Podcast by Christopher White and Max Thomas
21 September 2025
In this powerful episode of Addicted to Recovery, Christopher and Max sit down with Steve, who is just shy of 18 months clean. Steve shares a deeply personal and moving story of addiction, family struggles, and redemption.
The conversation begins with Steve’s early life, growing up in a divided and often chaotic household. His parents’ divorce and a lack of love and stability left him anxious and withdrawn. As a teenager, Steve gravitated toward older friends and environments where alcohol and drugs were normalized, leading to his first experiences with cocaine and, shockingly, smoking crack by the age of 16.
Over time, Steve’s substance use spiraled, fueled by unresolved childhood trauma, grief over losing his beloved brother Michael, and the breakdown of his marriage to Michelle. What started as recreational use of cocaine evolved into a destructive addiction, marked by psychosis, self-harm, and total isolation. At his lowest point, Steve was consuming half-ounce quantities of drugs alone while his mental health collapsed.
The turning point came after a near-fatal incident driving under the influence and a welfare check that forced him to confront his situation. After reaching out for help, Steve attended his first recovery meeting, where he immediately felt a sense of belonging and hope. He has remained clean since that day.
Today, Steve is thriving in recovery. Through working the steps with his sponsor, attending meetings, and giving back to others, he has built a life of peace and purpose. He reflects on the transformation from living in fear, shame, and chaos to finding stability, gratitude, and self-awareness
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59:42
14 September 2025
In this powerful episode, Christopher and Max take listeners on an honest and raw journey through addiction, recovery, and hope. They begin by discussing the stigma surrounding addiction and how even some medical professionals fail to fully understand it, focusing only on the substances rather than the deeper illness.
As the conversation unfolds, both hosts open up about their darkest days — the lies, shame, and destruction caused by their addiction. Christopher shares his near-daily struggles during his final two years of using, highlighting the cycle of chaos and the breaking point that finally led him to rehab. Max talks about the fear of losing his family, the moment he realized how far he had fallen, and how that desperation pushed him toward recovery.
Listeners will hear deeply personal reflections on:
The episode closes with a message of hope and practical advice for newcomers or anyone struggling: attend meetings, keep showing up, and don’t give up after just one attempt. Christopher and Max remind us that while addiction is a killer, recovery is possible — and life on the other side can be filled with love, purpose, and freedom.
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54:30
07 September 2025
In this deeply moving episode, Chris and Max sit down with their friend Dean, who opens up about his lifelong battle with addiction, starting with gambling as a child and spiraling into decades of drug use. Dean shares how his life unraveled—from the highs of the rave scene to the devastating lows of losing his family, home, and self-respect.
Through the 12-step program and unwavering support from others in recovery, Dean found freedom and a new way of living. Now over ten years clean, Dean reflects on the power of surrender, the importance of service, and his evolving relationship with faith and spirituality.
This episode is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder that no matter how far gone you feel, recovery is possible—one day at a time.
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57:32
31 August 2025
In this episode of Addicted to Recovery, Chris and Max welcome Rachel, who opens up about her journey from drinking three liters of vodka a day to finding freedom in sobriety. She shares candidly about her struggles with fear, shame, and family, and the turning point that led her to rehab and the 12 steps. Now over 17 months sober, Rachel reflects on parenting in recovery, rebuilding trust, and the importance of service. Her story is one of resilience, hope, and the life-changing miracle of recovery.
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59:14
24 August 2025
In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Addicted to Recovery, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas sit down with Luke, whose story of survival through childhood trauma, addiction, crime, and eventual redemption will leave you inspired.
Addicted to amphetamines by his own mother at just 13, Luke grew up in a world of drugs, violence, and instability. He opens up about enduring abuse, falling into crime, serving time in prison, and how addiction consumed his life for years.
Luke shares the pivotal moments that forced him to confront his destructive path—from a brutal attack by dealers to the devastating loss of a loved one—and how recovery finally gave him the strength to rebuild.
Now over ten months clean, Luke reflects on the transformation that has brought him peace, purpose, and hope for the future.
This is a raw, honest conversation about pain, resilience, and the power of recovery.
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17 August 2025
In this episode of Addicted to Recovery, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas welcome guest Daryl (aka R33DY D), who courageously shares his journey through addiction, childhood struggles, and recovery.
Daryl opens up about living with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, which made social situations and school life especially difficult. He recalls feeling uncomfortable in his own skin from an early age, masking insecurities by being the class clown, and later finding escape in raves, ecstasy, speed, and cocaine. Drugs temporarily quieted his restless mind but quickly spiraled into paranoia, toxic relationships, and destructive cycles that cost him family, businesses, and ultimately his sense of self.
He speaks candidly about the selfishness of addiction—missing key family moments, naming his son after cocaine, and pawning his late father’s jewelry to fund his habit. These painful memories highlight how unmanageable his life had become.
The turning point came in 2019, when he finally walked into a 12-step meeting. Although terrified, he found the fellowship, a sponsor, and the structure of recovery. Today, Daryl has over six years clean, has worked through the steps, and maintains a daily spiritual routine of prayer and gratitude.
Now, his passion lies in music and DJing. Sober, he has rediscovered his love for performing, producing, and playing in clubs across London, Spain, and even Ibiza. He describes being behind the decks as his purest form of peace and meditation.
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