Gambling Recovery: Taking Back Your Life

#12 Teddy S had a choice-Get Help or Lose It All . The Moment That Saved a Marriage and a Life

At 23 years old, Teddy S. first walked into the rooms of Gamblers Anonymous with his mother by his side. He wouldn’t see the inside of another GA room until the age of 45. And by then, the addiction had only grown darker and more destructive. When Teddy finally made the decision to take recovery seriously, everything changed, and he has never looked back. But recovery is never a journey walked alone. At home, his wife Linda was caring for their two young children, carrying the weight of uncertainty and heartache. Reaching her breaking point, she gave Teddy a clear ultimatum: get help, or lose it all. That moment not only marked a turning point for Teddy, but also began Linda’s own path, one that has led her to become a a leader in the Gam-Anon community, giving strength and guidance to countless families. On a personal note, Teddy has been much more than a friend in recovery, he’s been a steady presence, a mentor, and someone who has never given up on me, even in the moments when I wanted to give up on myself. His support, along with Linda’s example of courage and compassion, has had a profound impact on my journey. I am deeply grateful to have both of them here with me today.

#11 Adam H stood on the edge of the Golden Gate Bridge, ready to let go. Despair turned into a return to life, faith, and purpose.

Sometimes in recovery, you meet someone whose story feels less like coincidence and more like destiny. That was the case when I first heard Adam H share his journey. On an ordinary Saturday morning, while celebrating 15 years free from gambling, Adam spoke with a depth and honesty that felt like a spiritual awakening. In that moment, it was clear his path and mine had crossed for a reason.
Adam’s life before recovery was marked by loss, of peace, stability, and even the will to go on. His addiction took him to the edge of the Golden Gate Bridge, where he believed his suffering had reached its end. But that same moment of despair became the beginning of something greater: a return to life through the rooms of Gamblers Anonymous, and his faith in God. 
Today, Adam stands as proof of what honesty, humility, and perseverance can restore. His journey is not only about breaking free from gambling, but about rediscovering faith, reclaiming identity, and embracing the power of community. His story reminds us that even in our darkest hours, hope has a way of finding us, and leading us back to life.

#10 This episode is for my parents , the ones who stood in the storm of my addiction and taught me what love really means

This episode is for my parents, and my brother 
Today, I’m doing something I’ve been carrying in my heart since the day I entered recovery. This episode is for my parents ,the two people who stood in the storm of my addiction long before I ever saw it for what it was.
My mom passed two years ago. My dad, just this past May. And as I try to make sense of life without them, I find myself reflecting on everything they went through because of me. The lies. The worry. The helplessness. The pain I brought into our home , and the strength they carried in silence.
This is what my addiction looked like through my eyes… but it’s told in honor of theirs. Their perspective. Their resilience. Their love ,even when I was lost in the darkest parts of myself.
I also want to acknowledge my brother ,who had to watch it all unfold, powerless in so many ways. He bore a different weight, one that often goes unseen but never unfelt.
Grief has a way of making everything clearer. In losing them, I’ve come to understand the depth of what they gave… and what my addiction took.
This episode is about pain, yes ,but it’s also about love. And legacy. And the hard-earned gratitude that only comes with time, healing, and loss.
So here it is.

#9 Sometimes the right person enters your life exactly when you need direction. For me, that person was Sam Sherman ,and this episode brings everything full circle

Today’s guest is a special one, and not just because of what he does, but because of how our paths crossed.
Sam Sherman isn’t just someone I admire in the mental health space, he’s the reason this podcast exists. Years ago, I met a man named Teddy in a Gamblers anonymous room who made a lasting impact on my life. I never imagined that decades later, I’d be teaming up with his nephew to launch a podcast dedicated to recovery, healing, and honest conversation.
Sam found his calling in the mental health field unexpectedly, but once he stepped into it, he never looked back. He’s currently on the path to becoming a certified gambling counselor and hosts his own podcast, Courage Speaks, where he tackles mental health in all its forms, working to break stigma and reach people who need it most.
Sam leads with his heart. He’s wise beyond his years, driven by purpose, and deeply committed to helping others find their voice, just like he helped me find mine.
This episode is more than a discussion, it’s a full-circle moment I’ll never forget.

#8 Brian R lost his marriage, his trust, and himself . but one phone call became the turning point. From addiction to surrender

Today’s episode is one of truth, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to begin again.
My guest, Brian R is here to share the history of his gambling, his personal admission of powerlessness and the unmanageability that followed. This is more than a list of consequences. This is a look inside the life of someone who spent decades chasing bets, hiding lies, and losing pieces of himself along the way.
Brian’s story began when he was just eight years old, betting on fantasy football with his Father. From scratch-off tickets in high school to online sports betting as an adult, the progression was steady, and dangerous. Gambling became his escape, his obsession, and eventually, his secret. He lost trust. He lost his marriage. He lost himself.
And he lost time with the people who mattered most, his children. Even when he was physically present, he wasn’t really there. Gambling consumed his thoughts, his emotions, his energy. It robbed him of being the father he wanted to be.
But then came one moment. One phone call. To his sister.
That call changed everything. It cracked the shell of silence that addiction thrives in. It was the first real act of surrender, the moment he said, I can’t do this anymore. And from that phone call, recovery began.
And today, recovery has given Brian something he never thought was possible: a real connection with his kids. One built on presence, honesty, and love.
This episode isn’t about shame, it’s about truth. It’s about the raw courage it takes to say, my life is out of control, and I can’t do this on my own anymore. I need help. It’s about finding the strength to walk away from destruction and take a step toward healing.
Because on the other side of surrender… there’s life.

#7 Jordan S. believed he could manage it ,one more bet, one more chance. But the truth was always there: gambling was in control, not him.

From innocent March Madness brackets with his brothers to secret loans, mounting debts, and gambling away life’s biggest milestones. Jordan’s addiction didn’t explode overnight. It crept in quietly, tightening its grip until his world began to fall apart.
For over two decades, he lived in the illusion of control, telling himself he had limits, that he could manage the chaos, that one more bet might fix everything. But the truth was always there: gambling was in control, not him.
Behind the scenes, the damage rippled out, straining his marriage, lying to the people he loved most, and leaving his wife and family in the wake of broken trust.
Today, Jordan S is walking a new path. Through honesty, pain, and recovery, he’s learning to let go of the illusion, and take back his life.
Let’s listen now as Jordan S courageously shares his Step 1: admitting he is powerless over gambling and that his life had become unmanageable.

#6 When Desperation Meets Community , Parents of a Gambler: A Journey from Heartbreak to Hope

In this deeply personal episode of Gambling Recovery: Taking Back Your Life, I sit down with Mark and Julie, two parents whose story echoes the pain, fear, and hope that so many families experience when a loved one is battling gambling addiction.
Their 27-year-old son, Joey, had just entered an inpatient gambling rehab program when they found their way to a Gamblers Anonymous meeting. Lost and searching for answers, they were pointed toward a Monday night GA meeting in downtown Chicago. A simple suggestion that would go on to change their lives. 
This episode is about what happens when desperation meets community. It’s about the power of shared experience, the strength found in strangers, and the healing that can begin in a single room.
I now have the privilege of sponsoring Joey, and together we’ve witnessed a profound transformation. Tune in to hear Mark and Julie’s journey, from heartbreak to hope, and the unexpected miracle that unfolded along the way.

#5 Gambling consumed everything Jason S cared about. His story is one of addiction, identity, and the courage to break through silence and shame.

Today, we have a powerful and deeply personal story to share. My guest, Jason S, knows firsthand how gambling can take hold of a person’s life. How what starts as a thrill, a side hustle, or even just a way to pass the time can spiral into something that consumes everything: work, relationships, and even your own well-being.
Jason’s journey began with poker games in high school, escalated through pharmacy school, and continued into his professional life, where his addiction led to sleepless nights, hidden lies, and a desperate search for control.
But Jason’s story also comes with an added layer of complexity. As an Asian American, cultural expectations around success, family honor, and emotional vulnerability made it even harder for him to come forward and ask for help. His path wasn’t just about battling addiction, it was about breaking through cultural barriers of silence and shame.
Today, he’s here to share that journey , the highs, the lows, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. If you or someone you love is struggling with gambling, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

#4 Australian journalist Aaron Timms exposes the machine driving America’s betting obsession, and the warning signs we can’t afford to ignore.

Today’s guest, Aaron Timms, is a freelance journalist from Australia, now living in New York, who has written for The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Guardian, and more.
 
Back in 2021, he wrote a powerful article for The Guardian about the rise of legalized sports betting in the U.S. and the marketing machine behind it . A piece that left a lasting impression on me. I remember thinking at the time: If I ever start a podcast, I want to talk to this guy.
 
In the piece, he also reflects on Australia’s experience, a country that legalized gambling decades ago. He explains how it gradually reshaped social interactions and public life, and draws striking parallels to what’s now unfolding in America.
 
In this episode, we talk about the story behind that article, the cultural shift brought on by legalized betting, and what lessons if any , we might still have time to learn.

#3 Martin S Lived a Double Life , Until Gambling Almost Took His Last Breath

Today’s guest is someone who spent 25 years living a double life, gambling from the moment he woke up until he went to bed, lying, deceiving, and destroying everything in his path, his marriage, his family, his finances, and, ultimately, himself. He was an action gambler, a stock market addict, a sports bettor, a blackjack and craps player. Anything to keep the machine going. He lied about where he was, faked car accidents, and even had a second phone and computer just to cover his tracks. And when it all came crashing down, when the reality of losing everything finally hit, he found himself in a dark garage, staring at the ignition, ready to end it all. But that wasn’t the end of his story. In this episode, he unveils the raw truth of his descent into gambling addiction and the pivotal moments that led him to reclaim his life. A testament to the resilience of the human spirit. This is Martin’s story. Let’s get into it.