Austin Taylor never expected a gambling sponsorship to change the course of his life. A software engineer, military veteran, and Twitch streamer, Austin accepted a crypto casino sponsorship in 2021 that quickly evolved from a side opportunity into a devastating gambling addiction. Within two years, he had lost millions of dollars, damaged important relationships, and entered inpatient treatment in search of recovery.

In this powerful episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery, Austin shares his personal journey through gambling addiction, the challenges he encountered while trying to find specialized treatment, and the lessons he learned throughout recovery. He discusses the unique nature of gambling disorder, the growing accessibility of sports betting and online gambling, and why recovery can be especially difficult when money itself becomes a trigger.

Austin also introduces Cope Compass, a free platform designed to help individuals affected by gambling addiction find specialized providers, access recovery tools, connect with peer support, and manage gambling urges between counseling sessions. The conversation explores how technology can be leveraged to improve access to care and support individuals during the critical moments when they need help most.

Whether you are a clinician, person in recovery, family member, or someone interested in understanding the evolving gambling landscape, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the fastest-growing behavioral health challenges today.

Recovery doesn't happen only during the hours spent in counseling. It also happens between sessions that don't always match office hours. This conversation explores what meaningful support can look like during those moments.

About the Guest

Austin Taylor is the founder of Cope Compass, a real-time recovery-support app for people struggling with gambling and other behavioral addictions. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he built Cope Compass to reach people in the moment that matters most: 2am, mid-urge, in the gap between a trigger and a bet. It pairs a real-time intervention engine with peer support, meetings, and progress tracking.

Links:

• Download the app (iPhone & Android): copecompass.com/download
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@copecompass
• Contact: austin@copecompass.com

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Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.