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Founder's Story
The Recovery Expert Who Danced In R. Kelly's Video: 'What If I'd Been Near Him?' | Ep 294 with Amanda Marino Founder of Next Level Recovery Associates
00:17:15
Amanda Marino’s story is not about falling and rising once. It’s about surviving multiple lives. From childhood trauma and early fame in the entertainment industry to addiction, sobriety, and building a concierge recovery company during COVID, this episode explores what happens when success comes before healing, and how purpose only emerges when the work becomes service.
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Capella University Announcer
Hear that?
- [00:02]
Interviewer
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- [00:28]
Commercial Advertiser
Possible loss of principle.
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Interviewer
Alps Distributors, Inc.
- [00:30]
Capella University Announcer
Distributor at Capella University Learning the right skills could make a difference. That's why our business programs teach you relevant skills you can take from the courseroom to the workplace. A different future is closer than you think with Capella University. Learn more at Capella. Edu.
- [00:47]
Commercial Advertiser
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Interviewer
You have a fascinating story. You're helping people now with addiction and rehabilitating their life becoming better. But at one point you were a professional dancer in hip hop music videos.
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Amanda Marino
Yes.
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Interviewer
In like the heyday of I think the, the videos obviously now. I mean videos, you know, back then it was like MTV and stuff like videos were the thing. Like everyone was watching these. So tell me about that experience.
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Amanda Marino
I mean I had some lovely experiences, but I also was, you know, a lot of the things that have been coming up now with the whole P. Diddy thing, like and then R. Kelly Prior, you know, really just kind of triggered, you know, I was, I was abused as a child and that's what brought me down my dark path, I believe. And then being in the entertainment industry like the second I turned 18, you know, sent to auditions for hip hop music videos. A dance for, you know, a quality thing was like a Ricky Martin She Bangs video in the Bahamas that was on MTV making the music video. Like I was a whole big thing, right? And but then I also did hip hop, like straight hip hop videos. R. Kelly feeling on your booty, which makes me feel nauseous. Video is what I was in. And I think back to that time, I think I was placed with Method man and Redman and thank God because they were cool and they were funny. But what if I would have been put near R. Kelly? Like, could that, could my life have been different? Like, you know, and I was definitely put into some, some uncomfortable situations in that field.
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Interviewer
That's an interesting take around. You could have gone down two different. You were, you were right there at the edge of the possibilities to go down two different paths. And one being very, very dark and could have traumatized you, you know, how does that feel knowing, you know, the path that you did take?
- [03:02]
Amanda Marino
So, so grateful, you know, it had to get worse before it got better for sure. However, I think that I would have been kind of. It was around the time Britney Spears kind of. Of went off, popped off, you know, like, I think that's when my whole, my issues were. And I just am so, so grateful that, you know, I was brought down this path. And I get to help people with all kinds of things today, like anything that they're struggling with. Eating disorders, you know, mental health, addiction, all these things. And it's like, it's such a gift. And I think because I've been in so many dark situations, I can say I've been there in a lot of ways to people.
- [03:33]
Interviewer
Yeah. So when you're talking to somebody and you're hearing these stories from them, I find it tough sometimes to listen to some people's stories because it almost brings up anxiety in me. How do you handle those situations when you're hearing these things? How do you disassociate yourself or also not then take it home with you?
- [03:53]
Amanda Marino
So when I take, I mean, I'm pretty good at keeping it at the, like leaving it out the door, you know. But there are times where I cross my own boundaries. It happens. I'm human, you know, so I'm pretty good at, at keeping it separate and not taking on people's things. Like I work on energy, you know, do energy work, spiritual work. Like I have to do extra, extra self care just to be like a status quo with the stuff I deal with. Because some of it's crazy, some of it's light and fun and. But some of it, most of it's really hard work, you know, dealing with really, you know, families that are going through a lot for generations, usually like generational wealth and people, entertainments, athletes. It's like, you know, it's heavy things.
- [04:31]
Interviewer
It'S like we look up to celebrities in the sense that we all say, hey Amanda, I want to be a celebrity. I want to be this famous person. But we probably don't realize what that person is going through. What are you finding that these people. What's the reality?
- [04:47]
Amanda Marino
So the reality is I used to think that like that was the, that was the trajectory I was on, like I was going to make it. I had really good opportunities that I messed up. So that was like all I wanted from age 4 to 22, you know, and. And I just started making poor choices towards the end. But it's, it's a dark, it's a dark area, you know. And this has been going on for 20 plus years. So this is not something that's new. And like these things that are just coming to light, that's hard for me to hear, you know, like, how did this just come out now? These things, these things have been going on for 25 years. So yeah, anyone in that space, it's harder. Like I mean you and I have, you know, presence on social media. That's even hard. Like I. I had comments on some video the other day about like saying you have a million surgeries. And I'm like, actually not. I have no surgery on my face, which is a first for me, which. But I have mean messages. So like they have to deal with that like on a scale of like mass, you know, and you have to have some thick skin to take some of this stuff and you have to do work on yourself and remind yourself who you are.
- [05:49]
Interviewer
I would definitely want to hire somebody to manage. I would say look, I don't even want to look at souls. Like don't even give me. I would take like a flip phone. Like give me a flip phone because I don't want to see anything about anything because I, I couldn't handle it. I would not want to be mass famous.
- [06:05]
Amanda Marino
Well, I'll tell you after the show because I worked on a show intervention. When that came out, I was warned by my colleagues and friends that have been on it for a long time. Just wait, you're gonna catch some shit. And sure enough, boy like people were coming into my website to my. My back of my social medias and my email like everywhere and like say like Christine, you know, threat, threatening things call, like just. It was wild. But I. It made me, it made me stronger. It helps me ground myself into reminding myself who I am. It only matters what I think. Only matters what me and God think. You know, it doesn't matter. What the world says about me, and that comes from, like, being bullied as a kid and, like, all these things. Like, I've gone through so much that there's nothing that anyone can say that can. That can hurt me at this point, honestly.
- [06:45]
Interviewer
So you were in hip hop videos, dancing, which, by the way, I always wanted to be in a hip hop video. I feel like it'd be a interesting experience. And then. And then at some point, you moved into reality tv. What is. Is I always say, is it unreality tv? Is it not reality tv, or is it legit reality tv? What is that experience like?
- [07:06]
Amanda Marino
Okay, so I had worked with the. The executive producer and director. I had worked with him on another show called Digital Addiction. And it was for. From anything I heard from Intervention. I've heard different things over the years. However, the year. The year that I went on Digital Addiction and on Intervention, both on the A and E network, I knew the people and trusted the team. And I said, I have to be able to treat every single person I work with like. Like, I'm just being me and that I'm. I'm. They were my real client, and I have to be able to work with their families. Like, that, to me, is important for the authenticity. And they were so supportive of it. If they had a question about anything, like, they didn't know, they would have relied on people like us and that. The psychiatric evaluations and things like that, they would ask us, like. And we could set boundaries. Like, in Memphis, we almost didn't go because the clients they were filming before we got there were, like, trying to run the camera people over and pulling out guns. And so we almost didn't do Memphis, but we just did in a different way. I'll never go back to Memphis, just FYI. But, yeah, my experience, it was real. But I have friends that are on other reality shows, such as Housewives and other things like that, where that was. That's a lot of staged and a lot of trauma. So I had a great time.
- [08:17]
Interviewer
I mean, it's great that you had a good experience and it wasn't one of those traumatic experiences. It seems like you can also, you know, leverage that in business and stuff later on. And it's great talking points as well. You're building your personal brand, I think, online through these shows and stuff. So you have this company now, and now you're dedicated to helping people.
- [08:38]
Amanda Marino
Yeah, so I have two, you know, I have the next level, Recovery Associates, which is also, you know, we've expanded, like I said, to eating Disorders, which is huge. Dual diagnosis. People that are hoarding. Gaming, gambling, porn, whatever. Whatever. Whatever you have going on. Right. And you don't want to. You want to have privacy and secrecy and a customized program for you. That's what we do. We bring professionals from all around the world, speaking all different languages to go live with people and to create a concierge plan for them or travel with them, whatever they need. And then my brand is, you know, Amanda Marino, which my daughter was the one that found out that I had, like, I was. I was a TV personality on Google. She. I guess she was trying to show a friend something. She's like, mom, that you're a TV personality. And I was cracking up. So, yeah, so there's. There's two things that are going on, and I. I worked only in behavioral health for so long, and one day I woke up and I was like, I am in the wrong rooms. I'm in the rooms where everyone knows the solutions. Everyone knows that there's this kind of therapy and this kind of treatment. I need to get to people that have never heard of, that they're not alone, that there's this kind of care out there, that there's this kind of support, you know, like. So that's my message now, is to amplify that like I did@your TEDx. You know, the Forbes park was, you know, I want to get rich people that don't have any clue that there's help out there, because there's a lot still all around the world.
- [09:52]
Interviewer
What type of help are you finding that people really need right now? Because I think we went through Covid. I think we were all pretty much traumatized.
- [10:01]
Capella University Announcer
Is it time to reimagine your future? The right business skills may make a difference in your career. At Capella University, we offer a relevant education that's designed to focus on what you need to know in the business world. We'll teach professional skills to help you pursue your goals like business management, strategic planning, and effective communication. And you can apply these skills right away. A different future is closer than you think with Capella University. Learn more at Capella. Edu.
- [10:32]
Commercial Advertiser
Getting more as a Myloes Pro Rewards member is easier than ever with the Lowe's app. Download it today and earn 500 points the first time you log in. Plus, your digital wallet helps you scan, save, earn, and access what you need to manage it all in one place. Download the Lowe's app and take advantage of your pro benefits. Today, Lowe's we help you save valid 12,125through1726 offer valid for first login per organization only. Loyalty program. Subject to terms and conditions. Additional restrictions apply. Visit Lowes.com terms for more details. Subject to change.
- [11:01]
Amanda Marino
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- [11:31]
Interviewer
Guys, every person on this planet has some sort of trauma. I don't think most of us ever faced it nor dealt with it. And then we just said go back to your normal life. Everything is open. And it seems like mental health is just on a sliding scale downward. So what are you finding right now is the biggest thing that people struggle with first?
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Amanda Marino
I'm going to start with the downward is true, but it's also an upward because it had to smash a lot of the stigma and people being scared to reach out for mental health help. Right. So people were left in a position where they had to ask for help. I had, they had to find something or they weren't going to make it. So people that were healthy, teetered, people that were like on the edge went over. People that were over the edge, like, you know, it was a bear. But it's made the conversation about mental health. Covid actually helped us a lot because, you know, like I've been posting about it on LinkedIn for like since 2011 and I was one of the first people to talk about my personal journey on there. And so, you know, we're seeing a lot of depression, agoraphobia, people scared to like go out and leave their homes, people that used to travel a ton. So we'll go take them to the airport and have coffee with them. We'll, you know, whatever they, whatever people need a lot of hoarding. Hoarding is a big thing. Alcohol is still number one as far as like addiction wise and eating disorders. Men and women are at a rise.
- [12:48]
Interviewer
So what when somebody comes to you and says, you know, I, I have this, I have this problem. Is there like a, I'm thinking like five steps or whatever the steps. Is there like a certain step thing that most people should go through or is it totally unique and custom to the individual.
- [13:05]
Amanda Marino
We customize everything. So we're. Because we're concierge and like, you know, white glove kind of service boutique. You know, we have a. A clinical expert, Dr. Jeffrey Hutman. I have a clinical psychiatrist on call, Dr. Aldo Morales. And then we partner with clinical professionals and dietitians and different people all around the world also culturally competent to go to be in different cultures and speak different languages. So, yeah, it's, It's. It's fun and wild and it's unique to each person. So, like, when we go down our client list every Thursday and do clinical rounds every Tuesday, there's so many different things that we're talking about, right? There's wild and diverse, from adolescents to 70, 80 olds. Know, we're helping.
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Interviewer
When you think about legacy and your mission in life, what comes to mind when you think of those words?
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Amanda Marino
My kids. I want. I. I'm doing this because of that. I mean, originally because of them. And now for me, you know, my son. I had my son at 24, and he's the reason I decided to, you know, work on my trauma and work on my issues and change my life. And I got to bring him to the Philippines to watch me do a TedX. I come from living in, like, the hood, you know, like, when I was. I was a poor, poor single mom, and I never thought in a million years I would go to all these countries and, and do all these things. It's been such a gift. So my kids are. I want to leave a legacy for them. I want to leave. I want to be able to help them buy a home. That's my dream. Like, I want to help them, you know, do the things that they want to do, not, not spoil them by any means, but, you know, give them great life experiences that they remember and, and cherish and know that mom was a woman of integrity and mom pushed herself, even if she was scared and did all these things. You know, my son, when he graduated, he said he wants to work for me and he wants to be a firefighter. So he just got accepted into fire academy and he's done some training to work with me. So he. It's. He's on the path. He's 20. You met him. He's massive.
- [14:56]
Interviewer
No one's going to talk about us, but our kids essentially. Right. Like most people, at some point, every person will be forgotten about except our kids and family hopefully will continue to talk about us in the future. I know resilience is a big thing for you. It's also probably the Most successful people we've had have told us resilience and entrepreneurship are pretty much tied together. So when you, when you look at resilience for yourself, how have you remained?
- [15:26]
Amanda Marino
I get knocked down and I crumble behind the scenes in my home and go into pajama days and go through dog. I just, I sit. Like, I, I so sit with it. I sit with it sometimes and that's the hardest thing to do. Like, and just move, move through it. Like with, with resilience. You know, it's, it's, it's being scared and doing it anyways. It's, it's quote, unquote failing. But failing isn't failing, because failing, you're actually trying. So if you try something and it doesn't work out, that's still a win. And people need to realize that, like, if you, if you try something, try something else. You know, if you want to leave your job and build your own company, figure out what your worst case scenario is if you put a strategy into place. Right? So for me, I, my worst case scenario is if I this doesn't work out, then I will have to get a job doing this. And that was. So I went for it with $100 in the bank account. I built a international brand in Covid.
- [16:17]
Interviewer
What would you say was, was a turning point? So you started with basically no capital. We could say $100 is basically no capital. Right. What was a turning point in, in the company when you said, wow, like this, this is going to be a legit thing?
- [16:32]
Amanda Marino
Well, we were, as my mother was telling me every day about, you know, people dying and around people losing their jobs and, you know, businesses closing and like, I was thriving because of course, the need for my services. I was, I was in the younger population. Like my mentors and teachers were older and they couldn't do these things. They couldn't travel, they couldn't be in person. So, you know, it was just getting it done and doing whatever you have to do to get it done.
- [16:57]
Interviewer
It's. You definitely solve a need. I feel like some people go into business because it's something that they want, but you and I know that doesn't mean other people will want it. Right? Like, if I'm solving a problem only I have, or I'm solving a problem, I like to say it's the supplement versus the medicine. If I'm solving a problem, that's a supplement. People may or may not want it, they may or may not pay for it, but if it is a medicine to them and they Absolutely need it, then that is something that I can create a thriving business from.
- [17:27]
Amanda Marino
Yeah. And Covid, it was just like I had, like the survivor's guilt kind of at first, like, oh, my God, my mom's, like, calling me every day. I'm like, telling me about all these people losing the business and I'm, like, killing it. And, you know, I felt bad, but, like, I also was like, no, I. I made myself a first responder. In my mind, I have to help people that are in crisis, that their families can't come help them because they're high risk. Like, I had to show up. I was at Atlanta airport with one. Like, I saw one person in the whole airport. That's weird.
- [17:50]
Interviewer
We went to Vegas like six times or five times. No. But we got like, presidential suite for free because there was nobody there. I kind of liked. I liked it a little bit. I did, like, the traveling then was. I did kind of like that.
- [18:04]
Amanda Marino
It was wild. But I just felt grateful to be of service in a time that was so hard. But I knew we took off right away. And then like a year later, like, with the rebrand, like, do we want to, like, have people everywhere doing everything? No, we want to have a hand pick people. People that we know. You know, I'm not going to just put someone in someone's multi million dollar home that I don't know and trust and have a background check on, you know, that that's representing my company. So it's, you know, I. I feel like also when we did, we were almost bought, and once we did that, that valuation and the, like, whatever they do with the accounting, I was like, wow, we actually are worth, like, something. Like, it was really. That was a cool moment because I had no idea.
- [18:42]
Interviewer
So I love those moments. Well, Amanda, this has been amazing. Always great to have a conversation with you again. I'm sure people want to get in touch with you because they want to follow the journey. Maybe they need help and you can, you know, you can provide that. But how can people get in touch with you?
- [18:58]
Amanda Marino
They can look at Amanda Marino official. That's my Instagram and my TikTok. And then I'm also Amanda Marino speaks.com to book me for any speaking gigs. Motivational, you know, inspirational. That's my thing. And then you can call me 561-735-2590. My number is everywhere at this point, so I don't even mind. You can text me, call me, schedule a call if you're struggling. I will. I will personally speak to you only.
- [19:25]
Interviewer
A few people have ever given out a phone number. So that that's when you know that that you are there for the people. You are a person there for the people. But Amanda, you are one of the best speakers I've ever heard. I've seen a lot of speakers. Your speech was incredible. Like, I cried, I laughed, I learned. I mean, what else do you need to do during a conversation? But this has been great, really diving in more about your story and your life. And I appreciate you coming on today. So thank you for joining us.
- [20:01]
Capella University Announcer
Is it time to reimagine your future? The right business skills may make a difference in your career. At Capella University, we offer a relevant education that's designed to focus on what you need to know in the business world. We'll teach professional skills to help you pursue your goals like business management, strategic planning, and effective communication. And you can apply these skills right away. A different future is closer than you think with Capella University. Learn more at capella.
- [20:29]
Interviewer
Edu if you're a maintenance supervisor for a commercial property, you've had to deal with everything from leaky faucets to flickering light bulbs. But nothing's worse than that ancient boiler that's lived in the building since the day it was built 50 years ago. It's enough to make anyone lose their cool. That's where Grainger comes in. With industrial grade products and dependable, fast delivery, Grainger can help with any challenge, from worn out components to everyday necessities. Call clickgrainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. If you like the show, please take a moment to rate, review and subscribe. It really does help the show to grow. Thank you for listening. Happy Holidays. Want to give your host a gift? Consider subscribing, rating and reviewing the show this holiday season. It really helps the show grow from all of us at Believe. Have a Merry Christmas, everyone, and a happy holiday.