Bringing Life Experience to Leadership with Alex Zemeckis

What happens when you stop running from your past and start building from it? In this episode, Alex Zemeckis shares his powerful journey from addiction to leadership, and how the questions he asked himself at 19 became the foundation for the recovery programs he leads today. Together, we explore how the recovery landscape has changed over the last 12 years, how addiction shows up differently in a digital world, and why recovery looks unique for young men at The Grounds and young women at Mare’s House, named after his mother. Alex unpacks why meaningful work is central to healing, why families must be supported alongside the person in recovery, and how compassion for parents can transform the entire system. This is a deeply human conversation about integrity, purpose, and what becomes possible when you choose to live in alignment with who you truly are.Key Points From This Episode:Our guest, Alex Zemeckis’ journey through addiction to leadership.How assessing what he needed at 19 years old led to the programme he runs today. What has changed in the recovery landscape over the last 12 years.How recovery differs for the men at The Grounds and the young women at Mare’s House.Why work is built into the recovery programme at The Grounds.The importance of treating the family system along with the kid who is in recovery.Finding compassion for parents.How the experience of addiction differs for older adults.What Alex is learning about women’s experience with recovery. Shifts within Alex’s organizations, including bringing on a clinical team.How addiction has evolved in a digital landscape.Why acting out of integrity and your passion changes everything. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Alex Zemeckis on LinkedIn The Grounds Recovery Mare’s House Douglas Bodin The Bodin Group