Recovered Life Newsletter: The Recovered Life Show

What happens when you stop being a fixer? with Guest Natalie Feinblatt

Damon Frank — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 13:03:42 GMT

In this episode of the Recovered Life Show, host Damon Frank sits down with psychologist Dr. Natalie Feinblatt, who specializes in addiction, trauma, and codependency.

Together, they take a deep dive into what it truly means to be “the fixer”—the person who constantly steps in to solve problems, keep the peace, and take responsibility for everyone else’s lives. Dr. Natalie shares key insights on where this compulsive need to save others comes from, how codependency operates in relationships affected by addiction or mental health issues, and how to spot the line between helpfulness and control.

Whether you’ve been a lifelong people-pleaser or are navigating your own recovery journey, this conversation provides actionable guidance on setting healthy boundaries, tolerating the discomfort of saying “no,” and reclaiming your energy.

Join the Recovered Life Group here.

After the Show: ADHD & Creativity

Damon Frank — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 21:00:53 GMT

Welcome back to After the Show! In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Dr. Radwa to explore why ADHD might just be your greatest untapped superpower. +

She shares the tips about how to harness your ADHD.

ADHD & Creativity with guest Dr. Radwa

Damon Frank — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 15:45:46 GMT

In this episode of The Recovered Life Show, host Damon Frank sits down with researcher and expert Dr. Radwa to explore a paradigm-shifting perspective on ADHD. Instead of viewing ADHD purely as a deficit or a problem to be fixed, Damon and Dr. Radwa discuss the incredible hidden benefits of the neurodivergent brain—specifically its connection to out-of-the-box creativity and problem-solving.

Dr. Radwa breaks down the science of mind-wandering, attention spectrums (focusing and defocusing), and how harnessing these natural patterns can unlock powerful creative abilities. Whether you are neurodivergent, navigating addiction recovery, or simply curious about the untapped potential of the ADHD mind, this conversation will change how you think about attention.

Science Daily Article here.

Join the Recovered Life Group here.

After The Show: Soft Addictions with Judith Wright

Damon Frank — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:27:40 GMT

Judith Wright joins Damon to discuss and unpack the subtle habits, emotional numbing, and “soft addictions” that quietly drain our vitality. She shares her personal wake-up call—realizing that high achievement wasn’t bringing her peace—and breaks down the practical neuroscience behind true, lasting transformation.

Are Soft Addictions Stealing Your Life with Guest Dr. Judith Wright

Damon Frank — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 23:27:42 GMT

What happens when you give up the obvious addiction but still find ways to escape?

Damon Frank sits down with Dr. Judith Wright to explore soft addictions—everyday habits like scrolling, shopping, overeating, overworking, and entertainment that can quietly become ways to numb feelings or check out of life.

Discover how to recognize when a harmless habit has crossed the line, uncover the deeper need underneath it, and replace “counterfeit comfort” with things that genuinely make you feel more alive and fulfilled.

Brad Pitt Drinks Again. Can Alcoholics Ever Drink Safely?

Damon Frank — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:49:29 GMT

In this episode of The Recovered Life Show, Damon Frank examines the conversation surrounding Brad Pitt and reports that he resumed drinking after seven years of sobriety. Damon questions whether the media is treating alcohol use too casually—as if returning to drinking were simply a lifestyle choice rather than a potentially serious decision for someone with a history of alcohol problems.

Drawing from more than three decades of personal recovery and his experience watching others attempt controlled drinking, Damon explores the belief that time, knowledge, and personal growth might allow someone with alcoholism to drink normally again. He explains why having to constantly monitor, limit, or manage alcohol consumption may itself be a warning sign.

Ultimately, the episode asks a difficult question: Can someone who has experienced alcoholism ever safely return to drinking? Damon shares his honest perspective while inviting listeners to examine their own beliefs about moderation, relapse, and what long-term recovery really means.

33 Years Later, I’m Still Choosing Recovery

Damon Frank — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 23:06:17 GMT

In this personal episode of The Recovered Life Show, Damon Frank celebrates 33 years of continuous sobriety and reflects on why the past year became one of his best—not because of a major accomplishment, but because he finally felt more comfortable being himself.

Damon discusses putting down fear, accepting that everyone has a different path to recovery, and how treatment options have changed since he got sober in 1993. Through it all, one truth has remained constant: a spiritual solution can bring hope to a problem that once felt hopeless. He also shares his gratitude for everyone who has supported him and helped Recovered Life grow into a community he never could have imagined.

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 "go…

Who Are You Becoming? Redefining Your Identity After Addiction

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

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.