What happens when a woman who never touched a drug until the age of 29 ends up addicted to crystal meth, gambling and living in a crack den? This is not the story you expect — but it’s the one you need to hear. Today, I sit down with Charlotte Jackson, a holistic coach and healer who has rebuilt her life after years of chaos, addiction, and near-death moments. Five years clean, she speaks with brutal honesty about loneliness, survival, and finding freedom on her own terms.

Charlotte shares how her darkest moments wasn’t just about drugs or homelessness — it was about being trapped in toxic relationships, feeling invisible and using addiction as a way to escape overwhelming loneliness. We talk about how meth takes hold, why community matters in recovery, and how spiritual awakenings, journalling, and connection can light the way out of the madness.

And then, just when she thought her story couldn’t turn, Charlotte experienced something she can’t explain: a sightings and messages from a friend who had passed away. That encounter revealed itself as a signpost, guiding her towards sobriety and showing her that recovery was possible. It’s a moment that changed everything — and it might just change the way you see life.

Oliver is an ambassador for Alcohol Change UK and you can access support here - https://tinyurl.com/5dt5773e

Thank you to Gavin Sisters for sponsoring this episode! Visit -

www.gavinsisters.co.uk

and use promo code SCHOOLOFROCKBOTTOM for 10% off!

Podcasting is an expensive passion. To help me keep going, I'd really appreciate it if you could buy me a coffee, thank you!

https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1

Or via PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/olivermason1paypal

Topics -

0:00 Trailer & Intro

3:45 Charlotte's rock bottom moment

6:00 Loneliness and constantly moving

8:00 Drugs became my family

10:00 From no drugs ever to living in a crack den

16:00 I felt safe in a crack den!

18:00 What is crystal meth?

22:00 Sleep deprivation

23:30 Stereotypes of drug addiction

24:30 Addiction progression

28:00 What is addiction?

29:15 Loneliness leads to gambling and meth

32:30 Sponsor

33:30 Becoming "indifferent" to drugs

36:45 Finding your own recovery path

39:15 Journalling

41:15 Charlotte's spiritual awakening

42:45 Drugs are the solution to a problem

45:20 Messages from dead loved ones?!

51:00 My friend saved my life

54:15 Is anything possible?

58:45 I'm not scared - I'm excited!

Follow Charlotte

https://www.instagram.com/iamcharlottejackson

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#AddictionRecovery

#SobrietyJourney

#SchoolOfRockBottom

How do you stay sober through unimaginable pain? In this next quick thought, I revisit my conversation with actor Tom Clarke-Hill who lived through the devastating loss of his wife after 28 years together — and still didn’t pick up a drink.

This powerful clip isn’t just about recovery, it’s about what it really means to live one day at a time, to face pain without numbing it, and to discover strength you never knew you had. If you’ve ever wondered whether you can get through the darkest moments without alcohol or drugs, this episode is for you.

We also explore what it means to survive bereavement without alcohol, why sobriety is never “one drink away,” the reality of emotional sobriety, the importance of living fully in the present moment, and how sponsoring others in recovery creates an extra layer of protection.

Listen or watch THE FULL EPISODE

YouTube - https://bit.ly/3w5RtEI

Spotify - https://bit.ly/3Q4p60n

Apple - https://apple.co/3PajZvQ

About the “THOUGHT” series -

Every other Monday at 5 PM, I’ll bring you a quick ‘thought’—a powerful moment from previous episodes designed to kickstart your week with insight, motivation, and connection. These shorter clips help us stay connected as a community, while every other Tuesday delivers a full, brand-new episode with fresh stories and lessons.

Oliver is an ambassador for Alcohol Change UK and you can access support here - https://tinyurl.com/5dt5773e

Podcasting is an expensive passion. To help me keep going, I'd really appreciate it if you could buy me a coffee, thank you!

https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1

Or via PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/olivermason1paypal

Follow Tom -

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tomclarkehill

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#12steps #recovery #sobercurious

Do you really need to hit rock bottom to get clean and sober, or is that just a myth? Today’s guest is living proof that the story isn’t so simple. At 15 years old, Tihani was already using cocaine, experimenting with ADHD meds from the street, blacking out and carving tattoos into her own skin in drug-fuelled hazes. By her twenties she was on benders, remembering the days of the week by counting how many pills she'd taken since the weekend. Yet despite the chaos, she built a successful creative career, performing on global stages and working with brands like Vogue and Red Bull. But behind the glossy exterior was a dangerous secret: addiction was eating her alive.

Eight years cocaine free & no hard alcohol or pills and 2 years completely sober, Tihani reveals the truth about addiction most people never hear. We talk about the illusion of control, the rituals of cocaine use, and why “dry sniffing” was just as destructive as the binges mixed with whiskey. She explains what it felt like to shift that obsessive intensity into wellness, how self-help and trauma therapy saved her, and whether addicts are actually the lucky ones for being forced to confront life’s hardest questions around why we are here and if life has any meaning.

This conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about recovery. Do you really have to give up everything at once? What about nicotine? What is the actual root cause of addiction? And when the highs fade away, does life without drugs have any real meaning? For anyone who has ever questioned their relationship with substances, this episode is more than a story — it’s a wake-up call and one of my favourite conversations ever. If conversation can be 'art' then this is it.

More on Tihane -

She a genre-blending artist, creative director, and storyteller who’s spent her life chasing truth across continents and soundscapes. Her debut album The War on Love blends vintage R&B, tribal rhythms, and cinematic textures into healing anthems that hit deep. She’s performed on global stages from TEDx to SXSW, and led creative work for Vogue Italia, RedBull, and NY Fashion Week and beneath the success is an honest story about pain, shame, healing — and learning to create from who you really are. Huge thanks!

Oliver is an ambassador for Alcohol Change UK and you can access support here - https://tinyurl.com/5dt5773e

Tihane recommends this book -

https://tinyurl.com/5wn4s8e6

Oliver mentions Sober Dave -

https://www.soberdave.co.uk

Thank you to Gavin Sisters for sponsoring this episode! Visit -

www.gavinsisters.co.uk

and use promo code SCHOOLOFROCKBOTTOM for 10% off!

Podcasting is an expensive passion. To help me keep going, I'd really appreciate it if you could buy me a coffee, thank you!

https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1

Or via PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/olivermason1paypal

Topics -

0:00 Trailer & Intro

4:00 A rock bottom moment

7:30 Is a rock bottom required to get into recovery?

10:00 Addiction is on a spectrum!

12:15 Using coke at 15

16:00 Street ADHD meds

17:35 Dry sniffing?

21:10 "Downers weren't for me!"

24:15 Shifting intensity into wellness

26:45 Giving up drugs and alcohol one at a time

30:00 Self help and trauma therapy

34:15 Are addicts lucky?

36:30 Does life have purpose and meaning?

43:20 Cocaine was the ultimate permission slip

45:15 Does Tihane miss cocaine?

47:30 Do you have to give up EVERYTHING at once?

50:15 Sponsor

51:15 What about nicotine?

53:00 What is the root cause of addiction?

55:45 First steps to recovery

Follow Tihane

https://www.instagram.com/tihane___?

Follow Oliver

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Watch here -

YouTube - TBC

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Apple - https://tinyurl.com/y3n2chk3

#AddictionRecovery

#SobrietyJourney #SchoolOfRockBottom

When someone you love is suicidal, what do you say?
In this next quick thought, I revisit a conversation with Jon Salmon exploring the truth of reaching the edge — and the power of direct questions that can save a life. Suicide remains one of the hardest subjects to talk about, but silence can be deadly. Here, we uncover how asking the right question at the right time could change everything, and why conversation, therapy, self-awareness and daily check-ins are vital tools in recovery. This moment is about turning pain into understanding, and showing that hope exists even at our lowest point.
The discussion takes us inside the experience of suicidal thoughts, the stigma that still lingers around talking about it, and why it is so important to break that silence. We hear how therapy, CBT and medication supported early recovery, and how small daily routines — from making a cup of tea to going for a run — became lifelines. It’s a reminder that support does not always have to come from family, but can be found in friends, colleagues and unexpected places.
This clip also shows how self-awareness becomes a form of protection. By learning to check in with ourselves each day and honouring our limits, we can avoid sliding back into the darkness. Hitting rock bottom changes how we see the world, but it also teaches us boundaries, empathy, and how to better support others when we notice they are struggling.
Listen or watch THE FULL EPISODE
YouTube - https://bit.ly/3VSr4Fd
Spotify - https://bit.ly/3ISQlHl
Apple - https://apple.co/3PajZvQ
For anyone looking for further support, Jon recommends -
Hub of Hope - https://hubofhope.co.uk
Shout - Text 'SHOUT' to 85258
Samaritans - Call 116123 or email jo@samaritans.org
About the “THOUGHT” series -
Every other Monday at 5 PM, I’ll bring you a quick ‘thought’—a powerful moment from previous episodes designed to kickstart your week with insight, motivation, and connection. These shorter clips help us stay connected as a community, while every other Tuesday delivers a full, brand-new episode with fresh stories and lessons.
Oliver is an ambassador for Alcohol Change UK and you can access support here - https://tinyurl.com/5dt5773e
Podcasting is an expensive passion. To help me keep going, I'd really appreciate it if you could buy me a coffee, thank you!
https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1
Or via PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/olivermason1paypal
Follow John -
Website
www.jon-salmon.com
Social Media Accounts
www.linkedin.com/in/jcsalmon
www.twitter.com/jonsalmon
www.instagram.com/j0nsalmon
www.youtube.com/@JonSalmon
www.twitter.com/speakerscollect
www.linkedin.com/company/speakers-collective-uk
www.instagram.com/speakers.collective
www.facebook.com/SpeakersCollective
www.youtube.com/@speakerscollective
Follow Oliver
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#SuicidePrevention

#MentalHealthAwareness

#SchoolOfRockBottom

My guest today is someone who brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to the conversation around addiction and recovery.

Today I sit down with Taner Hassan, an actor, psychotherapist, and addiction specialist who is 18 years sober, to explore the darkest and most transformative moments of his life. Taner opens up about terrifying drug-induced psychosis, drinking and using cocaine and weed, and how substance use started as a teenager and spiralled into chaos. He shares what it was like to lose his mind - the fear and confusion of losing touch with reality, and how he eventually got clean and sober at 25.

We also discuss the deeper reasons behind addiction: how Taner used substances to fill a void, the impact of fame, validation, and rejection, and why family interventions can sometimes help—or hinder—the recovery process. Taner offers an honest look at recovery, tackling questions like whether addiction is really a choice, the truth about dry drunks, total abstinence, and the best ways to get sober. This episode is raw, honest, and impossible to ignore, full of lessons for anyone struggling with overthinking, addiction, or feeling stuck in life. He’s someone who doesn’t just talk about change — he helps people live it.

More on Taner -

Taner was pursuing a career within the entertainment industry as a trained actor, presenter & musician including making it to the finals of the TV show Popstars where addiction took hold. He is 18 years sober, and in that time he’s become one of the most respected voices in the field as a psychotherapist, addiction specialist, and currently Head of Service at Rehubs, a pioneering online treatment provider. He’s also a certified sex and porn addiction therapist & performance coach.

Over nearly two decades, he has worked across the full spectrum of addiction and mental health services — from NHS units and prison programmes to private clinics and community outreach. But what makes him stand out isn’t just his qualifications — it’s how he brings trauma-informed, person-centred recovery into everything he does.

Oliver is an ambassador for Alcohol Change UK and you can access support here - https://tinyurl.com/5dt5773e

Thank you to Gavin Sisters for sponsoring this episode! Visit -

www.gavinsisters.co.uk

and use promo code SCHOOLOFROCKBOTTOM for 10% off!

Podcasting is an expensive passion. To help me keep going, I'd really appreciate it if you could buy me a coffee, thank you!

https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1

Or via PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/olivermason1paypal

Topics -

0:00 Trailer & Intro

4:35 One of Taner's rock bottom moments

6:35 What is a drug induced psychosis?

8:20 Coke, weed & booze

11:40 Getting clean and sober at 25

12:50 Drinking and using as a kid

14:40 Why Taner was filling the void

21:20 Fame, validation, rejection and addiction

33:20 Do family interventions work?

36:35 How Taner got recovery

38:05 What's the best way to get sober?

44:50 Is the dry drunk real?

49:25 Sponsor

50:25 Total abstineence?

52:35 Is addiction a choice?

Follow Taner

https://www.instagram.com/tanertherapy

The Recovery Cartel

https://www.instagram.com/therecoverycartel

Follow Oliver

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Please subscribe, follow, like, leave a review and comment!

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#AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #SobrietyJourney

What does it really take to walk away from crack cocaine after 15 years? In this next quick thought, I go back to an incredible conversation with Jennifer Joseph - you’ll hear the truth of someone who not only used but was deeply embedded in that world—making it, distributing it, and living in constant danger. And yet, one life-changing choice set them free.

WATCH OR LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ON

YouTube - https://tinyurl.com/5fnsdr7x

Spotify - https://tinyurl.com/mw5btxfc

Apple - https://apple.co/3PajZvQ

At 16, actor Jennifer Joseph was coerced into a life of drug dealing. Quickly she rised to the very top and was known as The General, travelling the world as a generator and importer of narcotics - with connections to all the major players including "The Cocaine Godmother" Giselda Blanco. Jen thought she was invincible, whilst also battling a daily crack addiction and, eventually, was caught at Gatwick airport with hundreds of thousands of pounds of marijuana and was sent to prison at aged 39.

About the “THOUGHT” series -

Every other Monday at 5 PM, I’ll bring you a quick ‘thought’—a powerful moment from previous episodes designed to kickstart your week with insight, motivation, and connection. These shorter clips help us stay connected as a community, while every other Tuesday delivers a full, brand-new episode with fresh stories and lessons.

Oliver is an ambassador for Alcohol Change UK and you can access support here - https://tinyurl.com/5dt5773e

Podcasting is an expensive passion. To help me keep going, I'd really appreciate it if you could buy me a coffee, thank you!

https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1

Or via PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/olivermason1paypal

Follow Jen

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gemzgirl

Follow Nubian Co-heARTs

https://instagram.com/nubiancohearts

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#AddictionRecovery

#SchoolOfRockBottom

#SobrietyJourney

What happens when success comes at the cost of your sanity? At 24, Dorothy Herson had achieved the dream: a training contract at one of London’s most elite law firms. But behind the polished exterior was an insecure overachiever battling bipolar disorder, addicted to validation, fuelled by long hours, and quietly self-medicating with Adderall, Xanax, and alcohol. That path led her to a psychiatric hospital and the question: how do you rebuild when everything you worked for collapses?

This conversation is not just about addiction. It’s about the hidden cost of ambition, the culture of workaholism, and the courage it takes to move from shame into recovery. Dorothy and I also explore what it really means to be an insecure overachiever, the reality of addiction for young people in high-pressure careers, and how stereotypes about the 12 steps can hold people back from getting help. We talk about the journey of moving beyond shame, why Gen Z are already redefining the way work and stress are managed, and what true sober inclusivity in the workplace could look like.

More on Dorothy -

Dorothy Herson is a former lawyer turned journalist, mental health advocate, and editor for a Cambridge University Press journal focused on mood disorders. She is the author of The Rag Doll Contract and is about to begin a PhD in Literature and Medicine, where she will explore the intersection of narrative and mental health. Dorothy has written about addiction amd mental in various newspapers around the world.

Oliver is an ambassador for Alcohol Change UK and you can access support here - https://tinyurl.com/5dt5773e

Thank you to Gavin Sisters for sponsoring this episode! Visit -

www.gavinsisters.co.uk

and use promo code SCHOOLOFROCKBOTTOM for 10% off!

Podcasting is an expensive passion. To help me keep going, I'd really appreciate it if you could buy me a coffee, thank you!

https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1

Or via PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/olivermason1paypal

Topics -

0:00 Trailer & Intro

4:15 Dorothy's rock bottom moment

6:00 Addiction to work & validation

8:45 Dealing with having neurological episodes as a child

10:15 Adderall was my gateway drug!

12:55 Xanax & wine to come down

15:00 Using drugs and alcohol to function

17:40 Prescription drugs & sleeping tablets

20:30 WE ARE NOT DOCTORS & FREE LAPSE!

23:30 Finding recovery & healing

26:00 Addiction doesn't discriminate?

28:30 Stereotypes of 12 step fellowship & managing bipolar

34:15 What is an insecure overachiever?

40:15 Gen Z, work and managing stress

43:45 Addiction and young people

47:05 Sponsor

48:10 Sober inclusivity in the workplace

52:45 The Rag Doll Contract

54:00 Moving on from shame and guilt

Follow Dorothy

Instagram -

https://www.instagram.com/dorothy_herson

Follow Oliver

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Please subscribe, follow, like, leave a review and comment!

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#AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #SobrietyJourney

One binge almost cost actor John Pickard everything — his relationship, his child, and his future.

WATCH OR LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ON

Youtube - https://bit.ly/49LHNNO

Apple -

https://apple.co/3PajZvQ

Spotify -

https://bit.ly/42S8puB

In this next quick thought, ee explore how a single night of heavy drinking and drug use became the turning point. What started as “just a night out” spiralled into a wake-up call that forced him to confront the dangerous patterns he thought he had left behind. We talk openly about the hidden risks of binge drinking and drugging, the shame and guilt that follow, and how quickly old habits can resurface when you’re pulled back into the wrong environments. This clip is about breaking destructive cycles before they destroy the people and the life you love.

It’s also a candid look at the reality of addiction that doesn’t fit the stereotypes — the kind that hides behind months of being “fine” before one night derails everything. We discuss the mental and physical crash that follows a binge, the role of daily routines in recovery, and the challenge of redefining what normal looks like when drinking and drug use have been part of your life since childhood.

If you’ve ever convinced yourself “it’s just one night” or seen someone you care about repeat the same cycle, this conversation will make you think twice.

About the “THOUGHT” series -

Every other Monday at 5 PM, I’ll bring you a quick ‘thought’—a powerful moment from previous episodes designed to kickstart your week with insight, motivation, and connection. These shorter clips help us stay connected as a community, while every other Tuesday delivers a full, brand-new episode with fresh stories and lessons.

Oliver is an ambassador for Alcohol Change UK and you can access support here - https://tinyurl.com/5dt5773e

Podcasting is an expensive passion. To help me keep going, I'd really appreciate it if you could buy me a coffee, thank you!

https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1

Or via PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/olivermason1paypal

More on John -

John Pickard is an actor, producer and filmmaker with a career spanning 25 years gracing the screens of many UK TV classics including 2 point 4 Children & Hollyoaks. Not content with just being in front of the camera, he seamlessly transitioned into the role of First Assistant Director, lending his expertise to a variety of films, including two feature productions and Channel 4 soaps.

In 2016, he embarked on a new adventure by founding WildStreet, an independent production company that became a temporary home for crafting documentaries for Channel 4, short films for diverse artists, and countless 'proof of concepts' for Commissioners.

Adding to his multifaceted repertoire, John recently completed a Screenwriting MA at Goldsmiths and now contributes his creative prowess to BearJam, an independent production company based in the vibrant district of Brixton.

Beyond the glitz of the entertainment industry, John Pickard is also a passionate footballer, having graced both the iconic Wembley stadiums—Old and New—for charity matches, earning himself a well-deserved Man of the Match cup. Yet, amidst all these achievements, his most cherished title is that of a father to his nearly five-year-old daughter.

Follow John

Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/johnpickard

Linkedin- https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-pickard-442a8830/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/johnnyinapickle

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#bingedrinking

#addiction

#breakthecycle