The 1% in Recovery Successful Gamblers & Alcoholics Stopping Addiction

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The phrase “expect a miracle” can sound like a platitude—until it becomes the lifeline that pulls you out of a bottle. We sit down with Michael, 34 years in Recovery, to trace a path that runs from Houston meeting rooms to international flights, heavy-drinking business dinners, and quiet moments of prayer that kept him grounded. He shares how the Twelve Steps brought him to a deeper faith, why the fifth step unlocked the real reason he drank, and how the tenth step helps him catch fear before it derails his day.

This story isn’t abstinence wrapped in willpower. It’s a playbook for surviving and thriving in cultures where alcohol is the default—corporate lunches, client events, and long-haul flights where drinks flow. Michael walks through practical sobriety tactics that work anywhere: keep a nonalcoholic drink in hand, check in with recovery peers before and after travel, and find a local meeting to anchor the week. He also opens up about learning powerlessness by painting water in watercolor—an unlikely practice that mirrors the humility and patience recovery demands.

Along the way we dig into the core tension many feel at the start: wrestling with the God-language in the program. A chance meeting with a priest who introduced himself as an alcoholic gave Michael the mustard-seed permission to move forward. From there, faith grew into a daily habit that reframed everything: fear sits beneath selfishness, dishonesty, and resentment, and love—lived through service and step work—is the antidote. Whether you’re a newcomer, a traveler, or a professional in a drinking-heavy industry, you’ll leave with simple tools and a fuller sense of what long-term recovery can look like.

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Sports betting didn’t just get bigger; it got faster, simpler, and stickier. We dig into how “responsible gambling” became the industry’s soft sell while the real engine—microbetting, live props, and algorithmic nudges—pushes users toward rapid, compulsive loops. Our guest shares why he walked away from a sportsbook-backed media role and how the game changed once wagers moved from the window to the phone, from a weekend bet to constant yes or no clicks designed to escalate.

We get real about who’s most at risk: 18 to 24-year-olds with competitive fire, athletes who think their game IQ protects them, and families that unknowingly normalize “small” parlays. The warning is clear and actionable—delete the apps, avoid the group chats that make betting feel normal, and redirect that energy into training, study, and long-term investing that compounds rather than consumes. Along the way, we unpack the broader wellness bill: sleep erosion, worse food choices, hijacked attention, and a nervous system stuck on high alert. This isn’t only a money problem; it’s mental, emotional, and physiological.

We also challenge false comfort from league policies and integrity talk. Trimming limits on a few markets won’t fix a product built for speed and repetition. What moves the needle is early prevention, honest education in schools and gyms, and accessible support that isn’t steered by industry partnerships. If states collect treatment dollars, people should be able to use them—yet access stays hard while advertising stays easy. We argue for a public health approach that puts player protection and prevention first and offers clear alternatives that build wealth and well-being over time.

If this resonates, share it with someone who needs a straight answer about betting apps. Subscribe for more candid conversations on recovery, prevention, and performance—and leave a review to help others find the show.
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A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks
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A five-dollar wager in middle school. A winning ticket decades later that still didn’t fix the ache. We follow a gambler’s arc from the 1978 Cotton Bowl to a final MLB bet and the moment everything shifted—not with a jackpot, but with humility, faith, and work. Along the way, we unpack the psychology that locks people into chasing the first high, why memory and emotion fuse so tightly around that “big win,” and how the brain’s love of uncertainty can hijack a life.

We get honest about what actually helps at the start. Not lectures. Not quick fixes. Presence. Someone who will sit with you in the mess long enough for shame to soften, so action can begin. From there, we dig into practical tools: natural dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin from movement, rest, connection, and service; a simple daily scorecard, Recovery Growth Scorecard, that turns hope into measurable progress; and character-based steps that rebuild trust with yourself and others. If you’ve tried to explain your behavior to family and been met with anger, judgement or disbelief, you’ll recognize the relief of being understood without excuses.

Then we torch the “win it back” story with numbers. Lottery odds sit at 1 in 292 million while lightning odds tower above them. Waiting for a financial miracle is a stall, not a plan. The exit ramp is craft over chance—using your ideas to create income, using your heart to build love, and using routine to create peace. We also share a spiritual moment in Fatima that opened the door to asking for help back home, and how faith and effort can work together no matter your belief system.

If you’re perched on the edge of change, this conversation offers clarity and a starting line: track one small habit, call one safe person, and let compounding beat craving. Subscribe for more recovery stories and tools, share this with someone who needs a nudge, and leave a review to help others find their way here.
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A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks
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Dry January can be a powerful reset or a frustrating loop of white-knuckling, and the difference comes down to planning, identity, and support. We dig into why time-limited abstinence often collapses on day 31, how urges surge in the first month, and what it takes to swap shaky willpower for steady routines. From brain chemistry to belief systems, we map the gap between “I should stop” and “I don’t drink,” and lay out simple, realistic steps that make the next craving less likely to win.

We start by grounding in core recovery values: work hard, love unconditionally, and remember that you can’t outthink an emotional issue. Then we get practical. You’ll hear how to feed your brain healthy dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin with exercise, breathwork, hydration, sleep, sunlight, connection, and purposeful distractions. We walk through quick tactics for the messy moments—changing your environment, screening social invites, and using a short list of pattern breakers when a craving hits. You’ll also learn why daily mantras, a visible calendar, and morning commitments reduce decision fatigue and keep your goals front and center.

We challenge the “just one beer” myth and name the hidden costs of alcohol on brain health, skin, organs, and cancer risk. Instead of debating labels or allergies, we focus on framing that protects your goal: clear boundaries tied to your values. For support, we spotlight low-cost 12-step rooms, accountability partners, and coaching or courses that sharpen self-awareness and character traits like honesty, discipline, courage, and perseverance. The aim isn’t perfection—it’s momentum, recovery after stumbles, and building an identity that makes alcohol irrelevant.

If you’re ready to turn Dry January into durable change, this conversation gives you the plan, the language, and the tools to start today. Subscribe for more recovery strategies, share this episode with someone who needs a nudge, and leave a review with the one habit you’ll commit to this week.
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A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks
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Ever been told to “just have one” or “pray more” when you’re fighting for your sobriety? We dig into the real-world tension between recovery and culture, especially in Latino families where machismo, jokes, and tradition can make saying no feel like a rebellion. Jaime joins us fresh off a big Texans win to share a much bigger victory: how men’s groups, clear boundaries, and a grounded faith transformed his life from hourly cravings to steady presence.

We get practical fast. You’ll hear how to build natural dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, and oxytocin into your day with movement, sunlight, dance, fellowship, and service—and why tracking these habits helps your brain relearn joy. We walk through scripts for family gatherings, the value of an exit plan, and the power of a phone list when pressure spikes. Jaime’s story of finding a daily outdoor meeting during COVID shows how vulnerability and accountability—done with warmth, not shame—can rebuild trust, confidence, and connection at speed.

This conversation is for anyone who’s felt misunderstood by family, mocked by old friends, or stuck between love for culture and love for life. We talk about shifting from entitlement to alignment, from “I earned this” to “I choose this,” and from surviving the day to inhabiting it. Faith becomes a compass, not a performance; presence becomes the metric, not perfection. You’ll leave with tools you can use tonight and a vision of sobriety that makes room for joy, music, and genuine belonging.

If this helped, follow the show, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a quick review to help others find their footing. Your story might be the bridge someone else needs.
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Your EQ is Your IQ
YouTube - Life Is Wonderful Hugo V

Recovery Freedom Circle
The System That Understands Recovery, Builds Character and Helps People Have Better Relationships.
A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks
www.lifeiswonderful.love

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