Drama, gossip, rumors, and people who apparently have way too much time to worry about everybody else's recovery. Yep, we're going there.

In this episode of Recovery Unfiltered with Nick and Will, Nick Fantozzi and Will Cashman tackle something that can do real damage in recovery communities: drama in the rooms. What happens when the very places we turn to for support become environments filled with gossip, judgment, and broken trust? How do we protect our recovery, establish boundaries, and continue showing up for ourselves when other people can't seem to mind their own damn business?

We explore anonymity, confidentiality, principles before personalities, and the emotional consequences of rumors and unnecessary conflict. Because when someone stops attending meetings because they no longer feel safe or supported, that's a conversation worth having.

Then we shift gears into the art of actually having a meaningful conversation. And yes, there's a difference between asking someone how they're doing and genuinely wanting to understand their answer.

Will brings his clinical counseling experience into the discussion, breaking down motivational interviewing, active listening, open-ended questions, emotional validation, and practical de-escalation techniques. We explore how simple questions like "Can you help me understand?" and "What does that look like for you?" can change the direction of a conversation, especially when emotions are running high.

Of course, this wouldn't be Recovery Unfiltered with Nick and Will without some completely unhinged detours. We've got road rage, gummy bears, Grindr conversations, questionable Disney references, angry eyebrows, and Nick discovering that telling an angry person to calm down might be the worst possible idea.

We also get personal during our recovery check-in, discussing how our relationships with meetings, sponsorship, step work, service, and personal growth continue to evolve. Recovery changes as we change, and we're both learning what sustainable recovery looks like in our own lives.

In this episode, we're talking about:

• Gossip, drama, and protecting anonymity in recovery fellowships
• Setting boundaries without feeding unnecessary conflict
• Why meaningful conversations require more than surface-level questions
• Active listening, emotional validation, and motivational interviewing
• De-escalating difficult conversations through tone, body language, and curiosity
• Taking ownership of our personal growth and recovery
• Finding balance between recovery commitments and everyday life

COMING UP!

Join us October 29 at 7 PM Eastern for our LIVE Halloween Spooktacular featuring special guest Dr. Nicole Labor! Expect costumes, recovery conversations, and whatever chaos Nick and Will manage to create.

We also preview upcoming guests, our chemsex recovery workshop at the Beyond Gender Conference in Florida, and what's ahead as we work toward Season Two.

Support the Show

Team Nick and Will merchandise:
https://colorsacrossthesky.printful.me/

Vote for Nick and Will in the 2026 iHeartRadio Top Host competition:
https://tophost.org/2026/will-cashman

Listener discretion is advised. This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. The discussions and opinions expressed are not a substitute for professional medical, mental health, or addiction treatment advice.

Music licensed through Soundstripe.

Code: NHSGSLZCPHYXCMRL

What happens when the person you love is struggling with addiction, and somewhere along the way, you begin losing yourself trying to save them?

In Episode 27 of Recovery Unfiltered with Nick and Will, we welcome Ryan Allen Carrillo, a professional athlete, television personality, LGBTQ+ advocate, and author, for an unfiltered conversation about love, addiction, codependency, trauma, and finding the courage to choose yourself.

Ryan has lived an extraordinary life. From performing alongside Madonna, Beyoncé, and P!nk to competing as a professional roller skater and appearing on national television, his career has taken him around the world. But behind the accomplishments and success was a personal battle that no amount of fame, determination, or professional achievement could prepare him for.

After building a life, family, and successful business with his partner of 14 years, Ryan discovered that crystal methamphetamine addiction had become a devastating presence in their relationship. What followed was years of emotional turmoil, manipulation, broken trust, attempts to intervene, and the painful realization that loving someone cannot make them choose recovery.

Ryan opens up about the devastating impact addiction can have on partners and families, including the trauma of watching someone you love become increasingly unrecognizable. He shares how a five-day incarceration became an unexpected turning point, why Al-Anon helped him begin reclaiming his life, and what he means when he describes himself as having become "addicted to hope."

Nick and Will bring their own lived experiences with substance use disorder into the conversation, exploring codependency, accountability, enabling, boundaries, and the grief of mourning someone who is still alive.

Ryan also introduces his forthcoming book, I Loved You Sober: Loving an Addict, Losing Myself and Finding My Way Back, which chronicles his relationship, the impact of addiction, and his ongoing journey toward healing.

Through honest reflection, unexpected humor, and moments of profound vulnerability, this episode addresses an often-overlooked part of addiction: the people who love someone struggling with it.

"Saving him is killing me." — Ryan Allen Carrillo

For anyone who has ever loved someone with addiction, questioned their own reality, struggled to establish boundaries, or wondered when it was finally time to take care of themselves, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Ryan Allen Carrillo:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanacarrillo

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1304402/?_ssoLoop=1

Substack: https://ryanacarrillo.substack.com/

Listen to Recovery Unfiltered with Nick and Will

New episodes every Monday and Friday on Spotify and YouTube.

Listener Discretion Advised: This episode contains discussions of substance use disorder, emotional abuse, domestic conflict, trauma, and incarceration.

Recovery Unfiltered with Nick and Will is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. The perspectives shared are personal experiences and should not be considered clinical or medical advice.

Recovery is possible. Healing is possible. And nobody has to face it alone.

Recorded on location at Stella Maris in Cleveland, this episode of Recovery Unfiltered with Nick and Will welcomes Chelsea Puda, a specialty services counselor celebrating eleven years in recovery.

With humor and remarkable openness, Chelsea shares her experience with heroin addiction, childhood trauma, mental health struggles, and returning to recovery after a relapse. She talks about the moments when getting honest allowed her to accept help, the support of her parents and partner, and the daily practices that continue to sustain her recovery.

Chelsea also takes us inside her work at Stella Maris, where she helps clients understand trauma and develop skills for managing difficult emotions. We discuss the power of connection in group counseling, the emotional weight of losing clients, and the importance of a workplace where staff can ask for support and be themselves.

The conversation extends to families, rebuilding trust through consistent actions, and how Nar-Anon helped Chelsea’s parents find support of their own. Through it all, Chelsea offers a message grounded in experience: honesty can open the door to help, and healing takes continued care, connection, and effort.

Listener discretion is advised. This episode includes explicit language and discussions of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, heroin use, overdose, suicide attempts, and suicidal thoughts.

STELLA MARIS & FAMILY SUPPORT

Learn about Stella Maris:

https://www.stellamariscleveland.com/

COMING UP: HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR

Join Nick and Will live on Facebook with special guest Dr. Nicole Labor on October 29 at 7 PM Eastern!

https://www.facebook.com/therecoveryunfilteredpodcast

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Shop Team Nick and Team Will T-shirts and podcast merchandise:

https://colorsacrossthesky.printful.me/

Support Nick and Will with your Top Host vote:

https://tophost.org/2026/will-cashman

SEASON ONE NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHTS

Dignity Suds & Duds provides free laundry access for people experiencing homelessness. Donate or share:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-complete-our-road-map-to-clean-clothes-for-the-unhoused

Rescuing Families, featured in Family to the Rescue, helps families facing disabilities and financial hardship with home repairs and modifications. Learn more or donate:

https://www.rescuingfamilies.org/

Thank you to our listeners and viewers for your continued support. Follow, subscribe, and share this episode to help these conversations reach more people.

Recovery Unfiltered with Nick and Will is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered clinical advice and does not replace professional counseling, diagnosis, or treatment.

What happens when you stop waiting for the perfect moment and finally decide to take the first step?

In Episode 25 of Recovery: Unfiltered with Nick and Will, we welcome Alec Perez, Long Island native and author of Before You're Ready, for an honest, emotional, and often hilarious conversation about mental health, self-doubt, personal growth, and finding your purpose.

Growing up with ADHD and auditory processing challenges, Alec struggled academically, experienced bullying, and often felt like he was falling behind everyone around him. After spending years in a career that left him unfulfilled, he made a decision that would change everything.

From quitting his job while stranded in Peru to meeting strangers who became friends across the world, Alec shares how embracing uncertainty helped him rediscover himself and ultimately inspired his book.

Alec's story reminds us that growth can be uncomfortable, recovery is an ongoing process, and sometimes the most important decision we make is simply deciding to begin.

You don't have to have everything figured out to take the first step.

CONNECT WITH ALEC PEREZ

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/alecperez29/

Purchase Before You're Ready on Amazon:

https://a.co/d/05zv1TX2

Alec is also the owner of Loyal Hearts Pet Care in Long Island, New York.

VOTE FOR NICK & WILL: TOP HOST 2026

We've been nominated for Top Host! Your vote supports BOTH Nick and Will and helps us continue sharing stories that break stigma and promote recovery.

Vote here:

https://tophost.org/2026/will-cashman

SEASON ONE SPOTLIGHT NONPROFITS

DIGNITY SUDS & DUDS

Providing free laundry services, clothing, hygiene supplies, and resources to people experiencing homelessness and others in need. Just $10 can help provide two loads of clean laundry.

Donate:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-complete-our-road-map-to-clean-clothes-for-the-unhoused

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/DIGNITYSUDNDUDS

FAMILY TO THE RESCUE / RESCUING FAMILIES

Helping families facing disabilities and financial hardship through home renovations, repairs, and accessibility improvements that restore safety, independence, and dignity.

Donate:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/67605dce-3ee5-448f-8f0d-efd79e184829

Website:

https://www.rescuingfamilies.org/

Family to the Rescue:

https://www.familytotherescue.org/

CONNECT WITH Recovery Unfiltered with Nick and Will

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/therecoveryunfilteredpodcast

Guest inquiries:

therecoveryunfilteredpodcast@gmail.com

WHAT KEEPS YOU IN RECOVERY?

Send us a 15-second video sharing what keeps you in recovery for a chance to be featured on an upcoming episode!

Email: therecoveryunfilteredpodcast@gmail.com

Substance use support: SAMHSA, 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Mental health crisis support: Call or text 988

Six months into recovery, Teri Busse learned that her 21-year-old son, Rylee, had been murdered. She was already carrying the loss of her husband, years of trauma from her career as a paramedic, and the consequences of an alcohol addiction that had taken over her life.

In this episode of Recovery Unfiltered with Nick and Will, Teri shares her story with honesty, humor, and a willingness to talk about the parts that are difficult to admit. We discuss the emotional toll of emergency services, drinking to shut off your brain, abusive relationships, motherhood, and accepting help. Teri also opens up about staying sober through devastating grief, living with PTSD, and finding support that helped her keep going.

Teri leaves us with a message of hope: “Your worst day doesn’t have to define the rest of your life.”

CONNECT WITH TERI BUSSE

Teri’s website:
https://teribusse.com/

Purchase 13 Days of Silence: The Murder of Rylee James:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4V2NQ8D

Purchase When Getting Out of Bed Is the Hardest Part:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GCNW4QFD

Grief Navigation, a resource link shared by Teri:
https://lnkd.in/gf3hM9BJ

Teri’s podcast, 13 Days of Silence: Living in the After:
https://teribusse.com/other-writings/13-days-of-silence-living-in-the-after-podcast

VOTE FOR NICK AND WILL IN TOP HOST!

We’ve been nominated, and we’re grateful for your support!

Vote here:
https://tophost.org/2026/will-cashman

GIVE BACK WITH US: OUR SEASON ONE SPOTLIGHT NONPROFITS

This season, we’re spotlighting Dignity Suds & Duds and Family to the Rescue / Rescuing Families, two organizations whose guests joined us on the show and shared the incredible work they’re doing.

Dignity Suds & Duds serves people experiencing homelessness and others in need in New Jersey. Their work includes free laundry access, clothing, food, hygiene supplies, and connections to community resources, all while respecting the dignity of the people they serve. A $10 donation helps cover washing and drying two loads of laundry.

Donate to Dignity Suds & Duds:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-complete-our-road-map-to-clean-clothes-for-the-unhoused

Follow Dignity Suds & Duds on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/DIGNITYSUDNDUDS

Rescuing Families, the nonprofit behind the PBS show Family to the Rescue, helps families facing disabilities and financial hardship by repairing and modifying their homes. Their work helps make everyday life safer and more accessible for families who need support.

Donate to Rescuing Families:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/67605dce-3ee5-448f-8f0d-efd79e184829

Visit Rescuing Families:
https://www.rescuingfamilies.org/

Explore Family to the Rescue:
https://www.familytotherescue.org/

What does a clean load of laundry mean when you’re trying to get through the day?

In this episode, Nick and Will sit down with Jamie and Manny of Dignity Suds & Duds, one of our Season One Spotlight Nonprofits. Their New Jersey organization provides free laundry access across Ocean and Monmouth counties. Jamie and Manny share how their own experiences with homelessness shaped the work they do today, and why putting on clean clothes can make a hard day feel a little more manageable.

Their laundry events also offer clothing, hygiene supplies, food, and connections to other community resources. We talk about the barriers people face when they’re trying to get help, the small volunteer team behind each Wednesday event, and what a $10 donation can do: cover the washing and drying of two loads of laundry.

We chose Dignity Suds & Duds for our Season One Spotlight because we want more people to know about their work and help them keep showing up for their community. If you can give, please consider donating. If you can’t, following their page and sharing their story helps, too.

Connect with Dignity Suds & Duds

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DIGNITYSUDNDUDS

Donate or share their GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-complete-our-road-map-to-clean-clothes-for-the-unhoused

Connect with Recovery: Unfiltered with Nick and Will

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therecoveryunfilteredpodcast

We want to hear from you, too. Send a 15-second video answering “What keeps me in recovery?” to therecoveryunfilteredpodcast@gmail.com for a chance to be featured in an upcoming episode.

Listener discretion is advised. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only.

In this bonus episode of Recovery Unfiltered with Nick and Will, Will sits down with Christine Russo and her cousin Becky to talk about their lives after the loss of Dominic Russo.

Netflix’s The Crash brought renewed attention to Dom’s story. Christine and Becky share the person they knew: his humor, his kindness, his love of basketball, and the place he still holds in their family. They speak openly about grieving in public, finding comfort in one another, and carrying his memory forward through advocacy and the Change the Game for Dom Foundation.

Connect with Christine and Becky

The Big Sister: Unhinged Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1295046795933588
The Big Sister: Unhinged on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBigSisterUnhinged
Support the Change the Game for Dom Foundation: https://www.gofundme.com/f/change-the-game-for-dom-foundation
Learn about Ohio House Bill 505: https://ohiohouse.gov/legislation/136/hb505

Connect with Recovery: Unfiltered

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therecoveryunfilteredpodcast
Merch: https://colorsacrossthesky.printful.me/
Guest inquiries: therecoveryunfilteredpodcast@gmail.com

This episode discusses homicide, grief, and trauma. Listener discretion is advised. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only.

What if failure became the foundation for growth?

Nick and Will welcome Mason Miller, a licensed mental health counselor, wrestling coach, and doctoral student specializing in peak-performance psychology. Mason shares how leaving competitive wrestling forced him to rebuild his identity and eventually inspired his work helping young athletes develop emotional regulation, confidence, resilience, and a stronger sense of self.

The conversation explores performance anxiety, external validation, identity after athletics, healthy competition, harmful coaching practices, and the pressure young athletes carry both on and off the mat. Mason explains why he intentionally allows his wrestlers to experience failure and how learning to face disappointment can prepare them for challenges throughout life.

Mason also discusses his vision for helping coaches create supportive environments where athletes can grow without being ridiculed, emotionally torn down, or taught that their worth depends on winning.

Whether you are an athlete, coach, parent, counselor, or someone learning how to get back up after life knocks you down, this conversation offers a powerful reminder: growth begins when we approach our limits, learn from the experience, and choose to try again.

Connect with Mason Miller:

Website and resources:
https://masonmillertraining.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/masonmi11er/

Recovery: Unfiltered with Nick and Will is provided for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute clinical advice, counseling, diagnosis, or treatment.

Want to be a guest? Send an email to:
therecoveryunfilteredpodcast@gmail.com

Follow Recovery: Unfiltered with Nick and Will on Facebook:
https://facebook.com/therecoveryunfilteredpodcast

Shop official podcast merchandise:
https://colorsacrossthesky.printful.me/