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Teddy Tarantino
I could go to a CVS and fill my prescription. I could go to another CVS and just go fill that same prescription. There is nothing. It's kind of like I'm crazy. This is the real thing. But there was no database saying that this prescription was filled. Filled. But not just that. It was actually the doctors. So I could go to five different doctors and get the same prescription for multiple things.
Host
Whoa.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah.
Host
So you could print money. All right, guys, crazy story for you guys today. Teddy Tarantino, thanks for coming on, my guy.
Teddy Tarantino
No problem. How's it going?
Host
Good, man. Man on drugs since 10 years old?
Teddy Tarantino
Pretty much, yeah.
Host
What was the first drug?
Teddy Tarantino
So I consider alcohol to be a drug. So alcohol is probably the first thing I ever did.
Host
So that's what, fourth grade.
Teddy Tarantino
I probably got drunk for the first time. Like kindergarten.
Host
What?
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah.
Host
That's like six.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. So you were so. I mean, like. And what? Like, I was at a family party. So, like Hispanic culture. Parents were drinking, and I snuck off and just started drinking some wine coolers. But I did get drunk.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
But I didn't really. But that was like a one off instance. I was like drinking every day. Okay. Yeah. I got drunk for the first time, probably in, like kindergarten.
Host
Makes you wonder if it affected your brain development, drinking that.
Teddy Tarantino
Dude, that's the least of it. So I would imagine that my brain development has gotten pretty up from drugs at a. At a young age.
Host
Wow. Have you ever done a brain scan?
Teddy Tarantino
No.
Host
I'd be so curious to see yours.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah, I'm interested to see, but I don't know. I've been clean. I also got clean young, so I got clean at 17, too.
Host
Oh, wow.
Teddy Tarantino
But I remember when I was on drugs, watching a documentary about addiction, and they were doing brain scans on people, and the most interesting part was they would flash pictures and the pictures would be so fast you can't even see them.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
And when they would show a thing of crack, like a vial of crack, the person's brain would go crazy.
Host
Whoa.
Teddy Tarantino
And this person was clean, like years. Haven't done crack in years.
Host
And holy crap.
Teddy Tarantino
Brain would go nuts. And I remember, like, being on crack at the time, I feel like 14, 15, and being like, damn, I'm never getting clean.
Host
That's nuts. Yeah. The subconscious is powerful, right?
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. The brain's crazy.
Host
Holy crap. So crack at 14, how did that happen? Was it like I was.
Teddy Tarantino
So when I'd get into anything, like, really get into it, like most addicts are like that. Some people become addicts later in life. I Was just always obsessive. And, you know, I didn't have anything I was into. And once I got into drugs, I, like, really got into it. So I, like, dissected every part of it. The culture and selling it. Weed and then weed led to cocaine. And then when I was selling cocaine, eventually you run into someone who cooks it. And then I was selling to this guy who lived in a crack house, and he was. He smoked crack, but he doctor shopped. So that's also. I got introduced to painkillers. So he was doctor shopping for oxy's and Roxies and had all the prescriptions you can want, but he just sold those. He had been on heroin before and he got off of it, so his only thing was crack. And the first time I saw it, I was like, I'm never, ever, ever going to try that. That's crazy. And then you see it a couple more times, and that normalized. Yeah, you kind of like. It kind of gets normalized. And I tried it. And the first time I smoked crack cocaine, I knew I would struggle with this for the rest of my life.
Host
Whoa. The first time? Yeah, it was not good. Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
I. I never bought powder cocaine ever again. And I knew that forever. I would always want to do this.
Host
Jeez. So what's the difference between cocaine and croc.
Teddy Tarantino
Man? I guess it would be like, I'm really into cars, so it probably be like driving fast on the street versus driving on the track.
Host
Okay, so you're faster.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. So it's just like, you know, you think you could push your car on a road, but until you track your car, you really don't know where your car. Car can do. And then it's just way more intense.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah.
Host
What's doctor shopping? I've never heard that.
Teddy Tarantino
Oh, really? So back in the day, there wasn't a database. So if you gave me a prescription for oxys and Roxies and Klonopin, I could go to a CVS and fill my prescription. I could go to another CVS and just go fill that same prescription. There is nothing. It's kind of like an. And crazy that this is a real thing. But there was no database saying that this prescription was filled. Filled, but not just that. It was actually the doctors. So I could go to five different doctors and get the same prescription for multiple things.
Host
Whoa.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah.
Host
So you could print money.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. So back in the day, I mean, dude, if you. If you weren't on drugs or on pills, I was like, bro, we're getting you an mri we're going to the emergency room. Like, because if. Because if you don't know the game, I could get a piece of it. So I would teach. I was also under 18, so I couldn't even get my own script up. My parents. So I. My hustle was that I would try to get people to get a script or fill a script. And then you would go to multiple doctors, and that was doctor shopping. And then you would go to, like, a lot of these mom and pop places that they just look the other way.
Host
Yeah. Like sketchy pharmacies. Yeah, yeah. And all these big ones end up buying those, right?
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, the pain. The pain clinic industry was crazy back then. People who own those made millions and millions of dollars.
Host
Is it still like that now, you think?
Teddy Tarantino
No, because. Well, now you're not really going to make tons of money like that because now they have that database. But now what people do is they just get people to go shop for them. So I'll. I'll get, like five homeless people to go and do that for me and bring me the thing. Not homeless people, but sometimes, you know, wow. They get people to doctor shop for them, but now they're more strict. But it went from OxyContin, then they stopped. It was doing Oxies or selling them at the pharmacies or it's hard to get them to Roxies. Then it went to Dilaudid, and then it just. The. It just switches to a different drug.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
So if they say, we're not going to do Roxy's anymore, then people just start doing fentanyl, you know. Damn.
Host
So that's where it's at now. People are just doing fentanyl now.
Teddy Tarantino
It's like, straight fentanyl, and that's people's drug of choice. So there was a time if someone got fentanyl in their heroin or whatever, they'd be, like, upset. Now they, like, want that. Like, they're. They want fentanyl. They want. Yeah.
Host
Can you die easily off that?
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. Dude. It's crazy. It's like Russian roulette right now with the epidemic. And they put it in cocaine. Like, I've owned drug and alcohol rehabs for years, and I had a client who went to the gas station, bought a dime of coke, did it at the gas station, and died.
Host
Whoa.
Teddy Tarantino
And was fentanyl in his coke? They put it in everything. It's crazy.
Host
Holy crap. So when you're in rehab, you can leave?
Teddy Tarantino
Well, this kid graduated.
Host
Oh, got it.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah.
Host
Damn.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. There's different levels where people get jobs and they're an outpatient or something.
Host
Yeah. What's the level of people that come back to rehab once they're in? Is it like prison? Cuz Prison's like 80%, right?
Teddy Tarantino
I, I always compare it to the gym. How many people sign up to LA Fitness and then freaking don't get in shape.
Host
Right.
Teddy Tarantino
You know, so I would probably say the national average is single digit success rate.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
So you're talking 812 or 8% or 10% or lower. My treatment center for years we were at like 15. Oh wow. So double double the national average. And that really just goes to. Because we have long term care. The only real statistic of like who makes and who doesn't that is like a fact, is the longer time spent in treatment, the better your success rate. But that's also more money for the insurance company. So they don't really want to, you know, use that type of statistic because they have to dish out more money.
Host
So they probably only want you there for like a month. Right?
Teddy Tarantino
Dude, they're fighting you every day.
Host
Really.
Teddy Tarantino
So when you go to drug rehab they don't say, hey, you're approved for 30 days. They say, what are you using? How long are you using? Okay, you could go to detox, four days, that's it. Then on day four you got to call the care manager and then you have to negotiate more days and be like, he's not doing well, da da da. He still has these symptoms or he's still symptomatic or he's whatever. So then they'll give you, okay, one more day. So maybe you'll get five or six. Then when you go to a lower level of care, they'll give you 10 days. So they give you days at like a clip and then you have to negotiate with the insurance company. And then most insurance, if you have really good insurance, will cover you for 30 days. But I would say out of all the insurance out there, there's probably 20% that cover for a luxury, nice drug rehab. Most of them are going to send you to a county funded place or a state funded place.
Host
Yeah. And yours was a private place.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah, we were like private high end luxury. So we were like the top of the top, which is also the hardest because insurance doesn't want to pay for that.
Host
Right.
Teddy Tarantino
There's some insurance that would look at a website and be like, oh, this is luxury. We're not, we don't even damn. Like just because it was luxury, they'd be like, you don't need any of this? Just go to the hospital.
Host
So you're probably dealing with a lot of known people and high end ballers and stuff.
Teddy Tarantino
No, you would think so. But you can work. Your mom can work at Kmart. You can have good insurance.
Host
Oh, yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
So you can have good insurance just based off having a decent employer that offers a good health care. Okay, so there are actually people who have tons of money who have really shitty insurance.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
And just because you have good insurance doesn't mean it's good for substance abuse. So your substance abuse benefits could be crap. Or your policy just doesn't have that coverage.
Host
I'm in that boat because, like, self employed insurance is tough to find good ones, you know, So I have to pay a ton for it.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. For insurance.
Host
Yeah. And it's like, dude, I don't even like western medicine anyways. Like, why am I even paying a thousand a month for this?
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. It's kind of crazy. Or insurance or. South park just did an episode of like the American Insurance.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
Industry was so funny.
Host
It's such a scheme, right? I mean. Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
Insurance company is like the mafia.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
No, you know, you're. They make up their own rules and they pay whatever they want to pay. And then it's like, it's crazy because there's no black and white. Like, if this happens, this is what we're gonna pay. It's like you submit a claim and.
Host
Then they like, you gotta debate.
Teddy Tarantino
And then I've had siblings on the same policy and one pays 50, one didn't pay anything. And then you got to fight it and then whatever. I mean, it's really, it's. It's sad because these people have insurance. They've been paying for insurance. They should be insured.
Host
Yeah. And they got the best lawyer. So if you can't afford a good.
Teddy Tarantino
Lawyer to fight insurance, that they'll. If they're. If you really get into it, they'll be okay, we're gonna stop paying you until this is done. So then you won't take any more, you know, you can't take any more of their clients.
Host
Holy crap.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah.
Host
And you built your rehab center to 20 million in revenue a year.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah.
Host
That's impressive.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah.
Host
Was that one place or was it like.
Teddy Tarantino
No, multiple locations. Like five locations.
Host
Holy crap.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah.
Host
That's huge revenue. And this was back in the day too.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah, it wasn't too long ago. I mean, I left the company about a year and a half ago, but. Yeah, I didn't even know until the other day. But the Other day, one of my employees was like, yeah, we had 200 employees. Like, we had 200 employees. I thought we had like 130.
Host
How were you able to scale that? Quick.
Teddy Tarantino
Man. A lot of treat. That's actually slow in treatment. There are people who scale 10 times that. Oh, really, dude? I mean, to me, we were like modest growth and strategic. And there are some people who do. Well, they, they got into the drug rehab business and went full fledged, and a lot of them failed. You know, the business has gotten worse and worse every year just because insurance don't want to pay and so competitive and saturated. But I thought that was like, that pace. We grew, but I didn't think it was like, dangerous growth. You know, a lot of people, they, they like, filling the beds is the hardest part. So a lot of people would be like, well, if we build it, they'll come. And I've seen so many places expand and not be able to. When we were growing, we were growing 20 beds at a time. 15 beds at a time. There are some people who, they'd have 50 beds, they'd open up another 200 beds. Jeez, you know, that's too fast. Yeah. And it's like, care goes out the window. It's like, these are people's lives. So staff in a facility takes a long time because even though you have good staff, it takes like a year for you to get a good core staff. I don't care who you are because, you know, it just takes a while for you to get those.
Host
The chemistry. Oh, yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
The chemistry of a facility. But a small facility could have 60 staff. So even though 200 seems like a big number, we started out with 60 employees.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
So one center is at least 60.
Host
That's crazy. I didn't know that much went into one center. 60 employees?
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. Yeah. Your overhead at a small treatment center could be 200 grand a month.
Host
Jesus.
Teddy Tarantino
Without marketing.
Host
And if you're not filling the beds at least 50, you're probably losing money.
Teddy Tarantino
Oh. AT or facilities, if we're not full more than like 75, we're breaking even. Wow.
Host
So you got to be like 80 plus full.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. Just to make a little bit of money.
Host
And the turnover is high, so you got to constantly be.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah, it's crazy.
Host
I mean, is that why you left the.
Teddy Tarantino
The business is really crazy. Like, I, I, I am, I'm a different owner than a lot of owners. A lot of owners, like, they just care about the money and whatever. But, like, dude, I ran group at my treatment center every week for, for like six, seven years. Group.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
So I would run a group, like.
Host
Oh, a group.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. So I like, bring in a speaker. I would meet with the clients. Like, I knew almost every client's name. I would talk to the families.
Host
Oh, wow.
Teddy Tarantino
So I was like, pretty involved. A lot of owners after they get off the ground, they're not really even going to the facility. They're staying at the corporate office. And it's like, dude, I was really involved. And it's like, man, I probably been to like. How many funerals have you been to?
Host
Only like two, actually.
Teddy Tarantino
How old are you?
Host
27.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah, I'm 33. I've probably been to like 50.
Host
Holy crap.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah.
Host
So you go to your patients funerals?
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. I mean, am. I am. I'm in recovery myself, so it's like half my. Half of those are my friends. Damn. You know, maybe more. I probably been to like 100 funerals.
Host
Oh, my gosh.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah, it's like, you know, it gets. It's tiresome. If you work in treatment, you can almost work anywhere because it's 24 7, it doesn't close. There's no business hours. You're picking up people from the airport. There's people trying to leave at all different times. You're talking to the family. You're dealing with a disgruntled population. I mean, you're dealing with people relapsing, wanting to come back. You're dealing with, you know, you know, stopping them from sleeping with each other. Like, they're.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
Pranking each other. Like, it's like, you know, it's. It's like a crazy summer camp hotel, hospital.
Host
Yeah. You know, so that stress was just.
Teddy Tarantino
Too much for you, I think I really loved it for a while, but there was a time where, dude, like the deaths and the overhead and we were expanding and making the same money every year. So we would double in size and we were making more money three years ago.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
So it's like the industry was just so difficult and dude, some people are still crushing it and killing it, but a lot of people are really scaling back and hurting.
Host
Yeah, I've had two owners on the show. Eric Spofford, if you know him. Oh, yeah, I think he sold his.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah, I think he sold his in like the height.
Host
Oh, yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
Like when he first sold. Dude, if I would have had what I had back then, I'd probably be making five times.
Host
He had a nine figure exit, I think some crazy. And then Chad Carlson, not familiar. He has one in Cali, but yeah, his is smaller, but yeah, that makes sense why your recovery rate was double the average because you were hands on.
Teddy Tarantino
I was hands on. And. And we had a lot of scholarships. So usually if someone runs out of insurance, their insurance is going to come in for 30, maybe 45 days, 15, 20 days of outpatient. We had graduate houses where you, you could stay there indefinitely.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
So I've never even heard of a facility that would do this, but you could stay in a graduate house indefinitely. And, and our first graduate house had 10 beds. All 10 of those clients were clean two, three, four years.
Host
Damn.
Teddy Tarantino
Because, you know, it's just like, you know, when you're in the military, you're surrounded by like minded people. If everyone's waking up and going to the gym, you're waking up and working out, you know, so it's like when you are in a safe environment, your chances of staying clean are so much higher.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
And then it's when people leave or they get their own place. And I'm not saying you got to live in a halfway house forever, but statistically, if you stay in a halfway house for like a year, you know, you have a twice better chance as someone else who immediately goes back to their own their old.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
Place, you know, that's cool.
Host
And insurance doesn't cover that though.
Teddy Tarantino
No, that was just cash pay. We charge like 120 bucks a week and got it. And they would just stay there. But they like, if they stayed clean, they, they don't have to leave.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
You know, so I think you were drug testing them. Yeah, absolutely. So even though they're in this aftercare, someone had years clean, they're still getting drug tested. You know, they're still having like a house meeting once a week.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
There's still structure, still curfew, you know, and some of these people just loved it. Like when you would go to their rooms, it was so weird because usually at a halfway house, people are trying to get out of there.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
Where houses were so nice that a lot of them during COVID bro, there wasn't. You couldn't go rent a place for 100 bucks a week anywhere.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
You know, so when you would go to their rooms, dude, guitars on the, on the wall, pictures of their family, like they decked it out. That's cool because they want to stay in that house. It was a nice house. Most sober livings were in like areas or so religions were like nice houses. So a lot of them, they were like, man, I'm never gonna leave here. Like they didn't want to up because they knew, you know.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
That makes hard to find a place like that.
Host
What was that moment at 17 for you? Was it a specific incident that happened that made you, like, stop?
Teddy Tarantino
So people always ask me two questions, like how I got on drugs and how I got off.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
And I got on drugs because someone taught me, someone showed me, someone introduced me, someone, you know, piqued my interest. And it was the same thing when I got off drugs. So I started going to 12 step meetings. I'm like a super hardcore 12 step person. And it's like when you start to go to meetings and you're surrounded by thousands of people who have gotten clean and their lives are just so, like, interesting and, like, you're just blown away. It really inspired me and made me feel like I could do this forever. And like, one day, like, the. The switch flipped. Like, I remember I was like, I don't know if I could stay clean. You know, I still want to get high. And I was just like, you know, I'm young, whatever. And I'll never forget, I went to this one meeting, this guy, Ray Googs was speaking, and dude, this guy was a heroin addict for, like 30 years.
Host
Whoa.
Teddy Tarantino
Lived in Washington, D.C. homeless. And he was probably 55 years old. And I'll never forget, he said he had five years clean. And he said he was working on a second bachelor's degree. And he said, this time next week or this time next year, I'll be going to law school.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
And I was like, get the. And like, dude, I just couldn't. Like, you just don't hear about stuff.
Host
Like. Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
And then I started following him around. I would just see him, like, he wasn't full of. And he actually ended up working for me at the treatment center for years.
Host
Nice.
Teddy Tarantino
And actually became a lawyer. And you just hear stories like that. And, dude, it just started to change how I. How I thought about getting clean. And I wanted to do drugs because drugs were, like, crazy. But, like, what was even crazier was, like, being clean. Like, what if I didn't even drink or smoke or anything? What if I did get totally 100 sober? And I was like, that would even be crazy, you know?
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
So, yeah, like, I went from being the kid who, like, everyone in school was like, dude, that kid smokes crack. Like, to like, being someone who, like, doesn't drink, doesn't party. None of that.
Host
Wow. Total 180. Were you a big adrenaline junkie?
Teddy Tarantino
Still am.
Host
Yeah. You know, you just had to find a healthier Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
I think my first three years clean, four years clean. Like, I really practice, like the part of your brain that has like the breaking. So, like, dude, I just believe that. Like, I just never had that, Like, I never had a slow down button. I never had like a consider the consequence button. Like, if it felt good, I wanted to do it a thousand times, you know? And I really, like, my first, probably five years clean. Like, I didn't go to strip clubs, I didn't go to clubs, I didn't socialize with other people that weren't in recovery. I started reading tons of self help books. I was, I got introduced, like, yoga and it's like I didn't even know how to be a kid.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
You know, so like my whole story is that, like, I just wanted to be cool my whole life. Like, I just wanted to fit in and be with the older kids.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
I was always lying about my age and I was always driving when I shouldn't be driving and leaving the house when I shouldn't be leaving the house. I couldn't follow rules. And it's like I really had to learn that, like, all my shortcuts were actually holding me back.
Host
Damn.
Teddy Tarantino
You know, everything I try to do to like cut the line ended me up in a handcuffs, you know?
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
So I really had to relearn just to how to be with myself, you know?
Host
Yeah. That's deep, man. So you had to grow up quick.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah, I had to grow up quick, but I also like, regressed and like, I also learned how to like, ride a bike.
Host
Like, I remember 17 well.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. Because I knew how to ride a bike. But I. Like when I was in seventh grade, I was selling coke and I was going to parties and I was like hanging out with people in college. So when I used to see little kids in my age riding the bikes, I thought, you guys are losing. And I'm like, when I first got clean, one of the first things I did was bought a bicycle. And I used to bike and I got into biking. I started going to spin class.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
Like, I used to think like, bro, you're going to spin class. Like, you're, you know, loser. And it's like I. I really had to like, relearn to do things that I used to think were, like, corny, you know. And I got into biking. Like, I still go bike ride, you know, Like, I learned how to like, be myself, you know? Yeah.
Host
It's easy to form those beliefs to fit in with a friend group. You start like hating on certain people. You Know.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. Especially when you're young. Everyone's competing to be cool. And like, you know, all my friends, I thought we were so cool. And like, all literally, like 70% of the kids I grew up with are either on heroin or in prison.
Host
Damn.
Teddy Tarantino
You know, Where'd you grow up? I grew up in a nice area.
Host
Wow, that's ironic, right?
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. So I grew up in a really nice area called Davey, which, you know, you have, like, million dollar homes and then you have trailer parks. It's like. It's like, just because you live in that area doesn't mean you have money. You don't have money. But it's a big, like, I don't know, diverse town.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
And dude, there's just so many kids there that were just so bad. Like, in that area. I'm sure. Fort Lauderdale in general, we had the most pain clinics in the country.
Host
Geez.
Teddy Tarantino
Broward county had dispensed more medication, painkillers than other states combined.
Host
Holy.
Teddy Tarantino
So, like, that town was just like. Everybody started doing opiates.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
So, like, you would go to a party and, yeah, you would see a kegger and people smoking blunts, but you'd also see people doing OxyContin like it was nothing. So, you know, when OxyContin started to go away, people started to do Dilaudid. And Dilaudid, yeah, it works if you eat it, but you mainly shoot it. So then these people are shooting pills now, and then they're shooting heroin, and then, you know, they're heroin addicts. So.
Host
Holy crap.
Teddy Tarantino
Like, all my friends that I grew up with is crazy. Like, they all got addicted to IV heroin.
Host
And you said a lot of them ended up dying, too.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah, I mean, I. Like I said, I've probably been to like 100 funerals.
Host
Did that. Did that, like, numbness, like, did that ever stop?
Teddy Tarantino
So when I was using, it never really bothered me because when people would die, I would, like, be like, oh, well, it was a girl. She probably, like weighed 90 pounds and did an Oxy 80.
Host
And yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
Just couldn't handle it or something. But when I got clean, it started to happen more and more. And then, man, it's like when you're using, you have no feelings. Like, you're totally numb. And then when you get clean, it's like the opposite effect.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
I started crying watching the fucking Publix commercial, you know, Like, I. I just started to have so much emotions and then, like, feel attached. Like, I never felt attachment to people. I never really had, like, friends. And then I Start making friends in recovery, and they start relapsing. Now I'm, like, worried about them. Now I'm like, this is what my parents went through, you know?
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
And then it comes around full circle, and I'm like, do they die? And then you're like, you know, it starts to really affect you. And at nine months clean, the first kid I ever sponsored was my childhood friend and drug dealer. I had. Last time I had seen him, he was selling pills out of, like, a Motel 6, and people are shooting up on the bed. He was selling pills. He was with this lady who was smoking crack. Fast forward. I'm clean, like, nine months. I'm speaking out of rehab. And I remember he was like, yo, I know you. And I start. Like, I didn't recognize him because he lost so much weight in jail.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
And I started sponsoring him. And, dude, he died of an overdose.
Host
Oh.
Teddy Tarantino
So I was 17, and this kid died of an overdose. And my first sponsor ever. And that's when I was like, damn. Like. Like, we really are, like, in. In recovery. Like, they give out chips because. Symbolize that you're gambling with your life. And it's like, damn, we really are. Then fentanyl came out. Fentanyl didn't come off, like, two, three years after that. So when fentanyl came out, man, I think right now, I think, like, 120 people die a day.
Host
What?
Teddy Tarantino
A fentanyl overdose? Yes. It's like 70, 000 people a year.
Host
Holy. That's in the U.S. or worldwide?
Teddy Tarantino
No, it's in the U.S. wow. That's in the U. S. So before fentanyl, the number was, like, 30,000.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
So a number. Number is doubled in fentanyl.
Host
That's crazy.
Teddy Tarantino
So, like, while we sit here, do this podcast, someone will overdose and die.
Host
That's nuts, dude.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah.
Host
Yeah. These days you got to really test the drugs if you're going to even take them.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. No one does that. It's like no one's testing their drugs. You know, there might be, like, a small percentage, but it blows my mind. Some people, like, do. Their drug of choice is fentanyl. They're looking for fentanyl. They're not, like, they're not testing it because they want the fentanyl. That's.
Host
That's insane.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah, it's crazy.
Host
What do you transition to after this? I know you did some adult industry stuff too.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. So, like, I've always been into, like. Like, sex and drugs. You know what I mean? And, like, when I got clean, like, I kind of had this, like, perspective of, like, anything adult is, like, bad. And there's a lot of, like, Christian people in recovery. So, like, I kind of, like, never really talked about it or whatever, but I've always been, like, promiscuous. And even in recovery, that's, like, not a good thing to be promiscuous your. Especially your first year, maybe your second year, but, like, your first year, you should probably, like, chill out.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
Which I did. And then, like, as I got older, like, I just got, like, more interested in, like, I think at like, 21 or 20. I went to my first swingers club. I went to a swingers club and, like, dude, I had never seen, like, this in my whole life. I didn't even know this existed.
Host
Yeah, I thought.
Teddy Tarantino
I didn't even know this went on, like, in America. I was blown away that this is even legal. And one of my first swingers club, like, blew my mind. That's when I got, like, introduced to, like, the idea of polygamy or, like, open relationships. And I started to become, like, really open minded. And when I was 22, I had a friend who had, like, a big male escort agency. It was, like, one of the only straight male agencies. And I remember my friend could, like, never stay clean. And I would tell him, like, dude, it's probably because you're doing this escorting. And then he got clean, and we became, like, closer and friends. And I remember he was like, yo, you, I need you. I was like, for what? He's like, I need you to, like, hook up with this lady in Miami and she's going to pay you. And I was like, dude, I'm not hooking up with no old lady. And he was like, who said she's old? And I was like, she's not old. And he sent me a picture of her. I was like, dude, she's hot. And then he. I was like, that girl's going to pay me. And he's like, something like that. And I went down there, and it would be like her sugar daddy would pay for guys to hook up with her. She would be blindfolded. It would be like, what? Yeah, It'd be like 20 minutes. And he paid me three grand.
Host
Whoa.
Teddy Tarantino
So the first time I got, like, three grand, he's not in the room. He, like, walks out and, like, waits in the living room. And he just does this as, like, a treat for them.
Host
Whoa.
Teddy Tarantino
And he told me that she thinks that we're paying her or, like, you know, I don't know what it. I didn't ask a lot of questions, you know, And I would do that like a couple times a month. And dude, that was like an extra nine grand in my pocket. And that's when I started to like, really see like this other world of like, you know, escorting. And it was fun. And then my friend Alex Adams, shout out. He's number one male porn star ever. He has like billions of views, most viewed.
Host
I never heard of him.
Teddy Tarantino
I know the most people have because he does pov. So you never see him.
Host
Oh.
Teddy Tarantino
You know, but if you watch his stuff, you're like, oh, I've seen this guy.
Host
Okay.
Teddy Tarantino
So he like really is like the king of like the stepbrother thing, which that genre just like took off.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
But he has billions of views. His name's Alex Adams. But you probably have like, don't. He's. He's not like on social media. Big. He plays video games. But dude makes millions of dollars killing it. And back in the day, I used to think, like, people who do adult entertainment don't make any money.
Host
Yeah. Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
Especially men. So I saw him go from like. And he's also sober or clean. He's in recovery a long time.
Host
Nice.
Teddy Tarantino
So I saw him get clean, start his like, little film company by himself, $1 nothing, you know, and go from like Toyota Corolla to like multiple McLarens and Rolls Royces.
Host
Damn.
Teddy Tarantino
And at the time, he was super successful. I was making money, you know, I was ready like a millionaire. I was your age, 27. And he. And I asked like, how does it work? And dude, he like showed me like the ins and outs of it. And I posted my first video and I would not show my face cuz I'm still like the CEO of this company. And dude, none of my videos were getting any views. And you got to get views, like, make money.
Host
Yeah, the ads, right?
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. So I was like, what am I doing wrong? So I was like, he does a lot of like talking, you know. So then I started to talk in them and I got like the number one video in 2018. Yeah. My video started making so much money. And then I was like, oh my God, it's going to take off. And then people started recognizing my voice. So then I was like, dude, I can't own like a rehab and do this.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
And then, you know, I really am super loyal and like, dude, I don't want to screw over my business partners. And like, you know, drug rehab is such a sensitive thing. Like, no one wants to send their daughter to a rehab that's like owned by a guy who's doing all entertainment people don't take. I'm also super young, dude. I started the treatment center 25, so like a lot of people already didn't take me that seriously. So I over compensated by being like super professional. Like, man, we just did things like buy the book, you know. And then when I left the treatment center, I started posting my videos and I didn't realize that because of COVID so many people had got into that industry that it was kind of what happened with my old industry was so saturated.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
I thought I was going to make all this money and the videos make like a little bit of money, like on of and stuff like that. Like a little bit like on pornhub and X videos and stuff like that. But not like I imagined. So, you know, I listened to one of your podcasts and you're saying like, a lot of my success is like, timing.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
And like, yeah, I've had success. I've also have done a lot of things that didn't work out because of timing.
Host
Same. Yeah, I've definitely had my share of those too.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah.
Host
Yeah. Of what is hard for guys too.
Teddy Tarantino
I heard anything adult is hard for guys, you know, because 99% of the clients are men.
Host
Right.
Teddy Tarantino
So it's like.
Host
And you don't do gay content, so it's even tougher. Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
I mean, if you did any type of even sus content. You know, I know a kid who like, he makes like sus videos.
Host
What's up?
Teddy Tarantino
Well, he'll make like a TikTok of like him and his friend doing something borderline gay.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
But he doesn't do anything gay, like on camera. But he'll send like solo videos to guys. Like, I've had guys ask me for like, I had this guy offer me like twelve hundred dollars for my underwear.
Host
Damn.
Teddy Tarantino
And I was like one. Like, I don't need the money that bad.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
I don't even feel right sending my underwear. It's like another man.
Host
I feel that.
Teddy Tarantino
So it's like. But I did ask him, how much would you pay just to see? And I just like kept up in it. And he was like, yeah. He like said he'd pay up to 1200. I was like, no.
Host
Crap.
Teddy Tarantino
I just couldn't do it.
Host
It's tempting though.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. I mean, I guess, like if I really needed the money. But it's like, I'm already successful. Like, I don't really need a bucks that bad. So I was just like, nah, I don't feel Comfortable doing it, you know, But I don't know. Like, I refuse to do any of that. Even, like, when some of the men, like, message the of page, like, when they're clearly interested in me, I'm like, I just can't do it.
Host
I feel that. You got to hit up Adam 22.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah.
Host
Do a little collab with Lena.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah.
Host
That'll skyrocket your numbers. Jason Love, I heard, made a ton off that video.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. So he made a ton of that video because that was, like, the first boy girl that she had. Did. And because he's just a giant black dude and they're white, and interracial, stuff like that just pops off. But, like, even with, like, podcasts, so imagine this. I'm sure so many people are like, oh, if you get this guest on your show, it's gonna pop up.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
Doesn't work.
Host
No, it's not like that.
Teddy Tarantino
It's not like that at all. Like, I had a podcast for a long time. Hell has an Exit, and, dude, we would pay big money for a lot of guests.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
And, yeah, it would help, but it wouldn't. So a lot of people think, like, in the adult industry, oh, if you shoot with this person, you'll blow up. It's not really like that. It's kind of like you just have to keep pumping out good content. And, dude, I've shot with some girls that look like the girl next door. They're not, like, the most attractive looking girl. They're very average looking, and they will do way better than, like, a superstar girl that everyone knows.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
I've shot with girls that they only did that one video with me, and everyone wants to see more videos them because they. They're not known.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
So, you know. Yeah. Like, it would be cool to do something with Adam 22 and. But it's like, that's not a game changer for your career.
Host
That's relatable, though, because with the pot, I'll have on huge celebrities sometimes, and it won't get as many views. It's just a normal guy dude, I've listened to.
Teddy Tarantino
I remember I saw a podcast with one of, like, my favorite artists, and.
Host
It was Mike Posner, right?
Teddy Tarantino
No, I saw. I saw his on yours.
Host
Yeah. But that only got, like, 10K and I'm like, oh, really? Like, Mike Posner, like, wow. Gotten 100k.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. I love him and I'm such a fan. He's like, one of my favorite people. Just because, like, I followed his whole, like, trek to Everest, like, all, like, it Was dope.
Host
His hike across the country.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. His story is so cool. But I just think that. I mean, I was surprised that it got 10k. I actually haven't. Listen. I was trying to listen to it today. I was like, I wonder if it came out yet. It's out.
Host
Yeah, it's out. Yeah. But I was like, damn, cuz.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. He's such a huge name. I think people don't know him, like, cuz, like, I'll tell people, like, oh, you know Mike Posner? And people are like, no. And then you play his song.
Host
Yeah. And they're like, yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
But I'm also, like, a big Black Bear fan, so I just. Just.
Host
That's a good one, too.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. I want to get him on his music. Yeah. But it's like, you would think. And then even if it does go crazy, I had videos get millions of views on Tick Tock, and it's like, dude, it's not bringing in a ton of money. It's not. I'm not Joe Rogan.
Host
Yeah.
Teddy Tarantino
So even with the podcast, like, I stopped doing my podcast because, dude, I. I probably put like 500 grand into my podcast.
Host
Dude, most podcasts lose hell of money. I was unprofitable for six months.
Teddy Tarantino
The first six months I've been unprofitable, like, three years.
Host
Well, I never paid gas, so.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah, I never.
Host
That's a dangerous.
Teddy Tarantino
I was paying gas. I had, like, a whole team. We were pushing out ads. And not just that, like, we never ran ads, so. I know, like, sponsors.
Host
Yeah, yeah, you need to.
Teddy Tarantino
I know. I was just like, I don't want to do ads.
Host
That's how you offset everything.
Teddy Tarantino
I know. And it's just like. And then we would do ads and we'd make, like 500 bucks.
Host
Yeah. It's not a lot, but it offsets all the, like, filming costs in studio.
Teddy Tarantino
And I was flying, you know, so after a while, I was like, you know, I want to do something else, so.
Host
Yeah. Yeah. Don't start a pod to make money. If you're watching this, guys, you're not going to make sure.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah. Originally I did it. You know, I did it just because I love, like, having people's stories on there. It's like an addiction podcast. But then eventually I was like, well, let me throw all this money at this and see what happens. And I was like, fog that.
Host
Yeah, I feel. So what are you working on now, then?
Teddy Tarantino
I'm really trying to come out my book. So. Yeah, since 17, I've been keeping a diary, so I have like, 40 composition books, probably. Like, I have word documents of diaries that are so big that you can't even open it. Like, crashes.
Host
Holy crap.
Teddy Tarantino
So, like, I've been keeping a diary for literally 16 years.
Host
So every day you write it?
Teddy Tarantino
Not every day day, but every day for probably four years.
Host
Ice.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah, Maybe five years. Almost every day. And then after that, I've kind of, like, did it once a week, every two weeks. Sometimes I would go a couple months without writing, but I would update, like, my whole life. So I had it up for a while. And honestly, it, like, makes me so uncomfortable reading my old writings. It's like, just like, dude, this kid is so. But, like, in my mind, like, I don't know, I'm like, I don't want to see that stuff. Like, yeah, I imagine anyone reading their old diary kind of, like, super cringe. But I did put it out, like, before I had the treatment centers, and there are people today who still know me from that.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
But I just love helping, like, addicts. So, like, whether I do the podcast or not, I'll always kind of do something creative to, like, spread that message.
Host
Yeah, I'm sure you get messages daily.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah.
Host
You've saved probably hundreds of lives indirectly that you don't.
Teddy Tarantino
Yeah, I get so many DMS all the time. I just got one the other day. Someone read it to me that runs the Instagram page, and it's like, dude, I get so many people who are like, bro, I had no idea that recovery was even a thing, because where they live, when they go to meetings, it's all, like, older people. And he literally flew down, went to South Florida, started going to meetings, and is clean, like, three years, and he did the podcast.
Host
Wow.
Teddy Tarantino
So it's like, you know, we've had, like, people that are, like, podcast alumni who, like, they started off as listeners they were using, and now they have years clean.
Host
That's cool. So, yeah, that's inspiring because that's relatable, you know, for sure. Yeah. Super cool. Teddy, where can people find you and what you're up to next?
Teddy Tarantino
You can find me at Teddy Tarantino and Twitter. I think it's just Teddy Tarantino and. Yeah, we'll link below.
Host
Brother. Thanks for coming on. Thanks for watching, guys.
Teddy Tarantino
Thank you, bro.
Host
Yep. Thanks for watching, guys, as always.
Teddy Tarantino
See you.
Digital Social Hour: Avoid This $10,000 Marketing Mistake TODAY | Teddy Tarantino DSH #769
Release Date: September 30, 2024
In this compelling episode of Digital Social Hour, host Sean Kelly engages in a deep and honest conversation with Teddy Tarantino, a former drug addict turned entrepreneur who built a successful drug rehabilitation empire. Teddy shares his harrowing journey through addiction, his innovative approach to rehabilitation, and the significant challenges he faced in both the rehab and adult entertainment industries. This summary captures the essence of their discussion, highlighting key insights, personal stories, and valuable business advice.
The episode kicks off with Sean Kelly welcoming Teddy Tarantino, who immediately shares a startling anecdote about the ease of "doctor shopping" to obtain prescription drugs during his addiction years.
Teddy Tarantino [00:00]: "I could go to five different doctors and get the same prescription for multiple things."
Sean reacts with astonishment, setting the tone for an eye-opening conversation about the drug epidemic and its systemic loopholes.
Teddy reveals his early introduction to drugs, beginning at the tender age of six with alcohol, which he considers his first "drug."
Teddy Tarantino [00:37]: "So I consider alcohol to be a drug. So alcohol is probably the first thing I ever did."
He recounts getting drunk at a family party, highlighting how his environment facilitated his early substance abuse.
Teddy delves into the practice of doctor shopping—a method used to obtain multiple prescriptions by visiting different doctors. He explains how, before databases were implemented, it was alarmingly easy to fill multiple prescriptions for the same medication.
Teddy Tarantino [04:15]: "Back in the day, there wasn't a database. I could sign up with multiple doctors and obtain as many prescriptions as I wanted."
Sean underscores the severity of this issue, likening the unchecked availability of painkillers to "print money."
Teddy also discusses the transition from prescription opioids like OxyContin to more potent drugs like fentanyl, emphasizing the increased risk of overdose.
Teddy Tarantino [05:37]: "It's like Russian roulette right now with the epidemic. They're putting fentanyl in cocaine. It's crazy."
Having battled addiction, Teddy recounts his pivot to running drug rehabilitation centers. He highlights the operational complexities, such as staffing and the high overhead costs associated with maintaining a rehab facility.
Teddy Tarantino [11:55]: "Your overhead at a small treatment center could be 200 grand a month without marketing."
He emphasizes the importance of quality care over rapid expansion, cautioning against scaling too quickly, which can compromise the effectiveness of treatment.
Teddy Tarantino [10:34]: "It just switches to a different drug. If they stop Oxies, it goes to Dilaudid, then fentanyl."
Teddy sheds light on the struggles within the rehab industry, particularly regarding insurance companies' reluctance to fund long-term care.
Teddy Tarantino [06:20]: "When you go to drug rehab, they don't say, 'You're approved for 30 days.' They negotiate day by day, making it difficult to secure extended treatment."
He contrasts the national average success rates of rehab centers with his own, which boasted a significantly higher success rate due to comprehensive, hands-on care.
Teddy Tarantino [07:16]: "The national average is single-digit success rate. My treatment center was at like 15%, double the national average."
Unlike many entrepreneurs who remain detached, Teddy was deeply involved in his rehab centers, conducting group sessions and building meaningful relationships with clients.
Teddy Tarantino [12:19]: "I ran group at my treatment center every week for like six, seven years. I knew almost every client's name."
His hands-on approach not only improved success rates but also provided him with profound personal experiences, including attending numerous funerals of former clients.
Teddy Tarantino [22:14]: "I've probably been to like 100 funerals."
After leaving the rehab business, Teddy ventured into the adult entertainment industry. He recounts his initial skepticism and eventual success, learning valuable lessons about content creation and audience engagement.
Teddy Tarantino [27:08]: "I saw him [Alex Adams] go from a Toyota Corolla to multiple McLarens and Rolls Royces... he showed me the ins and outs."
Despite significant investments, Teddy faced challenges with market saturation and the unpredictability of content virality.
Teddy Tarantino [29:23]: "I thought I was going to make all this money... But I listened to one of your podcasts and realized a lot of my success is about timing."
Teddy offers practical advice on content creation, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and consistent quality over chasing fleeting trends or celebrity endorsements.
Teddy Tarantino [31:58]: "A lot of people think, 'If you shoot with this person, you'll blow up.' It's not like that. You have to keep pumping out good content."
He also shares his experiences with podcasting, highlighting the financial challenges and the importance of monetization strategies like advertising.
Teddy Tarantino [33:14]: "We would do ads and make like 500 bucks. It offsets all the filming costs."
Currently, Teddy is focused on authoring a book, drawing from his extensive personal diaries spanning 16 years. He aims to share his life story to inspire and help others battling addiction.
Teddy Tarantino [34:13]: "I'm really trying to come out with my book... I've been keeping a diary for literally 16 years."
He expresses a commitment to continue supporting the recovery community through various creative endeavors, ensuring his legacy of helping others endures.
The episode concludes with Sean acknowledging Teddy's profound impact on listeners and the broader community. Teddy expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share his story, emphasizing the importance of spreading awareness and support for addiction recovery.
Sean Kelly: "You've saved probably hundreds of lives indirectly that you don't."
Teddy Tarantino: "Whether I do the podcast or not, I'll always kind of do something creative to spread that message."
On Doctor Shopping:
"Back in the day, there wasn't a database. I could sign up with multiple doctors and obtain as many prescriptions as I wanted." — Teddy Tarantino [04:15]
On Rehab Success Rates:
"The national average is single-digit success rate. My treatment center was at like 15%, double the national average." — Teddy Tarantino [07:16]
On Content Creation:
"You have to keep pumping out good content." — Teddy Tarantino [31:58]
On His Book Project:
"I'm really trying to come out with my book... I've been keeping a diary for literally 16 years." — Teddy Tarantino [34:13]
This episode serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities surrounding addiction and rehabilitation, offering both cautionary tales and inspiring stories of resilience and entrepreneurship. Teddy Tarantino's candid reflections provide invaluable lessons for listeners navigating their personal and professional lives.