Trevor Shick on Avoiding the Addiction Affliction Podcast

We’re excited to share that Trevor Shick, founder and CEO of Kindhabit Labs, was recently featured on the Avoiding the Addiction Affliction podcast hosted by Mike McGowan. In this candid 29-minute conversation, Trevor opens up about his personal recovery journey and the vision behind Roo Mi—our digital accountability platform for treatment facilities.

A Conversation About Recovery and Innovation

Trevor’s story is one of resilience. Starting from his first drink at age 12 to navigating 13 inpatient treatment centers and multiple relapses, he brings a deeply personal understanding of what it takes to achieve and maintain sobriety. In the episode, Trevor shares how he recently celebrated six months of recovery after a relapse and reflects on the patterns that both threatened and ultimately strengthened his sobriety.

One of the episode’s most powerful moments comes when Trevor references a common refrain in recovery communities: “I came for my drinking and I’ve stayed for my thinking.” This insight captures the heart of sustainable recovery—addressing the underlying mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem that drive substance use.

The Power of Routine and Community

Throughout the conversation, Trevor emphasizes the critical role of routine in recovery:

• Daily meditation and exercise
• Regular meals and sleep schedules
• Consistent meeting attendance
• Active community engagement

He also discusses recognizing early warning signs of relapse—isolation from meetings, skipped workouts, and subtle avoidance behaviors that can snowball into crisis. These patterns aren’t just personal observations; they’re insights that directly informed the development of Roo Mi.

Building Technology for Real Recovery Needs

Trevor candidly addresses the operational challenges plaguing many treatment facilities—outdated tracking systems, whiteboards, spreadsheets, and communication gaps that leave staff overwhelmed and residents underserved. This is where Kindhabit Labs steps in.

Roo Mi brings modern accountability tools to sober living and treatment facilities, with features like:

• Geo-verified location check-ins for curfew compliance
• Automated chore assignments and household requests
• Daily check-ins that help staff spot early warning signs
• Clinician dashboards with relapse-risk alerts

As Trevor explains in the episode, technology isn’t replacing the human connection that’s essential to recovery—it’s freeing up staff to focus on what matters most: supporting residents on their recovery journey.

Listen to the Full Episode

There’s so much more to this conversation than we can capture here. Trevor and Mike discuss the nuances of 12-step recovery, the balance between structure and autonomy, and what it means to build a company rooted in lived experience.

Listen to the full episode on the ATAA Podcast

Whether you’re in recovery, work in behavioral health, or are simply interested in how technology can support better outcomes, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration.

About Kindhabit Labs: Learn more about our mission to design tools for better living and improve behavioral health outcomes with Roo Mi.