In this heartfelt episode of Finding New Waters, B. Reeves and Justin McClendon sit down with Tom Farley—speaker, author, recovery advocate, and brother of the late comedian Chris Farley.
Tom opens up about his personal journey through addiction and recovery, the impact of his brother’s very public death, and how writing The Chris Farley Show helped him heal and see Chris in a new light. He reflects on growing up in Wisconsin, navigating sobriety after years of false starts, and finding purpose in working with teens, treatment centers, and now with Recovery.com.
From stories of Wall Street and New York nightlife to insights on authenticity, grief, and fun in recovery, Tom’s story is equal parts cautionary and inspiring. He also shares the exciting news of an upcoming film adaptation of The Chris Farley Show—and why he hopes it will become a tool for the recovery community.
📍 Learn more about Tom’s work: https://www.recovery.com
📕 Book: The Chris Farley Show
00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Tom Farley
01:00 – Tom’s work with Recovery.com and Recovery Cast
03:00 – How Chris Farley’s story first brought Tom into recovery work
05:00 – Sobriety “attempts” vs. true recovery
07:00 – The meeting that changed everything
10:00 – Writing The Chris Farley Show and seeing Chris differently
13:00 – The “mascot” persona and searching for authenticity
16:00 – Growing up, prep school, and Georgetown years
19:00 – Life in New York finance & Chris’s rise at SNL
22:00 – News about The Chris Farley Show movie adaptation
26:00 – Recovery.com’s mission & patient-first approach
30:00 – Building healthy workplace culture rooted in gratitude
34:00 – Belonging, connection, and living as one whole person
38:00 – Lessons from recovery: action before results
41:00 – Why fun in recovery is not only possible—but essential
“I thought recovery meant no more fun—but I’ve had more fun sober than I ever did drinking. You’re not going to tell a Farley they can’t have fun.” – Tom Farley
Tom Farley
Tom Farley is a speaker, author, and recovery advocate. He wrote The Chris Farley Show, a New York Times bestselling oral history of his brother, the late comedian Chris Farley. Tom has spent years developing prevention and treatment programs for teens and young adults, and today works with Recovery.com, a patient-focused platform dedicated to connecting people with recovery resources and building community through podcasts, articles, and education.
The Chris Farley Show (Book)
Recovery Cast Podcast
Giving Voice to Depression Podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newwatersrecovery
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newwatersrecovery
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-waters-recovery
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@newwatersrecovery_nc
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
#TomFarley #ChrisFarley #RecoveryPodcast #AddictionRecovery #FindingNewWatersPodcast #RecoveryCommunity #TheChrisFarleyShow #RecoveryDotCom #SobrietyJourney #FunInRecovery
