The Day Everything Changed: Mike’s Story of Addiction, Loss, and the Long Road Back
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Some moments split your life clean in two.
Before… and after.
For Mike, that moment didn’t arrive with flashing lights or handcuffs.
It arrived with a sound he still hears decades later.
A thump. A stop. Silence.
And the realization that nothing would ever be the same again.
This episode of Crosstalk Podcast is not just about addiction. It’s about grief, accountability, redemption, and what it really means to rebuild a life one decision at a time.
From “Everybody’s Friend” to Losing Control
Mike’s relationship with alcohol didn’t start in a dark place. Like many stories we hear, it started early and casually.
At just 12 years old, during a sixth-grade Romeo and Juliet play, Mike took his first real drink. The alcohol didn’t taste good, but the feeling did.
“It made me feel like I could be wherever I wanted.”
That feeling confidence, belonging, ease became the hook.
Growing up around substance use, stealing alcohol and drugs from his older brother, drinking and getting high in school, Mike moved quickly from experimenting to normalizing behavior most people would call dangerous. Suspensions. Drinking on school property. Getting away with things.
And for a long time, it seemed like he always would.
A Household of Sobriety… and a Different Path
There’s a painful irony in Mike’s story.
His father was sober deeply committed to recovery long before Mike ever picked up a drink. Mike grew up attending meetings as a child, surrounded by people trying to live differently.
And yet, knowing the consequences didn’t protect him from them.
“I knew I was probably an alcoholic… just not yet.”
That belief.. that reckoning could always wait followed Mike into adulthood.
June 16, 1984: The Moment That Changed Everything
Some days never fade.
On June 16, 1984, while driving through a residential street, Mike reached for something on his dashboard. In that split second, a child ran into the road.
Her name was Rebecca.
She passed away the next day.
Mike wasn’t intoxicated at the time. But the trauma combined with years of unaddressed addiction sent his drinking into overdrive.
“I couldn’t sleep. I tried to talk about it. But I didn’t deal with it.”
Instead, he drank.
And drank.
When Pain Meets Alcohol, Things Escalate Fast
What followed was a familiar spiral for many in recovery:
• Blackout drinking
• Multiple DUIs
• Legal consequences
• Escalating substance use to “balance” the alcohol
Mike describes himself as a “garbage can”—anything available, anytime.
And yet, even then, the truth lingered in the background.
He had seen recovery work.
He just wasn’t ready.
January 11, 1991: The Last Drink
Rock bottom doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes, it looks quiet.
After failing a drug test, facing professional consequences, and waking up in a cold sweat he still can’t fully explain, Mike made a call.
That call changed his life.
On January 11, 1991, Mike picked up a white chip at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting in Coconut Grove.
That was his last drink.
“From that point forward, I was all in.”
Recovery Isn’t Just Quitting.. It’s Rebuilding
Sobriety didn’t magically fix everything.
Mike threw himself into recovery:
• 90 meetings in 90 days
• Sponsorship
• Step work
• Outpatient treatment
• Accountability
Most importantly, he learned that recovery wasn’t about punishment it was about transformation.
“I couldn’t think my way into a new way of acting.
I had to act my way into a new way of thinking.”
That shift from shame to responsibility changed everything.
Making Amends When You Can’t Undo the Past
Some amends can be spoken.
Some can’t.
Mike continues to visit Rebecca’s grave. He talks to her. He carries her memory into the work he does today helping others avoid the pain he knows too well.
“Some of the things I do today are because of those conversations.”
It’s a powerful reminder that recovery isn’t about erasing the past it’s about living differently because of it.
A Life He Never Thought Possible
Today, Mike’s life looks nothing like the one he once lived.
• Over 30 years sober
• A career he could never have held while drinking
• A loving wife and son
• Service inside and outside recovery rooms
• A daily spiritual practice rooted in gratitude and awareness
The biggest change?
He shows up.
As a father.
As a mentor.
As a human being.
“I’m not a menace to society anymore.”
Mike’s Advice to His Younger Self
When asked what he would tell his younger self, Mike doesn’t hesitate:
Listen to your parents.
They’ve been through it—even when you think you’re smarter.
And maybe most importantly:
“Wise people learn from other people’s mistakes.”
This episode is an invitation to do exactly that.
Why This Episode Matters
This episode matters because it shows what recovery looks like over a lifetime.
Mike’s story goes beyond getting sober. It confronts the weight of consequences, the reality of living with irreversible loss, and the work required to stay accountable long after the crisis has passed. His honesty reminds listeners that recovery isn’t about erasing the past.. it’s about choosing a different way to live moving forward.
For anyone who believes it’s “too late” to change, or that their past defines their future, this conversation offers a powerful counter-message: growth is possible, responsibility is transformative, and a meaningful life can be built one decision at a time.
FAQs
1. What is this episode of Crosstalk Podcast about?
This episode follows Mike’s journey through early substance use, addiction, trauma, and long-term recovery. He reflects on how unaddressed pain and denial fueled his addiction, and how accountability and recovery programs helped him rebuild his life over more than three decades of sobriety.
2. Does this episode include discussion of traumatic events?
Yes. Mike discusses a life-altering incident involving the accidental death of a child. The topic is approached with care and respect, focusing on emotional impact, responsibility, and healing rather than graphic detail. Listener discretion is advised.
3. What substances are discussed in this episode?
While alcohol plays a central role in Mike’s story, the episode also addresses polysubstance use and the broader patterns of addiction, including escalation, emotional avoidance, and consequences across different stages of life.
4. How did recovery programs influence Mike’s sobriety?
Recovery programs were foundational to Mike’s long-term sobriety. He shares how consistent meeting attendance, sponsorship, step work, and service helped him shift from self-destructive behavior to a disciplined, purpose-driven life.
5. Who should listen to this episode?
This episode is especially relevant for people in recovery, those considering sobriety, loved ones affected by addiction, and anyone interested in how accountability, responsibility, and support systems contribute to sustained personal transformation.
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