Gabe Cohen's Radical Transformation and the Birth of Discovery Cafe

Join me as I converse with Gabe Cohen, founder of Discovery Cafe, about his transformative journey from addiction and incarceration to becoming a beacon of hope and support for those in recovery. Gabe shares in detail his past struggles with substance abuse, his numerous incarcerations, and how a profound spiritual awakening in 2018 led him to establish Discovery Cafe—a nonprofit offering peer-to-peer recovery support. Emphasizing service and community, Gabe discusses the importance of multiple recovery pathways, the challenges of setting up a nonprofit, and his mission to help others navigate their own recovery journeys. His story highlights the power of faith, resilience, and the impact one person can have by turning their life experiences into a source of service for others.

00:00 Introduction to Circle of Chairs

00:15 Meet Gabe Cohen: A Journey of Transformation

01:32 Gabe's Early Struggles and Turning Points

05:59 The Road to Recovery and Service

13:28 Founding Discovery Cafe

19:23 Impact and Reflections

31:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her next book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, is coming Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.