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Before addiction took over his life, Brandon was a police officer who worked in narcotics. Nicole survived homelessness, two near-death experiences and a prison sentence tied to stolen Elvis Presley memorabilia.

On this episode of Never Alone Live, Nicole Victorious and her husband Brandon join John and Krista to share how they found recovery, met and built a life together rooted in their Christian faith.

They discuss making amends, rebuilding trust, their experiences with AA and faith-based recovery, and starting a treatment program that serves people for free. They also share their personal perspectives on identity in recovery and what it means to live the principles they learned.

Watch their full conversation and tell us: What helped you believe you could start over?

#AddictionRecovery #RecoveryStory #FaithBasedRecovery #ChristianRecovery #NicoleVictorious #Sobriety #SoberLife #RecoveryJourney #LifeAfterAddiction #MakingAmends #SecondChances #RecoveryCommunity #FaithAndRecovery #OvercomingAddiction #PrisonRecovery #RecoverySupport #MarriageInRecovery #PersonalTestimony #NeverAloneLive #NeverAloneRecovery

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What actually happens in the brain during addiction, and what changes when someone enters recovery?

Dr. Nicole Labor joins Never Alone Live to break down the science of addiction in a way anyone can understand.

A board-certified physician in addiction medicine and family medicine, author, educator and person in long-term recovery, Dr. Labor explains how repeated substance use creates powerful learned pathways in the brain and why recovery requires building new ones.

Using her “highway” analogy, she explains why old patterns can feel so much easier to return to, how new coping skills become stronger with practice, and why recovery is about much more than simply stopping substance use.

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Cassie Wood joins Never Alone Live for an important conversation about addiction, motherhood, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), peer support and the stigma that can keep people from asking for help.

Cassie shares her own experience using substances during pregnancy and the shame she carried afterward. Today, she works in peer recovery support and is helping expand support for mothers who have lived through similar experiences.

The conversation explores MAT and opioid use disorder during pregnancy, maternal peer support, harm reduction, sober living, stigma and why recovery does not look the same for everyone.

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Justyn from The Healing Project joins Never Alone Live to share the story of addiction, incarceration, faith and recovery that completely changed the direction of his life.

After years of substance use, broken relationships and repeated consequences, Justyn found himself alone in a jail cell with seemingly no one left in his corner. In that isolation, he picked up a Bible and prayed, “God, if you’re real, if you’re here with me… I need you to show me that you’re real.”

That moment became part of a much bigger journey.

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What does harm reduction really look like?

Join us as we welcome Nathan "Narcan Nate" Smiddy, a harm reduction advocate who has spent nearly eight years providing naloxone training, overdose prevention, and life-saving resources to people affected by substance use. After overcoming his own past with addiction, Nathan dedicated his life to meeting people where they are and helping communities access the support they need.

We'll discuss harm reduction, naloxone, overdose prevention, recovery, and what it's like working on the front lines every day.

Bring your questions and join the conversation.

#narcan #harmreduction #naloxone #addiction #addictionrecovery #sober #recovery

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How does someone survive 29 overdoses, battle addiction, experience homelessness and incarceration... then go on to become a psychologist, therapist, and nationally recognized recovery expert?

Join us for a conversation as Roxxanne shares the moments that nearly ended her life, what finally changed everything, and what she's learned helping others find recovery.

Whether you're in recovery, love someone who is, or just need a reminder that change is possible, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

👇 Drop your questions for Dr. Roxxanne in the comments, we'll answer as many as we can live!

#NeverAlone #Recovery #MentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #Psychology

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Brandon from The Comeback Series shares his journey from years of addiction, hopelessness and feeling completely trapped to finding recovery, faith and a life centered around helping others. In this episode of Never Alone Live, he opens up about what finally changed, why willingness mattered, and what life looks like on the other side.

#AddictionRecovery #RecoveryStory #Sobriety #SoberLife #Addiction #RecoveryIsPossible #MentalHealth #12StepRecovery #ComebackStory #NeverAloneLive

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What can a cage fighter, street enforcer, and one of the first children prescribed Ritalin teach us about purpose?

In this episode of Never Alone Live, Michael VanBeek shares his extraordinary journey from childhood struggles and addiction to discovering purpose beyond recovery.

Michael opens up about being one of the first children prescribed Ritalin in Cook County, how martial arts became his refuge, fighting professionally, collecting money for the mob, surviving years on the streets of Chicago, losing everything to addiction, and the moment he realized that sobriety wasn't the destination—it was the beginning.

He also shares powerful insights on confidence, purpose, habit-building, self-protection, and why God's purpose isn't simply for us to get sober—but why His purpose requires us to be sober.

Whether you're in recovery, searching for purpose, rebuilding your life, or supporting someone you love, Michael's story is a powerful reminder that your past does not define your future.

👇 Join our FREE weekly online recovery meeting:
https://neveralonerecovery.com/events/


If this episode encouraged you, please LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to help us reach more people.

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