Sent to Ecuadorean Naval Academy at 13, Replacing Heroin with Alcohol, Chronic Relapsing and the Power of the Eleventh Step

his week’s episode features the powerful story of a woman who endured the darkest depths of heroin and crack addiction—homelessness, sex work, selling drugs, arrests, and violent assaults. After years of chaos, she found her turning point and got sober in 2018. Her journey didn’t stop there. Against all odds, she built a new life as a devoted mother, wife, and homeowner. Today, she works in the treatment field, dedicating her life to helping others heal through trauma therapy. She also shares how an unexpected arrest on her one-year sober anniversary sparked a deeper sense of spirituality that continues to guide her path. This is a raw and inspiring conversation about resilience, redemption, and the power of recovery.DM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

Eric’s journey begins in a small town in Ohio, where he was raised in a strict, religious fundamentalist household. The shift from being homeschooled to suddenly navigating public high school was jarring, and Eric turned to drinking and smoking weed as a way to cope. What started as a teenage escape grew into a cycle of destructive relationships and escalating substance use - Percocets, then heroin.Over the years, Eric’s addiction drove him into schemes to hustle money, from petty hustles to full-blown counterfeiting operations. His criminal activity eventually caught the attention of federal authorities, leading to ten felony charges and even a visit from the Secret Service.But Eric’s story didn’t end there. Clean since 2014, he has become a beacon of hope - showing that it’s possible to find deep spirituality without traditional faith. Today, he owns Sacred Journey Recovery, a men’s treatment center in Vista, California, dedicated to an experiential approach to healing with a strong focus on trauma therapy.In this episode, Eric opens up about the chaos and consequences of his addiction, the unraveling of his life under the weight of heroin and crime, and—most importantly—the path he found to rebuild everything. His story is raw, unfiltered, and a powerful reminder that no matter how deep the hole, recovery and redemption are possible.Check out Sacred Journey RecoveryDM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

From the depths of Skid Row to the heights of entrepreneurial success, Khalil Rafati’s story is one of the most jaw-dropping transformations you’ll ever hear. Once a homeless heroin addict, Khalil hit rock bottom before rebuilding his life piece by piece. In this episode, he opens up about the brutal reality of addiction, the turning point that sparked his recovery, and how he went on to create SunLife Organics—a superfood empire with wildly popular health bowls and smoothie shops that have become cultural staples.Khalil doesn’t sugarcoat his past, and he doesn’t pretend his success was easy. He shares how self-reliance, recovery, and an unwavering belief in possibility allowed him to build a life beyond his wildest imagination. Whether you’re struggling to find hope, or simply looking for inspiration to start over, Khalil’s journey proves that no matter how far you’ve fallen, a comeback is always possible.Connect with Khalil on InstagramDM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

This week, we sit down with ESPN reporter and former Rutgers gymnast Lauren Sisler, whose story is as heartbreaking as it is inspiring. In 2003, Lauren lost both of her parents within hours of each other to fatal fentanyl overdoses—a devastating truth she was too ashamed to share at the time. For years, she told friends and teammates that her parents had died of heart failure and respiratory issues, hiding from the stigma of addiction. It wasn’t until seven years later that Lauren began to face the truth, and a full decade before she opened their toxicology reports.In this powerful conversation, Lauren shares how she found the courage to peel back the layers of shame and grief and embrace what she now calls the “Shatterproof Mindset.” She opens up about the path to forgiveness, the resilience born from tragedy, and how learning to fall in love with her own story has allowed her to honor her parents’ memory while helping others find healing in theirs.If you’ve ever struggled with grief, shame, or the fear of telling your truth, this episode will show you that even the most shattered stories can become unbreakable.Connect with Lauren on InstagramDM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

Note from Jeannine: I am so excited for you all to meet another one of my #SGGC girlfriends, Britt! Britt absolutely blew me away with her poise, eloquence and knowledge around recovery and her journey into autism awareness. I love her and I know you will too!This week, we sit down with my friend and fellow Sober Girl Group Chat member, Britt Bernard, to hear her powerful story of transformation. Raised in Philadelphia by a police officer father, Britt’s early experimentation with cough medicine spiraled into years of heavy drinking and party drugs—she even managed to get herself banned from the Eagles’ stadium, “The Linc.” With her dad’s badge often shielding her from consequences, the chaos continued until an abusive relationship became the breaking point that pushed Britt to make a change.Sober since 2018, Britt has built a beautiful life alongside her sober partner, Dan, raising their son, Billy. When Billy was diagnosed with autism, Britt leaned into advocacy with the same openness she brings to her recovery—using her voice and her platform to share vulnerable truths, offer advice, and break down stigma for other moms walking a similar path.Britt’s story is one of grit, resilience, and love, and this episode is a reminder that recovery doesn’t just change our lives—it can ripple out and change the lives of everyone around us.Connect with Britt on InstagramJoin the Facebook Private Sober Girl Group ChatDM me on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠Workout with me and get access to private content on ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected]

In this raw and unforgettable episode, we sit down with Renzo, a man whose story takes us from the halls of an Ecuadorian naval academy to the darkest corners of addiction — and finally, to redemption and love. Sent away as a teen in hopes of “straightening out,” he returned with more of taste for alcohol than ever. By 21, he was smoking meth. A move to the East Coast meant a fresh start… until heroin took over. His desperation ran so deep he once faked appendicitis — and had a perfectly healthy organ removed — just to score pain meds.After countless relapses, he finally got sober in his forties. The same day we recorded this episode, Renzo proposed to his girlfriend and they are now engaged — a full-circle moment for someone who never thought love or freedom was possible. Now, he works in treatment and shares his story to prove that no matter how far gone you feel, it’s never too late to come back.This one’s wild, honest, and packed with hope. You don’t want to miss it.Can't wait to hear what you guys think!DM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

At just 24 years old, Ashley’s life changed in an instant. After years of struggling with meth addiction and surviving the brutal realities of sex work at just 17l, a tragic accident left her a quadriplegic. But rather than giving up, Ashley found the strength to do the unimaginable—she got sober. In this raw and deeply inspiring conversation, Ashley shares how she rebuilt her life from rock bottom, found freedom in sobriety, and now lives independently with a heart full of gratitude—even for the accident that changed everything. This is a story of unimaginable pain, unshakable courage, and the kind of healing that can only come from within.Can't wait to hear what you guys think about this episode!DM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

With over 5 million followers across platforms, content creator and entrepreneur Gabbie Egan built an empire sharing her unfiltered life online—from motherhood and marriage to bold opinions and viral moments. But behind the scenes, alcohol and marijuana were slowly pulling her away from the version of herself she knew she could be.In this raw and inspiring conversation, Gabbie shares how a single Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in September 2024 sparked a life-changing shift. We talk about what finally clicked for her, what sobriety looks like as a public figure and young mom, and how her clarity in recovery is fueling her success more than ever—including running a thriving t-shirt business and managing an Airbnb.This is a story about evolution, empowerment, and why getting sober doesn't mean losing your edge—it means finally stepping into your power.

Note from Jeannine:I am so honored to introduce you guys to Steve Ellis, the sober living house manager that saved my life. Many of my stories are about Steve and the wisdom he shared with me in the darkest days of my active addiction and early sobriety. His insight and way of speaking to me was instrumental in my success in sobriety. Please let me know what you think!Episode Description:In this powerful episode, I sit down with Steve Ellis, a man whose story of survival, relapse, redemption, and resilience will stay with you long after you listen. Steve grew up bouncing between Chicago, Alabama, and San Diego. Initially able to escape a choatic home life through sports, most notably as a standout basketball star, a career ending injury in high school left him discouraged about his future, and by the age of 21, he was addicted to crack and living on the streets of downtown San Diego. He spent over a decade homeless, cycling in and out of prison, until he got sober at 32.For the next 12 years, Steve defied the odds: he became a successful business owner and a beacon of hope in his community. But addiction crept back in. A relapse that led to a years long fentanyl addiction cost him everything — his home, his business, his freedom. He ended up right back where he started: on the streets.Today, Steve is two years sober and deeply committed to living in truth, humility, and service. His journey is a raw and honest reflection on the realities of addiction, the painful cost of relapse, and the profound beauty of getting back up again. Wise, grounded, and full of insight, Steve has inspired thousands — and his story will inspire you too.DM me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Message me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen AD FREE & workout with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email me [email protected] you next week!

Note from Jeannine: I am so honored to bring you an encore run of my episode with Rachel, recorded in April 2024. Since this interview, Rachel and I have become great friends, traveling to NYC and LA together. I admire and adore her, and I know you will too - enjoy!Today we have the pleasure. of chatting with Rachel Slocum, aka @rachelelizabethxo on social media. The incredibly popular social media influencer and content creator shares about growing up in NY, getting into opiates, becoming a mother, using crack and heroin while maintaining a job as a dental hygienist and ultimately finding recovery in the last place she expected it...Austin, Texas. After getting sober in 2018, Rachel started a TikTok account during the pandemic and her popularity on TikTok exploded virtually overnight. Now a well known influencer and content creator, Rachel uses her unique comedic style to inspire and entertain other single moms and women in recovery.Connect with Rachel on ⁠TikTok⁠Connect with Rachel on ⁠Instagram⁠Connect with me on ⁠TikTok⁠Connect with the me on ⁠Instagram