248. It's Time to Start Living My Life Addiction Free with Alex and Bash248. It's Time to Start Living My Life Addiction Free with Alex and Bash
The Alcohol ReThink Podcast
Patrick Fox talks with recovery coach Bash and Alex, who is just weeks into ending a 22-year cocaine habit and criminal lifestyle. They discuss emotions, self-worth and simple daily practices that are helping Alex start to live addiction free and reconnect with his family.
42:48•15 May 2026
From Cocaine and Crime to 1% Changes: Alex Starts Living Addiction Free
Episode Overview
- Tiny “1%” actions like walking, making the bed and journalling can gradually rebuild self-respect and reduce the desire to use.
- Honesty with yourself and others is described as essential in recovery, with secrecy and lies seen as fuel for addiction.
- Learning to feel and process emotions, rather than numbing them with substances, becomes a key part of healing.
- Tools such as box breathing, guided meditation, naps and walking are used as practical alternatives to drinking or using drugs.
- Recovery is framed as starting new habits and understanding underlying pain, rather than simply stopping a substance overnight.
“It’s time to start living my life addiction free.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol and drugs after more than two decades in addiction? This conversation on The Alcohol ReThink Podcast brings together host Patrick Fox, recovery coach Bash, and Alex, who is just four weeks into turning his back on cocaine, crime, and emotional shutdown. Alex shares how a promise to “never, ever touch drugs” at school turned into 22 years of cocaine use, dealing, and serious crime, including jail time and firearms charges.
He talks frankly about dry sniffing alone, the rush of risk, and the moment he realised, “My first love and only love was cocaine. I didn’t care about nothing else.” Rather than focusing only on stopping substances, Bash centres his coaching on tiny daily shifts and emotional honesty. He talks about “one percenters” like walking, journalling, meditation, and even making the bed as realistic steps that slowly rebuild self-respect and reduce the urge to use.
His three asks are simple: “Show up, be honest, and trust the process.” A big theme is men and emotions. Alex explains being raised to hide feelings and only feeling able to open up on ecstasy, cocaine or drink. Now he’s learning to feel instead of numb: “It’s weird, scary, but enjoyable… I’m starting to feel loved.” Breathwork, naps, walking, and guided meditation are becoming his new tools instead of lines of coke.
The chat also touches on guilt, shame, setting boundaries with the past, and reconnecting with family. Alex talks about wanting to be fully present for his children and future grandchild, saying simply, “It’s time to start living my life addiction free.” If you’ve ever thought your history is “too much” to change, this honest, funny and hopeful conversation might have you asking: what would your own 1% step look like today?
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