#29 Turning Pain Into Purpose | Saul Malek on Recovery and Prevention

#29 Turning Pain Into Purpose | Saul Malek on Recovery and Prevention

Today’s guest is someone who has become one of the leading voices in gambling addiction awareness and prevention, especially when it comes to young adults and sports betting culture. Saul Malek grew up in Houston, Texas, in a loving family. What started as a fun way to connect with friends eventually evolved into sports betting after being introduced to a local bookmaker during college. And like so many stories we hear in this space, the escalation happened fast. In less than two years, Saul lost sleep, money, relationships, peace of mind, and nearly his life. But today, more than five years removed from gambling, he’s turned his pain into purpose ,using his lived experience to educate others and expose the realities of modern gambling addiction. You may have seen him featured on Dr. Phil, PBS, or USA Today, but beyond the headlines, Saul is someone making a real impact through honesty, advocacy, and education. I’m honored to welcome Saul Malek to Gambling Recovery: Taking Back Your Life.

#28-The Person in the Mirror Was a Stranger: Mickie’s Story of Trauma, Grief, Gambling and Recovery

For a long time, gambling felt harmless to Mickie. It was exciting. Social. Fun. A way to escape reality for a little while. It started with casinos, scratch off tickets, laughter with friends, and moments that felt alive. But over time, the excitement slowly turned into secrecy, obsession, isolation, and emotional exhaustion. In this deeply vulnerable episode, Mickie shares how gambling gradually took control of her life, from hiding losses and lying to loved ones, to sitting alone in her car surrounded by scratch off tickets realizing she no longer recognized herself. But this conversation is about far more than gambling. It’s about grief, trauma, family addiction, shame, survival, and ultimately… recovery. Mickie opens up about growing up around alcoholism and addiction, losing family members, caring for a husband with MS, and the emotional weight she carried for years before gambling became her escape. She also shares the moment she finally asked for help and walked into her first Gamblers Anonymous meeting terrified, broken, and unsure if she belonged. What followed became the beginning of rebuilding her life one day at a time. This episode is raw, honest, emotional, and incredibly important. Whether you struggle with gambling yourself or love someone who does, Mickie’s story is a reminder that addiction can happen to anyone , and that recovery is possible.

#27- The Life No One Saw: Mary D’s Journey from Childhood Pain to Gambling Addiction and Recovery

Some addictions are easy for the world to recognize. Others hide behind success, routines, and a smile. From the outside, Mary D. looked like she had built a beautiful life, a thriving career, a family, stability, and everything many people spend years chasing. But behind closed doors, she was fighting a private war with gambling addiction that nearly took everything from her. Mary’s story did not begin in a casino. It began in childhood, growing up with an alcoholic father and leaving home at just nine years old. Like so many people, the pain started long before the addiction ever showed itself. Gambling would later become an escape, a place to numb, avoid, and survive wounds that had never fully healed. For years, Mary lived a double life. By day, she was a respected executive leading teams and meeting deadlines. By night, she was trapped in the grip of slot machines, secrecy, emotional exhaustion, and despair. Her addiction strained her marriage, impacted her relationship with her daughter, and pushed her to a place where hope felt far away. But this is not just a story about addiction. It is a story about survival. About the moment pain became greater than denial. About walking into a Gamblers Anonymous meeting on July 1, 2011, and beginning a new life one day at a time. This is an honest conversation about trauma, resilience, healing, and what it means to truly come back to life. Please welcome Mary D.

#26- More Than a Mother: A Life of Loyalty, Laughter, and Love. My Mom

Some people are remembered for what they had. Others are remembered for what they achieved. My mom is remembered for how she made people feel, loved, welcomed, laughed with, and never forgotten. In this episode, I share the story of Carmella, a woman raised in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood who became the kind of person people never forgot. She was strong, funny, stubborn, deeply caring, and the person who showed up when others needed her most. She carried loss, hardship, and pain with a strength that shaped everyone around her. I also speak openly about our relationship, the strain my gambling addiction caused, and the healing we were able to find before she passed. Some of the most meaningful moments of my life came in those final years. This episode is not about perfection. It’s about impact. It’s about the kind of woman who made people feel seen, made them laugh when they needed it most, and loved in a way that stayed with you. Her life reminded me that the greatest legacy we can leave is how we treat people while we’re here. It’s about showing up.  This is for my mom.

#25- Everybody Needs Somebody: The Role of Family in Recovery — Renée Siegel, Gambling Addiction & Enneagram Specialist

Renée Siegel has spent over 40 years helping people heal, grow, and better understand themselves. As a mental health counselor and Enneagram coach, she also works closely with individuals and families impacted by gambling addiction. In this episode, Renée shares how the Enneagram became a powerful tool in her practice, while also opening up about her personal experience with a gambling addict in her life. She speaks to the often-overlooked role of family in recovery, and how support, involvement, and understanding from loved ones can make all the difference. This is a powerful conversation about awareness, connection, and what it really takes to begin the journey of healing.