In this moving episode of Finding New Waters, B. Reeves and Justin McClendon sit down with Gregg Champion—entrepreneur, recovery advocate, and co-founder of Startup Recovery—to talk about his 30-year journey in sobriety and the devastating California wildfires that destroyed his home, schools, and 70% of his business in a single day.
Gregg shares how recovery equipped him to respond with clarity, prioritize family and clients, and rally his community during an unthinkable disaster. He opens up about the creation of Startup Recovery, his belief that we should “shift addiction to passion,” and why he rejects the idea of “get well jobs” in favor of pursuing purpose from the start.
From Hollywood to entrepreneurship to building sober living communities, Gregg’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and faith in humanity—restored in the aftermath of tragedy.
📍 Learn more about Startup Recovery:
Website: https://www.startuprecovery.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greggchampion
00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Gregg Champion
02:00 – The story behind Gregg’s “Live Like Braun” hat
05:00 – Discovering his “it factor” and the second definition of Champion
07:00 – Sobriety, entrepreneurship, and founding Startup Recovery
10:00 – Rejecting the “get well job” and choosing passion
13:00 – The January 7th fires: losing his home, business, and schools
17:00 – Keeping kids together to reduce trauma
20:00 – Rebuilding Startup Recovery in Santa Monica
23:00 – Addiction, divorce, and the fallout after disaster
27:00 – Faith restored: strangers’ generosity after the fire
30:00 – Gratitude, perspective, and resilience in real time
35:00 – Startup 2.0 and what’s next
40:00 – How to connect with Gregg Champion
Gregg Champion
Co-Founder, Startup Recovery | Recovery Advocate | Entrepreneur
Gregg Champion has been sober for 30 years and is the co-founder of Startup Recovery, a unique program in Southern California combining mentorship, entrepreneurship, and clinical treatment. With a background in film, branding, and teaching entrepreneurship at USC, Gregg integrates his passion for innovation with his commitment to recovery. His mission is to help people “shift addiction to passion” and live with purpose.
Startup Recovery: https://www.startuprecovery.com
Startup Wellness: https://www.startupwellness.com
Startup Apartments: https://www.startupapartments.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery
Podcast Website: https://www.findingnewwaters.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5Gjw
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXw
YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn
#GreggChampion #StartupRecovery #Resilience #AddictionRecovery #FindingNewWaters #RecoveryJourney #SoberEntrepreneur #Sobriety30Years #ShiftAddictionToPassion #RecoveryCommunity
