There's something magical about sitting down with a complete stranger and walking away from it wiser and more secure. That's what Nicole gave me.

Nicole struggled with heroin and crystal meth addiction, crawled out of the depths of Hell, and, over time, sought what she wanted and got it. Whatever it is, it's looking pretty damn good from over here.

This is a podcast dedicated to speaking out about the abuse that happens in 12-step programs, but I won't stop there. Different perspectives are what make people evolve, use their temporal lobes, and become curious. Nicole attended very few meetings and quickly realized they weren't for her. She detoxed and abstained from all substances for several years. Now, she drinks minimally and only occasionally, and it has no impact on her life. That's the spectrum of substance use disorder. Some have a horrible habit they need to remove themselves from; it doesn't always require lifetime abstinence. Nicole never struggled with alcoholism, but due to her drug dependency, she stepped away to preserve her health. Temporary is a flexible timeline.

There are the Brad Pitts of the world, who usually experience overwhelming shame from outsiders because the stigma of relapse and moderation is relentless. 12-Step programs created that shame and the superiority of abstinence. What Nicole and Brad do is none of our business, and they're both doing pretty fucking great.

Though Nicole was able to mostly dodge the 12-Step program nonsense, she had an unpleasant experience with people in authority; one such was a spiritual guru. Thankfully, she got away, but this experience has helped her have a good eye for which spiritual antidotes are useful.

If you're going through a dark time, or just a time of reflection, restarting, or curiosity, I encourage you to book a time with her. She's easy-going, relatable, and approachable. She rejects all those wellness-or-spiritual-guru traits and has the experience that really counts.

Also, please listen to this episode. Nicole is quite lovely.

Check out her IG, _thisholylife_