What Recovery Looks Like: A Viral Moment, the London Marathon, and a Party That’ll Make You Believe

What Recovery Looks Like: A Viral Moment, the London Marathon, and a Party That’ll Make You Believe

I'm fired up. New studio, new energy, and a month that reminded me exactly why I do this. In this solo episode – with a surprise appearance from Release Foundation’s own Caitlin Healy – I break down three moments that stopped me cold. First: how a viral Bravo moment turned into a $25,000 donation to the Release Foundation, and why I had absolutely nothing to do with it. Caitlin takes us behind the scenes of the "Carl's a Mess" moment – the relationships, the hustle, and what it actually takes to capitalize on something like that in 24 hours. Then I go deep on the London Marathon – not just the race, but what it took to get there. After two brutal years of missed workouts and ego-driven training, I finally let go, listened to my coach, and ran a five-minute PR. The parallel to recovery is impossible to ignore: you get out what you put in, and the moment you think you know better, you don't. Finally, the Release Foundation Gala. 650 people. A nightclub in lower Manhattan. Questlove on the decks. Sober people, not-sober people, and a dance floor that didn't empty until the lights came up. This is what breaking down stigma actually looks like. If you've ever wondered what a life in recovery can look like – please give this episode a listen. Connect with Zac https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/ [https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/]https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/]https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark [https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark]https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 [https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553]https://twitter.com/zacwclark [https://twitter.com/zacwclark] If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery: (914) 588-6564 releaserecovery.com @releaserecovery

3 Things On My Mind: Empathy & Social Media, Pete Davidson & My Hairline

What If Guys Just Said It Out Loud? Zac Clark goes solo this week and gets honest – uncomfortably, refreshingly honest. It starts with something small: he's losing his hair, and he's embarrassed about it. But that admission opens the door to something much bigger. If a guy in recovery, with years of hard-won self-awareness, can barely say that out loud – what hope is there for the man who hasn't yet found words for his anxiety, his depression, or his darkest thoughts? Zac connects the dots between the small silences men keep and the devastating ones, and makes the case that permission to be vulnerable starts earlier than we think. He also reflects on the wave of DMs he received after speaking out about The Bachelorette, the surprising power of Theo Von and Pete Davidson modeling sobriety to millions of young men who don't even realize they're being influenced, and why saying something out loud – even on a microphone, even to strangers – is sometimes the fastest way to take its power away. Raw, real, and a little bit of a therapy session. The best kind of episode. Connect with Zac: https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/ [https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/]https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/]https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark [https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark]https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 [https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553]https://twitter.com/zacwclark [https://twitter.com/zacwclark] If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery: (914) 588-6564 releaserecovery.com @releaserecovery

The Phone Call That Changed Everything | A Brother & Sister’s Recovery Story

When addiction hits a family, everyone feels it – but recovery can ripple through a family too. In this powerful episode of The Zac Clark Show, Zac sits down with siblings Sean and Kathleen McGowan, two people whose lives were once consumed by addiction and chaos, and who today both work in the behavioral healthcare field.  Sean shares the moment that changed his life: waking up in a hotel room after a cross-country road trip, facing the reality of his heroin addiction, and finally surrendering to treatment. Kathleen tells her own devastating story – from drug arrests and life on a California weed farm to a severe nitrous oxide addiction that left her unable to walk. Their paths diverged for years until a desperate phone call brought their family back together. Today, both siblings are sober, working at High Watch Recovery Center, and using their experiences to help others find hope. This episode includes: * The cross-country trip that ended with Sean entering treatment * What heroin addiction looked like behind closed doors * Growing up in a loving family that didn’t talk about addiction * The hidden addiction that nearly left Kathleen paralyzed * Nitrous oxide abuse and its devastating neurological effects * How denial can persist even in the face of life-threatening consequences * The moment Kathleen called her father and asked for help * Sean driving overnight to rescue his sister from an abusive situation * What it’s like when siblings recover together * How recovery rebuilds families, trust, and relationships * Why families should never give up hope This is a very honest and raw conversation about family, accountability, second chances, and the power of showing up when someone you love asks for help. Connect with Zac: https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/ [https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/]https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/]https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark [https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark]https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 [https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553]https://twitter.com/zacwclark [https://twitter.com/zacwclark] If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery: (914) 588-6564 releaserecovery.com@releaserecovery

Kratom: Natural Supplement or Addictive Drug? | Dr. Michael McCormick

Is kratom safe – or is it quietly becoming the next opioid crisis? In this quick-hit episode, Zac sits down with recurring medical contributor Dr. Michael McCormick, Chief Medical Officer at Release Recovery, to clear the air on one of the most polarizing substances in America right now: kratom. Marketed as a natural herbal supplement and sold openly at gas stations and smoke shops, kratom is used by millions for energy, focus, pain relief – and even to help curb opioid withdrawal. But inside treatment centers, doctors are seeing something very different. In this episode, we break down: * What kratom actually is (and how it works in the brain) * Why low doses act like a stimulant — and high doses act like an opioid * Whether kratom withdrawal requires medical detox * Why it’s showing up more and more in addiction treatment * The truth about “legal” substances and who is most at risk * Why some experts believe it should not be sold over the counter We’re not here to attack people who use it responsibly. We’re here to speak to the 10–15% of people predisposed to substance use disorder – the ones who may not know the risk until it’s too late. If you or someone you love is using kratom, this conversation could change how you think about it. Connect with Zac https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/ [https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/] https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark [https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark] https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 [https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553] https://twitter.com/zacwclark [https://twitter.com/zacwclark] If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery: (914) 588-6564 http://releaserecovery.com [http://releaserecovery.com] @‌releaserecovery

Ken Rideout: From Opioid Addict to World Champion

When you look up Ken Rideout, you get a wild list of labels: prison guard. Wall Street trader. Opioid addict. Fastest marathoner in the world over 50. In this episode, Ken sits down with Zac to talk about reinvention – and what it actually takes to change your life. From crushing opioids and cocaine, and hiding addiction while building a career in finance, to detoxing, rebuilding from the ground up, and eventually becoming a World Champion marathoner, Ken’s story is one of radical ownership. We talk about: * The brutal reality of opioid addiction * Suboxone, Vivitrol, kratom – and the hard truths about “shortcuts” * Why getting sober is the foundation for everything * Running 4,000 miles a year as a new addiction * Therapy, trauma, and what Onsite taught him * Marriage, cancer, fatherhood, and what actually matters * Why the timing is never perfect to make a change They also discuss Ken’s new book, The Other Side of Hard, is for anyone standing at the edge of a decision – sobriety, career shift, health reset – wondering if it’s possible. His message is simple: No one is coming to save you. You can reinvent yourself. Take the first step. Connect with Zac https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/ [https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/]https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/]https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark [https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark]https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 [https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553]https://twitter.com/zacwclark [https://twitter.com/zacwclark] If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery: (914) 588-6564releaserecovery.com@releaserecovery