Recoverycast: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Stories

74 Episodes

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Lauren Gaffney | Heroin, Crack Use, & State Prison to Recovery Advocate

2026-09-2349:54

Lauren Gaffney shares her 12-year journey overcoming opiate, heroin, and crack dependency, surviving state prison, and finding freedom in recovery. Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/ Lauren joins Brittani and Sam on Recoverycast to discuss her transition from a typical suburban childhood to a harrowing battle with substance use. She opens up about the traumatic driveway incident with a former partner that accelerated her use of OxyContin and event...

Alkhuzama “AZ” Zaini | Vodka Dependency, Late-Diagnosed ADHD, & 1-Year Sober

2026-09-1601:12:46

Discover how Alkhuzama "AZ" Zaini transformed her life from severe vodka dependency and college isolation to a joyful, thriving recovery journey. In this powerful episode of Recoverycast, AZ shares her deeply vulnerable story of navigating youth culture, mental health, and the street-level reality of addiction. After moving from Saudi Arabia to the U.S., she faced intense bullying and eventually relied on alcohol to cope with undiagnosed ADHD, anxiety, and PTSD. Her daily vodka dependen...

Jesse Crosson | Cocaine Use, 32-Year Prison Sentence, & Reentry Advocacy

2026-09-0901:08:41

Jesse Crosson's life transformed overnight when a rapid spiral into cocaine addiction and alcohol use resulted in a 32-year state prison sentence at age 18. In this episode of Recoverycast, Jesse shares his journey through substance use disorder, serving 19 years in Virginia state prisons, and receiving a full pardon from the governor. Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/ Jesse reflects on growing up with parents in recovery, emotional detachment in...

Cozz | Overcoming Alcoholism, Grief, & Dreamville Success

2026-09-0250:45

Dreamville rapper Cozz opens up about severe alcohol dependency, losing his close friend, and finding healing through cold-turkey sobriety. In this vulnerable episode of Recoverycast, South Central LA native Cozz joins host Brittani Baynard to reflect on his journey through the music industry, childhood trauma, and overcoming heavy drinking. Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/ Signed to J. Cole’s Dreamville label at age 20, Cozz quickly found himse...

AJ Banuelos | From Azusa Gangs & Opiates to 12-Step Sobriety & End Overdose

2026-08-2656:21

In this powerful episode of Recoverycast, AJ Banuelos shares his journey from generational gang life, prison, and severe meth and heroin use to becoming a frontline recovery advocate. Overcoming years of trauma, near-death overdoses, and cycles of incarceration, AJ transformed his pain into purpose as Director of Community Engagement and Training at End Overdose. Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/ Learn more about End Overdose: https://endoverdose...

#box-pro-ellipsis-179024344069333{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}Recoverycast: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Stories

Recoverycast: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Stories