Nothing’s Off The Table with Louis Ruggiero

I need to show some more love to my X family! I have been neglecting you guys!!!!! #nothingsoffthetable

Eli Thompson, Gen Z journalist, and LJ Ruggiero, recovered gambling addict and host of “Nothing’s Off the Table,” react to a Texas Tech quarterback entering treatment for gambling addiction— raising concerns on sports betting.

@foxandfriends Thank you for having me on!!!

@nikihuss209 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@nothingsoffpod would be perfect for the event.

@APompliano Appreciate you, my man!

If you are interested in this topic, I highly suggest watching Louis Ruggiero's podcast. I got to know him recently and think he does a great job. @NothingsOffTheTable" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@NothingsOffTh…

Sports gambling is going to destroy a generation of young men if the right guardrails are not put in place. This is only going to get worse over time.

The Dark Side of Below Deck They Never Showed | Ashton's Drinking and Recovery Journey youtu.be/zzXVaMDhkUk Reality TV fame. Party culture. Alcohol. And the moment everything had to change. In this powerful episode of Nothing’s Off The Table, Louis Ruggiero sits down with Ashton Pienaar from Bravo’s hit show Below Deck to talk about the reality behind reality TV — the partying, the pressure, and the moment he realized he needed to change his life. Ashton opens up about his journey from the wild lifestyle of the yachting industry and reality television to finding sobriety, purpose, and discipline through fitness and personal growth. This is a raw conversation about addiction, recovery, masculinity, trauma, and the work it takes to truly rebuild your life. If you're struggling with alcohol, addiction, or trying to change your life, this episode will hit home. Recovery is possible. As Louis shares in the episode, addiction is often not the real problem — it’s the solution we use to escape deeper pain. In this episode we discuss: • Ashton Pienaar’s time on Bravo’s Below Deck • The heavy drinking culture behind reality TV • The moment Ashton realized alcohol was controlling his life • How fitness helped him rebuild his identity in sobriety • The connection between trauma, addiction, and self-destructive behavior • Why community and recovery programs save lives • How to break the cycle of addiction If you're struggling with addiction Reach out. You are not alone. If you or someone you love needs help, contact Banyan Treatment Centers or message Louis directly for guidance and resources. #nothingsoffthetable #sobriety #sobertok #wedorecover

“I Offered Addicts Rehab… Most Chose Prison” | A Judge’s Brutal Truth About Addiction youtu.be/jxo-6GoGZTE In this episode of Nothing’s Off the Table, I sit down with former Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Anthony Peters — a man who spent over 20 years on the bench and saw firsthand that nearly 80% of criminal cases were rooted in addiction. He grew up in a home torn apart by alcoholism. He defended addicts as a public defender. Then he became a judge — and realized the system was failing them. So he founded one of the first Drug Courts in East Los Angeles — offering hardcore repeat offenders a choice: Rehab… or prison. And here’s the shocking truth: Most of them chose prison. We talk about: * Why jail sometimes works as a wake-up call * Why compassion without accountability fails * Why the system is broken * What really changes an addict * Whether society is moving forward — or backwards This episode is different. It’s not just a story of addiction. It’s the courtroom view of addiction. If you care about recovery, criminal justice reform, homelessness, or real solutions — this is a conversation you need to hear. #nothingsoffthetable #recovery #addiction #wedorecover

“I Sh0t Up With an Open Wound… It STILL Wasn’t Enough” | From Florida Pill Mills to 11 Years Sober youtu.be/f64pos3izSw Chris Kay was deep in the Florida pill mill era — Oxy, heroin, shooting cocaine, methadone clinics, jail, and over 15 treatment centers. He shot up in a clinic bathroom the day after having his arm cut open from infection. His brother died from an overdose on his mother’s couch. Nothing stopped him. Not jail.Not losing jobs.Not nearly losing his arm. The only thing that finally broke him… was when the drugs stopped working. In this episode of Nothing’s Off the Table, Chris shares: • Growing up in South Florida during the pill mill epidemic • Selling drugs in college • Shooting heroin & cocaine• Detoxing 10+ times • Losing his brother to overdose • The moment drugs stopped giving him relief • How he finally surrendered • What 11 years of sobriety looks like today Today, Chris works in the recovery field helping others find the same freedom he fought so hard for. If you’re struggling right now — this episode could change your life. Recovery is possible. But you have to surrender. #nothingsoffthetable #recovery #addiction #sobriety #wedorecover

"I Was a D1 Recruit... Opiates & Crack Ruined It All" | Alton's Story of Recovery and Redemption youtu.be/5HeH7zbcEtQ At one point, he was one of the top high school football recruits in the country, ranked alongside future NFL stars, with Division 1 offers and a clear path to greatness. From the outside, his life looked unstoppable. Behind the scenes, addiction was quietly taking hold. What started as experimentation turned into a full-blown descent into opioid addiction, crack cocaine, drug-induced psychosis, jail time, and moments where death felt inevitable. His identity, his dreams, and his future were stripped away — leaving him isolated, broken, and convinced there was no way out. In this powerful episode of Nothing’s Off the Table, we sit down for an unfiltered, deeply emotional conversation about what addiction really looks like when no one is watching. This episode dives into: * The pressure of being a highly recruited athlete * How addiction slowly hijacks the mind before destroying the life * Losing football, purpose, and self-worth * Experiencing psychosis, incarceration, and total hopelessness * A moment of surrender and faith that changed everything * What real, long-term recovery actually requires This is not a highlight reel. This is the truth about addiction — the chaos, the fear, the shame — and the hope that still exists even at rock bottom. Today, he is living proof that recovery is possible, that your past does not define you, and that no matter how far gone you feel, your story is not over. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, mental health, or feels completely hopeless right now, this episode could be the wake-up call that changes everything.

“Gambling Didn’t Ruin My Money — It Ruined My Soul” | Adam's Gambling Recovery Story youtu.be/wiH7A_p5WCI Gambling didn’t just cost Adam Lyons money — it nearly cost him his life. In this raw, unfiltered episode of Nothing’s Off the Table, Adam Lyons opens up about compulsive gambling, crushing debt, lying to everyone he loved, declaring bankruptcy in his 20s, and reaching a point where he simply didn’t want to live this life anymore. Adam worked inside casinos. He drove hours just to gamble. He maxed out credit cards, borrowed from strangers, and lived in a nonstop mental prison where every thought revolved around the next bet. “Nothing took my soul like gambling debt.” Then came the moment that changed everything. On February 8th, Adam walked into his first Gamblers Anonymous meeting — and by 7:15 PM, he had fully surrendered. This conversation dives deep into: * Compulsive gambling and why it’s different than any other addiction * The lies, shame, and isolation no one talks about * Bankruptcy, debt, and the illusion of “starting fresh” * Why legalized sports betting is exploding — and who it’s hurting * The moment Adam knew he was finally ready to stop * How recovery, community, and surrender gave him his life back This is the side of gambling you will never see in a sportsbook commercial. If you’re struggling — or love someone who is — this episode could be the one that makes you realize you’re not broken, you’re not alone, and recovery is possible. If this story hits home, share it. You never know who needs to hear it today.

From Her0in at 17 to 15 Years Sober | Johnny’s Redemption Story youtu.be/SprXQGtsKAQ Johnny didn’t just party — he was headed straight for the grave. By his late teens, Johnny was deep into Xanax, OxyContin, heroin, alcohol, arrests, and jail — surrounded by addiction on all sides and watching friends overdose and die. At just 20 years old, he made a decision that saved his life. In this raw episode of Nothing’s Off the Table, Johnny shares: Growing up around addiction Selling drugs as a teenager Using Xanax and Oxy daily Nearly injecting heroin Watching friends overdose Going to jail before 21 Six months of inpatient rehab Staying sober for 15 YEARS Building a company, a family, and a life worth protecting This episode isn’t motivational fluff. It’s the reality of addiction — and the discipline required to stay sober when life gets harder, not easier. If you’re struggling, or love someone who is, this episode could save a life.

"I Spent Our Wedding Money Gambling" | Mordi’s Gambling Recovery Journey youtu.be/_Vln5TsMYTw Mordi didn’t just gamble — he destroyed his life in silence. In this raw episode of Nothing’s Off the Table, Mordi shares how a single scratch-off turned into a full-blown obsession: sports betting, secret bookies, and a constant need for “one more” — until he drained $150,000 of wedding money meant to build a future with his new wife. What makes this conversation hit so hard isn’t just the money. It’s the mental prison gambling creates — the way it hijacks your thoughts, rewires your priorities, and convinces you you’re “in control” while everything around you quietly collapses. Mordi opens up about how addiction didn’t just take his bankroll… it took his presence, his relationships, his peace, and his ability to live in the moment. Inside this episode, Mordi and I talk about: * How gambling starts “small” — and why it escalates faster than most people realize * The hidden stigma around compulsive gambling that keeps people suffering in silence * The lies, manipulation, and isolation that come with protecting the addiction * The obsession: waking up thinking about bets, chasing losses, and never feeling settled * How gambling damages marriage and family — even when nobody “knows” what’s happening * The moment the weight became unbearable, including thoughts of suicide * What finally broke the cycle, and why asking for help is not weakness — it’s strength Mordi shares the turning point that changed everything: walking into Gamblers Anonymous on October 1, 2014, realizing he wasn’t alone, and meeting people who spoke the exact thoughts he had been terrified to admit out loud. From there, he began rebuilding a life he truly believed was out of reach — one day at a time. This is the side of gambling you will never see in a sportsbook ad. No bonus bet. No “odds boost.” No smiling influencer. Just the truth: the anxiety, the obsession, the shame, the damage… and the hope that recovery is possible. If you’re struggling — or if someone you love is — please hear this: you’re not alone, and you don’t have to do this by yourself. This episode could be the moment things start to change. If you need help: reach out to me directly. And if you’re ready to take a first step, consider finding a local or online Gamblers Anonymous meeting and simply showing up. #nothingsoffthetable #podcast #recovery #GamblingX #GamblingTwitter

She Lost Everything to Addiction | Until ONE Moment Changed Riley Forever youtu.be/_R2npA8OtkU In this powerful episode of Nothing’s Off the Table, LJ sits down with Riley, one of the fastest-growing sober creators on TikTok and Instagram- a young woman who went from blackouts, arrests, interventions, and losing everything… to building a new life through recovery. Riley opens up about: Growing up in Louisville feeling “different” Blackouts starting at age 14 Getting suspended, arrested, kicked out of college, and losing control The moment her parents found her missing How treatment, sponsorship, and the 12 steps finally changed her life Getting sober young — and why it’s NOT something to fear The spiritual shift that saved her The ripple effect recovery had on her entire family This episode is raw, emotional, unfiltered, and full of hope for anyone battling addiction or wondering where to start. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, you’re not alone. Riley and LJ break down exactly what it feels like to hit bottom… and how to rebuild from absolutely nothing.

He Survived Her0in, Meth Psychosis & Homeland Security | Mike Zallie’s Redemption Story youtu.be/ML8b0uBv7bw This is one of the most intense, emotional, and unbelievable interviews ever on Nothing’s Off the Table. Mike Zallie grew up in a loving Philly family… until the day his world shattered. At just 24 years old, he discovered his sister after she died by suicide — a moment that broke him and sent him into a 20-year spiral of addiction, crime, psychosis, and near death. In this raw conversation, Mike goes deep into: 13 years addicted to opiates and alcohol Shooting heroin, overdosing, and losing everything A 7-year meth run that led to full psychosis Being hunted by Homeland Security after being misidentified as Antifa Breaking into skyscrapers, hallucinating aliens, living on rooftops Daily suicidal thoughts and the moment he finally broke down How recovery, love, community, and art brought him back to life His mission today helping addicts in Kensington and beyond Today, Mike Zallie is 13 months sober, creating powerful art, rebuilding his family, speaking truth, and helping people who feel like there’s no way out. This episode will shock you, break your heart, and inspire the hell out of you. If you know someone struggling — send this to them. #nothingsoffthetable #podcast #soberaf #mentalhealth

50 Roxy’s a Day to Running Treatment Centers | Tzvi’s Full Redemption Story youtu.be/g3JMc-6nnPE This episode is insane in the best way. Tzvi’s story doesn’t just check the boxes of addiction — it shatters them. The lying, the hustling, the chaos in Miami… the oxy pipeline in Israel… the wave-runner disaster… the 50-roxys-a-day habit… the shrooms + Norbit overdose spiral… and then the moment that finally broke him wide open. Today he’s a husband, a father, and the owner/operator of multiple treatment centers — the rare kind that actually put people before profit. And he’s over 12 years sober. In this raw conversation, we talk about: * Growing up fatherless and using lying as a first drug * Smoking heroin while convincing his wife it was “hash” * Flushing 1,000 pills down a Hard Rock hotel toilet * Detoxing on a rabbi’s floor * The psychic change that rebuilt his entire life * Why NYC is drowning in addiction with barely any real help * How treatment (done right) can save lives in a way meetings alone can’t If you’re struggling, if you’re lying to everyone around you, if the consequences don’t scare you anymore… this episode is your wake-up call.

#ronniea The gift of giving is what God wants us to do. 🎥 @nothingsoffpod

She Hid Bottles EVERYWHERE | Sydney’s Rock Bottom to Sobriety youtu.be/FK-T_yoLnnA Sydney McAllister — known on TikTok as Sober Syd — sits down with Louis Ruggiero for one of the rawest, most relatable recovery stories we’ve ever had on Nothing’s Off The Table. From growing up around addiction to secretly drinking through her marriage, hiding bottles in drawers, under beds, and even in other people’s trash cans, Sydney opens up about the chaos she carried for years. This episode dives deep into: * What it’s like growing up in an alcoholic family * High-functioning alcoholism and the hidden double life * Hiding bottles and lying to everyone you love * How alcoholism destroyed her marriage * The moment everything came crashing down * The turning point that led to her sobriety * How her life transformed after April 19, 2024 If you’re struggling with alcohol, addiction, or feel like you’re living a double life — Sydney’s honesty will hit you right where you need it. Her story is going to help a lot of women, a lot of young people, and a lot of people who think “I don’t drink that much.”

Gambling, Drugs, Lies & Redemption | Ronnie A’s Shocking Journey youtu.be/lHN4Q3z7w0I Today, I sit down with the man who saved my life, the legend of Alcoholics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous — Ronnie A. A 35-year veteran of sobriety, a pro soccer phenom who played with the New York Cosmos, a man who’s survived addiction, destruction, loss, divorce, anxiety, gambling, and rebuilding from absolutely nothing… and came out on the other side spiritually rich, grateful, and living with purpose. In this episode, Ronnie tells the full story — from being discovered at age 7 and sent to Manchester United… to battling five addictions at once (alcohol, gambling, drugs, sex, and nicotine)… to losing everything and living alone in a New York showroom for six years… to becoming a father, a respected businessman, and one of the most impactful recovery figures in New York City. Ronnie also breaks down: What addiction really is — and why most people never recover Why gambling is today’s cigarette industry — glamorized, marketed, deadly How he helped my parents stage the intervention that got me into rehab Why the 12 Steps are the ONLY thing that has ever saved either of our lives The brutal truth about relapse, ego, and why people die What he wishes every addict, alcoholic, and compulsive gambler understood right now This is the most emotional, powerful, and truth-telling episode I’ve ever filmed. If you’re struggling… if someone you love is struggling… or if you think you “just gamble casually”… Watch this. It might save your life.

I’m so happy I didn’t gamble today and lose all of my money on the NFL. No matter how much I won, it was never enough. And I never stopped betting until I lost everything. #GamblingX #nothingsoffthetable #recovery

this is insane #GamblingX #nothingsoffthetable