Recovery Culture

Inside Sober Living: What Recovery Really Looks Like

When a local sober living house faced eviction, Steven and Val found themselves stepping into a role they never planned to take on.
In this episode, they share the story behind Recovery Culture's sober living home, the challenges of getting it started, and the lessons they've learned along the way. They discuss what sober living actually is, common misconceptions about recovery housing, and why accountability, community, and purpose are so important for lasting recovery.
Whether you're in recovery, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about sober living, this episode offers an honest look at the people, challenges, and hope behind the journey.

Mark: Finding Recovery After Relapse | Faith, Forgiveness & Transformation

Mark's story spans decades of loss, family struggles, addiction, sobriety, relapse, and ultimately, full surrender. After achieving 18 years of sobriety, he discovered that sobriety alone wasn't enough—true recovery required healing, forgiveness, and a deeper relationship with God.
In this episode, Mark shares how childhood trauma, family dysfunction, divorce, and grief shaped his journey, how he found himself drinking again after nearly two decades sober, and how Celebrate Recovery helped him discover lasting freedom and purpose.
This is a powerful conversation about the difference between simply not drinking and truly living in recovery.

Brandon S: His Father's Footsteps | Sobriety, Recovery & Legacy

Brandon grew up in a home shaped by addiction, loss, and trauma. After his father left when he was seven years old, Brandon spent years searching for identity, approval, and belonging—eventually finding himself walking a similar path with alcohol.
In this episode, Brandon shares how a reunion with his father, years of sobriety, and a life-changing encounter with Celebrate Recovery helped him discover that sobriety and recovery are not the same thing.
This is a powerful story of family, faith, healing, and the legacy one generation can leave for the next.

Inside the Mind of Addiction: Obsession, Escape & Recovery

What does addiction really feel like from the inside?
In this episode, Valerie interviews co-host Steven about his personal journey through addiction, recovery, and the mental battle that many people never see.
Steven shares how substance use progressed from pain pills to heroin, why addiction became about more than getting high, and what it was like to live in constant pursuit of the next fix. He also opens up about rock bottom, the challenges of getting sober, and the freedom he found through recovery.
Whether you're struggling with addiction yourself or trying to understand a loved one who is, this honest conversation offers insight, hope, and proof that change is possible.
In this episode:• The warning signs of addiction• Escaping pain vs. getting high• The daily mental struggle addicts face• Rock bottom and recovery• Getting sober vs. staying sober• Finding freedom and purpose in recovery

Vic R: From Survival Mode to Serving Others

Raised around abuse, addiction, and instability, Vic spent years searching for belonging through gangs, violence, drugs, and life on the streets.
After prison, addiction, and years of running from himself, everything slowly began to change.
In this episode, Vic shares his powerful testimony of trauma, survival, faith, recovery, and finding purpose through helping others heal.

Loving an Addict Without Losing Yourself

Addiction doesn’t just affect the person using — it impacts the entire family.
In this episode, Steven and Valerie share an honest conversation about loving someone through addiction. They talk about boundaries, codependency, enabling, surrender, and the hard lessons learned from both sides of recovery.
Whether you’re a parent, spouse, sibling, or friend of someone struggling with addiction, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone — and that healing is possible for families too.

Valerie: Depression, Recovery & Finding Faith

In this episode, she shares her journey through depression, broken trust, codependency, hopelessness, and loving someone through addiction — and how faith and recovery ultimately changed her life.
From childhood wounds to difficult relationships and a season of overwhelming darkness, Valerie opens up about the experiences that shaped her perspective on healing, recovery, and second chances.
This episode is for anyone who has ever struggled silently, carried someone else’s pain, or wondered if things can truly get better.

Acceptance, Patience, and the Power of Yet

In this episode of Recovery Culture, Valerie and Steven talk about acceptance, patience, persistence, and the life-changing mindset behind “the power of yet.”
From stepping out of denial to learning how to let go of control, they discuss how recovery often begins by simply telling yourself the truth — and believing that growth is still possible, even when you can’t see it yet.
Whether you’re struggling with addiction, mental health, broken relationships, or life in general, this conversation is a reminder that healing takes time, progress comes in small wins, and breakthrough often comes right before the resistance.

Forgiveness in Recovery: Letting Go Without Forgetting

In this episode, Steven and Valerie talk about one of the hardest — but most freeing — parts of recovery: forgiveness. From family wounds and past resentment to self-hatred and the struggle to let go, they share personal stories about how unforgiveness can quietly shape our lives, relationships, and recovery journey.
Together, they unpack the difference between forgiving others, accepting forgiveness, and learning to forgive yourself. They also discuss how resentment, anger, and unresolved pain can keep people emotionally stuck — and why true healing often begins when we finally release what we’ve been carrying for years. Honest, vulnerable, and deeply personal, this conversation is about finding freedom, peace, and the courage to move forward.

Ashley: When “Normal” Isn’t Healthy | Alcohol, Environment & Choosing Change

Ashley’s story doesn’t start with chaos—it starts with what felt normal.
Growing up around alcohol, drinking was never questioned. But over time, what seemed manageable turned into blackouts, close calls, and moments that couldn’t be ignored.
We talk about:
How normalized drinking can hide a growing problem
The difference between functioning and actually being okay
The warning signs we ignore
Why trying to quit alone often doesn’t work
If you’ve ever told yourself “it’s not that bad”… this episode might hit closer to home than you expect.