Podcast
SLAYINGSOBERPOD
Hosted by James Date · EN
We tell stories of Addiction, Recovery and Hope
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Autism, Ecstasy, Addiction & Finding Freedom with Jim
Yesterday01:04:16Tap to summarizeFrom Revolver to Recovery. Jims amazing recovery story. An autistic kid who never fit in, a rave scene that promised connection, and an ice habit that nearly killed him – Jim’s story is a masterclass in how “freedom” can turn into a prison.Jim grew up bullied, misunderstood and late-diagnosed autistic, always feeling on the outside of school, family and friendships. When he found MDMA and the Melbourne rave scene, it felt like magic: confidence, connection, endless love and the sense of belonging he’d been missing his whole life. But that glow didn’t last. Party drugs gave way to dealing, meth and ice, lost jobs, family breakdown and years spent in a garage, completely isolated and shackled to his addiction.In this raw and honest episode of Slaying Sober, Jim and James unpack autism, ecstasy, meth, family violence, shame and the brutal realities of long-term addiction – and then trace the turning point into rehab, accountability and a new life in recovery. Jim shares how he rebuilt from nothing into a role as a peer worker in the AOD space, what “freedom” really means to him now, and why he’ll “walk with” anyone who is willing to take the first step.If you’ve ever chased connection in all the wrong places, struggled with neurodivergence and addiction, or wondered whether recovery can work for someone like you, this conversation will hit home.
Transcribe →Mini Episode | Sober Up with Faye First 100 Days & Hangxiety
4w ago00:13:06Tap to summarizeWhat does the first 100 days without alcohol really look like?In this powerful mini episode of Slaying Sober, Faye Louise Hughes shares the life-changing decision that started on Valentine's Day and became one of the greatest acts of self-love she has ever given herself.From crippling hangxiety, blackouts, and waking up terrified of what happened the night before, to discovering confidence, clarity, healthier relationships, and genuine self-respect, Faye opens up about the reality of life before and after alcohol.You'll hear why 30 days isn't always enough, how the first 100 days can completely transform your mind and body, and why so many people find freedom when they stop counting the days and start rebuilding their lives.If you've ever questioned your relationship with alcohol, struggled with anxiety after drinking, or wondered whether sobriety could actually improve your life, this conversation is for you.In this episode:• The truth about the first 100 days alcohol-free• How hangxiety impacts mental health• Why self-love and sobriety go hand in hand• The emotional and physical glow-up of recovery• Breaking free from blackout drinking• Building a life you no longer want to escape fromIf this story resonates with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it today.#SlayingSober #SobrietyJourney #AlcoholFree #RecoveryPodcast #Hangxiety #MentalHealthAwareness #SoberLife #SelfLove #AddictionRecovery #PodcastClips
Transcribe →Kerry Father Wounds & Six Liters A Night
Jun 401:01:43Tap to summarizeFrom 6 Liters of Wine a Day to Lasting Sobriety | Kerry's Powerful Recovery StoryWhat happens when childhood trauma, addiction, abuse, and heartbreak collide?In this deeply moving episode of Slaying Sober, Kerry shares her extraordinary journey from a childhood surrounded by death and chaos in South Africa to battling severe alcoholism, trauma, abusive relationships, and ultimately finding freedom through recovery.At her lowest point, Kerry was drinking up to 6 liters of wine every day, experiencing withdrawal seizures, hospitalizations, and multiple relapses. But through resilience, honesty, and the support of a recovery community, she transformed her life and discovered purpose beyond addiction.This conversation is raw, emotional, and filled with powerful lessons about healing, forgiveness, recovery, and hope.Childhood trauma and growing up in a mortuary familyAlcoholism and addiction progressionRecovery, relapses, and Alcoholics AnonymousDomestic abuse and coercive controlMental health, healing, and personal growthFinding purpose and helping others through recoveryIf you're struggling with addiction, supporting a loved one, or looking for hope, this episode is proof that recovery is possible.Subscribe for more inspiring recovery storiesLike this video to help spread hopeShare this episode with someone who needs to hear it#AddictionRecovery #Sobriety #AlcoholismRecovery #RecoveryJourney #MentalHealth #HealingTrauma #AARecovery #SoberLife #RecoveryPodcast #Inspiration #PersonalGrowth #AlcoholAddiction #TraumaHealing #SlayingSober #RecoveryStories #HopeInRecovery #SelfImprovement #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #SobrietyJourney
Transcribe →Losing It All To Finding Hope: The Worst Day | Part 2 | Kate Seselja
May 3000:37:41Tap to summarizeShe lost $12,000 chasing one machine.Months later, she nearly lost her life.In this deeply emotional episode of Slaying Sober, Kate Seselja shares the devastating reality of gambling addiction, shame, suicidal thoughts, recovery, and hope.Kate opens up about:• Losing everything to gambling addiction• The emotional impact on her family• The night she almost took her life• The powerful moment her son changed her perspective forever• Why she founded The Hope Project• How the gambling industry manipulates people by design• Rebuilding identity, dignity, and hope after addictionThis is one of the most raw and honest conversations about addiction, mental health, recovery, and healing you’ll hear.Trigger Warning:This episode contains discussions around suicide, addiction, gambling harm, and mental health struggles.00:00 – Introduction to Part 200:46 – Trigger Warning01:04 – Irrational behaviour during gambling addiction01:19 – Losing $12,000 chasing one machine03:10 – Sitting in the car after losing everything04:07 – Family impact of gambling addiction05:51 – “Addiction by design” explained06:17 – Kate’s rock bottom moment06:55 – The night she almost took her life08:23 – What kept her alive09:17 – Living with shame and self-hatred10:30 – The counsellor who changed everything11:30 – Reconnecting with her identity and humanity12:00 – The “plastic bag of shame” analogy12:48 – James shares his addiction experience14:42 – Compassion from loved ones during recovery17:23 – Gratitude for family and survival19:00 – The moment her son saved her life20:33 – “Everyone makes mistakes”21:51 – Hopelessness and suicide22:22 – Why Kate founded The Hope Project24:42 – Addiction and isolation25:28 – Gambling harm in Australia27:11 – Fighting the gambling industry28:47 – How gambling apps manipulate users31:21 – Betting apps and psychological targeting34:10 – “Gambling almost took everything from me”35:00 – Helping one million people find hope36:17 – Final reflections on recovery and healing37:05 – Closing messageIf this conversation impacted you:Like the videoShare your thoughts in the commentsSubscribe for more real conversations about addiction, recovery, healing, and hope.#GamblingAddiction #MentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryJourney #SuicidePrevention #Podcast #HealingJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #RecoveryPodcast #EmotionalStory #HopeProject #TraumaHealing #SelfWorth #GamblingHarm #InspirationalStories #SlayingSober #AddictionAwareness #PodcastClips #Healing #Hope
Transcribe →Addiction By Design: Blow up The Pokies | Kate Seselja
May 2800:35:10Tap to summarizeWhat if the thing destroying your life was designed to feel like entertainment?In Part 1 of this powerful conversation, Kate Seselja shares the devastating reality of gambling addiction and how poker machines are engineered to hijack the human brain through psychological manipulation, dopamine triggers, near misses, and “losses disguised as wins.”For 15 years, Kate was trapped in a cycle that nearly cost her everything:her money, marriage, health, identity, and almost her life.This episode is not just about gambling.It’s about shame, addiction, trauma, recovery, and how predatory systems profit from human vulnerability.Kate now uses her voice to fight for gambling reform in Australia and help others understand the truth behind addiction by design.Timestamps:00:00 – The hidden psychology behind poker machines02:20 – Kate Seselja’s introduction03:14 – “Addiction by design” explained04:42 – Why Kate never identified as “an addict”07:41 – Australia’s gambling culture and normalization11:18 – Kate’s first experience with poker machines14:21 – The dopamine rush of winning16:20 – Gambling addiction and suicide risk17:57 – Addiction beyond drugs20:56 – Gambling harm in Australia23:08 – How the addiction escalated26:02 – “Losses disguised as wins” explained27:31 – How poker machines manipulate the brain29:12 – The machine overrides human instincts30:53 – The “zone” and psychological hijacking32:58 – Government funding and gambling industry research34:34 – Final reflections and hopeIf this conversation resonates with you, consider sharing it with someone who may need it.Subscribe for more honest conversations around addiction, recovery, mental health, and hope.#GamblingAddiction #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #PokerMachines #RecoveryJourney #CasinoAddiction #Psychology #TraumaRecovery #Hope #SuicidePrevention #Podcast #SlayingSober #MentalHealthAwareness #HumanBehavior #RecoveryPodcast
Transcribe →Prison Parole & Personal Training | Chrissoula
May 1900:42:52Tap to summarizeShe survived 20 years of heroin addiction, multiple overdoses, prison, and parole. Then she picked up a barbell — and everything changed.Chrissoula D'Orsogna went from injecting heroin at 14 after a high-speed police chase left her with a fractured pelvis, to becoming a certified personal trainer empowering women to build strong, sober lives.In this raw and deeply moving episode of Slaying Sober, Chrissoula opens up about:The car accident that sparked her 20-year heroin addictionSurviving multiple overdoses and years in and out of prisonThe moment in rehab when strength training saved her lifeHow she built a thriving fitness career — 10+ years cleanWhy moving your body is the #1 cure for depression and anxietyHer message to women in their 40s who think it's too late to startThis is not just a recovery story. This is proof that anything is possible — no matter how far you've fallen.Subscribe + hit the bell so you never miss a story like this. Follow Us on Instagram → @slayingsoberpodTrigger Warning: This episode contains honest discussion of drug use, overdose, incarceration, and suicide. Please listen only if it's safe for you to do so.CHAPTERS: 00:00 – Introduction: Chrissoula's Story 01:50 – How to Support Slaying Sober 02:19 – Trigger Warning 02:38 – Interview Begins 03:29 – What Chrissoula Does Now as a Personal Trainer 04:42 – The Mind-Body Connection in Recovery 05:39 – 10+ Years Clean & Sober 06:44 – Growing Up Lonely on a Farm 07:38 – First Experiences with Drugs 09:32 – The Car Accident That Changed Everything 37:43 – What's Next for Chrissoula 41:38 – Message to Her Younger Self#SlayingSober #AddictionRecovery #SoberLife #HeroinRecovery #StrengthTraining #SoberFitness #RecoveryIsPossible #MentalHealthAwareness #WomenWhoLift #SoberCommunity #FitnessMotivation #PersonalTrainer #OvercomeAddiction #RecoveryPodcast #SoberLiving #CleanAndSober #FitnessJourney #WomenEmpowerment #MindBodyConnection #TransformationStory #RecoveryStories #BreakingFree #SoberStrong #AddictionAwareness #HopeInRecovery #PodcastForWomen #FitnessOver40 #SoberAF #YouAreWorthy #NeverGiveUp
Transcribe →Groomed By A Celebrity Overdosed at 19, and Stayed Silent for 25 Years | Mark Porter
May 1400:27:58Tap to summarizeAt 19, Mark Porter trusted an older mentor he met through a support line.What happened next would shape the next 25 years of his life.In this deeply emotional episode of Slaying Sober, Mark shares his story of grooming, sexual assault, addiction, overdose, depression, and the long journey toward healing and recovery.The man he says assaulted him would later become a nationally known football personality — while Mark suffered in silence.This episode is raw, confronting, and ultimately hopeful.Topics discussed:• Childhood & identity struggles• Grooming & abuse trauma• Addiction & overdose• Mental health battles• Silence, shame & survival• Recovery & healing Trigger Warning: Sexual abuse, addiction, overdose, depression, suicide, and trauma.If this conversation moved you, please subscribe, like, and share to help more people feel less alone.Follow Slaying Sober for more powerful stories of recovery and resilience.#SlayingSober #MarkPorter #Podcast #TraumaRecovery #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #SurvivorStory #HealingJourney #RecoveryPodcast #TrueStory #EmotionalInterview #MentalHealthMatters #OverdoseAwareness #SpeakYourTruth #PodcastEpisode #LifeStory #RecoveryJourney #YouAreNotAlone #AustralianPodcast #Storytelling
Transcribe →The Magic Of Soberity | Fame, Alcohol, Hope & Curiosity | Ben Murphy
May 600:57:50Tap to summarizeAlright—here’s a more high-impact, “top YouTuber style” description (think storytelling + hooks + retention + SEO):---YouTube Description:What if the life everyone envies… is the one quietly breaking you?In this episode of Slaying Sober, magician, illusionist, and media personality Ben Murphy reveals the truth behind the spotlight—where sold-out shows, red carpets, and celebrity status collide with loneliness, addiction, and inner chaos.From being a bullied kid searching for belonging…to becoming a global performer living the “rockstar lifestyle”…Ben shares how alcohol slowly became his escape—and his prison.But here’s the turning point:After hitting rock bottom, Ben chose a different path. Today, he’s over 6 years sober—and his perspective will challenge everything you think you know about happiness, success, and control.💬 “Even my worst day sober is better than my best day drunk.”This conversation is raw, funny, emotional—and real. If you’ve ever felt lost, overwhelmed, or stuck in a cycle you can’t break… this one’s for you.---⚡ Why You Should Watch: • The dark side of fame no one talks about• How addiction rewires your thinking• The truth about loneliness and identity• A real, honest sobriety journey (no filters)• Practical mindset shifts that can change your life---📢 If this hits you… Subscribe for more real stories. Share it with someone who needs it. You might change a life.---🔍 Keywords (SEO):addiction recovery story, sobriety motivation, mental health podcast, inspirational life story, alcohol addiction help, self improvement mindset, emotional storytelling, success vs happiness#AddictionRecovery #SobrietyJourney #MentalHealth #Motivation #PodcastClips #SelfImprovement #Inspiration #LifeStory #Healing #StayStrong
Transcribe →Bleeding out To Breaking Free from Pain to Purpose | Catilin Story
Apr 3000:43:15Tap to summarizeNow I have a thorough understanding of the full episode. Here's the SEO-optimised YouTube description with timestamps:---**She Was Stabbed, Bled Out, and Saw the White Light — Then She Chose Recovery | Caitlin's Story**Caitlin spent 17 years buried in addiction, crime, and survival mode — dealing to get by, using to cope, and convinced her life would end in a jail cell or a coffin. Then one night, it almost did.Set up by her supposed best friend, Caitlin found herself in a fight that ended with a knife. Her arm was slashed open, her shoes were filling with her own blood, and as a former first responder, she knew exactly how close to death she was. In the back of an ambulance, high and bleeding out, she saw the white light — and heard her dad's voice.She came back. But recovery didn't start there. That came later, after more chaos, more pain, and a courtroom that gave her one final chance.Today, Caitlin is one year clean. She's building Caitlin 2.0 — a woman who's found real connection, fellowship, serenity, and a reason to actually want to be alive.This is one of the most raw, real, and redemptive stories we've ever shared on Slaying Sober.---⚠️ *Trigger Warning: This episode contains honest discussion of drug use, violence, self-harm ideation, and addiction. Please take care of yourself.*---**⏱️ Timestamps**00:00 – Introduction & Caitlin's story teaser02:20 – Trigger warning02:38 – Meet Caitlin — where it all began03:17 – A chaotic childhood: an addicted father & constant fear04:16 – First drink, first drugs — and dealing at school in Year 807:00 – Biological dad's influence and early criminal exposure18:37 – The night she was set up — and the knife20:22 – The fight, the stabbing, and bleeding out in her shoes21:41 – "I knew I had minutes to live" — a former first responder saves herself22:09 – Blood in her shoes, guiding others to save her life29:30 – Mixing heroin, ice, and GHB to cope with the trauma30:38 – Waking up in the ambulance and begging them not to resuscitate her31:07 – Seeing the other side — and not wanting to come back31:51 – Rehab, the pink cloud, and choosing life32:21 – What sobriety has given her: connection, belonging, identity38:43 – "If I can do it, anyone can" — 17 years of crime and chaos to 1 year clean39:23 – The court case: trafficking charges, a CCO, and her last chance41:33 – Sharing your story IS recovery — one person, one life changed42:22 – What would you say to little Caitlin?43:07 – Closing thoughts & thank you---🎙️ **Subscribe to Slaying Sober** so you never miss a story that could change someone's life.📲 Follow us on Instagram: [@SlayingSoberpod](https://instagram.com)🔔 Hit the bell so these stories find the people who need them most.---\#SlayingSober #AddictionRecovery #SoberLife #RecoveryStory #DrugAddiction #TrueStory #SoberCommunity #PutTheShovelDown #NarcoticsAnonymous #RecoveryPodcast #AddictionAwareness #CleanAndSober #SoberInspiration #MentalHealthAwareness #RecoveryIsPossible
Transcribe →Slaying Sober | You Don't Have to Lose Everything | Amber M. Hollingsworth
Apr 1100:46:18Tap to summarize.
Transcribe →