Talking Addiction & Recovery Episode 157: The Broke Girl Society: Reframing Women’s Gambling Recovery (featuring Christina Cook)
With the expansion of sports betting and prediction markets - the question we often get asked is, “What about young men?” Christina Cook, founder of the Broke Girl Society podcast, talks about the critical gaps in how gambling harm is recognized, treated, and represented—especially for women.
Christina shares her lived experience of problem gambling and the barriers she faced in finding recovery spaces that reflected her reality. The conversation explores why women are often missing from gambling harm narratives, how caregiving roles and stigma create unique access barriers, and why traditional treatment and mutual aid spaces often fail to meet women where they are.
Together, we unpack systemic issues in prevention messaging, the lack of gender-responsive treatment options, and the urgent need for lived experience leadership in shaping recovery systems. Christina also highlights the rapid expansion of gambling in Oklahoma, the disconnect between revenue and treatment funding, and the rise of her peer-driven recovery community supporting thousands of women globally.
This episode challenges how we think about gambling harm—and who we imagine when we talk about recovery.
About the Guest:
Christina Cook, IGRS, is a lived-experience advocate dedicated to supporting individuals affected by gambling harm. Drawing from her own recovery journey, she uses her story to help reduce shame, build connection, and remind others that healing is possible. Through her podcast and the safe, empowering spaces she creates for women, Christina offers a platform for storytelling, community, and honest conversations about recovery and resilience. She currently serves on the board of the International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Board (IPGGC) as Executive Secretary.
Links:
- Links to the BGS: https://thebrokegirlsociety.com/
- E-mail: Christina@thebrokegirlsociety.com
Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.
To learn more about the podcast visit www.andrewjschreier.com
To inquire being a guest on the podcast or sponsorship opportunities you can e-mail talkingaddictionandrecovery@gmail.com
Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.