In this moving episode of Finding New Waters, B. Reeves and Justin McClendon sit down with Gregg Champion—entrepreneur, recovery advocate, and co-founder of Startup Recovery—to talk about his 30-year journey in sobriety and the devastating California wildfires that destroyed his home, schools, and 70% of his business in a single day.

Gregg shares how recovery equipped him to respond with clarity, prioritize family and clients, and rally his community during an unthinkable disaster. He opens up about the creation of Startup Recovery, his belief that we should “shift addiction to passion,” and why he rejects the idea of “get well jobs” in favor of pursuing purpose from the start.

From Hollywood to entrepreneurship to building sober living communities, Gregg’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and faith in humanity—restored in the aftermath of tragedy.

📍 Learn more about Startup Recovery:

• Website: https://www.startuprecovery.com

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greggchampion

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greggchampion

00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Gregg Champion

02:00 – The story behind Gregg’s “Live Like Braun” hat

05:00 – Discovering his “it factor” and the second definition of Champion

07:00 – Sobriety, entrepreneurship, and founding Startup Recovery

10:00 – Rejecting the “get well job” and choosing passion

13:00 – The January 7th fires: losing his home, business, and schools

17:00 – Keeping kids together to reduce trauma

20:00 – Rebuilding Startup Recovery in Santa Monica

23:00 – Addiction, divorce, and the fallout after disaster

27:00 – Faith restored: strangers’ generosity after the fire

30:00 – Gratitude, perspective, and resilience in real time

35:00 – Startup 2.0 and what’s next

40:00 – How to connect with Gregg Champion

Gregg Champion

Co-Founder, Startup Recovery | Recovery Advocate | Entrepreneur

Gregg Champion has been sober for 30 years and is the co-founder of Startup Recovery, a unique program in Southern California combining mentorship, entrepreneurship, and clinical treatment. With a background in film, branding, and teaching entrepreneurship at USC, Gregg integrates his passion for innovation with his commitment to recovery. His mission is to help people “shift addiction to passion” and live with purpose.

🌐 Startup Recovery

• Startup Recovery: https://www.startuprecovery.com

• Startup Wellness: https://www.startupwellness.com

• Startup Apartments: https://www.startupapartments.com

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc

• Podcast Website: https://www.findingnewwaters.com

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw

• YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn

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