On this episode of We’re Out Of Time, host Richard Taite sits down with bestselling author, counselor, and recovery expert Erica Spiegelman for a powerful conversation on addiction recovery, mindset, and personal transformation. Erica, co-founder of New Spirit Recovery and creator of the Rewired Method, has helped transform thousands of lives through her counseling work and online programs, including an initiative that has reached over 11,000 incarcerated learners nationwide.
The conversation begins with Erica breaking down The 8 R’s of Recovery, the core framework behind her new book The Rewired Method, and how neuroplasticity allows people to change their lives by changing their thoughts and routines. She explains why reframing is essential in recovery—shifting from self-judgment and failure narratives to growth, learning, and opportunity.
Erica then explores how healthy habits and routines play a critical role in overcoming addiction, emphasizing repetition, self-care, and movement as tools for rebuilding identity and self-worth. From there, the discussion dives into the damaging impact of unhealthy narratives, often shaped by parents, childhood experiences, and comparison, and why constantly measuring ourselves against others is a “recipe for feeling sh*tty.”
As the episode continues, Erica highlights the importance of self-love, compassion, and positive self-talk, reminding listeners that lasting recovery requires becoming your own best friend. She explains how affirmations and refocusing attention help reclaim personal power, reinforcing the idea that where we put our focus is where we give our energy.
The episode closes with a deep reflection on reinvention, purpose, and why long-term sobriety is impossible without replacing addiction with something of equal or greater value. Erica also addresses gaps in the current treatment system and shares how the Rewired Method is expanding access through online education, prisons, and professional training programs.