In this first episode of The Clean Slate Podcast, host Cheryl shares her personal story for the first time—from growing up in a family where substance use and crime were prevalent, to becoming a mother trying to “do everything right,” and eventually descending into active addiction.

What began as unaddressed trauma and learned survival patterns slowly evolved into heroin use, intravenous drug use, and homelessness. This episode is not about shock value or glorifying addiction—it’s about honesty, context, and breaking the silence around how addiction really begins.

This episode lays the foundation for the podcast: real conversations about recovery, accountability, shame, healing, and the possibility of starting over.

• Growing up in a household shaped by substance use and crime

• How early environments normalize ...