Charlie is, at his core, an artist through and through—a musician, a visual artist, a writer, and a scholar. He has been to school for art, has played professionally in a touring band for close to a decade, and holds degrees in political science and anthropology. If it wasn’t challenging enough to be an artist and a musician, in and of itself, once you add the scholarly tendencies and geo-political sphere of study, you’re basically dealing with an artistic mad scientist. This is an individual who has been exceptionally dedicated to his craft for quite some time, someone who has refused the status quo, has fought tooth and nail to stick with art and music, and to reinforce his mind with study—all the while lubricated by alcohol. This is easier said than done in a world that reinforces conformity and structure. It is a brave endeavor to put music first, working tirelessly for years and pouring everything you make, and all your free time into the development of a sound and a honing of the mind. One thing is clear: Charlie can accomplish anything he so chooses to pursue. The only thing holding him back, which he is acutely aware of, has been alcohol—but this time, he’s not going to give it the power to prevent him from realizing his destiny.
Born in Manhattan and raised in Irvington, New York, Charlie’s childhood was idyllic in many ways. His parents fostered creativity—his father a guitarist, his mother active in the Girl Scouts—he grew up with the freedom to explore music, art, and outdoor activities like Boy Scouts camping trips. Yet early adolescence brought the stirrings of rebellion. By eighth grade, Charlie had begun drinking and smoking, and by sophomore year of high school, experimentation escalated into pills and heavier substances. He recalls, “I’d cut class and still get A’s. I flew under the radar because I excelled in school, so nobody really noticed me.” But boundaries were tested, and a confrontation with his parents and the police resulted in a 5150 psychiatric hold and a charge for assaulting an officer. At sixteen, Charlie faced a choice: juvenile detention or a wilderness program in Utah. Opting for the latter, he embarked on a challenging but formative experience that ultimately led to a rehab boarding school in western Massachusetts.
In Massachusetts, amid freezing winters and strict rules, Charlie discovered rock climbing and deepened his love for music, creating a concept album and a passion that would last a lifetime. He remembers, “We had this little band room called ‘The Chicken Coop,’ literally a converted chicken coop…I ended up writing and recording a concept album based on my story.” The experience instilled resilience and creativity, even as his struggles with substances lingered.
Returning home after high school, Charlie briefly reined in his drinking but remained adrift. He entered the Maryland Institute College of Art on a scholarship, focusing on animation and illustration. Freshman year offered a sense of purpose, but sophomore year brought heartbreak, disillusionment with animation, and spiraling alcoholism. “I started getting more into my major classes and realized I didn’t love animation anymore…it was tedious as hell—redrawing the same thing frame by frame.” Academic pressures, heartbreak, and the mechanical nature of his work, fueled by alcoholism, resulted in an intervention from one of the close friends he had left, who told him he was killing himself. This conversation sent him home to New York, showing up on his parents’ doorstep, leaving them dumbfounded, and confronting the stark reality of his addiction for the first time.
Music became a refuge. Charlie immersed himself in the jam band scene, joining The Mushroom Cloud at 21. For seven to eight years, he poured himself into the band, touring, recording, and building a community of fellow musicians—yet alcohol remained a constant companion. Relationships were co-dependent, creative collaboration was sometimes fraught, and the pressures of life—financial strain, band politics, and personal anxiety—were often numbed by drinking. For the duration of his time in The Mushroom Cloud, he wrestled with a toxic and co-dependent relationship that followed him wherever he went. Over time, Charlie realized that the external chaos he blamed for his suffering was secondary to the central truth: “To a certain extent, I wanted life both ways. I was building up my life while being sober, but I wanted that back door when things were too uncomfortable for me.”
By 2017, the consequences escalated. A DUI, his parents’ moving across the country, and repeated cycles of relapse made the path forward untenable. In late 2018, after an intervention by his sister, Charlie entered a private treatment program in San Diego at 28. Initially skeptical of AA due to early exposure as a teenager, he gradually found solace in the humor, relatability, and community that the program offered. He transitioned into sober living, reconnected with rock climbing as a healthy outlet, and began the long process of rebuilding his life.
Yet recovery was not linear. From 2019 onward, Charlie experienced repeated cycles of relapse and return. He earned his associate’s degree and, recognizing the value of education, enrolled at UCSD. “I wanted to see if I could live a life that worked,” he recalls. There, amidst the global disruption of COVID-19, he pursued a degree in political science with a focus on public policy, alongside a minor in Anthropological Archaeology—a study of human societies, technology, and cultural advancement. During this period, he faced the dual challenges of rigorous academics and the persistent pull of alcoholism. A study-abroad trip to Italy, meant as a sober exploration of ancient Mediterranean civilizations, became a moment of temptation; for three weeks, he drank “like a normal person” and confronted the painful reality that he could not safely navigate alcohol.
Returning from Italy, Charlie grappled with conflicting desires—he wanted the achievements of a sober life but yearned for a “back door” when life became uncomfortable. Despite this, he pressed forward, balancing coursework, jobs, and AA meetings. He graduated from UCSD in Political Science with his minor in Anthropology, a testament to his intellectual resilience, discipline, and refusal to let alcoholism define his potential.
After graduation, the pressures of adult life—jobs, independent living, and uncertainty—led to further relapse. Charlie’s journey brought him repeatedly to the edge, including detox admissions and stints in sober living. Each cycle, however, reinforced a growing awareness: alcohol was no longer a choice he could manage, no matter his intelligence, creativity, or ambition.
After totaling his car, Charlie’s parents reinforced the decision to enroll at Beit T’Shuvah. Since coming here, he has made significant strides in his recovery. He has come to fully accept that alcohol is not a choice he can make. Charlie now attends AA meetings consistently, plays bass for the Shabbat band, and has secured a full-time job teaching rock climbing—a full-circle moment that reconnects him to a passion he discovered back at the rehab boarding school in high school.
His treatment team, especially Rabbi Iggy, and the musical influence of Laura Bagish, have been instrumental in his growth. They have helped him confront the humbling reality of his addiction and recognize that even someone so smart and capable as he is cannot outthink alcoholism.
It is evident that Beit T’Shuvah is an invaluable resource for Charlie—a community that has supported him through his most difficult challenges, and one he plans to remain a part of for the long term. Charlie plans to leave BTS soon, hopeful to remain connected through sober living and community involvement. He acknowledges the challenges of life post-BTS but expresses confidence in his continued recovery: by integrating BTS infused recovery principles into his daily routine and taking life one day at a time, he knows sobriety is attainable. His story is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of community—a reminder that even amid profound struggle, one can reclaim purpose, passion, and joy.
When it comes to Charlie, one thing is clear: he is a brilliant individual—still young, and full of motivation. With a newfound perspective on his sobriety there is no limit to where his dedication, passion, and intellect will take him. There’s nothing holding him back now, nothing to lose, and everything to gain.