John Nettles joins Pondoff’s Anonymous for a real conversation about addiction, relapse, treatment, and what it actually takes to build a life that lasts. Originally from the St. Louis area and now living in California, John talks about growing up in Chesterfield, getting pulled into sports, nightlife, and the EDM scene, and how alcohol and drugs slowly took over everything.

This episode gets into the messy reality of addiction...the false starts, the treatment attempts that didn’t stick, the consequences, and the slow shift from just surviving to actually changing. John also opens up about the recovery community that helped him, the grief and relationships he’s had to navigate sober, and what it means to find purpose after years of chaos.

John is the Director of Alumni Relations at Refine Recovery in Sherman Oaks, California, where he helped build the alumni program to keep people connected and supported after treatment. He also hosts his own podcast, Recovery Refined, where he talks with guests about recovery, identity, adversity, and growth.

If you’re in California and need help, check out Refine Recovery:

https://refinerecovery.com/contact/

Check out John’s podcast, Recovery Refined:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recovery-refined/id1867828182

Sponsors:

A big thank you to our sponsors. We couldn’t do this without them.

McKelvey Insurance Group

https://www.mckelveyins.com/

Light Source

https://findyourlightsource.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Sponsorships

04:57 California's Treatment Landscape

11:06 Community Support and Recovery Initiatives

20:00 Growing Up in Chesterfield and Sports Background

25:19 Sports Culture and Personal Anecdotes

29:43 The Journey into Addiction

30:51 Treatment Programs and Their Impact

34:15 Navigating Recovery and Relapse

39:09 Building a Supportive Recovery Community

44:37 Comedy Night and Personal Reflections

46:11 Navigating Family Dynamics and Addiction

47:47 The Struggles of Early Adulthood and Substance Use

49:31 The Intersection of Substance Use and Nightlife

51:27 Geographic Changes and Their Impact on Addiction

54:43 The Escalation of Addiction and Its Consequences

57:27 The Turning Point: Realizations and Relationships

01:00:00 The Journey to Sobriety and Its Challenges

01:02:51 Facing the Consequences of Addiction

01:05:18 The Cycle of Sobriety and Relapse

01:10:03 Societal Views on Alcohol and Addiction

01:13:20 Moments of Willingness and Seeking Help

01:19:06 The Impact of Family and Relationships on Recovery

01:22:43 Reconnecting and Building Relationships

01:25:11 The Role of Pets in Recovery

01:30:02 The Journey to Treatment

01:31:03 Listening and Learning in Recovery

01:35:24 Detox and the Importance of Time

01:39:02 Finding Purpose in Recovery

01:45:39 Working in Treatment and Helping Others

01:46:37 Building Trust in Recovery

01:47:01 Creating a Supportive Alumni Network

01:48:50 The Importance of Community in Recovery

01:51:26 Navigating Grief and Loss

01:56:00 Finding Purpose in Service

02:00:05 Understanding Addiction and Recovery

02:02:12 Connecting Through Shared Experiences