Changes Invasion: Recovery is Cool! with Mat and Trip

Changes Invasion: Recovery is Cool! with Mat and Trip

What makes a recovery story truly inspiring? This Crosstalk episode brings together Matt Lewis with Mat Price and Tripp Roby from Changes Rehabilitation to talk about one bold idea: "Recovery is cool." From the start, the three swap honest stories about how recovery used to look like a life sentence of misery – "a group of old-timers" Mat never wanted to be like – until he met Tripp and saw someone sober who actually loved life.

Tripp points out that relapse can happen, but it doesn’t define the whole picture: "You dust yourself off and you get back to work." Their focus is on learning, failing forward, and, as Mat puts it, "You turn those wounds into wisdom." The conversation ranges from AA anonymity and stigma to self-talk, perspective, and the importance of being surrounded by people who’ve "been there, done that." They joke about being obsessed with winning, but underneath the humour is a clear message: if you believe you can change and back it up with action, your life can look totally different.

You’ll hear them push back on the old stigma that sobriety is dull or joyless. They talk about "recovering out loud," sharing their own journeys so people can see that fun, family and purpose are possible without substances. Self-care isn’t ignored either. Tripp talks about date nights, bikes and making time for hobbies.

Mat proudly admits he’s "a firm believer in bubble baths" and daily reading, calling that hour in the tub his meditation and the place he leaves his work behind. Both stress that they can’t pour from an empty cup, especially when their job is pouring belief and hope into others. For anyone who still thinks recovery means losing your identity or your fun, this episode offers a different picture: what if the coolest version of you is the sober one?