The #RecoveryFirst Podcast with Mike Todd "Losing My Right Arm In Recovery"The #RecoveryFirst Podcast with Mike Todd "Losing My Right Arm In Recovery"
The Recovery First Addiction Recovery Podcast by Freedom Recovery Services of Greenville
Mike Todd reflects on the emotional impact of a trusted colleague leaving his recovery housing programme and how that change affects his own recovery. He shares the story of building Freedom House, the role Heath played, and the ongoing commitment to ethical recovery housing and personal sobriety.
20:21•11 Sept 2021
Losing My Right Arm: Mike Todd on Friendship, Burnout and Recovery Housing
Episode Overview
- Building and running recovery housing can lead to burnout if personal recovery and mental health are neglected.
- Strong, trusted colleagues can become essential partners in both personal recovery and programme growth.
- Ethical, firm and consistent house rules help prevent recovery housing from slipping into unsafe environments.
- Change and loss in recovery are painful, but sharing that pain and staying connected can lessen the burden.
- Prayer, meditation, meetings and ongoing support remain core tools for staying steady during major life transitions.
“"Pain shared is pain lessened."”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This candid share from The Recovery First Addiction Recovery Podcast centres on Mike Todd processing what he calls "losing my right arm" in recovery – his way of describing the departure of his long‑time colleague and friend, Heath.
Speaking straight from the heart, Mike talks about starting Freedom House of Greenville back in 2011 with just one house and a handful of men, and how quickly the demand for safe, recovery‑centred housing grew. He describes burning out while trying to do everything alone – driving men from detox, helping them find jobs, answering calls at 3am – and praying hard for help.
Enter Heath, a quiet, intelligent man with strong business sense and a painful history of losing his home, marriage and relationship with his stepson to addiction.
Mike recalls spotting something different about him: "I noticed real quick off the bat that he was an intelligent guy." Starting as a driver earning $60 a week, Heath rose to house manager and eventually director, helping to build a respected, ethically run recovery programme that has seen hundreds of men come through its doors. The episode speaks to anyone in recovery who’s dealing with change, grief, or the loss of a key support.
Mike is honest about feeling like he’s "trying to figure out how to get around without my right arm" while still needing to move forward and keep the programme strong. He leans on slogans like "pain shared is pain lessened" and reinforces basics like prayer, meditation, meetings and connection. Along the way, he also touches on the broader recovery housing landscape, the risks of exploitation, and the push in South Carolina to get naloxone into recovery homes.
If you’ve ever feared losing the person who “gets” your recovery, this story might make you feel a little less alone and a lot more hopeful about what comes next. So, who’s been your “right arm” in recovery, and have you told them what they mean to you?
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