Drugs, Sex and Addiction : A True Story Of Recovery and Redemption with Matt Grace
Get Obsessed : With Living Your Best Life
08/04/26
•36m
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Matt Grace joins Julie Lokun and Mika Altidor to share the extraordinary story behind more than two decades of sobriety after years of severe drug addiction, alcohol addiction, sex addiction, and self-destructive behavior. He reflects on childhood behavioral issues, family history, enabling, privilege, and the early experiences that fueled his substance abuse.
Matt explains how accountability, firm family boundaries, and service to others became the foundation of his addiction recovery after countless opportunities to avoid consequences.
He also discusses why many families unintentionally prolong addiction, how his work shaped his views on addiction treatment, and why making amends is essential to lasting change. The conversation offers an honest recovery story filled with practical insight and hope for anyone striving to live your best life.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The long road from addiction to lasting sobriety and hope for recovery
- The family history and early experiences that contributed to addiction
- Childhood behavior, therapy, and escalating problems before substance abuse took over
- How divorce, privilege, and enabling shaped years of destructive behavior
- Working with families affected by addiction and the importance of healthy boundaries
- The stories behind Matt’s most destructive decisions and the impact they had on his life
- Service, making amends, and the principles that sustain long-term recovery
MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:
- (Book) God Doesn't Relapse: Sex, Drugs, and the Life That Almost Killed Me - https://www.amazon.com/God-Doesnt-Relapse-Almost-Killed/dp/1637635508
- (Organization) Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) — https://www.aa.org/
- (Organization) Narcotics Anonymous (NA) — https://na.org/
- Website: https://mattgrace.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattsavinggrace/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MattSavingGrace/
- Tiktok: http://tiktok.com/@mattsavinggrace
Website: www.getobsessedpodcast.com
Be a Guest! http://www.getobsessedguest.com
Reach Out To Us! hello@getobsessedmedia.com
The Get Obsessed podcast is dedicated to exploring the passions, mindsets, and habits that drive high performers. We believe that what you obsess over defines your future.
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Previous Episode
Get Obsessed with... doing the thing that scares you.
This week on Get Obsessed, Julie Lokun and Mika Altidor sit down with Tracy Heisler Drost, Mrs. Illinois 2025-26, for a conversation that goes way beyond the crown. Tracy pulls back the curtain on the world of pageantry — not the stereotype, the reality: the platform it builds, the doors it opens, and the personal growth that happens when you stop avoiding the things that make you uncomfortable and start leaning into them.
Tracy shares how competing as Mrs. Illinois became less about the title and more about the megaphone it gave her — a platform to advocate, connect, and show other women what's possible when you bet on yourself. Julie and Mika dig into the mindset shift that made it all possible: the moment you decide discomfort isn't a red flag, it's a green light.
If you've ever talked yourself out of something because it felt scary, unfamiliar, or "not really you" — this episode is your permission slip to do it anyway.
In this episode, we cover:
- What it's really like to compete for a title like Mrs. Illinois — and what nobody tells you going in
- How pageantry functions as a platform-building tool, not just a beauty contest
- The confidence Tracy built by choosing discomfort on purpose
- Why "just try it" might be the most underrated growth strategy that exists
- How to turn any title, role, or opportunity into a bigger platform for your voice
- Advice for anyone standing at the edge of something that scares them
Quotable moment: Tracy on why growth lives on the other side of uncomfortable — and why she keeps choosing it anyway.
FAQs
Who is Tracy Heisler Drost? Tracy Heisler Drost is Mrs. Illinois 2025-26, using her title as a platform to inspire women to embrace growth, confidence, and opportunities that push them outside their comfort zone.
What does Mrs. Illinois 2025-26 talk about on Get Obsessed? Tracy talks about the power of pageantry as a platform, how competing built her confidence, and why intentionally choosing uncomfortable situations is one of the fastest ways to grow personally and professionally.
What is the Get Obsessed Podcast about? Get Obsessed is hosted by Julie Lokun and Mika Altidor, delivering bold, unfiltered conversations on confidence, personal brand, entrepreneurship, and becoming obsessed with the life you're building.
Where can I listen to this episode? You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts stream, or visit www.getobsessedpodcast.com for the full episode and show notes.
How can I be a guest on Get Obsessed? Visit www.getobsessedguest.com to apply to be featured on the show.
What is pageant "platform" and why does it matter? A pageant platform is the cause, message, or mission a titleholder champions during her reign — Tracy's story shows how a platform can extend far beyond the stage into real influence and impact.
Links Mentioned
️ Listen to the full episode: www.getobsessedpodcast.com Apply to be a guest on Get Obsessed: www.getobsessedguest.com
About the Hosts
Julie Lokun, JD is a media entrepreneur, podcast strategist, and brand consultant, and the founder of The Mediacasters LLC and co-founder of Dragonfly Cre8tions LLC, Dragonfly Podcast Academy, and Cre8tive Con. Her podcasts rank in the top 0.05% globally on Listen Notes and top 5 weekly on Apple Podcasts. Learn more at julielokunconsulting.com and bigbetterbrand.com.
Mika Altidor co-hosts Get Obsessed Podcast alongside Julie, bringing bold energy and real talk to every conversation about confidence, growth, and getting obsessed with your own life.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Next Episode
In this episode of the Get Obsessed podcast, Dr. Nicki Monti joins Julie Lokun and Mika Altidor to share how childhood trauma, addiction, and the search for self-love shaped both her life and her decades of helping others heal.
An experienced therapist, author, and speaker, she draws on both professional expertise and personal experience to challenge the stories that keep people stuck.
Drawing from more than four decades of sobriety, Dr. Nicki explores core wounds, emotional defenses, authenticity, and self-worth. She also reflects on caring for her late husband, working with public figures, and why healing begins by replacing old survival stories with the truth.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What inspired Dr. Nicki to use her own life story instead of hiding behind professional credentials
- Why sobriety marked the beginning of emotional healing rather than the end of addiction
- How core wounds formed in childhood shape self-worth and lifelong beliefs
- Why emotional defenses can protect people while quietly preventing genuine connection
- The process of replacing old beliefs with personal responsibility and lasting emotional change
- Lessons from working with celebrities and why healing follows the same principles for everyone
- How projection shapes the way people judge themselves and others
MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:
- (Book) The Divine Traumedy of Nikki Joy: A True Grime Tale – https://stucknomore.com/the-divine-traumedy-of-nicki-joy/
- (Book) Stuck in the Story No More – https://stucknomore.com/books/
- (Video) Dr. Nicki Monti TEDx Talk – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihollwRf9tU
- (Reference) Margaret Cho (referenced in the discussion about Dr. Nicki's first book) – https://margaretcho.com/
- Website: https://stucknomore.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-Nicki-J-Monti/179364015418429
- X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/DrNicki
- Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user15974785
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drnickimonti/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drnickimonti/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drnickimonti
Website: www.getobsessedpodcast.com
Be a Guest! http://www.getobsessedguest.com
Reach Out To Us! hello@getobsessedmedia.com
The Get Obsessed podcast is dedicated to exploring the passions, mindsets, and habits that drive high performers. We believe that what you obsess over defines your future.
LISTEN, RATE, REVIEW AND SUBSCRIBE - Get Obsessed : With Living Your Best Life - Podcast - Apple Podcasts
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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