PODCAST · education
The Zac Clark Show
by Zac Clark
Twelve years ago, I was smoking crack, shooting dope, unhappily married, broke, and hopeless. My story isn't unique, but I'm one of the fortunate ones. I never wanted to do a podcast, but I see the world burning — substance use, depression, anxiety, suicide — and the conversations that need to happen aren't. This podcast is a platform to have these hard conversations. With experts, frontline heroes, voices we know and the many we need to know, my intent is to confront these issues head-on and, most importantly, offer solutions and hope.
Episodes
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Dad Gang: Building a Business, a Community & a Better Version of Fatherhood
Dad Gang founders Bart Szaniewski and Grant Eastey join Zac for a conversation about fatherhood, men's mental health, entrepreneurship and building a community where dads don't have to figure everything out alone. They open up about how becoming a father changed them, navigating miscarriage and...
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Addiction Doctor: Your Kid Doesn't Need to Be an Addict to Overdose | Dr. Michael McCormick
Dr. Michael McCormick, Chief Medical Officer at Release Recovery and our resident doctor on The Zac Clark Show, returns for an urgent conversation about today’s rapidly changing drug supply. Following the suspected overdose deaths of two students at Ole Miss, Zac and Doc discuss what they’re…
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Benton McClintock: Being F*cked Up Gave Him a Career. Sobriety Gave Him a Life.
Benton McClintock built an online following by being loud, outrageous, funny – and often completely fucked up. Behind the characters and viral videos, though, his relationship with drugs and alcohol was getting harder to control. In his early 20s, Benton was waiting tables in New York City while...
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Lemonada CEO Stephanie Wittels Wachs: Losing Her Brother to Addiction & What Families Need to Know
Stephanie Wittels Wachs is the CEO and cofounder of Lemonada Media, host of the award-winning podcast Last Day, and author of Last Day: How to Stop Losing Our Loved Ones to the Opioid Crisis. But none of this work would exist without her younger brother, Harris Wittels. Harris – the beloved…
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Tony Winner Lena Hall: From Blackouts to 10 Years Sober
Tony and Grammy-nominated performer Lena Hall joins Zac for an honest conversation about addiction, sobriety and the side of success people rarely see. A Broadway veteran who won a Tony for Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Lena has built a career spanning theater, music, film and television, including...
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The Viral Paramus Half Marathon: What Really Happened | Zac Clark
What happens when the race probably should be canceled — but nobody stops running? Zac breaks down one of the wildest races of his life: the Paramus Race Faster Half Marathon, where torrential rain turned the course into knee-and waist-deep water, rushing currents, slippery trails and even a…
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From Crack Addiction at 20 to Medical School & Ultramarathons | David Millar
At 20, David Millar's life revolved around getting high. His cocaine use had progressed to crack, drug-induced psychosis and a point where he says he was completely okay with dying. Seven years later, David is sober, in medical school and running ultramarathons. In this episode, David tells Zac…
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15 Years Sober: What Recovery Has Given Me | Zac Clark
Fifteen years ago, I had no hope, no purpose, and no idea what my life could become. Today, I get to look back on 15 years of sobriety -- and everything recovery has given me. In this solo episode, I talk about what it was like, the moment everything changed, why I still believe my story is my...
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From Teacher to 6 Million Followers: Tyler Jackowski on Anxiety, Imposter Syndrome & Finding Purpose
Tyler Jackowski has built an audience of millions by making people laugh, but his path to becoming a full-time content creator was anything but planned. Before social media, Tyler was a teacher – an experience that continues to shape his life and his mission to give back to educators. In this...
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She Saved a Life at the Knicks Championship Parade | Simone Kelly on Addiction, Narcan & Ending Stigma
At the New York Knicks championship parade, a man became unresponsive high above a crowd of thousands. Phones came out. Simone Kelly ran toward him. Simone is a 24-year-old volunteer EMT and neuroscience student at Drew University who hopes to become a physician specializing in emergency…
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Comedian Rosebud Baker: Alcoholism, Postpartum, Divorce & What 19 Years Sober Really Looks Like
Comedian, former Saturday Night Live writer, and author Rosebud Baker joins Zac for an honest conversation about addiction, grief, motherhood, divorce, and what long-term recovery actually looks like. Rosebud reflects on losing her seven-year-old sister, getting sober at 22, writing her memoir...
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Shep Rose on Bravo Fame, Alcohol, Ayahuasca & Why He Finally Had to Change
After more than a decade on Bravo's hit reality show, Southern Charm, Shep Rose opens up about the moment he realized something had to change. Shep shares the phone call from Andy Cohen that became a wake-up call, the blackouts that scared him, and the ayahuasca journey in Costa Rica that forced...
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Young Women, Alcoholism & the New Generation of Recovery | Neva Coleman
Neva Coleman looked like she was thriving. She was a bright college student at Tulane, surrounded by friends, succeeding academically, and living what many would consider the "normal" college experience. But behind the scenes, alcohol had become far more than a way to have fun. In this...
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Hunter Montgomery: From Injury to Heroin Addiction, Reality TV & Nearly 20 Years Sober
Hunter Montgomery has been sober for nearly 20 years – but his story didn't begin with heroin. It began with a football injury, a prescription for painkillers, and the belief that he'd finally found something that made him feel comfortable in his own skin. In this honest conversation, Hunter…
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Sober Since 16: Bravo Star Maddi Reese on Building a Big Life in Recovery
Bravo's Southern Hospitality star Maddi Reese joins The Zac Clark Show to share her awesome recovery journey – from drinking at 12 and multiple trips to treatment, to getting sober at 16 and building a successful career as a DJ, reality television personality, and advocate for recovery. In this...
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The Future of Drinking | How Family Alcoholism Led Joe Chura to Build Go Brewing
Joe Chura is the founder of Go Brewing, one of the fastest-growing non-alcoholic breweries in the country, now available in more than 8,000 locations. Before launching Go Brewing, he built and sold a marketing technology company in a deal valued at more than $200 million. But long before building...
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Love in Recovery | Michael Allio & Jade Chapman on Grief, Addiction and Second Chances
Michael Allio and Jade Chapman join me for a powerful conversation about grief, addiction, recovery, and the unexpected path that brought them together. Michael is a former contestant on The Bachelorette, author of the children's book Where the Wild Heart Grows, and co-founder of St. James...
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He Robbed a Convenience Store for Heroin at 18. Now He Helps Thousands Recover | Corey Warren on Recovery, Relapse, & Faith
At 17, Corey Warren was shooting heroin. At 18, he robbed a convenience store to support his addiction and faced up to 30 years in prison. What followed was a journey through addiction, recovery, success, relapse, and redemption. After more than a decade of sobriety, Corey began drinking again –...
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He Helped Thousands of Young Men — Then His Son Nearly Died | Lessons on Fatherhood & Modern Men
What does it take to keep going when a doctor tells you your son has less than a 10% chance of survival? Vince Benevento is the founder of Causeway Collaborative – a counseling and mentorship organization that has helped over 2,500 young men between the ages of 14 and 30 – and the author of Boys...
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What Recovery Looks Like: A Viral Moment, the London Marathon, and a Party That’ll Make You Believe
I'm fired up. New studio, new energy, and a month that reminded me exactly why I do this. In this solo episode – with a surprise appearance from Release Foundation’s own Caitlin Healy – I break down three moments that stopped me cold. First: how a viral Bravo moment turned into a $25,000 donation...
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3 Things On My Mind: Empathy & Social Media, Pete Davidson & My Hairline
What If Guys Just Said It Out Loud? Zac Clark goes solo this week and gets honest – uncomfortably, refreshingly honest. It starts with something small: he's losing his hair, and he's embarrassed about it. But that admission opens the door to something much bigger. If a guy in recovery, with years...
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The Phone Call That Changed Everything | A Brother & Sister’s Recovery Story
When addiction hits a family, everyone feels it – but recovery can ripple through a family too. In this powerful episode of The Zac Clark Show, Zac sits down with siblings Sean and Kathleen McGowan, two people whose lives were once consumed by addiction and chaos, and who today both work in the...
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Kratom: Natural Supplement or Addictive Drug? | Dr. Michael McCormick
Is kratom safe – or is it quietly becoming the next opioid crisis? In this quick-hit episode, Zac sits down with recurring medical contributor Dr. Michael McCormick, Chief Medical Officer at Release Recovery, to clear the air on one of the most polarizing substances in America right now: kratom....
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Ken Rideout: From Opioid Addict to World Champion
When you look up Ken Rideout, you get a wild list of labels: prison guard. Wall Street trader. Opioid addict. Fastest marathoner in the world over 50. In this episode, Ken sits down with Zac to talk about reinvention – and what it actually takes to change your life. From crushing opioids and...
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He Stole $50K for Heroin – Now He’s a VP at a leading Recovery Company | Blake Porter
Seven years ago, Zac Clark walked into a treatment center to speak at a Tuesday night meeting – and met a guy in pajama pants wearing a “Grateful Dead” tee who had no idea if he was going to make it. That guy was Blake Porter. In this episode, Zac and Jay sit down with Blake – now Vice President…
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Corey Davis: Building the Sober Golf Movement
Corey Davis is 15 years sober – and he left a high-paying corporate career to build Soba Golf, a fast-growing community at the intersection of sobriety, wellness, and golf. Corey joins Zac and Jay to share how golf became more than a hobby: a daily practice in presence, humility, discipline, and...
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Rivkah Reyes: From School of Rock to a Life in Recovery
In this episode, Zac and Jay sit down with Rivkah Reyes – actor, musician, and the bass player from School of Rock – for a candid, nuanced conversation about growing up in the spotlight, addiction at a young age, and finding sobriety. Together, they walk through Rivkah’s journey from child…
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Should You Take Drugs in Recovery? A Top Addiction Doctor Explains
In this episode, Zac sits down with Release Recovery’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Michael McCormick, for a candid, nuanced conversation about one of the most controversial questions in recovery: can drugs ever help sobriety? Together, they break down three major categories of medications –...
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ASK ME ANYTHING: The Questions Everyone Has About Sobriety
In this Ask Me Anything episode, Zac kicks off 2026 by answering real questions from the community about sobriety, recovery, and mental health. Zac shares honest, grounded insight on topics people are often afraid to ask about – including California sober, medication-assisted treatment like...
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What Getting Sober ACTUALLY Looks Like
On this episode of The Zac Clark Show, Grace Adams joins Zac and Jay for an honest and funny conversation about what early sobriety actually looks like. They start with a hot topic that brings all sorts of opinions: dating in sobriety. Is “don’t date for a year” real wisdom… or an arbitrary rule...
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UFC Veteran Jared Gordon: 10 Years Sober, Overdose, Fatherhood, and the Fight After the Cage
Jared “Flash” Gordon is a UFC veteran known for his grit, longevity in the sport, and a career that defied the odds — not just in the cage, but in life. Before he became a professional fighter, Jared survived 13 treatment centers, 8 arrests, and a felony case in Florida where he was facing...
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The Truth About Kratom: What It Is, Why It’s Everywhere, and Who It’s Hurting
Kratom is everywhere – in gas stations, bodegas, vape shops, and even pharmacies. But most people don’t actually know what it is. In this episode of The Zac Clark Show, Zac and Jay break down the truth about kratom: what it is, how it works in the brain, and why treatment centers across the…
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What Your Brain Could Be Telling You: Dr. David Rowe on Neuropsychology, Psych Tests & Recovery
What is neuropsychology? What does a psychological test actually measure? And what if it were possible to understand how we learn, think, and behave in a totally non-judgmental, deeply informative way? This week on The Zac Clark Show, we sit down with Dr. David Rowe, Director of Neuropsychology…
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Thanksgiving Sober Edition: Going Home in Early Sobriety, Embarrassing Stories & Real Gratitude
Thanksgiving can be beautiful – and brutal – especially in early sobriety. In this special Thanksgiving Sober Edition, Zac and Jay bring in guests Grace Adams (Release Marketing Director & former client), Dave Megenis (VP of Outreach & Continuing Care at Wellbridge, a leading addiction treatment...
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From Heroin to Marathons: How Kellen Matthews-Thompson Rebuilt His Life
In this episode, we sit down with Kellen Matthews-Thompson – Philly runner, content creator, father, husband, and the founder of Recovery Run Club. Before his life revolved around miles, marathons, and community, Kellen spent over a decade in the grip of opioid addiction. He began using in his...
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Renowned NYU Professor Created a Test That Teaches You Who You Are | Suzy Welch on Becoming You
What if there was a test that could actually tell you who you are – or even better, who you’re meant to become? In this episode, Zac and Jay explore Becoming You: The Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career, the groundbreaking philosophy and curriculum developed by Suzy Welch –...
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Teen Addiction, Mental Health & Healing Families: Mike Giresi, Chief Clinical Officer, Family First
Mike Giresi was an All-American high school football player with a bright future, until crippling anxiety and panic attacks after graduation led him to alcohol. What began as self-medication spiraled into heroin addiction, multiple overdoses, and rehab. In this episode, Mike shares his journey...
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NFL QB to Healthcare CEO: BJ Coleman on Sports, Leadership, and Life’s Toughest Pivots
In this episode, Zac sits down with BJ Coleman – former NFL quarterback, author of The Pivot, and CEO of Pivotal Health Partners – for a powerful conversation about resilience, leadership, and life after the game. BJ traces his journey from being a highly recruited high school quarterback to...
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Skateboarding, Mental Health & the Berlin Marathon 2025 | KJ Dillard & Release’s Soo Saxton
New York City brings people together in unexpected ways. In this episode of The Zac Clark Show, Zac sits down with KJ Dillard -- an influencer, model, and skater just days away from running the 2025 Berlin Marathon to raise money for the Release Recovery Foundation -- and Soo-Hwan ‘Soo’ Saxton…
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The Shadow of 9/11: Matthew Bocchi on Sobriety, Survival, and Inspiring Others
At 9 years old, Matthew Bocchi lost his father in the North Tower on 9/11. At 23, he got sober. In between were years of grief, addiction, and a secret he carried alone – sexual abuse by a family member. In this raw conversation, Matthew and Zac trace the line from trauma to addiction to…
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Hollywood, Fame & Mental Health: Stephanie Szostak’s Journey of Self-Discovery
At 30, Stephanie Szostak made the bold decision to pursue acting – despite the long odds of success and the skeptics who questioned the move. Audiences soon came to know her from The Devil Wears Prada, her turn opposite Steve Carell and Paul Rudd in Dinner for Schmucks, and her role in Marvel’s...
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Zac’s Social Media Detox, Marijuana Talk, Good vs Bad Addiction & How to Get Unstuck: Zac & Jay
Zac and Jay are keeping it in-house this time, pulling back the curtain on the podcast’s growth and the community they’re working to build. With a plant doling out life lessons and Zac’s self-imposed social media ban (for now), they dive into how stepping back from the online world has been a...
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Jimmy Drago: 8 Drug Overdoses, Sobriety, and His Journey to a UFC Dream
MMA fighter Jimmy Drago joins The Zac Clark Show just weeks before stepping into the cage for the biggest fight of his life — a shot at a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. But before the cage came chaos: By 19, Jimmy had survived eight overdoses, been revived by Narcan four times,...
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Scott Strode & The Phoenix: From Addiction to Building a Recovery Community of Nearly 1 Million
This week on The Zac Clark Show, we sit down with Scott Strode — founder of The Phoenix, a free national sober active community that’s approaching one million members and nearly 90,000 events strong. But behind those staggering numbers is a deeply personal story. Scott opens up about the…
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Jeff Halevy on Trauma at 14, Addiction, Grief, and Building a New Vision for Wellness Through Tech
Jeff Halevy has lived many lives. After surviving a childhood brain tumor and living with undiagnosed PTSD, he poured himself into achievement – becoming an award-winning, multi-exit entrepreneur in health, wellness, and technology. He built businesses at the intersection of fitness and behavior...
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Love, Loss, and TikTok: How Jack Ciapciak Turned Grief into Connection
In one of our most heartfelt conversations yet, Zac and Jay sit down with writer and grief advocate Jack Ciapciak to talk about love, loss, and healing. Jack opens up about losing his fiancé – also named Jack – just days before Christmas 2022, how it shattered his world, and how he’s slowly been...
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Finding Humor in the Dark Sh#t: Dave Manheim on Drugs, Recovery, Loss & Dopey
Zac and Jay sit down with Dave Manheim – creator of Dopey, the darkly hilarious and deeply moving podcast about “drugs, addiction, and dumb sh*t,” or as he now calls it, “the dark comedy of drug addiction.” What began as two friends swapping war stories has grown into a full-blown cultural force,...
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From Addiction to NFL Stardom to Walking Away from $32M: Darren Waller on What Matters Now
Former NFL star Darren Waller joins The Zac Clark Show to share his raw, unfiltered story of recovery. From overdosing on opiates in a grocery store parking lot just miles from the Ravens facility to becoming one of the league’s top tight ends with the Raiders and Giants, Darren opens up about…
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Father’s Day Special | Doug Clark (Zac’s Dad)
Father’s Day Special This week, Zac sits down with his dad, Doug Clark, for a powerful Father’s Day conversation—joined by Jay, who brings his own experience as a son and a father to the table. Together, they unpack what it means to show up for family, especially when love gets tested. From Zac’s...
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Craig Robinson: From Bachelorette Fame to Saving Lives with the Marchman Act
Before he was a lawyer helping families navigate addiction treatment, Craig Robinson was living a double life—reality TV fame, courtroom success, and a cocaine addiction he kept hidden from everyone. In this honest, deeply personal conversation, Craig joins The Zac Clark Show to talk about what…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Twelve years ago, I was smoking crack, shooting dope, unhappily married, broke, and hopeless. My story isn't unique, but I'm one of the fortunate ones. I never wanted to do a podcast, but I see the world burning — substance use, depression, anxiety, suicide — and the conversations that need to happen aren't. This podcast is a platform to have these hard conversations. With experts, frontline heroes, voices we know and the many we need to know, my intent is to confront these issues head-on and, most importantly, offer solutions and hope.
HOSTED BY
Zac Clark
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Zac Clark Show have?
The Zac Clark Show currently has 86 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Zac Clark Show about?
Twelve years ago, I was smoking crack, shooting dope, unhappily married, broke, and hopeless. My story isn't unique, but I'm one of the fortunate ones. I never wanted to do a podcast, but I see the world burning — substance use, depression, anxiety, suicide — and the conversations that need to...
How often does The Zac Clark Show release new episodes?
The Zac Clark Show has 86 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Zac Clark Show?
You can listen to The Zac Clark Show on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Zac Clark Show?
The Zac Clark Show is created and hosted by Zac Clark.
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