Episode #20
I Survived Addiction, Overdoses & a Gunshot: Elliot Thorne’s Story
Elliot Thorne’s recovery story isn’t about getting sober once and never looking back. It’s about falling, getting back up, and refusing to give up. Elliot shares how childhood trauma, shame, addiction, multiple overdoses, relapse, and years of struggling eventually brought him to one of the darkest moments of his life. After surviving a gunshot wound that doctors called a miracle, he still continued using until he finally returned to Renaissance Ranch and began building a different life. Today, Elliot works in admissions at Renaissance Ranch, helping other men find the same opportunity for recovery that helped save his life. He talks about why sobriety alone was never enough for him, the importance of honesty, faith, service, and learning to deal with the emotional and spiritual issues underneath addiction. This episode is also dedicated to Christopher “Tof” Clonch, a beloved member of the Renaissance Ranch family whose impact on Elliot and the recovery community will not be forgotten. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or incarceration and needs help, visit RenaissanceRanch.net . 00:00 – Meet Elliot Thorne & honoring Christopher “Tof” Clonch 03:14 – Childhood, family instability & early trauma 08:10 – Abuse at eight years old and living with shame 14:04 – Anger, rebellion & the beginning of addiction 20:06 – Meeting Tyson Dixon and escalating drug use 21:14 – Elliot’s first overdose at 13 years old 25:02 – More overdoses, treatment & being sent away 31:53 – Finding success in Idaho and serving a mission 34:18 – Returning home and falling back into addiction 36:35 – Finding Renaissance Ranch for the first time 40:07 – Years of relapse and hitting rock bottom 41:05 – Surviving a self-inflicted gunshot wound 45:46 – Returning to the Ranch and rebuilding his life 48:53 – Why Elliot stopped making sobriety the goal 53:05 – Remembering Christopher “Tof” Clonch 55:44 – Fatherhood, faith & finally living the promises
