From Drinking Everyday to Winning a World Championship w/ Ryan Foley | The Hopeaholics Podcast #339

In this episode of The Hopeaholics Podcast, Ryan Foley shares his powerful story of alcoholism, mental health, surrender, fatherhood, and the unexpected life recovery gave him. Ryan grew up outside of Chicago, went on to attend Cornell University, built a successful career, and eventually worked at companies like Google and Groupon before addiction began taking over his life. For years, he was able to function on the outside while drinking every day, but behind the scenes his body was shutting down. He opens up about drinking a handle a day, waking up in withdrawal, shaking, sweating, and reaching the point where doctors told him that if he kept drinking, he could die. Ryan also shares his experience being diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 20 years old, the shame he carried around mental health, and why getting sober was the only way he could truly begin treating what was underneath. Today, Ryan is nearly five years sober, a husband, father of two with a third baby on the way, a performance coach, and a world champion professional sailor. He shares how recovery brought him back to athletics, led him into a completely different career, and gave him a life he never thought was possible. From surrendering in treatment to launching "Big Tuesday," a movement encouraging men to lift heavy, stay disciplined, and take ownership of their health, Ryan's story is a reminder that recovery does not just save lives — it can completely transform them. #TheHopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarie #websitelive Join our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record’, exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast.   / thehopeaholics   Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off! Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:   / thehopeaholics   https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholics Buy Merch: https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.com Visit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.com If you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction. Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC: https://www.infinitigroupllc.com Timestamps: 04:53 Ryan's wife's loyalty through active addiction 06:41 New career in sobriety: corporate burnout to pro sailing 10:48 Chicago, Cornell, and the first signs at 18 12:40 The spiral: business school, drinking out of control, and the breaking point 17:49 Detox, escaping the hospital, and Hazelden Betty Ford 25:00 AA anonymity and saying it out loud for the first time 32:40 Why this show exists: Chad's son-in-law and the fentanyl crisis 34:30 "Poisonings, not overdoses": changing the language, even at the White House 38:24 Family in recovery: why Tuesday night meetings are for everyone 40:54 Getting diagnosed: the long road to understanding bipolar disorder 51:26 Mental health and addiction: why they almost always travel together 56:12 Rebuilding the body: sunlight, movement, peptides, and blood work 1:16:13 "Big Tuesday": the one-day-a-week formula for changing your life