My Last Relapse: Life in Recovery After Addiction

Nikki grew up in a small town with a mother who struggled with alcoholism and periods of abuse but was also loving and devoted. As a teen, she began using substances like weed, pills, and whippets. At 19, she sought help from a doctor but felt dismissed, and at 21, she entered her first treatment program.Three months later, she met Curtis at an AA/NA club. Both had histories of addiction and legal issues. They married in 2015 and ran several businesses together, including a vape shop, while cycling through sobriety and relapse.After IVF, Nikki gave birth to their son, Cooper, in 2019. Postpartum depression and loneliness led to relapse and several treatment attempts, including a mother-and-child program in California.In 2021, after reaching a breaking point, Nikki committed to long-term sobriety on July 4, shortly after Curtis began his own recovery. She rebuilt her relationship with her now-sober mother and became involved with Story of Self, a values-based narrative therapy program. Today, she focuses on family, recovery, and helping others through her experience.GUESTNikki CallawayNikki is a mother and recovery advocate whose own journey through addiction, motherhood, and healing inspired her to support others facing similar struggles. After overcoming substance use, navigating treatment, and rebuilding family relationships, she now dedicates herself to helping others create positive change and find hope in recovery.Connect with Nikki on LinkedInFollow Story of Self on Instagram @story.ofselfMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.comAbout Harmony Grove Behavioral Health Harmony Grove delivers outpatient addiction and mental health treatment focused on wellness, creativity, and authentic human connection—providing a supportive space for healing that extends beyond traditional clinical care.Harmony Grove’s IOP in Houston, Texas, is more than a program; it’s a lifeline for those ready to take the next step in their recovery. We are ready to meet you where you are and find your unique path to change. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available.  If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.

Richard Galvan began stealing, getting arrested and drinking vodka alone in sixth grade. He snorted and sold his Ritalin, stole his mother’s pills and drank cough syrup. By his early teens, he was selling pills, using meth, and became well known to the police.Born in 1982 in the San Fernando Valley, by 10th grade, he started using heroin and spending time downtown near Skid Row. He was kicked out by both parents, lived with relatives, friends, and on the street, and entered juvenile hall at 16. From ages 17 to 22, he was intentionally homeless with his girlfriend, was arrested multiple times, and continued daily drug use.In 2004, at age 22, he got sober through a Proposition 36 rehab program. While in rehab, he turned himself in to resolve tickets and restitution. He stayed active in AA for 18 years, sponsoring others and speaking in prisons and youth camps.He later opened a sober living home, an outpatient program (Casablanca Outpatient), and a residential detox (Essence Healthcare). After losing money and facing ethical conflicts, he sold the companies and moved to Barcelona, Spain. He wrote The Addict, created his own sobriety program, and has been sober 21 years as of 2026.GUESTRichard GalvanAuthor of The AddictRichard Galvan overcame early alcohol use, heroin addiction, homelessness, and arrests to achieve sobriety at 22 via Prop 36 rehab—now 21 years clean.Former owner of Casablanca Outpatient and Essence Healthcare, he sold due to ethical issues and moved to Barcelona from LA.Today, he promotes his book The Addict, runs a 12-step sobriety program, and advocates recovery through AA, speaking, and social media.Learn more about Richard’s book, The AddictFollow Richard on Instagram @casablancaxsl and TikTok @baby.daddy.manifeMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Judge Katrina Griffith grew up wanting to be a lawyer, encouraged by her mother during arguments with her older brother in "mom's court." As a teenager, she saw the juvenile system affect family members.After college, she entered the University of Houston Law School focusing on juvenile criminal defense. In her 2L year, she joined the juvenile defense clinic. In her final semester, she took Professor Ellen Marrus’ child dependency clinic and shifted to CPS and child welfare law.After graduation, she opened a law firm with her best friend, taking immediate CPS appointments while building the practice. It grew rapidly as she represented both children and parents for balance, working in the field over 20 years. In 2014, Judge Olen Underwood appointed her as the first judge of Harris County's Child Protection Court. She handled 100% CPS cases, where over 80% involved parental substance abuse such as mothers testing positive at birth or weekend drug use leading to neglect. She oversaw removals, placements (prioritizing relatives and siblings), and services like treatment, distinguishing between abstinence and true sobriety to ensure parents had tools for ongoing recovery.In 2025, Governor Abbott appointed her to the Texas Family Protective Services Council to review CPS policies. She openly discusses her family's hereditary addiction history with her 18- and 20-year-old children.GUESTJudge Katrina GriffithHarris County CPS Impact Court JudgeJudge Katrina Griffith is currently the Associate Judge for the CPS Impact Court in Harris County. Prior to becoming an Associate Judge, she was a Family Law Attorney and is the Managing Partner of The Griffith Law Firm PLLC. The Houston based firm focuses on children's rights, family law, STAR family intervention court (drug court) and SOAR (juvenile drug court). She represented clients in divorce cases, child custody matters, modifications/enforcements, adoptions, children's protective services and juvenile law cases.Connect with Judge Griffith on LinkedInMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Born and raised in East Texas, Randy Grimes grew up in church with an older brother and sister and played football and baseball. He attended Baylor University, where he had a strong football career and met his future wife on his first day. They married after his junior year.In 1983, he was drafted in the second round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and moved to Tampa with his wife in a U-Haul. He soon began taking large amounts of opiates from a team drug safe to manage injuries. By 1990, he experienced blackouts during games, including one in Detroit that made him realize his addiction was out of control.He played ten seasons with the Buccaneers before being told after his final 1992 game that his career was over. He returned to Houston in 1993, where he doctor-shopped for drugs, lost work, and nearly lost his family and finances. After failed detox attempts and benzo withdrawal, his family set boundaries and he entered treatment in 2009, achieving sobriety.Six months later, he began working with the NFL Alumni Association to help launch the Player Care Foundation, then founded Pro Athletes in Recovery to support former athletes, first responders, and veterans. He co-authored a book with his wife for family healing, has children and five grandchildren, and remains focused on recovery, family, and helping others.GUESTRandy GrimesRandy Grimes, born in East Texas, excelled in football at Baylor University before being drafted second round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1983, playing 10 years while battling opiate addiction from team-supplied drugs that led to blacked-out games. After being fired in 1992, he retired to Houston, doctor-shopped for years, lost his job, and nearly lost his family until entering treatment in 2009. Now sober, he founded Pro Athletes in Recovery to help former athletes with addiction and mental health.Learn more about Pro Athletes in RecoveryLearn more about the NFL Player Care FoundationConnect with Randy Grimes on LinkedInFollow Randy on Instagram @sobercenter60Matt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Jenifer grew up in a home marked by physical and verbal abuse, which shaped how she viewed trust and relationships. She got pregnant at 18 and had her son, Hunter, at 19, raising him mostly on her own. At 28, she married, but the relationship was unstable and ended in divorce due to her husband’s alcoholism. Jenifer built a 20-year career as a dialysis nurse but battled major depressive disorder.She turned to alcohol to cope, which led to a drunk driving accident that seriously injured another woman. Jenifer was charged with a third-degree felony, lost her license, and used a breathalyzer for over four years. Her drinking strained her relationship with her son, who went to live with her brother.At her lowest point, she attempted suicide by mixing medication and alcohol. Jenifer entered treatment at Covenant Hills, began a 12-step program, and has been sober since April 2, 2016. She rebuilt her life—losing weight, managing cravings with GLP-1 medication, and openly sharing her recovery journey.After 20 years in nursing, she transitioned into business development at Plum Creek Recovery Ranch in 2024. Now single and living with her dog, Jenifer stays active in recovery and uses her story to support others facing addiction and mental health struggles.GUESTJenifer OxfordDirector of Business Development at Plum Creek Recovery RanchJenifer is a former dialysis nurse who now works in business development for a recovery ranch, drawing on her personal journey through addiction, severe depression, and legal troubles to support others seeking sobriety. She is open about her mental health and recovery story, believing in the power of authenticity to help break stigma and inspire hope. Jenifer has been sober since April 2016 and is passionate about giving back to the recovery community.​Learn more about Plum Creek Recovery Ranch in Lockhart, TexasFollow Plum Creek Recovery Ranch on Instagram @plumcreekrecoveryranchFollow Jenifer on Instagram @jeniferopcrrMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Doug experienced abuse in early childhood, and at age 12 when his father left, he spiraled into severe depression, suicidality, and repeated psychiatric hospitalizations. As a teenager, he discovered alcohol and used it to manage his symptoms while earning a master’s degree in social work and working at a suicide hotline, even as hospitalizations and heavy drinking continued.In his mid-30s, after a suicide attempt and abruptly quitting alcohol, Doug was introduced to crack cocaine, triggering years of intense addiction, medical crises, psychiatric admissions, and failed treatment attempts. During this period, he lost his marriage, access to his child, and his freedom, eventually serving nearly six years in Texas prison for robbery-related charges.While incarcerated, Doug found purpose in peer leadership, serving as a sexual-assault-prevention educator, 12-step sponsor, and chapel volunteer. After his release, he experienced relapses but reframed them as part of recovery rather than failure, rebuilding his life, his mental health, and his relationship with his daughters through honesty and accountability.Doug later remarried, adopted his stepdaughter, and built a career training peer specialists and advising states on mental-health, recovery, and justice-system reform. He authored The Path of Rocks and Thorns, blending his personal story with leadership and recovery insights, and continues to speak, train, and return to prisons as a free man to help others find a path forward.GUESTDoug SmithDouglas Smith, MSSW, is a leadership development trainer, certified trauma‑informed coach, and author of The Path of Rocks and Thorns: Leadership Lessons from a Prison Cell. He has over a decade of experience in mental health and justice policy, including roles at the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas Center for Justice and Equity, and as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Doug’s trauma‑informed leadership work is shaped by his master’s in social work, professional coaching training, and his own lived experience with mental illness, addiction, and incarceration.Learn more about Doug’s Book, The Path of Rocks and ThornsConnect with Doug Smith on LinkedInLearn more about D-Degree Coaching & TrainingMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Born in Italy to Russian parents, Dan came to the U.S. as a baby and grew up in a highly driven immigrant community near Princeton, New Jersey. An only child, he was pushed hard to be successful in academics and athletics, with video games becoming an early escape. As a teenager, he turned to marijuana and alcohol, escalating after his mother passed away during his senior year. He headed to college in 2013, where he bounced between fraternities for drug- and alcohol-related issues while throwing himself into lifting and bodybuilding. At a rave, he was introduced to MDMA, soon followed by cocaine, ketamine, and psychedelics. Despite the severe anxiety waves and emotional volatility that followed, he completed a mechanical engineering degree, stayed for a master’s in financial engineering, and moved to New York to work on Wall Street.There he tried to balance long finance hours with heavy drinking, cocaine use, compulsive dating, and intense strength training. As he dove deeper into raves and festivals, he began to refer to himself as an ecstasy “connoisseur.” In 2022, he relocated to Los Angeles for a new job, still using while adding jiu jitsu, running, and competitive bodybuilding. A frightening ketamine episode, a collapsed relationship, and months of white-knuckle abstinence pushed him toward change. Inspired by discipline-focused figures online, in 2024 he found a sponsor in Studio City and began working the 12 steps. After a relapse on MDMA in May 2024, he restarted his sobriety on May 21 and returned to the steps with urgency. He left banking for full-time personal training, completed a full inventory with a new sponsor, and eventually began sponsoring others.In May 2025, he stepped back on the bodybuilding stage sober—this time pairing competition with a life grounded in discipline, service, and the steps.GUESTDan VaysburdDan is a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM) and Nutrition Coach (Precision Nutrition). His strength-based system helps clients achieve success without intense workouts, extreme diets, and expensive supplements. He offers online coaching to anyone worldwide through phone and video conference.Learn more about personal trainer and nutrition coach Dan VaysburdFollow Dan on Instagram @dan.vaysburdMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Seeing him on this podcast for the first time in 13 years, Matt admits to his old friend Austin York that he robbed him during the chaos of their using days in Southern California.Like Matt, Austin got into trouble very young, fighting in school and using drugs at a young age. His parents sent him away several times to try to get him back on track. He bounced around multiple high schools but never graduated, spending most of his teen years in juvenile rehabs like Phoenix House in San Diego and a wilderness camp in Idaho.He was arrested multiple times, including once for battery on a peace officer, which led to alternative sentencing at a wilderness camp. He spent time in solitary confinement in a Utah treatment facility before being sent home when insurance stopped paying.At 16, Austin got sober for the first time and built a strong sober community through Young People’s AA, but then at 18 he relapsed, got fired from his job and lost his chance to graduate high school. After living on the streets and facing violence, he reconciled with sober friends who brought him back to meetings to rebuild his life.In sobriety, he found purpose working in event production for major music festivals like Coachella and Lightning in a Bottle. Today, Austin stays active in recovery and focuses on his business, family, and community, crediting the support and accountability of his sober network for helping him stay on track.GUESTAustin YorkFreelance Project & Site Manager for Live EventsAustin York rebuilt his life after years of addiction, homelessness, and time in juvenile rehab and prison. Today, he works in event production for major music festivals and runs a fishing charter business in Texas with his friend. Austin is dedicated to recovery, family, and helping others find hope and stability after hardship.Connect with Austin on LinkedInMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Victoria ChengTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

After Cynthia was molested in childhood, she used food as a coping mechanism, developing bulimia and extreme body dysmorphia. As a teenager, vaccinations triggered hormonal and immune imbalances, causing mood changes and hives. When she became pregnant as a young adult, it motivated her to stop smoking and make healthier choices. She later married an alcoholic, leading to domestic violence and emotional turmoil. Because of her faith as a Jehovah’s Witness, she stayed in the marriage for years before eventually divorcing.When her son was diagnosed with autism and severe developmental delays, she discovered mold exposure and metal toxicity were key factors. Through years of targeted interventions, he went from being severely delayed to earning A’s and B’s in high school.That journey inspired Cynthia to study functional nutrition and lifestyle medicine. She founded Biomentals to help others uncover the biological roots of mental illness and continues to educate through her podcast, Crazy Gutsy, where she explores how gut health, environment, and mindset shape long-term wellness.GUESTCynthia Pereira, CFNC, FNLPFounder and Director of Biomentals, IncCynthia is a functional nutrition and lifestyle practitioner who helps people uncover the root causes of their physical and emotional health challenges. She specializes in gut health, hormone balance, and detoxification from environmental toxins like mold and heavy metals. Through her practice and podcast “Crazy Gutsy,” she educates others on restoring the body’s natural ability to heal and thrive.Listen to Cynthia’s podcast, Crazy Gutsy by subscribing to her SubstackConnect with Cynthia on LinkedInLearn more about BiomentalsMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Chris grew up in Odessa, Texas, in a home where alcohol and drugs were part of everyday life. At 15, he altered his birth certificate to work in the oil fields. By 19, he was drilling, and by 25, he was running crews—building a successful career.Substance use resulted in four incarcerations, and by his last conviction he faced a potential life sentence. In prison, he began seeking faith and direction but his addiction destroyed his family. When an 86-year-old lawyer offers to take Chris’s case and be paid later, he miraculously gets his sentence reduced to a six‑month state jail deal, which he sees entirely as divine intervention.After he’s released, rather than changing his life he spirals again, overdosing in a hospital bed. This is when he knew it was time to change.In 2009, he committed to sobriety and has stayed clean since 2012, but his tattoos and criminal record made it hard to find a job. He earned his CDL, became a truck driver, and saved more than $70,000. In 2016, he invested in Bitcoin and set about rebuilding his family life.Chris went on to start The Hopper House, a faith-based recovery program, became a pastor, and began speaking in prisons and meetings. Today, he leads a church where people in recovery share their stories and teaches faith and accountability as tools for lasting change.GUESTChris HopperFounder of The Hopper HouseChris Hopper is a pastor, speaker, and founder of The Hopper House, a faith-based recovery community dedicated to helping men rebuild their lives through structure, service, and spiritual growth. After overcoming incarceration and personal loss, he turned his life toward ministry and mentorship, inspiring others with a message of redemption and purpose. Through The Hopper House, Chris continues to guide people toward healing, responsibility, and lasting transformation.Learn more about The Hopper HouseSubscribe to Chris’ YouTube channelMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Kratom is a plant-based substance that’s easy to find in smoke shops, gas stations, and even health food stores. Marketed as a natural remedy for pain, energy, or opioid withdrawal, it’s gained a reputation as a “safe” alternative.But according to Houston addiction medicine specialist Dr. Kamal Shah, that couldn’t be further from the truth.He’s seen firsthand how quickly people can become dependent, from those in long-term recovery to others simply looking for pain relief. What starts as something “natural” often ends with tough withdrawals and a return to addictive patterns. Because kratom isn’t FDA-regulated, there’s no consistency in dosing or purity, adding another layer of risk.Dr. Shah explains how kratom dependency develops fast and why withdrawal feels more like dopamine depletion than a classic opioid detox. He and Matt Handy discuss the growing concern around its easy access—especially for young people—and the misinformation that keeps it under the radar. For anyone in recovery, kratom isn’t a harmless supplement. It’s a slippery slope that can quietly pull people back into addiction.KETV NewsWatch 7, 'Worst thing I've ever been through": Finding out what kratom is and how it's addictiveEric B Zink, Day 3 Withdrawals Red Kratom (Vlogging My Withdrawals)Matt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Growing up in Spring, Texas, Jordan was a standout student and star athlete. Raised in a supportive, yet strict household, he excelled in sports and academics, graduated near the top of his class, and was inducted into his high school’s Hall of Fame for football.While attending Cornell University on a football scholarship, sports injuries shifted his focus from athletics to cocaine, ketamine, and marijuana. After graduation, he moved to Miami for law school and a master’s in sports administration. Cocaine became a daily habit, even as he finished near the top of his class. Moving back home to Texas, he clerked at a law firm but failed the bar exam after hiding out in a hotel room for 3 months to “study,” only to write his name on the test and walk out. Rather than try it again, he went to work in real estate, homebuilding, and briefly for the Houston Texans, but his addiction led to repeated firings.After he got married in 2015 and had a daughter in 2017, his substance use continued. Within a year, Jordan ran a multimillion-dollar homebuilding company into the ground, overdosed multiple times, and pawned his family’s most valuable possessions including his wife’s wedding ring.  In a last ditch effort to start over he moved to a new city, but the cycle of job loss and relapse persisted.In 2020, Jordan entered detox and rehab, relapsed one more time while on campus, then finally achieved lasting sobriety in March. Two years later, he was hired as alumni director at the same facility where he completed treatment and now works in addiction recovery to help others rebuild their lives.GUESTJordan HaseSenior Clinical Liaison - Business Development at Sunshine Behavioral HealthJordan grew up in Spring, Texas, and attended Cornell on a football scholarship before addiction derailed his career. After entering treatment in 2020, he found lasting recovery and purpose. He now serves as Senior Clinical Liaison – Business Development at Sunshine Behavioral Health, helping others access life-changing care.Connect with Jordan on LinkedInLearn more about Sunshine Behavioral HealthMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

At the age of 17, Robert entered treatment for the first time for heroin, painkillers, and Dilaudid addiction. Over the next few years, he cycled through nearly 60 detoxes and programs across the country, spending several years in and out of institutions. At 19, he moved to California for a fresh start—attending trauma therapy, enrolling in college, and playing football at Santa Monica College—until a fractured femur ended his athletic goals and he literally ended up homeless and living on Skid Row. Soon after, his plans to serve in the Texas Army National Guard abruptly ended with a medical discharge for a heart condition.He later moved to Florida, played arena football briefly, and relapsed into pill mills, drug dealing, and toxic relationships, including one that left him homeless after losing his truck, dog, and everything he owned. A severe health crisis landed him in the ICU, where he had to relearn how to walk. When his family finally cut off all financial support, Robert was forced to take full responsibility for his recovery.From there, he began to rebuild. He committed to treatment, fitness, and therapy, became a certified peer and family specialist, and built a career helping others navigate recovery. Along the way, he met his wife and found purpose through faith, structure, and service.Today, Robert is in long-term recovery and continues to advocate for higher standards in addiction treatment, supportive housing, and accountability-based recovery programs.GUESTRobert Braun, LCDC-IOwner/Manager/CEO at Healing House Mens Sober LivingRobert Braun is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Intern (LCDC-I) and serves as Owner, Manager, and CEO at Healing House Mens Sober Living, where he leads with personal experience and dedication to supporting men in recovery. He is also a case manager at Magnolia City Detox in Conroe, Texas.Learn more about Healing House Mens Sober LivingLearn more about Magnolia City DetoxMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Rachel grew up in Louisiana in a family marked by loss. Her older sister died of leukemia at age seven, leaving deep grief that shaped her childhood. At 13, she experienced sexual abuse, and by 21, she lost her mother to untreated hypertension and heart disease—the event that sent her drinking spiraling out of control.She developed depression and anxiety early on, and alcohol quickly became her way to cope. By 25, she was a new mother, married to an alcoholic, and caught in a cycle of domestic violence and codependency. In the hospital with a gallstone, she openly denied her drinking while hiding a bottle of wine in the sheets of her hospital bed. Her drinking escalated, leading to jail time and physical decline—vomiting blood, bruising easily, and losing weight. In 2015, Rachel’s sister helped her get into treatment in Arizona. She left her daughter with family, completed detox and residential care, and moved into sober living. With time and therapy, she found stability, got involved in 12-step recovery, and began working in women’s sober living.In 2018, she opened Journey Way, her own sober living program in Texas. Now ten years sober, Rachel is a mother of two, active in AA, and open about recovery at home.GUESTRachel LiebegottRachel is the founder of Journey Way Sober Living and serves as a Regional Recovery Liaison at a detox center, drawing inspiration from her own journey in long-term recovery. She is dedicated to helping women and families build healthy, hopeful lives, and finds her greatest joy in her faith, family, and serving others.Learn more about Journey Way Sober LivingMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Ted was sent to military school, later joined the Navy, and served during the Gulf War, stationed in Jacksonville and working drug interdiction missions off the coast of Venezuela. During his Navy service, he drank heavily, a habit he continued for years in New Orleans while working in the oil and gas industry, as drinking was embedded in the local social culture.After several failed recovery attempts, Ted got sober in March 2017 and launched Bodine Recovery. The program started with an empty house and no clients for eight months, but through persistence and a focus on structure, fitness, and accountability, it grew into a successful sober living community.In 2018, just two years after losing his mother to cancer, Ted was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Complications from surgery left him with a paralyzed vocal cord and unable to speak for nearly a year. Using a karaoke microphone, he continued running meetings and leading residents until a second surgery restored his voice instantly.Today, Ted leads Bodine Recovery full-time, blending recovery coaching, personal training, and mentorship. He continues to advocate for stronger aftercare systems, especially better case management and supportive housing for people leaving treatment.GUESTTed BroomesTed is the founder and owner of Bodine Recovery Homes in Houston, Texas, where he has been creating supportive sober living environments since 2017. Drawing on his experiences in recovery and the military, Ted is passionate about individualized care and empowering men to rebuild their lives with accountability, community, and personal growth.Connect with Ted on LinkedInLearn more about Bodine Recovery HomesMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Candice grew up surrounded by addiction and loss. Both parents drank heavily, and by 11, she had lost her mom. Her dad died soon after, and by 19, most of her family was gone, including her sister, who was killed in a murder-suicide. She became a single mother at 16, and by 21, she had three kids. After her third child, heroin and painkillers took over her life. She lost custody—her daughters went to live with an aunt, and her son entered the court system—while she lived with dealers and cycled through addiction and pill mills.She eventually entered state-funded treatment at Santa Maria, detoxed off Suboxone, and met her husband there. They later relapsed together, ending up homeless and living under a bridge. After quitting heroin, Candice was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, which her doctor told her was caused by IV heroin use.Determined to rebuild, she fought to regain custody, completed drug testing, and began paying back child support—choosing responsibility even without full reunification. Over time, she turned her experience into purpose, helping open and manage treatment centers and joining The Last Resort to support others in recovery.Now a grandmother with two grandkids, Candice is steady in long-term recovery and present in her family’s lives. GUESTCandice HarrellCandice is a Business Development Representative at The Last Resort, where she brings deep empathy and real-world experience to helping others find their path to recovery. Having overcome her own struggles with addiction and homelessness, she’s turned her past into purpose—connecting individuals and families to treatment with compassion, honesty, and hope. Connect with Candice on LinkedInFollow The Last Resort Recovery on Instagram @last_resort_recoveryMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Brandon grew up in Houston with an abusive, alcoholic father and experienced trauma from sexual abuse at ages eight and 10. By 11, he had his first sip of alcohol, and by seventeen, he was charged with organized crime and began a seven-year prison sentence—learning basic life skills like shaving from other inmates.Over time, he spent a total of fifteen years incarcerated, carrying a street mentality that followed him long after release.On parole, Brandon returned to drugs, relationships, and old habits. His last relapse stripped him of everything—no car, no home, no money, only the clothes on his back. He was using heroin, oxy, and meth while carrying a weapon when someone from AA offered him a chance at recovery. Agreeing to every suggestion, he entered a halfway house and began complete abstinence through the 12 steps.Cut off from family and alone, Brandon rebuilt from nothing. He reconnected with his daughter after more than two decades, built stability, and for the first time in his life, leased his own place, bought a car, and opened a bank account.Now married and in a healthy relationship, Brandon works at Arise Recovery Center and runs sober living homes in Houston and Dallas. He sponsors others, mentors men in recovery, and shows that lasting change is possible, no matter how far gone things seem. GUESTBrandon WhiteBrandon is a dedicated recovery advocate and mentor who has been sober since March 2021, working at the Arise Recovery Center and managing several sober living homes in Texas. His passion for helping others stems from his own transformative journey, and he is known for openly sharing his story to inspire hope. Learn more about Arise Recovery CentersConnect with Brandon on LinkedInMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Karen married young and became a mom at 15. By 17, she had two children, and by 36 she was a grandmother. Her brother’s overdose from Xanax and alcohol at age 19 propelled her toward addiction recovery work, determined to help others find the support he never had.Jill lived in her car in the East Texas heat and humidity, calling treatment centers nonstop after losing her insurance. After more than a year of pestering, she was finally granted a spot in a state-funded facility. Ten years ago, Karen and Jill met while working as peer recovery coaches in East Texas. Both are in long-term recovery, single moms, and grandmothers who built careers helping others.Together, they’ve faced burnout, family strain, and the pressure of being on call around the clock. But through it all, they’ve stayed committed—standing shoulder to shoulder, answering calls, and leading community outreach for Texas Recovery Centers.Learn more about Texas Recovery CentersGUESTSKaren WolfeCommunity Liaison at Texas Recovery CenterKaren Wolfe is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor with over 17 years of experience in behavioral health, currently serving as a Clinical Liaison at Texas Recovery Centers. After losing her brother to an overdose, she dedicated her career to helping individuals and families facing addiction and mental health challenges. Known for her compassionate, knowledgeable approach, Karen is a trusted advocate and resource in the recovery community.Jill SmithBusiness Development Rep at Texas Recovery CenterJill Smith is an outreach team member at Texas Recovery Centers, where she serves the East Texas region and draws on both professional expertise and personal recovery experience. She previously worked as a discharge planner and detox program director for UT Health and serves on the board of her local MHMR center. Jill is committed to improving access to care for individuals seeking recovery support.Matt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

From Jason’s first drink at 17, his life spiraled into addiction, prison, and homelessness. He tried AA, NA, and church, but staying in recovery was tough, and a string of DUIs and prison sentences made things harder.While homeless, Jason describes walking the streets of Pensacola, covering about 20 miles in June heat until his shoes were bloody and had to be discarded upon arrival at a mental hospital, where he collapsed. This grueling walk marked a turning point, leading him to seek help and eventually enter sober living.He moved to Tampa and into a sober living home, where he was met with structure, accountability, and, most importantly, a community that welcomed him. Over time, he began to contribute and became an operator and peer specialist, helping run recovery housing programs across several states.Today, Jason is thriving in long-term recovery. He’s reunited with his family, embraced fatherhood, bought his first home with his wife, and continues to mentor and advocate for peer-led recovery housing, supporting others who face relapse and homelessness.GUESTJason PullinTROHN Director, RecoveryPeopleJason Pullin is an experienced leader and public speaker with a bachelor's degree in Christian Leadership and over 30 years of professional experience. As a person in long-term recovery with an RSPS certification, he has valuable lived experience in recovery housing. Prior to becoming the TROHN Director at RecoveryPeople, Jason served as a regional and corporate training director for a major service provider. He also serves on several advisory boards, including the Clean Cause Foundation.Learn more about RecoveryPeopleMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com

Rune never directly struggled with substance abuse, but grew up surrounded by it and then married into it. His father battled alcoholism and eventually died. Later, his ex-wife also lost her life to addiction after multiple attempts at treatment and time in jail, leaving their two children without a mother. For years, Rune kept his head down and worked quietly in IT to avoid the weight of his own reality. When he finally got divorced, he shifted and slowly stepped into the addiction recovery world. Six years ago he started coaching others through their own grief and trauma, and then expanded to equine therapy as part of the healing process. Because horses respond to the energy people bring into the pen, these powerful moments of self-discovery uncover what remains hidden and find true recovery. GUESTRune ChristensenRune is a certified Conscious Leadership coach who empowers people to lead with purpose and authenticity. Growing up in Denmark, he developed a lifelong bond with horses, which led him to incorporate equine-assisted coaching into his work. Blending various coaching approaches, Rune creates transformative experiences that inspire self-awareness and intentional action.Learn more about Rune and The Circle Up Experience and Conscious Leadership.Follow The Circle Up Experience on Instagram @thecircleupexperienceHarmony Grove Behavioral Health Matt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Voltage FM, Spencer ClarksonTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art:  DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com