From $300/Day Heroin Habit to 70M Downloads: Eric Zimmer on Recovery and Reinvention

From $300/Day Heroin Habit to 70M Downloads: Eric Zimmer on Recovery and Reinvention

Author: Brett Kaufman May 4, 2026 Duration: 1:15:30

Eric Zimmer's story reveals the complex path from rock bottom to redemption. Growing up as a gifted but troubled kid in Ohio, Eric's restless energy led him from childhood kleptomania to a devastating heroin addiction that left him homeless and facing multiple felonies. After getting sober and thriving for eight years, a devastating betrayal in his AA community led to a relapse that looked completely different from his first addiction experience.

Now eighteen years sober, Eric hosts The One You Feed podcast, which has been downloaded over 70 million times. His new book "How a Little Becomes a Lot" explores how lasting change happens through consistent small steps rather than dramatic transformations.

This conversation goes deep into the psychology of addiction, the complexity of recovery, and how the same energy that can destroy us can ultimately become our greatest strength when properly channeled. Eric's honesty about both his struggles and his success offers hope for anyone working to transform their life one day at a time.


Checkout Eric Zimmer's podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-you-feed-personal-growth-emotional-resilience/id792555885

https://www.oneyoufeed.net/


There's a quiet hum beneath the noise of daily life, a place where genuine understanding begins. Innerspace: Deep, Meaningful Conversations with Brett Kaufman tunes into that frequency. Hosted by entrepreneur and philanthropist Brett Kaufman, this podcast creates a grounded environment for exploring the subtle forces that guide us. The discussions move beyond surface-level advice, delving into personal transitions, moments of unexpected clarity, and the inner signals we often learn to ignore. Brett approaches each conversation with a thoughtful curiosity, whether examining setbacks or breakthroughs, to uncover how these lived experiences fundamentally shape our paths. It’s a series for anyone interested in the interconnected realms of mental fitness and spiritual self-improvement, framed not as lectures but as calm, reflective dialogues. Listening feels like gaining a deeper awareness of the quiet mechanics behind our actions and choices in health, relationships, and purpose. This podcast offers a consistent space to pause and consider what truly moves us from within.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Innerspace: Deep, Meaningful Conversations with Brett Kaufman
Podcast Episodes
195. Choosing Gratitude Through Adversity with Nicole Davis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:05
"There's something bigger than you or I, an energy that is more powerful. I think that being able to recognize the fact that there is something more powerful than my being and that's a good thing that we don't have all t…
192. Choosing Resilience & Personal Wellness with Kate Borges [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:54
"I learned from my father that in life we have these convincing experiences. And sometimes they're just the most mundane, stupid little thing. But it's a convincing experience where you're like, I don't know what's next,…
A Tribute to Ken Jordan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:35
This week, I’m re-releasing a previous episode featuring my friend Ken Jordan who passed away recently. I’m saddened at the loss of Ken who was such a beautiful soul, a wonderful man and a bright light in this world. Ken…