that touches every corner of life.
Dane talks about burning through jobs, lying to family, and sinking deep into debt , convinced that fixing the money would fix everything. But instead, the addiction took more: his peace, his marriage, and moments with his newborn children he can’t get back.
After multiple relapses and rock-bottom moments, Dane finally walked into a GA room for the third time , completely broken, and finally ready to surrender.
This conversation is raw, emotional, and deeply human. A reminder that recovery doesn’t begin when the money comes back, it begins when we tell the truth and surrender. 
If you’ve ever felt trapped or alone in this addiction, this episode will help you feel seen and remind you that even in the darkest places, light is still possible.

#15 - Casinos in Our Pockets - How Legalized Gambling is taking over sports & our lives!

In this episode of Gambling Recovery: Taking Back Your Life, im going to take you inside one of the fastest growing addictions in American sports gambling. A mental health emergency  What started as a game has become a business built on human weakness and temptation. 
Once about heart, competition, and being present with friends and family,  sports have been rewritten by odds, profits, and algorithms. The leagues that once called gambling a threat now profit from it , while lives quietly fall apart behind the numbers. I’ll explore the scandals, the billions of dollars at stake, and the hidden costs no one wants to talk about, the families torn to pieces , the athletes caught in temptation, and the young people growing up believing every play needs a bet. But this isn’t just about what’s broken. It’s about what can be rebuilt.
Through honesty, vulnerability , and recovery, I share how it’s still possible to take your life back ,even in a world where every moment has a price tag. When we start betting on everything, we forget what really matters , being present with the people we love.

#14 Thirty Years Free. Allen H.’s Journey of Service and Gratitude

Today’s episode features Allen H., a man whose story of recovery spans more than thirty years. Even after more than three decades free from gambling, Allen remains deeply committed to his recovery , still attending three to four GA meetings each week and giving back through service. He’s a living example of humility, gratitude, and what it means to never forget how powerful this disease truly is.
His journey began in his early teens, playing poker and chasing that first thrill, a thrill that would one day lead to unimaginable lows. You’ll hear how Allen’s path took him from weekend poker games in the Navy to a hospital stay that changed everything , and how, through the rooms of Gamblers Anonymous, he rebuilt his life one day at a time.

#13 Hope, Healing, and Redemption The Story of Steve Kapela

Today I sit down with Steve Kapela, a man whose life is proof that recovery can take you further than you ever imagined. Steve has been free from gambling, alcohol, and drugs since May 12, 2008, and in the years since, he’s not only rebuilt his own life but dedicated himself to helping others do the same. He’s become a trailblazer in peer recovery, a licensed social worker, and one of the earliest certified gambling counselors in Ohio, eventually earning international recognition through the ICGC II and BACC credentials. Soon, he’ll be licensed as a Master Clinical Social Worker in five different states. But titles and degrees don’t tell the whole story. Steve’s journey took him through homelessness and two years in jail before he received a full pardon from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a powerful symbol of how far he’s come. With more than three decades of lived experience combined with professional expertise, Steve knows addiction from the inside out, and he’s made it his mission to show others that change is always possible. Our paths crossed in a way I don’t think was an accident, through one of his clients, who also happens to be my sponsee. I believe there are no coincidences in life, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring you this conversation.