The Bravo reality star began her sobriety journey at 16
NEED TO KNOW
- Maddi Reese is celebrating 12 years of sobriety after struggling with addiction since middle school
- She shares her sobriety journey to stay accountable and inspire others to embrace a sober lifestyle
- Reese and co-star Joe Bradley’s relationship is featured on Southern Hospitality as he takes a break from substances
Maddi Reese is celebrating 12 years of sobriety.
The Southern Hospitality star, 28, opened up about her past struggles with addiction on the More Life with Carl Radke podcast, where she revealed she began drinking in sixth grade with her travel softball teammates.
The DJ said she dealt with severe depression and anxiety as a teen, but therapy and medication hadn't helped. Drinking "numbed" her mental health issues unlike anything else she tried, she explained.
"When I drank, I thought I was cooler, funnier, hotter, all the things," she said. "I thought, at a point, I needed alcohol or substances to make me feel cooler, or confident, or prettier, or funnier."
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Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty
The Bravo star later decided to get sober, making four attempts before checking into rehab at 16. She now says that she sees her experience with sobriety as a way to keep herself accountable.
"I'm super open about it because I want that accountability," Reese previously told PEOPLE in 2024. "I don't want to be drinking, I don't want to be using — I know where that road leads me. So talking about it keeps me on that path."
On his podcast, host Carl Radke, 41, commended Reese's vulnerability. Radke — who is himself sober and stars on Bravo's Summer House — said it's especially important for other young women struggling with addiction to hear her story.
"It's hard to be open about it, especially on the Bravo world, because there's the shame and the guilt," Radke said. "But once you kind of turn that over, there's been so much beauty on the other side. "
Elsewhere on the podcast, the DJ touched on her relationship with co-star Joe Bradley.
The two started dating in 2024 after years of friendship, and have continued to have their romance documented on Southern Hospitality.
Reese said she hopes she and Bradley's relationship remains steady, citing fear of the "reality TV curse." However, she admitted that questions from the public about whether the pair plans to marry or have children have had an impact on their pairing.
"They do put that pressure on things," she said.
She also spoke about Bradley's sobriety journey. On recent episodes of the show, Republic's lead VIP host has clashed with Reese over his drinking. The scenes inspired Radke to reach out to Bradley, who he says is now "taking a break" from drugs and alcohol.
While Reese said she'd like Bradley to get sober, she stated he had to ultimately come to that decision on his own.
"He's doing what's best for him," Radke told Reese. "But [sobriety] turns into a gift for you and vice versa."
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
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