A must-listen for anyone facing overwhelming challenges and searching for the strength to persevere. In this episode, we sit down with Bernie, a man who’s been sober for over 17 years, as he prepares to serve a federal prison sentence. A MARR alumnus from 2006, Bernie shares how losing touch with his recovery network led to illegal business decisions that changed his life. With unwavering honesty, Bernie reflects on how distancing himself from recovery made him vulnerable to poor choices. However, he managed to stay sober, rebuild his recovery network, and face the consequences of his actions. He speaks candidly about the fear and uncertainty of facing prison and his confidence that his Higher Power will use this unthinkable experience as an opportunity for him to help others. Join us as Bernie opens up about his past, his present, and the uncertain future that awaits him behind bars.

MARR’s New CEO Todd Stumbo has been in recovery since July 2004. In this episode, Todd opens up about the raw reality of his history of addiction, and the powerful experience of rebuilding his life. He also shares his insights on how the concept of service and community played a pivotal role in his recovery and personal growth. We also talk about what drew him to taking on the role of CEO at MARR. In addition, he addresses some of the questions he’s been getting since the announcement was made that he was taking on this role. Join us as we dive deep into Todd’s inspiring story of moving from desperation to purpose.

Occasionally on this show, we reconnect with previous guests to check in on their recovery progress since their first appearance. In this episode, Tad L. returns to share his recovery journey since we last spoke over three years ago. Now over five years sober and serving as chair of the board at MARR, Tad opens up about navigating life’s challenges, including recovering from a stroke, and how his Higher Power and community have supported his growth. He reflects on the tools of sobriety that have shaped both his personal and professional life. (To hear our first conversation with Tad and learn about the early stages of his recovery, check out episode 67.) Join us for an inspiring conversation about resilience, faith, and the ongoing process of recovery, as Tad shares what continues to keep him grounded today.

Ep 93: I Learned It Was a Disease, Not a Bad Habit



Mark R. was living in a flophouse and drinking himself to death. At this point in his life, his sister showed up and told him he was going to treatment. He was beaten down enough to agree. Initially, he thought he could learn how to drink like a gentleman. However, he soon learned that he had a disease. The structure of treatment, the camaraderie with the other clients, and the care provided by his counselors were invaluable as he grew in early recovery. But life still had its struggles after treatment. He faced a long, tough road for several years with a job that paid him barely enough to survive. However, through a strong relationship with his sponsor and the tools of recovery, he was able to hold on to hope.

Ethan M. used to pride himself on how many times he went through treatment. Then, when he was living in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart and sneaking into rooms in Motel 6, he made a drunk phone call on Christmas that landed him at MARR. He was convinced it wouldn’t work and immediately wanted to leave. But for some reason, by the end of the first day at MARR, he thought: I’ll give this a shot. He ended up at MARR where for several months he got a glimpse of what sobriety and community life could look like, but he wasn’t being honest with everyone. He ended up leaving secretly before he was ready. After a disastrous relapse, he wound up at MARR with a newfound spirit of willingness. And for Ethan and treatment, the 19th time was a charm.




Ethan M. (right) with fellow MARR alumnus Nick R. (left)

Ep. 91: How I Recovered from OxyContin, Adderall and Fentanyl







Ladd H. wanted to be a good dad, a good husband, and a good employee. He couldn’t explain why he kept blowing off his commitments and continued to use. What began as college drinking gradually progressed to heavy use of OxyContin, Adderall and fentanyl, eventually leading to hallucinations. When things got bad enough he eventually went through MARR. While in treatment he faced some tough truths about himself and learned how to be supportive of others who were in sobriety. He also worked through the 12 Steps with a sponsor. Things started going really well. He was able to show up in his life the way that he wanted to. But that wasn’t the end of his drinking and using story. Things were going so well that he thought he could do sobriety on his own. He relapsed. However, the lessons he learned at MARR and the experiences he had in sobriety helped him make it back. Now he sits in groups at MARR every Thursday, and continues to be a part of the community.

Ep 90: The Dentist Who Couldn't Stop Using Drugs







From the outside, it looked as if Brian had everything going for him. He had graduated from dental school. His career was off to a successful start. And in his spare time as a musician, he had even found the time to record an album. However, what people couldn’t see was that he was also developing a serious drug dependency. All this activity came to a halt when he was confronted by his supervisor and told to go to treatment. When he checked into MARR, he began learning about the underlying causes of his drug addiction. He also learned that recovery took work and a commitment to the principles of 12-step recovery.

Ep. 89: As Family, We Were Invited to Participate



Family members can be a vital part of the recovery process. The two women on today’s episode are a prime example of that reality. Sallie and Rosemary are the wife and mother of one of our former clients, Rob. They watched Rob go through treatments before coming to MARR, and even participated in family programs at other treatment centers. But at MARR, they felt a confidence in the staff and program they hadn’t felt at previous treatment centers. They also accepted the invitation MARR extended to them to participate in their own recovery. These two women share their respective journeys as loved ones who watched the addiction progress and then saw what life could be like in recovery.




Rob (former client) and Sallie (Rob's wife)






Rosemary (Rob's mom)

Ep 88: A Fast Tailspin Toward Death



A daily cocaine and heroin user, Tara describes herself in her addiction as being in “a fast tailspin toward death.” Thanks to an unexpected intervention from her daughter, she ended up in MARR’s Right Side Up program at 40. Looking back on it, she describes getting to the program as finding an immediate sense of safety and connection. She now sees the day-to-day structure of the program as her saving grace. Tara takes us step by step through her first year of sobriety, describing the support she received at Right Side Up.

Ep 87: The Significance of Family Week in Treatment




When Laurie M.’s husband, Sam, checked into MARR (which you can hear about in episode 86), the relationships in their family were strained. Now, Laurie says, her marriage with Sam is better than ever, and there has been significant healing between her children and Sam. She credits a lot of the progress to the work that she and her kids were able to do in MARR’s Family Program. While her husband, Sam, was learning how to live in sobriety, Laurie was learning about her part in the family disease of addiction. She also learned how she could find her own path to recovery. She particularly credits Family Week at MARR, which her kids attended as well, as profoundly impacting their family life, both for herself and Sam, as well as their two kids.

Ep. 86: The Ego Deflation of a Successful Investor



Sam M. was a high-flying investor in capital markets for residential mortgages. He had a wife and two kids that always took a back seat to his career. But that all changed when he got arrested for a DUI and ended up at MARR. In treatment, his peers and his counselors helped him realize what really mattered to him. In this episode, we also hear from Sam’s wife, Laurie, about her perception of Sam’s recovery. Our next episode will focus entirely on Laurie’s experience of Family Week at MARR, and how that experience was a game-changer for her and her children. 

Ep. 85: Going Through Divorce with an Attitude of Service | Michelle H. Sequel







Michelle H. participated in Stories of Recovery about 4 years ago in episode 45. At the time she had just gotten her nursing license back and was getting her feet underneath her again. Since then, she’s gone through some major changes, including an amicable divorce. Through the experience, she was able to use the principles of recovery to create harmony, welcoming her children’s new stepmother into the family. She also serves on MARR’s staff as a full-time nurse. She discusses what it’s like to be on the other side of treatment and the joy she feels as one of the first staff members the clients interact with when they check into MARR. Feel free to email us at podcast@marrinc.org if you have any feedback or ideas, or if you just want to connect.




Michelle H. (left) with her daughter, Addison (right)

Ep. 84: How the Neurologist Found Peace in Science







Many of our guests talk about “God” in their stories. Our guest today, Larry J., a neurologist who came to us from Kentucky, isn’t one of those people. And that’s why we thought it was important to talk to him. We want everyone to know that they are welcome here at MARR and there is a path to recovery for them, regardless of what they believe or don’t believe in. Feel free to email us at podcast@marrinc.org if you have any feedback or ideas, or if you just want to connect.

Ep. 83: Getting Sober at 19







When Katie Z. enrolled at Kennesaw State University, her life was already in a downward spiral. She had begun using substances at the age of 15, and the consequences of her actions, including probation and the looming possibility of incarceration, were closing in on her. That’s when Katie sought help from MARR, turning her life around as one of the youngest people in her therapeutic community. She learned to confront and address the underlying emotions that had driven her to abuse substances. Today, more than a decade later, Katie enjoys a fulfilling life in recovery, alongside her husband and two children.
Got a hot topic you’d like to propose for a future episode? Interested in becoming a guest on our show? Please send an email to podcast@marrinc.org.

Ep. 82: Marcia Smith



Strong. Caring. Comforting. Direct. These are just a handful of adjectives that clients have affectionately used to describe Marcia Smith, LPC, director of MARR’s Right Side Up (RSU) – a six-month, state-funded, residential addiction treatment program for adult women (ages 18 and older), and adult women with dependent children (under age 13). Marcia’s loving guidance and strong leadership skills have led countless women and their families toward freedom.This episode not only offers valuable insights into Marcia’s character, but also provides a more in-depth look at the connection between a safe therapeutic environment and long-term recovery.Got a hot topic you’d like to propose for a future episode? Interested in becoming a guest on our show? Please send an email to podcast@marrinc.org.

Ep. 81: How to Get Sober and Save a Marriage



Brian K.’s marriage was on the rocks. He was drinking heavily and sleeping in his truck in the driveway. Desperate to keep his family intact, he checked into MARR on the same day as his twin sons’ 10th birthday. Through the process of living in community at MARR, attending groups, and working with an individual counselor, Brian learned how to show up authentically and tell the truth, regardless of how it made him look. Additionally, he gained valuable skills in managing conflicts and staying sober, even in the face of tragedy and loss.This is the third installment of our documentary-style podcast series, in which we explore one person’s journey of recovery from multiple perspectives. If you’d like to reach us, please send an email to podcast@marrinc.org.

Ep. 80: The Whole Family Can Recover



Tune in and witness the profound turning point in Kirsty D.’s life, when a tragic event at the age of 22 compelled her to seek help for her addiction. With the support of her mother, Moira, Kirsty obtained a temporary legal reprieve, granting her the opportunity to receive treatment at MARR.Meanwhile, her younger sister, Gabby, bore the deep wounds inflicted by Kirsty’s destructive behavior during active addiction, resulting in an estranged relationship between them. In this gripping episode, we hear from Kirsty, Moira and Gabby, and how the principles of recovery led to remarkable healing for the whole family.This is the second installment of our documentary-style podcast series, in which we explore one person’s journey of recovery from multiple perspectives. If you’d like to reach us, please send an email to podcast@marrinc.org.

Ep 79: Remembering Darrell V. | How a Cat Can Lead to a Spiritual Experience



In this special edition of Stories of Recovery, we’re paying tribute to Darrell V., a long-time MARR alumnus and friend to all. In March of this year, Darrell passed away following a sudden and brief illness. With more than 15 years of continuous sobriety, Darrell’s commitment to the recovery community was unwavering and resolute.Darrell profoundly impacted those in the recovery community and beyond. He was a true, salt-of-the-earth kind of guy… the type of person who wasn’t too concerned with leaving behind a lasting impact, which is maybe why he did. Nearly four years ago, Darrell graciously shared his story of recovery with us (click here to listen to episode 35). He was humble; he was disarming; and he was witty without intention.We wanted to spend more time with Darrell, so we are joyfully revisiting his story and talking to a few of his closest friends. Darrell V., you are sorely missed, but your legacy will continue to carry the great message of recovery for generations to come.

Ep 78: How I Got My Piloting Career Back | Nick R., The Sequel



Nick is a pilot, through and through. When he talks you can feel how much he loves flying planes. For a time, he lost all that because of his inability to stop drinking. But now, like so many people in recovery, he’s gotten back his career, and so much more as well. The first time I interviewed him was for episode 71 of our podcast, where you can hear a detailed story of his journey to MARR and what happened here. At the time of our interview, he had just started working full-time as MARR’s Alumni Coordinator and was hoping that he would get his pilot’s license back eventually.

Why do people relapse? Particularly after having the experience of feeling happy, joyous, and free in recovery and being truly at peace for the first time in their lives? Shaun N. provides us with an answer from his experience. Shaun grew up in a violent household. Fighting was a way of life and drinking provided temporary relief but also led to increasingly bad consequences. He finally found a sustained sense of peace and connection at MARR working the 12 Steps. However, after a while, when he was back at home, he drifted away from the program and eventually relapsed. After getting drunk on the job and passing out in his delivery truck, Shaun reached out to MARR. He was welcomed back with open arms. He remains deeply connected to this program today and now works in the treatment field helping others. This is his story. To send us comments on Shaun’s story or anything else, you can reach out to us at podcast@marrinc.org. We would love to hear from you.