Recovered Life Newsletter: The Recovered Life Show

After the Show: Is Your Mess a Mental Health Crisis? A Deep Dive with Hoarders Organizational Expert Dorothy Breininger

Damon Frank — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 23:15:39 GMT

What if the clutter in our lives isn’t really about the stuff?

In this candid After the Show conversation, Damon and professional organizer Dorothy explore the powerful connection between hoarding, trauma, addiction, shopping, grief, and isolation.

Dorothy shares emotional stories from her work with people living in hoarded homes—including why an object t…

After the Show: From Cannabis to Clarity: Reclaiming Your Life After Decades of Use with Guest Leonard Buschel

Damon Frank — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 21:26:26 GMT

In this segment of After the Show, Damon talks with Leonard about what it really took for him to stop using marijuana after 26 years of daily drug and alcohol use. Leonard shares how a growing sense of fear and emotional instability led him to enter a 28-day treatment program—even though he initially had no intention of giving up marijuana—and how what …

Being Good Either Way

Damon Frank — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 20:38:55 GMT

We’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.

Who Are You Becoming? Redefining Your Identity After Addiction

Damon Frank — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 20:33:00 GMT

In 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’s Recovered Life Group Here: https://rltv.me/damon

Why Being a "Struggler" Keeps You Stuck

Damon Frank — Mon, 25 May 2026 23:52:42 GMT

In 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.

After the Show: How Mindfulness Can Help Your Recovery

Damon Frank — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:47:18 GMT

In this After the Show, Damon Frank and Recovered Life contributor Kolleen unpack what mindfulness really looks like once the meeting ends and life begins.

They talk about how easy it is to be in recovery but not enjoy recovery — and why slowing down, being present, and actually feeling what’s happening might be the missing piece. Kolleen shares stories …

How Mindfulness Can Help Your Recovery

Damon Frank — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 15:47:43 GMT

In 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.

Is Gen Z Killing 12 Step Groups?

Damon Frank — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 16:29:07 GMT

Is 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.

🚀 Identify Your Domino: The One Thing That Moves Everything Forward

Damon Frank — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 22:45:23 GMT

On this episode of Recovered Life, Damon dives into the power of identifying your domino—the single action that creates momentum and knocks down every other barrier in your way. Instead of drowning in busyness or hiding behind endless to-dos, Damon shows how to cut through the noise, find the bold move that matters most, and take massive action that shifts your entire week forward. This is a practical, no-excuses conversation about courage, focus, and momentum—perfect for your Massive Action Monday.

After the Show: The Healing Power of Forgiveness

Damon Frank — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 11:03:05 GMT

In this exclusive After the Show conversation, Damon Frank and guest Meegan go deeper into what it really means to forgive. We live in a culture that wants everything fast — but healing doesn’t happen on demand. Forgiveness isn’t a one-and-done event; it’s a process that takes time, reflection, and a willingness to grow.

Together, we explore:

Why not “getting it” at first can actually open the door to deeper understanding later
How forgiveness shows up over years — sometimes even decades — in our lives
The importance of patience and compassion with ourselves as we heal
Why recovery is about progress, not perfection

This episode is a reminder that healing is never wasted, even when it unfolds slowly. Forgiveness continues to teach us, layer by layer, as we walk the path of recovery.

The Healing Power of Forgiveness

Damon Frank — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 11:03:18 GMT

In this episode of the Recovered Life Show, Damon Frank sits down with guest Meegan to explore one of the most powerful — and challenging — parts of recovery: forgiveness.

Resentment can feel like a stumbling block, keeping us tied to the past and stuck in pain. But as Meegan shares from her own experience, forgiveness opens the door to healing, freedom, and deeper connection — not just with others, but with ourselves.

Together, we talk about:

Why resentment is such a common roadblock in recovery
How forgiveness transforms our personal growth
The process of rebuilding trust and letting go, one step at a time
Practical ways to invite more peace into your recovery journey

Forgiveness isn’t easy, but as you’ll hear, it can be the very thing that sets you free.

David Stopped Blaming Life—That’s When Everything in His Sobriety Changed

Damon Frank — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 11:15:32 GMT

In this episode of How I Did It, David shares a hard truth that changed everything for him: You can’t always control what happens, but you can always control how you respond when life doesn’t go your way. When life threw him curveballs, David stopped saying “life sucks” and started asking better questions: What can I learn? How can I be better tomorrow? That mindset shift became the foundation of his recovery.

David’s story is a reminder that no matter how tough things get, you have choices. You can break free from the patterns that keep you stuck, find something positive in every situation, and use it to fuel your next step forward.

After The Show: Empathy & Addiction with Guest JOMO

Damon Frank — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 11:31:38 GMT

In this raw and honest follow-up conversation, Jomo opened up to Damon about what it really took for him to recover—and it wasn’t easy. He talked about having a “Joey problem,” the old version of himself that kept him alive on the streets but ultimately blocked him from healing. The hardest part wasn’t just staying clean—it was surrendering the survival traits, the anger, the need to be hard, and instead stepping into humility and vulnerability.

Empathy & Addiction with Guest JOMO

Damon Frank — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 11:03:55 GMT

Damon sits down with JOMO—an inspiring voice in the recovery community whose journey is marked by deep empathy, authenticity, and a powerful example of how to live a recovered life. From his compassionate outlook to his unwavering respect for others’ paths, JOMO shares what it means to give people the grace to grow.

🎯 Episode Highlights

Here’s what stood out in our conversation with JOMO:

Empathy is everything in recovery.
JOMO reminds us how powerful it is to just meet people where they’re at—without judgment. A little compassion goes a long way.
It’s not just what you say—it’s how you live.
JOMO lives his recovery out loud. The way he shows up—with grace, honesty, and humility—is a blueprint for what real recovery can look like.
Let people be who they are.
One of the biggest gifts you can give someone in recovery is space—to grow, to stumble, and to figure it out without trying to control their process.
Real connection heals.
This episode is proof that deep, honest conversations can light the way forward—not just for us, but for everyone listening.
Recovery doesn’t have an endpoint.
Damon and JOMO both talk about how recovery keeps evolving. It’s about staying open, learning, and showing up again and again.

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This Is What Finally Got Brandon to Stop Drinking

Damon Frank — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 13:42:15 GMT

In this episode of How I Did It, Brandon doesn’t sugarcoat a thing. He’s been there—high, checked out, spiraling—and he’s done pretending it didn’t affect anyone else. This is the wake-up call most people don’t want, but damn sure need.

Brandon breaks down what happens when you finally stop lying to yourself. The excuses run out. The fake promises don’t land anymore. And if you actually love the people in your life—and if there’s even a shred of self-respect left—then getting sober isn’t optional. It’s the only play that makes sense.

Do you have over a year of sobriety and want to tell your story? Click Here

Some people wait until the end to figure it out. Brandon didn’t. He grabbed the life that was sitting there the whole time and made a move. That’s what this episode is about.

After the Show: How Trauma Fuels Addiction

Damon Frank — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 16:20:21 GMT

In this After the Show follow-up chat, Damon Frank and guest Sean Ostendorf explore the discomfort that often surfaces in recovery—and how leaning into it can lead to profound transformation. Sean highlights the instinctive resistance that shows up when we’re on the edge of a breakthrough, and emphasizes the value of spiritual tools to guide us through those moments.

Unpacking the Pain: How Trauma Fuels Addiction with Guest Sean Ostendorf

Damon Frank — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 20:01:04 GMT

What if the addiction wasn’t the root—but the response?

In this episode of The Recovered Life Show, host Damon Frank is joined by trauma therapist and EMDR specialist Sean Osterdorf to explore the hidden links between trauma, addiction, and the lingering emotional patterns that can persist long into recovery.

Together, they unpack:

What trauma really is—and how it can quietly shape addiction
Why many people don’t realize they have trauma until after they get sober
How unresolved emotional pain becomes the fuel for cycles of dread, anxiety, and relapse
The role of EMDR in severing the emotional cord to past trauma
Why feeling “broken” is a lie—and how to reclaim your story

Whether you're just beginning your recovery or have been struggling for years and still battling emotional blocks, this episode offers practical insights and deep validation. Sean shares both clinical expertise and personal experience, reminding listeners: you’re not broken—you're healing.

After the Show: How Trauma Shows Up

Damon Frank — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 12:56:10 GMT

In this honest and compassionate After the Show segment, Kyle Miller reminds us: recovery only starts when you’re ready—and that’s more than okay. No pressure, no schedule—just your own timeline.

How Trauma Shows Up with guest Kyle Miller

Damon Frank — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 13:03:29 GMT

Damon Frank sits down with licensed therapist and trauma specialist Kyle Miller to explore the subtle and not-so-subtle ways trauma manifests in our daily lives. From the way we use our bodies to how we avoid emotional discomfort, Kyle shares powerful insights into the hidden impact of unresolved trauma and what it takes to truly reconnect with ourselves.

Whether you're in early recovery or deep into your healing journey, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about how trauma shows up—and how to begin transforming it. Kyle offers practical advice on awareness, emotional regulation, and the importance of getting into your body, even if no one else knows you're doing it.

If you’re ready to go deeper in your recovery and reclaim your emotional life, don’t miss this episode.

I Used to Be a Girl Scout Leader—Then I Was Shooting Heroin: Stephanie’s Story

Damon Frank — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:00:56 GMT

On this episode of the Recovered Life Show, Stephanie lays it all out—the wreckage, the hustle, and the fight to come back from it all. What started with prescription painkillers slid into heroin. From there, things unraveled fast: shoplifting to survive, broken connections, waking up every day in survival mode, chasing the next high.

But this isn’t just a story about the fall. It’s about the moment she got honest with herself and decided to do something different. Stephanie talks about the messy, uncomfortable road to getting clean—including her time in rehab and the complicated hope that came with starting methadone treatment.

No sugarcoating. No clichés. Just a real conversation about what it takes to pull yourself out and build something better.

If you’ve ever wondered what recovery actually looks like behind the scenes—or needed proof that change is possible—this one’s for you.