CROSSTALK PODCASTS

What really causes addiction? And what does recovery actually look like? In this episode, multiple guests share deeply personal stories about fame, alcohol, drugs, relapse, prison, rehab, sobriety, and rebuilding their lives from rock bottom. From Hollywood success to homelessness, this conversation explores the emotional realities behind addiction and the long road back to healing. Topics include: • Addiction & alcoholism • Dopamine, trauma & escapism • Prison, relapse & rehab • 12-step recovery & sobriety • Mental health & isolation • Gratitude, healing & community A raw, honest, and hopeful conversation for anyone struggling or supporting someone who is.Access our website for the full notes for this episode: https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/from-overdose-to-starting-over-at-21Video is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

What happens when addiction takes everything... and still isn’t enough to make you stop?In this episode of Cross Talk, Alex shares his journey from early escape and substance use to overdose, arrest, and recovery. He opens up about chasing acceptance, hitting rock bottom, and waking up handcuffed in a hospital bed... only to keep using.Because the truth is: addiction isn’t just about substances. It convinces you there’s no way out.This conversation breaks down what recovery really looks like.... not instant change, but a slow shift. A new way of thinking. A different way of living.And proof that even when it doesn’t feel possible… change can still happen.Access our website for the full notes for this episode: https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/from-overdose-to-starting-over-at-21Video is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

A recovery story that didn’t start with chaos… but slowly became one.Manny opens up about how alcohol, weed, and cocaine started as “normal experimentation” and quietly turned into addiction.What makes this story powerful is how invisible the shift felt.. until he realized he had crossed a line he couldn’t ignore.This episode of Crosstalk Podcast breaks down how addiction really builds, and why most people don’t see it coming until it’s deep.Access our website for the full notes for this episode: crosstalkofficial.com/episode/when-just-trying-it-turns-into-addiction-the-moment-you-cross-the-lineVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

After 40 years of sobriety, the conversation around addiction changes in a way most people don’t expect.In this episode of Crosstalk Podcast, we sit down for a deeply honest conversation that goes beyond the surface of recovery, into the parts most people never talk about. It’s not just about getting sober.. it’s about everything that comes after it.If you think you already understand addiction and recovery, this episode may challenge that in ways you didn’t see coming. Watch till the end because something about this conversation stays with you long after it ends.Access our website for the full notes for this episode:crosstalkofficial.com/episode/after-40-years-sober-what-recovery-really-looks-likeVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Why can someone lose everything… and still go back?In this powerful episode of Crosstalk, Matt Anderson shares the raw truth about addiction, recovery, and the mental obsession that keeps people trapped even after prison, overdoses, and near-death experiences.Matt spent 17 years in prison, lost loved ones to addiction, and still found a way back not through luck, but through understanding what addiction truly is.This is not just a story.This is an education most people never get...and you definitely need to watch it.Access our website for the full notes for this episode:https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/recovery-isnt-a-straight-lineheres-whyVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

What does it actually feel like to get sober in your 20s… when everyone else is still partying? Everyone glamorizes your 20s.. until you realize it’s slowly destroying you.Maya was hospitalized over 25 times… and still believed she had it under control.This conversation pulls back the curtain on addiction, mental health, and the mindset shift it takes to finally change your life.If you’ve ever told yourself “I’ll stop later”… watch this before it’s too late.Access our website for the full notes for this episode: crosstalkofficial.com/episode/sobriety-vs-social-life-as-a-20-something-year-oldVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Ever wonder what really happens behind the scenes of addiction recovery? Most people only see the surface, but the deep, raw moments are where true transformation happens.In this episode of Crosstalk Podcast, we speak with Blake E Cohen to dive into the unfiltered journey of relapse, therapy, and self discovery. From painful interventions to breaking down emotional walls, our guest shares what it really takes to confront addiction and rebuild a life.If you’ve ever felt stuck, ashamed, or afraid to ask for help, this episode is a must watch. Learn how honesty, vulnerability, and tough love can lead to lasting change and why relapse doesn’t mean failure.Watch now and discover the path most people never talk about.Access our website for the full notes for this episode: crosstalkofficial.com/episode/i-thought-i-was-doing-everything-right-in-recovery-until-they-called-me-outVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

What happens when the person helping others recover… is secretly struggling themselves?In this powerful episode of Crosstalk Podcast, CJ shares his raw and unfiltered addiction recovery story from being sent to rehab at 19, to relapsing while working inside a rehab facility, and the moment everything finally broke.If you’ve ever wondered why some people can’t “just stop,” or why recovery is more than just quitting substances, this conversation will change how you see addiction.We dive into relapse, hidden addiction, opiate abuse, the pressure of pretending to be okay, and how true recovery only began when everything fell apart.If you're on your own recovery journey or even just trying to understand it this is the episode you don’t want to missAccess our website for the full notes for this episode:crosstalkofficial.com/episode/i-spent-years-helping-others-while-secretly-destroying-myselfVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Locked in an apartment with two alcoholics during COVID… and I stayed sober. How?In this episode of Cross Talk, we break down the hidden truths about addiction, recovery, and the power of relationships. Therapy isn’t the only path, and support doesn’t always look like what you expect.You’ll discover:-Why relationships can make or break recovery-How self-destructive behaviors start and how to navigate them-The unconventional lessons I learned while surviving lockdownThis isn’t just another recovery story it’s a real look at what it takes to stay sober when everything around you is falling apart.Access our website for the full notes for this episode: https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/i-lived-with-two-alcoholics-during-covid-this-is-how-i-stayed-sober-cory-mVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Before sobriety, Sam Miller was a master of escape; drugs, lies and pretending to be someone else.In this brutally honest conversation, stand up comedian Sam Miller opens up about the chaos that shaped his life growing up afraid of his father, praying for his death as a kid… and the complicated emotions that followed when it actually happened. But that was only the beginning.Watch the full conversation and hear the story behind the jokes.Access our website for the full notes for this episode:https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/rock-bottom-to-recovery-a-sobriety-journey-that-could-save-your-lifeVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

What drives addiction? Stand up comedian Sam Miller opens up about growing up around alcohol, childhood trauma, and why he turned to substances at a young age.He shares a powerful truth about addiction: it wasn’t about chasing a high it was about escaping the feelings that came with being sober.If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, this episode offers powerful insights about recovery, resilience, and transformation.Access our website for the full notes for this episode:https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/rock-bottom-to-recovery-a-sobriety-journey-that-could-save-your-lifeVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

What happens after treatment ends? In this deeply honest conversation, Emily opens up about eating disorder recovery, urges vs cravings, fear foods, nighttime triggers, body image in the entertainment industry, and learning to live with balance instead of restriction. This episode goes beyond food; it's about identity, ego, self compassion, boundaries, family dynamics, and learning how to respond to hard thoughts with love instead of shame.Access our website for the full notes for this episode:https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/food-was-my-drug-eating-disorder-recovery-storyVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

In this episode, we dive deep into complex trauma, emotional regulation, and the journey to becoming a better parent, partner, and individualFrom overcoming childhood wounds to navigating marriage, sobriety, and parenting, Jared Devin shares actionable insights on breaking patterns, connecting with your kids, and healing relationships.Access our website for the full notes for this episode:https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/food-was-my-drug-eating-disorder-recovery-storyVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

In this episode, we dive deep into complex trauma, emotional regulation, and the journey to becoming a better parent, partner, and individualFrom overcoming childhood wounds to navigating marriage, sobriety, and parenting, Jared Devin shares actionable insights on breaking patterns, connecting with your kids, and healing relationships.Access our website for the full notes for this episode: https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/my-dad-told-me-not-to-come-home-unless-i-got-soberVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

From the outside, he looked successful. Inside, he was spiraling. When his dad finally sat him down and said, “We don’t want you here unless you’re serious about your drinking,” everything shifted.Jared shares his story from his first black out to almost loosing everythingThis episode reveals what it really takes to start over at Day One!Access our website for the full notes for this episode: https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/my-dad-told-me-not-to-come-home-unless-i-got-soberVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

He thought he was making a smart investment Instead, he lost $1,000 to a scam and got hit with consequences he never expected In this raw and powerful episode of Crosstalk Podcasts, we dive into a real life testimony of greed, humiliation, obedience, and redemptionIf you’ve ever ignored the warning and paid for it, this conversation will hit differently.Access our website for the full notes for this episode https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/from-compton-streets-to-spiritual-freedom-alex-isaacVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

From childhood trauma and growing up in a dangerous environment to life-changing mentorship and faith, this story proves that surrender, guidance, and small acts of love can transform your life completely. Watch as one young man shares how he overcame fear, temptation, and challenges without ever touching drugs or alcohol and how faith and intentional mentorship shaped his journey.Access our website for the full notes for this episode https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/from-compton-streets-to-spiritual-freedom-alex-isaacVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

This episode of the Crosstalk Podcast features a raw, unforgettable conversation about growing up in Compton, surviving street violence, and finding freedom from addiction through faith and personal transformation. Alex Johnson shares his early life experiences in gang heavy neighborhoods, exposure to trauma at a young age, and how normalized violence shaped his worldview while growing up in Southern California.The discussion dives deep into topics many people silently struggle with, including pornography addiction, fatherlessness, shame, and emotional isolation. Alex opens up about the moment he was exposed, the humiliation that followed, and how those experiences ultimately led him toward a spiritual awakening. This episode connects addiction recovery with broader themes of identity, purpose, and healing making it relatable whether your struggle is with substances, habits, trauma, or self worth.Access our website for the full notes for this episode https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/from-compton-streets-to-spiritual-freedom-alex-isaacVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

In this deeply human episode of CrossTalk Podcast, we sit down with Mike to explore a lifetime shaped by addiction, recovery, service, and conscious choice. Mike opens up about a tragic accident that altered his life forever and the hard-earned wisdom that followed.From early struggles with alcoholism to finding stability through sobriety and the 12-step program, this conversation is a raw reflection on accountability, personal growth, and spiritual awakening. We dive into the reality of recovery why there’s no single “right” way to heal, how changing behavior reshapes thinking, and why daily practices like meditation, gratitude, and service matter.Mike shares stories from his aviation career, fatherhood, marriage, sponsorship, and the quiet moments that define real spiritual progress. This episode is a reminder that recovery is not just about quitting alcohol—it’s about rebuilding character, restoring relationships, and choosing presence over autopilot. Whether you’re in recovery, supporting someone who is, or simply searching for meaning, this conversation offers insight, hope, and perspective.Access our website for the full notes for this episode a https://crosstalkofficial.com/episode/the-day-everything-changed-mikes-story-of-addiction-loss-and-the-long-road-backVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

In this powerful episode of Crosstalk Podcast, we sit down with Mike, a longtime member of the recovery community whose life story spans early exposure to substances, generational sobriety, devastating trauma, and ultimately, long-term recovery. Growing up around Alcoholics Anonymous through his father’s sobriety, Mike’s relationship with alcohol and drugs began young and escalated quickly fueled by experimentation, denial, and a culture where chaos felt normal. Mike walks us through the pivotal moments that shaped his addiction, including multiple arrests, DUIs, blackout drinking, and a life-altering accident that left a permanent emotional imprint. Rather than avoiding the pain, this episode explores what happens when unresolved trauma is buried under substances and how avoidance can quietly accelerate addiction. We dive deep into the turning point that forced Mike to confront reality: failing a drug test, facing professional consequences, and finally accepting help. Through candid reflection, Mike explains how Alcoholics Anonymous, sponsorship, the Twelve Steps, and accountability became the framework that helped him rebuild his life not overnight, but through consistent action, humility, and service. This conversation goes beyond sobriety. It examines guilt, forgiveness, PTSD, amends, and the lifelong responsibility of recovery. Mike shares how service to others, prison outreach, and mentorship became a way of transforming pain into purpose and how recovery isn’t just about stopping drinking, but about learning how to live, feel, and show up differently. Whether you’re in recovery, questioning your relationship with substances, or supporting someone on their journey, this episode offers raw honesty, lived wisdom, and proof that change is possible even after the darkest moments.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

In this thought-provoking episode of Crosstalk Podcasts, we welcome Dr. Jeff from PCH (Psychological Care and Healing) for a deep dive into the flaws of our current mental health system. Challenging the very foundation of psychiatric diagnosis, Dr. argues that the DSM manual often creates more problems than it solves, turning adaptive survival responses into lifelong "disorders." He reveals how the split between anxiety and depression was arbitrarily decided and how the pharmaceutical industry benefits from this fragmented model.We explore the PCH treatment philosophy, which rejects a one-size-fits-all, medication-heavy approach. Instead, they focus on a holistic, person-centered model that integrates intensive individual therapy, somatic work, neurofeedback, social justice advocacy, and community support. Dr. Jeff explains why feeling your pain is crucial to healing, why certain medications can block recovery, and how true mental wellness comes from understanding context, not just applying labels..Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

In this powerful episode of Cross Talk Podcast, we sit down with Jenna to explore the profound impact of growing up with a mother struggling with alcoholism. From the age of six, Jenna learned to disconnect from her body and her feelings, a coping mechanism that later manifested in disordered eating and complex relationships. She opens up about her journey of reclaiming those lost emotions, the struggle for control in a chaotic environment, and how her path led her toward recovery, wellness, and ultimately, helping others.We delve into themes of honesty, trust, and the delicate balance between offering support and enforcing boundaries. Jenna shares insights on codependency, the difference between enabling and helping, and the hard-earned wisdom that we are in the "trying business, not the results business." This conversation is a raw and hopeful look at healing from family trauma, finding purpose through pain, and the ongoing work of building a life grounded in integrity and self-compassion.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

In Part 2 of our extraordinary conversation with music icon Dion and his protégé Adam, we dive deeper into the wisdom gathered from 57 years of sobriety and a legendary life in rock & roll. They discuss their new book, “The Rock & Roll Philosopher,” a collection of stories that blend music history with profound life lessons—from dealing with lawsuits and managers to finding spiritual freedom.Dion reveals the critical importance of having mentors (“not once in 57 years did my mentor say, ‘that’s a good idea’”) and the humility required to stay grounded (“there are no big shots in here”). Adam shares how he now helps others as a coach, guiding people to shed the “armor” of a false identity and become “fully alive.” This episode is a masterclass in openness, service, and the creative, fulfilling life that recovery makes possible.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

In an unprecedented episode, we sit down with music legend Dion (of “The Wanderer” and “Runaround Sue” fame) and his spiritual protégé, Adam. Dion opens up with staggering humility about getting sober on April 1st, 1968—57 years ago—after his father-in-law took him to a meeting and told him, “A sick mind can’t cure a sick mind.”Adam shares his harrowing entry into recovery, including a profound spiritual experience with a Catholic priest who used a UV light to reveal the “invisible fingerprints” of a Higher Power that had been guiding him all along. Their bond, which began when a 12-year-old Adam met his idol at a school concert, was divinely rekindled in the rooms of recovery, forging a sponsor relationship that changed both their lives. This is a powerful testament to timeless recovery, spiritual connection, and the miracle of one day at a time.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Kiefer, a director at Clear Behavioral Health, joins us for a raw and hopeful episode. With a seemingly ideal suburban upbringing, he traces his path from a 3.9 GPA high school student to a college dropout with a 0.9, all while his addiction to alcohol, benzos, and cocaine progressed from age 14. He shares the terrifying reality of his blackouts, the family interventions he missed, and the moment he "came to" in a treatment center with no memory of how he got there.His story is one of profound surrender—not something he did, but something that happened to him. A simple conversation with another struggling kid sparked a "white light" experience that shifted him from hopelessness to hope. Now over five years sober, Kiefer discusses the spiritual tools that maintain his recovery, the miraculous restoration of his family relationships, and the urgent advice he has for anyone on the verge of asking for help.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

In this powerful second part of our conversation with trauma therapist Laura Sorte, we dive into the brutal reality of her active addiction. Laura recounts the dangerous "disguises" of being a "wine connoisseur," the horrifying blackouts that led to her being found unconscious on NYC streets and strapped to a hospital bed, and the family intervention that was called off when they collectively decided she'd been "mugged." Hitting her point of powerlessness at 29, Laura details her journey to detox and a six-month treatment program. She shares the transformative, difficult work she did there—from being banned from using her parents for emotional support to consciously building her first real female friendships—and how this painful process of individuation ultimately built the self-esteem she never had.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Laura Sorte, a therapist and expert in recovery, joins us for a profound and vulnerable conversation. She takes a retrospective look at her seemingly happy childhood to uncover the subtle moments of heartbreak and unmet emotional needs that contributed to her journey with substance use. Laura discusses the impact of learning disabilities, growing up as a twin under constant comparison, and how the identity of "not being smart enough" took root.Now a parent and trauma-informed clinician, Laura reframes these early experiences not through blame, but through the lens of understanding impact and breaking generational cycles. She explains the crucial difference between responsibility and blame in family systems, and how acknowledging unmet needs is a powerful step toward healing for those struggling with addiction and their families.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Dr. Jeffrey Katzman, Director of the Academy for Research and Education at Silver Hill Hospital, joins Cross Talk to discuss one of the most pressing yet stigmatized issues of our time: the loneliness epidemic. He reveals startling data, including that loneliness is as deadly as smoking 14 cigarettes a day and contributes to a death every three minutes. Dr. Katzman explains how this crisis is deeply intertwined with addiction, mental health, and our over-reliance on digital "connection."Drawing from his unique background in improvisational theater, Dr. Katzman challenges the manualized, checkbox approach to modern psychotherapy. He argues that the true healing power lies in the spontaneous, empathetic connection between therapist and client—a principle he calls "the common factors." This conversation explores practical solutions, from the grassroots success of "Andy's Man Club" in the UK to the simple, profound power of saying hello to a stranger.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Wendy, a licensed therapist, international speaker, and author, shares her profound 28-year recovery journey that began with a desperate look in the Yellow Pages. She recounts her early life as "Wild Wendy," her codependent family dynamic, and a marriage based on the wrong values. Wendy opens up about the moment her drinking became undeniable in front of her children and the immediate surrender that followed when she walked into her first AA meeting.This episode delves deep into the real work of recovery that goes beyond abstinence. Wendy discusses how the coin inscribed "To Thine Own Self Be True" became her guidepost, leading her to therapy, Al-Anon, ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics), and ultimately to earning her MSW and building a new life. She explains her "Happiness Recovery System," the importance of healing the entire family, and offers crucial advice on setting boundaries, saying "no," and why caring less about what others think is the ultimate freedom.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Kenny Lansing shares his journey from a successful Wall Street career to a devastating addiction that required five separate rehab attempts. He describes his early days as the "mayor" of the party, the car crash that failed to be a wake-up call, and how losing his job unleashed a two-month spiral that shocked his family. Kenny details the cycle of failed treatments, the lies that piled up, and his physical dependence on prescription drugs.This episode powerfully illustrates how addiction is a family disease. Kenny recounts the pivotal moment his mother, against the wishes of the rest of the family, sent him to Caron Treatment Centers. He shares the transformative impact of Caron's family program, which led to a profound reconciliation with his father, and the simple, surrendered prayer on the drive there that finally changed everything. Now a long-term employee at Caron, Kenny discusses the gift of helping others and the core lesson he learned: asking for help is the ultimate strength.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

April shares her powerful and raw journey into recovery, which began at 61 years old after a successful career and a life that looked put-together from the outside. She opens up about the insidious nature of her "high-functioning" addiction, describing it as a disease that constantly told her she didn't have one. April details the devastating consequences, including damaging her relationship with her son and destroying the career she loved, and her initial, furtive attempts to seek help by secretly attending AA meetings.This episode delves into the unique stigma faced by women with addiction and April's passionate plea for it to become as openly discussed as mental health. She describes the life-changing gifts of her recovery, from the profound relief of waking up without shame to the power of her "entourage"—a support system including rehab alumni, AA groups, and a phenomenal sponsor. April’s story is a testament to the idea that it's never too late to start rebuilding, learning to take care of oneself, and finding a new family in the recovery community.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

In this powerful episode of the Cross Talk Podcast, we sit down with Richard and John, two men with profound recovery journeys. Richard shares his harrowing path from smoking pot at 12 and shooting heroin as a teenager to finding a moment of clarity that led to 43.5 years of continuous sobriety. He opens up about the "gift of desperation," losing nine of his thirteen childhood friends, and how he moved from blaming his parents to taking full responsibility for his life. John offers a deep look into the generational trauma and codependency that fueled his addiction, explaining how he learned to be a "chameleon" to survive. Together, they explore the pivotal moments that changed everything, the power of written inventory to overcome resentment, and the life-saving importance of sponsorship and contrary action. This is a raw and honest conversation about hitting bottom, the courage to change, and the ongoing work of building a life you don't need to escape from.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Sean, a successful artist manager from a bicultural and entrepreneurial family, seemed to have it all together. With an MBA and a thriving career in the music industry, he was the picture of a high-achiever. But beneath the surface was a 20-year struggle with addiction, using substances from ecstasy to ketamine as "performance enhancers" to manage crippling anxiety and fit in. He details how his high-functioning facade allowed him to excel professionally while his personal life was controlled by a cycle of substance use, all the way to a dark point where he felt he could no longer control his own life.This episode is a raw look at the moment the illusion shattered. After a visit where his family confronted his behavior, his mother delivered a simple but life-changing directive: "You need to go to AA." Sean shares how that moment of clarity, combined with therapy, AA, and physical fitness, set him on his current path of sobriety. He opens up about the profound importance of trustworthiness and authenticity in his recovery, and how he is now building his career and relationships on a foundation of honesty, free from the secrets that once held him back.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Jesse Money, daughter of rock icon Eddie Money, opens up about the immense pressure of growing up in the shadow of a legend and how that environment fueled a deep struggle with addiction. She shares the raw reality of touring life, the identity crisis of being "Eddie Money's daughter," and how she used alcohol and drugs to embody a rock star persona she thought she needed to be. The conversation delves into the devastating impact of her father's death, which sent her into a spiral of grief where suicidal thoughts and near-fatal overdoses became her reality.This episode is a powerful journey through loss and recovery. Jesse reveals the turning point that led her to sobriety and how she is now channeling her pain into purpose. She talks about transforming voice memos recorded during her darkest moments of addiction into powerful songs, the importance of a strong support system and international Zoom meetings, and her mission to help others by sharing her story. Hear her perform a moving original song, "Legacy," and discover how she is learning to honor her father's memory while finally living for herself.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Mike's life looked successful from the outside—a high-paying job, a family, and a profitable business branch he single-handedly turned around. But beneath the surface was a crippling alcohol addiction that led to a DUI, a lost license, and an employee who acted as his chauffeur. The turning point came in 1978 when his boss delivered a shocking ultimatum: check into rehab in three days or be fired. Mike recounts the immense stigma of being labeled an alcoholic in the 1970s and his initial belief that rehab would "teach him how to drink."This episode is a profound journey into the moment of surrender. Mike shares a powerful, spiritual experience in rehab where he heard a voice call his name, an event that changed the trajectory of his life. He opens up about missing Christmas to get sober, the challenge of early AA meetings in a small town, and the decades of blessings that followed—including a 40-year marriage, a sober fatherhood, and successful entrepreneurship. His story is a raw testament to the idea that sometimes, the best thing that can happen is being forced to face the truth.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Veteran counselor Faust Ruggiero, with over four decades of experience, joins Crosstalk Podcast to dismantle the myths of addiction recovery. He explains why simply removing the substance is just the first step, and why the real work begins with confronting the "undercurrents"—the personality traits and unresolved traumas that fuel addiction. Faust provides a raw look at the challenges of early recovery, the subtle arrogance of both addicts and their families, and the critical importance of not trying to heal alone.Discover a unique therapeutic approach where a psychologist actively coordinates with a client's 12-step sponsor to create a unified front against manipulation and relapse. Faust offers practical advice for those contemplating change, for families navigating the turmoil of a loved one's addiction, and for anyone in recovery who feels stalled. Learn how to move beyond being "dry" and into a life of genuine, sustainable health, and why the 12 steps are not just for addiction, but a powerful program for life itself.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Duran was living the rock star dream. Signed to a label by his early 20s after a youth spent touring in bands, he was on a fast track to success. But when the music stopped, the party didn't. What began as straight-edge pride crumbled into a chaotic addiction to alcohol, pills, and psychedelics, fueled by the high-stakes environment of the music industry and a toxic relationship in the Las Vegas desert.In this raw and emotional interview, Duran recounts his "rock bottom" at a music festival, where a cocktail of vodka, mushrooms, and acid led to a terrifying ego death and a stark realization about the life he was wasting. He opens up about the cringe-worthy drunk texts, the financial ruin, and the moment his childhood best friend intervened, ultimately driving him to rehab. This is a powerful story for anyone who has ever tried to outrun their demons, only to find that everywhere you go, there you are.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Doug Tieman had achieved the American dream: from a humble pig farm in rural Missouri to the President and CEO of Caron Treatment Centers, one of the most renowned rehab facilities in the world. From the outside, he was a successful executive, a dedicated family man, and a pillar of his community. But behind this perfect picture, Doug was living a double life, trapped in a cycle of alcoholism and sex and love addiction that only manifested when he traveled for work.In this raw and revealing interview, Doug shares how his high-powered career inadvertently fueled his addictions, leading to a "divine intervention" in the form of a very public DUI in 2008. He opens up about the immense stigma he faced as a treatment professional needing treatment himself, the difficult conversation with his board of directors, and how he had to choose between his career and his family. Doug's story is a powerful testament to the fact that recovery is possible for anyone, and that sometimes, hitting bottom is the only way to find the top.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Billy G. grew up in a classic Irish family in 1980s South Florida, where he and his siblings were drawn into a high-stakes world of drug smuggling. By his teens, he was running surveillance for a multi-boat operation moving thousands of pounds of marijuana and hashish from Colombia into the state. Living a double life with Porsches and boats, he was a high-functioning criminal until his addiction to being a "garbage head" for any substance led to a dramatic downfall.Facing a prison sentence for grand theft auto and attempted murder of a police officer, Billy's fate was changed by a judge who saw the transformation in his brother and offered the same chance. After getting on his knees in desperation, Billy woke up on March 21st, 1986, with the obsession to use completely lifted. He shares how divine intervention, relentless consistency, and a life of service led him from being an unemployable felon to a Vice President at a major corporation, celebrating 39 years of continuous sobriety.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Tanner Strickland's life was on a celebrated path: a star football recruit for the University of Georgia by age 16, a talented musician, and a young man from a tight-knit South Georgia community. But beneath the surface of this all-American success story, a struggle with addiction was brewing, starting with a prescription for Percocet at 14. Tanner opens up about how the pressure to maintain an image, a devastating injury, and the allure of the rock-and-roll lifestyle led him down a dark path of opiates, cocaine, and eventually a full-blown fentanyl addiction.This episode is a raw journey from the football field to jail cells and treatment centers. Tanner discusses the tragic loss of friends along the way, the moment his secret life exploded onto the front page of every newspaper in the state, and the 2021 arrest that finally forced him to get serious about sobriety. Now with over 18 months clean, he shares the powerful morning routine and spiritual connection that keep him grounded, proving that a life in recovery is far better than the dream he once romanticized.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Mark's life looked good on the outside—a privileged upbringing, a supportive family, and a fit physique. But beneath that pretty picture was a war ship on a path of destruction, fueled by a secret triple threat: a raging eating disorder, severe non-compliance with his Type 1 diabetes, and a deep addiction to drugs and alcohol. From discovering a dangerous weight-loss method as a teen to navigating the punk rock scene and a devastating loss, Mark's story is a raw and honest account of how outward success can mask profound internal struggle.This episode is a powerful journey to the moment everything changed. After a terrifying blackout drive, Mark finally uttered the three words that saved his life: "I need help." Hear about the difficult path of a "dry drunk," the painful relapse, the family intervention that involved a physical struggle over cocaine, and the ultimate surrender that led to genuine recovery. Mark opens up about the mentors who guided him, the mindset shift required to truly change, and the pride he now carries as a sober man and a responsible diabetic.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Louis Essig grew up in an idyllic "white picket fence" community in Columbus, Ohio, with a loving family and every opportunity. He was a D.A.R.E. kid who believed drugs would immediately ruin his life. But a desire to fit in led him to try alcohol and marijuana in high school, and he discovered the "missing piece" that made him feel cool and accepted. What started as weekend partying quickly escalated into a daily habit and a lucrative drug-dealing business that fed his ego and his addiction.This episode traces Louis's devastating spiral from OxyContin to heroin, which he first used while sick and desperate at his fast-food job. He details the heartbreaking dynamic of using drugs with his alcoholic mother, who later died of an overdose. Louis shares the chilling moment when a recovering addict warned him that legal trouble would come, a prophecy that was fulfilled just six months later when he was arrested and faced two felonies, believing his life was over. This is a raw look at how addiction shatters even the most privileged lives.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Louis Essig grew up in an idyllic "white picket fence" community in Columbus, Ohio, with a loving family and every opportunity. He was a D.A.R.E. kid who believed drugs would immediately ruin his life. But a desire to fit in led him to try alcohol and marijuana in high school, and he discovered the "missing piece" that made him feel cool and accepted. What started as weekend partying quickly escalated into a daily habit and a lucrative drug-dealing business that fed his ego and his addiction.This episode traces Louis's devastating spiral from OxyContin to heroin, which he first used while sick and desperate at his fast-food job. He details the heartbreaking dynamic of using drugs with his alcoholic mother, who later died of an overdose. Louis shares the chilling moment when a recovering addict warned him that legal trouble would come, a prophecy that was fulfilled just six months later when he was arrested and faced two felonies, believing his life was over. This is a raw look at how addiction shatters even the most privileged lives.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Adam's story begins with the universal feeling of not quite fitting in. Growing up with a significant age gap between his siblings, he felt he had "big shoes to fill" and struggled with deep-seated insecurity and anger. He found a temporary solution in substances—first marijuana at 14, then alcohol and benzos—which quieted the negative voices in his head and gave him a sense of identity and belonging. This led to a cycle of isolation, academic probation, and hospitalizations throughout college, all while he tried to maintain the facade of a "fun" party persona.This episode is a raw look at the turning point: when his father showed up unannounced at his door, leading to his first attempt at rehab. Adam shares his difficult journey through relapse, the tragic loss of his mother to cancer, and the profound realization that he couldn't manage any substance. He details how finally surrendering to the process—going to a sober living house, listening to professionals, and learning to make his bed—built a foundation for a life he never thought possible. Now a mentor himself, Adam embodies the hope that it's never too late to rebuild and find true, sober joy.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Ben opens up about a childhood marked by love that shifted to neglect when his brother’s illness pulled his family’s attention away. Seeking belonging, he fell into drugs, dropped out of school, and bounced between toxic relationships and chaotic environments. From living in tents to facing court orders and violent partners, his life was ruled by addiction and instability.But everything began to change in 2020 when he entered treatment. Through therapy, recovery programs, and a spiritual awakening, Ben found healing, stability, and peace. Today, he lives with compassion for himself and others, proving that even the darkest past can lead to a bright future.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

In this powerful episode of CrossTalk Podcast, Correy sits down with Eddie, a fellow attorney whose life spiraled into addiction despite his successful career. Eddie opens up about his reliance on Xanax, the devastating impact of bariatric surgery on his substance use, and the night his 8-year-old son found him unconscious. From the ER to rehab, Eddie shares his raw journey through denial, rock bottom, and the hard-fought path to sobriety.Eddie reflects on childhood trauma, his fractured relationship with his father, and how untreated alcoholism masked deeper emotional struggles. He discusses the turning point, realizing that control was an illusion and the recovery principles that saved his life. This is a story of resilience, humility, and the painful yet transformative process of rebuilding from the ground up.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Teresa lived a double life: a successful Wall Street professional by day, a blackout drinker by night. For 30 years, she maintained the illusion of control—until her addiction cost her marriages, dignity, and nearly her life.In this raw episode, Teresa reveals: The hidden signs of her "high-functioning" alcoholism (even her family didn’t know). Why she kept cheating on every partner and how alcohol fueled her self-sabotage. The unconventional bottom that finally made her surrender (without losing her career or home). How grief became her gateway to sobriety after her husband’s tragic deathAccess our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Natalie grew up in an affluent Manhattan family with sober parents, but alcoholism "galloped" through her genes. By 12, her first drink sparked an obsession that led to blackouts, Adderall addiction, and a downward spiral, peeing in pots to avoid her roommate and boarding up windows to hide from daylight.In this raw episode of Cross Talk Podcast, Natalie reveals how hitting rock bottom in a Boca Raton halfway house, after years of failed rehabs and sober livings, finally taught her to surrender. Her story is a testament to the power of letting go, spiritual connection, and finding peace without a single drink.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Heidi’s life spiraled from a "normal" upbringing to stealing from her family, shooting heroin, and surviving homelessness under a bridge. After her father pressed charges, landing her in jail for a year, she hit rock bottom. Then, a miraculous phone call led her to sobriety.In this raw episode of Cross Talk Podcast, Heidi reveals how jail became her turning point, why wilderness bootcamp was worse than prison, and the divine intervention that saved her life. Her story is a testament to resilience, tough love, and the power of second chances.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!

Shai is a musician, creative thinker, and recovery advocate who has lived through the chaos of addiction and emerged with hard-earned wisdom. Raised in Pennsylvania with a unique blend of cultural influences, Shai struggled from a young age with anxiety, self-obsession, and emotional disconnection. His addiction led him to sacrifice his dreams, spiral into legal trouble, and face the darkest parts of himself. Through recovery, accountability, and deep introspection, Shai has rebuilt his life. Today, he uses his voice and experience to break stigma and remind others that healing is always possible.Access our website for the full notes for this episode at crosstalkofficial.comVideo is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSTALKPODCASTS/videos⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow CROSSTALK on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/crosstalkpodcasts/⁠𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We’re so grateful for your support each episode! If you’re enjoying the show, please help us reach others by sharing it with someone who’d love it and leaving a review here!