The Recovery Toolkit Podcast

In this episode, Richie and David get real about what recovery actually looks like. They discuss about the daily grind, structure, relationships, and why life can feel harder when you’re doing it without escaping. We dive into: Why structure matters (but needs to be flexible!) What happens after treatment Lived experience vs professional roles Recovery capital and rebuilding life Learning to handle the highs and the lows

In this unmissable episode, Ben returns, this time with his partner, Anthony, for a raw and deeply honest conversation about love, recovery, and resilience. Together, they open up about navigating the criminal justice system, the uncertainty of a looming prison sentence, and the unique challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community when it comes to gambling harm and recovery. Anthony shares the reality of meeting someone already in recovery: the questions, the fears, and the surreal possibility of losing Ben to prison. Ben reflects on the difficulty of opening up, the fear of burdening Anthony, and the struggle to let go of control. What shines through is their choice to live fully despite the unknown. They talk about the grief of life before prison, the strength they found in community, and the lessons they learned about communication, kindness, and finding support that truly fits. If you’ve ever wondered how love survives hardship, or how connection can carry you through even the darkest times, you won’t want to miss this episode.

In this episode of the Recovery Toolkit Podcast, we’re joined by Ben Howard for the first of two conversations about his recovery journey. Ben shares how his turning point came when he met others who had been through similar struggles and were now smiling, laughing and living life again. It gave him hope that there could be a way through.   With support from his family, Ben began to take small but meaningful steps. Getting dressed each morning, eating three meals a day and finding gratitude in simple routines. He reached out for help through the gambling harms sector, including joining an EPIC Restart programme, and learned that recovery is never straightforward. It takes self-awareness and a willingness to work on yourself first.   Ben also talks about the importance of purpose. How becoming a Peer Support made him feel seen for the first time in a long time, and how he focused on learning, growing and building towards a better future. But his progress was shadowed as he awaited a court date, which eventually led to a prison sentence. Here, Ben speaks honestly about the challenges of serving time, the lack of support for people with gambling harm, and how tools like journaling and gratitude helped him keep moving forward.   This is part one of Ben’s powerful story of recovery, resilience and the need for change in the system.

In this week’s Recovery Toolkit podcast, Richie is joined by Andy Greenwell to talk about goals, resilience, and what it really takes to build a life you can thrive in.   Andy shares the highs and lows of his fitness journey, from hitting the wall during his first marathon, to taking on nine huge challenges across the world. He talks honestly about discipline, setbacks, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Together, Richie and Andy explore how setting goals, pushing yourself, and embracing challenges can help create a life you don’t want to escape from.   They also discuss the role of family, support, and self-belief in staying on track. This is a conversation full of honesty, encouragement, and practical insight for anyone on their own journey towards living a fulfilled life.

In this powerful episode of the Recovery Toolkit Podcast, Richie is joined by Nicola Jaques, who shares her honest and emotional story of being affected by a loved one’s gambling addiction. Nicola opens up about the moment she discovered the addiction, the shock that followed, and the long road to finding support, not just for her partner, but for herself and her children too. We talk about the challenges faced by affected family members, the importance of self-care, and the emotional and financial costs that often go unseen. There’s also thoughtful advice about building financial awareness, breaking harmful cycles, and the value of small but important mindset shifts – like turning “budgeting” into a positive conversation. This episode highlights why wider community support and early intervention matter so much, and how recovery is a journey not only for the person who gambled, but for everyone around them. Brought to you by EPIC Restart Foundation, a national charity supporting people to rebuild their lives after gambling harm.

This week on the Recovery Toolkit Podcast, Richie is joined by Cheryl, a trauma-informed practitioner who works closely with people affected by gambling harm. With years of experience supporting others through recovery, Cheryl shares how trauma, unmet needs and early life experiences can often lie at the heart of addiction. In this thought-provoking conversation, Richie and Cheryl explore the power of asking the right questions. Cheryl describes how, in just a few moments of honest dialogue, people can experience powerful realisations about their own journey. These moments of clarity can become the first step towards healing. Together, they reflect on the importance of self-awareness in recovery and how tools such as reflection, connection and curiosity can help build a life beyond addiction. Whether you are navigating your own recovery or supporting someone else, this episode offers insight, encouragement and new ways of thinking about what drives addiction and what helps to heal it. If something in this episode resonates with you, subscribe for more. You can also join the EPIC Community.

This week on the Recovery Toolkit Podcast, Richie is joined by Charlie, who shares his powerful story of survival, hope and lasting change.   After a difficult childhood, drink and drugs became Charlie’s escape. What followed was 30 years of chaos, where dying young felt like the only outcome. But Charlie reached a turning point. With the support of others and the help of AA, he slowly found his people and his path.   In this honest and inspiring chat, Charlie and Richie explore the difference between simply stopping and truly recovering. It’s not just abstinence, it’s about slowing down, knowing yourself, finding peace of mind, and building a life you want to live.   Charlie talks about the joy in life’s small wins, like waking up clear-headed and moving his body. He shares how becoming a Recovery Coach helped him discover a new purpose: breaking the stigma of addiction and showing others that recovery is possible, and personal.   Through We Do Recover, Charlie helps people try different tools like meditation, Tai Chi and breathwork, alongside one-to-one support. He believes recovery should be about more than just getting sober; it should be about finding what works for you.   Whether you’re in recovery yourself, supporting someone who is, or just curious about what real recovery looks like, this episode is full of heart, insight and hope.

In this powerful and moving episode of The Recovery Toolkit Podcast, Richie Paxton sits down with Malcolm, who shares his long and complex journey through recovery after alcohol misuse and gambling harm. With nearly 20 years of lived experience, Malcolm speaks honestly about relapse, avoidance, and the challenges of facing deep-rooted trauma. He reflects on how external success never fixed the internal pain, and how real change only came when he stopped running and started doing the work on himself. From managing serious health issues and using a sleep apnoea machine for the first time, to finding strength through Parkrun and community support, Malcolm’s story is one of persistence, honesty and gradual transformation. He talks about the difference between showing up and truly engaging in recovery, and how his understanding of what recovery means has evolved over time. This episode is a reminder that starting over is not failure - it’s part of the process. Tune in for a raw and inspiring conversation about taking responsibility, letting go of shame, and finding connection in the recovery journey.

This week, we bring you a slightly different and very important episode. We're joined once again by Jo from Recover Together, who bravely opens up about an experience that’s rarely talked about: lapse and relapse in recovery. Jo shares her personal journey of having a lapse, and the fear that came with it – fear of losing her job, her identity, and everything she had built. But rather than hiding away, Jo showed incredible courage by speaking out and reaching out to her colleagues. Her story is a powerful reminder that a lapse doesn’t mean failure, and it certainly doesn’t mean the end of the road. She talks about the warning signs; not getting dressed, avoiding exercise, neglecting self-care. Things came to a head when Jo found herself on the verge of breaking one of her core values: honesty. That moment became a turning point. Jo made the brave choice to talk, and in doing so, took the first step towards getting back on track. Having relapsed earlier in her recovery, Jo reflects on how much she’s learned. This time, she knew how vital it was to communicate how she was feeling to those closest to her. In doing so she was able to take control and avoid a full relapse. Jo also speaks honestly about the added pressure of working in the gambling harms sector. She worried how being honest would affect her work, her colleagues, and those she supports. But the response she received was nothing but supportive – a real lesson in the importance of planning ahead and having a strong support system. By focusing on the things that keep her well, like going for walks, singing, and making space for self-care, Jo feels like herself again. She also highlights how vital it is for organisations employing people in recovery to have clear, compassionate policies in place. Recover Together's person-centred approach made all the difference. Jo wanted to share her experience so that anyone feeling isolated or ashamed knows they are not alone. Her message is clear: prioritising recovery isn’t just about staying well – it’s what makes it possible to keep doing the work you love and supporting others along the way. We’re incredibly proud to have Jo back on the podcast. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss. 

In this powerful and honest episode of The Recovery Toolkit Podcast, Richie Paxton sits down with Craig Tampin, the newest member of the Recovery Coaching team at Recover Together.   Craig opens up about his journey through gambling addiction and how it took more than one go to truly find his path in recovery. Now four years in, Craig reflects on the difference between simply stopping and actually doing the hard work on himself – the kind that leads to real, lasting change.   From volunteering and fundraising to completely changing careers, Craig shares how he proved to himself that recovery was more than possible – it was life-changing. He talks about learning to protect his own energy, being more than his story, and why sharing his experience is helping him move forward while breaking the shame and stigma that surrounds gambling harm.   Craig also speaks about what it means to lead with purpose, support others in their own recovery, and be truly present in life. If you’ve ever struggled with feeling “not enough,” this episode is a reminder that change is possible, and that you are enough.   Tune in for an inspiring chat about overcoming fear, staying accountable, and building a culture of recovery.