Podcast by Christopher White and Max Thomas
19 October 2025
In this powerful episode of Addicted to Recovery, hosts Chris and Max sit down with psychotherapist and fellow recovering addict Nick for an honest and deeply relatable conversation about addiction, emotional regulation, and the ongoing work of recovery. Nick shares how daily mindfulness, breathwork, and shifting focus from self-centeredness to service have transformed his life, while the trio discuss how intense emotions, reactive behaviors, and childhood coping mechanisms shape the recovery journey. They explore vulnerability as an act of courage, the importance of honesty in healing, and the role of parenting in teaching emotional balance. Nick also introduces his new venture, The Recovery Cartel, a recovery-themed merchandise brand created to inspire and support the recovery community. Full of practical insights, raw stories, and heartfelt reflection, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking connection, growth, and hope on the path to lasting recovery.
🛍️ Explore The Recovery Cartel – A lifestyle brand celebrating life in recovery through clothing, prints, accessories, and more. New designs drop every week, created by people in recovery for the recovery community.
🌐 Website: www.therecoverycartel.co.uk
📸 Instagram: @therecoverycartel
📱 TikTok: @therecoverycartel
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01:06:38
12 October 2025
In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Addicted to Recovery, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas sit down with Louise, one of their patrons and a fellow recovering addict, to share a raw and inspiring story of transformation, resilience, and hope.
Louise opens up about her turbulent past, marked by childhood trauma, addiction, abusive relationships, and time spent in prison. From stealing as a young girl and seeking validation through destructive behaviors, to falling into substance abuse by age 13 and entering a relationship with a much older man, Louise’s early life was chaotic and painful. Her addiction spiraled from alcohol and cocaine use to crack cocaine, street prostitution, and repeated prison sentences.
Despite multiple failed attempts at rehab and fleeting periods of sobriety, Louise’s turning point came after a rapid methadone detox in prison and a placement at a 12-step treatment center. There, hearing another woman share a story that mirrored her own changed everything — sparking the desire to recover and breaking the obsession to use.
Louise’s recovery journey hasn’t been easy. She speaks candidly about working the 12 steps, confronting deep-rooted trauma (including sexual abuse by her father), and making amends. She highlights the transformative power of service work — from H&I shares in prisons to sponsoring newcomers — and the importance of community and connection in staying clean.
Now over two years and five months clean, Louise is rebuilding her life. She’s completed courses in bookkeeping and accounting, moved to Leicester to be with her supportive partner, and is planning a future full of possibility — including driving lessons and a holiday to Paris. She’s also courageously participating in legal action against a perpetrator to help prevent further harm to others.
Louise’s story is a testament to the power of recovery, perseverance, and the life-changing impact of one addict helping another. As Max puts it, “If you can do it, anyone can.”
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53:19
05 October 2025
In this episode of Addicted to Recovery, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas dive into the theme of freedom in recovery. Fresh from celebrating his 40th birthday in New York, Max shares the profound sense of freedom he felt — being comfortable in his own skin, no longer bound by old habits, secrecy, or shame.
The conversation explores:
With honesty and vulnerability, Christopher and Max remind us that true freedom comes not just from putting down substances, but from doing the deeper work to live fully, without secrets, and in connection with others.
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49:05
28 September 2025
In this raw and deeply moving episode of Addicted to Recovery, hosts Christopher White and Max Thomas sit down with Alex, a fellow recovering addict, to explore his incredible journey from addiction, violence, and prison to love, stability, and a new life in recovery.
Alex opens up about growing up in a loving family but feeling different from an early age — plagued by anxiety, intense emotions, and a constant sense of not fitting in. As a teenager, alcohol and drugs quickly became his escape. Drawn to the thrill and sense of belonging in football culture, Alex found himself swept up in a lifestyle of pubs, violence, and chaos. What started as weekend drinking spiraled into daily substance use, destructive relationships, and eventually, serious legal trouble.
After a series of arrests, Alex served over two years in prison. While behind bars, he discovered meditation and fitness as temporary anchors, but the deep-rooted issues of addiction remained unresolved. Upon his release, Alex initially tried to rebuild his life, but without a recovery plan, he quickly fell back into old patterns of drinking and using. His turning point came after a devastating arrest outside a prison while visiting a friend — a moment that deeply impacted his fiancée, Leandra, and forced Alex to confront the truth about his addiction.
With Leandra’s support, Alex took his first brave steps toward recovery through therapy and a structured program called Aspirations. Eventually, he found fellowship meetings, where he slowly began to open up, connect with others, and take suggestions. It wasn’t easy — early recovery brought anger, resistance, and multiple relapses — but Alex kept coming back.
Now, at 18 months clean, Alex shares how service work, accountability, and a new community of friends have transformed his life. From crashing cars and toxic relationships to proposing to the love of his life after a recovery meeting, Alex’s story is a testament to the power of change, resilience, and hope.
This episode dives deep into what it really means to let go, rebuild, and find freedom from addiction. Whether you’re on your own recovery journey or supporting someone who is, Alex’s experience will inspire and remind you that no matter how dark it gets, a new life is always possible.
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01:00:17
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