My Last Relapse: Life in Recovery After Addiction
My Last Relapse is the recovery podcast that says out loud what you’ve been secretly thinking about addiction, relapse, and recovery. Matthew Handy—who lived through two decades of drug use—cuts through the lies and fear-mongering that dominate traditional recovery programs. This isn’t about war stories or your worst relapse moments. It’s about the future—your future—without rigid rules, unrealistic expectations, or being told you don’t belong. This is real conversations about relapse, addiction, treatment, rehab, recovery programs, meetings, self-help, and the stigma that keeps people stuck. For anyone who feels burned out, left out, or cast out by traditional approaches, Matt and his guests offer radical honesty, practical insights, and a new way forward. Whether you’re battling substance use, struggling with sobriety, navigating withdrawal, dealing with cravings, or just tired of going through the motions, My Last Relapse is here to remind you: You’re in recovery when YOU say you are. For individuals, families, friends, and professionals who are done with the lies and ready for a future without using, this is your space. Today, Matt is one of the founders of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, created with his brothers after living the struggles of addiction and recovery firsthand. Their shared journey shaped who they are and inspired the creation of Harmony Grove, a place where authenticity and clinical excellence guide every step of the process. Together, they’ve built a program that feels real, meets people where they are, and provides tools for lasting success. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.
Episodes
At 28, she married, but the relationship was unstable and ended in divorce due to her husband’s alcoholism. Jenifer built a 20-year career as a dialysis nurse but battled major depressive disorder.
She turned to alcohol to cope, which...
As a teenager, he discovered alcohol and used it to manage his symptoms while earning a master’s degree in social work and working at a suicide hotline, even as hospitalizations and heavy drinking continued.
In his mid-30s, after a suicide attempt and abruptly quit...
An only child, he was pushed hard to be successful in academics and athletics, with video games becoming an early escape. As a teenager, he turned to marijuana and alcohol, escalating after his mother passed away during his senior year.
He headed to college in 2013, where he bounced between...
Like Matt, Austin got into trouble very young, fighting in school and using drugs at a young age. His parents sent him away several times to try to get him back on track. He bounced around multiple high schools but never graduated, spending most of his te...
When she became pregnant as a young adult, it motivated her to stop smoking and make healthier choices. She later married an alcoholic, leading to domestic violence and emotional turmoil. Because of her fait...
Substance use resulted in four incarcerations, and by his last conviction he faced a potential life sentence. In prison, he began seeking faith and direction but his addiction destroyed his...
But according to Houston addiction medicine specialist Dr. Kamal Shah, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
He’s seen firsthand how quickly people can become dependent, from those in long-term recovery...
While attending Cornell University on a football scholarship, sports injuries shifted his focus from athletics to cocaine, ketamine, and marijuana. After graduation, he mov...
At 19, he moved to California for a fresh start—attending trauma therapy, enrolling in college, and playing football at Santa Monica College—until a fractured femur ended his athl...
She developed depression and anxiety early on, and alcohol quickly became her way to cope. By 25, she was a new mot...
After several failed recovery attempts, Ted got sober in March 2017 a...
She became a single mother at 16, and by 21, she had three kids. After her third child, heroin and painkillers took over her life. She lost custody—her daughters went to live with an aunt, and her son ...
Over time, he spent a total of fifteen years incarcerated, carrying a street mentality that followed him long after rel...
Jill lived in her car in the East Texas heat and humidity, calling treatment centers nonstop after losing her insurance. After more than a year of pestering, she was final...
While homeless, Jason describes walking the streets of Pensacola, covering about 20 miles in June heat until his shoes were bloody and had to be discarded upon arrival at a mental hospital, where he collapsed. This gru...
For years, Rune kept his head down and worked quietly in IT to avoid the weight of his own reality. When he finally got divorc...
Life After Flunking Out Of College, Multiple Inpatient Psych Stays, And The Murder of My Best Friend
In 2013, after a family ultimatum she went to AA for the first time and stayed sober for a month. She relapsed and repeated that pattern for several years, bouncing between AA and...
Danny’s last relapse was the breaking point. Detoxing himself at his mother’s house after a dangerous encounter involving fentanyl, he surrendered and asked God for help.
Facing his mo...
Over a decade into sobriety himself, Dr. Shah combines his lived experience with a background in neurology, movement disorders, and addiction medicine to explore what really drives relapse and what truly supports lasting rec...
Facing probation, restitution, treatment and childhood trauma, he found purpose through service work, community support, and helping others just starting their recovery. Ironically, a broken leg led him to a role supporting newcomers—work he excelled at and that launched a career dedicated to helping other...
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