Lionel Estrada: Rebuilding a Life
Lionel Estrada: Rebuilding a Life

Recovery On-Air

Lionel Estrada's journey from losing everything to becoming a substance abuse counselor offers hope and inspiration.

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58:07•21 Jul 2023

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About this podcast

Recovery On-Air

The Crossroads

Recovery On-Air is the official podcast of the Crossroads Addiction Rehabilitation organization. Crossroads is the largest substance abuse treatment organization in the Southwest, with 60 years of proven success. In this podcast, we talk candidly about addiction and recovery with the people who have lived it. In our segment “So What’s Your Story?” we interview addiction survivors and discuss their stories of struggle and triumph. We also interview experts in the field of recovery, as well as host special guest community partners who fight alongside us for a better tomorrow. Prepare to laugh, cry, and feel inspired as we work to break the stigma around addiction and recovery.

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Episodes: 149

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Lionel Estrada: Rising from the Ashes of Addiction

Episode Overview

Lionel's journey from addiction to becoming a licensed independent substance abuse counselor is truly inspiring
The podcast provides a raw and candid account of Lionel's struggle and eventual triumph
His experience with Alcoholics Anonymous and relapse sheds light on the complexities of the recovery journey
Listeners witness the unwavering spirit of a man who found his way back from the depths of addiction
Lionel's story serves as a powerful reminder that recovery is possible, even in the face of adversity

“I'm an alcoholic and she looks up, 'No everybody knows.' So then I started doing this crazy AA thing. She dipped like the next week, she's like, 'You're insane.' Yeah, I gotta go to this meeting and you know I'm powerless, right? She's like, 'Okay, I'm gonna leave now.' Yeah, because I drank the Kool-Aid, right? So I did everything. The only thing I didn't do for nine years was I didn't sponsor anybody, right? And I also didn't believe that”

Imagine having it all—house, car, job—and then losing it in the blink of an eye due to substance abuse. That's exactly what happened to Lionel Estrada. In this gripping episode of 'Recovery On-Air', Lionel sits down with Greg to recount his journey from rock bottom to becoming a licensed substance abuse counselor. Lionel first got sober at 27 but relapsed after nine years in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), leading to a downward spiral that left him homeless and jobless.

His story is a raw and honest portrayal of the highs and lows of addiction and recovery. Lionel's time at Crossroads East played a crucial role in his turnaround, offering him the support and tools he needed to rebuild his life. Now, as a substance abuse counselor, he helps others find their way out of the darkness.

This episode isn't just about Lionel's past struggles; it's a beacon of hope for anyone grappling with addiction, showing that it's never too late to seek help and start anew.

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