We're back in 2026! In the new year's kick-off episode, Eric welcomes his close friend and brother in Recovery, Markus, to the Lounge. Markus shares, with incredible honesty and humility, his 8-year journey of a progressive gambling addiction, throughout his 20's. What started as an innocent experience of gambling to fit in with his peers, spiraled into a full-blown addiction to sports gambling and devastated every aspect of his life. Markus shares what it feels like to experience the ultimate highs in life, like his engagement, to quickly shifting into the pit of demise and complete destruction in a matter of hours. It all led to a rock bottom discovery by his life partner, that finally brought everything to light. With his entire life all the line, Markus describes his entry into Recovery via Gamblers Anonymous and how nearly 2 years later, his life has been completely transformed in his Recovery journey.

Markus also shares important advice and insight into what his experience has been like to deal with sports in his Recovery process, which is a critical component of what so many young, sports fans and gamblers are facing in today's world, where sports and gambling go and hand and has been glorified into society as a normal and acceptable activity. This Podcast episode is life changing, and it's the rare person like Markus, whose bringing about the necessary truth to save and transform lives!

Extraordinary Thanks to Edgardo, pouring his heart and soul into producing and editing this Podcast. This would not be possible without his support!

We would love to hear from you. We welcome any questions and comments. Please e-mail Eric directly at: ericpaulf@sbcglobal.net

In Experience #21, Jason joins Eric in the Lounge. This is an intimate discussion between brothers and best friends, from Maine to California. Jason shares his deeply personal story of Gambling addiction, from early childhood with his dad and brother, into a dark isolation into adulthood. Jason was a sports gambler for over 20 years, and everything was crashing down around him, including his relationship with the most important person in his life, his wife. He describes his journey of addiction in pain staking detail, including how he and his younger brother were torn apart by suffering from their own gambling addictions until his brother's tragic death nearly a decade ago. Jason is the epitome example of the compulsive gambler, who has made horrific mistakes along his journey, and has come through it all with extraordinary bravery and most importantly, is helping thousands of people in his journey of Recovery, Jason and Eric reminisce on how they met in the rooms of Gamblers Anonymous on Eric's day 1 and Jason early in his journey, and they tell the ongoing tale of two guys who were nearly killed by their gambling addictions, now totally thriving in Recovery, committing their lives to bettering themselves and countless others whom they love. This is a story of redemption from near catastrophe to endless amounts of Hope and Happiness.

Extraordinary Thanks to Edgardo, pouring his heart and soul into producing and editing this Podcast. This would not be possible without his support!

We would love to hear from you. We welcome any questions and comments. Please e-mail Eric directly at: ericpaulf@sbcglobal.net

In this milestone episode, Eric welcomes his close friend and brother in Recovery, Joe, into the Lounge. Joe shares about his life journey, from what was a normal, happy life into his 20s, but ultimately spiraled into a chaotic gambling addiction in a span of just a few years. He describes how he had a successful job and great marriage, but how gambling would then take control of everything. Joe also shares how he went from being an imposter in the initial stages of abstinence into what has become his deep commitment to Recovery since his last bet on November 5, 2022. That was also the day Joe and Eric met, and they talk in detail about the miracle of what happened on that day and how it would change the course of history for both of them.

We welcome all comments and questions for the host and guest. Please e-mail Eric directly at:

ericpaulf@sbcglobal.net

THANKS to Edgardo for producing this episode!

And if you're able, any donation you can provide, utilizing the "gofundme" link below, is most appreciated. We will continue to produce the highest quality experience for everyone out there. Most of all, Thank you for listening and taking part in this critical topic. Together, we can help save and transform lives!!

https://gofund.me/de2c751a

We're BACK! Season 4 debuts in Pride month, with Eric welcoming Thomas into the Lounge! What an amazing journey Thomas has taken from California to Nevada. They discuss Thomas' childhood; what it was like growing up in a family devoid of open communication, with a father, who had a gambling problem, and Thomas not being able to express his truth as a young man who was identifying differently. He shares the story of moving to the gambling heart of the country and what then escalated into a gambling addiction that nearly destroyed everything in his life in a short span of a few years. Thomas shares his story of Recovery and how much his life is now transformed because of his experience and commitment to being the best version of himself.

We welcome all comments or questions about the Podcast! Please send an e-mail to Eric directly at:

ericpaulf@sbcglobal.net

THANKS to Edgardo for producing this episode!

And if you're able, any donation you can provide, utilizing the "gofundme" link below, is most appreciated. We will continue to produce the highest quality experience for everyone out there. Most of all, Thank you for listening and taking part in this critical topic. Together, we can help save and transform lives!!

https://gofund.me/de2c751a

Eric is joined in the Lounge by his friend and Recovery sister, Lori. They have a wonderful conversation about Lori's life journey and how gambling entered her life at an early age and would progress significantly into her adult years. Lori depicts with tremendous honesty and humility where gambling took her in her life, including a suicide attempt. Lori eventually reached her rock bottom and now has 2+ years of amazing Recovery. Lori describes how Gamblers Anonymous has changed her life for the better and also what being a woman in the Program has meant in her journey; as well as her advice to someone who is on day 1 trying to face their gambling problem.

Any donation you can provide, utilizing the "gofundme" link below, will help enable the continuation of the podcast for hopefully many years to come. Thank you for listening and taking part in this critical topic. Together, we can all help save and transform lives.

https://gofund.me/de2c751a

E-mail your comments or questions directly to Eric:

ericpaulf@sbcglobal.net

THANKS to Edgardo for producing this episode!

Eric welcomes into the Lounge, his friend and brother in Recovery, Stephen. They have a great discussion about Stephen's journey through life, ultimately leading to a gambling addiction that impacted all aspects of his life. Stephen articulates the details of what led to his rock bottom and his contemplation of committing suicide, until a phone call to 1-800-GAMBLER changed everything. Stephen describes the 8+ years of his Recovery journey, including an honest assessment of the first several years, where he felt he wasn't working towards an ultimate path of Recovery. They further discuss what has changed in the past 2+ years, where Stephen has committed much more of himself to the Recovery process and his life has gotten significantly better as a result, along with his wonderful advice to anyone on day 1 of dealing with this addiction.

Any donation you can provide, utilizing the "gofundme" link below, will help enable the continuation of the podcast for hopefully many years to come. Thank you for listening and taking part in this critical topic. Together, we can all help save and transform lives.

https://gofund.me/de2c751a

E-mail your comments or questions directly to Eric at:

ericpaulf@sbcglobal.net

THANKS to Edgardo for producing this episode!

Eric is joined in the co-host seat by Edgardo. This is a groundbreaking episode of the podcast, where we discuss gambling addiction and recovery with Kurt, a 21 year-old in Recovery, and his supportive parents, Kim and Mark. Kurt represents the fastest growing segment of our society being immersed into gambling activity and addiction that results from it. Kurt talks openly about how gambling consumed him from a very early age, his cross addiction, and when gambling ultimately landed him in jail. Kurt shares how he turned his life around in Recovery, with in-patient treatment, combined with getting seriously involved with Gamblers Anonymous. Kurt is a wonderful example of what is possible, at any age, when Recovery is the priority in one's life when afflicted by gambling addiction.

Kim and Mark share their journey as parents of a compulsive gambler and the pain associated with witnessing their son deteriorate due to his addiction. They describe how they had to make the most difficult choices to maximize the possibilities of success for Kurt, as his life was on the line. They are passionate advocates, helping so many other parents in a similar situation.

This episode is one of a very sensitive nature and depicts what is happening in society on a grand scale. The gambling addiction public health crisis that we are in is represented in this very powerful human experience.

Any donation you can provide, utilizing the "gofundme" link below, will help enable the continuation of the podcast for hopefully many years to come. Thank you for listening and taking part in this critical topic. Together, we can all help save and transform lives.

https://gofund.me/de2c751a

E-mail your comments or questions directly to Eric at:

ericpaulf@sbcglobal.net

THANKS to Edgardo for also producing this episode!

Eric is joined in the co-host seat by Edgardo, as they welcome Gina into the Lounge. This is an extraordinary story of someone who suffered for years, as the spouse of a problem gambler. Gina describes the history of meeting and marrying her husband, and after years of him demonstrating problematic signs of being a compulsive gambler, things came crashing down. Gina brings forth incredible amounts of vulnerability and truth that is so brave and serves a cautionary tale for how gambling can destroy the lives of the compulsive gambler and the loved ones in their life. There is a beautiful silver lining in all of it, as Gina describes how hitting her own rock bottom led her into Recovery for herself, via the 12-step Gam-anon Program and how her life has now been completed transformed for the better.

Any donation you can provide, utilizing the "gofundme" link below, will help enable the continuation of the podcast for hopefully many years to come. Thank you for listening and taking part in this critical topic. Together, we can all help save and transform lives.

https://gofund.me/de2c751a

For any questions or comments for the hosts or guests, please e-mail:

ericpaulf@sbcglobal.net

THANKS to Edgardo for also Producing this episode!