This week on the Recovery Toolkit Podcast, Richie is joined by Cheryl, a trauma-informed practitioner who works closely with people affected by gambling harm.

With years of experience supporting others through recovery, Cheryl shares how trauma, unmet needs and early life experiences can often lie at the heart of addiction.

In this thought-provoking conversation, Richie and Cheryl explore the power of asking the right questions. Cheryl describes how, in just a few moments of honest dialogue, people can experience powerful realisations about their own journey. These moments of clarity can become the first step towards healing.

Together, they reflect on the importance of self-awareness in recovery and how tools such as reflection, connection and curiosity can help build a life beyond addiction.

Whether you are navigating your own recovery or supporting someone else, this episode offers insight, encouragement and new ways of thinking about what drives addiction and what helps to heal it.

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In this powerful and moving episode of The Recovery Toolkit Podcast, Richie Paxton sits down with Malcolm, who shares his long and complex journey through recovery after alcohol misuse and gambling harm. With nearly 20 years of lived experience, Malcolm speaks honestly about relapse, avoidance, and the challenges of facing deep-rooted trauma. He reflects on how external success never fixed the internal pain, and how real change only came when he stopped running and started doing the work on himself.

From managing serious health issues and using a sleep apnoea machine for the first time, to finding strength through Parkrun and community support, Malcolm’s story is one of persistence, honesty and gradual transformation. He talks about the difference between showing up and truly engaging in recovery, and how his understanding of what recovery means has evolved over time. This episode is a reminder that starting over is not failure - it’s part of the process. Tune in for a raw and inspiring conversation about taking responsibility, letting go of shame, and finding connection in the recovery journey.