Episode 46: Beating Addiction with William KemmEpisode 46: Beating Addiction with William Kemm
Recovery Plus Podcast: F*ck Yesterday, Focus on Today
William Kemm was diagnosed with childhood leukemia at the young age of 10, which meant he had to endure radiation, painful chemotherapy treatments, and even morphine. Throughout this challenging time, his mother was his rock - not only providing him with the medical care he needed, but also serving as his best friend and constant source of support. One night after treatment, William and his brother suffered injuries when their mother fell asleep at the wheel, causing a fatal accident that ejected William from the car. Tragically, William's mother did not survive the crash. William's life took another dramatic turn and became more challenging, causing him to skip school, smoke weed, and drink alcohol. These harmful behaviors soon became a regular part of his life, leading to a devastating 24-year battle with addiction and health issues. During this period, William had to go through seven detox facilities and five treatment centers, and he was in and out of jail, struggling with homelessness. Despite the odds stacked against him, William managed to turn his life around and achieve five years of sobriety. He proudly claims to have "recovered and beaten addiction." William has now found a new direction in life and is working with Elite Dynamic Life, a renowned holistic health and life coaching company. He is determined to continue his journey of healing and inspire others to do the same.
49:38•10 May 2023
From Cancer and Crack to Holistic Healing: William Kemm on Beating Addiction
Episode Overview
- Long-term sobriety may require addressing physical health first, as body, mind and spirit are closely linked.
- Repeated detox and treatment attempts can still lead to lasting recovery; relapse does not mean the story is over.
- Service, volunteering and simple kindness toward others can reduce self-focus and ease mental distress in recovery.
- Daily habits such as clean eating, exercise and spiritual practice help maintain stability and reduce cravings.
- Changing identity—internally and even in name—can support letting go of a past rooted in addiction and crime.
“If you're not healthy in your body, you cannot be healthy in your mind.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation between Dr. Mei-Li Hennen and guest William Kemm follows a life story that feels like three different films in one: childhood illness, street-level addiction, and a surprisingly gentle turn into holistic recovery. You’ll hear how William’s life was rocked early on: childhood leukaemia, brutal rounds of chemo and radiation, morphine on demand at age ten, and then the sudden death of his mum in a car crash.
The grief, anger and guilt that followed fed years of heavy drinking and drugs, dealing, brushes with organised crime, and multiple stints in jail, detox, and treatment. He describes being awake for ten days on crack, homeless, and so underweight in jail that other inmates nicknamed him “E.T.” Yet this isn’t just another relapse story. William talks honestly about why earlier attempts at sobriety didn’t stick, even when he meant it.
What really shifted was learning that, in his words, “if you’re not healthy in your body, you cannot be healthy in your mind.” A chance meeting with a former addict turned holistic health and life coach led him into deep physical healing: detox protocols, major diet changes, exercise, and a focus on six life areas—physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual and financial.
Now five years into recovery, he shares how service, faith, and daily habits keep him grounded, why he changed his name from Bill to William, and how simple acts like volunteering or smiling at someone can pull you out of your own head. This episode suits anyone feeling stuck in endless relapse cycles or wondering if long-term addiction really can lose its grip.
If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe I’m just too far gone,” could William’s story be the one that makes you question that?
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