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My Last Relapse: Life in Recovery After Addiction

My Last Relapse: Life in Recovery After Addiction

Written by: Matthew Handy
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About this listen

 My Last Relapse is the recovery podcast that says out loud what you’ve been secretly thinking about addiction, relapse, and recovery.

Matthew Handy—who lived through two decades of drug use—cuts through the lies and fear-mongering that dominate traditional recovery programs.

This isn’t about war stories or your worst relapse moments. It’s about the future—your future—without rigid rules, unrealistic expectations, or being told you don’t belong.

This is real conversations about relapse, addiction, treatment, rehab, recovery programs, meetings, self-help, and the stigma that keeps people stuck. For anyone who feels burned out, left out, or cast out by traditional approaches, Matt and his guests offer radical honesty, practical insights, and a new way forward.

Whether you’re battling substance use, struggling with sobriety, navigating withdrawal, dealing with cravings, or just tired of going through the motions, My Last Relapse is here to remind you:

You’re in recovery when YOU say you are.

For individuals, families, friends, and professionals who are done with the lies and ready for a future without using, this is your space.

Today, Matt is one of the founders of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health, an intensive outpatient rehab program in Houston, Texas, created with his brothers after living the struggles of addiction and recovery firsthand. Their shared journey shaped who they are and inspired the creation of Harmony Grove, a place where authenticity and clinical excellence guide every step of the process.

Together, they’ve built a program that feels real, meets people where they are, and provides tools for lasting success.

About Harmony Grove Behavioral Health

Harmony Grove delivers outpatient addiction and mental health treatment focused on wellness, creativity, and authentic human connection—providing a supportive space for healing that extends beyond traditional clinical care.

Harmony Grove’s IOP in Houston, Texas, is more than a program; it’s a lifeline for those ready to take the next step in their recovery. We are ready to meet you where you are and find your unique path to change.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.2025 Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Life After Losing My Kids Twice, Selling Drugs on Reddit, & Living in a Trash Shelter

    Life After Losing My Kids Twice, Selling Drugs on Reddit, & Living in a Trash Shelter
    Feb 28 2026
    Rachel’s parents divorced when she was just a baby, and she lived with her mom, who struggled with alcoholism and mental health issues, while her older sister went to live with their dad.By ninth grade, she was rarely at school, drinking heavily, and immersed in the punk scene. She blacked out a house party and assaulted her cousin who called the police, leading her to hide out in a friend's basement for 2 months before fleeing to Dallas on Greyhound bus. In Dallas, Rachel dropped out of school permanently and moved in with her mother. She got pregnant at 15, and gave birth shortly after turning 16. Over the next several years, she began using cocaine and later heroin. After her second child was born, both children were placed with relatives, and Rachel eventually signed over her parental rights while still using.Rachel later regained custody after a year of sobriety but relapsed the same day and signed her rights away again. She became homeless, continued using and selling drugs, and was arrested after fleeing a theft in a stolen vehicle. Instead of a long prison sentence, she was placed in a state treatment program.After release, Rachel completed strict reentry supervision, avoided relapse, and regained custody of her children after three years. She began running daily, attended NA, found a sponsor, and now sponsors others. She works in recovery and outreach, and her oldest daughter, now an adult, works at the same organization and has attended her first graduation.GUESTRACHEL ELSTONRachel is a recovery advocate whose life includes years of addiction, homelessness, incarceration, and multiple losses of custody. After completing treatment and reentry supervision, she rebuilt her life, regained custody of her children, and now works in recovery and outreach. Today, she supports others through sponsorship, coaching, and direct community work.Follow Rachel on Instagram @raxhmadeinthe90sMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFollow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral HealthHarmony Grove delivers outpatient addiction and mental health treatment focused on wellness, creativity, and authentic human connection—providing a supportive space for healing that extends beyond traditional clinical care. Find out more at http://harmonygrovebh.com/Harmony Grove’s IOP in Houston, Texas, is more than a program; it’s a lifeline for those ready to take the next step in their recovery. We are ready to meet you where you are and find your unique path to change. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art: DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 55 mins
  • Life After Putting a Pistol To My Head 3 Times & Being a Recovery Speaker While Quietly Addicted to Opioids

    Life After Putting a Pistol To My Head 3 Times & Being a Recovery Speaker While Quietly Addicted to Opioids
    Feb 21 2026
    Craig “Bubba” Norton was first exposed to addiction when his mother died from alcoholism in 1982. His father later entered treatment, and during a family program Craig realized at age 20 that he was also an alcoholic. After moving from North Carolina to Texas, his drinking escalated, leading to three DWIs and jail in 1987, where he decided to seek help.He found early stability through work and AA but later stopped going to meetings, believing he was cured. Although he stayed abstinent for a time, his life became unstable. After returning to AA and completing deep step work, the sudden death of his sponsor led him to drift away again. He married, had two children, opened an MMA school, and later suffered a serious neck injury that led to long-term pain management and opioid addiction.By 2009, Craig was arrested for possession of pain pills and jailed. The arrest led to the end of his marriage and significant professional and financial losses. He returned to AA primarily to avoid further consequences and attended meetings while on Suboxone. Within a short period, his divorce was finalized, he lost his insurance license, closed a gym, and had his vehicle repossessed. A moment with his daughter, followed by a period of severe despair and suicidal thoughts, marked a turning point in which he accepted that he had to change how he lived, not just stay abstinent.Craig re-engaged fully in AA, took a new sponsor, and worked the steps with a focus on action and acceptance. He committed to service work in jails, treatment programs, and recovery settings, gradually shifting from reputation repair to genuine service. He later remarried and became a stepfather, describing a fundamental change in priorities toward presence and responsibility.In 2020, he founded A Better Boat, providing interventions and sober transport, and continues to work with treatment centers and the criminal justice system, focused on service and daily action.GUESTCraig "Bubba" NortonFounder of A Better BoatCraig “Bubba” Norton is a nationally certified interventionist, sober companion, and sober coach. He has also been trained and certified as a sober transport.Bubba has been an active member of the recovery community since 1987. For the past twelve years, Bubba has spent his free time relentlessly sharing his experience, strength, and hope with addicts and alcoholics who found themselves in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system.Learn more about A Better BoatMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.About Harmony Grove Behavioral Health Harmony Grove delivers outpatient addiction and mental health treatment focused on wellness, creativity, and authentic human connection—providing a supportive space for healing that extends beyond traditional clinical care.Harmony Grove’s IOP in Houston, Texas, is more than a program; it’s a lifeline for those ready to take the next step in their recovery. We are ready to meet you where you are and find your unique path to change. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art: DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com
    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 23 mins
  • Life After Relapsing To Celebrate My One-Year Chip and Again With an 8-Month Old Baby

    Life After Relapsing To Celebrate My One-Year Chip and Again With an 8-Month Old Baby
    Feb 14 2026
    Nikki grew up in a small town with a mother who struggled with alcoholism and periods of abuse but was also loving and devoted. As a teen, she began using substances like weed, pills, and whippets. At 19, she sought help from a doctor but felt dismissed, and at 21, she entered her first treatment program.Three months later, she met Curtis at an AA/NA club. Both had histories of addiction and legal issues. They married in 2015 and ran several businesses together, including a vape shop, while cycling through sobriety and relapse.After IVF, Nikki gave birth to their son, Cooper, in 2019. Postpartum depression and loneliness led to relapse and several treatment attempts, including a mother-and-child program in California.In 2021, after reaching a breaking point, Nikki committed to long-term sobriety on July 4, shortly after Curtis began his own recovery. She rebuilt her relationship with her now-sober mother and became involved with Story of Self, a values-based narrative therapy program. Today, she focuses on family, recovery, and helping others through her experience.GUESTNikki CallawayNikki is a mother and recovery advocate whose own journey through addiction, motherhood, and healing inspired her to support others facing similar struggles. After overcoming substance use, navigating treatment, and rebuilding family relationships, she now dedicates herself to helping others create positive change and find hope in recovery.Connect with Nikki on LinkedInFollow Story of Self on Instagram @story.ofselfMatt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.comFind us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17About Harmony Grove Behavioral Health Harmony Grove delivers outpatient addiction and mental health treatment focused on wellness, creativity, and authentic human connection—providing a supportive space for healing that extends beyond traditional clinical care.Harmony Grove’s IOP in Houston, Texas, is more than a program; it’s a lifeline for those ready to take the next step in their recovery. We are ready to meet you where you are and find your unique path to change. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.Host: Matthew HandyProducer: Eva SheieAssistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah BurkhartEngineering: Chris MannTheme music: Survive The Tide, Machina AeonCover Art: DMARKMy Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com
    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 40 mins
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