Bare Knuckle Recovery

What if you did everything 'right' - good family, college degree, steady job - yet still found yourself spiraling into addiction? This week, Zach Dawson and guest co-host Ciara Bolling sit down with Matt Heskett as he shares his gripping journey from a seemingly normal upbringing to the depths of opioid and heroin addiction. Matt’s story is a raw look at how quickly things can unravel, the lies we tell ourselves, and the courage it takes to finally ask for help.

In this episode, Matt opens up about the first prescription that changed everything, the dangerous rationalizations that let his addiction grow, and the pain of losing trust with family and lifelong friends. You'll hear about the interventions that nearly broke him, the small moments of grace from unexpected places -including a pivotal encounter with law enforcement - and how hitting bottom finally led him to lasting recovery. Zach and Ciara dig deep into the emotional and mental struggles behind substance use, why quick detoxes don't work, and the importance of real community support.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, whether you think you 'fit the mold' or not, this conversation is for you. Matt’s story proves that recovery is possible no matter where you start. Reach out to us or someone you trust if you need help. You’re not alone, and there’s a way out.
https://www.bareknucklerecovery.com/
Watch this episode and all past episodes here: https://www.bareknucklerecovery.com/

What does addiction look like from a mother’s perspective? In this deeply personal and emotional episode, Zach sits down with his own mom, Melaine Dawson, to have an unfiltered, eye-opening conversation about his journey through addiction - from his earliest struggles with self-esteem to brushes with the law, and how it all impacted their family dynamic. For the first time, they confront hard truths, share untold stories, and reflect on the pain, confusion, and moments of hope along the way.

Together, Zach and Melaine retrace the early warning signs, the heartbreak of discovering substance use, and the desperate attempts to trust and support a loved one in the grip of addiction. They talk candidly about enabling, denial, and the constant push-pull between hope and fear. Melaine opens up about the helplessness and prayers of a parent watching her child spiral, while Zach shares the internal battles and the lengths he went to hide his addiction.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who loves someone struggling with addiction, or for those seeking to understand the far-reaching impact substance use can have on families. If you or someone you care about needs help, don’t hesitate to reach out - support is available, and you are not alone.

https://www.bareknucklerecovery.com/
Watch this episode and all past episodes here: https://www.bareknucklerecovery.com/

What happens when the grip of addiction is stronger than even a mother’s love? In this episode, Hannah Till joins the Bare Knuckle Recovery team to share her raw and unfiltered story - from a seemingly ordinary childhood in Fort Wayne, to the spiral of substance use, abusive relationships, and the powerful, lingering shame that followed her through pregnancy and early motherhood. 
Hannah opens up about the moments that shaped her journey, the traumas she tried to numb, and the turning points that forced her to finally confront the truth about herself and her addiction.

Listen in as Hannah details the first time painkillers gave her the sense of belonging she always craved, how quickly recreational use turned into dependence, the devastating impact of being abruptly cut off from prescriptions, and the dangerous transition to street drugs during the opioid epidemic. 
She shares the heartbreak of using throughout her pregnancy, the judgment she felt from others - and herself - and the desperate attempts to seek help when shame felt insurmountable. 
Hannah’s story is a testament to how addiction distorts self-worth, complicates relationships, and how the journey to recovery is rarely straightforward.

If you’re struggling with addiction, especially as a parent or someone carrying the weight of guilt and trauma, Hannah’s vulnerability will resonate deeply. 
This episode is for anyone who feels alone in their fight, for families trying to understand, and for anyone ready to break the cycle. Remember, you’re not alone and it’s never too late to ask for help. Reach out to Bare Knuckle Recovery for resources. Hope and healing are possible. https://www.bareknucklerecovery.com/
Watch this episode and all past episodes here: https://www.bareknucklerecovery.com/

This episode of the Bare Knuckle Recovery Podcast features a powerful conversation with Brenda Gerber Vincent, the Chief Growth Officer at Greater Fort Wayne, Inc. 
Brenda joins Tommy Streeter and Nate Moellering to pull back the curtain on what it means to lead a high-stakes professional career while maintaining long-term recovery.
"It’s my struggles, not my successes, that have made me who I am." - Brenda Gerber-Vincent 
What happens when a high-achieving professional, a board chair, and a mother realizes that her "stealth" dependency on alcohol is no longer manageable?
In Episode 38, Brenda Gerber-Vincent shares her journey from the "golden age" of Allen County economic development to the quiet descent into chaos that nearly cost her everything.
Brenda discusses the "evolution of sharing" her story and why she eventually traded the safety of a mask for the freedom of the truth. From her defining moment sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with her mother to her competitive drive to "win" at recovery, this episode is a masterclass in discipline, humility, and the power of second chances.
In this episode, we discuss:
The Myth of the Mask: Why successful professionals are often the best at hiding their struggles and the fear of "losing it all".
"No More Stories": The pivotal moment Brenda decided to be honest with her children and her community.
Treatment over Termination: Why businesses need a healthy workforce to thrive and how to support employees through recovery.
MODIS (Miracles on the Other Side): The mentoring group Brenda founded to support professional women in their own recovery journeys.
The Discipline of Recovery: How the same skills that keep Brenda sober for 18 years make her a better leader in the business world.
And much more! You can watch this episode on YouTube by searching for Bare Knuckle Recovery or find all of our episodes on bareknucklerecovery.com
Watch this episode and all past episodes here: https://www.bareknucklerecovery.com/

In this meaningful episode, Zach Dawson and Bob Springer sit down with Becky Savage, a nurse, mother, and the founder of the 525 Foundation. Becky shares the heart-wrenching story of a single night in 2015 that changed her family forever: the loss of her two eldest sons, Nick and Jack, to accidental drug overdoses during graduation party season.
Becky describes the harrowing morning she discovered her sons and the "out of body experience" of performing CPR on her own child while paramedics responded to a second 911 call from the same house. 
We discuss the hidden dangers of prescription drug misuse, the "gap in knowledge" that still exists today, and how Becky and her husband moved forward by focusing on their two younger sons while turning their grief into a mission of advocacy.
We also dive deep into the origins of the 525 Foundation - named after Nick and Jack’s hockey numbers - and how a simple idea from her then 11-year-old son grew into a nationally recognized nonprofit. Becky explains the foundation’s "Wise Up" program, which provides parents and educators with the facts and conversation starters needed to bridge the communication gap with youth. 
Join us for an essential conversation on prevention, education, and the life-saving power of simply starting a dialogue.
🎧 By the way, you can listen to this episode, or any past episode, on your preferred podcast platform.  👀 Or, you can watch the episodes on our website or by searching Bare Knuckle Recovery on YouTube.
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📝 Key Topics Covered in this episode:
The "Normal" Sunday Morning: Becky walks through the surreal experience of losing two sons in one night and the "prophecy" of watching them sleep.
The Danger of the Unknown: Exploring how a lack of conversation about prescription drug misuse led to a fatal mistake.
The Birth of 525: How a handful of memorial bracelets became the "seed money" for a foundation dedicated to prevention.
"God Winks": The incredible story of how the foundation received its official 501c3 status on May 25th (5/25).
Practical Prevention: Refusal skills, "exit plans," and why parents should treat leftover medication like a "loaded gun" on the counter.
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🔗 To learn more about the 525 Foundation, visit: https://www.525foundation.org/
👊 To watch and/or listen to past episodes of the Bare Knuckle Recovery podcast, or to reach out to our team, visit: https://www.bareknucklerecovery.com/
Watch this episode and all past episodes here: https://www.bareknucklerecovery.com/