♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO INSIDE LOUISVILLE -- WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST, KELSEY STARKS.

THIS WEEK MEET JOHN BOEL, NOW YOU MAY THINK YOU KNOW THE WAVE 3 EVENING NEWS ANCHOR.

CHANCES ARE YOU'VE HEARD HIM DELIVER THE NEWS EITHER ON WLKY OR WAVE 3 HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

MAYBE YOU KNOW HIM FROM HIS AWARD WINNING INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING.

OR MAYBE YOU REMEMBER HIM AS THE GUY WHO WAS PUBLICLY FIRED AFTER TWO DUI ARRESTS AND A STINT IN REHAB.

SO YOU MAY THINK YOU KNOW JOHN BOEL BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN IN YOUR LIVING ROOM, DELIVERING THE NEWS.

MAYBE YOU HAVE EVEN READ HIS TWO BEST SELLING BOOKS.

BUT TODAY WE GET TO TURN THE TABLES ON JOHN BOEL AND ASK HIM THE QUESTIONS FOR A CHANGE.

>> WAVE 3 NEWS ANCHORRION BOWL GOES UNDER COVER INVESTIGATING SOME OF LOUISVILLE'S MOST VIOLENT AREAS, PUTTING HIS SAFETY ON THE LINE TO GET ANSWERS.

>> IT'S RESULTING THIS CARS NOT GETTING FIXED, MEDICAL BILLS NOT GETTING PAID.

PEOPLE LOSING JOBS AND CRIME BEING ALLOWED TO FLOURISH.

HERE IS MORE IN MY LATEST TROUBLE SHOOTER INVESTIGATION.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A PLACE LOUISVILLE POLICE ARE CALLED TO AN AVERAGE OF AT LEAST ONCE PER DAY SO FAR THIS YEAR.

BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO IT.

FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME ON MY LATEST TROUBLE SHOOTER EXCLUSIVE.

WHEN THE WE'VE TROUBLE SHOOTER FIRST INVESTIGATED THE ECONOMY INN, WE FOUND LPD MADE 1370 RUNS THERE AN AVERAGE OF 3.7 PER DAY.

ARE YOU DANIELLE?

>> YEAH.

>> I'M JOHN BOEL WITH WAVE 3.

WE ARE DOING A STORY.

WE GOT COMPLAINTS ON SOME OF THE ROOMS, YOURS WAS ONE OF THEM.

I'M TOLD YOU ARE WANTED UNDERSTAND AND ANOTHER ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS WAS A LOT OF DRUGS CONSUMED AND SOLD OUT OF HERE.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> NO.

>> YOU DON'T USE DRUGS?

>> NO.

>> I HAVE BEEN BACK HERE WATCHING.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS DRUG USE IN 319 AND 317.

AND SOME SALES.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> OUR LATEST TROUBLE SHOOTER INVESTIGATION TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT AN ISSUE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT IT ON CAMERA BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF REPRISAL.

IS THERE A RACIAL BIAS OR AT LEAST A NEIGHBORHOOD BIAS WHEN IT COMES TO AUTOINSURANCE RATES IN LOUISVILLE IS THIS EVEN IF YOU HAVE A STELLAR DRIVING RECORD?

THAT'S A COMPLAINT THAT LED US ON A WINDING ROAD.

>> AND JOHN, YOU HAVE A HUGE DEVELOPMENT IN YOUR STORY TONIGHT.

>> STARTING TO PICK UP STEAM.

THE CONSUMER FEDERATION OF AMERICA SAW OUR FIRST REPORT AND DRAFTED AN SENT A FIVE-PAGE LETTER THIS WEEK TO THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE REQUESTING THEY TAKE ACTION.

>> WELCOME TO WAVE'S COVERAGE.

KENTUCKY DERBY NUMBER 138.

I'M JOHN BOEL.

>> AND I'M SHANNON.

WE ARE HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.

WE HAVE SOME SUNSHINE ALTHOUGH IT IS PRETTY WINDY.

MY HAT ALMOST FLEW OF THAT.

>> THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD TV.

THE STORY LINES ARE MANY.

THE BIGGEST STORY LINE TO ME TODAY IS YOU HAVE A HORSE COMING IN HERE WITH ONLY TWO STARTS... ♪ ♪ >> WELL, NOW WE GET TO TURN THE TABLES ON JOHN BOEL.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

YOU KNOW, YOU ARE NOT USUALLY THE ONE ANSWERING.

>> NO HIDDEN CAMERA?

>> THEY'RE ALL OUT ON THE OPEN HERE.

BUT YOU REALLY SURPRISED ME JUST NOW BECAUSE YOU SAID YOU WERE NOT A GOOD INTERVIEWER.

>> CORRECT.

>> WHICH SOUNDS CRAZY TO ME.

>> I'M NOT-- WE ALL HAVE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES IN OUR GAME.

I'M NOT A GOOD INTERVIEWER.

I WILL HAVE A BAD BUY DEAD TO RIGHTS ON SOMETHING AND I WILL BACK OFF.

I'M ALMOST APOLOGETIC.

I HAVE SOME STATION ATTORNEYS TELL ME YOU NEED TO BE LIKE AN ATTORNEY CROSS EXAMINING A WITNESS.

YOU NEED TO COME DOWN STRONG.

I'M TOO SOFT SOMETIMES.

>> I THINK PEOPLE WATCHING WOULD BE SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT.

>> TRUE STORY.

>> I'M SOFT.

>> AND SO OKAY, YOU ARE BEST KNOWN IN LOUISVILLE FOR YOUR MANY, MANY YEARS ON LOCAL NEWS AND PARTICULARLY FOR YOUR INVESTIGATIVE WORK.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THAT, PARTICULARLY IF YOU DON'T LIKE ASKING PEOPLE QUESTIONS?

>> I WAS FORCED INTO IT IN ROCKFORD ILLINOIS.

REPLACING THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER.

THEY SENT ME TO THE EDITOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO.

JOHN STOSSEL WAS THERE.

I LEARNED HOW TO BE AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER.

THEY WANTED ME TO DO IT.

THEY SAID YOUR WORK IS GREAT.

I DON'T NECESSARILY ENJOY INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING.

I TOLD THE NEWS DIRECTOR THAT ONE TIME.

HE SAID WHAT!

I SAID I DON'T ENJOY IT.

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I ENJOY IT.

YOU ARE GOOD AT IT.

I WOULD RATHER MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY RATHER THAN MAKE PEOPLE MAD.

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING MAKES PEOPLE MAD ABOUT SOMETHING.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT, TOO IN A WORLD WHERE WE CAN GET EVERYTHING OFF OUR PHONES NOW THERE ARE VERY FEW REASONS TO TUNE INTO LOCAL NEWS ANYMORE.

I SUBMIT THEIR INVESTIGATIVE ENTERPRISE STORIES OR THE PEOPLE YOU ARE WATCHING, THE ANCHORS AND METEOROLOGISTS, YOU JUST ENJOY WATCHING THEM.

THAT'S ABOUT IT.

OTHERWISE YOU CAN GET IT OFF YOUR PHONE.

>> YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT CHANGE IN LOCAL NEWS OVER THE YEARS.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN LOUISVILLE NOW?

>> ALMOST 40.

84 I GRADUATED AND I WAS WORKING IN LOCAL INFLUENCES SO GOING ON 40 IN LOCAL NEWS.

>> A JOB BROUGHT YOU HERE TO LOUISVILLE.

YOU ARE NOT ORIGINALLY FROM HERE.

WHAT MADE YOU STAY HERE?

>> I WANTED TO LEAVE WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO LOUISVILLE.

I KEPT LOOKING FOR JOBS BACK IN MY HOME IN WISCONSIN OR IN TWIN CITIES OR WHEREVER, AND I GREW TO LOVE IT.

I MEAN I JUST LOVED IT HERE.

I LOVE THE FOUR SEASONS.

I LOVE ALL THAT LOUISVILLE OFFERS.

I'M NOT THAT FAR AWAY.

ONLY 400 MILES FROM HOME AND I GO IT HOME A LOT TO WISCONSIN BUT IT'S GOT ALL THE WATERWAYS IN THE WORLD TO FISH, AND THE CITY IS THE RIGHT SIZE.

I ENJOY IT.

>> I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT FISHING IN A LITTLE BIT BUT BACK TO THE NEWS.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE STORIES TO REPORT IF IT'S NOT INVESTIGATIVE?

>> LONG-TERM FEATURE THINGS THE TWO BEST THINGS WE DID A DOCUMENTARY WHERE WE FOLLOWED THE FINAL FOAL OF SEATTLE SLEW FROM BIRTH TO RACING AT 3.

WE ALSO WATCH IN LOUISVILLE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A HORSE IS THREE IN THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

WE NEVER SHOW WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN BIRTH AND 3.

WE FOLLOWED THE FINAL FOAL OF SEATTLE SLEW AND DID A DOCUMENTARY ON IT.

IT WAS WONDERFUL.

WE DID A STORY ON AN OLD MAN TRYING TO MAKE IT TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

HE HAD A BARN THAT CONSISTED OF ONE HORSE TOM MRTSDZ WAS HIS NAME AND WE FOLLOWED HIS EFFORT THROUGH THE DERBY SEASON TO MAKE IT IN AND THE ONLY WAY THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT IN WAS WITH A TOP THREE FINISH IN THE BLUEGRASS STAKESES, HE WAS A LONG SHOT BUT HE WON.

FEATURE STORIES ARE MY FAVORITE.

WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTIGATIVE THOUGH, I AM MOST-- I LOVE WHEN I GO UNDERCOVER BECAUSE IT'S A GAME TO SEE IF PEOPLE RECOGNIZE ME.

>> YEAH WELL, THEY DO NOW, RIGHT?

>> NO.

NO.

>> REALLY?

>> I CAN PROVE IT.

THE CRACK KITS FOR SALE IN THE CONVENIENT STORES STORY, WE GOT READY DO THAT AND I GOT ALL DRESSED UP AND PEOPLE WERE LIKE NO WAY, YOU CAN'T GO UNDER COVER.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE YOU.

I SAID I BET THEY DON'T.

YOU KNOW?

Y WHEN DIDN'T-- THEY DIDN'T.

I PULLED IT OFF.

>> WOW.

THAT'S CRAZY.

SO WHEN YOU ARE DOING THOSE TYPES OF STORIES, THOUGH, ARE YOU NERVOUS, HAVE YOU EVER GOTTEN INTO A SITUATION THAT YOU FEEL IS DANGEROUS?

>> I'M NEVER REALLY NERVOUS, NOT EVEN HIDING.

I'VE GOT A STORY AIRING IN A COUPLE OF DAYS UNBELIEVABLE AS I'M ROLLING-- I GOT A COMPLAINT FROM A BARBER SHOP THEY'RE GOING HAVE TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS ON THE WEST SIDE ON MARKET STREET BECAUSE THE DRUGS AND CRIME ARE SWALLOWING THEM UP.

THEY INVITED ME IN THIS WONDERFUL NINE PAGE HANDWRITTEN LETTER.

THEY ASKED ME TO COME AND WATCH FOR MYSELF.

I'M SITTING IN MY CAR.

SURROUNDED BY UNBELIEVABLE-- EVERYBODY IS PULLING OUT A GUN.

EVERYBODY HAS A GUN TUCKED IN THE WAIST BAND.

DRUG DEALS EVERYWHERE I POINT MY CAMERA AND NO, I WAS NOT NERVOUS EVER.

I GET NERVOUS-- WHAT MADE ME NERVOUS, I HAD MY HOUSE GRAFFITID WITH DEATH THREATS AROUND 2008 OR 9ISH, AND YES, I HAD DONE A STORY AND WE WOKE UP ONE MORNING TO MY WIFE AND CHOO I WOULD CHILD COMING INTO THE HOUSE.

THEY HAD LEFT THE HOUSE AND SAW THAT THEY HAD GRAFFITID DEATH THREATS OVER THE HOUSE.

I HAD TO HAVE 72-HOUR POLICE PROTECTION AND HOME SECURITY INSTALLED AND THAT KIND OF THING WILL SCARE YOU.

>> THAT'S TERRIFYING.

AND SO WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO DO IT?

>> BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE.

LIKE THIS LETTER I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT FROM THIS THIRD GENERATION BARBER SHOP OWNER, 68 YEARS.

YOU KNOW I HAVE SOME PEEP SOMETIMES CRITICIZE MY WORK ON DRUG HOUSES OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

SAYING YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE THE WEST END LOOK BAD.

I'M NOT LIKE, I'M GETTING THESE COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE IN THE WEST END WHOSE LIVES ARE BEING TERRORIZED.

>> YOU ARE NOT MAKING IT UP.

>> NO.

AND BY THE WAY, I DO THE STORIES ON EAST SIDE AND THE SOUTH END, TOO.

BUT I DO THESE STORIES BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE AND I RUN INTO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

THE POLICE GOT THEIR ACT TOGETHER OR THE DRUG DEALER FLED OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.

>> I WOULD SAY ONE OF THE MOST-- WELL, PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT STORY THAT YOU HAVE TOLD IS YOUR OWN.

AND YOU DID THAT IN YOUR FIRST BOOK.

>> YES.

>> ON THE NEWS IN THE NEWS.

WHERE YOU PUT YOUR OWN MUGSHOT THERE ON THE FRONT COVER.

>> I DID, YES.

>> AND FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW, YOU HAVE STRUGGLED VERY PUBLICLY WITH ALCOHOL ADDICTION, AND TELL US ABOUT THAT JOURNEY AND WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO PUT IT ALL OUT THERE?

>> SO I'M SITTING IN REHAB; BY THE WAY 13 YEARS AGO, RIGHT ABOUT NOW, RIGHT ABOUT TODAY I GOT RELEASED FROM TREATMENT CENTER.

HAZELTON TREATMENT CENTER IN MINNEAPOLIS.

I'M SITTING IN REHAB, JUST HAD TWO DUIs IN TWO YEARS, FIRED, HUMILIATED, IN THE MEDIA, AND EVERY MORNING I STARTED MY MORNING OFF BY GOING TO THE BASEMENT AND TURNING ON THE DRYER TO MUFFLE THE SOUND OF ME SOBBING, SUICIDAL SOBBING AND I'M SITTING IN REHAB AND I HAD A COUNSELOR TELL ME, JOHN, HOW MANY PEOPLE GET A ONE MONTH 28-DAY CHANCE IN LIFE TO HIT PAUSE, LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF, LEARN ABOUT HOW YOU ARE WIRED AND HOW YOU CAN GET BETTER.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS GOOD ADVICE.

SO I LISTENED.

ATE UP EVERYTHING THEY TOLD ME AND AS I'M IN REHAB, I'M SITTING THERE, THINKING A JOURNALIST JOB IS TO TAKE PEOPLE WHO DON'T GET TO GO TO THESE THINGS AND TAKE THEM THROUGH A NEWS EXPERIENCE OR SOMETHING GOING ON WHERE THEY'RE NOT THERE.

AND I THOUGHT WHAT BETTER THING TO DO THAN TO TAKE PEOPLE THROUGH WHAT GOES ON AT REHAB AND TREATMENT TO GET OUT OF THE DEPTH OF THE HOLE I WAS IN.

THINGS GOING GOING TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE, RIDING THE BECAUSE BECAUSE I HAD IN LICENSE AND THE PEOPLE THAT POP UP IN OUR LIVES THAT GIVES US THE STRENGTH TO MOVE ON, THE LEAST PERSON YOU EXPECT.

LIKE A PERSON IN FRONT OF ME AT THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE WHEN I GO THE MY HAT ON TRYING NOT TO BE RECOGNIZED AND PEOPLE ARE LIKE, YOU ARE THE NEWS GUY.

YOU ARE JOHN BOEL AND I'M TRYING TO HIDE AND THIS WOMAN TURNS AROUND AND SHE'S LIKE, YOU NEED TO BE PRAYED UP TO BE 234 HERE AND DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT KILLING YOURSELF.

YOUR LIFE WAS BOUGHT AT A PRICE FROM JESUS CHRIST AND INSPIRATIONAL THINGS THAT KEPT ME GOING.

SO ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT I TRIED TO DO WITH THIS BOOK AND TRY TO EDUCATE ALL THE THINGS I LEARNED IN 12 STEP PROGRAMS THAT HAVE HELPED.

>> YEAH, IT REALLY IS AN EDUCATION AND I DO WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT TOOK YOU THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

YOU MENTIONED TWO DUIs.

PUBLICLY FIRED FROM A VERY HIGH PROFILE PUBLIC JOB.

BUT I THINK THAT'S THE PART PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH.

THE FIRST STEP IS RECOGNIZING THERE IS A PROBLEM.

HOW DID YOU GET TO THAT POINT?

>> TWO INTERESTING THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, THE FIRST DUI I GOT IN 200, I WENT TO DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELING AND YOU GET WHAT IS CALLED A DRUG AND ALCOHOL ASSESSMENT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A SIMPLE TEST TO TELL YOU IF YOU ARE AN ALCOHOLIC.

I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS A MULTI-WEEK PROCESS.

I ALREADY THOUGHT I HAD A PROBLEM AND I STOPPED DRINKING AND IT COMES BACK TO VERDICT DAY AND I READ IT AND IT SAYS NOT ALCOHOL DEPENDENT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

IT MEANS YOU ARE NOT AN ALCOHOLIC.

NOT ALCOHOL ABUSIVE.

I KNOW YOU THINK YOU CLEARLY ABUSED ALCOHOL.

HOW CAN YOU NOT BE...

I TOOK IT AS A GET OUT OF FREE CARD.

I'M GOOD TO GO THEN AND I STARTED DRINKING AGAIN AND IT WAS WAY WORSE.

I STARTED DOING THINGS I HADN'T DONE BEFORE.

BINGE DRINKING, GETTING A HEAD START, DOING THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE IS A SAYING IN RECOVERY THAT WHILE YOU STOPPED USING YOUR DISEASE WAS OUT IN THE PARKING LOT DOING PUSHUPS.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING O.

MY DISEASE, MY DISEASE RIGHT NOW, IF I START DRINKING TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE WAY, WAY, WAY WORSE BECAUSE THE GRAPH ON THE DISEASE KEEPS GETTING WORSE.

SO THAT WAS ONE IMPORTANT THING.

AND THE OTHER MOST IMPORTANT THING I'VE LEARNED I'VE SHARED WITH PEOPLE ABOUT ADDICTION WAS THIS GUY BYRNES BRADY, THE CZAR OF RECOVERY IN LOUISVILLE.

HE SHARED THE SCIENCE OF IT.

HUMAN GENOME TESTING IN THE 90s DISCOVERED THAT ABOUT 10% OF HUMANS ARE BORN WITH LOW DOPAMINE IN YOUR BRAIN.

AND THE TWO THINGS THAT CONTROL OUR HAPPINESS ARE CEREMONY TONE INAND DOPAMINE.

SEROTONIN YOU CAN CONTROL WITH ANTIDEPRESSANTS, DOPAMINE DOESN'T WORK WITH THAT.

WE GROW UP IN OUR LIVES IRRITABLE, RESTLESS, DISCONTENTED, NOT FEELING NORMAL BUT NOT KNOWING WHAT NORMAL IS, SO I REMEMBER MY SIGHTSDZ GRADE TEACHER Mrs. FERGUSON CALLED MY PARENTS IN IN SIXTH GRADE.

I HAD GREAT PARENTS, SAYING WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO JOHN.

SOMETHING IS GOING ON IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD.

HE IS NOT RIGHT.

HE IS NERVOUS ALL THE TIME.

HE IS ANXIETY FILLED.

I REMEMBER THAT VIVIDLY BECAUSE NOBODY KNEW WAS WAS GOING ON.

I WAS BORN WITH LOW DOPAMINE AND I WAS A NERVOUS WRECK ALL THE TIME AND IT DIDN'T UNTIL THOSE OF US WITH LOW DOPAMINE DISCOVER SOMETHING THAT RAISES OUR DOPAMINE LIKE ALCOHOL, DRUG DRUGS, PORN, GAMBLING, WHATEVER IT IS, IT RAISES OUR DOPAMINE AND IT RECARVES YOUR BRAIN PATHWAYS TO DELIVER THE DOPAMINE TO THE RECEPTORS IN YOUR BRAIN FASTER BECAUSE YOUR BRAIN HAS FIGURED OUT HOW TO BE HAPPY AND THEN THE ADDICTION IS ON.

AND IT MAKES PHOTO AL-- TOTAL SINCE.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AND TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

IT'S A BRAIN DISEASE.

CLASSIFIED IN THE AMA.

A CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE FATAL IF UNTREATED DISEASE.

SAME THING AS CANCER.

ONLY WE CAN TREAT IT.

WE ARE LUCKIER THAN CANCER FOLKS BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE TREATMENT DOESN'T END IN A POSITIVE RESULT.

WE CAN STILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT IS INCREDIBLE.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE OR FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.

DO YOU FIND THAT WITH PEOPLE, THE PERCEPTION.

>> THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE 2010 WHEN I WENT TO TREATMENT I.

WAS THAT WAY BACK THEN.

I TELL PEOPLE AWMENT THE TIME WHEN I SPEAK TO RECOVERY GROUPS, NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO SUFFER FROM THE DISEASE OF ADDICTION BECAUSE THERE IS MORE AWARENESS OF IT BECAUSE OF THE HEROIN CRISIS.

HOWEVER THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY EASIER.

HAZELTON'S OWN STATISTICS, ONE THIRD, ONE THIRD, ONE THIRD.

ONE THIRD OF THE PEOPLE THAT LEAVE THERE WILL BE GOOD TO GO FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

ONE THIRD WILL RELAPSE AND REQUIRE FURTHER TREATMENT AND ONE THIRD WILL DIE OF THEIR DISEASE.

I THOUGHT AT THE TIME THAT WAS BULL.

THERE IS NO WAY THAT ONE THIRD OF THE PEOPLE WITH ADDICTION DISEASE DIE OF THEIR DISEASE BUT I WAS JUST THINKING IN TERMS OF LIVER DISEASE, THINGS LIKE THAT.

I WASN'T THINKING OF THE HEROIN CRISIS THAT HAPPENED BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY I WASN'T THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE.

AND LOOKING BACK AND SEEING WHAT I SEE NOW IN RECOVERY, I THINK THE ONE THIRD NUMBER WAS LOW.

I THINK HIGHER THAN ONE THIRD DIE OF THEIR DISEASE WHEN YOU FACTOR IN SUICIDE.

>> AND AN IMPORTANT PART, TOO, THAT YOU MENTIONED, IS IT IS A FATAL DISEASE IF UNTREATED.

>> YES.

AND I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE REALIZE THAT AND IT'S PROGRESSIVE.

>> YES.

>> LIKE I WAS EXPLAINING WITH THE WHEN I STOPPED, IT GOT WORSE.

THERE WAS A STORY IN HAZELTON ABOUT A 40-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO WENT THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND STOPPED AND DIDN'T DRINK FOR 40 YEARS AND ON HER BIRTHDAY, A LITTLE OLD LADIES WITH HER TALKED HER INTO HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF WINE, WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS SHE WAS ON THE FLOOR OF HER APARTMENT DRUNK AROUND THE CLOCK AND HAD TO GO BACK TO HAZELTON.

IT'S ALWAYS THERE.

AND IT'S NOT AN EASY WAY TO LIVE.

LIKE AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAUNT YOU.

LIKE I CAN GO PLACES NOW AND HAVE NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER.

I CAN GO TO A SPORTS BAR WITH THE GUYS AND NEVER THINK ABOUT DRINKING AND THEN LITTLE THINGS, I COULD BE AT A FAMILY PARTY AND THE RED CUPS COME OUT AND THAT EUPHORIC RECALL HITS AND FOR THOSE INSTANCES, RECOVERY GIVES US THE TOOLS TO DEAL WITH IT.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN EXIT PLAN, DO SOMETHING ELSE.

FOR ME IT WAS GOING FISHING.

TRAINING FOR TRIATHLONS.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR TOOLS AND EXIT STRATEGIES.

>> AND YOUR TOOLS, I WOULD SAY, ARE PRETTY EXTREME.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE IRON MAN AND TRIATHLONS.

WAS THAT SOMETHING YOU WERE ALWAYS INTERESTED IN I WAS A SWIMMER WHEN I WAS A KID AND THEN WHEN THE PARTY LIFE GOT INTENSE IN ROCKFORD, I DECIDED I NEEDED TO FIND SOMETHING ATHLETIC TO BACK INTO BECAUSE I WAS THE CAPTAIN OF THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM.

I WAS ALWAYS AT ATHLETIC.

I BORROWED 9 SPORTS DIRECTOR BIKE AND STARTED RUNNING AND DOING TRIATHLONS AND YOU WANT TO MAKE IT UP TO THE ULTIMATE, THE 140-MILE LONG TRIATHLON.

I DID ONE OF THOSE IN 2004.

CAME TO LOUISVILLE IN 2007 AND DID EVERY ONE OF THE LOUISVILLE TRIATHLONS.

I THINK I'M THE ONLY PERSON THAT CAN SAY THAT, THE IRON MAN IS HERE.

I WOULD STILL BE DOING THEM.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO HAWAII THIS YEAR.

IF YOU DO 12 IRON MAN DISTANCE IN NORTH AMERICA, YOU QUALIFY FOR THE HAWAII WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP THE ONE WE SEE ON NBC.

I QUALIFIED, SENT MY STUFF IN AND GOT MY EMAIL THE OTHER DAY, CONGRATULATIONS JOHN IT'S TIME TO SIGN UP AND DO HAWAII.

PROBLEM IS I JUST HAD MY SECOND BACK SURGERY AND I'M NOT ALLOWED TO RUN ANYMORE.

SO I HAD TO JUST GO HARD PASS.

>> WOW!

HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN SUCH A HIGH ACHIEVER?

I MEAN LET'S-- YOU HAVE HAD MORE THAN 100 EMMY AWARDS NOW.

>> YES.

>> AND 15 EDWARD R. MURROW AWARDS.

YOU ARE COMPETING IN TRIATHLONS AND IRON MAN.

ARE YOU JUST WIRED TO BE A HIGH ACHIEVER?

>> I'M A WIRED COMPETITIVE PERSON.

WHEN I WAS IN REHAB AND THEY HAD THIS THING CALLED THE FAMILY PROGRAM AND SO THEY KIND OF WERE SPERSED US WITH FAMILIES OF GUYS WHO WERE IN THERE, AND I GOT TO LEARN ALL THE STORIES.

AND I'M HEARING ALL THESE STORIES ABOUT WHAT COUCH POTATOES EVERYBODY WAS AND ALCOHOLISM WAS DRAGGING THEM DOWN.

IT DID THE OPPOSITE FOR ME.

I DON'T NO KNOW.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WIRED TO BE A HIGH ACHIEVER.

>> DO YOU THINK IT SERVED YOU WELL WITH YOUR RECOVERY PROCESS?

>> YEAH, IT GAVE ME A ZEST TO TACKLE IT.

INTERESTING STORY.

SO AFTER THE OLD NATIONAL BANK MASS SHOOTING HERE RECENTLY, I ALTS THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME.

9/11, THE HORRIBLE THINGS WOULD HAPPEN, I WAS HERE FOR THE MASSACRE BUT NOTHING GOT TO ME.

AND I WAS THINKING THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME.

TOO CALLOUS OF A HUMAN BEING OR SOMETHING.

ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL THE OLD NATIONAL BANK MASS SHOOTING.

ON THE AIR 17 HOURS, ANCHORING 17 HOURS THE FIRST THREE DAYS.

AND I STARTED BREAKING DOWN, SOBBING.

OFTEN IN THE ENSUING DAYS.

AND I RECOGNIZED-- WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH STUFF ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE I'VE DONE ENOUGH STORIES, I NEED TO SEEK TREATMENT.

I SOUGHT TREATMENT WITH A COUNSELOR WHO WAS A FRIEND OF MINE FROM THE CHURCH AND BROUGHT UP A GREAT POINT.

HE SAID ALL YOUR COPING MECHANISMS ARE GONE NOW.

YOU HAVEN'T ABLE TO DRANK FOR A WHILE.

THAT WAS A COPING MECHANISM.

YOU CAN'T RUN ANYMORE BECAUSE OF YOUR SURGERIES AND LIMITED BIKING.

ABOUT ALL YOU GOT LEFT IS FISHING.

HE SAID SO YOUR COPING MECHANISMS ARE BEING WIPED AWAY.

THAT'S WHY YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COPE.

HAVE YOU SOME COME UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE.

THAT WAS GREAT ADVICE.

A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW, YOU KNOW, I NEEDED THAT.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU CUP COME UP WITH THEN?

>> I'M GOING TO KEEP WRITING AND DO MORE FISHING AND INDULGING IN MY FAMILY MORE, MY THREE GRANDKIDS.

>> A WHOLE NEW CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE.

YOUR LATEST BOOK IS ALL ABOUT THAT FISHING AND FAMILY.

RIGHT?

>> ANYBODY WATCHING WHO IS OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE WALTONS, THIS BOOK IS LIKE THE WALTONS.

IT'S ABOUT FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, THE GOOD STUFF IN LIFE.

I HAD SIX WEEKS OFF FROM WORK AFTER MY LAST BACK SURGERY.

I WROTE THIS BOOK IN SIX WEEKS.

I WAS ALWAYS GOING TO WRITE THIS BOOK.

I GOT A LAPTOP FOR CHRISTMAS AND I POUNDED OUT A CHAPTER A DAY AND I HAD MY OUTLINE.

WRITING IS INTERESTING.

COLLEGE PROFESSOR SAID WRITING IS LIKE FISHING.

THE FUN PART OF FISHING IS NOT THE FISH YOU CATCH IN THE END BUT THE PROCESS, DISCOVERING WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T.

THE FISH AT THE END DON'T MATTER.

WRITING IS THE SAME WAY.

THE BOOK DOESN'T MATTER.

ITS IT'S THE PROWESS IN GETTING THERE, PROCESS, SEEING WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T.

TAKES NEW DIRECTIONS YOU DIDN'T ANTICIPATE.

THIS WAS GOING TO BE JUST A FUNNY FISH STORY BOOK.

FUNNY THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.

ONES THAT GOT AWAY, ONES THAT DIDN'T.

ENDED UP BEING A BOOK ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH MY DAD.

I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL I WROTE THIS BOOK, AND WITH MY KIDS.

IT'S ABOUT THE HIGHS AND LOWS IN LIFE, HAPPIEST I'VE EVER ABOUT BE IN MY LIFE WAS A CAMPING TRIP, WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH MONEY WHEN I WAS A KID AND A FAMILY CATCHING TRIP THAT WENT AWRY AND ALL OUR FOOD GOT RUINED AND WE PACKED UP THE TENT AND HEADED BACK.

EVERYBODY WAS ANGRY AND MY MOM TALKED MY DAD INTO STAYING AT AN OVERNIGHT CABIN.

WE HAD HOT DOG, NO MONEY FOR FOOD.

NO NOTHING, THE GREATEST MOMENT OF OUR LIFE WAS SITTING AROUND THE WOOD BURNING STOVE, LISTENING TO THE LOONS ON THE LAKE, CATCHING A FISH OFF THE PIER AND TALKING AS A FAMILY.

NO TV, NO RADIO, NO NOTHING.

SO THAT'S WHAT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT.

THE GOOD STUFF IN LIFE.

>> AND THEN AS A PARENT AND A GRANDPARENT NOW, YOURSELF, THAT'S JUST EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, I WOULD IMAGINE BECAUSE YOU GET THE PERSPECTIVE AS YOU GET OLDER OF WHAT WHAT YOUR CHILDHOOD, MA MATTERED, RIGHT?

>> I'M TRYING TO PLANT THE SAME SEEDS.

TAKE MY-- I GOT TWO GRANDSONS AND A GRANDDAUGHTER NOW ALL FIVE OF THEM WITHIN A FIVE YEAR SPAN.

AND VERY YOUNG AND I'M TRYING TO PLANT THE SEEDS OF ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF.

I CAN'T WAIT-- THIS CHRISTMAS BREAK, TO TAKE MY OLDEST GRANDSON ICE FISHING.

YOU TRY TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS COOL ABOUT ICE FISHING, IT JUST FAILS, RIGHT?

BUT I'M GOING TO TAKE HIM AND HE IS GOING TO LEARN WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT IT.

>> IS THIS YOUR FAVORITE CHAPTER OF LIFE SO FAR?

>> YEAH EXCEPT FOR THE BACK SURGERIES.

IF I COULD STILL DO IRON MANS, YES, IT WOULD BE MY FAVORITE FISHING PLACE ON EARTH I DISCOVERED BECAUSE I HAD A VIEWER HERE WRITE ME AND SAY I HAVE A PLACE A GREEN RIVER AND IT'S WONDERFUL AND YOU WOULD LOVE IT.

I THOUGHT RIGHT DUDE.

I FINALLY WENT DOWN THERE NOT KNOWING WAY WAS DO AND I CAUGHT TWO SEVEN-POUND WALLEYES ON THE FIRST STRIP AND HE CAME TO THE STATE FAIR, YOU KNOW HOW PEOPLE COME TO THE FAIR TO GET AUTOGRAPHS EACH YEAR.

HE CAME AND WAITED IN LINE WITH HIS FISHING LURE AND HAD ME SIGN HIS FISHING LURE.

I KNEW HE WAS SPECIAL.

MATT WRIGHT WAS HIS NAME.

MY WIFE THINKS I'M CRAZY.

IN THE FOUR YEARS SINCE THEN I'VE GONE TO GREEN RIVER AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK FISHING, 90 MINUTE TRIP DOWN AND BACK, AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK FOR FOUR YEARS.

EVERY WEEK OF THE YEAR.

SOMETIMES TWICE.

>> WOW.

>> MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

I WILL GET OFF THE NEWS AT 11:35 AT NIGHT ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, AND THE MAYHEM OF NEWS, YOU KNOW HOW IT GETS TO YOU.

YOU NEED A RELEASE.

AND I'LL CHANGE MY CLOTHES AT WORK, DRIVE DOWN TO GREEN RIVER AND STAND WAIST DEEP FISHING IN THE DARKNESS, CATCHING FISH, LISTENING TO THE OWLS COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER ACROSS THE RIVER, BEAVER COMES TO CHECK ON ME, COYOTES IN THE WOODS, AND IT'S THE MOST THERAPEUTIC AWESOME THING ON EARTH.

THAT'S THIS CHAPTER OF MY LIFE.

IT'S GOOD.

>> HOW DO PEOPLE FIND THAT PLACE IN WHAT ADVICE DO YOU GIVE TO PEOPLE ABOUT HOW TO FIND... >> BE OPEN MINDED BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO DISMISS THAT GUY'S SUGGESTION, RIGHT?

I WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN THIS.

GREATEST FISHING SPOT IN MY WHOLE LIFE.

BETTER THAN WISCONSIN.

AND I LISTENED AND TRIED SOMETHING.

JUST TRY SOMETHING NEW IF SOMEONE SUGGESTS SOMETHING.

>> YEAH SO WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?

YOU SAID YOU HAVE ANOTHER BOOK IN YOU YOU THINK?

>> YEAH, I NEED TO DO A TV SIT-COM BOOK.

I REALLY DO.

I MEAN I REALLY DO BUT I CAN'T-- I TOUCHED A LITTLE BIT ON SOME HORROR STORIES IN MY FIRST BOOK ABOUT TV NEWSROOMS.

>> THERE ARE PLENTY OF THEM.

>> I KNOW.

AND MY PUBLISHER THE FIRST TIME SAID WELL YOU ARE NOT MENTIONING NAMES.

YOU GOT TO MENTION NAMES.

I GO WELL EVERYBODY WILL HATE ME IF I DO THE REAL NAMES.

I HAD TO PLAY AROUND IT.

I NEED TO DO A TV SIT-COM KIND OF BOOK ON TV NEWS.

I HAVE TO BE OUT OF THE BUSINESS TO DO THAT BECAUSE I WON'T BE WELCOME BACK ANYMORE IF I DO THAT BOOK.

YOU KNOW I WON'T.

>> WELL, WE HOPE YOU ARE HERE ON THE AIR FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THAT BOOK, THE SIT-COM ONE DAY.

>> THE TV SIT-COM.

>> CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT.

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE STORY.

YOU CAN STREAM AND SHARE THIS EPISODE AT ket.org/INSIDE LOUISVILLE.

JOHN ALSO TALKED TO ME ABOUT THE 12-STEP PROGRAM HE FOLLOWS AND HOW IT CAN APPLY TO YOUR LIFE, ADDICTION OR NOT.

IT REALLY IS A GREAT LESSON TO LIVE BY.

YOU CAN CHECK THAT OUT ON OUR INSTAGRAM.

YOU CAN FIND US AT KET IN LOU.

THANKS FOR SPENDING TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR INSIDE LOUISVILLE... UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!