Season 3 Episode 7: Digital Tools, Human Connection: The Future of Gambling Recovery

<p>What does gambling addiction really look like, and why do so many people struggle in silence?</p><p><br /></p><p>In this episode of The Nostos, Bianca McCall sits down with Sam DeMello, Founder and CEO of eVive, to explore one of the fastest-growing yet least understood behavioral health challenges in America. Drawing from his own recovery journey, Sam shares how gambling quietly evolved from a childhood hobby into an addiction that impacted every aspect of his life, and how that experience inspired him to build technology that connects people to support before they reach crisis.</p><p><br /></p><p>Together, Bianca and Sam discuss the hidden relationship between gambling, substance use, financial distress, and suicide risk; why traditional support systems often miss the people who need them most; and how digital health tools can lower barriers to care without replacing the human relationships that make recovery possible.</p><p><br /></p><p>This conversation challenges common misconceptions about gambling addiction while highlighting the power of lived experience, personalized support, and community-centered innovation.</p>