Composer and producer Tony Shimkin grew up surrounded by songwriting and record production, and built his own path through studio sessions and high-level creative work. But the part that almost took him out wasn’t a bad deal – it was addiction, secrecy, and the slow drift away from truth.

We talk with Tony about the “book cover” problem: the outside looks successful, the inside is falling apart. He walks us through his early sobriety followed by the intense relapse later in life. The turning point hits hard – his son discovers what’s been hidden, and the family draws a line. Tony then goes into what surrender actually looks like day to day.

Then the story widens into purpose. Tony becomes a certified recovery peer advocate, a responder to non-fatal overdoses with the NYC Department of Health, and even goes back to school for social work. We also dig into the neuroscience of addiction and why a simple mantra like “you are worthy of love and respect” can start rewiring a life.

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