139 There Is No Box with Dino Miliotis

139 There Is No Box with Dino Miliotis

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This conversation with entrepreneur and author Dino Miliotis takes that question and turns it inside out. Instead of a chaotic childhood leading to addiction, Dino shares how early success, media attention and a billion‑dollar business were actually the road into alcoholism.

Host Tamar Medford chats with Dino about growing up in a Greek family where education and hard work were front and centre, and how his dad’s constant promise that he’d be a millionaire fuelled huge ambition. From inventing the Bug-Ban insect-repellent bracelet and appearing on shows like Oprah and Sally Jessy Raphael, to feeling like a failure when the buzz faded, Dino explains how alcohol and cocaine gradually became his way to cope.

You’ll hear him describe rehab as “summer camp”, why he left his ego at the door, and how a gym and a music room became essential tools for staying sober. One of the most powerful moments is when Dino recalls sitting alone during Covid with a bottle of vodka on the counter, praying for direction, and then receiving a text from a young man he’d once advised at a car wash.

That simple message sparked his decision to write his book and turned a craving into purpose. The episode also touches on entrepreneurship in recovery, setting boundaries around work, and using the same drive that once chased the next drink to build something meaningful. Tamar adds her own reflections on purpose, gratitude and learning to show up honestly in relationships, making the chat relatable for anyone juggling sobriety, work and real life.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can stay sober and still live big, Dino’s story offers a fresh angle and plenty to think about—what could purpose look like for you today?