242 - RRT Christmas Special242 - RRT Christmas Special
Real Recovery Talk
Tom Conrad and guest Steve Bojan share candid Christmas stories from addiction to long-term sobriety, mixing humour with direct talk about family boundaries and hope for change. The conversation focuses on how recovery can transform holiday experiences, both for those using and for the families around them.
23:46•25 Dec 2022
Christmas, Crack, and Second Chances: A Holiday Chat on Real Recovery Talk
Episode Overview
- Active addiction can turn meaningful holidays like Christmas into days focused solely on using, regardless of family plans or traditions.
- Long-term recovery allows people to be emotionally and physically present for loved ones, even during painful events such as bereavement.
- Family members are urged to set firm boundaries, including reconsidering invitations if they expect a loved one to be actively using and disruptive.
- Stopping enabling behaviour and letting addicted loved ones face consequences can push them towards seeking help.
- Small, realistic changes and consistent daily effort are presented as more effective than extreme, unsustainable New Year resolutions.
“"If you feel that they are going to ‘ruin it’ in some way, don’t invite them… if they’re using, why are they living in your house?"”
What makes a recovery story truly inspiring? This Christmas special from Real Recovery Talk brings together host Tom Conrad and guest Steve Bojan (aka "Stevie Buckets") for a festive chat that’s part comedy, part hard truth, and very much aimed at anyone touched by addiction. You’ll hear Steve contrast chaotic Christmases in active addiction with the peace he’s found in long-term recovery.
He shares painful, yet oddly funny moments, like withdrawing from oxycontin on a family trip to New York, running a hotel bath, passing out, and waking up to find the entire room flooded. As he puts it, addiction robbed him of his favourite holiday: "Christmas might as well be May 20th… your life revolves around getting high or drinking." The conversation moves between light-hearted jabs about American football and stark honesty about family boundaries.
Tom asks what families should do if they’re dreading a loved one ruining the day. Steve answers bluntly: "If you feel that they are going to ‘ruin it’ in some way, don’t invite them… if they’re using, why are they living in your house?" It’s a tough line that many families in crisis may recognise. They also speak directly to people still using, acknowledging that holidays can feel like just another day when substances are in control.
Steve contrasts those years with his first sober Christmas, when he had around nine months clean and was finally able to show up for his parents after his grandmother died. The tone stays relaxed and humorous, but the message is clear: recovery makes space for real connection, real presence, and a very different kind of Christmas. The chat wraps with a nod to New Year resolutions, stressing small, realistic changes and “one bite at a time” progress.
If you’re looking for relatable holiday honesty with a recovery focus, this one might hit home.
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