Recover from Life | About | Michael Cucchiara

I'm Michael Cucchiara.

For about six months, I loved every minute of being an addict.

But, after that initial half year, the highs weren’t even highs anymore, just short periods of escape from the hell I had created. Every day felt like Groundhog Day. I’d wake up guilty and try to set good intentions for staying clean. But sure enough, by ten at night, I’d be high. Instead of chasing escape, I was chasing even an hour pause from withdrawal. I kept using, not to get high, but just to survive and not feel like death incarnate.

During this time, I would often think, "Will I ever get out of this hell...

How do I stop using, without losing the only thing that makes me feel alive?

Why do I keep doing this to myself, even when I don’t want to? Even when I know it could kill me?”

Everything I’d been running from finally caught up, and I felt as bad on the drugs as I did off of them. The silence was heavier than the rock I'd been pushing. Then one day, I just... stopped. Not because it was easy, but because I couldn't carry the weight of it for one more second. I didn't have some magic "aha" moment; I just couldn't keep going.

I realized the thing that almost killed me is also what lets me create. Underneath it all was energy. That same fire and obsession doesn’t disappear when you get clean. When I stopped trying to destroy myself and started trying to understand myself, that power didn't vanish, it shifted.

The energy it took to stay high every day, the time, the planning, the dedication, is power. If you can survive long enough to point it somewhere else, you become unstoppable.

This is why I do what I do.

As a recovery coach, I specialize in helping people break cycles of dependency, quiet their inner critic, and challenge the beliefs that keep them stuck. My approach is rooted in Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Work, and Mindfulness.

I believe that recovery is not about fixing yourself or becoming someone else. It’s about meeting the wounded parts of yourself. Meeting the parts that have been carrying the weight of your past, and finally allowing them to breathe again, or even for the first time. It’s about moving from a state of internal war to a state of internal curiosity. Moving from a judgement of self to a compassion for every part. Together, we explore the core of the human experience to answer the age-old question: "Why do we do what we do, when we know what we know?"

I started Recover from Life in July of 2025. I wanted to share my story with the world. So I did. Since then, I have dropped a monthly blog, with each month revolving around a certain feeling. I share resource guides, quotes, and other short forms of inspiration throughout the month that all tie back into the overarching theme instated by the blog.

Everything on the site is free and accessible, with the hope that, my story and resources can help others find the same clarity and strength they provided me with. It’s all about helping you choose yourself.

This is how to Recover from Life.

I’m always chasing the sound in my head, and some days I get close. What you’ll find here is a mix of instrumentals, beats, and song ideas that stuck with me.

Tipping Point@michaelcucchiara

00:00 / 04:05

July 12, 2025 - Tipping Point

A Pluggnb beat. This past month I’ve been focused on this sound. I played the chords for this one on piano first, then brought the idea into FL Studio using an electric piano to build it out.

Flag That@michaelcucchiara

00:00 / 03:28

July 1, 2025 - Flag That

A beat inspired by the first Wilt Chamberlain mixtape. I’ll always have a soft spot for that era and style of production, it’s what first made me want to try making music myself.

July 4, 2025 - OTS by Otrdolo (prod. Michael Cucchiara)

I was deep into making Flint and Detroit-style beats during the back half of 2023. This one stood out early, so I stashed it on my hard drive and was just waiting for the right artist. A few months ago, the homie Otrdolo hit me up asking for some Flint-type stuff, so I sent him a ten-pack. This beat was in the batch. It ended up on his final tape as an artist, and he knocked it out the park.

Church in Detroit@michaelcucchiara & @1wavyjay

00:00 / 03:40

August 20, 2023 - Church in Detroit

I made this at the start of my Flint and Detroit phase in 2023. It was one of my first in-person collabs. Cooked it up with the homie, and we snapped. I wanted to highlight this older beat to show where my sound really started taking shape. This was about a year into producing, and one of the first times I made something I actually enjoyed listening to. The mix is a little rough in hindsight. Definitely clipped the low end too hard, but that was all a part of the process.

Corner Pocket@michaelcucchiara

00:00 / 02:48

Nov 9, 2024 - Corner Pocket

This was one of the first beats where I played all the MIDI out on my keyboard. I’d been teaching myself piano the year leading up to this, and I finally got to the point where I could play a melody I was actually hearing in my head. It was a game-changer for my workflow. This beat helped shape what would become my sound. Everything I’ve made since has built off the foundation I laid on this one.

Skateboarding’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember. It’s where I learned patience, dedication, and that you don’t quit just cause you eat shit. You fall, you get back up, you try again. That’s the whole rhythm.

These clips are how I move through life when I need some clarity.

June 9, 2023 - Bs Bigflip Tail Shuv Out

Favorite trick I’ve ever landed, and easily the “hardest.” I was living in Orlando for school, only skating this wooden park (Yucatan) since it was close. Small transition was all they had, so I was focused on doing tech tricks at the time. Cheese and crackers trick selection. It took thirteen days to stick this one.

June 15, 2025 - Alley-oop Bs Melon & More

Threw this edit together from a chill Sunday session. I skated for about an hour and filmed what a usual quick sesh looks like for me. I made the music for it too. Favorite trick in here is the backside ollie to nosepick bash-in. This is at my local park, Reid Menzer in York, PA. It's my favorite park and the one I’ve spent the most time at.

April 7, 2025 - Bs Tail to Fakie

Another edit I cooked up with my own beat as the background music. I was at the park and learned the last trick in this line, the backtail to fakie, and decided to throw it into a line. The ditch ramp I did the backtail on is one of my favorites at the park because of it's unique transitions. Its a two-three foot steep quarter that transitions into a normal bank. Fun one.

March 18, 2025 - Alley-oop Fs Air

For the longest time I could not keep the board on my feet when I would try any alley-oop frontside variation. I spent the week leading up to landing this toying with where I put my weight and eventually figured out the sweet spot. It was satisfying finally adding this one into my bag of tricks.

February 6, 2023 - Bs Tail Bs Bigspin

I tried this trick on and off over the years. I would always squeak out a sketchy landing and just stop trying it. I sat down this day and tried to break down the bigspin out. I figured out how to land in the back tail so my back foot was ready and it was game over. +1 in the bag of tricks.

March 11, 2024 - Kickflip Pivot to Fakie

Pivot to fakie and fs blunt are my two go to tricks on most things. So kickflip pivot fakie made sense to learn. I never learned em prior to this day because I could never balance the 5-0 properly. Did a couple with no tail press and solid fakie entry, then called it a day. I haven't done one since.

Skateboarder doing a frontside air on a quarter pipe at Reid Menzer Skatepark

September 23, 2020 - Fs Air

I love this picture of myself because I had just figured out how to blast frontside airs. This quarter pipe is about 6 foot tall with some wonky transitions. It gets steep out of nowhere, but it's perfect for doing airs, as it shoots you out versus up, preventing any scares of hanging up. Worst case you might go to flat. Due to this, I actually learned most of my airs on here. The bar at the top was an added bonus to track my height. Once I started going past the bar, I got the picture.