👋Hey beautiful humans,
We're back with a powerful new episode this Thursday, July 17 at 3 AM Eastern — and you do not want to miss it. This week, we welcome a remarkable guest in our episode:
🎙️ “How Richard Taite Transformed Addiction Into Purpose and Healing.”
This conversation is a raw, honest, and deeply moving look into addiction, connection, and how radical compassion saves lives.
✨ Mental Health Quote of the Week
“Time for yourself isn’t selfish—it’s survival. Refill your cup, not because you’re empty, but because you deserve to feel full.” 🫶
🆕 Podcast Update
We're going double-time!
Yup, starting now, we’re releasing two episodes a week! We’re bursting with meaningful stories, impactful convos, and episodes so rich they sometimes need multiple parts.
We’ll try to send you two newsletters a week (we’re human too 😅), but we’ll keep tabs on how doable that is.
✨ Big News:
We’re recording our Season 12 finale soon and we want to hear from YOU!
Got a question? Something on your mind? Hit us up:
📧 goesoninourheads@gmail.com
🎤 Or drop us a voicemail on our website!
🏆 Awards Season Is in Full Swing
We’ve been nominated for the Podcast People's Choice Awards in TWO categories:
🏅 Adam Curry Category
🧠 Health Category
You can vote now through July 31, 2025!
Head to Podcast Awards and register with a valid email.
Your vote = massive support. Thank you! 💖
📝 Your Podcast Reflection Worksheet
Ready to take things deeper? Download our Podcast Reflection Worksheet. It’s your go-to tool for turning insights into action. Jot down takeaways, feelings, and small steps to improve your mental space. You got this! 💪🖊️ Podcast Worksheet _07_17_25_How Richard Taite Transformed Addiction Into Purpose and Healing.pdf
🎧 Episode Spotlight: “Love, Purpose & Radical Recovery: A Candid Talk with Richard Taite”
In this unforgettable episode of Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads, we sit down with addiction recovery pioneer Richard Taite, a man whose journey from the depths of addiction to the heights of healing is nothing short of transformative. Richard spent 25 years addicted to crack cocaine, living in a cycle of shame, hopelessness, and isolation. But instead of becoming a cautionary tale, he became a beacon of purpose.
Richard opens up about the painful and raw experiences that shaped him—from getting sober in a bunk bed surrounded by ten men, to building some of the most respected treatment centers in the U.S., including Carrara Treatment Wellness & Spa and 1 Method. Through candid, sometimes gritty storytelling, he shares how recovery isn’t just about stopping substance use—it’s about rebuilding lives through love, connection, and radical care.
In this episode, Richard unpacks:
- Why addiction is not a moral failure, and why shame only makes it worse 🧠
- The philosophy behind his “love call” approach to treatment, and how it changes lives 💛
- How he’s leading the charge to help military veterans and the homeless get meaningful care 🪖
- Why compassion is more powerful than punishment, and why even the most broken among us are worthy of healing 🫶
You’ll hear about the moment his 10-year-old son inspired him to launch a new recovery model, and how that spark of empathy led to an ambitious plan to expand care to thousands. You’ll also hear real talk from the hosts—G Rex and Dirty Skittles—who reflect on their own experiences with mental health, purpose, and the power of doing hard things for the right reasons.
This isn’t just an interview—it’s a wake-up call. It’s a reminder that recovery is possible, and that love, community, and honesty can change lives.
Whether you’re in recovery, love someone who is, or simply want to understand what healing really looks like, this episode will move you.
💔 When Love Is the Treatment Plan:
Richard Taite on Addiction, Shame & Showing Up for Each Other What if the opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety—but connection?
In this soul-stirring episode, recovery advocate and founder Richard Taite opens up about surviving 25 years of addiction, losing everything, and building a life—and treatment model—rooted in love, not punishment. 💥
From bunk beds in sober living to high-end recovery centers for veterans, Richard takes us on a journey that shows healing doesn’t happen through force—it happens through care. He calls it a “love call,” and for anyone who’s ever felt broken, unseen, or ashamed, this episode is a soft place to land. 🫂
✨ This one’s for the ones still struggling. The ones who relapse and rise again. The parents, the partners, the friends who just want to understand. Richard doesn’t sugarcoat the pain—but he reminds us that nobody is too far gone to come home.
🧠 Addiction Is Not a Moral Failure
Richard walks us through what addiction actually looks like—not in headlines, but in real lives. He speaks to the shame cycle, the missed chances, and the brutal inner war most people never see. And then he shows us what compassion can do.
🏠 Healing Happens in Relationships
From pulling people off the street to creating a safe space for veterans, Richard believes in radical care. Not because it’s easy—but because it works. We talk about how being believed in—even once—can change someone’s entire trajectory.
🫀 A Quote That Stuck with Us
“Love is the foundation for everything. You show someone they’re worth caring for, and they start to care for themselves.” – Richard Taite
🎙️ Real Talk from the Hosts
“He didn’t just talk about recovery—he lived it. You could feel that he’d been there, and he refuses to leave anyone behind.” – Dirty Skittles
“When Richard said ‘If you’re good at saving lives and you don’t do it, you’re a dick,’ I just sat there stunned. That kind of honesty hits different.” – G Rex
✍️ Journal Prompts to Sit With
• What version of you still needs to hear: ‘You’re not broken—you’re hurting’?
• Who has loved you back to life—and have you ever told them?
• If you believed healing was possible, what would you do differently today?
🌈 Gentle Reminder
Shame doesn’t heal people. Love does. If you or someone you care about is in pain, there is hope—and help. Connection isn’t just a nice-to-have. It saves lives.
🎧 Meet Our Guest: Richard Taite
Richard Taite isn’t just an addiction recovery expert—he’s a force of nature in the fight for compassion-based healing. With a story that spans 25 years of personal struggle with addiction to becoming one of the most respected voices in recovery, Richard has made it his mission to save lives and shift how we treat addiction in America.
As the founder and executive chairman of Carrara Treatment Wellness & Spa and 1 Method, and the former founder of Cliffside Malibu, Richard has guided thousands—from celebrities to high-risk individuals—toward lasting sobriety. His programs are known not just for their clinical excellence, but for their core philosophy: healing happens through connection, not punishment.
But Richard didn’t stop there.
Through his fast-rising podcast, “We’re Out of Time,” currently ranked #3 in Apple’s Mental Health category, Richard is bringing raw, urgent, and solution-driven conversations to the forefront of public awareness. He’s sounding the alarm on the fentanyl epidemic, spotlighting underrepresented voices, and calling on all of us to do more—for veterans, for the homeless, for our kids.
💬 From Richard’s Playbook: If you’re good at saving lives and you don’t do it, you’re a dick. Period.
He’s not here to sugarcoat the problem—he’s here to fight it. And with every rehab center he builds, every veteran he helps off the street, and every soul he reaches with his voice, he’s proving that no one is too far gone to come home.
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Learn More & Follow Richard:
🌐 Carrara Treatment Wellness & Spa 🐦 Twitter / X 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook 💼 LinkedIn
🌟 Key Takeaways:
- Love Is a Treatment Strategy, Not a Luxury
Richard redefines recovery by centering it around love, connection, and dignity. Healing begins when people feel seen, not shamed.
- No One Is Beyond Help—Not Ever
With over 300 failed sobriety dates and 25 years lost to addiction, Richard is living proof that redemption is possible. His story reminds us that the door to healing is never closed.
- The Fentanyl Crisis Requires Urgent, Human-Centered Action
Richard is using his platform and resources to raise awareness about the fentanyl epidemic, especially its hidden reach into youth and online spaces—and he’s calling on all of us to get informed, get loud, and get involved.
💪 Actionable Steps:
- Have Open, Ongoing Conversations with Your Kids About Fentanyl
Don’t wait for a crisis—talk early and often. With 70% of street drugs laced with fentanyl, awareness can literally save lives.
- Reconnect With Someone You’ve Lost Touch With
Whether it’s a friend, a mentor, or a family member—make the call, send the text. As Richard shared, healing often starts with just one person showing up.
- Support or Volunteer With Organizations That Serve Vulnerable Populations
Whether it's veterans, the homeless, or those battling addiction—your time, skills, or donations can help create real change. Start local, and start small if you need to.
📣 Listener Engagement
Got thoughts after the episode? Questions for Tim? Or want to share your own story? Hit “Reply” — we read everything. 💬💌
⭐ Subscribe, Rate, & Review
Did this episode hit home for you? 💭
Got a question for Richard? Want to share how love or connection helped shape your own recovery or someone else’s?
Hit “Reply” — we read every message. 💌 Your stories matter, and they help build the kind of community where healing happens.
Let’s keep the conversation going. 🫶
🫂 Until Next Time...
Thanks for spending a few minutes with us this week 💛—we know life gets busy, and the fact that you're here means the world. Richard’s story reminded us that healing doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be honest. And that love, when given freely and consistently, changes everything.
As always, take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and remember: it’s okay to be a work in progress. We all are. 💬
So keep checking in on your people. Keep making space for your own healing. And keep showing up, even if your voice shakes.
With love & realness,
– Dirty Skittles & G Rex
"Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads" Podcast 🎙️🧠
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G-Rex & Dirty Skittles
It's ok to be not ok, just make sure you're talking to someone
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