Addiction, Healing & Bhakti: A Deep Dive with Jiva Gwen Hammond | Ep. 171

This Podcast was recorded in October 2024 in New Jersey, USA.
JivaG has been in recovery for 35 years. She grew up in NYC, left home at 14, and found the hardcore punk scene in the Lower East Side. By 19, she got addicted to heroin. What followed were years of overdoses, detoxes, homelessness, and the relentless cycle of addiction. At 21, she moved to Berlin, hoping for a fresh start, but instead, she fell even deeper. By 28, she hit a bottom so dark that death felt inevitable.
But instead of dying, she surrendered. She turned her will and life over to God, got clean, and found a 12-step program that saved her life.
For years, she stayed clean and sober, worked through deep trauma, codependency, and explored spirituality, always drawn to Krishna Consciousness. But at 48, she hit another bottom-this time emotional and spiritual. The pain was just as crushing as her drug years, and once again, the only way out was surrender. This time, she gave herself fully to Krishna.
As she deepened her recovery, she saw how many devotees were struggling-trapped in addiction, codependency, and unhealed trauma, with no real solution. That’s when she founded Bhakti Recovery Group (BRG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing 12-step recovery into Bhakti communities. BRG offers daily recovery meetings, retreats, and workshops that integrate 12-step principles with the teachings of Bhakti. It provides a global community where people find real support, accountability, and spiritual connection. More than just a meeting, BRG is a movement-a place where no one has to struggle alone, no matter their past.
Krishna willing, this is JivaG’s life’s service: carrying the message, holding space, and helping others find the freedom she was given.
LINKS:
Jiva's podcast: open.spotify.c...
Donate to Jiva's BRG: www.paypal.me/...
www.bhaktireco...
IG: www.instagram....
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[@olgadrobina1563]

The message of embracing and owning your anardhas and your imperfections is a very powerful one, and I am very grateful to Jiva for saying everying as it is. Honesty and truthfulness and brahminical qualities, and we should embrace them, above all, honesty with ourselves. I very often fall into the mindtrap of wanting to seem better than I actually am when I am in a spiritual setting, and I hate this. I think honestly speaking about our own shortcomings is the best way to encourage other people to do it.

[@bhagavadgitastudy2022]

Mataji thank you for your service. Acknowledging where we are THAT IS AMAZING. i think we need to say HERE I AM KRSNA this is where I am when we surrender. I love your simplicity of your message mataji.

[@gopalinissin503]

I remember borrowing my ex addict cousins Narcotics Anonymous book many years ago and reading about the 12 steps. I could so see the parallels to Krsna consciousness and how they could be used for any addiction. Well done on creating a safe place for devotees to work through the steps. Love your work and your honesty Jiva!

[@ManiBahanidas]

What a wonderful service Jiva Gwen Hammond provides

[@tysonmckinney5494]

Chanting is transcendental harmonic resonance to increase consciousness for the betterment of All.

[@jedsteelwell2354]

This was a great episode and what a service shes doing. 🙏📿

[@boundlessbhakti]

I'll be really honest: JivaG is one of my heroes. The service she offers is beyond valuable. Perfectionism as an addiction. Wow. On. The. Money.

[@dianejackson9314]

I love you, Jiva G! Your energy is the best 🎉. Hare Krishna 🙌

[@arjuna_dasa]

Great and timely episode! There are some original prabhupada disciples who have shared on prabhupada memories (youtube page) and over the years about how many early new devotees would show up at the temples in the 60s and 70s full blown heroin addicts (or strung out on other various 1970s drugs like Dilaudid, uppers, downers, coke, speed, etc) and would just kick dope cold turkey in the new bhakta asrama. Must've been a hellish 4 weeks! As far as defining addiction, which i myself am personally VERY familiar with FIRSTHAND, I readily accept and am most comfortable with how srila prabhupada taught, via gita, bhagavatam, etc, that anarthas (hard knot in the heart) go far beyond merely substance abuse. Anarthas/addictions/bad habits could be for some subtle only (uncontrollable desires and appetite for fame, position, wealth, etc, etc, and not be on the gross material plane whatsoever. Overall, the jiva is bound up tight, shackled by the unflinching and masterful gunas, and bound irreversibly to reactions (good or bad, mostly bad in kali yuga) from past works/actions (karma) and the jiva suffers as well by being (mis)guided by false ego, intelligence, mind, the 3 of which continue to bind the jiva through its actions for many many future births. All that makes the whole substance abuse thing seem pretty damn trivial and puny and easily overcome in bhakti.

[@Dhira108]

Hare Krishna That ability to be honest and open not only with ourselves and others; being able to say I'm struggling or can't come to a standard and having unconditional support without condemnation or making one feel you've failed. It's something that I'm glad to hear is now being addressed and helped in. Yes still think your probably the No. 1 podcast

[@tysonmckinney5494]

Hare Krishna Prabus. Thanks for your honesty.

[@VishakaDeviDasi-un9ut]

AMAZING JIVA G MATA USING YOUR OUTSIDE EXPERIENCE NOW IN BHAKTI I'M SURE GAURANGA & PRABHUPAD ARE WITH YOU

[@kreitnerr]

Love you dear Jiva. ❤❤❤

[@tysonmckinney5494]

Nebulous thinking, I hear you on how to formulate a book, how to describe is the difficult part.

[@nil0355]

Sadly such incredible recovery support for devotees can't exist in India ( for now or in near future ) because right image is more important than honest living.

[@nil0355]

Well at least govardhan ecovillage is up for that. Some reason to hope then.

[@patrickstultiens7885]

Then break through that. Yes it's difficult and yes you can break through.

[@TruthLove333]

You can get help online

[@nil0355]

@ Thanks. Though I was talking generally because addiction (in various gross and subtle forms) is pervasive and culturally it's a taboo.

[@77prami]

Need to sign up ❤

[@Totalstranger108]

Jiva G ki jaya !!!

[@mattmclafferty6265]

[@jayabhadra108]

I'd love to help with editing that book - would be an honour . . .

[@NamarasaPodcast]

@@jayabhadra108 pls send me your contact and I’ll pass it onto Jiva.

[@bhagavadgitastudy2022]

DEAR GOD I AM WATCHING THIS AT 10 WITH A BAG OF CHIPS 😮