Life After Childhood Sexual Abuse, 15 Years in Prison for Organized Crime, and Relapsing With a Weapon While on Parole

Brandon grew up in Houston with an abusive, alcoholic father and experienced trauma from sexual abuse at ages eight and 10. By 11, he had his first sip of alcohol, and by seventeen, he was charged with organized crime and began a seven-year prison sentence—learning basic life skills like shaving from other inmates.Over time, he spent a total of fifteen years incarcerated, carrying a street mentality that followed him long after release.On parole, Brandon returned to drugs, relationships, and old habits. His last relapse stripped him of everything—no car, no home, no money, only the clothes on his back. Deep in heroin addiction, oxy, and meth while carrying a weapon when someone from AA offered him a chance at addiction recovery. Agreeing to every suggestion, he entered a halfway house and began his sobriety through complete abstinence and the 12 steps.Cut off from family and alone, Brandon rebuilt from nothing. He reconnected with his daughter after more than two decades, built stability, and for the first time in his life, leased his own place, bought a car, and opened a bank account.Now married and in a healthy relationship, Brandon works at Arise Recovery Center and runs sober living homes in Houston and Dallas. He sponsors others, mentors men in recovery, and shows that lasting change is possible, no matter how far gone things seem. GUESTBrandon WhiteBrandon is a dedicated recovery advocate and mentor who has been sober since March 2021, working at the Arise Recovery Center and managing several sober living homes in Texas. His passion for helping others stems from his own transformative journey, and he is known for openly sharing his story to inspire hope. Learn more about Arise Recovery CentersConnect with Brandon on LinkedInMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral Health Harmony Grove delivers outpatient addiction and mental health treatment focused on wellness, creativity, and authentic human connection—providing a supportive space for healing that extends beyond traditional clinical care.Harmony Grove’s IOP in Houston, Texas, is more than a program; it’s a lifeline for those ready to take the next step in their recovery. We are ready to meet you where you are and find your unique path to change. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:How does sexual abuse at 8 and 10 lead to a first drink at 11, and why does alcohol feel like the solution?What does it do to a child to be abused with nowhere safe to tell anyone?Why did recovery look so different in the 1980s and how much has changed?How do you build sober living homes out of your own recovery experience?Why does "recovering out loud" matter more than recovering quietly?