EPISODE 102326EPISODE 102326
Clean and Sober Radio
Attorney Lori Hahn Maslin shares how alcohol took over her life, from teenage drinking to being fired from law firms, and how treatment and twelve-step recovery helped her reach more than 32 years sober. The hosts blend her story with news, listener messages, and practical talk about treatment, costs, and hope for people still struggling.
55:41•24 Oct 2026
From Fired Attorney to 32 Years Sober: Lori Hahn Maslin’s Story
Episode Overview
- Early substance use can coexist with high academic and professional achievement, but the consequences eventually catch up.
- Short stints in treatment without real engagement in a recovery programme may lead back to drinking.
- Twelve-step home groups, sponsorship, and regular meetings remain central tools in maintaining long-term sobriety.
- Addiction is described as a lifelong condition that requires daily attention, even after decades without a drink.
- Recovery media and radio shows can offer vital hope and connection, even in prisons where formal help is limited.
“My alcoholism is sitting at the back of my brain doing push-ups.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This episode of Clean and Sober Radio shines a light on that question through the candid story of attorney Lori Hahn Maslin, shared with host Gary Hendler and co-host Mark Sigmund. Lori talks openly about starting to drink and smoke cannabis at 14, summer beach parties at Long Beach Island, and a college life fuelled by alcohol, pot, and cocaine.
Despite heavy use, she pushed through Boston University and Delaware Law School, graduating cum laude, describing herself as “very, very functional up until the end.” Once she began practising law, alcohol took centre stage. She recalls daily happy hours, risky nights out, blackouts, and waking up not knowing where her car — or she — had ended up. Her story doesn’t stop at personal chaos.
Lori explains being fired from multiple law firms, a short first stay at The Strecker Institute, and a second go at treatment at Father Martin’s in Maryland, where she later met her husband. She admits she initially wanted to learn how to drink “like a normal person,” only to realise that wasn’t an option.
Today, with over 32 years in recovery, she still attends the same home group, sponsors others, and jokes that her alcoholism “is sitting at the back of my brain doing push-ups,” a reminder to stay grounded in daily practice. The episode also weaves in recovery news, emails from listeners, and a powerful message from “Spider Jim,” a man who credits the show as “a huge part of saving my life” while serving time for felony DUIs in Colorado.
With humour, honesty, and plenty of real-talk, this one speaks to anyone wondering if long-term recovery — and a meaningful life after addiction — is actually possible. If you’re questioning your relationship with alcohol or drugs, what part of Lori’s story feels closest to your own?
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