Gary K serves as CEO of Gary K Recovery providing recovery education and addiction solutions through the arts, media and live events.

Gary recently launched Recovery Getaways and partnered with Norwegian Cruise Lines and Sober Not Boring to produce an affordable recovery cruise – “Sail to Serenity – A Gratitude and Wellness Retreat at Sea” aboard the luxurious Norwegian Jewel November 26-26, 2026. This unforgettable sober cruise includes nationally renowned workshop facilitators, acclaimed EFT tapping, yoga and meditation instructors and celebrity circuit speakers, a Thanksgiving feast and a birthday party to celebrate Bill W.’s 130th birthday. Sober Fun in the Caribbean Sun! Learn more at www.RecoveryGetaways.com.

Gary K’s Experience Strength and Hope Recovery Talk can be heard on –www.RecoverySpeakers.com

Gary K is also a nationally renowned Recovery Advocate and Educator, Hazelden Author (WALK THE TALK WITH STEP 12), 12 Step Historian, Playwright (PASS IT ON…AN EVENING WITH BILL W & DR BOB) Actor (Bill W. in the Off Broadway Play BILL W AND DR BOB and Bill W. in PASS IT ON) Circuit Speaker, and has worked in the field of addiction treatment for over 20 years. In his spare time he travels the from coast to coast in the U.S. and Canada conducting Recovery Education Seminars, and 12 Step Workshops.

Gary has appeared as a frequent guest advocating for recovery on radio and Network television talk shows and news programs and also appears on 5 episodes of Viceland’s DOPESICK NATION on A&E Television (now available on Amazon Prime TV)

He is also the subject of the inspiring new recovery documentary GARY K ONE STEP AT A TIME now available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

To view a trailer of the documentary, learn more about Gary’s live presentations, watch highlights of Gary’s remarkable talk about the brain disease of addiction, providing insight into how spiritual action alters brain function, resulting in recovery – a proven game changer.

Please visit his website: www.GaryKRecovery.com

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?

A. Alcohol, Marijuana, Opium, Hash, Morphine, Ketamine, Percocet, Percodan, Vicodin, Restoril, Quaaludes, Black Beauties, IV Heroin, Crack Cocaine.

My sobriety date is August 25, 1996.

Q. Is there anything special in your sobriety toolkit that helps keep you sober?

A. The clear-cut specific directions found in the first 164 pages of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?

A. I was born with a chronic progressive brain disease accompanied by a physical allergic reaction to alcohol.

Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?

A. I am from Akron, Ohio and after living in New York City for 40 years, I relocated to Palm Beach County, Florida.

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

A. Battleship.

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

A. I already live by the ocean, which is a blessing, as I will need to work until lunchtime on the day of my funeral.

Q. How do you measure success?

A. I measure success by the love you leave behind when you are gone.

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?

A. When someone is tapping their foot, crinkling paper, or scrunching candy wrappers when I am teaching or lecturing, or trying to listen to a speech or sermon.

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?

A. The V Foundation For Cancer Research.

Q. Who has been the biggest influence throughout your life?

A. Mary Evelyn Kimble.

Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?

A. Always wear underwear.

Q. Who made you feel seen growing up?

A. 33 mother, several teachers and my theater coach.

Q. From what school of thought or teacher did you learn the most from?

A. Dr. Morris Pike.

Q. What is a phrase that has kept you sober during challenging times?

A. Loving God — please direct my thinking and help me know the truth.

Q. What major event or realization shaped who you are?

A. Being in the South Tower when the planes hit on 9-11.

Q. What do you love most about living sober?

A. Having peace of mind.

Q. What is something you swore you would never do, but did anyway, in recovery?

A. I forgave and made amends to the man who molested and abused me as a child.

Q. What’s your concept of a Higher Power?

A. The Indwelling Voice of God serving as my Source of Guidance, Strength, Hope, Compassion, Healing, Connection, Creativity and Love.

Q. What is your Astrological sign?

A. Scorpio.

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?

A. A tie between Leonard Lee Buschel and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Q. What book(s) have you read more than once?

A. The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas. Tropic of Cancer. One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Q. What books are you reading now?

A. Lincoln The Unknown.

Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be?

A. Gertrude Stein. Truman Capote. Henry Miller. William Faulkner.

Q. Which film have you watched the most?

A. Magnolia.

Q. Who is your favorite film director?

A. Susan Gray.

Q. What book would you most like to see turned into a movie or TV show that hasn’t already been adapted?

A. Sister Ignatia: Angel of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Q. Are you binge watching any TV series?

A. The Crown.

Q. What is your favorite App?

A. My Spiritual Toolkit.

Q. Who is your favorite performer, living or dead?

A. Joni Mitchell.

Q. Who are your heroes in real life?

A. Bruce Kimble. Bill Wilson.

Q. What are some of the most memorable songs in your life?

A. Heiira. What A Wonderful World. NYC. The Times They Are A Changin. The Best Is Yet to Come. Rhapsody In Blue. We Are the Champions. Fanfare For the Common Man.

Q. What is your favorite city?

A. Bangkok.

Q. What is your favorite cuisine?

A. Thai.

Q. What is the best concert/performance/play you’ve ever attended?

A. The Newport Folk Festival.

Q. What are five things you always carry with you?

A. Business cards. Sun Glasses. Portable Charger. Personal Organizer. Pen.

Q. What is the best and or worse piece of advice someone has given you?

A. Just don’t drink and go to meetings.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given someone else?

A. Get a sponsor, work the 12 Steps, apply the steps in your daily life, go to meetings everyday, get a home group and a service commitment.

Q. What do you value most in a friendship?

A. Loyalty.

Q. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

A. Wrote the play PASS IT ON, AN EVENING WITH BILL W. & Dr. Bob, performed the role of Bill W. and produced 8 national tours, which carried the message of recovery to over 200 cities and tens of thousands of people, reaching those who couldn’t be reached in any other way.

Q. Where do you go when you’re seeking solitude?

A. I drive along the ocean.

Q. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

A. The ability to read music and play the piano.

Q. What is your biggest regret?

A. No regrets.

Q. Have you ever been arrested and, if so, what for?

A. Disturbing the peace.

Q. What is something you are currently curious about?

A. Why I still laugh at inappropriate times, such as funerals.

Q. What do you love most about yourself?

A. My inner voice and intuition which points me in the right direction, my ability to make others laugh and not take myself too seriously, my perspective and way of thinking and viewing life,  my ability to adjust to change, my trustworthiness and dependability, my resilience, creativity, compassion, empathy and loyalty.

Q. What do you like most about 12-step meetings?

A. You are encouraged to share your darkest confession, and can still leave with a complimentary cup of coffee and a doughnut.

Q. When did you realize you were a grown-up?

A. At 2 o’clock this afternoon.

Q. What is your motto?

A. Breathe In God, breathe Out Fear.