Recovery Matters! Podcast

Connecticut Community For Addiction Recovery (CCAR)
  • 4.9 (18)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A podcast from one of the nation's original Recovery Community Organizations - CCAR. CCAR envisions a world where the power, hope, and healing of Recovery from addiction is thoroughly understood and embraced. We invite guests from all areas of the Recovery Movement to explore the concept of recovery with us, share their stories, and have real discussions that move us toward that world which we envision.

  1. 3D AGO

    “If It Kept Working… I’d Still Be Using” | From Addiction to PhD

    Margaret Lloyd Seger shares her recovery story—getting sober at just 25 years old and transforming her life into one of purpose, research, and impact. From early struggles with alcohol and Adderall to becoming a PhD researcher studying addiction and pregnancy, her journey highlights the reality of addiction, the difficulty of early recovery, and the hope that keeps people going. This conversation dives into: What early addiction really looks like The hardest parts of early recovery How recovery can rebuild a life The truth about substance use during pregnancy Why people deserve recovery—no matter what Recovery is possible. And it starts one day at a time.0:00 – Margaret introduces herself (15 years in recovery) 1:05 – “I had a great childhood… still became an alcoholic” 1:40 – First exposure to drinking & drugs 2:27 – Early red flags: “I only wanted to drink to get drunk” 3:00 – Why addiction is hard to see when you’re in it 4:00 – Loss + addiction getting worse 5:00 – The moment it finally clicked 5:25 – First recovery meeting at 25 6:10 – “Drugs and alcohol stopped working” 7:30 – Early recovery was the hardest thing she’s ever done 8:00 – 10 days sober… nervous system completely shot 9:15 – Surviving early recovery (meetings + “hope shots”) 10:45 – Rebuilding life in recovery 13:30 – Working with kids affected by addiction 16:50 – Her focus now: pregnancy & addiction 20:40 – Research + TikTok education 22:10 – Cannabis use during pregnancy 24:45 – The risks most people don’t realize 28:50 – Advice for someone in their first 24 hours ----Across the Web---- 🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us ✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/ 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1wGUMMO... 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recoverymatterspodcast? 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recoverymatterspodcast/ 🗣CCAR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCAR4Recovery 📸CCAR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccar4recovery 🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery

    30 min

  2. MAR 17

    Grieving My Brother While He Was Still Alive | A Sister’s Perspective

    Christina didn’t just watch addiction from the outside—she lived it as a sister, trying to make sense of behaviors that didn’t add up, while the rest of her family struggled to even acknowledge what was happening. In this episode, she shares the quiet warning signs she first noticed, the isolation of carrying that awareness alone, and the emotional rollercoaster of loving someone through years of opioid addiction, relapse, and loss. But this isn’t just a story about grief—it’s about what came after. After losing her brother, Christina turned pain into purpose, building a new model inside schools that focuses on connection over punishment—giving students support instead of isolation. This conversation is for anyone who has loved someone through addiction… and wondered what more could have been done.00:00 – Intro & Christina’s story01:00 – Early signs of addiction03:30 – Denial, isolation, and confusion07:30 – From pills to heroin10:00 – Rehab, relapse, and reality13:00 – Loving someone through addiction16:45 – Loss and grief17:30 – Turning pain into purpose19:00 – Changing how schools handle addiction23:00 – Supporting teens before it’s too late27:00 – Why every school needs this model30:00 – Advice for early recovery31:30 – Closing thoughts ----Across the Web---- 🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us ✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/ 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1wGUMMO... 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recoverymatterspodcast? 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recoverymatterspodcast/ 🗣CCAR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCAR4Recovery 📸CCAR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccar4recovery 🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery

    32 min

  3. MAR 3

    I Honestly Hate Being Sober” – A Gen Z Recovery Story

    Gio doesn’t sugarcoat it. “I honestly hate it.” In this raw and honest conversation, Gio opens up about what it’s really like being a young person in early recovery — watching friends party in their late twenties while choosing to stay sober. From COVID day drinking to waking up shaking at 7am… from checking into detox alone to walking back into recovery after a relapse… this episode captures the uncomfortable, necessary truth about getting sober young. Gio talks about: Growing up with two alcoholic parents Realizing AA wasn’t the right pathway — and feeling shame about it The relapse that brought them back Why connection at a Recovery Community Center became their “saving grace” And how hope now looks like helping others This is an honest look at early recovery — not polished, not perfect — just real. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to choose sobriety when everyone else is “having fun,” this episode is for you. ----Across the Web---- 🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us ✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/ 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1wGUMMO... 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recoverymatterspodcast? 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recoverymatterspodcast/ 🗣CCAR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCAR4Recovery 📸CCAR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccar4recovery 🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery

    30 min

  4. FEB 17

    She Got Sober at 18… Then Her Son Became Addicted

    She got sober at 18 years old after a suicide attempt — convinced she had “lost her zest for life.” What followed wasn’t just long-term recovery… it was growing up in it. In this powerful episode of Recovery Matters Podcast, Wendy shares what it was like to build a life from nothing — 90 meetings in 90 days, cleaning houses, becoming a stockbroker, raising three children, losing everything financially, and refusing to pick up a drink through it all. But the real test came years later — when her own son became trapped in addiction. How do you stay grateful for your recovery when the same disease is killing your child? How do you set boundaries when every instinct says “save him”? And what does it look like to let go… without giving up? This is a story about resilience, tough love, motherhood, and the kind of faith that only comes from surviving the unthinkable. If you’ve ever wondered whether recovery can survive divorce, financial collapse, shame, or watching your child struggle — this episode is proof that it can.   ----Across the Web---- 🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us ✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/ 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1wGUMMO... 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recoverymatterspodcast? 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recoverymatterspodcast/ 🗣CCAR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCAR4Recovery 📸CCAR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccar4recovery 🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery

    38 min

  5. FEB 3

    He Was Sober on Weekdays — Drunk on Weekends

    What starts as a simple cup of coffee turns into a life-saving turning point. In this episode of the Recovery Patterns Podcast, Kris Robles shares how getting sober at just 18 years old set him on a path filled with relapse, honesty, homelessness, healing, and ultimately long-term recovery. Kris opens up about using substances to feel connected, surviving a suicide attempt, learning how to live without secrets, and discovering that recovery is bigger than meetings—it’s about relationships, balance, and staying honest with yourself. This is a raw conversation about growing up in recovery, redefining success, and learning how to live a full life without drugs or alcohol. 00:00 – Introduction & Recovery Dates 01:00 – The Mirror Moment That Sparked Change 02:30 – “Just Coffee” and the First Meeting 04:00 – Getting Sober at a Young Age 05:00 – Using Substances to Feel Connected 06:00 – Relapsing in Secret While Going to Meetings 08:45 – Suicide Attempt & Hospitalization 10:45 – Choosing Honesty in Recovery 11:45 – Homelessness & Starting Over at 21 13:45 – Finishing School & Building Stability 15:00 – Codependency & Unhealthy Relationships 17:30 – Learning What Healthy Relationships Look Like 20:30 – Recovery, Family, and Parenting 23:30 – Letting Go of Guilt Around Meetings 26:00 – Finding Community in a New Place 28:00 – Becoming a Social Worker 30:30 – Working in Behavioral Health & Substance Use 31:45 – Losing a Friend to Overdose 32:45 – Speaking Openly About Recovery 33:20 – Advice for Someone in Their First 24 Hours ----Across the Web---- 🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us ✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/ 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1wGUMMO... 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recoverymatterspodcast? 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recoverymatterspodcast/ 🗣CCAR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCAR4Recovery 📸CCAR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccar4recovery 🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery

    35 min

  6. JAN 20

    Recovery Beyond Sobriety: Healing Trauma Through Breathwork

    Michaela shares her powerful recovery journey shaped by trauma, homelessness, substance use, and mental health struggles. After surviving a suicide attempt that became her turning point, she found healing through peer support, holistic practices, and breathwork. Now the Executive Director of Advocacy Unlimited, Michaela reflects on long-term recovery, embodied healing, and helping others reconnect with themselves beyond their circumstances. 00:00 Intro & long-term recovery 01:00 What Advocacy Unlimited does 02:00 Childhood trauma and early substance use 03:00 Pregnancy, getting sober, and pushing everything down 04:45 Relapse, suicide attempt, and rock bottom 05:30 Choosing to live and beginning recovery 06:45 Early recovery and learning adulthood 08:30 Education, identity, and rebuilding life 10:30 Finding purpose through advocacy work 12:00 Discovering holistic and mind-body healing 14:30 Recovery beyond sobriety 16:00 Breathwork and nervous system regulation 19:00 Guided breathwork practice 24:00 How breathwork changed relationships and work 25:00 Advocacy Unlimited programs & resources 28:00 How to get involved / closing ----Across the Web---- 🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us ✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/ 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1wGUMMO... 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recoverymatterspodcast? 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recoverymatterspodcast/ 🗣CCAR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCAR4Recovery 📸CCAR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccar4recovery 🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery

    29 min

  7. JAN 13

    I lost my gratitude. I stopped doing the things that kept me clean — and I relapsed

    Andrew Grazen shares his journey from a seemingly normal childhood into years of addiction, incarceration, and near-death experiences, and how recovery, community, and writing ultimately saved his life. From discovering substances at a young age to overdosing in his car and writing a memoir while incarcerated, Andrew reflects on loss, resilience, and why staying connected—and holding onto hope—can change everything. ----Across the Web---- 🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us ✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/ 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1wGUMMO... 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recoverymatterspodcast? 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recoverymatterspodcast/ 🗣CCAR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCAR4Recovery 📸CCAR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccar4recovery 🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery

    24 min

  8. JAN 6

    Men Don’t Cry

    Raised around biker culture, gangs, and addiction, Dave began using drugs and alcohol at a young age, experienced multiple overdoses, and lived a life surrounded by violence, crime, and loss. After losing both parents, surviving near-death experiences, and reaching a breaking point, Dave made a life-changing decision to seek recovery. In this episode, Dave talks about trauma, addiction, spirituality, accountability, and what it truly means to rewrite your story. Today, he is a tattoo shop owner, mentor, and someone deeply committed to service, recovery, and personal growth. This is a raw, honest conversation about addiction, recovery, faith, and transformation. 00:00 Introduction & Dave’s recovery time 01:00 Growing up around biker culture and gangs 03:00 Early trauma, loss, and first substance use 06:00 First overdose and rehab at 14 09:00 Exposure to heroin and escalation 12:00 Gangs, weapons charges, and self-destruction 15:00 Spiritual breaking point and near-death experience 18:00 Entering treatment with willingness 21:00 Emotional breakthrough in rehab 24:00 Early recovery and rebuilding trust 27:00 Tattooing, service work, and purpose 30:00 Life today in recovery 33:00 Giving back and redefining success ----Across the Web---- 🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us ✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/ 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1wGUMMO... 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recoverymatterspodcast? 🗣Recovery Matters Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recoverymatterspodcast/ 🗣CCAR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCAR4Recovery 📸CCAR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccar4recovery 🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery

    37 min
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4.9
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

A podcast from one of the nation's original Recovery Community Organizations - CCAR. CCAR envisions a world where the power, hope, and healing of Recovery from addiction is thoroughly understood and embraced. We invite guests from all areas of the Recovery Movement to explore the concept of recovery with us, share their stories, and have real discussions that move us toward that world which we envision.

Information

  • Creator
    Connecticut Community For Addiction Recovery (CCAR)
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    214
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 - Recovery Matters Podcast - Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery
  • Show Website
    Recovery Matters! Podcast

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