In this episode of The Chop Shop, Frankie welcomes back Justin and Samantha, a married couple who found each other through Narcotics Anonymous. They dive deep into their shared journey of recovery, highlighting the balance between work, home, and personal growth. Justin and Samantha discuss how they support one another both as individuals and as a couple, attending meetings together and separately to maintain their progress in recovery.

They share the importance of giving back to others while being cautious not to let service overshadow their personal journeys. The couple also recounts the love story that brought them together, emphasizing the role of their higher power and practical expectations in navigating life’s challenges.

From integrating their families to dealing with anxiety and loss, they reflect on gratitude, accountability, and perseverance. Their inspiring story offers hope to listeners, showing how recovery can build not just resilience but also a strong and loving partnership.

In this episode, we welcome Matt B., whose journey is a testament to the power of resilience and hope. Born in Quebec, Canada and adopted by a family in Brooklyn, NY Matt always felt like he didn't fit in, leading to a lifelong struggle for acceptance.

Moving to New Jersey at 16, Matt's quest for identity led him down a path of alcohol and drug addiction. A dental procedure introduced him to painkillers, which fueled years of deceit and addiction. Despite hitting rock bottom and losing his job and marriage, Matt's turning point came with the support of his brother and a 12-step program.

Celebrating 12 years clean and sober, Matt shares his story of overcoming adversity, understanding his own inadequacies and finding a new way to live without the crutch of substances.

Join us as Matt offers hope and insight to those battling addiction.

In this heartfelt episode of The Recovery Circle, we invite you to join us as we delve into the inspiring journey of Mike P.

Growing up as the middle child of three boys, Mike’s childhood was filled with fond memories despite his timid and shy nature. At just 12 years old, Mike discovered a temporary escape from his social anxiety through marijuana and alcohol, marking the beginning of his battle with addiction.

Despite his struggles, Mike managed to graduate high school and showed promise as a two-sport athlete. However, a lack of commitment and self-worth led him to quit baseball, and a broken collarbone ended his football career. This injury also introduced him to the world of opiates, setting him on a dangerous path. After high school, Mike’s life spiraled into partying and substance abuse at the Jersey Shore, fueled by another injury that reignited his addiction to pain medication.

The grip of addiction tightened around Mike’s family, with both his older brother and mother suffering from the same disease. His darkest hour in active addiction came with his arrest, and the looming prospect of jail time spurred him to seek a recovery program. Initially still using, Mike heard a transformative message of hope at meetings that inspired him to envision a better life. With over 17 years of clean time, Mike has weathered some of the toughest storms life has to offer, including the loss of both parents and a painful divorce. Through it all, he leaned on his support network, utilized his recovery program, and deepened his relationship with his Higher Power.

Today, Mike stands as an example of hope and resilience. Surrounded by the love and support of his family and grounded by his relationship with the God of his understanding, Mike has found peace, forgiveness, and grace. He is dedicated to helping others on their recovery journey, sharing his story, and reminding us all of the power of honesty, service, and faith.

Tune in to this episode for an inspiring and uplifting conversation that will leave you with a renewed sense of hope and purpose. 🌟

In this episode, Frankie welcomes back Matt O. to share his journey of recovery. They discuss how gratitude serves as a powerful tool against negative thinking and how Matt integrates it into his daily life. Matt recently got engaged to his longtime girlfriend at the World Convention, a significant milestone in his recovery journey.He reflects on how his recovery process evolved after a relapse and his growing willingness to try new things. The conversation touches on the different ways the disease of addiction can manifest and how a healthy fear of relapse and the potential consequences provides additional strength to his recovery process.Matt shares insights on managing character defects, the importance of taking chances, and how overcoming fear prepares us for future opportunities. He also talks about bonding with his son through baseball and how the differences with his significant other bring balance to his life. With 2.5 years clean, Matt is an active member of a 12-step program, offering hope and inspiration to those still struggling with addiction.

In this episode, Frankie welcomes back Denis B. to discuss the multifaceted journey of his life in recovery. Denis shares the importance of embracing both the highs and lows to truly understand personal growth. He opens up about his rock bottoms, the role of gratitude, and his relationship with his higher power.

The conversation delves into maintaining relationships in recovery, emphasizing the need to prioritize recovery to sustain and respect those connections. Denis also highlights the dangers of complacency and the importance of step work and service in his 12-step program to stay focused and connected with his understanding of God.

Despite recent changes in his life, Denis continues to work a rigorous program, adapting to new meetings and remaining flexible to change. This episode offers valuable insights and inspiration for anyone on the path to recovery.

In this episode of The Recovery Circle we sit with Jesse C., who's journey from a turbulent childhood to recovery is both heart-wrenching and inspiring.

Born in Delaware to parents who struggled with addiction, Jesse's early life was marked by instability. Starting to smoke weed and drink at just 11, Jesse's substance use escalated to heroin by 16, and his life spiraled into chaos with jail and constant trouble with authorities.

Despite frequent stints in treatment, a significant turning point came when his brother introduced him to Narcotics Anonymous while he was imprisoned. Even after his brother's tragic passing, Jesse's story is one of hope; he now has over 2.5 years of sobriety and has found purpose and stability, including a career as a tattoo artist.

Jesse's story is a testament to resilience and recovery, offering hope and guidance to those still struggling with addiction.

In this episode, we welcome Rob K., who shares his personal story of addiction and recovery. Born and raised in Edison, NJ, Rob was adopted at birth and grew up in a loving home. As an only child, he often found himself in trouble, earning the title of class clown. Tragically, he experienced the loss of several people at a young age.

Rob's journey into addiction began in high school when he first smoked weed. This led to selling drugs and engaging in criminal activities. Despite being sent to an outdoor program for troubled youth, Rob's path continued to spiral downward. In his senior year, he discovered heroin, leading to a cycle of detoxes, rehabs, and institutions.

Eventually, Rob reached a breaking point and decided to turn his life around. He is now an active member of a 12-step program and has been clean for 2.5 years. Rob shares how recovery has transformed his life, offering hope and inspiration to those still struggling with addiction.

In this episode, we sit down with Joe O, a resilient individual originally from Patterson, NJ. Joe's early life was marked by instability, moving frequently due to his family's struggles. His father, an alcoholic, separated from Joe's mother early on, leading Joe to live with his father. Seeking comfort, Joe began using substances at the tender age of 8 and was regularly smoking weed by 11.

Joe's journey took a darker turn when he dropped out of high school as a junior and started working for a company that encouraged his substance abuse. It was here that Joe discovered harder drugs like cocaine and crack. Despite getting married and having two children, Joe's addiction strained his marriage, leading to multiple stints in rehab and an eventual divorce.

The turning point came when Joe finally surrendered to his disease and found hope in a 12-step program. Embracing open-mindedness and taking suggestions for the first time, Joe's life began to transform. He returned to school, earning a Master's degree, and met a woman in recovery who is now his happily married partner.

Today, Joe celebrates 21 years of being clean and sober. He remains an active member of his recovery program, sponsoring other addicts and carrying the message that changed his life.