Breaking Down Addiction

National Addiction Specialists
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Mental Health

Breaking Down Addiction is a podcast from National Addiction Specialists featuring real stories of recovery, resilience, and hope. Each episode dives deep into the lived experiences of people overcoming addiction—raw, unfiltered, and rooted in healing.

  1. Jul 13

    #19 Lee Pepper — Breaking Stigma, Ethical Marketing, & Lessons from 10,000 Recovery Calls

    Lee Pepper has spent nearly two decades helping behavioral health organizations reach more people, grow responsibly, and better understand what individuals and families experience when they make the difficult first call for help. A military veteran, author, marketing strategist, four-time Ironman, and longtime friend of the recovery community, Lee brings a unique perspective shaped by leadership, service, data, and thousands of conversations about addiction and treatment. After joining Foundations Recovery Network as its first Chief Information Officer in 2008, Lee helped the organization achieve extraordinary growth while building a marketing approach rooted in ethics, transparency, and measurable impact. Along the way, he listened to more than 10,000 calls from people seeking treatment—and discovered that many organizations don’t have a marketing problem. They have a listening problem. Lee explains why the first question a caller asks—“How much does treatment cost?” or “Where are you located?”—is rarely the question they truly need answered. Behind that question may be years of pain, fear, uncertainty, and the courage required to finally pick up the phone. In this wide-ranging conversation, Lee and Jonny explore the stigma surrounding addiction, the importance of approaching recovery without judgment, ethical storytelling, the hidden practices that can mislead families searching online for treatment, and why helping someone find the right care matters—even when it is not your organization. Lee also shares lessons from serving in the military, working for Ross Perot, completing four Ironman triathlons, mentoring veterans, and writing his book, Never Outmatched: Using Military Tactics to Master the Art of Business and Marketing. You’ll Hear: What Lee learned about addiction by attending open recovery meetingsWhy people outside the recovery community can mistakenly view addiction as simply a series of bad decisionsHow listening to more than 10,000 treatment calls changed Lee’s understanding of the first call for helpWhy asking “How much does treatment cost?” may be a caller’s way of saying, “I don’t know what else to ask”Why Lee says, “If you’re talking, you’re selling. If you’re listening, you’re caring.”The common training mistakes treatment centers make when answering calls from patients and familiesWhy many perceived marketing problems are actually problems with how calls are handledHow Foundations Recovery Network grew while using data to make smarter marketing decisionsWhy helping someone find appropriate treatment is a win—even when they are not admitted to your programHow unethical online advertising can mislead families searching for trusted treatment providersWhy Lee believes “anonymity is not secrecy”How Betty Ford inspired the creation of Heroes in Recovery and helped change the public conversation around addictionWhy ethical standards are essential when marketing addiction treatmentHow military concepts such as force multiplication and commander’s intent can strengthen organizationsWhat Lee learned about leadership while working with Ross PerotHow Veterans Treatment Court helps veterans access treatment, purpose, community, and supportWhy completing four Ironman triathlons reinforced Lee’s belief in discipline and incremental growthWhat recovery and endurance training have in commonWhy meaningful change can begin with something as small as reaching the next mailboxHow the principles in Never Outmatched apply beyond marketing and military serviceWhy Listen: To better understand the courage it can take to make the first call for addiction treatmentTo learn why listening without judgment is essential when supporting people affected by addictionTo discover what treatment providers often misunderstand about patients and families seeking helpTo understand how ethical marketing can connect people with care without exploiting their vulnerabilityTo learn why growth and business success should never come at the expense of patient careTo hear practical leadership lessons from Lee’s experiences in the military, behavioral healthcare, and working with Ross PerotTo understand how small, consistent actions can create lasting change in recovery, health, leadership, and lifeTo be reminded that treatment is not a quick fix—recovery is a lifelong process of building a stronger foundationTo learn more about Lee Pepper and his book, Never Outmatched: Using Military Tactics to Master the Art of Business and Marketing, visit leepepper.com. If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit nationaladdictionspecialists.com.

    #19 Lee Pepper — Breaking Stigma, Ethical Marketing, & Lessons from 10,000 Recovery Calls

  2. Jun 30

    #18 Logan Terry — Heroin, Grief, & Finding Hope In Recovery

    Logan Terry’s story is one of devastating loss, remarkable resilience, and discovering that hope, love, and purpose are stronger than addiction. Growing up outside Nashville, Logan’s addiction began with alcohol at 12 before escalating into OxyContin, Xanax, heroin, fentanyl, and intravenous drug use. What started as teenage partying slowly consumed every part of his life, eventually leaving him homeless, living out of a car, grieving the overdose death of his best friend, and convinced his own story was over. After multiple treatment stays, relapses, and one final desperate night on New Year’s Eve, Logan surrendered completely and embraced recovery. Today, he serves as Executive Director of Hope in the Hills, the nonprofit behind Healing Appalachia, where music, community, and recovery come together to expand access to treatment and long-term recovery across Appalachia. In one of the podcast’s most moving conversations, Logan also shares the heartbreaking loss of his fiancée, Morgan, and how choosing love, service, and purpose has helped him continue moving forward. You’ll Hear: * What Logan would say to himself at the darkest point of addiction * How drinking at 12 led to OxyContin, heroin, fentanyl, and IV drug use * Why he realized “White House wasn’t the problem. Logan was the problem.” * The overdose death of his best friend and how grief fueled deeper addiction * What life looked like living homeless in a car while using fentanyl * The New Year’s Eve moment that led him to make one final call for help * Why his fourth treatment stay succeeded when the others didn’t * How recovery became more than abstinence—it became a way of life * The heartbreaking story of losing his fiancée, Morgan, just weeks before their wedding * How Healing Appalachia uses music to bring hope and recovery to thousands * Why Logan believes connection, love, and purpose are essential to lasting recovery * His advice for families who feel like they’ve run out of hope Why Listen: * To hear an honest story of recovery after fentanyl addiction, homelessness, and repeated relapse * To understand why recovery often takes multiple attempts—and why it’s always worth trying again * To learn how grief can either deepen addiction or become part of healing * To discover the powerful role music, community, and purpose can play in recovery * To gain encouragement if you or someone you love has lost hope * To be reminded that recovery isn’t a 28-day process—and that it’s never too late to keep trying To learn more about Logan Terry, Hope in the Hills, and the Healing Appalachia Music Festival, visit healingappalachia.org. If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com.

    #18 Logan Terry — Heroin, Grief, & Finding Hope In Recovery

  3. Jun 9

    #17 Zach Grace — Heroin, Fatherhood, Faith & the Decision That Changed Everything

    Zach Grace’s story is a wild ride through addiction, heroin use, incarceration, treatment, fatherhood, faith, and long-term recovery. What began with drinking at 13 quickly escalated into prescription pills, heroin, and intravenous drug use. Zach spent years chasing relief from the anxiety, insecurity, and pain that followed him from adolescence into adulthood. Along the way came arrests, overdoses, treatment centers, probation, and the loss of custody of his newborn son. Everything changed when a compassionate probation officer offered treatment instead of prison and Zach made the decision to give recovery everything he had. Today, nearly eight years sober, Zach is a father, speaker, mentor, recovery advocate, and Business Development Representative for Freeman Recovery Center, helping others find hope when they need it most. You’ll Hear: • What Zach would say to himself at his lowest point in addiction • How a few drinks at 13 led to heroin and intravenous drug use • Why addiction made him believe he wasn’t worth saving • The progression from Percocets and Opanas to heroin • What life looked like living homeless in California while addicted • The role jail, probation, and treatment played in his recovery journey • The emotional impact of losing custody of his son at birth • The story behind his final shot on September 28, 2018 • How faith and recovery became inseparable in his healing process • Why service, therapy, and helping others remain central to his recovery today • The difference between helping and enabling a loved one struggling with addiction • Why collaboration between treatment providers saves lives Why Listen: • To hear an honest, inspiring story of transformation from heroin addiction to recovery • To understand how quickly substance use can escalate when left unchecked • To learn how fatherhood became a turning point in one man’s recovery journey • To hear how faith, treatment, and community can work together to sustain long-term sobriety • To gain practical insight for families supporting a loved one with addiction • To be reminded that recovery is possible, even when everything feels lost If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com.

    #17 Zach Grace — Heroin, Fatherhood, Faith & the Decision That Changed Everything

  4. Jun 1

    #16 Darren Hobbs — Jailhouse Surrender, Family Boundaries & The Power of Intervention

    Darren Hobbs’ story is a powerful journey through addiction, incarceration, surrender, recovery, intervention work, and helping families find hope in the middle of chaos. For years, Darren lived a double life—bartender by day, drug dealer by night—while cocaine and alcohol controlled nearly every decision he made. After a 2010 arrest left him facing decades in prison, Darren found himself alone in a jail cell, broken, desperate, and finally willing to ask God to change him instead of his circumstances. What followed was a series of unlikely events, second chances, mentors, recovery, and a calling to help others. Today, Darren is a board-certified interventionist, founder of The Firm Nashville, and one of the leading voices helping families navigate addiction and recovery. You’ll Hear: • What Darren would say to himself during his darkest moment in Davidson County Jail • The prayer that changed the course of his life • How cocaine, alcohol, and entitlement fueled 15 years of addiction • The arrest that left him facing up to 20 years in prison • Why his parents’ toughest act of love ultimately saved his life • The incredible recovery coincidences that convinced him something bigger was at work • How he found recovery while incarcerated • What inspired him to become a board-certified interventionist • Behind-the-scenes insights from working on the TV show Intervention • Why families should stop waiting for “rock bottom” • The biggest misconceptions families have about interventions • How addiction impacts entire family systems—not just the person using substances • What Darren believes is broken in today’s addiction treatment system • Why individualized care and long-term recovery support are the future of treatment Why Listen: • To hear a remarkable story of redemption and second chances • To better understand addiction from both the addict’s and family’s perspective • To learn why firm boundaries can be one of the greatest acts of love • To gain insight into interventions and recovery from one of Nashville’s leading interventionists • To be reminded that hope can appear even in the darkest moments • To understand why recovery is about much more than simply stopping substance use If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit: https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com

    #16 Darren Hobbs — Jailhouse Surrender, Family Boundaries & The Power of Intervention

  5. May 22

    #15: Mathew Dwyer — Service Industry Drinking, Spiritual Surrender & Finding Recovery

    Mathew Dwyer’s story is a raw, honest journey through alcohol addiction, service industry drinking culture, relapse, treatment, recovery, spirituality, and service. From Wisconsin barrooms to Nashville restaurants, Mathew spent years hiding his drinking, managing consequences, and convincing himself he had it under control. After pancreatitis, blackouts, job losses, DUIs, and a relapse that led him to treatment during the early days of COVID, Mathew finally found recovery through surrender, community, service, and the rooms of AA. Today, Mathew is sober, active in Nashville’s recovery community, involved with the Log Cabin Group, and helping others find hope before they lose everything. You’ll Hear: • What Mathew would say to himself in active addiction  • How Wisconsin drinking culture shaped his early relationship with alcohol  • Why the service industry can protect and normalize addiction  • The lies he told himself to keep drinking  • How pancreatitis, blackouts, DUIs, and relapse became part of his story  • Why cocaine eventually led him back to alcohol  • What finally made treatment different  • How spirituality, meditation, and service became part of his recovery  • Why the Log Cabin Group has become a powerful recovery community in Nashville  Why Listen: • To hear an honest alcohol recovery story filled with humor, pain, and clarity   • To understand how addiction can hide behind work, personality, and “functioning”   • To learn why half measures often fail   • To see how community and service can help sustain sobriety   • To be reminded that you do not have to lose everything before you stop digging   If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available.   To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit: https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com

    #15: Mathew Dwyer — Service Industry Drinking, Spiritual Surrender & Finding Recovery

  6. May 12

    #14 Michael Rositano: From OxyContin and Fentanyl to Recovery, Purpose, and Helping Others Heal

    Michael Rositano’s story is a powerful journey through grief, opioid addiction, treatment, relapse, jail, recovery, and redemption. After losing his father at age 20, Michael found two bottles of Percocet in the medicine cabinet. What began as a way to numb grief eventually escalated into OxyContin, Opana, fentanyl, theft, legal charges, jail, and multiple treatment stays. Today, Michael works in recovery, helps others find treatment, shares his story through music and service, and reflects honestly on the guilt, pain, humor, and hope that shaped his path. You’ll Hear: • What Michael would say to himself in active addiction: “Just give it up, man” • How losing his father became a turning point • How Percocet, OxyContin, Opana, and fentanyl took over his life • The role of grief, guilt, and untreated mental health • Multiple treatment stays, relapse, drug court, and jail • The SeaWorld moment that became a wake-up call • How Recovery Unplugged helped him rebuild • Why holistic care and therapy mattered in his recovery • How Michael now helps others through recovery work Why Listen: • To hear an honest opioid recovery story filled with pain, humor, and hope • To understand how grief can fuel addiction • To learn why treatment often takes more than one attempt • To see how recovery can lead to purpose, service, and restored relationships • To be reminded that your past does not have to define your future Find Michael at https://youtube.com/@titanuploadnetwork If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit: https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com

    #14 Michael Rositano: From OxyContin and Fentanyl to Recovery, Purpose, and Helping Others Heal

  7. Apr 8

    #13 Miko Juvinall: From Discipline to Addiction, Federal Charges, and Finding Freedom

    Miko Juvinall’s story is a powerful journey from a disciplined childhood as a competitive gymnast to the chaos of addiction, toxic relationships, and federal charges—ultimately leading to a moment of clarity and the beginning of recovery. Growing up with structure, ambition, and a clear path toward becoming a veterinarian, Miko’s life took a turn in college through partying, alcohol, and eventually methamphetamine use. What began as experimentation quickly escalated into daily use, dangerous environments, and survival-driven decisions. Along the way, she navigated abusive relationships, drug raids, and a years-long fraud scheme that led to federal arrest in 2018. In this episode, Miko shares the moment she realized she had lost control—and how that awareness became the first step toward change. Her story is one of honesty, resilience, and the long road back from addiction. You’ll Hear: • What Miko would say to herself in active addiction: “It will get better—it is possible” • How a disciplined upbringing didn’t prevent addiction—but shaped her recovery • The progression from alcohol to meth and how quickly use escalated • Inside the rave scene and the normalization of drug use • The role of toxic and abusive relationships in deepening addiction • The moment she realized she could not stop using • Drug raids, legal close calls, and living in survival mode • How a multi-year gift card fraud scheme led to federal charges • The arrest that forced her to confront reality for the first time • Early moments of sobriety and the fear, clarity, and turning point they created Why Listen: • To understand how addiction can develop—even in disciplined, high-achieving individuals • To hear an unfiltered story of escalation, denial, and consequences • To gain insight into the mindset of active addiction and survival behaviors • To learn how moments of crisis can become catalysts for change • To be reminded that recovery begins with honesty—and is always possible If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit: https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com

    #13 Miko Juvinall: From Discipline to Addiction, Federal Charges, and Finding Freedom

  8. Mar 19

    #12 Jay Booker: “Don’t Give Up” — From Addiction, Incarceration, and Trauma to Recovery, Fatherhood, and Helping Men Heal

    Jay Booker’s story is a powerful journey through childhood trauma, family addiction, incarceration, relapse, and the long road to lasting recovery—ultimately leading him to a life of purpose, service, and helping other men heal. Growing up in a home marked by alcoholism, emotional instability, and survival-mode coping, Jay shares how early wounds shaped his self-worth, identity, and addiction. From a promising youth baseball career to juvenile charges, jail time, prison, and years of cycling through drugs, manipulation, and shame, Jay opens up about the choices that nearly cost him everything—and the moment he finally asked for help. Now sober since January 26, 2010, Jay reflects on how recovery became more than just abstinence. Through 12-step work, therapy, breathwork, accountability, and daily practice, he rebuilt his life, became a present father, and turned his pain into purpose. Today, he is helping others through Just Breathe Recovery Community and Triony Behavioral Health, creating safe places for men facing substance use, trauma, anxiety, depression, and failure to launch. You’ll Hear: • Jay’s message to his younger self in active addiction: “Don’t give up” • How growing up around alcoholism, codependency, and emotional abuse shaped his survival patterns • The connection between childhood trauma, low self-worth, and addiction • How drugs, dealing, incarceration, and relapse escalated over time • What finally led him to ask for help and get sober in 2010 • Why recovery requires daily practice, honesty, and leaning into discomfort • The role of breathwork, therapy, 12-step recovery, and spiritual grounding in staying centered • Why men’s mental health needs more attention, compassion, and real support • How Jay is helping build better pathways for men through MAT-friendly housing and behavioral health care • Encouragement for parents and families trying to help a loved one take the first step Why Listen: • To hear an honest recovery story that includes trauma, incarceration, relapse, and redemption • To better understand how addiction often begins long before substance use • To learn why asking for help can change everything • To hear how recovery can lead to purpose, fatherhood, leadership, and healing • To understand the need for more compassionate support for men facing mental health and substance use challenges • To be reminded that your past does not have to define your future If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit https://www.nationaladdictionspecialists.com/ To learn more about Jay Booker’s work, visit https://justbreatherecovery.com and https://trionybehavioralhealth.com/

    #12 Jay Booker: “Don’t Give Up” — From Addiction, Incarceration, and Trauma to Recovery, Fatherhood, and Helping Men Heal
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5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Breaking Down Addiction is a podcast from National Addiction Specialists featuring real stories of recovery, resilience, and hope. Each episode dives deep into the lived experiences of people overcoming addiction—raw, unfiltered, and rooted in healing.

Information

  • Creator
    National Addiction Specialists
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Breaking Down Addiction
  • Show Website
    Breaking Down Addiction