186 - Cody W - His successes, finance and all things money and how it can impact our sobriety

186 - Cody W - His successes, finance and all things money and how it can impact our sobriety

Curious about how others manage their sobriety journey when money and success are part of the mix? This conversation on Real Recovery Talk brings in Cody W, a high-earning entrepreneur whose finances and fast lifestyle fed his addiction rather than fixing it. Speaking with hosts Tom Conrad and Ben, Cody traces his story from early learning disabilities and teenage drug dealing in Columbus, Ohio, through prison at 17, to building successful businesses and an app in his twenties.

The twist is that every financial win came while he was using. He explains how money, status and constant praise only deepened his loneliness and denial, saying that some of the most miserable people he knows "have nothing but money." The episode is especially useful if you’re worried that a good job, full bank account or fancy car might be masking a serious problem.

Tom and Ben highlight how wealth so often feeds ego, making it harder for someone to accept they’re on the same level as the person who arrived at treatment homeless. They also talk honestly about jail and prison: not as magic fixes, but as interruptions that can give people a chance to rethink, even though substances are still available inside. Cody shares how 12‑step work, a sponsor and pulling back from compulsive spending have shifted his outlook.

He’s now more interested in legacy and inner change than designer trainers and status cars. For families, his message is clear: stepping back and allowing consequences can sometimes be the most loving move, summed up in his line, "You have choices on what you do with your time, and that's up to the individual." If money, success and recovery collide in your life or someone you love, this honest chat might get you asking what really counts as true success.