Who It’s For

• The introvert who thinks they can't recover in a loud-ass world
• Anyone clinging to the idea of "high-functioning" addiction
• Parents who think “we raised them right” means addiction-proof
• The one white-knuckling sobriety and thinking it’ll magically stay that way
• Folks who think jail and liver failure are just someone else’s problem—until they’re not

Megan Gehrs is back to defend her YouTube crown, and she brought backup: the fierce, funny, and fearless Bree Badgley. What starts as a roast-fest quickly turns into a raw, riveting convo about what it really takes to crawl out of addiction — and why surviving doesn’t mean staying silent.

We talk childhood trauma, drinking vodka from Sprite bottles, Zoom recovery, liver failure, “terminal uniqueness,” prison visits, and the miracle of showing up for life — even when it’s hard as hell.

Bree gets real about trying to white-knuckle her way to sobriety, the self-loathing of secret drinking, and finally surrendering to something bigger. Megan opens up about hitting literal liver failure and still thinking, “I’ve got this.” Spoiler: she didn’t — but she does now.

🔪 Brutally honest. 🤣 Surprisingly funny.
🙏 Spiritually grounding.
This one’s a damn heater.

🕰 TIMESTAMPS

• 00:00 – Welcome back, Megan & meet Bree Badgley
• 05:50 – Bree’s story: “perfect” family, still an alcoholic
• 08:30 – Catholic guilt, introvert hell, and the terminal uniqueness trap
• 16:00 – Megan’s sobriety inspired Bree (even if Bree ghosted her at first)
• 20:30 – Getting sober during COVID (yes, really)
• 27:00 – IOP, living at home, isolation, & the Zoom detox
• 34:00 – Making amends to her sister: “I was a jerk”
• 36:00 – Megan’s liver says “nope,” and the wake-up call
• 41:00 – Bree joins Megan’s homegroup and hates it (at first)
• 43:00 – Finding God in pancakes & basement meetings
• 47:00 – Spirituality, introverts, and group therapy for the win
• 51:00 – Fireball, yet lists, & prison visits that haunt you
• 58:00 – The power of being seen & surrendering the fight
• 1:03:00 – Cliff at Friday’s & the people who never make it out
• 1:05:00 – “I didn’t get in trouble… but I should’ve.”
• 1:07:00 – Recovery, honesty, and learning to live with yourself

This episode’s for the quiet ones, the ones who “don’t look like” addicts, and anyone who ever told themselves I’m fine. You’re not alone. You never were.

🔥 Powered by our day-ones:
🛏️ Illinois Recovery Center – https://illinoisrecoverycenter.com/
🔪 Bertarelli Cutlery – https://bertarellico.com/

Let’s f’ing go.

This week, Chris, Jeff, and Jakob throw down on some heavy hitters: grief, addiction, childhood trauma, and what it really takes to get your shit together in recovery. No fluff, no fake inspiration—just real talk from guys who’ve lived it.

Chris opens up about a brutal personal loss and how it shook his sobriety to the core. The crew doesn’t sugarcoat it—grief will mess with your head, especially when you’re trying to stay clean. They break down why grieving your old life is part of the process and how pretending you’re “fine” only makes things worse.

They hit hard on childhood trauma, accountability, and the difference between just not drinking and actually recovering. Spoiler: one is survival, the other is transformation.

Relationships? Still complicated as hell in sobriety. But with humility, self-reflection, and a crew that calls you on your bullshit, it gets manageable. The guys remind us that asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s the strongest move you can make. And when you start showing up for others? That’s where the real magic happens.

This one’s about sitting in the suck, owning your story, and crawling toward growth—one honest step at a time.

Takeaways

• Chris shares a gut-punch story of loss and how it shook up his recovery.
• Grief isn’t just about people—it’s also about losing the chaos you once called “normal.”
• Childhood trauma has receipts. Time to face it.
• There’s no healing without humility. Own your shit.
• Sobriety and recovery? Not the same thing.
• Accountability means letting people into the mess.
• Self-pity is a trap. Grieve, then move.
• Gratitude isn’t corny—it’s fuel.
• The scariest things to do are usually the most important.
• Asking for help is gangster.
• Service keeps you out of your own head.
• You don’t do this alone. Ever.

Sponsors

Illinois Recovery Center – Where real healing starts.

Bertarelli Cutlery – Sharpen your damn knives. And your life.

So here’s the deal—Chris kicked off this episode saying Jeff’s out ‘cause his kid’s on spring break. Cute story, totally false. Jeff’s actually home while his wife’s doing parent-teacher conferences, because unlike some people, he listens. I guess you can tell who writes these show notes now…

With Jeff out, our guy Eric Conley slides back into the studio alongside Chris and Jakob for a special FAQ episode—where we cut through the fluff and tackle the questions people in and out of recovery are really asking.

We’re talking about what rehab actually looks like (spoiler: it ain’t a vacation—it’s school, and you’re the subject), why medically assisted treatment (MAT) saves lives, and why sober living isn’t just a halfway house—it’s where accountability gets real.

The guys also dig into how active addiction reduces you to survival mode—animal level living—and how even making your bed in the morning can feel like a goddamn victory. We’ve had some heavy-hitting guests lately, and we take a minute to reflect on that weight and why those conversations matter.

Plus:

• What to expect from outpatient programs (aka “real life with a safety net”)
• Why swapping one addiction for another is a sneaky trap
• The fine line between harm reduction and moderation
• Adderall, social media, and other modern landmines
• Why talking to your kids about addiction early matters more than you think

This one’s not just about staying sober—it’s about building a life that makes sense sober. From lifestyle changes to real accountability, from support groups to self-love, it’s all on the table. Let’s get into it.

Support the ones who support us:

• Illinois Recovery Center – They don’t play around when it comes to getting clean.
• Bertarelli Cutlery – Blades so sharp, they’ll cut through your denial.