The Zac Clark Show - Sober Since 16: Bravo Star Maddi Reese on Building a Big Life in Recovery

Episode Date: July 7, 2026

Bravo's Southern Hospitality star Maddi Reese joins The Zac Clark Show to share her awesome recovery journey – from drinking at 12 and multiple trips to treatment, to getting sober at 16 and building a successful career as a DJ, reality television personality, and advocate for recovery. In this conversation, Maddi opens up about anxiety, treatment, AA, sponsorship, dating in recovery, performing in nightlife while sober, navigating reality TV, and why community has been the foundation of her sobriety. She also shares what she'd tell every young person who believes recovery means giving up the best years of their life. In this episode: Getting sober at 16 years old Drinking and addiction as a teenager Multiple trips to treatment AA, sponsorship, and long-term recovery Performing as a sober DJ Reality TV and sobriety Anxiety, mental health, and purpose Family recovery and Al-Anon Building confidence without alcohol Why recovery gave her a bigger life – not a smaller one This conversation is a powerful reminder that sobriety isn't the end of your story – it can be the beginning of your best one. Follow Maddi Reese: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddireese/ Connect with Zac: https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/ https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 https://twitter.com/zacwclark If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery: [phone] releaserecovery.com @releaserecovery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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For a long time, I needed alcohol and drugs in order to feel funnier, cool. hotter, more confident. Having those things on your own is really such an empowering feeling that I can feel confident, funny, all these things without alcohol or drugs. Maddie Reese, she is best known as one of the stars of Bravo's Southern Hospitality. She's also got a booming career as a DJ. The reason I am excited to have Maddie on the podcast today is because she is 12 years.

Sober. You're sober at 16. I went to treatment a few times, so definitely wasn't a easy journey for me. I would tell my parents I'm going to a meeting, and I would parked outside of the church or wherever the meeting was, and I would go use. When I actually had a support system and a sponsor and I was working a program, I got, like, these crazy results. Maddie, I got to start by just saying, when we started this show,

and I think of like the person we want to have as a guest because people ask me all the time why why I do this it's to highlight people like you you know who someone who was young got sober young and is using your platform in a lot of ways to do what you want to do which is DJ and and make a name for yourself but also you're not scared to acknowledge the fact that you're sober and you've been sober a long time so yes yes I feel like I do that for accountability but I also do that because I want to put that out there and have people reach out. And the amount of gratitude I have for the people that have reached out to me or been able to relate, it's been insane.

Yeah, this community is awesome. Yeah. You know, it really is. And I feel sometimes like for people that aren't a part of it, like they're missing out. They don't know what they're missing out on. I know. I wish I could get everyone to, like, do the steps at least. I know.

But I know. Sometimes I have to like hold myself back from like shaking people. It's scary. It is. Because we've been given this kind of roadmap for life that not everyone gets. Yeah, but community also. Yeah. Yeah.

I was at a meeting last night and every time I walk into a new room, it never ceases to amaze me. It's just young, old, you know, like just, and they all are just so happy to see you. They never met you. I know. That's the best part of it is like first day meeting people, leaving a meeting. They're like, I love you. And you're like, what? What? You know what I mean? But the love and impact that AA and meetings has had is, I don't know. It's definitely a lot of love.

Yeah. It's the most important thing that we get. And I didn't know was there for me. You got sober young. So we will start. You got sober at 16. I know. I know. How does that happen? I don't know. I went to treatment a few times. So definitely wasn't a easy journey for me. and I finally hit my bottom, I think, after my third time going to treatment, my parents kind of had a lot to do with that because I was so young. But basically I just got into like a bad crowd in high school. You know, first time I ever drank was with a travel softball team. You know, we were always traveling on the road and the parents would be drinking. I mean, we were probably like 12, 13.

I mean, is that crazy? But that's my story. Yeah, like the girls on my softball team, like between tournaments or travel gigs or whatever it is, we would steal the alcohol from the parents and then have one or two and thought that was so cool. Would you like to do the bag like dump it and then fill with water? Yeah, or mix a bunch of them. And like you're like, wow, this tastes like shit. And or beers. We would steal beers a lot.

and then thought we were the coolest people in the world for all sharing one beer. Yeah, we would go garage hopping. We would literally go, like, walk down. And if there was an open garage, we would be like in and out with a case of cold beer. And then if that failed, we'd go to the woods and find, like, the nastiest, oldest shit. As one of your kids, it's like you're desperate. Yeah. But I definitely went garage hopping too.

Yeah, especially in, like, beach cities where the garages are just wide open or, you know, they're on like stilts kind of thing and people would leave their coolers out from the beach. Well, Charleston, where you are now, I mean, that's like the garage hopping capital of the world. Yeah. Definitely. Definitely. Definitely. So 12 years old, you start, and like, do you know, are you just trying to fit in or do you know early on that there's like this sense of ease and comfort with that, with that dream?

I definitely felt like I knew there was a sense of ease and comfort. My family loves to celebrate things, whether it's. sad or happy or, you know, nervous, excited, even just a simple dinner, you know, I feel like my family always kind of love to drink. And to me, I thought that was very normal and I couldn't wait to be a part of that or to do that. I don't know, even sometimes, like, when I was younger, you know, my parents would have a fish and they would pair it with a wine and I was able to have like a little sip. So for me, I just thought it was like very normal and it was something that I was so excited to be a part of it and I was eager to be a part of that.

But I also struggled with mental health. So I think for me, yeah, at a young age, like very anxious, wanting to fit in, kind of depressed. And I felt like when I had my first sip, there was nothing that numbed those anxious, depressed feelings better. Yeah. So. No, that's the part I think for people listening that is oftentimes misunderstood, is that alcohol works.

Yeah. Like it works as a medicine. For me, it worked for a very long time. And it sounds like you had a similar experience where you picked up that first drink. You're kind of anxious and depressed and like, oh, this is. Yeah. I thought it was funnier, cooler, hotter, more confident, you know, less anxious. So I definitely felt all those things.

And I mean, they talk about that in the program all the time too, is like having those things on your own is really such an empowering feeling that I can feel confident, funny, all these things without alcohol or drugs, you know, but for a long time I needed alcohol and drugs in order to feel that way. Do you remember, because we were talking a little bit before we started that you said your parents and your siblings, like you're proud of the work they've done to kind of also have a sense of recovery in their life. Do you remember those relationships at a young age?

I mean, at 12, 13, 14, what that looked? Is your sister older or younger? Yeah, she's younger. My sister is younger, but she's still, you subconsciously pick up on those things, obviously, and my sister, you know, knew something was off with me. And my sister and my parents all went to Alonon. And I am so, so, so grateful for that because not only did I see them change and ask for help and become different parents towards my little sister, I saw like a relationship between me

and my parents just blossom. And, you know, I am so grateful that my parents were willing to be honest and open-minded and willing to do that because I feel like a lot of people necessarily don't have that experience. Yeah, I'm so happy you say that because I feel like parents and family members are oftentimes scared to do the work. Like once their loved one gets into treatment or gets help, it's like, oh, I'm done. But shout out, shout out Lois Wilson, Alon, you know, like Bill. So Bill Wilson was the founder of everything. and Lois Wilson started a program for the people that folks like you and I harm. And so if you're a family member listening, you can check out an Al-Nan meeting.

Maybe it's helpful. I mean, I still even go to Al-Anon sometimes when I'm feeling codependent. Like when I are enabling or, you know, I go so I can help even learn to detach because that's like a big part of what Al-Anon is, is, you know, letting go and letting God in a way. Well, it's a community. Yeah. I saw a clip from one of your cast members. I think it was on and like watch what happens.

And she was kind of giving an update on where she's at with her program. She's struggled with her name. She's struggling. I think grace slowly. Yeah. And she said she was like kind of taking everyone through the things that she was doing to stay sober. And you said like I'm really proud. It was awesome.

You were so empathetic and so kind to her. And you're like, and you need that community. Yeah. You can't do it alone. You cannot do it alone. Yeah, it's beautiful. I'm proud of you because clearly other people had their opinions. You're like, you're nice.

I could have never have gone through what I've gone through without a community and a support system and a sponsor. And I think a lot of people think, oh, I can do this on my own. And a lot of people fail doing that. I personally failed to doing that. I mean, the amount of times I try to control my drinking in my head or try to do it on my own and I don't need help. I can conquer this on my own.

and the amount of times I failed. I mean, like I said, my journey wasn't very linear. So I definitely, definitely am like 100%, you can't do this alone. And having a support system in a community and a sponsor and all these things, I mean, is the reason why I'm sober. Did you give that any thought? And then we'll kind of get back to your journey. But did you, like when you were making this decision to go on television and obviously

there's like this casting process and you know, and you're obviously telling probably the producers and whoever else that you're sober and you don't drink, did you give it thought or are you just like, I'm going to wear this like a badge of honor? Oh, no, I've always been very open about it. So I was like, I'm going to wear this like a badge of honor. Not only is that an important thing about me, it's something that everyone around me knows about me. You know, I do for accountability, like I said, so people aren't, you know, buying drinks for me or asking me to drink or if I'm relapsing or something, that there's accountability there.

But I also do it, like I said, because I want people, I want to share my journey. Hopefully, maybe I can impact someone or help someone or, you know, I don't know. It's just the open, I've always, since I've gotten sober, I wasn't like this when I was using. But it's always been very, very, very important to me to be like very honest, open-minded and willing and to share my experience. So I feel like for me, I don't know. I keep going back to the honesty and open-minded and willingness thing. But I just, I don't know, that's been so important to me in the program they call that

how, but I, that's been so important to me just to be super honest about it so I can help other people or just, I don't know. And like I said, the amount of people that have reached out, it's just been super impactful. It's enthusiastically sober, is that? Yes, yes. That's your little. Yeah, that's what I would call myself. Like, I love to still have fun.

I love to DJ, obviously, which you would think. How does that mix? Like a sober girl out in the club till three in the morning, you know, DJing music or like a girl who likes to go out and stuff. But I don't know. In a way, music has been a huge vice for me with my sobriety. Like, I don't know. It's something I've leaned on. I feel like when I got sober, I, you know, I've always been really into music.

But when I got sober, it became almost like meditative for me. and like therapeutical for me. It was like my escape. So I don't know. I like to go out to hear music. I like to go to concerts. And, you know, I used to go to concerts to get drunk. Right.

And I love going to concerts to actually like dial in on the band or the DJ and what they're doing. And really, really, really, I appreciate music. So becoming a DJ was just kind of like a natural route for me. But I don't know. Do you ever like when you went to concerts? No, I mean, look, my favorite band is Pearl Jam. There's like six records behind.

you and when I got sober, they were my favorite band. I couldn't have told you one thing about one of their shows. Like, I'd never really actually seen Pearl Jam play live. I'd been to the concerts in like in my physical body had been in the arena where they were playing, but I'd never taken in like. And how shitty is that? And now it's like I will follow them around. I have this like deep connection with them and the songs and I'm singing and I'm dancing.

And I could have never done any of that with alcohol. I know. I mean, like, I can relate to that so much. Yeah. And the other thing that you said, like, you want to help people, I just got to say for, you know, the grid, right? Like, so in Instagram, and I have to explain this because I, I'm an old man and I need to like line it up for myself. But the grid, so like when you go to your profile and I know that you're 12 years sober and I open the grid and I see all the posts that you've made about DJing, that's so powerful for, like, like the young girl who's trying to get sober to see that there's this subliminal message of like sobriety is actually a great time just like look at the way that I'm living you know and like they say action speak louder and words and that's why that's why I was so excited to have you on because you're just like you're giving off this thing of like hey I can be out till 3 a.m. and stay sober and know where I am the next morning and like do it all over again. Yeah and treatment wise like the treatment that worked for me I was.

outpatient. So 12, so 12 you start drinking. When do you, like, when do your parents first come to you and say like, hey, Maddie, like, this is not going to work for us? Yeah. I mean, that was a few times. Like the first time I got sent away, it was completely against my will and I was under 18, so they could do that, like. Gooned? Like, were you middle of night thrown in a call? Kind of, yeah, yeah, on a plane with someone from the treatment center. And I was in Nashville, Tennessee. And when I arrived in Nashville, Tennessee, there was letters that my family wrote to me that I opened when I got there. And I was so pissed. I was so resentful. I was pissed. So that one didn't work because I didn't want it for myself. I totally went in just like resentful

and angry. 13 years old? No, I was, I was 15. I started drinking when I was 12. But yeah, I didn't actually go to treatment until I was 15. And I went to two other treatments after that. And the last one is the one that worked for me. And that was an outpatient program. And they were big on enthusiastic sobriety. Like they were big when we got out. Like, I don't know, go play pickleball.

Go, you know, go party sober, whether that be playing pickleball or, you know, having some friends over to watch a movie or, you know, sometimes we would go to like abandoned houses and just. like, I don't know, or go have a bonfire at the beach. Like, we would go have these fun experiences and stuff that like, I don't know, made me really excited about sobriety and kind of like what you said about concerts. I was like present and I was there and I didn't do anything that embarrassed myself or others or I had to go make amends over. I was fully present and there and had a great time and connected not only with myself but with other people.

So that like was something that came to me and something. sobriety that just worked for me is connecting with other people in the program, but also connecting with people outside of it, whether it just be, you know, activities or like I said, music for me. Do you remember the moment, like when you surrendered or when you thought to yourself, I could, maybe I could do this. Like, maybe I could stay so. At 16 years old, I mean, that's wild. Yeah. Like I said, the first two treatment centers were like against my will. So the third one, my parents came to me and they said, hey, we're tired. We're exhausted. We've spent a lot of money.

You obviously don't want this. And we're going to ask you one more time. And you can come to us if you want this. So the very last time, I came to them and said, you know what? I want this. And I asked for help. But I don't know, that was really powerful because not only then did my parents, you know. I just get goose.

When anyone says they ask for help, I get goose. It's like crazy. I know. It's just like, am I just totally a nerd for this shit? Yes. Yeah, but when I asked for help, I really didn't hit a bottom until I was probably 90 days sober. Because I was dry. I wasn't using.

I was in treatment my last time that my parents sent me to that outpatient program. Where was it? In Charlotte, North Carolina. In Charlotte. And your family's living there. So you're waking up. You're living with your parents and you're going to day program and then you're returning home at night. Are you in high school?

Are you going to high school? Are you going to high school? Yeah. So I went to high school till noon every day and then was in the outpatient program from noon to four. Were you like notice the girl that's like leaving to go to rehab every day? Yeah, kind of. Yeah. Yeah, it kind of was.

It's kind of amazing. Yeah, but also everyone was jealous of me. Everyone was like, she gets to leave school at noon every day. Like she's so lucky and she's not, she can't be an alcoholic. She's only 16. Like she's so lucky. She gets to use this as an excuse to like leave school early. So people were actually kind of jealous, but I totally was known for that to be that girl.

But like I said, after 4 o'clock, you know, I would hang out with the people in the program there. We would go get coffee. We would go, you know, have fun around the city. Do the things we're doing sobriety. Yeah, and go to meetings. And we, I don't know. And like I said, without building that support system, I definitely wouldn't have been tricked into sobriety. Were you driving?

I was driving. So you, like, would you go to, were you going to meetings at night? and... Yeah, yeah. ...a meetings? Yeah, I was fully driving. I mean, I'm not going to lie, not to rewind, but my first treatments, when I got out and I was still using, I would tell my parents I'm going to a meeting and I would drive and leave my phone

in the car, which they could track, and I would go use. And my car was, like, parked outside of the church or the high school or wherever the meeting was, and I would go use. And I felt guilty about that for years doing that. But when I did get sober and like I said, we got out at 4 o'clock of outpatient, like we were hitting coffee in meetings and we were just hanging out and having the best time. And like I said, without that support system, I wouldn't be where I was at because I think for so long I thought, oh, I can do this on my own. I don't need anyone.

And genuinely, I was just dry and I would end up going right back to the old behaviors. and the using versus when I actually had a support system and a sponsor and I was working a program, I got like these crazy results that I almost got tricked into. You know what I mean? So like I said, when I went and asked my parents for help, it was a bottom for me, but it wasn't a true bottom. I think my true bottom was knowing that here I am 90 days sober and nothing is changed. I'm still manipulative and dishonest and all these character defects that I was when I was drinking. So I was dry. And that was because I didn't really dive into the support system. I wasn't going to coffee. I wasn't going to the meetings. I wasn't going to play pickleball or going to the

bonfires with the group. You know, I was super dry. And so I hit that bottom where I truly surrendered with 90 days sober because I was just wanting to die to be honest with you and I felt like shit. What did that look like for you? I was just super anxious. I was super...

But you put your head like, did you say like, okay, like I need, there's got to be more to this life than this past 90 days? Yeah, I kind of realized I wasn't giving it a full shot. I was still trying to control it. I still wasn't fully diving in.

And I genuinely, I genuinely made a commitment at that bottom to actually give it my 110%. And that's when I really, really surrendered. Like a light bulb clicked off for me, because I'm not going to lie, in my first 90 days, like I said, I was super dry. But not only did I have the same character defects, I also was like diving into things like boys to fill my cup. I was diving into bad behaviors to still fill my cup even though I was sober.

Oh, anything that high those feel? It's all rooted in that fear, anxiety, depressed. right at the alcohol, like that we know, it's like that feeling of inadequacy in the world, just being uncomfortable actually just existing. No, literally. Yeah. Like, hey, that's me, alcoholism. Yes, yes.

But definitely those 90 days, I was just same character defects, diving into the same old behaviors. And I realized I didn't even change, you know? Yeah. So I feel like for me, when I hit that bottom, I just did decide to give it my 110% and I did all the things that I needed to do. And a light bulb really went off for me in that moment because it was like, wow, you take the alcohol away and the drugs away. I'm still a piece of shit.

You know what I mean? Yeah. Just because you're sober doesn't mean necessarily you're not struggling with the isms. You know, have you ever? No, I mean, look, I was literally I was at a meeting last night sharing about this. It's like it's one thing to go back and make amends for shit I did while I was wasted. It's another to go back and make amends for shit. I've done things I've said while sober, you know, because that conscience comes back.

And I was, you know, I was talking to a guy earlier this week. I said, you know, it's so hard. And I actually, I think I heard this on Theo Vaughn's podcast. He was talking to someone. Yeah, and he's like one of us. So like you listen and it's like going to a meeting for me. And he said, he's like, guys today or anyone, you put the drugs and the alcohol down and you have like gambling and porn and like your drug of choice is like still right in your hand with the phone. Like I'm so, like, Thank God that this shit wasn't around when I was getting sober. Just like the cell phone and the scrolling and the gambling, it's just, it's scary. 100%.

100%. And even like from a reality TV background, there's so many people that I feel like because you're sober. Yeah, we got to go there. Yeah. Because you're sober that, you know, you shouldn't act a certain way or you shouldn't say things. And to me, it's kind of like what you said.

Just because I'm sober doesn't mean that I'm perfect. Like I'm still genuinely at my core, still a piece of shit. And I work every day to be a better person and to work better and be better. And when I do something wrong or I'm not proud of, yeah, I'm going to go make amends for that. But like you said, it's not the same that when you're drinking versus when you're sober making amends. Do you – so I have this question just came up. So for me, I know two things. Like one, there's been times where I haven't been invited places because those people having

that party, although they are my friends, probably want to do cocaine or probably want to... And what they don't understand about me is like, I don't give a shit, dude, like, do your, like, do your, I just can't do it. Yeah. And so to your point, like, people have this twisted perception of what sobriety actually is. Yeah. And like, granted, there is like a lot of sober people that couldn't handle their friends doing coke, especially where they're at in their sobriety.

But as someone in long-term sobriety... Thank you, Matt. Clarifying that's why I get crushed. But you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I feel like as someone that's in long-term sobriety and, you know, are in a really good spot and you have to be in a good spot for that.

Like, I don't give a shit if my friends are blowing down in front of me. Like, I just know for a fact that that does not serve me that I'm going to end up in a dark hole somewhere. I, and that that's not for me. So it doesn't mess with you at all. I have those boundaries. It does like being sick, Getting sober at 16 now at 27, 28 years old.

Do you ever think like, well, maybe I wasn't that bad? Maybe I, maybe I. I feel like everyone forgets where they came from sometimes, you know? And I feel like a part of the program is constantly remembering, you know, where you came from. And I don't forget that day that I surrendered and that light bulb went off. And I was, you know, filling my cup with sex and boys and my character defects. And it's like now I feel like I try to fill my cup up. with good things like God, giving back, prayer,

like so many things that I feel like I try to fill my cup up that are so much more healthier than I was when I was a kid. And I don't forget that, but trust me, there's plenty of times where I do and I need to like, you know, have a reminder moment, you know. And I think that that happens for a lot of sober people. It's just, you know, there'll be times where they forget where they came from and it's important to get back there.

Yeah. The thing that comes up for me is like this idea that anyone can get sober, it's like kind of staying sober. That's, and that's where I think some of the DJing and the purpose that you found outside of, you know, A.A. and. Yeah. I just know what that, the end result of the drinking and the drugs is for me. Right. So I'm in, like, personally a really good place where I'm just like, I don't, I don't care

if I'm surrounded by that. I know that that's not going to end well for me. Yeah. But like, you go ahead, do what you want to do exactly what you just. kind of said, but I don't know. It's like in the club too. It's like, I like the music. So I'll just dial into the music or in a conversation, whether it's vulnerable conversation or I'm just zoned out tunnel vision into the music. But I don't know. I also, when I'm DJing, I'm like performing. So in a way, I kind of tunnel vision and dive into that. I definitely have struggled with being anxious before a gig. And I've asked other DJs like, oh, what do you do to help that?

because the hour before you go on, you're kind of like sitting around pacing, like, what do I do with myself? I'm so nervous. Before a game, before a fight, like whatever it is. Yeah. Exactly. You get this anxiousness. And I've asked other DJs, what do you do?

And they're like, oh, well, I have a shot. And I'm like, well, that can't, that doesn't work for me. So God damn it. And in those moments, there's been times where I've really, really been tempted. But in a way, I know that I wouldn't even have a DJ career. I wasn't sober. And so many DJs anyway eventually get to that path anyway of sobriety. Yeah.

Because it's a lot of gigs and a lot of traveling and you really get burnt out, especially when you're touring. Like you're touring, it definitely will burn you out, you know? So for me, I feel like I try to meditate and I take a 10 minutes before. And if I want to freak out and be anxious for 10 minutes, I set a timer for 10 minutes. And that's all I got is 10 minutes to panic, be anxious to freak out. And then when that 10 minutes is over, I tend to be like, okay, move on, like, let go, let God. Let's fucking do this shit.

Right. And I go up there. But I definitely have struggled with mental illness still to this day and feeling anxious and especially before a gig. But the moment I'm up there, you would have no idea. I just turn into an animal. It's just like before a game. You know, it's just the anticipation beforehand that I get anxious. Once I'm up there, it's like I'm soaring, you know.

Yeah. No, I mean, I've been blessed to publicly speak a lot. And that's a lot of the experience I had before is, okay, what am I going to say? I'm going to forget everything. You're a loser. I hate myself. I have nothing to offer. No one's going to show up.

Like all the thoughts that like run through my head. Oh, my God. And it's like, I can't change any of that. Like, I'm not God. Like, I am going to just walk into this experience and do the best I can. And the high that is irreplaceable is like once. that's done, you know? That adrenaline.

Yeah. Yes. It's like you can't, you can't mimic that shit. Yeah. You also can't go to bed after. You have like this adrenaline of like, I did that shit. And I walked through this fear and I got uncomfortable to get comfortable. And I did it.

And I crushed it. But yeah, I get the same feelings, especially, yeah, public speaking big time. So what do you tell the 60? So you get sober at 16 and you've had this incredible, you're crushing it. I mean, like, I root for my sober friends. So like I'm proud of it. of you, you know, like it's incredible to see the way, thank you, I'll take it, the way that you've you've just grown as a human. And so what would you tell the 16 year old girl now who's

getting sober and questioning their life and believing that their life is over about your experience with that? Yeah, I would say that your life isn't over, that you're only going to go up from here. You know, I think that when I was 16, I thought it was the end of the world that I wasn't going to be able to have fun anymore, but I've had more fun in sobriety than I ever did drinking. Yeah. And I genuinely would say that to my 16-year-old self of, you're going to have a lot more fun, sober than you were drinking. Trust me. And you're going to wreak all the benefits. And you're going to have a great relationship with your family and you are going to have great relationships,

period. You're going to go to school. You're going to actually finish the things that you wanted to do. Because that was another thing when I was drinking and stuff. I always had a long list of goals or things I wanted to do and I always never completed them or I half asked them. And I feel like that was something in sobriety that I've wreaked the benefits of is actually doing things that I say I'm going to do and doing it. You know, showing up. Yeah. Let's have the battle.

And your whole, your family life today is beautiful, no issues, parents, sister. Yeah. Yeah, it absolutely was not growing up. I mean, my household was chaotic growing up. Is there a husband in the family? Yes. Yeah. Yes.

I have very many family members that are in recovery. But, you know, it's crazy is sometimes I think when I was, you know, younger. This is just my family's so different now, but my family younger wanted to be like this picture perfect looking family from the outside. So I had no idea that there was people in recovery in my family until I was sober. And that's something now that, and I'm the oldest of like all the grandchildren and stuff. So now all of them know, hey, this is something that is genetic that runs, you know in our family and you need to be careful of, alcohol and drugs in our mind. And this is a genetic thing. So that was something that now is a gift that, you know, my sister had those hard conversations with my parents. You know, my cousins

have had those conversations where me, I didn't even know until I was sober that, you know, so many family members of mine were in recovery. So, which is a blessing. No, I think just to go back to the picture perfect family. I think what I've learned in life is oftentimes that's the family that's most fucked up. You know, like this family that presents in this way where there's nothing wrong. Yeah, and they don't want to talk about shit. Right, right, right. But you have this experience of being on the other side of it and like being in hard conversations and honest conversations. And it's just an easier way to live. Yeah, and it's completely different now. My parents and I have this incredible relationship. My sister and I do, but they also have an understanding of me.

and what I've been through and how much better it is to be, you know, upfront and open and honest about these things and have vulnerable conversations with one another. So now even when me and my family, like, are together, like, we'll go out to dinner. It's like we're always having these, like, deep vulnerable conversations. And it's such a blessing because years when I was younger, that would never be the case. Do they drink? Do they drink? Yes, they do. And you don't care, right?

They drink around? Yeah. No, I don't. I don't. But yeah, like I said, I do have many family members in recovery. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But not my parents. No, it's just there's little questions early on that people always ask.

It's like, should the family member drink around the newly sober person? I always just say, put it on the newly sober person, you know, like let them decide and whatever they respond or say, listen to them. I always didn't want people to fear or feel like weird around me in that way, though. So I always was kind of like, oh, I'm fine with it. but there was points where it wasn't fine, and I just had to, you know, be honest about that. And, you know, but yeah, like my family kind of drinks heavy. So for me, it was almost like there was a lot of situations

when I first got sober that, you know, I wasn't going to the family reunions in my first, you know. A couple years. Yeah, I wasn't because that was a place that triggered me that also no one was going to respect me saying don't drink or whatever it is. and I'm not trying to make it about me kind of thing. So there's been a lot of times where I've had to, like, you know, not go to things or, like, things I had to change in order to have what I wanted so bad.

Like, even, like, cutting out old friends. That was a hard thing for me when I was 16 years old. Like, you know, even now I struggle with cutting out people that necessarily don't, aren't the best, aren't pushing me to grow, you know? I do. but as you get older, I feel like it becomes easier. I know. That's what I hear.

That's what I hear. That's what I hear. But you're in a tough spot because you have a lot of people pulling on you, you know, and like you're on TV and you're throwing parties, you're having, you know, there's a lot of people that want to be close to that because the energy is right, you know, like, and so I don't know, you could probably lean into it for a little bit. Your parents must be so proud of you. Anyway, so today, like 12 years sober, living the life that you live.

From the outside, probably everyone thinks it's perfect. What are you going through today? Like, what are the things that kind of throw you off or when life, life's today? What does that look like? I feel like things that probably throw me off, like I said, I feel like I did have the anxiety about performing or public speaking kind of thing.

And I've kind of worked through that. And I feel like now what I'm working on is resentment. I feel like I always say this resentment will get you drunk. And that's why we do inventories in the program and we write out our resentments and our part to play in it. And, you know, if there's amends to make there, there's amends to make there. But I have been working on resentment a lot. Just like learning how to move on, you know, especially when someone's done something to you and you feel like I'll run with that anger. Like if someone has done something to me where I feel hurt, I will hold on to that.

and like run with it. And it is so unhealthy and so bad for your sobriety. I'm like identifying right now. It's crazy. But that's what I feel like I'm working on. It's a little shit. It's a little shit. It's like when I feel taking advantage of or underappreciated.

Yeah. Yeah. No. Yeah. And I still to this day have to sometimes take a deep breath and like go and write an inventory of just like the person's name, how it affected me, my part to play in it. And sometimes when I struggle to find my part to play in it and I'm like all egoed up and I got this burning resentment, like I have a really hard time letting it go. Um, because I want that hatred. And it's just

a feeling that almost will get you drunk. So it's a feeling that my disease is like, hold on to, you know? Yeah. So I don't know. That's something. that I'm kind of working on recently. If that was the question. Yeah, no. I mean, like it's the same, because I think, look, there's this initial story of triumph and sobriety. And we all have those moments of clarity and the bottoming out.

And then we talk less about like year 10, 11, 12, 15, 20, you know, and what that looks like and how we kind of maintain our sobriety and our mental health. Because life doesn't stop. Yeah. Also, it's like you don't just exactly. you said, it's not like you get sober, then you just stop going to meetings. Like, you are going to meetings, hopefully, you know, forever kind of thing. You still go to those meetings? I'm like, you don't want to see me at all. Yeah, literally, literally. So it's something that I think I feel like I will

always do just to not only be a part of that community, because I really do surround myself with a lot of people that do drink and probably, you know, necessarily don't push me to grow, whether it be in the reality TV space or in the club industry or wherever it is, I am surrounding myself. So to me, I'm always going to need that like double life of my program,

my sobriety, my meetings, my sponsor. Like, I'm always going to need that. Especially, I feel like being surrounded by so much alcohol and like dark industries almost, you know? I know, Charleston's a part, I mean, it's a part, I mean, I...

It's a party town and it's a, it's a hospitality city where people go to eat and drink. And, you know, like I said, we also have the beach and all these other fun, sober things to do there. But I mean, that's kind of what the town is known for. So, you know, it's really important for me to have that double life of. Well, there's just delusion when you get, when people are trying to get sober, they're like, how am I going to perform or how am I going to go to the concert? How am I going to go to the game? And it's very easy to say to them, hey, like, you know, like, a lot of those people aren't blackout drinking or, like, in the bathroom doing drugs and they're just enjoying it like normal.

And, you know, that's like a, that was a foreign thought to me when I was getting sober. Yeah. You know. Yeah. No, same. There was no way where I thought people weren't doing that. But also, there's a lot of people, there's more people than you think that are doing that, especially now.

And I think that's what's super special. and I think the amount of confidence and the power you feel when you can go to a club and not have a drink or not do the drugs, that is the most empowering thing ever, especially in the beginning when you think that that's impossible, especially for people like us that think that's impossible. And then you do it or your friends do it. I've had friends do it recently and they've never not gone to a bar and not gotten a drink. And they've been like, oh my God, I was just as confident as I normally am.

Like, I didn't need that. And I'm always kind of just like smiling, you know, and not trying to push anything on anyone. Oh, we know. Yeah. Yeah. But it's also like I just remember that kind of light bulb for myself being like, wait, because I just thought everyone was doing it. You know? But like I said, it's.

You're doing it tonight. You're going on the Yankee. game. I am. You're going to stay so. Hopefully you stay so. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, nothing's stopping me from going to support the Yankees. I'm in New Yorker. So I'm like, yeah. So we want to get you to the game. I'm curious. And like I met Joe before, who's a total sweetheart. And obviously like he's so you can, I can just tell how much he supports you and what you're about. I'm just like in general, how did you approach kind of like dating once

you were into sobriety, how did you take, like, whether it's Joe or whoever, like, take time to explain sobriety to your partner and how important is it to you that, that they understand, I mean, they have to understand, right, your sobriety. Yeah, they understand, but I think that's also why I have my support system because there's only so much I feel like he can understand or I'll try to talk to him about things. And it's just like, it doesn't get it or hit the same or I'm not getting the same advice I would from someone that's in the support system or a sponsor. Right.

But I actually, I dated someone for years in the program. And that was something that was like awesome because we totally both had that understanding. But he ended up relapsing. So I had to leave that relationship because I knew obviously like I wanna stay sober. So I left that relationship. And at the time I kind of was going to concerts already.

I was at that place where I felt comfortable and being around alcohol and those kind of things. So dating someone that drinks, I was never opposed to, especially when I got used to being around people drinking and partying and all of that. So to me, it's just important that they understand that I'm sober and they respect me and the fact that I have to go to meetings and I need to be with my sponsor and how that's always going to be a priority for me over them. And especially my relationship with my higher power, like those things come first. So that's important anytime I'm in a relationship, especially with someone that does

drink and that doesn't have that understanding that they know that. Did you grow up with like me, do you believe in God? Like did you grow up religious? Oh yeah. I grew up. I went to Catholic school my whole life. So that was not an issue for you when you got sober? Um.

Or maybe it was for some. It was. It was because the Catholicism was kind of shoved down my throat my whole life. I didn't understand it. I just knew like you have to believe in God kind of thing. So to have a higher power of your own understanding was something that changed my life. I understood what a higher power was as something greater than myself, aka like at a time when I first got sober, my sponsor was someone greater than myself because I wanted what she had.

Right. You know? Or, I don't know. Like, electricity was something that was greater than myself because I didn't know how that works. And I don't really think many people know how that works, truly. So I don't know. There are so many things that I understood that was greater than myself that kept me humble,

you know, and people I looked up to or whatever it was. So I knew that I wasn't God. And I think for a long time when I was using, I thought I was God. As much as I was like going to my Catholic church and my Catholic school. and all of that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just didn't fully understand. And I think I truly thought that, like, I was God.

And I was going to do whatever the fuck I wanted to do. So I think the important part of sobriety is, like I said, having a higher power of your own understanding. Because I feel like for mine, for a while, when I first got sober, it was just simply being like God. And that was that and something greater than myself. And like I said, even my sponsor for a moment there was almost my, higher power, not for long, but for a moment, you know?

Yeah, I get it. No, I mean, it's whatever it takes. Did you struggle with the higher power stuff? I mean, I still, to this day, I would tell you, I believe in God. I would tell you that I pray and I meditate and everything happens for a reason. I don't know, like, I know tomorrow is not guaranteed. You know, I could walk out of this office and something could happen to me. You know, I truly believe that.

I try to live that way. Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I believe in karma. I believe in doing the next right thing. And, you know, I don't think that prevents tragedy or prevents bad things. Don't you think karma in a way is like a power greater than yourself? Yeah. You know what I mean?

Just like kind of proof. Well, I mean, but that's like what they taught us in recovery, right? Like to be of service, to not think about ourselves to like offer this lending hand at any time, which is counterintuitive to like you said, like, how I was living or how you were living. Yeah. or I see the higher power like within between and without kind of thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've seen crazy shit happen and I've had like that's the out. And then the in I've like seen God work within myself and I've seen myself change.

And then between it's like I've had conversations with other people or with people where there's been something present or like a higher power or something greater than myself has been present in that conversation. That's either helped me or vice versa. So I don't know, like what you said even about like karma. Like I believe in that stuff too of like the spirits talk to spirits like you know and those are things I kind of all heard even in the rooms. I mean what your worst day drinking and drugging what was I mean were you drugs or just alcohol? Yeah.

I mean my drug choice was cocaine and alcohol. I mean I liked to be up. I liked to have fun. I like to party. Yes. Yes. I don't know. I like that.

But I had many bad days. I mean, somewhere, you know, it started out good. And then there was times where I was the girl going home that was like crying and like borderline suicidal kind of thing, you know. But I've also had really, really fun times drinking and doing drugs. So I think that's for years what was really hard about getting sober was like I kept remembering those fun times. And that's why, you know, it took me a while personally.

and my journey wasn't linear was, you know, I was forgetting about the bad times. And I think a lot of people do that even like now. Like, I don't know, like I'll even have friends on the weekend. They're like, oh, I'm never drinking again. Like, that was horrible. Or I'm taking the month off or whatever it is. Like, I'm never doing that again. And they're saying that to me on Sunday.

And then when, you know, Tuesday, Wednesday come around and they start feeling better, they're like, they totally forgot about it. that you know again yeah so i definitely i feel like struggled with that when i was younger and i was only remembering the good times versus the times that i swore up and down that i was never going to do that again you know yeah no i mean i asked because i i think of that girl at 14 15 16 years old right like doing blow staying up all night and then i sit here in front of you and like just to bring that all back to the god thing it's like as much as you would love to take credit for all of it and i'm sure you do at some point.

You know, but like you're, you're entitled to. Like there was something else working for you. And what was that? Right? Like something. Yeah. And something got me to where I am now where I'm not in, you know, what the book tells us jail institution or death is what the end, you know, route is.

And there was something looking out for me. So that was even the proof in the pudding for a higher power for me as well. But, you know, for a while, I couldn't see that for myself as much as you see that for me as a 14, 15, 16 year old girl. I couldn't see that for myself for a while, but I saw it through other people, you know? Like I saw other people change before my eyes or I saw things happening that there was no explanation other than like a power greater than myself that was like working or manipulating that, you know?

Yeah, that's a humility that comes with that. Like we have this humility that didn't exist. Yeah, and that's why I feel like God is so important. Yeah. in recovery is because us, alcoholics, drug addicts are not humble. We are like, our egos are crazy, especially when we're using and we're in it. So I think that's why sobriety is such an important part, obviously. Yeah.

I mean, these conversations are so interesting to maybe just because because we could sit here for hours and just talk about recovery and these experiences and it just flows so easy. But I know there's a life that we have to live. So what do you, I mean, you're in Charleston. What is next for Maddie Reese? Where are you taking this thing? You're doing some cool stuff. Yeah.

I mean, I'm continuing to DJ. I'm out here, see my family, but I'm DJing the hampsons. Are you from New York? Did I get that? Yeah. So I'm from New York. And I moved to Charlotte first and then went to college at College of Charleston. And you did that sober?

I got sober in Charlotte, but then went to college sober and Charleston. And God, that was nerve-wracking moving to another city away from my support system by myself. But I had three and a half years sober at the time. And I had a sponsor that would constantly push me to, like, go to meetings. And when I went to college, Charleston, there actually was a collegiate recovery program there. They call it CRP where... Shout out wood. Yes, which is crazy that we both know the person that runs it.

He is the best. He's helped so many people. So many people. I love that you know him, but that's also not surprising. Well, yeah. But it just also, he gave me and like there was at the college, it's like its own little like wing kind of at the college where. I've been there. Oh, you've been there.

Yeah, yeah. I've spoken there. No way. Yes. I'm like, how was I not there? I know. Well, it was a couple years ago. And I was shocked because I've done a lot of that.

And they had, I don't know, 15, 20 people there, which for a college to have 15, 20 people in recovery in this, like the world. the world is coming around. But that's where I found the majority of my support group was, you know, when I first moved to Charleston was, I was in college, went to the CRP. And at the time, I think there was only, you know, about 10 people in there or something like that. But like I said, they had their own section where, you know, they had their own meetings, but they also had like snacks and food and coffee and a place where you could hang out

between classes or, you know, go to meetings, like I said. So I feel like between classes and stuff. Do they hit you up? Do you go back? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, sometimes I do. Yeah. And they also, like, they throw gals.

They, you know, have concerts, things like that that they put on that, you know, I still go to. And I'm still really close with the people that I met through there. Awesome. And a lot of them now have continued to work in recovery or to, you know, they've done amazing things in recovery. But like I said, even between classes, I would go there and hang out and just like hang out with the kids that were also there and stuff.

And some of them, like I said, I still talk to this day. They're like bottom line friends. And that really, really, really, really helped me as a sober person going to college, especially at a young age. And to see that there was other young kids just like me was everything. Yeah, I love that. Well, it's one of the biggest things when we get a 17 or 18 year old that comes into release and they're like, can I go to college?

You can do whatever you want so long as you stay sober and you commit to doing the work. Of course. And like I said, as much as you can have that college experience 120%, it's important to also still have that type of support system. So as much as when I was in college to make money, I was working in the club, that club eventually got a reality TV show. Is that how it happened?

Yep. Yeah. And I was working at that club. What's it called? It's called Republic. What's the club, Mint? Is that thing? Oh, my God.

Yes. They had dollar drinks on Thursdays. Is it still around? They, like, re-did it now. It's called Frontier now. And it's like, I would visit my friend. Like, this is years ago we would go.

But it's so funny. This girl Emmy on my show, she was a bottle girl at Mint. Mint. Yeah, her name's Emily. There's like that row of, is that where Republic? I don't know. I mean.

Yeah, Republic's on King Street. So Mint was on Calhoun, which is like Calhoun and King. We're on King Street. Calhoun's like another busy road, but that's where the dollar drinks were at I made it through plenty of nights at Mint sober. Yep. Same. Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy.

But yeah, Republic's still there, though, where I work. Mint is not. And a lot of the people that worked at Mint now kind of. I've came and worked over at Republic, including Emmy, who was on my show, or who is on my show. But Republic, I worked there when I was in college. I needed the money, and the money was real good, especially in the alcohol business. It was a lot more than I was making in the food industry and stuff. And, you know, I started working there.

And I was so grateful I had the CRP, though, because while I was in college working in that, It's like I also had a resource where I could go to. So as much as people are like young kids being like, oh, can I go to college? Like I said, it's being around all of that and stuff, go do that, blah, blah, blah. But it's really important to have that, that, you know, support system like I had with the CRP, where you have a group of people that is also like helping you stay sober. Because, you know, those people necessarily that you're probably hanging out with in college that are partying and doing all that stuff, I don't think that they can understand what you truly are dealing with.

Yeah. I mean, just double clicking on that, right? Like for the people listening, 20, 21, 22 years old, in college, in Charleston, a party town, working nights, weekends, making all this money in a club environment and staying sober because you have the proper support in place. Yeah. That's it. It's incredible. So the show is going well. It's based on this club and kind of the hospitality industry.

in Charleston, are you, have you seen anyone like get sober because of you? Like, has that happened or is that? Okay, weirdly enough, I've had friends from high school that obviously knew I was leaving at noon every day to go to treatment. I've seen those people that got sober. And that was to me insane. Like, I don't know, makes me emotional because I also was getting fucked up with those people. And I always worried about them.

And I, even when I got sober, they were still always in the back of my mind. Like, you know, they tell us at the end, right, is jail institution or death. And I always kind of worried about those people. And to see some of them get sober and some have passed, you know, and even some friends in recovery of mine, you know, that's the hardest part about being in recovery. But it's also such a blessing to see, like, people I went to high school with get sober or the people that have reached out to me. because I went on reality TV and was honest about my sobriety that have reached out and told me that they got sober. And, you know, I've talked to them and reached out to them and maybe helped them through it. But I've also, I have sponsored women.

I haven't sponsored in the past, I think, three years. I think life just got a little busy for me. And I felt like I couldn't take on that responsibility, especially for a newcomer. Right. But I still have a sponsor that's so important to me that I can call it any time if I feel triggered, if I want to talk through something, if I want to go through one of the steps again. Like I'm telling you, I do an inventory all the time. I love that.

Even just like a daily one, kind of. But like I said, all those things are really important to me. Yeah. The inventory is a lifesaver. And for folks that are not in recovery, that's basically. an opportunity for people who are working a program to put some things on paper and take a look at them the way that we're behaving in the world, which is crucial. Yeah, just to reflect on even your day. Yeah, the dumb thing that happens.

Yeah. And what your part to play was in it and how, you know, what character defects were affected. But, yeah, I feel like having a sponsor, though, just that I can call it any time or if I feel like. trigger that I know understands and can, like, knows me the best is super important to me. I just love that I know that I have you as a resource now. I mean, I feel like a lot of people reach out to me from a variety of different places, but a lot of folks contemplating this idea of going on a reality television show have seen or know of my story and know that I'm sober and they're sober as well.

And they'll ask me a bunch of questions about it. And it's the same thing you probably say to someone that might reach out to you, It's like you can do it if you want to do it. Mm-hmm. Yep. And you think also on, I don't know how your experience was, but for mine, like, of course, you know, people are drinking and stuff like that,

but it wasn't, I don't, I don't feel like pressured at all. Or like, at least that's just how I feel with, you know, my production team network. Like, they don't really like. Yeah, just a lot running up to you. Like, you say, hey, Maddie, take the shot. Yeah. Because I've seen that.

show about The Bachelor that was like, what is it called, Unreal or something? I don't know. I don't know. Right? It's called Unreal. It's literally this show about how fucked up the Bachelor world is and how they like force people to drink and stuff. I think I missed that boat. I think I missed that boat. Yeah. Oh, you did? I think so. I mean, they had so many rules when I was I was there five years ago. So, I mean, I think there was a there was another era. Yeah, things have changed. Yes, yes. Like we are living in a little bit of a different world today. I mean, even just when you think about sobriety, like look at me and you having this conversation.

This conversation didn't exist five years ago. True. People sitting here have been on reality TV, living these big lives, talking about sobriety being the key to that. That shit didn't happen. Exactly. Yeah. And I'm pumped because a lot of people, like every day I open up my social media and there's more and more people like two years sober, one year sober. It's like crazy.

Yeah, that's what I was saying. I feel like it's... Where was this shit when I was getting sober? I know. I know. It wasn't cool when I was getting sober. We walked so they could run. It's bullshit.

12 years, 15 years. Like, I've been doing this shit for a long time. I'm like, of course, here's this person with two years. It's popping off, you know? Yeah. No, I'm just fucking around. Or so many people nowadays are getting sober just for health reasons. Like they want to look better.

They want to feel better. Like, kind of stuff like that. And I see it all over my Instagram now. And I'm like loving it, but I'm like, where was this? Right, right. When I was getting it. sober because when I was getting sober like it was cool to get fucked up. Well and people know I think people know like people know the clickbait like you say you claim sobriety and you know all

a sudden you're going to get all this attention and love which is which is cool. I actually like to see people like the community, the social media world rallying around people who are trying to get sober. No, it's amazing. It's amazing. And I love when people post because then also I don't I don't know that people are sober as much as I'm open about it. Like I love when other people are like one year sober today and I'm swiping up. I'm like, happy birthday. I get random. I get like random because like the algorithm these days, I'm the nerd.

I'm probably just liking everyone sober shit. So I'll get like some random Joe in Kansas is like, you know, one year anniversary post. And I'm like liking and comment. I'm like, go, dude. Keep at it. You know, it's like I get fired up. Yeah. It's life.

I see all the time on like even stories. People will be like, oh, blah, month sober, you're sober, whatever it is. And it's people from, like, high school or, like, people that I borderline forgot about. Right. And I'm like, oh, my God, I get mind blown every time. And like, that's kind of why, in a way, as much as social media is, like, kind of damaging. And, like, you're like, oh, I wish that wasn't around. Like, I feel like that's the pro of it is being able to, like, see and celebrate with people

and to have that access to sobriety or even like this. podcast or other podcasts and stuff like that because my 4U page is probably like yours yeah i mean look it's we're sitting here today two people having this conversation in very different parts of our lives but 27 years of sobriety and that's like i go all in with that like that's the main reason we're both able to sit here you know 15 and 12 13 or 12 years you have 12 years i have 12 yes so it's like it's the best life it is it is it is it is it is it is it is it is It is. Last question.

My little tagline is keep going. What Maddie, why Maddie, do you keep going? Yeah. No, I definitely keep going because I want to be present and in the moment and I want to remember things and I want to be able to keep accomplishing my goals. And like I said, I constantly always. wanted to do something but never did it or finished it, especially because I was using. And now that I'm sober, I feel like why I keep going is because I just want to see everything, you know,

that little girl wanted, you know, out of life, whether, you know, and those goals change the older you get and, you know, they get bigger or smaller or whatever it is. But, you know, I just have even smaller goals that I feel like I set out to strive to do. And I know that there's no world I could do that or even come near to completing any of those goals if I was using. But like I said, I also, I keep going because it's fun. I love having fun. I love dancing. I love dancing.

I love music. I love having a good time, but also just remembering it, you know, and not being an embarrassment where I have to make amends the next day, where I'm just genuinely having fun. Let's go. Let's go. That fires me up. This has been an awesome episode. So a lot of my listeners are women, a lot of moms and daughters and like people trying to support people in recovery.

Listen, so that's really important. I think of a stat I heard. There's six men's treatment beds to every one female treatment like bed, which is crazy to me. And so the fact that you're like carrying this sword for women to get sober and get sober young is just incredible. And I don't think you actually understand how valuable this conversation is going to be to like, some of the people out there that are trying to get this things. Thank you. And everything that you've done, like treatment centers, gala, everything is just,

we all look up to you. Now we got you in a loop, like you're like not getting out of it. Yeah, I'm not. Next to you know, we're throwing a sober rave and like you're the DJ. Yeah. See, that's the shit I live for, like it for enthusiastic sobriety. Like a sober rave, like let's do it. No, there's like run clubs.

Run clubs are popping off and the music. So like there's this girl, who was it that ran with us, the DJ in Colorado? Bella. We should introduce you to her. Oh, I would love to meet her. Yeah, she's like a sober DJ in Colorado. Oh, my God. Another sober DJ.

Yeah. I got to meet her. Oh, my God. Especially a female DJ. Like, it's such a male dominated industry. I'm like, oh, my God. To see a woman who's also sober, like, this is going to be my new best friend. Yeah.

She hit me up and I was like, I looked up her Instagram and she's, it's just like yours. Like she's at all these festivals and DJing and she won't, she ran the marathon with us last year. That's so fun. That's amazing. She's a homie for sure. Is there, is there a. Is there a reason why they say women there's less beds versus men?

I have some ideas as to why. Yeah. I don't know the actual answer. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think women, it's not as safe for them to feel like they can ask for help. I think a lot of times, I mean, women are moms, so it's harder for a mom to leave kids and go get help as you kind of move further into life. Yeah. And I don't know.

There's something about treatment where there's that, like, fraternity, feel to it, or that like, it's easier for a guy to kind of show up than it is maybe for, or for there to almost be consequences almost too sometimes. I think it's hard if like dads to send like their little girl to treatment. I don't know. Yeah, I don't know either. But I was just curious. Yeah.

I was just curious. But I remember when I went to treatment, my counselor said the same thing to me. And he did give me a reason. I was just curious if you knew because I was just thinking about it. but I feel like he might have said something similar. But I was just curious. But everything that you've done and like even having a podcast, getting your word out there,

treatment center, like fundraisers, everything. I just, I really look up to you and like so does Joe. And like we were so grateful to be here today. You guys are in the mix now. You're in the mix and we're just so grateful that you two would come by and share time with us.

And it's the greatest gift anyone can give. So we appreciate you. Yeah. Any way I can give back or help. Don't worry. I'm going to hold you to that. No, please. Maddie Reese, everyone, go to her concerts if she's in a city by you.

I'm going to put you in the headlock and make you do that. Support her. Lift her up. We're just so grateful that you were here. And I'm a Phillies fan. But just for you, I'll say go Yankees. Oh, yay.