My Last Relapse: Addiction Recovery & Sobriety Stories

David’s trouble started when the DEA caught him with five kilos of cocaine at the age of 20. On probation, he moved to St. Louis with court approval, finished college in three years, and was released early from probation. He built a subprime real estate business, but crooked deals and market shifts caused it to collapse.Back in Houston, he returned to high-end real estate and relapsed into heavy drinking and cocaine use. When his father died in 2005, his decline accelerated. Over the next few years, he faced multiple arrests, probation violations, and three prison terms, eventually facing 33 years. He lived out of a Honda Civic and was down to 117 pounds before entering treatment in 2017 at age 45.Early recovery focused on meetings, honesty, and structure. He got a car-wash job, rebuilt family trust, resolved IRS issues, and eventually had his criminal record expunged. He also became public about his recovery and stayed involved in service and alumni work.David joined Promises Behavioral Health, moving from tech and alumni roles into compliance and eventually Executive Director of Brazos Valley. Today, he leads a largely in-recovery team, is engaged, and remains active in the recovery community.GUESTDavid LudlowDavid Ludlow is the executive director of Promises Brazos Valley, where he leads outcomes‑driven, skills‑based addiction treatment with a patient‑first approach. After decades of alcoholism and cocaine use culminating in six felony arrests and three prison terms, he entered treatment in 2017 at age 45 and rebuilt his life through structure, honesty, and community. Learn more about Promises Brazos ValleyConnect with David Ludlow on LinkedInQuestions this episode answers:How does someone go from 5 kilos of cocaine and 40+ arrests to running a treatment center?What does it feel like to want to die but not have the courage to actually end it?What finally broke through the wall of denial after decades of addiction?What happens when an addict goes to treatment at 45 — is it too late?How do you rebuild your life and career when you have a criminal record and no credentials?What does true rock bottom actually look like — and why do addicts keep finding a lower one?Why do treatment centers keep recycling the same clients instead of actually healing them?What is wrong with clinical programming when patients are leading their own therapy groups?How does a compliance background make someone a better executive director of a treatment center?Why are first responders and veterans so dangerously underserved by the addiction treatment system?How many people are being turned away from treatment every day — and what happens to them?Why does getting sober later in life sometimes produce better outcomes than getting sober young?What does real peace in recovery look like after a lifetime of chaos and hustle?Matt 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.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.comFollow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral HealthHarmony 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. Find out more at http://harmonygrovebh.com/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: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Born in Kansas to Mexican parents, Omar was sent as a baby to live with his grandparents in Mexico. He returned to Kansas around age five where he learned English, was bullied and sexually abused, then drifted into gangs and substance use in his early teens. He became homeless but still finished high school, briefly attended college, and then dropped out as his addiction to pills, K2, cocaine, and eventually meth took over his life. This drug use strained and broke his relationship with his partner and he lost his kids, followed by homelessness, horrifying sexual violence, criminal charges, and multiple suicide attempts.After an arrest in 2019, he quit meth and other hard drugs, had significant faith experiences in jail, and was released early during COVID, which allowed him to reconnect with recovery through meetings, sober living, and church, where he was baptized and began helping keep men’s meetings going. After several years of sobriety from meth/K2, he relapsed on alcohol and THC products, prompting renewed CPS involvement and his removal from the home. Omar re‑engaged with 12‑step recovery, worked the steps in depth, made amends, began sponsoring others, and eventually became a house manager in a faith‑based sober‑living program, supporting men in early recovery.GUESTOMAR CHAVARRIA-DURON is the director of Mastermind Recovery, drawing on his lived experience with addiction, homelessness, and the criminal justice system to help others rebuild their lives. He now focuses on faith-based 12‑step recovery, sober housing, and mentoring men in early sobriety.Learn more about Mastermind Recovery Questions this episode answers:How does growing up between two countries without stability set a child up for addiction?How does feeling unloved by absent parents push kids toward gangs and drugs?What is K2 synthetic marijuana and why is it more dangerous than people think?How does meth grab hold differently than every other drug?What does withdrawal from K2 actually feel like — and can you detox at home?What finally makes an addict choose their family over their addiction?What does it take to truly surrender and commit to recovery after multiple relapses?What makes a sponsor genuinely effective — and what does a tough-love sponsor actually look like?Should AA sponsors work with people on Suboxone or MAT programs?How can someone with no degree and a criminal past build a real career in the recovery world?What does sober living do for a person that treatment alone never can?How do you do homeless outreach for people with addiction — and why does it matter?Where does fentanyl actually come from, and how did it flood the streets?Matt 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.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.comFollow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral HealthHarmony 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. Find out more at http://harmonygrovebh.com/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: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARK

Taylor Cavanaugh grew up in San Diego with drugs and alcohol in the house from early on. His father had substance problems and financial instability, and Taylor was eventually kicked out of high school for dealing ecstasy and somas. At 18, after getting mixed up in a stolen property situation, he checked into what turned out to be a lockdown psych ward in El Cajon — sharing a floor with old women with dementia and a Marine detoxing off heroin.He moved to Boston, where arrests and DUIs kept stacking up. The Marines turned him down. The Army turned him down. The SEALs took him. He completed training and made it into the teams — the one institution, he says, that ever gave him a real shot. The habits started slipping almost immediately. A teammate warned him in the parking lot one morning to slow down. He brushed it off. That same week, on a training trip, he was arrested on an aggravated assault charge.What followed unraveled fast — a federal charge, marshals trying to extradite him, a half-million-dollar lawsuit, and getting kicked out of the military entirely. In civilian life he moved into real estate and cannabis, and the substances escalated: Adderall, Xanax, and then fentanyl, which he sought out deliberately for its potency. He was ODing regularly, driving himself to the ER to get stitched up, and going straight to meetings — still managing a venture capital operation throughout.Homeless and suicidal, he found himself on the Big Island of Hawaii genuinely planning to jump into an active volcano. Thinking about his mother and sister — the mess he’d leave behind — he put the plan down. He flew to France and joined the French Foreign Legion, becoming the only person in history to serve as both a U.S. Navy SEAL and a French Foreign Legionnaire. He spent close to five years there, building discipline and a daily blueprint from the ground up.He came back to the U.S. about two years ago and launched TCAV Training, a coaching practice built on the premise that discipline — not just sobriety — is what actually changes a life.He’s the mentor who reached Matt Handy when Matt felt a relapse coming after three and a half years sober. Taylor’s prescription was simple: go to sleep, wake up early, do pushups, go to the gym, then call me. Matt never stopped.TAYLOR CAVANAUGH is the only person on earth to have served as both a United States Navy SEAL and a French Foreign Legionnaire. After years of arrests, addiction, and planning to jump into a volcano, he rebuilt his life through discipline and deliberate living. He now runs TCAV Training, coaching people on body, mind, and life transformation.Follow Taylor on Instagram @tcavofficialLearn more at taylorcavanaugh.comMatt 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.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.comFollow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral HealthHarmony 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. Find out more at harmonygrovebh.comHarmony 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 Producer: Mary Ellen ClarksonEngineering: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art: DMARK

Andi gave her son his first iPhone at age 7, a gift that seemed harmless until it slowly devolved into gaming marathons, failing grades, and a complete erosion of his sense of right and wrong.After trying parental controls, the Adlerian free-will approach, and prolonged battles with his school over Chromebook use, Andi reached a breaking point that forced her to shift from rule-setting to values-based parenting. In December 2024, she cleared the house of all devices entirely.But when her son continued sneaking access with his school-issued Chromebook and lying about it, Andi made the agonizing decision to send him out of state to therapeutic boarding school. He went willingly, a decision he agreed with and remains proud of.Seven months in, the transformation is remarkable. Her son, now 13, has regained his personality, shed the addiction, and speaks about tech addiction with clarity and drawing sharp comparisons to drug addiction. Andi tells his story not just as a cautionary tale, but as proof that full removal, structured support, and a values-driven home can work.GUESTAndi is a Houston mother who spent years battling her son's tech addiction before sending him to therapeutic boarding school, and now advocates for families navigating the hidden crisis of screen addiction in children.Questions this episode answers:How can a child's iPhone at age 7 spiral into full-blown tech addiction?What are the signs your child has a video game or internet addiction?Why do screen time limits and parental controls actually make things worse?What did a 13-year-old say about his own tech addiction that every parent needs to hear?How is tech addiction neurologically similar to drug addiction?What should parents do when a child's tech addiction destroys their morals and school performance?Why is YouTube in schools like handing a drink to an alcoholic at lunch?What is therapeutic boarding school and can it actually heal tech addiction?Why is the 28-day rehab model failing addicts — and who profits from keeping people sick?How do dopamine and oxytocin explain why screens are so dangerously addictive?Matt 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.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.comFollow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral HealthHarmony 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. Find out more at http://harmonygrovebh.com/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: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Judge Wayne Mallia went straight from law school into the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office, working there for 13 years and spending nine as First Assistant DA. He was later elected as a district court judge in Galveston County, where he presided over criminal cases, created the county’s first specialty court, STEP, and helped start a drug court.After leaving the regular bench, he became a senior district court judge, continuing to serve as a visiting judge while shifting his focus to programs for defendants with mental illness. At the request of County Judge Mark Henry, he started a felony Mental Health Specialty Court, built around a team model, a capped number of participants, required treatment and medication compliance, and outside evaluation to ensure it followed best practices.He later created the misdemeanor Mental Health Docket, which automatically routes people with class A or B misdemeanors and mental illness to his court, where following treatment and appointments often results in dismissal of charges. Around this docket and the felony court, he helped integrate a misdemeanor mental health public defender’s office, a felony mental health attorney wheel and bond process, a mental health clubhouse, a jail re‑entry program, and access to a wellness center. He tied these pieces together to reduce repeated jail involvement for people with mental illness.GUESTJUDGE WAYNE MALLIA is a District Court Judge with the State of Texas handling many areas of civil and criminal law.Connect with Judge Mallia 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.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.comFollow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral HealthHarmony 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. Find out more at http://harmonygrovebh.com/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: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:What percentage of people being booked into jail actually have a mental illness?Why are jails the largest mental health facilities in most counties — and what does that say about our system?What is a mental health specialty court and how is it completely different from regular probation?Why do Texas drug courts succeed where California drug courts fail?What are the most common crimes committed by people with untreated mental illness — and are they violent?How does wraparound support — housing, food, jobs, medication — actually break the cycle of re-arrest?What happens to mentally ill people when they get out of jail with nowhere to go?What is the "Wellness Center" alternative — and why is taking someone there instead of jail a game changer?Does substance use disorder legally qualify as a mental illness in Texas courts?How can everyday citizens and business owners get involved in helping mentally ill people reenter society?

David became a father at 18, finished college while working full-time, entered Nissan's executive training program, and then built a successful marketing agency serving plastic surgeons.As his success grew, so did a hard-partying lifestyle driven by cocaine and alcohol addiction, and he drifted from his faith. After suffering a severe stroke and grand mal seizure in 2015, he was put in a medically induced coma and told he likely would not survive.Experiencing a decisive spiritual turning point on the dialysis chair in January of 2017, he describes hearing an inner voice from God saying "get right with me or else" and instantly recommitted his life to Christ.But months later, his home and office were raided and he was arrested on a federal murder-for-hire charge connected to a former business partner.Believing he'd be exonerated, he rejected a plea deal and went to trial but was convicted and received a 7.5-year sentence, serving most of it at FMC Devens where he battled serious health issues and nearly died several times.With no choice but to pick himself up, he began to study federal law, and worked to get 6 other inmates released in just nine months.In December 2020, he was granted compassionate release. He resumed dialysis, was fast-tracked for transplant, and received a kidney in 2021, significantly improving his health.Since prison, he founded the Brand 316 prison ministry, turned his reentry workbook into a formal curriculum, moved his family to Wichita, launched multi-racial prison Bible studies, opened a sober faith-based reentry home centered on sobriety, and now mentors formerly incarcerated men who are starting their own housing and ministry programs.DAVID PHILLIPS is the founder of Brand 316, a ministry helping people rebuild their lives after prison. The son of World Impact founder Dr. Keith Phillips, he grew up a missionary kid in the inner city and later became CEO of a digital marketing firm in Los Angeles. After serving nearly four years in federal prison, he now uses his experience to support returning citizens and fight recidivism through Christ‑centered reentry support.Learn more about Brand 316Get David’s book, The Reintegration Roadmap: A Comprehensive Reentry WorkbookConnect with David Phillips on LinkedInFollow David on Instagram @dphillips_112Matt 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.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction 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.comFollow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral HealthHarmony 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. Find out more at http://harmonygrovebh.com/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 addiction 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.Questions this episode answers:How does a successful businessman with no criminal history end up facing federal murder-for-hire charges?What really happens when federal investigators fixate on the wrong person — and how does the system railroad an innocent man?What is it actually like to be on dialysis while incarcerated, and how badly does the federal prison system fail sick inmates?How do drugs and cell phones flow into federal prison — and who is really bringing them in?What was the moment in a dialysis chair that changed David's relationship with God forever?How does a collapsed lung, a kidney transplant, and a federal conviction become the foundation for a ministry?What does national recidivism data actually say — and what single factor drops that 68% rate down to 9%?How do you write a reentry curriculum from inside a prison cell and get it onto the tablet of every inmate in a state?Why do more drugs flow through prison during COVID lockdowns than before them?How can a formerly incarcerated felon with no funding build a self-sustaining prison ministry from scratch?Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Frustrated by an education system Aaron viewed as compliance-driven and devoid of meaningful agency, he left teaching to work in trauma and addiction recovery. Over 20 years teaching high school, Aaron observed that his students' lives and trajectories were effectively set by the time they graduated.He began noticing recurring patterns: victim thinking, codependency, and a clinical culture that prioritized diagnosis over genuine identity change.He became deeply interested in story, narrative, and the question of how people change, eventually moving from traditional teaching into supporting people struggling with addiction and trauma using "story" as his main tool.He began helping clients reframe how they understood their lives and choices. His work ranged from addiction settings to military and high-net-worth clients, reinforcing his view that external success does not resolve internal struggle.He later became outspoken about flaws in the modern treatment industry and developed story-driven, neurologically informed recovery approaches.As the owner of Story of Self, his goal is to help people move from victimhood into purposeful lives through identity change and lasting sobriety, rather than symptom control.AARON DONAGHYOwner of Story of SelfAaron has over 30 years of experience in leadership development, holds an MA in Leadership, and is the owner of Story of Self recovery programs. He is an international speaker, trainer, and coach working with leaders, athletes, and people in recovery.Learn more about Story of SelfFollow Story of Self on Instagram @story.ofselfMatt 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.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction 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.comFollow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral HealthHarmony 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. Find out more at http://harmonygrovebh.com/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 addiction 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: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:Why do so many people leave prison and go straight back — and what does it actually take to break that cycle for good?What is the difference between transformation and just "not doing the old behavior anymore" — and why does treatment miss it?How does childhood fear, a hit list on a chalkboard, and an absent father quietly build the identity of a criminal?Why does going to prison three times sometimes produce a stronger man than any treatment program ever could?What is the "divorce phase" of addiction?How did two "total fuck-ups" create AA with nearly 100% efficacy a hundred years ago — and how did the industry destroy it?Why do "evidence-based" treatment programs and "individualized treatment plans" mean almost nothing in practice?What is relapse prediction — and how is it fundamentally different from relapse prevention?How does changing the meaning of your story change the actual neurological wiring of your brain?

Although Curtiss was sexually abused as a child, he did well in school and football until a humiliating pep‑rally incident in seventh grade led him to quit sports and start smoking marijuana. Drifting into fights, he landed in alternative schools and eventually dropped out. While his mother used crack and his father cooked meth for the Bandidos, he lived mostly with his grandparents while stacking up arrests and DWIs. For two decades, he cycled through probation, prison, and the SAFP program, manipulating drug tests while he continued to use and run businesses such as vape shops and a Delta‑8 company.Throughout the course of his addiction, the substances he used included weed, Xanax, cocaine, crack, meth, heroin, and PCP. His alcohol addiction and cocaine addiction were at the center of years of destruction. He identifies himself as an alcoholic, and although he says he can "take or leave alcohol," once he starts using any substance he can't put it down and keep it down.Repeatedly relying on “responsible women” to keep the home stable while he used, he entered a long relationship with Nikki, who could maintain external functioning while using.Secretly believing that having a child would force him to change his life, he and Nikki “fought to have” a baby. But his drug use continued, leading to moments like leaving his toddler son alone while he got high in the garage and being arrested with a large Louis Vuitton bag full of drugs while shopping at Walmart. A direct warning from a friend pushed Curtiss into treatment at The Orchard, where Nikki later joined him; there, tough feedback, family‑therapy boundaries, and exposure to the Story of Self process led him to commit to addiction recovery, shut down the drug‑related business, train as a counselor, and eventually build a life of sobriety as a father and facilitator working with treatment‑resistant clients.GUESTCURTISS CALLAWAY is a sober father, counselor, and Story of Self facilitator who helps people struggling with addiction, chronic relapse, and unresolved trauma. After years of arrests, prison time, and failed treatment attempts, he rebuilt his life through recovery work and now co‑leads workshops and extended‑care programming with his wife Nikki. Today, he focuses on treatment‑resistant clients and young people few others want to work with, offering direct guidance grounded in his own lived experience.Learn more about Story of SelfFollow Curtiss on Instagram @curtiss_callawayFollow Story of Self on Instagram @story.ofselfMatt 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.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.comFollow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral HealthHarmony 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. Find out more at http://harmonygrovebh.com/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: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:How does one moment of public humiliation at age 12 derail an entire life?Why isn't the "big trauma" always the one driving addiction?What is Story of Self — and why does it work when years of therapy haven't?Why do both husband and wife going to treatment together almost never work?Why does AA have a 100% success rate 100 years ago and a 2% rate today?Who is actually an alcoholic — and why do consequences alone not make you one?Why do most relapses happen in the first 90 days after leaving treatment?How does enabling rob an addict of the one thing that could actually save them?Why does getting everything you wanted in recovery still feel empty?When does chasing money stop working — and what replaces it?

Jessica's childhood fractured early. Her alcoholic father went to prison for a DWI, and by the time she was six, her parents had divorced. Her mother remarried, folding the family into a blended household with an adopted stepsister who had split personality disorder. That stepsister would go on to accuse both her own father and Jessica's stepfather of molestation, and eventually began self-harming in front of the family. When the situation became untenable, they cut the stepsister off and fled to the country, hoping for a fresh start.It wasn't one. Jess got bullied at school for her goth look, and around age 13, the stepfather who was supposed to represent a second chance sexually assaulted her. Adderall prescribed for ADD opened the door to pills — Xanax and whatever else a friend's mother had lying around — and an opioid addiction quietly took hold. The concert scene became her escape.By 21, the weight of it all caught up with her. A suicide attempt with Tylenol landed Jess in the hospital and then rehab at the Right Step, but sobriety didn't stick. What followed was a blur of relapse, a stint in Kerrville, heavy pill use while cleaning beach houses and working fine dining, and eventually meeting her future husband at Pride. Her son was conceived on LSD at Ren Fest — a detail that captures the chaos of that era.Jess managed to stay clean through the pregnancy, but postpartum hit hard, and after failed SSRIs, a doctor put her on Ativan. Things spiraled from there. An open marriage, meth, a pregnancy by another man, a car wreck with her son inside, and a CPS case all collapsed on top of each other. Jess moved in with her mother and sister, stayed sober through the pregnancy, and traveled to Denver for an abortion. Back home, the relapse came fast — Ativan and psilocybin — and her family's response was violence. Rehab became the condition for keeping her marriage.This time something shifted. Residential treatment at Brazos Place led to 12-step work and sober living, though the road stayed rough. Fentanyl exposure put Jess on Suboxone, which drew judgment from the very addiction recovery communities meant to support her. Her husband threatened divorce when she discharged.Still, Jess kept going — working psychiatric and restaurant jobs, finishing an Associate of Science with nursing prerequisites, and slowly building nearly two years of sobriety from non-prescribed substances. For the first time, independent housing, a car, and a stable life with her son felt like something that belonged to her.JESSICA DAWSON is a mom in recovery with almost two years off non‑prescribed substances, staying on prescribed Suboxone and other meds while actively working on her mental health and boundaries. She has her own apartment and car, holds a steady job she’s kept throughout this stretch of sobriety, and is raising her son with lots of openness about recovery and emotions. She’s also thinking about going back to school to finish what she started in nursing or possibly move into counseling work.Follow Jessica on Instagram @jess8989Matt 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.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.comFollow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral HealthHarmony 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. Find out more at http://harmonygrovebh.com/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: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:How does growing up with an alcoholic father and a sexually abusive stepfather shape addiction?Why did one Xanax at Warped Tour feel like the first time Jessica could breathe?What happens to a child you raise while actively using — and how do you fix it in recovery?How do you come to terms with not protecting your sister from abuse you didn't know was happening?What is the real danger of staying on Suboxone without an exit plan?How does being the oldest child — the peacekeeper — become a direct path to self-destruction?Why is getting sober harder when the person you enabled is still living with you?

Rachel’s parents divorced when she was just a baby, and she lived with her mom, who struggled with alcoholism and mental health issues, while her older sister went to live with their dad.By ninth grade, she was rarely at school, drinking heavily, and immersed in the punk scene.  She blacked out a house party and assaulted her cousin who called the police, leading her to hide out in a friend's basement for 2 months before fleeing to Dallas on Greyhound bus. In Dallas, Rachel dropped out of school permanently and moved in with her mother. She got pregnant at 15, and gave birth shortly after turning 16. Over the next several years, she developed a cocaine addiction and later a heroin addiction. After her second child was born, both children were placed with relatives, and Rachel eventually signed over her parental rights while still using.Rachel later regained custody after a year of sobriety and addiction recovery work, but relapsed the same day and signed her rights away again. She became homeless, continued using and selling drugs, and was arrested after fleeing a theft in a stolen vehicle. Instead of a long prison sentence, she was placed in a state treatment program.After release, Rachel completed strict reentry supervision, avoided relapse, and regained custody of her children after three years. She began running daily, attended NA, found a sponsor, and now sponsors others. She works in recovery and outreach, and her oldest daughter, now an adult, works at the same organization and has attended her first graduation.GUESTRACHEL ELSTONRachel is a recovery advocate whose life includes years of addiction, homelessness, incarceration, and multiple losses of custody. After completing treatment and reentry supervision, she rebuilt her life, regained custody of her children, and now works in recovery and outreach. Today, she supports others through sponsorship, coaching, and direct community work.Follow Rachel on Instagram @raxhmadeinthe90sMatt 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.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.comFollow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral HealthHarmony 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. Find out more at http://harmonygrovebh.com/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: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:How does a punk rock basement scene in the Midwest become the on-ramp to addiction?What does it do to a kid when they run from juvie at 14 and don't see their dad for 15 years?How does a judge saying "take responsibility for your life" land differently than everything else?What does addiction look like when there's no single trauma — just a slow drift?How do you rebuild a relationship with a parent you abandoned as a teenager?Why do some people arrive at sobriety through chaos rather than consequences?What does early recovery actually feel like after living in survival mode your whole life?

Craig “Bubba” Norton was first exposed to addiction when his mother died from alcoholism in 1982. His father later entered treatment, and during a family program Craig realized at age 20 that he was also an alcoholic. After moving from North Carolina to Texas, his drinking escalated, leading to three DWIs and jail in 1987, where he decided to seek help.He found early stability through work and AA but later stopped going to meetings, believing he was cured. Although he stayed abstinent for a time, his life became unstable. After returning to AA and completing deep step work, the sudden death of his sponsor led him to drift away again. He married, had two children, opened an MMA school, and later suffered a serious neck injury that led to long-term pain management and opioid addiction.By 2009, Craig was arrested for possession of pain pills and jailed. The arrest led to the end of his marriage and significant professional and financial losses. He returned to AA primarily to avoid further consequences and attended meetings while on Suboxone. Within a short period, his divorce was finalized, he lost his insurance license, closed a gym, and had his vehicle repossessed. A moment with his daughter, followed by a period of severe despair and suicidal thoughts, marked a turning point in which he accepted that he had to change how he lived, not just maintain sobriety.Craig re-engaged fully in AA, took a new sponsor, and worked the steps with a focus on action and acceptance. He committed to service work in jails, treatment programs, and addiction recovery settings, gradually shifting from reputation repair to genuine service. He later remarried and became a stepfather, describing a fundamental change in priorities toward presence and responsibility.In 2020, he founded A Better Boat, providing interventions and sober transport, and continues to work with treatment centers and the criminal justice system, focused on service and daily action.GUESTCraig "Bubba" NortonFounder of A Better BoatCraig “Bubba” Norton is a nationally certified interventionist, sober companion, and sober coach. He has also been trained and certified as a sober transport.Bubba has been an active member of the recovery community since 1987. For the past twelve years, Bubba has spent his free time relentlessly sharing his experience, strength, and hope with addicts and alcoholics who found themselves in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system.Learn more about A Better BoatMatt 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.About 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.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.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:How does 11 years of sobriety make you more vulnerable to a prescription opiate addiction?Why did a father flying across the country to sit silently in a meeting change everything?What happens when you do the 12 steps without a sponsor — and skip step four entirely?How does losing your sponsor to a sudden death send a sober man back out?Why does chronic pain management become a gateway to 60-70 pills a day?What does standing in a driveway in Mickey Mouse boxers with a coat hanger finally teach you?What is the sober transport industry — and why does it save lives that treatment couldn't?How do you build a recovery business when you've got nothing but lived experience?

Nikki grew up in a small town with a mother who struggled with alcoholism and periods of abuse but was also loving and devoted. As a teen, she began using substances like weed, pills, and whippets. At 19, she sought help from a doctor but felt dismissed, and at 21, she entered her first treatment program.Three months later, she met Curtis at an AA/NA club. Both had histories of alcohol addiction and drug use, along with legal issues. They married in 2015 and ran several businesses together, including a vape shop, while cycling through sobriety and relapse.After IVF, Nikki gave birth to their son, Cooper, in 2019. Postpartum depression and loneliness led to relapse and several treatment attempts, including a mother-and-child program in California.In 2021, after reaching a breaking point, Nikki committed to long-term sobriety on July 4, shortly after Curtis began his own addiction recovery. She rebuilt her relationship with her now-sober mother and became involved with Story of Self, a values-based narrative therapy program. Today, she focuses on family, recovery, and helping others through her experience.GUESTNikki CallawayNikki is a mother and recovery advocate whose own journey through addiction, motherhood, and healing inspired her to support others facing similar struggles. After overcoming substance use, navigating treatment, and rebuilding family relationships, she now dedicates herself to helping others create positive change and find hope in recovery.Connect with Nikki on LinkedInFollow Story of Self on Instagram @story.ofselfMatt 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: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:How does postpartum depression silently trigger relapse in a mother with addiction history?What happens when two addicts in early recovery fall in love — and both relapse?Why did getting a one-year sobriety chip make Nikki want to get high immediately?What is Story of Self — and who is it actually for?Why does treating the "big trauma" often miss the real source of pain?Can you have a genuine spiritual experience on Suboxone?What does hitting your internal bottom look like when there are almost no external consequences?How do you build a recovery program that works for atheists, addicts, and trauma survivors equally?Why do people leave treatment and immediately ask "what do I do now" — and how do we fix that?Why do the rules of traditional Christianity and traditional AA both fail the same people?

Richard Galvan began stealing, getting arrested and drinking vodka alone in sixth grade. He snorted and sold his Ritalin, stole his mother’s pills and drank cough syrup. By his early teens, he was selling pills, using meth, and became well known to the police.Born in 1982 in the San Fernando Valley, by 10th grade, he started using heroin and spending time downtown near Skid Row. He was kicked out by both parents, lived with relatives, friends, and on the street, and entered juvenile hall at 16. From ages 17 to 22, he was intentionally homeless with his girlfriend, was arrested multiple times, and continued daily drug use.In 2004, at age 22, he got sober through a Proposition 36 rehab program. While in rehab, he turned himself in to resolve tickets and restitution. He stayed active in AA for 18 years, sponsoring others and speaking in prisons and youth camps.He later opened a sober living home, an outpatient program (Casablanca Outpatient), and a residential detox (Essence Healthcare). After losing money and facing ethical conflicts, he sold the companies and moved to Barcelona, Spain. He wrote The Addict, created his own sobriety program, and has been sober 21 years as of 2026.GUESTRichard GalvanAuthor of The AddictRichard Galvan overcame early alcohol use, heroin addiction, homelessness, and arrests to achieve sobriety at 22 via Prop 36 rehab—now 21 years clean.Former owner of Casablanca Outpatient and Essence Healthcare, he sold due to ethical issues and moved to Barcelona from LA.Today, he promotes his book The Addict, runs a 12-step sobriety program, and advocates addiction recovery through AA, speaking, and social media.Learn more about Richard’s book, The AddictFollow Richard on Instagram @casablancaxsl and TikTok @baby.daddy.manifeMatt 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: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:What does growing up on Ritalin, then meth, then heroin in the LA valley actually look like?Why did Richard and his girlfriend choose to be intentionally homeless — and why did it make financial sense?How does homelessness stop being hard when drugs are the only thing you want anyway?What was the secret society of street-level heroin in LA before social media blew it open?How did getting sober at 22 end five years of homelessness and criminal chaos?What is the difference between the "friendly" homeless people documentaries show and the reality?How does recovery look when you have no family left — and burned every bridge getting there?

Judge Katrina Griffith grew up wanting to be a lawyer, encouraged by her mother during arguments with her older brother in "mom's court." As a teenager, she saw the juvenile system affect family members.After college, she entered the University of Houston Law School focusing on juvenile criminal defense. In her 2L year, she joined the juvenile defense clinic. In her final semester, she took Professor Ellen Marrus’ child dependency clinic and shifted to CPS and child welfare law.After graduation, she opened a law firm with her best friend, taking immediate CPS appointments while building the practice. It grew rapidly as she represented both children and parents for balance, working in the field over 20 years. In 2014, Judge Olen Underwood appointed her as the first judge of Harris County's Child Protection Court. She handled 100% CPS cases, where over 80% involved parental drug addiction and substance abuse, such as mothers testing positive at birth or weekend drug use leading to neglect. She oversaw removals, placements (prioritizing relatives and siblings), and services like treatment, distinguishing between abstinence and true sobriety to ensure parents had tools for ongoing addiction recovery.In 2025, Governor Abbott appointed her to the Texas Family Protective Services Council to review CPS policies. She openly discusses her family's hereditary addiction history with her 18- and 20-year-old children.GUESTJudge Katrina GriffithHarris County CPS Impact Court JudgeJudge Katrina Griffith is currently the Associate Judge for the CPS Impact Court in Harris County. Prior to becoming an Associate Judge, she was a Family Law Attorney and is the Managing Partner of The Griffith Law Firm PLLC. The Houston based firm focuses on children's rights, family law, STAR family intervention court (drug court) and SOAR (juvenile drug court). She represented clients in divorce cases, child custody matters, modifications/enforcements, adoptions, children's protective services and juvenile law cases.Connect with Judge Griffith 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: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:What percentage of CPS cases involve substance abuse — and what does that actually look like?What has to happen before CPS will actually remove a child from their home?How hard is it to keep siblings together once they enter the foster care system?Can a parent genuinely get sober and get their kids back in just one year?What happens to a kid in foster care when they turn 18 with nowhere to go?Is being homeless enough to get your children taken away?Does addiction run in families — and how do you talk to your own kids about it?What do judges see that makes them believe addiction is a disease, not a choice? 

Born and raised in East Texas, Randy Grimes grew up in church with an older brother and sister and played football and baseball. He attended Baylor University, where he had a strong football career and met his future wife on his first day. They married after his junior year.In 1983, he was drafted in the second round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and moved to Tampa with his wife in a U-Haul. He soon began taking large amounts of opiates from a team drug safe to manage injuries. By 1990, he experienced blackouts during games, including one in Detroit that made him realize his opioid addiction was out of control.He played ten seasons with the Buccaneers before being told after his final 1992 game that his career was over. He returned to Houston in 1993, where he doctor-shopped for drugs, lost work, and nearly lost his family and finances. After failed detox attempts and benzo withdrawal, his family set boundaries and he entered treatment in 2009 and committed to addiction recovery, achieving sobriety.Six months later, he began working with the NFL Alumni Association to help launch the Player Care Foundation, then founded Pro Athletes in Recovery to support former athletes, first responders, and veterans. He co-authored a book with his wife for family healing, has children and five grandchildren, and remains focused on recovery, family, and helping others.GUESTRandy GrimesRandy Grimes, born in East Texas, excelled in football at Baylor University before being drafted second round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1983, playing 10 years while battling opiate addiction from team-supplied drugs that led to blacked-out games. After being fired in 1992, he retired to Houston, doctor-shopped for years, lost his job, and nearly lost his family until entering treatment in 2009. Now sober, he founded Pro Athletes in Recovery to help former athletes with addiction and mental health.Learn more about Pro Athletes in RecoveryLearn more about the NFL Player Care FoundationConnect with Randy Grimes on LinkedInFollow Randy on Instagram @sobercenter60Matt 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 an NFL locker room turn a healthy athlete into a full-blown opiate addict?What was it like playing through a concussion so severe you sat on the wrong team's bench?Why does addiction not care about success, wealth, or a perfect childhood?How does an unlocked drug safe in an NFL training room become the start of a decade-long addiction?What does doctor shopping look like when you're a desperate former pro athlete in 1990s Houston?How does the NFL's alumni support system compare to how America treats its veterans?What finally made Randy ask for help — and why did it take that long?What does an opiate addict look like with no trauma history and a loving family?

Jenifer grew up in a home marked by physical and verbal abuse, which shaped how she viewed trust and relationships. She got pregnant at 18 and had her son, Hunter, at 19, raising him mostly on her own. At 28, she married, but the relationship was unstable and ended in divorce due to her husband’s alcoholism. Jenifer built a 20-year career as a dialysis nurse but battled major depressive disorder.She developed an alcohol addiction and turned to alcohol to cope, which led to a drunk driving accident that seriously injured another woman. Jenifer was charged with a third-degree felony, lost her license, and used a breathalyzer for over four years. Her drinking strained her relationship with her son, who went to live with her brother.At her lowest point, she attempted suicide by mixing medication and alcohol. Jenifer entered treatment at Covenant Hills, began a 12-step program, and has been sober since April 2, 2016. She rebuilt her life—losing weight, managing cravings with GLP-1 medication, and openly sharing her addiction recovery journey.After 20 years in nursing, she transitioned into business development at Plum Creek Recovery Ranch in 2024. Now single and living with her dog, Jenifer stays active in recovery and uses her story to support others facing addiction and mental health struggles.GUESTJenifer OxfordDirector of Business Development at Plum Creek Recovery RanchJenifer is a former dialysis nurse who now works in business development for a recovery ranch, drawing on her personal journey through addiction, severe depression, and legal troubles to support others seeking sobriety. She is open about her mental health and recovery story, believing in the power of authenticity to help break stigma and inspire hope. Jenifer has been sober since April 2016 and is passionate about giving back to the recovery community.​Learn more about Plum Creek Recovery Ranch in Lockhart, TexasFollow Plum Creek Recovery Ranch on Instagram @plumcreekrecoveryranchFollow Jenifer on Instagram @jeniferopcrrMatt 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, Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:What does it look like when two broken people get married — and both bring their damage into it?Why is verbal abuse often more damaging than physical abuse in an addicted household?Why do so many women in active addiction get pregnant — and what does that mean?What goes wrong when you start making amends before you're ready?How does getting sober change a marriage that was built around drinking together?What does real recovery look like for someone who only ever laughed and drank through their problems?Why do some people need to hit rock bottom alone — without a support system catching them?

Doug experienced abuse in early childhood, and at age 12 when his father left, he spiraled into severe depression, suicidality, and repeated psychiatric hospitalizations. As a teenager, he discovered alcohol and used it to manage his symptoms while earning a master’s degree in social work and working at a suicide hotline, even as hospitalizations and heavy drinking continued.In his mid-30s, after a suicide attempt and abruptly quitting alcohol addiction, Doug was introduced to crack cocaine, triggering years of intense crack addiction, medical crises, psychiatric admissions, and failed treatment attempts. During this period, he lost his marriage, access to his child, and his freedom, eventually serving nearly six years in Texas prison for robbery-related charges.While incarcerated, Doug found purpose in peer leadership and addiction recovery, serving as a sexual-assault-prevention educator, 12-step sponsor, and chapel volunteer. After his release, he experienced relapses but reframed them as part of his sobriety journey and recovery rather than failure, rebuilding his life, his mental health, and his relationship with his daughters through honesty and accountability.Doug later remarried, adopted his stepdaughter, and built a career training peer specialists and advising states on mental-health, recovery, and justice-system reform. He authored The Path of Rocks and Thorns, blending his personal story with leadership and recovery insights, and continues to speak, train, and return to prisons as a free man to help others find a path forward.GUESTDoug SmithDouglas Smith, MSSW, is a leadership development trainer, certified trauma‑informed coach, and author of The Path of Rocks and Thorns: Leadership Lessons from a Prison Cell. He has over a decade of experience in mental health and justice policy, including roles at the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas Center for Justice and Equity, and as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Doug’s trauma‑informed leadership work is shaped by his master’s in social work, professional coaching training, and his own lived experience with mental illness, addiction, and incarceration.Learn more about Doug’s Book, The Path of Rocks and ThornsConnect with Doug Smith on LinkedInLearn more about D-Degree Coaching & TrainingMatt 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: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:Why does relapse happen long before someone actually picks up — and can it be predicted?What is "relapse prediction" and how is it different from relapse prevention?Why did writing a memoir about trauma trigger Doug's own relapse two months in?Why is blaming the client when they relapse morally wrong — and who should be held accountable?How does the amygdala hijack recovery before the person even realizes they're in danger?Why do counting sober days make relapse more devastating rather than less?What does the treatment industry actually mean when it says "evidence-based" — and why is it a lie?What happens when fentanyl hits someone who relapses after months of sobriety?

Born in Italy to Russian parents, Dan came to the U.S. as a baby and grew up in a highly driven immigrant community near Princeton, New Jersey. An only child, he was pushed hard to be successful in academics and athletics, with video games becoming an early escape. As a teenager, he turned to marijuana and alcohol, escalating after his mother passed away during his senior year. He headed to college in 2013, where he bounced between fraternities for drug- and alcohol-related issues while throwing himself into lifting and bodybuilding. At a rave, he was introduced to MDMA, soon followed by cocaine, ketamine, and psychedelics. Despite the severe anxiety waves and emotional volatility that followed, he completed a mechanical engineering degree, stayed for a master’s in financial engineering, and moved to New York to work on Wall Street.There he tried to balance long finance hours with alcoholism, cocaine addiction, compulsive dating, and intense strength training. As he dove deeper into raves and festivals, he began to refer to himself as an ecstasy “connoisseur.” In 2022, he relocated to Los Angeles for a new job, still using while adding jiu jitsu, running, and competitive bodybuilding. A frightening ketamine episode, a collapsed relationship, and months of white-knuckle abstinence pushed him toward change. Inspired by discipline-focused figures online, in 2024 he committed to addiction recovery, found a sponsor in Studio City, and began working the 12 steps. After a relapse tied to his MDMA addiction in May 2024, he restarted his sobriety on May 21 and returned to the steps with urgency. He left banking for full-time personal training, completed a full inventory with a new sponsor, and eventually began sponsoring others.In May 2025, he stepped back on the bodybuilding stage sober—this time pairing competition with a life grounded in discipline, service, and the steps.GUESTDan VaysburdDan is a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM) and Nutrition Coach (Precision Nutrition). His strength-based system helps clients achieve success without intense workouts, extreme diets, and expensive supplements. He offers online coaching to anyone worldwide through phone and video conference.Learn more about personal trainer and nutrition coach Dan VaysburdFollow Dan on Instagram @dan.vaysburdMatt 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: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:How does a high-performing Russian Jewish kid from Princeton end up addicted to cocaine and ecstasy?Why did a video game addiction at age 10 set the stage for harder drug addiction later?What does addiction look like when there's zero trauma, a loving family, and every advantage in life?How does a Wall Street finance career and cocaine use become impossible to separate?Is recovery only real if you go to meetings — or can you build it entirely differently?What is the single best sign that someone is genuinely in recovery — and it has nothing to do with meetings?How do you give back in sobriety when the traditional sponsor model doesn't fit your life?

Seeing him on this podcast for the first time in 13 years, Matt admits to his old friend Austin York that he robbed him during the chaos of their using days in Southern California.Like Matt, Austin got into trouble very young, fighting in school and using drugs at a young age. His parents sent him away several times to try to get him back on track. He bounced around multiple high schools but never graduated, spending most of his teen years in juvenile rehabs like Phoenix House in San Diego and a wilderness camp in Idaho.He was arrested multiple times, including once for battery on a peace officer, which led to alternative sentencing at a wilderness camp. He spent time in solitary confinement in a Utah treatment facility before being sent home when insurance stopped paying.At 16, Austin got sober for the first time and built a strong sober community through Young People’s AA, but then at 18 he relapsed, got fired from his job and lost his chance to graduate high school. After living on the streets and facing violence, he reconciled with sober friends who brought him back to meetings to rebuild his life.In sobriety, he found purpose working in event production for major music festivals like Coachella and Lightning in a Bottle. Today, Austin stays active in addiction recovery and focuses on his business, family, and community, crediting the support and accountability of his sober network for helping him stay on track.GUESTAustin YorkFreelance Project & Site Manager for Live EventsAustin York rebuilt his life after years of drug addiction, homelessness, and time in juvenile rehab and prison. Today, he works in event production for major music festivals and runs a fishing charter business in Texas with his friend. Austin is dedicated to recovery, family, and helping others find hope and stability after hardship.Connect with Austin 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, Victoria ChengTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:What does it look like to get sober at 16 — and then again at 18 — for real?What is Synanon — the therapeutic community that saved thousands of people and became a murderous cult?How does getting sentenced to three years in a treatment program actually work?Why do addicts need extreme consequences when most people would stop long before that point?What happens when you can't help someone who's dying because their insurance won't cover treatment?Why does one person getting sober create a ripple effect that nobody can fully predict?What does building a treatment center from a sober living look like from the inside?

After Cynthia was molested in childhood, she used food as a coping mechanism, developing bulimia and extreme body dysmorphia. As a teenager, vaccinations triggered hormonal and immune imbalances, causing mood changes and hives. When she became pregnant as a young adult, it motivated her to stop smoking and make healthier choices. She later married someone struggling with alcohol addiction, leading to domestic violence and emotional turmoil. Because of her faith as a Jehovah’s Witness, she stayed in the marriage for years before eventually divorcing.When her son was diagnosed with autism and severe developmental delays, she discovered mold exposure and metal toxicity were key factors. Through years of targeted interventions, he went from being severely delayed to earning A’s and B’s in high school.That journey toward sobriety from unhealthy patterns inspired Cynthia to study functional nutrition and lifestyle medicine. She founded Biomentals to help others in addiction recovery uncover the biological roots of mental illness and continues to educate through her podcast, Crazy Gutsy, where she explores how gut health, environment, and mindset shape long-term wellness.GUESTCynthia Pereira, CFNC, FNLPFounder and Director of Biomentals, IncCynthia is a functional nutrition and lifestyle practitioner who helps people uncover the root causes of their physical and emotional health challenges. She specializes in gut health, hormone balance, and detoxification from environmental toxins like mold and heavy metals. Through her practice and podcast “Crazy Gutsy,” she educates others on restoring the body’s natural ability to heal and thrive.Listen to Cynthia’s podcast, Crazy Gutsy by subscribing to her SubstackConnect with Cynthia on LinkedInLearn more about BiomentalsMatt 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 aluminum, heavy metals, and endocrine disruptors silently destroy recovery outcomes?What is the gut microbiome actually doing — and why does it matter more than any supplement?Why does mold exposure in your home show up as mental health symptoms?What tests does a functional nutritionist run that your regular doctor never will?How do the medications prescribed in treatment create the very symptoms they're supposed to treat?Can cleaning up your diet and environment physically change your brain chemistry in recovery?What are endocrine disruptors — and how are they making men's hormones shift without them knowing?

Chris grew up in Odessa, Texas, in a home where alcohol and drugs were part of everyday life. At 15, he altered his birth certificate to work in the oil fields. By 19, he was drilling, and by 25, he was running crews—building a successful career.Drug addiction resulted in four incarcerations, and by his last conviction he faced a potential life sentence. In prison, he began seeking faith and direction but his addiction destroyed his family. When an 86-year-old lawyer offers to take Chris’s case and be paid later, he miraculously gets his sentence reduced to a six‑month state jail deal, which he sees entirely as divine intervention.After he’s released, rather than changing his life he spirals again, overdosing in a hospital bed. This is when he knew it was time to change.In 2009, he committed to sobriety and has stayed clean since 2012, but his tattoos and criminal record made it hard to find a job. He earned his CDL, became a truck driver, and saved more than $70,000. In 2016, he invested in Bitcoin and set about rebuilding his family life.Chris went on to start The Hopper House, a faith-based addiction recovery program, became a pastor, and began speaking in prisons and meetings. Today, he leads a church where people in recovery share their stories and teaches faith and accountability as tools for lasting change.GUESTChris HopperFounder of The Hopper HouseChris Hopper is a pastor, speaker, and founder of The Hopper House, a faith-based recovery community dedicated to helping men rebuild their lives through structure, service, and spiritual growth. After overcoming incarceration and personal loss, he turned his life toward ministry and mentorship, inspiring others with a message of redemption and purpose. Through The Hopper House, Chris continues to guide people toward healing, responsibility, and lasting transformation.Learn more about The Hopper HouseSubscribe to Chris’ YouTube channelMatt 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 a face-tattooed, four-time DWI convict get a CDL, a hazmat endorsement, and $70,000 saved?What finally made a man who was unapproachable in prison decide to change?How does a spiritual awakening in a truck cab redirect a life pointed at destruction?Why does the world keep telling ex-cons what they can't do — and why is that the wrong approach?What did Chris do with $70,000 he saved driving a truck — and what does Bitcoin have to do with recovery?How does AA's original program connect directly to the Bible — and why did we drift from it?What is the real story behind how "just for today" ended up in AA's big book?

Kratom is a plant-based substance that’s easy to find in smoke shops, gas stations, and even health food stores. Marketed as a natural remedy for pain, energy, or opioid withdrawal, it’s gained a reputation as a “safe” alternative.But according to Houston addiction medicine specialist Dr. Kamal Shah, that couldn’t be further from the truth.He’s seen firsthand how quickly people can become dependent, from those in long-term addiction recovery to others simply looking for pain relief. What starts as something “natural” often ends with tough withdrawals and a return to addictive patterns that threaten sobriety. Because kratom isn’t FDA-regulated, there’s no consistency in dosing or purity, adding another layer of risk.Dr. Shah explains how kratom dependency develops fast and why withdrawal feels more like dopamine depletion than a classic opioid detox. He and Matt Handy discuss the growing concern around its easy access—especially for young people—and the misinformation that keeps it under the radar. For anyone in recovery, kratom isn’t a harmless supplement. It’s a slippery slope that can quietly pull people into kratom addiction.KETV NewsWatch 7, 'Worst thing I've ever been through": Finding out what kratom is and how it's addictiveEric B Zink, Day 3 Withdrawals Red Kratom (Vlogging My Withdrawals)Matt 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:What is Kratom — and why is it more dangerous than people buying it at gas stations think?What is the difference between Kratom and 7-Hydroxymitragynine — and why does it matter?Why does Kratom withdrawal look nothing like opioid withdrawal?What does it look like to detox a 600-pound man taking 600mg of Kratom a day?Is Kratom actually non-narcotic — or is that just a legal loophole that's killing people?Why are hospital staff completely unprepared for Kratom withdrawal cases?How does a "natural" plant from Southeast Asia become as addictive as fentanyl?

Growing up in Spring, Texas, Jordan was a standout student and star athlete. Raised in a supportive, yet strict household, he excelled in sports and academics, graduated near the top of his class, and was inducted into his high school’s Hall of Fame for football.While attending Cornell University on a football scholarship, sports injuries shifted his focus from athletics to cocaine, ketamine, and marijuana. After graduation, he moved to Miami for law school and a master’s in sports administration. Cocaine addiction became a daily reality, even as he finished near the top of his class. Moving back home to Texas, he clerked at a law firm but failed the bar exam after hiding out in a hotel room for 3 months to “study,” only to write his name on the test and walk out. Rather than try it again, he went to work in real estate, homebuilding, and briefly for the Houston Texans, but his addiction led to repeated firings.After he got married in 2015 and had a daughter in 2017, his substance use continued. Within a year, Jordan ran a multimillion-dollar homebuilding company into the ground, overdosed multiple times, and pawned his family’s most valuable possessions including his wife’s wedding ring.  In a last ditch effort to start over he moved to a new city, but the cycle of job loss and relapse persisted.In 2020, Jordan entered detox and rehab, relapsed one more time while on campus, then finally achieved lasting sobriety in March. Two years later, he was hired as alumni director at the same facility where he completed treatment and now works in addiction recovery to help others rebuild their lives.GUESTJordan HaseSenior Clinical Liaison - Business Development at Sunshine Behavioral HealthJordan grew up in Spring, Texas, and attended Cornell on a football scholarship before addiction derailed his career. After entering treatment in 2020, he found lasting recovery and purpose. He now serves as Senior Clinical Liaison – Business Development at Sunshine Behavioral Health, helping others access life-changing care.Connect with Jordan on LinkedInLearn more about Sunshine Behavioral HealthMatt 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 a high school Wall of Fame athlete with a 4.41 forty end up with an addiction story?Why does getting married at 35 sometimes mark the beginning of a spiral rather than stability?What does addiction look like when the exterior — the accolades, the athletic history — stays intact?How do you walk back into your high school to be honored while carrying a recovery story most people don't know?What does it take to rebuild identity when the thing you were known for — speed, sport, performance — is behind you?

At the age of 17, Robert entered treatment for the first time for heroin addiction, painkillers, and Dilaudid. Over the next few years, he cycled through nearly 60 detoxes and programs across the country, spending several years in and out of institutions. At 19, he moved to California for a fresh start—attending trauma therapy, enrolling in college, and playing football at Santa Monica College—until a fractured femur ended his athletic goals and he literally ended up homeless and living on Skid Row. Soon after, his plans to serve in the Texas Army National Guard abruptly ended with a medical discharge for a heart condition.He later moved to Florida, played arena football briefly, and relapsed into pill mills, drug dealing, and toxic relationships, including one that left him homeless after losing his truck, dog, and everything he owned. A severe health crisis landed him in the ICU, where he had to relearn how to walk. When his family finally cut off all financial support, Robert was forced to take full responsibility for his recovery.From there, he began to rebuild his sobriety. He committed to treatment, fitness, and therapy, became a certified peer and family specialist, and built a career helping others navigate recovery. Along the way, he met his wife and found purpose through faith, structure, and service.Today, Robert is in long-term addiction recovery and continues to advocate for higher standards in addiction treatment, supportive housing, and accountability-based recovery programs.GUESTRobert Braun, LCDC-IOwner/Manager/CEO at Healing House Mens Sober LivingRobert Braun is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Intern (LCDC-I) and serves as Owner, Manager, and CEO at Healing House Mens Sober Living, where he leads with personal experience and dedication to supporting men in recovery. He is also a case manager at Magnolia City Detox in Conroe, Texas.Learn more about Healing House Mens Sober LivingLearn more about Magnolia City DetoxMatt 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:What does it look like to go through 50 to 60 treatment episodes and still not stay clean?What is Delancey Street — and why is it both an extraordinary program and the wrong place for a 17-year-old?How does a kid who grew up in Singapore, played college football, and served in the military end up in heroin addiction?What is the ethical question every treatment center has to face when a 19-year-old fentanyl addict walks in the door?When does counting days in recovery stop helping — and what replaces it?

Rachel grew up in Louisiana in a family marked by loss. Her older sister died of leukemia at age seven, leaving deep grief that shaped her childhood. At 13, she experienced sexual abuse, and by 21, she lost her mother to untreated hypertension and heart disease—the event that sent her drinking spiraling out of control.She developed depression and anxiety early on, and alcohol addiction quickly became her way to cope. By 25, she was a new mother, married to an alcoholic, and caught in a cycle of domestic violence and codependency. In the hospital with a gallstone, she openly denied her drinking while hiding a bottle of wine in the sheets of her hospital bed. Her drinking escalated, leading to jail time and physical decline—vomiting blood, bruising easily, and losing weight. In 2015, Rachel’s sister helped her get into treatment in Arizona. She left her daughter with family, completed detox and residential care, and moved into sober living. With time and therapy, she found stability, got involved in 12-step addiction recovery, and began working in women’s sober living.In 2018, she opened Journey Way, her own sober living program in Texas. Now ten years into sobriety, Rachel is a mother of two, active in AA, and open about recovery at home.GUESTRachel LiebegottRachel is the founder of Journey Way Sober Living and serves as a Regional Recovery Liaison at a detox center, drawing inspiration from her own journey in long-term recovery. She is dedicated to helping women and families build healthy, hopeful lives, and finds her greatest joy in her faith, family, and serving others.Learn more about Journey Way Sober LivingMatt 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:What does "long-term recovery" actually mean, and why is the definition so contested?Why do Air Force studies put the magic number for lifelong sobriety at five years?What happens when you relapse after three years of sobriety and your family takes your daughter?How do you rebuild after a relapse costs you the one thing you were staying sober for?Why do consequences keep some people sober until the consequences finally go away?

Ted was sent to military school, later joined the Navy, and served during the Gulf War, stationed in Jacksonville and working drug interdiction missions off the coast of Venezuela. During his Navy service, he developed alcohol addiction, a habit he continued for years in New Orleans while working in the oil and gas industry, as drinking was embedded in the local social culture.After several failed recovery attempts, Ted achieved sobriety in March 2017 and launched Bodine Recovery, an addiction recovery community. The program started with an empty house and no clients for eight months, but through persistence and a focus on structure, fitness, and accountability, it grew into a successful sober living community.In 2018, just two years after losing his mother to cancer, Ted was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Complications from surgery left him with a paralyzed vocal cord and unable to speak for nearly a year. Using a karaoke microphone, he continued running meetings and leading residents until a second surgery restored his voice instantly.Today, Ted leads Bodine Recovery full-time, blending recovery coaching, personal training, and mentorship. He continues to advocate for stronger aftercare systems, especially better case management and supportive housing for people leaving treatment.GUESTTed BroomesTed is the founder and owner of Bodine Recovery Homes in Houston, Texas, where he has been creating supportive sober living environments since 2017. Drawing on his experiences in recovery and the military, Ted is passionate about individualized care and empowering men to rebuild their lives with accountability, community, and personal growth.Connect with Ted on LinkedInLearn more about Bodine Recovery HomesMatt 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:Why does the real work of recovery happen in sober living — not in the 28 days of treatment?What happens to clients the day they walk out of treatment with nowhere structured to go?Why do treatment centers coast on old reputations while their product quietly deteriorates?How does high staff turnover destroy the relationships that actually keep people sober?What would it take for insurance companies to start funding aftercare the same way they fund residential?

Candice grew up surrounded by addiction and loss. Both parents drank heavily, and by 11, she had lost her mom. Her dad died soon after, and by 19, most of her family was gone, including her sister, who was killed in a murder-suicide. She became a single mother at 16, and by 21, she had three kids. After her third child, heroin addiction and painkillers took over her life. She lost custody—her daughters went to live with an aunt, and her son entered the court system—while she lived with dealers and cycled through addiction and pill mills.She eventually entered state-funded treatment at Santa Maria, detoxed off Suboxone, and met her husband there. They later relapsed together, ending up homeless and living under a bridge. After pursuing sobriety and quitting heroin, Candice was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, which her doctor told her was caused by IV heroin use.Determined to rebuild, she committed to addiction recovery, fought to regain custody, completed drug testing, and began paying back child support—choosing responsibility even without full reunification. Over time, she turned her experience into purpose, helping open and manage treatment centers and joining The Last Resort to support others in recovery.Now a grandmother with two grandkids, Candice is steady in long-term recovery and present in her family’s lives. GUESTCandice HarrellCandice is a Business Development Representative at The Last Resort, where she brings deep empathy and real-world experience to helping others find their path to recovery. Having overcome her own struggles with addiction and homelessness, she’s turned her past into purpose—connecting individuals and families to treatment with compassion, honesty, and hope. Connect with Candice on LinkedInFollow The Last Resort Recovery on Instagram @last_resort_recoveryMatt 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 IV heroin use destroy spinal discs and why do doctors miss it until it's too late?What does degenerative disc disease look like when it hits a former high school athlete in recovery?Why are soma and muscle relaxants particularly dangerous for opioid addicts?What are the long-term physical consequences of heroin addiction that nobody talks about?How do you manage chronic pain in recovery without relapsing on the very drugs that caused the damage?

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?

Karen married young and became a mom at 15. By 17, she had two children, and by 36 she was a grandmother. Her brother’s Xanax addiction and overdose involving alcohol at age 19 propelled her toward addiction recovery work, determined to help others find the support he never had.Jill lived in her car in the East Texas heat and humidity, calling treatment centers nonstop after losing her insurance. After more than a year of pestering, she was finally granted a spot in a state-funded facility. Ten years ago, Karen and Jill met while working as peer recovery coaches in East Texas. Both found long-term sobriety, are single moms, and grandmothers who built careers helping others.Together, they’ve faced burnout, family strain, and the pressure of being on call around the clock. But through it all, they’ve stayed committed—standing shoulder to shoulder, answering calls, and leading community outreach for Texas Recovery Centers.Learn more about Texas Recovery CentersGUESTSKaren WolfeCommunity Liaison at Texas Recovery CenterKaren Wolfe is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor with over 17 years of experience in behavioral health, currently serving as a Clinical Liaison at Texas Recovery Centers. After losing her brother to an overdose, she dedicated her career to helping individuals and families facing addiction and mental health challenges. Known for her compassionate, knowledgeable approach, Karen is a trusted advocate and resource in the recovery community.Jill SmithBusiness Development Rep at Texas Recovery CenterJill Smith is an outreach team member at Texas Recovery Centers, where she serves the East Texas region and draws on both professional expertise and personal recovery experience. She previously worked as a discharge planner and detox program director for UT Health and serves on the board of her local MHMR center. Jill is committed to improving access to care for individuals seeking recovery support.Matt 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:Why did it take a woman over a year of actively searching to find treatment and then she lost her insurance?What actually happened to California's $24 billion homeless initiative — and why did homelessness quadruple?Does involuntarily admitting homeless people to treatment actually work?Why do state-funded treatment programs keep shutting down, and who suffers most when they do?What does a community outreach person in recovery actually do, and why does lived experience matter?

From Jason’s first drink at 17, his alcohol addiction spiraled into prison, and homelessness. He tried AA, NA, and church, but staying in recovery was tough, and a string of DUIs and prison sentences made things harder.While homeless, Jason describes walking the streets of Pensacola, covering about 20 miles in June heat until his shoes were bloody and had to be discarded upon arrival at a mental hospital, where he collapsed. This grueling walk marked a turning point, leading him to seek help and eventually enter sobriety through sober living.He moved to Tampa and into a sober living home, where he was met with structure, accountability, and, most importantly, a community that welcomed him. Over time, he began to contribute and became an operator and peer specialist, helping run recovery housing programs across several states.Today, Jason is thriving in long-term addiction recovery. He’s reunited with his family, embraced fatherhood, bought his first home with his wife, and continues to mentor and advocate for peer-led recovery housing, supporting others who face relapse and homelessness.GUESTJason PullinTROHN Director, RecoveryPeopleJason Pullin is an experienced leader and public speaker with a bachelor's degree in Christian Leadership and over 30 years of professional experience. As a person in long-term recovery with an RSPS certification, he has valuable lived experience in recovery housing. Prior to becoming the TROHN Director at RecoveryPeople, Jason served as a regional and corporate training director for a major service provider. He also serves on several advisory boards, including the Clean Cause Foundation.Learn more about RecoveryPeopleMatt 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:Why does sobriety feel optional after a few good years and how does that thinking end?What makes someone forget jails, hotel rooms, and prison the second things start going well?How does one partner who isn't in recovery slowly pull a sober person back out?Can you genuinely recover from addiction without fully committing to abstinence early on?Why does going to prison once not always stop someone from circling back to the same behavior?

Rune never directly struggled with substance abuse, but grew up surrounded by it and then married into it. His father battled alcohol addiction and eventually died. Later, his ex-wife also lost her life to addiction after multiple attempts at treatment and time in jail, leaving their two children without a mother. For years, Rune kept his head down and worked quietly in IT to avoid the weight of his own reality. When he finally got divorced, he shifted and slowly stepped into the addiction recovery world. Six years ago he started coaching others through their own grief and trauma, and then expanded to equine therapy as part of the healing process. Because horses respond to the energy people bring into the pen, these powerful moments of self-discovery uncover what remains hidden and find true sobriety and recovery. GUESTRune ChristensenRune is a certified Conscious Leadership coach who empowers people to lead with purpose and authenticity. Growing up in Denmark, he developed a lifelong bond with horses, which led him to incorporate equine-assisted coaching into his work. Blending various coaching approaches, Rune creates transformative experiences that inspire self-awareness and intentional action.Learn more about Rune and The Circle Up Experience and Conscious Leadership.Follow The Circle Up Experience on Instagram @thecircleupexperienceMatt 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: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comQuestions this episode answers:Why do family members of addicts often become drawn into the recovery field themselves?What is equine-assisted therapy and why do horses reveal things people can't?What does it mean to "run toward" addiction instead of away from it?How does conscious leadership coaching help people in recovery that traditional therapy misses?Why does the buffalo — not the horse — symbolize the right approach to facing a storm?

Andy grew up in Houston and started drinking in high school, escalating in college.  After getting kicked out and switching schools, she eventually graduated while trying to keep her drinking under control. But when she entered the workforce, it got worse.In 2013, after a family ultimatum she went to AA for the first time and stayed sober for a month. She relapsed and repeated that pattern for several years, bouncing between AA and psychiatric hospitals, searching for something that would stick.In the spring of 2014, she entered a psychiatric facility, stayed on her meds, and held onto sobriety for three months, but relapsed again. Along with alcohol addiction, she dealt with chronic pain, multiple spinal surgeries, and disordered eating. When her best friend was murdered in 2018, something shifted. Staying sober, Andy began working in addiction recovery, and started leading a family support group.Today, Andy has 11 years of continuous sobriety. She works in recovery education, helping families and supporting others while continuing to manage her own health challenges.GUESTAndy HartmanAs Community Development Executive at Great Oaks Recovery Center in Houston, Andy is dedicated to serving others. In long-term recovery herself, her personal experience has enhanced her compassion for individuals suffering with substance use disorders.Connect with Andy on LinkedInLearn more about Great Oaks Recovery CenterMatt 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:When does college drinking stop being normal and start being a "me problem"?Why does adding psychiatric medication to active drinking almost always make things worse?What happens emotionally when you lose patients in healthcare and have no coping skills?What does the first real year of AA recovery feel like after years of white-knuckling?Why do you need ten solutions in recovery — not just one?

Raised in a solid, loving family, Danny was a standout athlete with a full ride to UCLA for golf. His future was golden, but the lure of partying and a fast lifestyle spiraled into meth and heroin addiction, multiple jail stints, and years of chaos. Danny’s last relapse was the breaking point. Detoxing himself at his mother’s house after a dangerous encounter involving fentanyl, he  surrendered and asked God for help. Facing his mounting court cases, he was sentenced to 90 days in treatment at Monarch Shores instead of seven years in prison.While in treatment, he experienced a supernatural “God shot” encounter with a man who resembled his late father.Since completing treatment, Danny is building his sobriety and gradually rebuilding his life, reconnecting with his family, and developing a strong relationship with faith. Now working at Monarch Diagnostics, he helps others, speaks publicly, and sponsors people in recovery programs.GUESTDanny DaltonDaniel Dalton is a Business Development Representative at Monarch Diagnostics with over five years of experience in the healthcare and treatment space. He has a strong background in managing intensive outpatient (IOP) programs and is dedicated to connecting providers with Monarch’s diagnostic services to better support patient care. Beyond his professional path, Daniel has over seven years of personal experience in addiction recovery, giving him a unique perspective and deep commitment to the communities he serves. A former professional golfer, he brings discipline and focus into every aspect of his work.Learn more about Monarch DiagnosticsMatt 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 a perfect family, no trauma, and a fun party culture still produce a full-blown alcoholic?What is the difference between a person who drinks and a person who's an alcoholic if both look the same from the outside?Why does watching adults drink successfully as a kid become one of the most dangerous setups for addiction?How do you reconcile a loving family foundation with a life that eventually fell apart?What does recovery look like for someone who has nothing obvious to blame their addiction on?

Dr. Kamal Shah’s perspective on addiction recovery is both deeply personal and scientifically informed.  Addiction isn’t just behavior. It’s the brain, trauma, and the emotional patterns that keep people stuck. Over a decade into sobriety himself, Dr. Shah combines his lived experience with a background in neurology, movement disorders, and addiction medicine to explore what really drives relapse and what truly supports lasting recovery.GUESTKamal Shah, MDDr. Kamal Shah is a behavioral neurologist and addiction medicine specialist who combines over a decade of personal sobriety with medical expertise. Founder of Aftercare Doctors, he integrates neuroscience, trauma-informed care, and community support to help patients achieve lasting recovery.Learn more about Houston addiction doctor Dr. Kamal Shah and Aftercare DoctorsFollow Dr. Shah on Instagram @kamalshahmdMatt 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 drug 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:What is the five-step neurological process that happens in the brain before every relapse?Why did a woman paying $100 a day to stay sober still cheat and what did that teach Dr. Shah?How does trauma reactivation in the amygdala trigger a relapse days before the person picks up?Why did the pandemic cause a massive relapse spike and what pattern did it reveal?Can a relapse be predicted and if so, can it be stopped before it starts?Why do more meetings and more coping skills fail to stop someone once they're in the fifth phase?

Scott’s last relapse ended with him withdrawing in jail, where for the first time since age 13 he made it past five days sober. Facing probation, restitution, treatment and childhood trauma, he found purpose through service work, community support, and helping others just starting their recovery. Ironically, a broken leg led him to a role supporting newcomers—work he excelled at and that launched a career dedicated to helping others heal.Today, Scott’s life is proof of what’s possible. He went from living in shame and survival mode to finding happiness, forgiveness, and growth in sobriety.Scott’s story is a reminder of the realities of drug addiction, the hope that recovery can bring even from the darkest places, and the reminder that community, compassion, and persistence can completely change the course of a life.GUESTScott KindelScott Kindel has dedicated his life to advocating for the path of recovery and erasing the stigma associated with substance use disorder. He believes this journey begins by humanizing what is often relegated to the shadows and recognizing how common addiction is in its many forms. Having worked with clients from every socioeconomic background, from CEOs of Fortune 500 companies to members of the homeless population, Scott has observed a common thread uniting them all: an almost compulsive desire to disconnect from powerful emotions and, in most cases, emotional pain.Learn more about Scott’s addiction recovery work todayMatt 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 losing a job collapse the double life an addict has spent years building?What does it actually look like to hit rock bottom in your dad's basement at 30?How do you maintain a graphic design career and a daily drug and alcohol habit simultaneously?What finally breaks through the denial when family already knows what's happening?Why does sobriety come easier after external options fully disappear?

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 by traditional recovery approaches and still feels left out, misunderstood, or burdened by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks to the future – rejecting the lies and dogma that hold people back from seeing their future without using.Full episodes launching September 2025. Subscribe for new episode notifications and more at mylastrelapse.com and find us on YouTube @MyLastRelapseFollow Matt Handy on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: 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.comAbout 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.