Ecstasy, Cocaine, DJing, Broken Relationships and Alcoholism to Sobriety and Connection in the Treatment CommunityEcstasy, Cocaine, DJing, Broken Relationships and Alcoholism to Sobriety and Connection in the Treatment Community
Chasing Heroine: Addiction Recovery Podcast
John Nettles shares how ecstasy, cocaine, benzos and Fireball took over his life, and how detox, sober living and 12‑step work changed his direction. The conversation looks at adoption, identity, relapse, and finally finding community and purpose in recovery.
1:51:26•9 Jul 2026
From Fireball and DJ Booths to Real Sobriety: John Nettles’ Story
Episode Overview
- Stopping substances on willpower alone kept John stuck in a loop of short abstinence followed by heavy relapse.
- A clear, direct message from a sober coach helped him see the difference between being dry and actually living sober.
- Detox followed by structured sober living gave him the time and support that 30‑day stints never did.
- Working a 12‑step programme with a sponsor, including the third and fourth steps, shifted his sense of responsibility and reduced shame.
- Staying connected through meetings, sponsorship and his alumni community is key to maintaining long‑term recovery.
“You don’t know what sobriety is. You know how to be abstinent.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? For John Nettles, it was a long string of blackouts, broken relationships, and a deep sense that his life was slipping away. Jeannine sits down with John, host of Recovery Refined and staff member at Refine Recovery in LA, to trace his path from adopted kid in St. Louis to rave-scene DJ, chronic benzo and Fireball drinker, and finally to long‑term sobriety and genuine connection in the treatment community.
You’ll hear about his early ADHD diagnosis, childhood tics, and being put on Adderall at a very young age, then how weed, ecstasy, cocaine and Xanax became his identity. He talks openly about dangerous situations in the drug trade, heavy party culture, DUIs, and using his DJ persona to justify endless nights of coke and alcohol.
One of the most powerful parts of the episode is John’s description of reconnecting with his birth mother through a DNA test, and how she later cared for his dog while he went to treatment. He also shares the brutal reality of drinking 30–35 shots a day, relapsing in Rhode Island, and waking up bloodied and confused in his grandmother’s house. A pivotal turning point comes when Canadian interventionist Bob Mariet tells him: “You don’t know what sobriety is.
You know how to be abstinent.” From there, John follows clear advice: medical detox, sober living at Ethos, and working a 12‑step programme. He explains how getting a sponsor, doing a full fourth step, and saying the third step prayer on his knees finally lifted the crushing pressure to control everything himself. Now several years sober, John runs an alumni programme, sponsors others, and even DJs sober again.
If you’ve ever wondered why “just stopping” never seems to work, this conversation might make you question what sobriety could really look like for you.
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