On this episode of The Zac Clark Show, Grace Adams joins Zac and Jay for an honest and funny conversation about what early sobriety actually looks like.
They start with a hot topic that brings all sorts of opinions: dating in sobriety. Is “don’t date for a year” real wisdom… or an arbitrary rule people cling to? Zac and Jay break down why recovery can’t be one-size-fits-all – and how the wrong guidance can push people into obsession, fear, or dependency on personalities rather than recovery-building principles.
Then Grace opens up about her story: a disciplined performing arts kid who hit college freedom like a hurricane, the moment the police found her blacked out in her dorm, and the brutal truth that shame didn’t make her stop drinking. She shares what it looked like to “control” drinking — switching alcohols, counting glasses, and even going to a restaurant with a journal to write about her relationship with alcohol… while getting drunk.
The conversation gets real about the hidden danger for young women: blackout culture, risky situations, sexual trauma, and the isolating belief that you should be able to fix it alone. Zac, Jay, and Grace land on the thing that keeps showing up: peer-to-peer recovery — one person sharing their story with another so shame breaks, hope shows up, and life becomes possible again.
If you’re newly sober, thinking about getting sober, or love someone who is – this is a great conversation for you.
If you’re struggling, you don’t have to do it alone.
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery: (914) 588-6564 releaserecovery.com @releaserecovery
Jared “Flash” Gordon is a UFC veteran known for his grit, longevity in the sport, and a career that defied the odds — not just in the cage, but in life. Before he became a professional fighter, Jared survived 13 treatment centers, 8 arrests, and a felony case in Florida where he was facing 25-to-life. In 2015, he overdosed and woke up in a hospital bed, finally ready to change his life forever.
Now, nearly a decade into a successful UFC career and 10 years sober, Jared talks to Zac about the fight that didn’t stop when the drugs did. They explore emotional sobriety, identity pressure in professional sports, and the exhausting cycle of comparison — especially when no amount of wins or recognition ever feels like enough.
The episode also covers the grounding force of community and meetings, and the shift in priorities that came with becoming a father. They talk about Jared's continued work to face childhood trauma and how healing is a lifelong journey.
Through it all, Jared remains committed to recovery — the only thing that has ever given him stability, connection, and a chance at freedom of mind.
This is an honest, human conversation about ambition, self-worth, fatherhood, trauma, and staying committed when the world keeps moving the goalpost.
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery: (914) 588-6564 releaserecovery.com @releaserecovery
Kratom is everywhere – in gas stations, bodegas, vape shops, and even pharmacies. But most people don’t actually know what it is.
In this episode of The Zac Clark Show, Zac and Jay break down the truth about kratom: what it is, how it works in the brain, and why treatment centers across the country are seeing a sharp rise in kratom-related addiction and relapse.
This is not a PSA and it’s not an attack on people who say kratom has helped them. It’s an honest conversation grounded in real-world experience from the recovery and behavioral health space – including why kratom often goes undetected on drug tests, how it can act as both a stimulant and an opioid, and why it can be especially dangerous for people with a history of substance use.
They also unpack the phenomenon of craving, the misconception that kratom doesn’t require detox, and the growing concern around stronger kratom products now being sold over the counter.
If you or someone you love is sober, in recovery, or simply trying to understand what’s being sold so casually in everyday places, this episode is worth your time.
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery: (914) 588-6564 releaserecovery.com @releaserecovery
What is neuropsychology? What does a psychological test actually measure? And what if it were possible to understand how we learn, think, and behave in a totally non-judgmental, deeply informative way?
This week on The Zac Clark Show, we sit down with Dr. David Rowe, Director of Neuropsychology at United Assessment, to demystify the entire world of psychoeducational testing. Dr. Rowe explains how these assessments uncover the real story behind attention issues, learning differences, and emotional struggles — and why missed diagnoses often push people toward anxiety, shame, and even drugs and alcohol as a way to cope.
We talk about how the brain actually works, why so many kids (and adults) fall through the cracks, and what happens when someone finally gets clarity on challenges they’ve been carrying their whole life.
Fast, fascinating, and surprisingly hopeful — this episode might change how you see yourself, your kid, or your past.
Learn more about United Assessment: https://www.unitedassessment.com/psychoeducational-assessments
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery: (914) 588-6564
Thanksgiving can be beautiful – and brutal – especially in early sobriety. In this special Thanksgiving Sober Edition, Zac and Jay bring in guests Grace Adams (Release Marketing Director & former client), Dave Megenis (VP of Outreach & Continuing Care at Wellbridge, a leading addiction treatment and recovery center), and Michael Ahearn (Wellbridge Addiction Treatment & Research) to talk about:
Going home in early sobriety
Navigating family dynamics during the holidays
Embarrassing Thanksgiving stories
Gratitude that actually feels real
Staying grounded through holiday stress
If you’re sober, sober-curious, or simply trying to have a healthier holiday, this episode is for you.
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:
(914) 588-6564/ releaserecovery.com/ @releaserecovery
In this episode, we sit down with Kellen Matthews-Thompson – Philly runner, content creator, father, husband, and the founder of Recovery Run Club. Before his life revolved around miles, marathons, and community, Kellen spent over a decade in the grip of opioid addiction. He began using in his teens, eventually turning to IV drugs in his twenties. His life unraveled – until a doctor in treatment connected the dots between the chemistry of the runner’s high and the brain’s need for relief. Something clicked.
From that moment, Kellen started running. First one mile. Then another. Then a hundred.Literally – he went on to win a 100-mile ultramarathon and run a marathon every month in 2024 to raise awareness for recovery.
Today, Kellen uses running as a bridge – not just for himself, but for others. Recovery Run Club is just one example of how Kellen uses his growing online presence to raise awareness and inspire hope around recovery.
There’s a special kind of resonance in this conversation – because Zac is a born-and-raised Philly guy who found his own way back through recovery, service, and showing up for other people. Two men who rebuilt their lives from the inside out. Two men who know what it means to choose a different kind of hard.
We talk about:
Running as an entryway to emotional regulation and self-belief
Love as the key ingredient to helping others find recovery
The loneliness of early recovery and how community closes the gap
Fatherhood after addiction
Building something that serves people instead of just saving yourself
Why running is such a powerful tool in recovery for so many
This is a conversation about movement, identity, and returning to yourself — one mile, one day, one choice at a time.
Kellen: @kellenrunsphilly
Recovery Run Club: @recoveryrunclub
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:
(914) 588-6564
@releaserecovery
Cody Ko is a Canadian YouTuber, comedian, podcaster, and DJ who has built one of the internet’s biggest comedy empires – from viral reaction videos and the Tiny Meat Gang podcast to a fanbase of over six million subscribers. But in recent years, Cody has revealed another side of himself — one defined by discipline, endurance, and purpose.
In this episode of The Zac Clark Show, Cody opens up about running the 2025 New York City Marathon in support of the Release Recovery Foundation, raising money to help people struggling with addiction get access to treatment. He shares why this cause hits close to home, how becoming a father changed his outlook, and what he’s learned about having an addictive personality — the kind that fuels both achievement and excess.
This is a candid and inspiring conversation about drive, balance, and finding meaning beyond the spotlight.
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:
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What if there was a test that could actually tell you who you are – or even better, who you’re meant to become?
In this episode, Zac and Jay explore Becoming You: The Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career, the groundbreaking philosophy and curriculum developed by Suzy Welch – New York Times bestselling author, award-winning NYU professor, podcaster, innovator, and trusted mentor helping individuals and organizations pursue lives of meaning and flourishing.
Suzy’s Becoming You course became NYU’s most popular business school class ever, sparking a worldwide movement among Gen Z and professionals alike to find what they crave most: purpose. After losing her husband, legendary GE CEO Jack Welch, Suzy rebuilt her life by creating a rigorous, research-backed framework that helps people uncover their deepest values and design a life aligned with them.
At the center of that framework is The Values Bridge – a scientifically validated assessment that reveals your 16 core human values, measures your Authenticity Gap, and maps your Values DNA. It doesn’t just tell you who you are; it shows you where your life and values are in harmony – or in conflict – and what changes can move you toward a more authentic, fulfilling existence.
Zac and Jay take the conversation beyond the classroom, reflecting on their own journeys of self-discovery, loss, and purpose – and how tools like The Values Bridge can illuminate the path forward for anyone trying to live a life that actually feels like theirs.
Take Suzy Welch’s renowned values test – The Values Bridge – here: https://thevaluesbridge.com/
Learn more about Suzy’s best-selling book, Becoming You: The Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career: https://www.suzywelch.com/books/becoming-you-the-proven-method-for-crafting-your-authentic-life-and-career/
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:
(914) 588-6564
@releaserecovery
Mike Giresi was an All-American high school football player with a bright future, until crippling anxiety and panic attacks after graduation led him to alcohol. What began as self-medication spiraled into heroin addiction, multiple overdoses, and rehab.
In this episode, Mike shares his journey through the darkest chapters of addiction and his hard-fought recovery. His transformation became a calling: helping others heal. He began working with adults facing trauma and PTSD before focusing on adolescents, even traveling to India to study yoga and meditation to integrate mind-body approaches into his work.
Today, Mike is a Florida Certified Addiction Counselor, Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified Trauma Professional, and NARM® Practitioner. As Chief Clinical Officer at Family First Adolescent Services in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, he leads with the belief that “the entire family is our client,” addressing the deeper wounds that drive destructive behaviors.
A national speaker and educator on trauma, addiction, and adolescent mental health, Mike is an expert in helping teens and their families recover and find lasting healing.
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:
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In this episode, Zac sits down with BJ Coleman – former NFL quarterback, author of The Pivot, and CEO of Pivotal Health Partners – for a powerful conversation about resilience, leadership, and life after the game.
BJ traces his journey from being a highly recruited high school quarterback to playing at the University of Tennessee, then transferring to the struggling program at UT Chattanooga – where he reinvented his career, leading to being drafted by the Green Bay Packers. His quarterback odyssey laid the seeds for life after football, learning valuable lessons about building teams, the essence of leadership and learning to “control the controllables.”
Now an executive and turnaround specialist in behavioral healthcare, BJ is known for walking into broken systems and rebuilding them from the inside out. He and Zac dive into the lessons sports instilled in him – culture, accountability, and leadership – and how those same principles drive his work today. His book, The Pivot, captures this spirit: setbacks aren’t roadblocks, but essential opportunities to reinvent, rebuild, and learn how to succeed.
This is an honest, motivational episode that will resonate with athletes, entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking tools to lead under pressure, bounce back from loss, and chart a new path forward.
For more information on BJ's book, The Pivot, please click here: https://bjcoleman.com/the-book/
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:
(914) 588-6564
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New York City brings people together in unexpected ways. In this episode of The Zac Clark Show, Zac sits down with KJ Dillard -- an influencer, model, and skater just days away from running the 2025 Berlin Marathon to raise money for the Release Recovery Foundation -- and Soo-Hwan ‘Soo’ Saxton, an accomplished skater and Release Recovery team member whose recovery story is deeply rooted in skateboarding and mental health advocacy.
They share how skateboarding became a lifeline during struggles with addiction, anxiety, depression, and ADHD, why the skate community still carries stigma around mental health, and how a powerful moment of reclaiming identity helped Soo take his life back. KJ opens up about being a Black skateboarder growing up in Kansas City, finding brotherhood through skating, and why he’s running to support kids who can’t afford treatment.
This conversation is about skate culture, recovery, resilience, and the power of friendship – a reminder that it’s not just about talking about mental health, it’s about doing something about it.
Learn more about the Release Recovery Foundation, which provides scholarships to help individuals struggling with substance use disorders access treatment: https://www.releaserecoveryfoundation.org/
Connect with Zac
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:
(914) 588-6564
@releaserecovery
At 9 years old, Matthew Bocchi lost his father in the North Tower on 9/11. At 23, he got sober. In between were years of grief, addiction, and a secret he carried alone – sexual abuse by a family member. In this raw conversation, Matthew and Zac trace the line from trauma to addiction to recovery, and how speaking the truth can save lives. Matthew shares the call that changed everything, the moment of clarity that led him to treatment, holding his abuser accountable, and the work he does now – speaking to schools across the country, offering kids language and hope. It’s a story about resilience, community, and choosing to live.
Matthew is the author of SWAY and recently celebrated 10 years sober.
Content note: This episode discusses 9/11, addiction, and sexual abuse.
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:
(914) 588-6564
@releaserecovery
At 30, Stephanie Szostak made the bold decision to pursue acting – despite the long odds of success and the skeptics who questioned the move. Audiences soon came to know her from The Devil Wears Prada, her turn opposite Steve Carell and Paul Rudd in Dinner for Schmucks, and her role in Marvel’s Iron Man 3. But beyond the red carpets and film sets, Stephanie has carved out another identity: author and advocate for mental health, resilience, and self-discovery.
In this conversation with, Stephanie opens up about:
Her leap from business school and Chanel to modeling and then acting at 30.
The lessons she learned working alongside stars Kevin Bacon and Meryl Streep.
How her brother’s struggle with heroin shaped her path.
Why she wrote Selfish: Step Into a Journey of Self-Discovery to Revive Confidence, Joy, and Meaning, a book that distills her tools for navigating mental health in high-pressure environments.
The reality of Hollywood’s mental health challenges and the relentless pressure to succeed.
Stephanie’s story is one of courage, reinvention, and choosing purpose over expectation. Whether you know her from her films, her book Selfish, or her advocacy, her journey is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to begin again – and that caring for your mental health is the ultimate act of strength.
Connect with Zac
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:
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Zac and Jay are keeping it in-house this time, pulling back the curtain on the podcast’s growth and the community they’re working to build. With a plant doling out life lessons and Zac’s self-imposed social media ban (for now), they dive into how stepping back from the online world has been a game-changer for his mental health. They also get real about marijuana – why it’s not always as harmless as it seems, especially for younger people. Plus, they discuss the work it takes to break bad habits, find joy, and take care of yourself, even when life gets busy.
Connect with Zac
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:
(914) 588-6564
@releaserecovery
MMA fighter Jimmy Drago joins The Zac Clark Show just weeks before stepping into the cage for the biggest fight of his life — a shot at a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series.
But before the cage came chaos: By 19, Jimmy had survived eight overdoses, been revived by Narcan four times, fought in underground clubs in Hunts Point, and lost his father – a decorated 9/11 hero – to addiction after 21 years sober. Through it all, his mother never gave up on him.
In this raw and powerful conversation, Jimmy shares his journey from shooting dope in a Bronx trap house to fighting in front of 50 Cent… from despair to discipline… from near-death to chasing a dream few would believe possible.
Jimmy Drago lives the word fighter. But beyond the cage, beyond the shot at a UFC contract, his life begins and ends with sobriety – a commitment to staying sober and helping others do the same. If you’ve ever doubted the possibility of radical transformation, this one will change your mind.
Episode highlights:
Growing up in Yonkers as the oldest of three, son of a firefighter and a mother battling her own recovery
Losing his father to addiction — and the last time he ever saw him
From promising high school football player to full-blown heroin addiction
Underground fights in the Bronx during active addiction
Surviving 8 overdoses and finding recovery
Discovering MMA and the purpose it gave him
Why helping others is his greatest victory
Watch Jimmy fight for his UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series August 12 on ESPN+. For more information on how to stream, click below:
https://www.espn.com/watch/catalog/3b9a50f1-caad-4250-918f-b15d884b6608
Today's episode is sponsored by NewForm: the first app for recovery and mental wellbeing. Find thousands of live events, powerful tools to track your growth, and a community that truly understands your journey.
To find NewForm, click here or download the App: https://www.newform.org/
Connect with Zac
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery:
(914) 588-6564
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This week on The Zac Clark Show, we sit down with Scott Strode — founder of The Phoenix, a free national sober active community that’s approaching one million members and nearly 90,000 events strong. But behind those staggering numbers is a deeply personal story.
Scott opens up about the childhood trauma that led him to substance use at age 11, the fractured worlds he navigated between his father’s instability and his mother’s high-powered career, and the early moments of sobriety that ultimately changed his life — not in a treatment center, but in a boxing gym.
What started as one man waiting outside the gym looking for a way to stay sober has become one of the most impactful movements in recovery today. Through rock climbing, cycling, CrossFit, yoga, art, and even sober music festivals, The Phoenix offers people 48 hours sober a place to show up, be seen, and belong — no shame, no cost, no strings attached.
Scott shares why inclusivity and accessibility are at the heart of The Phoenix’s ethos, how volunteering became the rocket fuel behind its growth, and why healing doesn’t have to look like sitting in a circle — sometimes it looks like 150 kettlebell swings and a high five.
We also explore:
Generational trauma and how to break the cycle
The launch of The Phoenix’s free New Form app and its vision to redefine digital recovery
The nonprofit’s challenges with funding innovation in behavioral health
And Scott’s new book, Rise, Recover, Thrive: How I Got Strong, Got Sober, and Built a Movement of Hope — a raw and inspiring look at the personal journey that sparked a national revolution in recovery
The word “community” has become a cultural buzzword — but at its core, it reflects the shared connection humans deeply need and seek. What truly defines community, and why does it matter so much — especially in recovery? Scott Strode has spent his life answering that question, building a movement rooted in belonging, empathy, and hope. What he has to say is illuminating, insightful — and profoundly simple.
Learn more at thephoenix.org, check out Rise, Recover, Thrive wherever books are sold, or download the New Form app to get involved.
For information about Scott’s new book: https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Recover-Thrive-Strong-Movement/dp/B0DGV641P1
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:
(914) 588-6564
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Jeff Halevy has lived many lives. After surviving a childhood brain tumor and living with undiagnosed PTSD, he poured himself into achievement – becoming an award-winning, multi-exit entrepreneur in health, wellness, and technology. He built businesses at the intersection of fitness and behavior change, served as a correspondent for NBC’s Today Show, hosted the internationally syndicated Workout From Within with Jeff Halevy, and advised on Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign. Outwardly, he was thriving. Internally, he was struggling.
The pressure to produce and the need to stay in motion became unsustainable. Jeff eventually hit a spiritual bottom that forced him to reassess how he was living – redefining how he channeled his energy and passion in a healthier, more sustainable way. Not long after that shift, tragedy struck: his wife died by suicide following severe mental health challenges compounded by postpartum, leaving Jeff to raise two young children alone.
In this conversation, Jeff shares the pain and trauma that shaped him, the emotional cost of high achievement, and how fatherhood became the anchor that kept him grounded. He also reflects on how his journey – through undiagnosed trauma, success, loss, and recovery – inspired the founding of Continuum, where he now serves as founder and CEO. Continuum is a luxury wellness club that uses biometric data and AI to deliver individualized, precision-based wellness – with the mission to make the practice of wellness as precise and intentional as the practice of medicine.
This episode is about trauma, sobriety, grief, and turning pain into purpose: how one man’s healing journey became the blueprint for helping others.
Topics include:
Emergency brain surgery as a teenager and its lasting psychological impact
Living with undiagnosed PTSD while building a wellness career
When overachievement becomes survival – and how that is not sustainable
Losing his wife to suicide and raising two infants alone
Building and exiting multiple companies in fitness and health
Founding Continuum: precision wellness through biometric data and AI
How Jeff has come to view success through the lens of fatherhood and being emotionally present
For more information about Jeff’s new wellness company, Continuum, please click here: Continuum
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:
(914) 588-6564
@releaserecovery
In one of our most heartfelt conversations yet, Zac and Jay sit down with writer and grief advocate Jack Ciapciak to talk about love, loss, and healing. Jack opens up about losing his fiancé – also named Jack – just days before Christmas 2022, how it shattered his world, and how he’s slowly been rebuilding.
From his years writing for the TV show Blue Bloods to the unexpected power of sharing his grief journey on TikTok, Jack brings honesty, humor, and hope to a topic so many avoid.
We talk about internalized homophobia, what it means to truly love and be loved, and why grief isn’t something you move on from – but something you move forward with. Jack shares the story behind the viral video that changed everything, the community that’s grown around his vulnerability, and why he still wears his fiancé’s bracelet and watch every day.
Grief cracks you open and reshapes you in painful, unexpected ways – but there’s beauty in what remains. Jack’s story is a reminder that healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means carrying love forward.
This episode is for anyone who has ever lost someone—or loved someone deeply.
Connect with Zac
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:
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Zac and Jay sit down with Dave Manheim – creator of Dopey, the darkly hilarious and deeply moving podcast about “drugs, addiction, and dumb sh*t,” or as he now calls it, “the dark comedy of drug addiction.” What began as two friends swapping war stories has grown into a full-blown cultural force, with a diehard community, celebrity guests, and an archive of the funniest, most heartbreaking, and most brutally honest stories in the recovery world.
Dave talks about launching Dopey just four months into sobriety with his late co-host Chris, the tragedy that reshaped the show, and why humor – especially the twisted kind – is a lifeline. He opens up about chasing guests like Marc Maron, Boy George, and Jason Biggs (and getting ghosted), his complicated feelings about being called “Dopey Dave,” and how working at Katz’s Deli taught him more about recovery than any rehab ever did.
They get into podcast beefs, the sad reality of grief that often shadows recovery, the great weed debate, and what happens when someone who never set out to “help people” accidentally does just that – over and over again. Dave’s smart, incredibly earnest and very, very funny.
If you’ve ever been told “once a junkie, always a junkie,” if you’ve experienced unexpected loss in recovery, or if you believe this addiction stuff is heavy enough and that humor is an essential ingredient in getting through it – please give this episode a watch or listen.
Link to Dave’s podcast: Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:
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@releaserecovery
Former NFL star Darren Waller joins The Zac Clark Show to share his raw, unfiltered story of recovery. From overdosing on opiates in a grocery store parking lot just miles from the Ravens facility to becoming one of the league’s top tight ends with the Raiders and Giants, Darren opens up about the real battle—his addiction, the search for identity, and the haunting realization that no amount of money, fame, or success can fill the hole inside.
He walks us through the peaks and valleys—stocking shelves at Sprouts during a 14-month suspension, making the Pro Bowl just two years later, and ultimately walking away from a $32 million contract to honor his true self and a healthier, more peaceful path. We talk about the layers beneath addiction—childhood, shame, performance, perfectionism—and the ongoing work of healing through recovery, therapy, and faith.
The dream is so often built around achievement, recognition, and external validation—but Darren’s story is a powerful reminder that inner peace is worth more than any prize, paycheck, or stadium of screaming fans, and that real self-love can only come from within.
Today, Darren is making music, sharing his truth through lyrics, and helping others find freedom through his non-profit, The Darren Waller Foundation. Since 2020, the foundation has helped fund recovery treatment for individuals struggling with addiction and has reached thousands through Wall Talks across the country.
For information about The Darren Waller Foundation, please click here: https://darrenwaller.org/
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If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:
(914) 588-6564
@releaserecovery