He Shared a Cell with a Murderer. Now He Helps People Recover.
He Shared a Cell with a Murderer. Now He Helps People Recover.

Recovery Rocks

Brad McLeod recounts his path from childhood instability, addiction, jail and deportation to building Sober Motivation and supporting others in recovery. The conversation focuses on multiple routes to sobriety, the role of community, and why finding a personal recovery lane matters.

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31:47•22 May 2026

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From Sharing a Cell with a Murder Suspect to Sharing Hope in Recovery

Episode Overview

Early anxiety, ADHD and undiagnosed mental health issues can fuel self-medication and later addiction.
Harsh treatment settings and punishment-based programmes often fail to address underlying pain.
Life circumstances can get extremely bleak, yet it’s still possible to rebuild through sobriety, study and service.
There is no single correct recovery path; if one approach isn’t working, it’s valid to try something different.
Sharing real stories and building community can bridge the gap between what people know about recovery and what they actually do.

“I just encourage people to just find your lane. If one thing is not working and it all comes down to how you feel about it, maybe check some other stuff out there.”

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This conversation on *Recovery Rocks* traces Brad McLeod’s journey from childhood chaos and incarceration to becoming the founder of Sober Motivation and a counsellor supporting others in recovery. Brad talks candidly about growing up with a young mum, moving from Canada to Waco, Texas, and feeling anxiety and disconnection long before anyone named it. ADHD, early prescriptions like Ritalin, and repeated trouble at school set the stage for self-medicating with substances.

Things escalated to prescription pills, alcohol, cocaine and eventually heroin, followed by psych wards, a harsh youth facility, and time in jail where he briefly shared a cell with a man accused of murder. Yet this isn’t a tragedy story; it’s very much about what comes after. Brad explains how multiple failed attempts at treatment, deportation, and a broken life finally led him to sustained sobriety, further study, and six years working in a rehab.

He’s honest about burnout too, describing how the emotional weight of deaths, fentanyl, and institutional pressures pushed him to build something different. Sober Motivation began as a small Facebook group, grew into a podcast with millions of downloads, and now includes a community and mobile app.

Throughout, Brad keeps stressing that there isn’t one “right” pathway: “I just encourage people to just find your lane… if one thing is not working… maybe check some other stuff out there.” This chat is especially helpful if you’re curious about recovery options beyond traditional 12-step, or you’re already sober but craving connection and real talk.

You’ll hear about the grind of early recovery, the relief of no longer running from feelings, and the power of sharing stories so people feel less alone. If you’ve ever wondered whether your messy past rules you out of a better future, this one might get you asking a different question: what could your story help someone else see in themselves?

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