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Ep58. Prisons as Leonard’s training ground, addiction recovery is now what he teaches

Ep58. Prisons as Leonard’s training ground, addiction recovery is now what he teaches

The Truth About Addiction

Leonard's journey from addiction and imprisonment to recovery highlights the power of resilience and transformation.

InspiringRawResilientHopefulTransformative

49:08•19 May 2023

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Leonard's Transformation: From Prison Walls to Healing Hearts

Episode Overview

  • Leonard shares his candid journey from addiction and imprisonment to a life of recovery
  • Despite facing harrowing experiences, Leonard's transformation stands as a beacon of hope
  • His inspiring story demonstrates the resilience of the human spirit
  • Ron Isherwood facilitates a compelling conversation that sheds light on the challenges and triumphs of recovery
  • Leonard's journey from a life of crime and substance abuse to a source of hope is truly remarkable
“It doesn't matter how far down the gurgler you've gone, if you want to change, it's possible. Even the word impossible really says 'I'm possible.'”

Leonard's life reads like a gritty novel, filled with the harsh realities of addiction and crime. Dropping out of school in year 7, he couldn't read or write and found himself in and out of prison as a teenager. His first encounter with drugs happened between these stints behind bars, leading him down an even darker path. Leonard's story takes us through the grim corridors of Pentridge, Bendigo, Ballarat, and various other correctional centres.

Yet, he reveals that the toughest prison was the one in his mind. Introduced to recovery meetings in 1989, Leonard faced multiple relapses before a final arrest for drug supply landed him in a private rehab. This time, he turned his life around, celebrating 17 years clean and sober.

Now, as the Founder and CEO of Vicdor Living Centre, a not-for-profit aiding those in recovery, Leonard's journey from a life of crime to one of hope and healing is nothing short of remarkable.

PreviousEp57. Johnny Lewis, the man with the golden heart and the mind of a boxing genius
NextEp59. Caroline Beidler, 13 years in addiction recovery, author and recovery advocate
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