Fall From Grace with Tony Bailey

Tony Bailey

Real stories about the falls we don't talk about — and the slow, unglamorous work of rebuilding. Hosted by Tony Bailey. Lived experience of addiction and recovery, late-diagnosed ADHD, public business collapse, and starting over from the ground up — without the bow on top. No coach-speak. No highlight reels. Just honest conversations about loss, truth, and what it actually takes to rebuild a life when everything you thought you were is gone. This is the podcast for the people who've fallen — quietly or publicly — and are figuring out how to keep going anyway. The ones who are sick of polished recovery content. The ones who need someone to say it plainly: it's hard, it's slow, and it's worth it. What you'll hear on the show: Honest conversations about addiction, recovery, and the rooms — both NA and AALate-diagnosed ADHD and what it changed about the story you tell yourselfTrauma, shame, guilt — and the practical work of moving through themPublic failure: bankruptcy, business collapse, professional disgrace, and the long climb backTherapy, counselling, the tools that actually move the needleFamily, the people who stay, and the mums you don't deserveFaith, doubt, surrender, and the days you almost don't get back up About the host Tony Bailey was once a managing director. Then bankrupt. Then banned from the industry. Then broken — and barely speaking to anyone. Now in active recovery and training as a counsellor at Torrens University, he's slowly, honestly, building it all back. This podcast is what he's learning along the way. Connect with the show: Instagram: @fallfromgracewithtony YouTube: www.youtube.com/@fallfromgracepodcast This Week, Honestly (LinkedIn newsletter): www.linkedin.com/newsletters/this-week-honestly-7419178393633570816 New episodes weekly. LOSS • TRUTH • REBUILD

  1. 28 MARS

    When Your Name Becomes A Google Search: Living With A Public Past

    When your name becomes a Google search, your past doesn’t just stay in the past — it follows you. Episode SummaryThis isn’t about what happened. It’s about what it’s like living with it. In this episode, Tony Bailey (also known as Anthony/Tony Doring) shares the day-to-day reality of carrying a public past — where your name, your mistakes, and your history are still searchable. From overthinking first impressions to questioning opportunities and identity, this episode explores the quiet, ongoing psychological impact of being defined by something you’ve already moved beyond. This is a raw look at what rebuilding actually feels like… when your past doesn’t fully stay in the past. Topics Coveredliving with a public past, reputation and identity, rebuilding after failure, shame and self-perception, ADHD and overthinking, personal growth after rock bottom, Tony Bailey Anthony Doring story, mental health and identity Episode Chapters00:00 Welcome Back To The Fall From Grace Podcast 02:28 Why The Past Doesn't Just "Go Away" 02:58 The Day-To-Day Reality Of Being Judged 03:51 Identity Tension & Self-Perception 04:32 How Your Past Affects Your Behaviour 05:09 Taking Your Power Back 05:59 Moving Forward Without Erasing The Past 06:44 The Come Down Key Talking PointsThe difference between a past event and a present realityHow a public past impacts everyday interactionsThe psychological weight of being “searchable”Identity conflict between who you were and who you areHow fear and shame influence behaviourRebuilding confidence through consistency Connect With The PodcastInstagram: @fallfromgracewithtony Email: podcast@thebaileysupport.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 🔔 Follow the show so you don’t miss upcoming episodes Support ResourcesLifeline Australia – 13 11 14 (24/7 support)Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636Alcohol & Drug Foundation – adf.org.au Share Your StoryIf you’ve got a story of rebuilding, recovery, or resilience — I’d love to hear it. Reach out via email or Instagram. Because none of us are doing this alone. #TheComebackIsReal #MentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #ADHD #PersonalGrowth #Identity #SelfWorth #Shame #Resilience #Rebuilding #StartingOver #LifeAfterFailure #SelfTrust #HealingJourney #GrowthMindset #FallFromGrace #Podcast

    8 min
  2. 17 MARS

    When Your Name Becomes A Google Search

    Episode SummaryWhat happens when your professional past becomes a Google search? In this episode of the Fall From Grace Podcast, Tony Bailey explores something rarely spoken about openly in professional life — professional shame. After experiencing a public career collapse, Tony shares how a moment in a job interview revealed a deeper truth about how workplaces treat failure. What started as a routine interview quickly became something else when the hiring manager opened with: “So… we did a bit of a Google search on your name.” From that moment, the conversation stopped being about capability and started becoming about something much heavier — whether someone with a complicated past deserves to be in the room at all. Through three very different professional experiences — one with the Australian Taxation Office, one with a window blinds company, and one with an employment provider — Tony reflects on how organisations respond when confronted with visible failure. For many years, articles about my past were attached to my previous name, Anthony (Tony) Doring. Today I go by Tony Bailey, proudly carrying my mum’s maiden name. That change represents rebuilding, recovery, and reclaiming my story rather than letting headlines define it. Because the truth is simple: The mistake itself often isn’t what breaks people. The shame that follows it is. Topics CoveredProfessional shame, career failure, rebuilding after public mistakes, shame vs guilt, workplace stigma, addiction recovery, identity after failure, resilience, Anthony Doring, Tony Bailey story. Episode Chapters00:00 – The Job Interview That Triggered Professional Shame 02:13 – Shame vs Guilt (The Critical Difference) 03:07 – Three Employers, Three Very Different Reactions 05:45 – Why Workplaces Struggle With Visible Failure 06:49 – The Disclosure Trap After Career Failure 07:41 – The Turning Point: Facing Shame in Recovery 08:51 – Why Rebuilding Requires Support Infrastructure 09:41 – Creating Spaces Where People Can Rebuild 10:22 – The Real Lesson About Professional Shame 11:49 – Outro: Rebuilding After Shame Key Talking Points• The interview moment that exposed how professional shame operates • The difference between guilt (“I made a mistake”) and shame (“I am the mistake”) • What it feels like when your name becomes a Google search result • Three organisations — and three very different responses to the same past • Why many workplaces struggle with visible failure • The disclosure trap people face when their history is public • The turning point that came through addiction recovery • Why rebuilding requires support infrastructure, not just personal resilience Connect With The Podcast📸 Instagram https://instagram.com/fallfromgracewithtony Support ResourcesLifeline (Australia) – 13 11 14 Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 Emergency – Call 000 Share Your StoryHave your own “fall from grace” story and want to share it? 📧 podcast@thebaileysupport.com This episode explores professional shame, career failure, addiction recovery, rebuilding after public mistakes, and reclaiming identity after hitting rock bottom.

    12 min
  3. 4 MARS

    The Long Walk In: My First Week at Quin House (2019)

    Episode Summary What does real recovery actually look like? In this episode, I take you back to 2019 — the year I checked into the 11-bed residential rehab facility known as Quin House. This isn’t just a story about rehab. It’s about the raw reality of letting go of an identity that was no longer serving me. From the daily discipline of running the house — chore lists, grocery runs, and early morning walks — to the difficult phone calls with family that changed the trajectory of my life, this episode explores what happens when you finally stop running from yourself. We talk about the emotional debris addiction leaves behind — anger, shame, and bone-deep sadness — and why admitting you need help is the first step toward reclaiming your story. I also share what happened after those calls with my brothers, the silence that followed, and how I learned that sometimes silence is simply how people process their own pain. If you’ve ever felt like your story was taken from you, or you’re standing on the other side of a door you’re afraid to open, this episode is for you. We are more than our worst moments. We are what comes after them. Key Talking Points • Life Inside Residential Rehab – Living at Quin House where we ran the house ourselves and rebuilt accountability and structure. • Facing the Emotional Fallout – Navigating the shame, guilt, anger, and grief that addiction leaves behind. • The Hard Conversations – The relief in my mother’s voice and the silence from my brothers, and learning that everyone processes pain differently. • Reclaiming Identity – Why I changed my surname to Bailey to honour my mother’s strength and resilience. • The Work After Rehab – Why rebuilding trust is a quiet, lifelong commitment. Connect With The Podcast Follow the journey and daily reflections: 📸 Instagram @FallFromGraceWithTony If this episode resonated with you, please consider following the podcast, leaving a review, or sharing it with someone who might need to hear it. Support Resources If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. Lifeline (Australia) 📞 13 11 14 – Available 24/7 Beyond Blue 📞 1300 22 4636 Emergency If you are in immediate danger, call 000. 🎙️ Share Your Story – Be Part of the Podcast Fall From Grace is built on real stories of losing everything, rebuilding life, and finding purpose again. If you’ve experienced your own “fall from grace” moment — through addiction, business failure, loss, or mental health struggles — your story matters. If you’d like to share your story or be considered as a guest: 📧 podcast@thebaileysupport.com Subscribe for new episode updates: 👉 https://fallfromgrace.riverside.com/ You’re not the only one who’s been there. And the comeback is real.

    11 min
  4. 27 FÉVR.

    ADHD & Addiction: I Didn’t Want To Get High. I Wanted To Feel Normal.

    Episode Summary In this episode of Fall From Grace, we explore the often unspoken link between ADHD and substance use. Addiction is often framed as a moral failure. But for many people, substance use can actually be an attempt to regulate a brain that has never been able to slow down. Many people in recovery aren’t chasing a high — they’re chasing the ability to function. They’re trying to quiet the internal noise, clear the mental fog, and find some sense of calm. Research shows that around 1 in 5 adults seeking addiction treatment have undiagnosed ADHD. When the underlying condition isn’t recognised, recovery can feel like fighting a battle without understanding the battlefield. In this episode we talk about how ADHD, dopamine regulation, trauma, and addiction can intersect — and why recovery often requires more than simply removing a substance. Sometimes it requires building the structure your brain never had. If you’ve ever felt like your brain was constantly racing, or you’ve been told your struggles were simply a lack of willpower, this episode may offer a different perspective. Because recovery isn’t just about stopping something. It’s about building a life that can actually sustain you. Key Talking Points Regulation vs. Recreation Many people aren’t seeking a high — they’re seeking the ability to function and quiet internal chaos. The ADHD–Addiction Link Around 1 in 5 adults in addiction treatment have undiagnosed ADHD, highlighting the need for proper assessment. Clearing the Fog For some people with ADHD, stimulants can temporarily reduce mental chaos and improve focus — not as recreation, but as an attempt to feel normal. From Willpower to Structure Recovery often requires more than abstinence. Therapy, trauma-informed care, routine, and proper diagnosis can provide the scaffolding an ADHD brain needs. Accountability Without Shame Understanding the “why” behind your past doesn’t remove responsibility — but it can remove the weight of shame. A Personal Reflection When I used in 2015, I wasn’t chasing a party. I was chasing the ability to function. For years I labelled my cycles of overwhelm, missed deadlines, and paralysis as laziness or self-sabotage. At 36, sitting in rehab, a doctor asked me about ADHD. That question reframed my entire story. The narrative shifted from moral failure to nervous system dysregulation. Understanding that didn’t erase the consequences of my past, but it helped me understand the patterns that led me there. Connect Follow the journey: 📸 Instagram @fallfromgracewithtony Subscribe for episode updates: 👉 https://fallfromgrace.riverside.com/ Guest enquiries: 📧 podcast@thebaileysupport.com You are more than your worst moments. You are what comes after them.

    16 min
  5. 20 FÉVR.

    AI Can’t Replace Human Connection

    Episode Summary In this episode of Fall From Grace, we explore the growing role of AI in mental health support and ask an important question: What happens when technology begins to replace human connection? AI tools are becoming more common in mental health spaces. They can provide immediate responses, guidance, and accessible support when systems are stretched and people are struggling to access care. But healing is not just about information. Healing happens through human connection, relationship, and being witnessed by another person. In this conversation we unpack the ethical and emotional implications of AI entering the mental health space — and why technology should support human care, not replace it. Because while AI can simulate conversation, it cannot form a real relationship. And recovery often depends on exactly that. Key Talking Points The Growing Role of AI in Mental Health Digital tools are increasingly being used to provide accessible mental health support. The Therapeutic Relationship Effective therapy relies heavily on trust, safety, and human connection. The Loneliness Epidemic Technology can offer interaction, but without genuine relationship it may deepen isolation. The Limits of AI AI can provide information and guidance, but it cannot replicate empathy, lived experience, or emotional presence. Technology as a Support Tool Digital tools may help fill gaps in care, but they should supplement professional and community support — not replace it. Key Takeaways • AI can provide immediate and accessible support, especially when services are limited. • Healing relies heavily on human relationships, not just techniques or advice. • Interaction without genuine connection can reinforce loneliness. • Technology should support human care, not replace it. • Real healing often requires witnessing, discomfort, rupture, and repair. Notable Quotes “The system is stretched.” “AI cannot form a relationship.” “We are at a cultural crossroads.” Connect With The Podcast Follow the journey and daily reflections: 📸 Instagram @fallfromgracewithtony Subscribe to receive updates when new episodes are released: 👉 https://fallfromgrace.riverside.com/ Guest enquiries: 📧 podcast@thebaileysupport.com You are more than your worst moments. You are what comes after them.

    12 min
  6. 8 FÉVR.

    Your Worst Day Might Be Your Best Qualification

    Episode Summary In this episode of Fall From Grace, we explore an idea that challenges how society often defines success and qualification. What if your worst day — the moment everything fell apart — actually becomes one of the most valuable experiences you carry forward? Too often we celebrate success while avoiding the conversations about failure, shame, and the difficult chapters that shape who we become. But the truth is that resilience, empathy, and leadership are often forged in the moments we never planned for. This episode reflects on the reality that rebuilding a life after failure requires honesty, humility, and the willingness to face your story rather than hide from it. Because the experiences that once felt like disqualification can eventually become the very things that allow you to connect with others, lead with authenticity, and create real impact. Sometimes the parts of our story we tried hardest to hide become the very things that make us most qualified to help others. Key Talking Points Success vs. Failure Society celebrates success but often avoids the conversations about the failures that shape growth. Rebuilding After Collapse Recovery and rebuilding require honesty, resilience, and the courage to face your own story. The Value of Adversity Difficult experiences can develop empathy, perspective, and emotional intelligence. Leadership Through Vulnerability Real leadership is often built through discomfort, humility, and lived experience. Belonging and Authenticity True belonging requires expanding the definition of who is allowed in the room. Key Takeaways • The parts of life we avoid talking about often shape us the most. • Rebuilding after failure is possible and can create deeper purpose. • Resilience often develops through adversity, not comfort. • Authenticity can feel risky, but it allows genuine connection. • Your past experiences may become part of what qualifies you to help others. Notable Quotes “What it takes to rebuild a life.” “We celebrate resilience after someone succeeds.” “Growth doesn’t happen through perfection.” Connect With The Podcast Follow the journey and daily reflections: 📸 Instagram @fallfromgracewithtony Subscribe for updates when new episodes are released: 👉 https://fallfromgrace.riverside.com/ Guest enquiries: 📧 podcast@thebaileysupport.com You are more than your worst moments. You are what comes after them.

    13 min
  7. Detox: The First Time I Stopped Running

    26 JANV.

    Detox: The First Time I Stopped Running

    Episode Summary In this episode of Fall From Grace, I talk about something that is often misunderstood in addiction recovery — detox. For many people, detox is seen as punishment or the beginning of suffering. But the reality is very different. Detox is not about punishment. It’s about stabilising the body and nervous system after chaos. In this episode I share my personal experience going through detox and what it actually felt like — physically, emotionally, and mentally. Because detox doesn’t just remove a substance. It removes the escape. The silence that follows can be confronting. Time moves differently. Hours feel longer. Thoughts become louder. And for the first time in a long time, you’re left alone with yourself. But within that discomfort there is also something powerful — a pause. A moment where the running stops and the possibility of change begins. Detox isn’t the solution to addiction. It’s the doorway into recovery. And for many people, it’s the first time they truly face what they’ve been avoiding for years. Key Talking PointsWhat Detox Really Is Detox is about stabilising the body and nervous system after prolonged substance use. The Silence of Detox Without substances to escape into, people are often left facing emotions and thoughts they have avoided for years. Time Moves Differently In detox, progress isn’t measured in days — sometimes it’s measured in hours. Facing Yourself Detox can expose the inner turmoil many people have been running from. The Doorway to Recovery Detox is not the end of addiction — it’s the beginning of the work that comes next. Key Takeaways • Detox is not punishment — it is stabilisation. • Removing substances also removes the escape from difficult emotions. • Silence during detox can feel confronting but is often necessary. • Detox creates space for reflection and honesty. • Recovery begins when we stop lying to ourselves. Notable Quotes “Detox is the doorway to something bigger.” “I felt exposed. But I also felt readiness.” “That’s where the recovery actually begins.” Connect With The Podcast Follow the journey and daily reflections: 📸 Instagram @fallfromgracewithtony Subscribe for updates when new episodes are released: 👉 https://fallfromgrace.riverside.com/ Guest enquiries: 📧 podcast@thebaileysupport.com You are more than your worst moments. You are what comes after them.

    12 min

À propos

Real stories about the falls we don't talk about — and the slow, unglamorous work of rebuilding. Hosted by Tony Bailey. Lived experience of addiction and recovery, late-diagnosed ADHD, public business collapse, and starting over from the ground up — without the bow on top. No coach-speak. No highlight reels. Just honest conversations about loss, truth, and what it actually takes to rebuild a life when everything you thought you were is gone. This is the podcast for the people who've fallen — quietly or publicly — and are figuring out how to keep going anyway. The ones who are sick of polished recovery content. The ones who need someone to say it plainly: it's hard, it's slow, and it's worth it. What you'll hear on the show: Honest conversations about addiction, recovery, and the rooms — both NA and AALate-diagnosed ADHD and what it changed about the story you tell yourselfTrauma, shame, guilt — and the practical work of moving through themPublic failure: bankruptcy, business collapse, professional disgrace, and the long climb backTherapy, counselling, the tools that actually move the needleFamily, the people who stay, and the mums you don't deserveFaith, doubt, surrender, and the days you almost don't get back up About the host Tony Bailey was once a managing director. Then bankrupt. Then banned from the industry. Then broken — and barely speaking to anyone. Now in active recovery and training as a counsellor at Torrens University, he's slowly, honestly, building it all back. This podcast is what he's learning along the way. Connect with the show: Instagram: @fallfromgracewithtony YouTube: www.youtube.com/@fallfromgracepodcast This Week, Honestly (LinkedIn newsletter): www.linkedin.com/newsletters/this-week-honestly-7419178393633570816 New episodes weekly. LOSS • TRUTH • REBUILD