Before Zac Clark was introduced to television viewers on The Bachelorette, he was considered the "life of the party" and willing to go to great lengths to achieve his “next high.” In his twenties, his addiction escalated to the point where his marriage crumbled and his friendships dissipated. His relationship with his parents was holding on by a thread. But they never gave up on him, and Zac found recovery.

Ultimately, Zac won back his health and went on to win the heart of not only Tayshia Adams but also viewers across the country, all through his candor, compassion and commitment to a substance-free life. In the ninth episode of Heart of the Matter, listen in as Elizabeth Vargas and Zac revisit his journey, from faking an illness to gain access to prescription medications to finding happiness in real life, making a career out of helping others with addiction, and even falling in love on reality TV.

Heart of the Matter with Elizabeth Vargas is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Additional moments that touched our hearts
Revisit personal and candid stories about addiction from some of Heart of the Matter’s most popular guests.

Jeremiah Fraites humanizes addiction

Co-founder of The Lumineers, Jeremiah Fraites, reflects on the monumental impact drugs and alcohol have on music, culture, families and relationships. He describes losing his older brother, Joshua, to a heroin overdose and how that experience helped inspire his band's latest album.

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Holly Whitaker emphasizes that treatment is not “one-size-fits-all”

Quit Like a Woman author Holly Whitaker and Elizabeth Vargas discuss their experiences as women coming to terms with the impact alcohol was having on their lives, how addiction is portrayed in the media, and their perspectives on the roads they took to finding recovery.

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Andrew Zimmern discusses having 28 years in recovery with the support of his family and friends

While best known for traveling the world and exploring shocking cuisine as executive producer and host of the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods franchise, Andrew Zimmern’s journey through addiction to recovery is just as compelling.

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David Sheff reminds parents they are not alone

Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction author, David Sheff, shares insights on learning to parent with compassion and understanding, not stigma and frustration.

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Chris Herren aims to change how teens perceive substance use

Former NBA player and founder of Herren Talks, Herren Project and Herren Wellness, Chris Herren explores intimate details of his journey and how he’s now using his experience to change the way high school students think about addiction.

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