Addicted to Recovery

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Podcast by Christopher White and Max Thomas

Addicted to Recovery

Addicted to Recovery is a new podcast exploring the truth about addiction. Whether you had one too many drinks last night or have multiple years in recovery, join us for the honest conversation.

Latest episodes

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24 August 2025

Addicted at 13: Luke’s Road Back to Life

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

Darrell: R33DY D

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.

This episode is a powerful testament to resilience, honesty, and the transformation possible through recovery. Daryl’s story reminds listeners that while addiction isolates, recovery reconnects us with who we truly are—and with life itself.

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10 August 2025

Ben K: From Chaos to Clarity

In this powerful and raw episode, Christopher White and Max Thomas sit down with Ben K, a fellow recovering addict who shares his deeply personal journey through two decades of relapse, recovery, and everything in between. Ben opens up about the emotional turbulence of fatherhood, managing Crohn’s disease, and the lifelong impact of addiction—not just on himself, but on those around him.

From a spontaneous invitation to the podcast to a moving reflection on his 18 months of solid recovery, Ben’s story highlights how addiction isn't always about substances—it’s about control, fear, shame, and self-worth. Together, the trio dive into the challenges of maintaining emotional sobriety, the danger of spiritual complacency, and the transformative power of surrender.

This episode is an honest look at what recovery really looks like: messy, beautiful, and always evolving. Whether you’re new to recovery, a loved one of someone struggling, or just curious about the reality behind addiction, this conversation offers insight, compassion, and hope.

🔐 For bonus content, live chats, and exclusive episodes, support us on Patreon.

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03 August 2025

Darren's 15 Years Clean – A Journey of Hope, Service, and Recovery

In this moving and powerful episode of Addicted to Recovery, hosts Christopher and Max sit down with longtime friend and recurring guest Darren, who is celebrating an incredible milestone—15 years of continuous clean time.

The conversation kicks off with Darren reflecting on the deep emotional impact of reaching 15 years clean. He shares feelings of overwhelming gratitude, humility, and astonishment that he's come so far, especially when he once believed sobriety was impossible.

Throughout the episode, Darren recounts critical turning points in his recovery, including:

  • A moment of grace when a stranger gave his wife £10 to get him to a drug service—what he calls the “butterfly effect” that started his journey.
  • The internal battles he faced not in using, but in trying to stay clean and confront life without drugs.
  • The profound impact of losing his sponsor and later his mother—and how he stayed clean and present through grief by leaning into the fellowship and continuing to serve others.

A major theme of the episode is service. Darren is known for his relentless commitment to sponsoring others, often juggling up to 10 sponsees across the world. He shares his philosophy on working with relapsers, the importance of patience and presence, and why he never gives up on anyone.

The episode also dives into Darren’s daily recovery routine:

  • Morning prayer and meditation
  • Weekly Step 10 inventories
  • Continuous service and sponsorship
  • Seeking and offering support through lived experience

Darren and the hosts reflect on the power of connection, the importance of being visible in recovery, and how moments of vulnerability—like Darren sharing openly during his mother’s passing—can become beacons of hope for others.

The conversation is filled with warmth, wisdom, and reminders of why clean time, no matter the length, is sacred. Darren’s humility and heart shine as he says: “I’m only doing what was given to me.”

Whether you're new to recovery, supporting someone who is, or deep into your journey, this episode is a testament to the transformative power of recovery, fellowship, and love in action.

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27 July 2025

Saved by Grace: Gavin’s Journey from Addiction to Faith

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas sit down with Gavin, a leader in Believers in Recovery UK, to hear his extraordinary journey through addiction, recovery, and faith. Gavin opens up about his traumatic past—from life on the streets and multiple relapses, to surviving paralysis and spiritual despair. His turning point came not just from 12-step programs but through a life-changing encounter with faith.

Listeners will hear raw, unfiltered truths about addiction, the importance of spiritual growth in recovery, and why Gavin believes healing must happen on three levels: with God, yourself, and others. He shares how he went from IV drug use and homelessness to leading a national recovery movement and being asked to become a church leader.

This is an episode about hope, purpose, and the transformative power of recovery—wherever you are on your journey.

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20 July 2025

Anthea: From Rock Bottom to Redemption

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Addicted to Recovery, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas sit down with their courageous friend Anthea to hear her incredible journey through addiction, loss, recovery, and resilience.

Anthea opens up about her early life, the emotional impact of fractured family dynamics, and how trauma shaped her path. She shares harrowing experiences from teenage years marked by substance abuse and unstable living conditions, including the devastating loss of her first child to cot death—a tragedy that became a turning point in her spiral into addiction.

With raw honesty and heartfelt emotion, Anthea talks about living on the streets, encounters with the criminal justice system, and ultimately, the moment she knew something had to change. She walks us through her transformative journey into recovery, the miracle of reconnecting with her children, and the strength she’s found through fellowship and support.

This episode is a testament to the power of recovery, the beauty of redemption, and the unbreakable human spirit. Whether you're in recovery, know someone who is, or are simply drawn to real stories of hope and transformation—this one will stay with you.

🔗 Support the Podcast:

Love the show? Access bonus content and support us on Patreon at: patreon.com/addictedtorecoverypodcast

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