Gil: Leaving the Past Behind

Brian M - The Gift of Surrender

When Brian fell off a ladder, it wasn’t just his ankle that broke—it was the illusion of control. In this episode, Brian shares how surrender became his turning point: from chasing escape through alcohol and cocaine to finding freedom in honesty, humility, and service. This is a story about learning to let go, live fully, and find wholeness one day at a time. 🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Speaker Meeting wherever you get your podcasts. 📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @gemineyesproductions 💬 Want to share your story? Visit gemineyesproductions.com/thespeakermeeting 📞 Struggling? Call the SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) — free, 24/7, and confidential.

John Burke: Building a Life Worth Staying For

John Burke is a writer, performer, firefighter, and father from Jersey City, New Jersey. With nearly eight years sober, John reflects on the journey that brought him here—from discovering alcohol as a teenager at punk shows, to the toxic relationships and dark moments that nearly ended it all, to the night he decided it was time to change. In this conversation, John opens up about the role community, therapy, and fatherhood have played in his recovery, and how staying sober is as much about resilience as it is about surrender. We talk about the Wheel of Fortune reversed, the cycles of change, and what it means to keep showing up even when the ground feels like it’s shifting beneath you. John’s story is raw, honest, and full of the hard-won wisdom that reminds us: no matter where you are in your journey the wheel always keeps turning. 🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Speaker Meeting wherever you get your podcasts. 📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @gemineyesproductions 💬 Want to share your story? Visit gemineyesproductions.com/thespeakermeeting 📞 Struggling? Call the SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)—free, 24/7, and confidential.

Madeleine Giselle: Reinventing Hope

Madeleine’s story is proof that recovery is not just survival—it’s reinvention. From early struggles with substances and years of living on the street, to moments of despair and near-death, she found herself wishing on a star for change. That wish carried her into recovery, where she discovered acceptance, community, and a new sense of self as a trans woman. Today, she works at Serenity Star Recovery, leads Rainbows for Recovery, and continues to rebuild her life with purpose, service, and love. This conversation, guided by The Star card, reminds us that hope is always possible—even when it feels out of reach. 🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Speaker Meeting wherever you get your podcasts. 📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @gemineyesproductions 💬 Want to share your story? Visit gemineyesproductions.com/thespeakermeeting 📞 Struggling? Call the SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)—free, 24/7, and confidential.

Liz Torres Herrera: Buddhism and the Seeds of Change

In this episode of The Speaker Meeting, Liz T. reflects on how recovery and Buddhism intertwined to help her rebuild her life. Her story moves from risk-taking rebellion and the allure of substances, to health scares, legal troubles, and the moment she realized she needed to live differently. The card that opened our conversation was the Ace of Pentacles—a symbol of new beginnings and planting seeds for growth. For Liz, it was the perfect mirror: each step in sobriety became an act of cultivation, tending to a life rooted in patience, clarity, and intention. Through Buddhist practice, recovery groups, and the support of community, Liz has found one year of sobriety—and a new way forward. Her story is about relapse and resilience, self-forgiveness and spiritual practice, and the reminder that with care and nurturing, even the smallest seed can flourish. 🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Speaker Meeting wherever you get your podcasts. 📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @gemineyesproductions 💬 Want to share your story? Visit gemineyesproductions.com/thespeakermeeting 📞 Struggling? Call the SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)—free, 24/7, and confidential.

Gil: Leaving the Past Behind

In this powerful episode, Gil shares his journey from the depths of addiction to five years of sobriety, reflecting on the family history, cultural influences, and mental health challenges that shaped his relationship with alcohol. From a volatile childhood in a Latino household to years of self-medicating across the globe, Gil’s story spans continents, career highs and lows, and the pandemic’s isolating grip. His turning point came with an arduous journey from Asia to a rehab program in Puebla, Mexico—an experience that not only addressed his addiction but uncovered and treated the depression fueling it. Today, Gil’s life is rooted in authenticity, intentional friendships, service, and simple joys like gardening, travel, and caring for his three rescue dogs. The card pulled for this conversation was the Six of Swords Reversed, a card that reflects the difficulty of letting go of the past and stepping fully into new beginnings. Gil’s story mirrors this energy, as he navigated the pull of old habits, the pain of fractured relationships, and the discomfort of change—ultimately learning to move forward with purpose and self-awareness, even when the waters were rough. 🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Speaker Meeting wherever you get your podcasts. 📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok: @gemineyesproductions [https://www.instagram.com/gemineyesproductions] 💬 Want to share your story? Visit gemineyesproductions.com/thespeakermeeting [https://gemineyesproductions.com/thespeakermeeting] 📞 Struggling? Call the SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)—free, 24/7, and confidential.