EPISODE 111326

On this episode of Clean and Sober Radio, host Gary Hendler and cohost Mark Sigmund welcomed Ricky Byrd, legendary guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer, and a 2015 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee as a member of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Ricky reflected on his years performing with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, along with his remarkable career sharing the stage and recording with some of rock and roll's biggest names, including Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, Bruce Springsteen, and Smokey Robinson. But beyond the music and the accolades, Ricky discussed another accomplishment that held an especially important place in his life: his decades in recovery. The conversation explored his personal journey, the role sobriety played in sustaining his career and his life, and his commitment to carrying the message of recovery to others. It was an inspiring look at a rock-and-roll career built on talent and a life transformed through recovery.

On this episode of Clean and Sober Radio, host Gary Hendler and cohost Mark Sigmund welcomed longtime friend of the show, Linda Elkins, who shared her inspiring experience of maintaining long-term recovery while facing devastating medical challenges. Linda discussed the difficult circumstances she had endured and explored where she found the inner strength, determination, and support to protect her sobriety through such trying times. Her story offered a powerful reminder that recovery is about more than putting addiction behind us; it is also about finding the resilience to face life's most difficult challenges without returning to substance use. Linda's journey demonstrated that even when life brings overwhelming hardship, it is possible to hold on to recovery, find strength in the face of adversity, and continue moving forward one day at a time.

On this episode of Clean and Sober Radio, host Gary Hendler and cohost Mark Sigmund welcomed attorney Lori Maslin, who shared her remarkable journey through addiction, professional turmoil, and long-term recovery. Lori had been in recovery for more than 32 years, but reaching sustained sobriety had not been an easy road. After traveling the world and graduating from Delaware Law School, her drinking escalated as she began practicing law, eventually leading to multiple firings from law firms as her alcoholism and risky behavior increasingly affected her professional and personal life. Lori openly recounted the difficult years, the consequences of her addiction, and the turning point that ultimately led her to recovery and a successful life in long-term sobriety. Her story offered a powerful reminder that addiction can affect people in every profession and circumstance—and that even after tremendous loss and hardship, recovery can provide a path to a new and fulfilling life.

On this episode of Clean and Sober Radio, host Gary Hendler welcomed longtime friend in recovery Louis DeSanto, who sat in as cohost for Mark Sigmund, and guest Gary Buchert. Buchert shared his remarkable journey through the ups and downs of life and recovery, reflecting on how his determination to maintain sobriety for 43 years had helped him build a successful life in business while continuing to carry a message of hope to others. His story offered an honest and relatable look at the challenges, choices, setbacks, and rewards that can come with a lifelong commitment to recovery and demonstrated that a fulfilling life after addiction is not only possible, but achievable.

n this episode of Clean and Sober Radio, host Gary Hendler and cohost Mark Sigmund examined the dangers of kratom, a substance derived from the leaves of a tropical tree and sold in various forms at convenience stores, smoke shops, and other retail outlets across the United States. They discussed concerns about its accessibility, potential for dependence, and serious health risks, including reports of fatal outcomes associated with its use. The conversation also turned to Quaaludes, the drug associated with the 1960s and 1970s, and its reemergence in discussions about substance use. Gary and Mark explored the risks of underestimating substances that may be marketed as legal or readily available, emphasizing the importance of education, awareness, and informed choices in protecting ourselves and those we care about from the dangers of addiction.