Ep130 Ronnie Costa | Find Your Why

Ep130 Ronnie Costa | Find Your Why

What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This conversation with certified counsellor and life coach Ronnie Costa pulls back the curtain on what really happens behind the glossy brochures of treatment centres. Ronnie shares how growing up in a tough neighbourhood in Providence and later getting hooked on oxycontin led him to California, where getting sober in 2003 sparked a lifelong commitment to helping others.

He’s blunt about his past: “I say all the time that drugs… saved my life. It took me away from the streets.” That raw honesty sets the tone for a chat that’s as real as it gets. You’ll hear how Ronnie built Counseling Unlimited, a case management and sober companion company that works with clients dealing with substance use, mental health, and even mid- to high-functioning clients on the spectrum.

He explains why he walked away from the treatment industry in 2011 when “liquid gold” urine billing, body brokering, and shady kickbacks became the norm, and why he only came back when he could do things on his own terms. Dr. Cali and Ronnie swap stories about dirty practices, tragic outcomes, and the conference circuit where people casually talk about “$4,000 per body” over coffee.

They also talk about their upcoming film project, The Black Book, aimed at shining a harsh light on unethical players while highlighting boots-on-the-ground work that actually helps people stay alive and move forward. Ronnie leaves listeners with simple, spiritual guidance he gives his clients: “My first thought is always Ronnie’s will.

The second one is God’s will… If I pause, the second one is usually God’s will.” If you’re in recovery, work in treatment, or care about someone who does, this episode might have you asking some serious questions about who you trust and why.