164: Guy’s Guy Radio with Robert Manni & guest acting legend Eric Roberts164: Guy’s Guy Radio with Robert Manni & guest acting legend Eric Roberts
UK Health Radio Podcast
Eric and Eliza Roberts, joined by filmmaker Mike Tove, talk about Eric’s autobiography, his struggles with addiction, and life as committed working artists. The conversation touches on second chances, honest self-reflection and practical advice for actors and filmmakers trying to build a meaningful career.
46:20•28 Jun 2026
Eric Roberts on Addiction, Second Chances and a Life Devoted to Acting
Episode Overview
- Eric Roberts explains how his autobiography came to be written and why facing his past drug addiction on the page was so difficult.
- He stresses that recovery is possible and that life after addiction can be stronger because of greater self-knowledge and honesty.
- Eliza Roberts highlights the power of kindness, psychological insight and examining one’s true motives in both life and art.
- Eric and Eliza describe their “Working Actor” approach, combining artistic training with the practical realities of the business.
- Mike Tove shares how years of learning, relationship-building and persistence led to creating the short film Yard Sailing with Eric and Eliza.
“Let people know there are second chances that you can start over. And you can start over even better than you were before.”
Get ready to be moved by real-life accounts of grit, fame, addiction and second chances. This conversation on UK Health Radio’s Guys’ Guy Radio brings together acting legend Eric Roberts, his wife and creative partner Eliza Roberts, and filmmaker Mike Tove, with host Robert Manny steering the chat.
The heart of the talk centres on Eric’s autobiography *Runaway Train*, which he admits he resisted for years until Eliza insisted: friends asked, publishers called, but, as he jokes, “My wife comes to me and goes, when are you writing a book? Now you’re writing a book.” He explains how the title came from the publisher, who said his life was like a runaway train, echoing his Oscar‑nominated film.
You’ll hear Eric speak frankly about childhood trauma, drug addiction and recovery, and why writing those chapters was “the hardest part” because he had to “undo the dishonesty” of being intoxicated and self-deceptive.
His message is clear: “Let people know there are second chances… you can start over even better than you were before.” Eliza adds depth with reflections on kindness, psychology and how unresolved childhood issues can derail careers and relationships if you don’t take a brutally honest look at your motives. She shares why she and Eric created their “Working Actor” school, focusing on both craft and the unglamorous business side of acting.
Filmmaker Mike Tove rounds things out with the story behind his award‑winning short *Yard Sailing*, explaining how persistence, friendships and years of learning the craft finally led to working with Eric and Eliza. This episode suits anyone curious about addiction and recovery, creative resilience, or the realities of life as a working actor.
It’s candid, funny in places, and quietly tough-minded: perfect if you’re asking yourself whether it’s really possible to start again and build something better from the wreckage of past mistakes.
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