Podcast
The Recovered Life Show
Hosted by Damon Frank · EN
Information you need to live your best-recovered life. Join host Damon Frank as he brings you addiction recovery stories, news, expert perspectives, and features about life in sobriety and addiction recovery.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Who Are You Becoming? Redefining Your Identity After Addiction
5d ago00:20:00Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Recovered Life Show, Damon dives deep into the concept of reinventing yourself during recovery. Many people enter recovery feeling broken or weighed down by the labels of their past, but true reinvention is about letting go of those old identities. Damon discusses how changing your life doesn't happen overnight, but rather through small, intentional actions. This episode explores how to give yourself permission to change and challenges you to ask the most important question: "Who are you becoming?" Join Damon'r Recovered Life Group Here: https://rltv.me/damon Join the Recovered Life Community! Click HERE
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Being Good Either Way
May 2500:18:16Tap to summarizeWe’ve all heard the bumper-sticker recovery advice: "Let go and let God." But let's be honest—actually doing it is a whole different story. In this episode of the Recovered Life Show, Damon Frank challenges the traditional concept of "letting go" and shares a mindset shift that completely changed his own multi-decade recovery journey: learning to be "good either way." Damon opens up about the constant battle with an anxious, fast-moving ADHD mind that loves to micro-manage the future. He breaks down why we get trapped by tying our peace of mind to specific results, and how flipping the script—focusing entirely on your intentions while completely detaching from the outcome—is the ultimate power move. Whether you’re navigating sobriety, hitting walls in your business, or stressing over relationships, Damon delivers a raw, refreshing perspective on how to stop being a hostage to your own expectations and finally find some mental breathing room. Join the Recovered Life Community! Click HERE
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Is Your Mess a Mental Health Crisis? A Deep Dive with Hoarders Organizational Expert Dorothy Breininger
May 1900:26:16Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Recovered Life Show, host Damon is joined by Dorothy Breininger, a renowned organizational expert and featured specialist on the hit show Hoarders. Dorothy explores the profound connection between physical clutter and mental health, particularly for those on a journey of recovery from addiction. She shares her unique perspective that many people in recovery shift from being managed by a substance to being managed by their "things," which can create a cycle of anxiety and chaos that hinders true healing.Dorothy introduces practical strategies for taking control of your environment, including her 5-Point Value System for evaluating belongings and her "burping your house" philosophy for refreshing your living space. Whether you are a "Daily Dot," a "Weekly Wanda," or a "Monthly Mary," Dorothy offers tailored advice on how to understand your organizational patterns and start small to achieve lasting clarity. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to simplify their life, reduce anxiety, and make room for new dreams and experiences. Join the Recovered Life Community! Click HERE
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From Cannabis to Clarity: Reclaiming Your Life After Decades of Use with Guest Leonard Buschel
May 1400:23:04Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Recovered Life Show, host Damon talks with Leonard Buschel, author of High: From Cannabis to Clarity. They dive into the often-overlooked issue of marijuana dependency, specifically focusing on how long-term use can shift from casual enjoyment to a life-altering addiction, particularly for the baby boomer generation. Leonard shares his personal journey from smuggling hashish to finding true sobriety and clarity after 26 years of daily use. Join the Recovered Life Community! Click HERE
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Why Being a "Struggler" Keeps You Stuck
May 1200:23:46Tap to summarizeIn this powerful episode of The Recovered Life Show, host Damon explores a radical shift in mindset for anyone in recovery. If you’ve spent years identifying as a "struggler" or viewing every day as a "battle" against addiction, this episode is a wake-up call.Damon discusses how clinging to the identity of a fighter actually gives power to the very substances you’re trying to avoid. By creating a "Good Either Way" mentality, you can move toward a state of indifference where your peace isn't dictated by external outcomes. Learn the three practical steps to stop the struggle: retiring the label, auditing your social circle, and applying the "So What?" test. It’s time to stop fighting a war that’s already over and start building a life where drinking simply doesn't fit. Join the Recovered Life Community! Click HERE
Transcribe →Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Over 50 with Guest Cecil Gailey Jr.
May 700:22:55Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Recovered Life Show, host Damon welcomes contributor Cecil Galey Jr. to discuss the growing trend of sobriety and mental health awareness among the "over 50" demographic. They dive into how the pandemic disrupted traditional face-to-face support systems and why the older generation is finally trading the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" mentality for authentic connection and digital community.Key Discussion PointsThe Post-COVID Surge: How isolation during the pandemic led to an increase in addiction and mental health struggles for those who relied on in-person social circles.Bridging the Tech Gap: The vital role technology plays in modern recovery and how Boomers are successfully (and sometimes humorously) adapting to platforms like Zoom and TikTok to find support.The "Bootstrap" Mentality: Addressing the generational stigma that discourages talking about feelings and how that mindset is finally shifting.A New Kind of Retirement: Moving away from the sedentary "garden and nap" retirement toward an active, engaged, and recovered lifestyle.Addressing Late-Life Trauma: Cecil shares his personal experience with the ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) test and the importance of processing old wounds, regardless of age.Resources MentionedBoomer in Recovery Podcast: Cecil’s new show focusing specifically on the experiences of the older generation in the recovery community.Recovered Life App: A digital space for connecting with others in recovery.The ACES Test: A tool used to measure childhood trauma and its long-term effects.Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/EzsgzXUf5zw Join the Recovered Life Community! Click HERE
Transcribe →Is the Label "Alcoholic" Holding Us Back in Recovery?
May 500:18:50Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Recovered Life Show, host Damon Frank explores a high-stakes question: Is the label "alcoholic" holding us back in recovery?. While the 12-step tradition often requires identifying as an alcoholic to participate, a new perspective from the Harvard Gazette suggests this term may conjure outdated stereotypes and keep individuals trapped in an identity of "brokenness".Damon discusses the "peer pressure" found in some recovery circles to maintain this label indefinitely and asks whether it's more empowering to identify as "recovered" after years—or even decades—of sobriety. We dive into:The potential stigma and "curse" associated with the word "recovered" in traditional circles.How the label "alcoholic" can become a "scapegoat" for other unrelated life issues.The shift toward modern terminology like Alcohol Use Disorder and why behavior modification matters more than a permanent label.Join the discussion in the community. Click here! Free to join. Join the Recovered Life Community! Click HERE
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Where Have I Been? The Truth Behind the Podcast Hiatus
May 300:16:08Tap to summarizeAfter a several-month hiatus, host Damon Frank returns to the podcast to address his absence and share the future vision of Recovered Life. He reflects on the origins of the show during the COVID-19 pandemic and explains how his personal evolution as a recovery coach—and the changing landscape of the recovery community—led him to "go all in" on a new level of support for those struggling with addiction and mental health.Join me on Recovered Life! Join the Recovered Life Community! Click HERE
Transcribe →How Mindfulness Can Help Your Recovery
Oct 1000:34:43Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we explore the simple yet powerful truth that every recovery journey begins with one breath. One conscious inhale, one intentional exhale — that’s where awareness starts. Damon Frank sits down with Recovered Life TV Contributor Kolleen, who shares how mindfulness brings presence and peace to the recovery process. Together, they unpack how staying awake, aware, and alive helps us experience life fully — not numbing out, but tuning in to the moment as it is.This conversation is a reminder that recovery isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence. When we slow down enough to notice our breath, our thoughts, and our emotions, we open the door to deeper healing and genuine peace. Join the Recovered Life Community! Click HERE
Transcribe →Is Gen Z Killing 12 Step Groups?
Sep 1600:15:53Tap to summarizeIs Gen Z killing 12-step groups—or simply rewriting the rules of sobriety? In this episode of The Recovered Life Show, Damon Frank dives into the controversial question of whether Gen Z’s open approach to recovery and social media culture has watered down the traditions of anonymity that defined Alcoholics Anonymous for decades.From Slate’s recent article on #Sobertok to the legacy of Bill Wilson, we unpack how younger generations are reshaping recovery and what that means for the future of 12-step programs. Join the Recovered Life Community! Click HERE
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