The Truth About Addiction
My name is Ron Isherwood, a recovering addict. Born into the infamous underworld of criminal Painters and Dockers in Melbourne. At 37 years clean, I embarked on my own journey of recovery 42 years ago. The last thing that I could give up was my addiction to crime.
Today, I am the founder of ‘The Truth About Addiction’, a compelling podcast that delves into the depths of mental health, addiction, and the path to recovery. I will share my own journey and unveil the raw and powerful stories of individuals from all walks of life; from current addicts to those on the road of recovery and the families affected. Every tale is genuine and unfiltered.
Addiction doesn't discriminate, but neither does hope. If one person resonates with one’s story, if one person can find hope and empowerment from one’s story, it’s a win.
If you have a specific topic in mind or want to share your own story, don't hesitate to reach out. This is your invitation to enjoy our extraordinary chats, where hope prevails, and recovery is not just a dream but an awe-inspiring reality.
www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au
Instagram @thetruthabout_addiction
Episodes
123 episodes
Ep122. Breaking the Invisible Chains: Roslyn Saunders on Codependency
Explore the unseen forces of addiction with Roslyn Saunders, who shares her journey from childhood trauma and codependency to healing. We break down the often-misunderstood concept of codependency and its deadly grip beneath ...
Ep 121. Experience Strength: The Power of Lived Experience in Recovery
In this powerful episode with the Founders of Experience Strength, we explore how lived experience can become one of the most impactful tools in addiction recovery.Join Scott Bellinger and Josh —two advocates who have tur...
Ep120. The Sound of $16 Billion Lost: Neil Walshe Takes on the Pokies
Are poker machines designed to keep you losing?When Neil Walshe discovered that poker machines are designed without losing sounds, he realised the silence wasn’t accidental — it was engineered. What followed was a radical and eye-...
Ep119. Australia’s Broken Child Protection System: The Truth About Institutional Abuse - with Andrew Carpenter
In this powerful episode with Andrew Carpenter, we dive deep into Australia’s broken systems of child protection and legal reform. Together, we expose the long-standing failures surrounding institutional abuse, the lack of accountability, and t...
Ep118. Mind Your Head - Elliott Hagen on Normalising Mental Health Conversations
In this episode, Ron sits down with Elliott Hagen — former Australian rugby union player and currently founder of the Mind Your Head podcast.“The moment I started loving myself truly was the moment I could love others fully as wel...
Ep117. Anna Martin, women supporting women through gambling addiction
Anna faced the challenge of overcoming a gambling addiction that threatened both her personal and professional life. To take control, she voluntarily excluded herself from gambling venues through a self-barring scheme.In this episode, Ro...
Ep116. Jackie Durnin, releasing trauma of the mind, body and spirit through neuro-technology therapies
“There is always some sort of hope in the room somewhere. You just have to look.”Jackie has consistently explored different modalities and therapies to find effective solutions for her personal well-being. Her journey led her to become a...
Ep115. Mike Phenix’s narrative on professional football, cocaine and addiction recovery
With a self-explanatory Instagram handler @madmikebeingmad, the former Barnsley, Salford and Southport player, Mike Phenix has earned an influx of followers for his genuine takes on life, mental health and addiction recovery.In this epis...
Ep114. Jason Shiers’ The Infinite Recovery Project and somatic coaching approach
As a Certified Transformative Coach, Jason emphasises the importance of a holistic approach to healing, integrating somatic investigation, and recognising the interconnectedness of body, mind and spirit. Jason was highly medicated i...
Ep113. Director Gary Smith’s must-see comedy SkyFly inspired by his own sobriety
Writer/ Director Gary Smith has been very open about his struggles with alcoholism and his sobriety journey. Through his personal narrative of recovery, relapse, and filmmaking, Gary demonstrates that recovery is attainable and that there are m...
Ep112. Holly Deane-Johns, lightbulb-moment transformation in ’Bangkok Hilton’ Women’s Prison
Holly overcame her drug addiction during her incarceration. Arrested in Thailand on drug-related charges, she was sentenced to 31 years and served 7 years in the infamous ‘Bangkok Hilton’ Women’s Prison. Holly’s experience in a Thai prison was ...
Ep111. Scott Bellinger, combatting the stigma of addiction through ‘Experience Strength’
Scotty is the founder of Experience Strength, a platform dedicated to sharing his journey and insights to combat the stigma associated with addiction. His sole intention is to inspire and empower others through his personal experiences, resilie...
Ep110. Ash Butterss, bringing holistic makeover to sobriety and mental health
Growing up as a bubbly, life-loving person, Ash lost the power of ‘choice’ when her relationship with alcohol intensified. In this episode, we discuss the importance of having a sober community. If you find it hard to find connecti...
Ep109. Adam Shaffer, working 12-step program to freedom recovery coaching
Adam’s nine years of sobriety have shaped him into the empathetic recovery coach he is today. He has never put as much time and energy into something so rewarding in his whole life. The joy, excitement and sense of purpose he derives from his w...
Ep108. Kristen Cooper, Remember Your Why to heal out loud
Kristen tried alcohol for the first time at 14 years old, she did not like it. When she tried again at 16 years of age, she fell in love. Then she found weed, cocaine, ecstasy and mushroom… the addiction escalated quickly.Kristen highlig...
Ep107. Hip Hop artist Verbalize - music is my drug
‘We live and we die, but what we do in between that time that really matters’.Music became a pivotal aspect of his life amidst a series of adversity and trauma. Following the tragic loss of his father to suicide at the young age of 15, h...
Ep106. Jonathan Mendonca, from opioid addiction to living ‘Life on Life’s Terms’
Jonathan's book, "Life on Life's Terms," swiftly ascended to the bestseller ranks on Amazon following its release last December. This literary work not only chronicles Jonathan's personal journey through profound adversity but also provides a c...
Ep105. Ryan Phillips, former ‘King Of Weed’ in his search for ‘Radical Forgiveness’
“All I care about is giving back and to put a smile on somebody’s face.”Ryan Phillips gained notoriety as one of Canada's most prominent marijuana smugglers, earning him the title ”King of Weed." He shared his experiences on Locked Up Ab...
Ep104. Char’s overcoming addiction and the practice of plant medicine
Char’s first encounter with addiction manifested in the form of an eating disorder. Food binging served as her means of escape.‘From a very young age, I felt a lot of discomfort with this world.’At 21, amidst her burgeoning modell...
Ep103. Jake Yoder, finding Natural Highs Recovery the holistic approach to sobriety
Jake’s story wasn’t the ‘classic’ idea of addiction. He started using drugs at the young age of 14 and stopped when he was almost 20 years old. The decision came after the realisation that while using, he couldn’t find the clarity to make decis...
Ep102. Catie Bain, unexpected lockdown transformation
During the Covid lockdown, Catie had an unexpected transformation in her life. As sobriety gradually became a part of her daily routine, she began to discover a newfound sense of connection with others.Catie's struggles with substance ab...
Ep101. Nick Pollard, kicking alcohol and people-pleasing habits
“People-pleasing was an addiction, just as much as the bottle was for me.” With a massive following of 400K on Instagram, 230K on TikTok, and 130K on Facebook, Nick is undoubtedly making a significant impact.Nick's life was o...
Ep100. Mel Watson, from Correctional Officer to CSA/ Sexual Survivor Advocate
Warning: Discussion of Sexual Abuse Mel is a resilient survivor and passionate advocate for sexual abuse survivors. During her employment at Long Bay Prison and at Downing Center Court, Mel witnessed horrific and extensive details ...
Ep99. Mitch Motivates, turning ‘My Addiction’ into ‘My SuperPower’
Mitch’s journey began in the grips of alcohol obsession during his childhood, evolving into a tumultuous battle with weed and cocaine addiction. His story took a transformative turn, leading him to emerge as Mitch Motivates—a beacon of hope and...
Ep98. Ori Cohen’s pursuit of addiction recovery from Israel to Australia
Raised amidst the vibrant city of Tel Aviv, Israel, Ori grappled with the challenges of embracing his true self. He sought solace in drugs and alcohol at the tender age of 13.His narrative unfolds a troubled childhood and the arduous att...
