Episode 46 | The #RecoveryFirst Podcast with Mike Todd | Recovery, It’s More Than I Ever Thought It Would BeEpisode 46 | The #RecoveryFirst Podcast with Mike Todd | Recovery, It’s More Than I Ever Thought It Would Be
The Recovery First Addiction Recovery Podcast by Freedom Recovery Services of Greenville
Mike Todd reflects on 31 years of sustained recovery, contrasting his early dreams of a "normal" life with the purpose-filled reality he lives today. He shares how supporting men in recovery housing, facing mental illness openly, and holding on for the "miracle" have shaped a life he describes as more than he ever thought it would be.
13:22•25 Oct 2021
More Than I Ever Dreamed: Mike Todd on 31 Years of Recovery and Purpose
Episode Overview
- Recovery can lead to a life that is very different from early expectations, yet far richer in meaning and purpose.
- Service to others, such as providing housing and support for men in early recovery, can become a central part of a fulfilling sober life.
- Addressing mental illness openly and directly can be a key part of long-term recovery without shame.
- Working with people early in recovery is often difficult but offers deep satisfaction as they move from crisis to self-sufficiency.
- Holding on through difficult times with the mindset of “don’t quit before the miracle happens” can help sustain long-term sobriety.
“Don’t quit before the miracle happens.”
This episode of The Recovery First Addiction Recovery Podcast centres on Mike Todd reflecting on 31 years in sustained recovery and how life turned out to be, in his words, “more than I ever dreamed it would be.” Speaking straight from South Carolina with a mix of honesty and humour, Mike shares how his early dreams in recovery were pretty simple: “a wife, a house in the suburbs, a nice car, job… nice job with maybe some benefits.” Three decades later, the picture looks very different – and far richer.
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? He jokes about driving an old Nissan and renting on the “poor side of town,” yet describes a life steeped in purpose, love and long-term friendships. You’ll hear him talk about the home he and his wife own where men in early recovery can stay, eat, shower, sit on the porch, get to treatment and slowly rebuild their lives, especially those who are indigent or without insurance.
Mike doesn’t sugar-coat the challenges of working with people fresh out of tents or detox, but he’s clear about the payoff: watching them become self-sustaining is “a lot, a lot of satisfaction.” He also touches on his experience with mental illness, stressing that he meets it “head on” and refuses to be ashamed of it, hinting that he may devote a future episode to that topic alone.
Threaded through the episode is a simple mantra aimed at anyone struggling: “Don’t quit before the miracle happens.” For people in early recovery, family members, and recovery housing providers alike, this is an honest look at how a life rooted in service, faith and consistency can become “a life worth living” – even if it looks nothing like the glossy fantasy once imagined.
If you’re wondering whether the hard work of staying clean is worth it, Mike’s story might make you ask yourself what miracles could still be ahead.
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