127: Wellness Seekers with Russell Beebe

127: Wellness Seekers with Russell Beebe

Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation with addiction specialist and coach Russell Beebe gives a clear look at life after the chaos of addiction and the pressure of traditional clinical roles. Tamar Medford chats with Russell about his suburban upbringing outside Boston, his first drink at 16, and how alcohol quickly became the thing that turned his "restless, irritable and discontent" inner world into something that felt bearable.

He’s honest about missed opportunities, including a serious future in professional music that slipped away as drinking and drug use took over. Russell shares two distinct chapters of recovery: six years of sobriety followed by a painful relapse into cocaine and IV drug use, and later a second, much stronger recovery that now spans over a decade. A pivotal moment came when someone told him, "Russell, you don't have a drinking problem.

You have a sober problem," shifting his focus from simply removing substances to building a genuinely healthy, content life. From there, the episode moves into his time as a licensed mental health and addiction clinician. Russell talks candidly about the burnout and overwhelm he experienced in busy treatment settings, where many clients didn’t actually want to be there.

That tension pushed him toward coaching, where he now supports burnt-out therapists and wellness professionals to build coaching businesses that fit their values, reduce stress, and create a more balanced life. You’ll hear practical chat about boundaries, saying "no" without guilt, and why investing in coaching can be less risky than endlessly upgrading phones or cars.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re meant for more than a nine-to-five and are scared to take the leap, Russell’s story offers a relatable, down-to-earth example of what change can look like. What small step could you take today towards a version of recovery that actually feels good long term?