The #RecoveryFirst Podcast with Mike Todd "Finding Myself In My Recovery JourneyThe #RecoveryFirst Podcast with Mike Todd "Finding Myself In My Recovery Journey
The Recovery First Addiction Recovery Podcast by Freedom Recovery Services of Greenville
Mike Todd reflects on 30 years in recovery, sharing how prayer, writing, honesty, and speaking out have helped him finally feel okay with himself. He also talks about recovery housing, naloxone access, and finding real purpose in serving others in Greenville.
13:35•18 Aug 2021
Finding Yourself and Feeling Okay: Mike Todd on 30 Years of Recovery
Episode Overview
- Simple daily practices like prayer, meditation, and writing can bring clarity and reduce anxiety in recovery.
- Feeling okay with yourself often comes slowly over years of doing the work—and sometimes learning from not doing it.
- Speaking openly about recovery and mental health helps break stigma and creates freedom and connection.
- A strong sense of purpose can lessen the need for external approval or permission to help others.
- Ethical recovery housing, including access to naloxone and proper training, is crucial for supporting a vulnerable population.
“"I'm okay with Mike today. And that's really what it's all about, man."”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This Recovery First share with host Mike Todd offers a candid look at what three decades in recovery can actually feel like day to day.
Speaking from his kitchen table in West Greenville, Mike reflects on the long, messy, and surprisingly ordinary process of "finding myself in my recovery journey." He talks about simple practices that ground him—prayer, meditation, and putting "pen to paper"—and how skipping those basics still leads to confusion and anxiety, even after 30 years clean. Mike is open about growing older in recovery: "I never thought that I would see 30.
Well, I'm 55 and I'm on my 30th year of recovery." There’s self-deprecating humour about grey hair and backaches, but it’s mixed with genuine gratitude for being "really okay" with who he is today. A big part of that shift came when he started "recovering out loud" after 24 years in recovery.
He talks about the freedom in admitting, without shame, "I'm in recovery" or "I've struggled with mental illness," and why speaking up matters in the face of stigma and discrimination. That transparency has led to real friendships, a strong marriage, and a clear sense of purpose.
Mike also shares his passion for recovery housing and why he helped create the South Carolina Recovery Housing Association, particularly to protect a vulnerable population from exploitation and to make sure naloxone is available in all recovery homes. This is an honest, relaxed reflection aimed at anyone in recovery who’s still trying to feel okay in their own skin.
If you’ve ever wondered whether doing the work really pays off, Mike’s message is simple: keep going, stay honest, and one day you might wake up and realise you’re finally alright with yourself. Where are you on that journey today?
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