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PODCAST

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma

Believe in People is the UK’s leading podcast dedicated to addiction, recovery, lived experience storytelling, and the power of peer support in transforming lives. Produced by ReNew, the series brings honest, unfiltered conversations with people who have faced addiction, homelessness, trauma, stigma, prison, relapse and recovery and found a way forward.Hosted by Matt Butler and produced by Robbie Lawson, each episode provides real insight into the experiences behind substance use, the roots of

education

All Episodes

84:08

#55 - Chris Tait: Electric Six, Alcoholism, Passenger...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/11/28

What happens when the highs of the music industry intersect with the lows of addiction? Join Matt as he speaks to Chris Tait, keyboard player for Electric Six and founder of Passenger Recovery, about his journey through addiction, recovery, and personal transformation. Chris provides an insightful perspective on the challenges of addiction, drawing from his personal experiences within the music industry.He reflects on his teenage struggles with alcohol as a coping mechanism and examines how t...

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55:05

#54 - Shev: Teenage Motherhood, Pub Industry...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/11/23

Matt jumps straight in at the deep end as Shev shares the profound impact of shouldering responsibilities far beyond her years, including becoming a mother at just 17.In this deeply personal conversation, Shev delves into the emotional challenges of abandonment, the strain and strength of familial bonds, and the role addiction played in shaping her path.Reflecting on her transition from occasional drinking to dependency within the pub industry, she candidly discusses the societal stereotypes ...

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64:23

#53 - Tom: Drug Induced Paranoia, Psychosis, Cocaine...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/11/15

Join Matt for a powerful conversation with Tom, a former talent agent whose life was drastically impacted by cocaine addiction. Despite his high-earning lifestyle in central London, Tom shares his story of how addiction took control, culminating in the realisation that he was using drugs as he brought his new-born daughter home. Tom reflects on his own childhood and his experience highlights addiction's damaging cycle, where moments of relief are overshadowed by drug induced psychos...

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71:59

#52 - Ollie: Cannabis Addiction, Emotional Isolation,...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/11/12

Matt is joined by Ollie, who shares his journey from early childhood trauma to recovery, revealing how the loss of his mother at age eight and his father’s 22-year prison sentence at 15 shaped his formative years and led him toward a dependency on cannabis. Reflecting on his tumultuous upbringing, he recalls becoming heavily dependent on cannabis, priding himself as a “weed connoisseur” who explored different strains and rationalised his constant use. In conversation, he acknowledges the...

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71:15

#51 - Andre Edmund: Murder, 31 Years in a Los Angeles...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/11/01

Join Matt as he talks with Andre, who spent 31 years in a Los Angeles prison following convictions for armed robbery and murder. Andre reflects on his path through incarceration, sharing insights into the harsh realities of prison life shaped by gang violence, systemic racism, and corruption. Andre discusses his battles with addiction, the resilience needed to survive, and the personal transformation he experienced behind bars. Now, as he redefines freedom through entrepreneurs...

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62:25

#50 - Emma: Ecstasy Aged 13, Heroin, Amphetamines,...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/09/27

Join Matt as he sits down with Emma, who candidly shares her journey through addiction, beginning with her exposure to drugs at the age of 11.Influenced by her father’s addiction and her grandmother’s role as a local drug dealer, Emma’s substance use quickly escalated - from experimenting with ecstasy and amphetamines to becoming dependent on heroin and crack cocaine by the time she was 23.Emma’s story paints a vivid picture of the harsh realities of growing up in an environment shaped by par...

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26:04

#49 - Johnny Borrell: Razorlight, Teenage Heroin...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/08/30

Johnny Borrell, guitarist, singer, and frontman of Razorlight, sits down with Matt for an in-depth discussion about his teenage heroin addiction, his journey to recovery, and the stigma that surrounds these experiences.Johnny opens up about the challenges he faced after being ousted from his band due to drug use, and how he eventually regained control of both his life and his music with the help of close relationships and a crucial time filler with Championship Manager.He reflects on the imme...

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83:48

#48 - Adam Maxted: Love Island, Professional...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/07/26

Adam Maxted, professional wrestler and Love Island reality TV star joins Matt for a candid conversation about life in entertainment. Adam shares his extraordinary journey, starting from the wrestling scene in Ireland, where opportunities were limited, to the transformative experience of participating in Love Island. He discusses how the show significantly boosted his career, leading to a dramatic increase in recognition and the birth of "Big Flex".Adam addresses the mental and physical c...

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63:45

#47 - Ambrose - Hepatitis C, Prison, Heroin, Stigma,...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/07/26

Matt sits down with Ambrose, a prominent figure in the recovery community, to explore his remarkable journey from severe substance misuse to recovery and advocacy. Ambrose shares his harrowing experience with various substances, including alcohol, cannabis, ecstasy, LSD, amphetamines, temazepam, diazepam, and heroin.Ambrose recounts his early struggles with substance misuse as a coping mechanism for social awkwardness, leading to life behind bars and deep despair, including relationship break...

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59:53

#46 - Harriette: Alcohol Aged 10, Self-Harm Survival,...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/07/01

WARNING: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, including graphic descriptions of violence and trauma.Starting to drink at just 10 years old, Harriette bravely recounts her youth in a household shattered by her father's alcoholism and her mother's involvement in abusive relationships. Whilst she was in primary school, her weekends involved consuming alcohol, reflecting a need to escape from the difficult circumstances at home.Harriette describes the severe self-harm incidents th...

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90:31

#45 - Chris Sylvester - Heroin Aged 12, Crime,...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/05/20

Matt is in conversation with former child heroin addict and Getting Clean founder, Chris Sylvester, whose descent into addiction began at just 12 years old.Chris shares his candid experiences, revealing the allure and grip of narcotics on both individuals and communities. His story transcends survival; it's a narrative of redemption, where pride and agony intersect in the pursuit of healing. But amidst the tales of violence, incarceration, and loss, there lies an undercurrent of hope. This

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78:58

#44 - Michelle Heaton: Addiction, Balance, Celebrity...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/05/03

Emmy & BRIT award-winning singer Michelle Heaton returns to the Believe in People Podcast. With three years of sobriety achieved, Michelle shares her incredible journey from addiction to empowerment, revealing the raw truths and profound insights gained by delicately balancing family life, self-care, and personal growth.Michelle provides an invaluable look into the complexities of sponsoring others through their sobriety, and how she manages the looming threat of relapse and the joy of reaching

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78:24

#43 - Amy Jo Johnson: Embracing Sobriety, Cult...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/04/11

Matt is in conversation with Amy Jo Johnson; actress, singer, writer and filmmaker best known for her role as the original Pink Ranger, in the worldwide hit 90's television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Together, they delve into Amy Jo's decision to abstain from alcohol, viewing it not as an obligation but as an empowering choice that has fundamentally reshaped her life. Amy Jo's narrative encompasses her upbringing in a religious cult, her father's battle with alcoholism,

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86:18

#42 - Kirsty: Escaping Abuse, Overcoming Addiction,...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/03/22

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47:43

#41 - Young: Heroin, Crack, Smuggling, Dealing,...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/03/21

Matt is in conversation with Young, whose turbulent journey with substance abuse commenced at the tender age of 11, thrusting him into a life ruled by crack, cocaine, and alcohol. Deep within a chaotic lifestyle, he was drawn into the Acid House music scene, then flourished as a global DJ while grappling with a hidden heroin addiction.As Young shares his experiences as a drug smuggler and dealer, we witness the unravelling of his sense of self, as the adrenaline-fueled highs of his youth yield to

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38:34

Dame Carol Black: UK Drug Policy, Recovery Pathways,...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/03/08

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42:12

Ian: Developing Alcohol Dependence In Retirement,...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/03/07

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67:19

Hannah: Sober Butterfly Collective, British Drinking...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/03/07

Ever found yourself caught in the relentless cycle of social binge drinking and wondered if there's another way to live? That's the very crossroad our guest, Hannah from the Sober Butterfly Collective, encountered before transforming her life. Our latest episode offers an intimate look into Hannah's journey from numbing emotional voids with alcohol to embracing a vibrant, sober lifestyle. We unpack the pressures of British drinking culture, delve into the transformative power of

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55:20

#37 - Joe Cator: Hull FC, Hull KR, Men's Mental...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/02/14

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51:20

#36 - Ruth: Alcohol Dependency, Cancer, Triggers,...

Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma ·

2024/01/26

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94 results

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