Episode 646: How to Support a Loved One Through Gambling Addiction with Anita Ondine Smith

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 646, I sit down with Anita Ondine Smith, a writer, lawyer, and sports agent whose work blends deep personal experience with compassionate, practical guidance for families impacted by gambling addiction. Anita writes from the perspective of someone who has lived through the ripple effects of addiction, offering tools people can use immediately to support a loved one without losing themselves.Anita and her husband, former NBA player Randy Livingston, are on a mission to destigmatize conversations about gambling harm.As Anita shares in our conversation, stigma was “the number one impediment” toRandy getting help — and she felt that same shame as the supporter who didn’tknow where to turn.We talk about the moment she realizedthat supporting someone with a gamblingaddiction requires its own kind of recovery, and how her backgroundwith addiction in her own family helped her understand that recovery ispossible — even when it takes decades to begin.Anita opens up about:·      How gambling addiction is often hidden for years— even decades·      Why today’s world makes gambling more accessible than ever (“a casino in our hand and our pockets everywhere we go”)·      The difference between responsible gaming and problem gambling·      Why setting limits is essential — and how some people simply can’t·      How she learned to set boundaries, communicate clearly, and stop trying to“fix” someone else·      Why uncomfortable conversations are the key to change·      How she and Randy talk openly with their children about addiction to break generational stigmaAnita also shares the story behind her new book, ASSIST, which she wrotebecause there were no resources for the supporter — the spouse, partner, parent, or friend living in the orbit of someone with a gambling addiction. She describes it as a menu of options, not a prescription, because every family and every addiction looks different.If you’ve ever loved someone struggling with addiction — or felt alone, ashamed, or unsure how to help — this conversation will give you hope, clarity, and practical tools for moving forward.Thank you for listening. And remember: you are not alone.Connect with Me🎙️ Patreon: patreon.com/elizabethchance 💙 Facebook: facebook.com/itsbizzypodcast 📸 Instagram: @itsbizzypodcast ▶️ YouTube: @elizabethchance 🎵 TikTok: @bizzychance 🐦 X: @itsbizzypodcast 📌 Pinterest: @BusyLivingSober 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/elizabethchance 💌 Updates: eepurl.com/iDtRnw 📬 Story ideas: [email protected]: [email protected] connect with Anita Ondine SmithLinked In: Anita Ondine Smith | LinkedInInstagram: Anita Ondine Smith (@anitaosmith) • Instagram photos and videosLink to purchase: Amazon.com: Assist: How to Help a Loved One with a Gambling Problem Without Losing Yourself: 9781068480645: Smith, Anita Ondine: BooksTrusted Voices: Conversations About Betting Website: Trusted Voices: Conversations About Betting and Preventing Underage Gambling"Remember, you don’t have to navigate the mess alone. Whether you’re pivoting your career, your marriage, or your mindset, I’m here to walk that road with you. Let’s make 2026 the year you finally put your own oxygen mask on first."XO BizzyLive Loud. Love Big. — Bizzy #ItsBizzy#itsbizzypodcast, #gamblingaddiction, #gamblingrecovery, #gamblingharm, #addictionawareness, #familyrecovery, #supportinglovedones, #boundaries, #boundariesetting, #recoverytools, #destigmatizeaddiction, #mentalhealthsupport, #addictioneducation, #responsiblegaming, #sportsbettingawareness, #compulsivegambling, #recoveryispossible, #healingjourney, #relationshipboundaries, #communicationtools, #supportersinrecovery, #addictionstigma, #hopeandhealing, #podcastforwomen, #soberpodcast, #wellnesspodcast, #anitaondinesmith, #randylivingston, #assistbook, #addictionresourcesSupport the show