Sean Hemeon shares his powerful journey from a chaotic childhood in a strict Mormon household, through struggles with identity, addiction, and dangerous high-stakes drug dealing, to long-term recovery and reconciliation with his family. He opens up about feeling “not enough” from an early age, the role alcohol and drugs played in numbing that pain, and how his life spiraled into violence, federal charges, and life-threatening situations. After narrowly escaping prison, Sean entered recovery in 2004 and has since built a life grounded in service, creativity, and healing. He reflects on the emotional turning points that shaped his sobriety, including confronting deep wounds with his mother, finding community in recovery, and pursuing his passion for acting and art. Today, he uses his story, and soon to be released as a memoir, as a testament to the transformative power of connection, forgiveness, and purpose.

More on Sean Hemeon: https://www.seanhemeon.com

00:00 – Introductions & sobriety dates
00:35 – Childhood in a Mormon household, family chaos, and parental conflict
02:11 – Early emotional neglect and feelings of not being enough
03:42 – Teenage identity crisis and discovering same-sex attraction
04:58 – First experiences with alcohol and instant connection to its effects
07:31 – High school years: masking identity, increasing substance use, hidden relationship
10:13 – Violence and abandonment; deepening shame and isolation
11:26 – Core belief of “I’m not enough” and the cycle of addiction
13:05 – College years, heartbreak, suicide attempt, and coming out to his mother
15:00 – Immersion in DC’s gay club scene and early drug experiences
16:18 – Meeting a meth dealer boyfriend; thrill of underground life
18:57 – Becoming a dealer, escalating risks, and major consequences
20:56 – Federal arrest, decision not to inform, and mysterious case dismissal
22:34 – Six more weeks using before calling parents for help
23:20 – Entering treatment, relapse on inhalants, and final decision to get sober
25:00 – Extent of substance use before recovery
26:28 – Biggest regret: a friend’s overdose and missed chance to help
27:00 – Recovery process: embracing 12-step programs and community
29:28 – Moving to LA, finding strong recovery support, and focusing on rebuilding
30:55 – Powerful meeting story about service and greater purpose in recovery
31:43 – Evolving beyond 12-step rigidity and exploring spirituality
32:43 – Breaking ties with his mother to protect his recovery
34:35 – Slow reconnection and pivotal forgiveness moment during the pandemic
36:24 – Emotional apology from his mother and her walking him down the aisle
38:52 – Reflection on miracles, higher purpose, and the role of addiction in finding connection
39:01 – The memoir The Good Little Drug Lord—origin, writing process, and future release
41:53 – Staying connected via Instagram and newsletter
42:05 – Advice for someone in their first 24 hours of recovery
42:50 – Closing thanks and CCAR’s Telephone Recovery Support information

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At just 22 years old and five months into recovery, Thomas opens up about his long road through addiction, street life, and nearly 25 treatment centers. From dark moments in New Haven to dancing sober at his god-sister’s wedding, Thomas shares how he finally found peace, purpose, and a way to live.

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Derek Benson of Investing in Sobriety shares his journey from a highly structured childhood and elite athletics through pills, escalating addiction, crime, prison, and finally a sustainable recovery built on a mental-physical-spiritual blueprint and strong community.

Highlights:

* Early structure: military/boarding school; learned independence and discipline.

* First intoxication and growing access in high school; transfers to Avon Old Farms and The Hun School.

* Purdue years: injuries, pills in the locker room, and the slide from use → misuse → addiction.

* “Blind alley” spiral: funding use, losing work and relationships.

* Turning point: 12/12/2014—turned himself in; first exposure to AA in jail; later transferred to McDougall-Walker (high bond, no outside meetings).

* Letter that changed things: a family friend visits, connects him to 12-step support.

* Court offered Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) 42-day treatment; he took it, then faced a judge’s 10-year cap warning—fueling commitment to change.

* Recovery today: daily mental-physical-spiritual balance and a healthy circle of influence.

* Practical advice for the first 24 hours: reach out for help and stay open-minded.

* Derek’s project: Investing in Sobriety—conversations on personalized recovery blueprints.

More on Investing In Sobriety here: https://www.investinginsobriety.com/

Chapters

00:00 – Intro, gratitude for recovery community; Derek at ~10 years sober.


03:20 – Childhood & military/boarding school; structure and early independence.


06:25 – First drunk; access increases; transfer to Avon Old Farms.


08:00 – Senior year path to The Hun School; athletic exposure.

10:32 – Purdue: pills after injuries; shift toward addiction.


12:53 – Use vs. misuse vs. addiction; trouble at college party.


28:21 – “Blind alley” metaphor; life narrows around using.


30:06 – Losing work, unhealthy circles, doing anything for money.


31:41 – Criminal activity escalates; path to prison.


33:38 – 12/12/2014: turns himself in (beginning of recovery).


41:04 – First AA in Hartford Correctional.


42:17 – Transfer to McDougall-Walker; no outside meetings; pivotal letter to family friend.


45:47 – 65 pending charges; attorney lays out CVH option.


47:01 – CVH 42-day program; willingness and early momentum.


49:27 – Judge’s 10-year cap warning; why he doubled down on change.


52:48 – Derek’s recovery blueprint (mental-physical-spiritual).


55:55 – Building a healthy circle of influence.
57:37 – Advice for day one: reach out & be open-minded.


58:39 – Derek’s podcast: Investing in Sobriety.

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