Don't Die Wisconsin

The boys are on a roll. 2 episodes in a row! The boys discuss harm reduction models, safe consumption sites, decriminalization, and so so much more. Patrick gets his harm reduction card back just minutes after it being taken away as he sloughs off the last of his more conservative views on the war on drugs. Yes. That's the correct spelling of "slough."

It's season 2 of DDW! No, really. 2021 has been a jumble of job changes, babies, COVID, depression, and general too-busy-for-this-podcast-BS for the boys...but they're back in action. Season 2 starts out with a bang: talking about addiction, drugs, death/dying, ideal funerals, death awareness meditation, Ryan's new mental health diagnoses, and some other super joyful shit. 

We cleaned out the Don't Die Wisconsin refrigerator and found, wayyyy in the back, this mold-covered plate of leftovers. We brushed it off and are making it available for your listening pleasure. Don't judge us

How do vampires bone non-vampires? Will Kevin get a bionic foot at some point and will it accidentally start a nuclear war? And how do people in recovery deal with surgeries and pain meds? Kevin gets honest. 

Impulse Control Disorder. Wtf is that? Does anyone care? Ryan has a bad trip. Patrick may be wanted for attempted murder. How to properly buy Whippets from a porn store in the 90s. And Patrick wants to get know the boys better with "behind the actors studio" questions and it goes as well as you might think.

This one is about morphine...and codeine...and Ketamine...and propofol...These are a few of our favorite things.

What makes a coke head a coke head? Are their ideas really as good as they say they are? And what's with all the lists? Patrick explains. Plus should Kevin go on a spirit quest with ayahuasca? Probably not, right? Drug-reference packed episode. Buckle Up.

Pink Floyd and Benzos. Japan has its own language? 100% increase in fatal drug overdoses. Did any one catch the masters? The real question is 'what didn't we cover this episode?'

What does white privilege mean within the addicted and alcoholic community? Here are some of the first hand accounts from those within that community directly effected by that privilege. Uncomfortable ? Good. 

Safer at home...but is it, really? How are addicts and alcoholics dealing with the isolation? How is COVID effecting prisons and jails? Is it finally proving that jail sentences are arbitrary and punitive? Or is this just another thing for Ryan to get irritated by?

Continued from episode 44. Motivational interviewing : What is ? Does it work? Is it black magic? and throat singing.   

Join the guys on another two parter. Learn the meaning of the word "esoteric." Listen to the boys wrestle with the idea that changing HOW we talk about addiction may or may not change how people see and treat addiction. Spoiler: Ryan hates it. 

Join the guys as they discuss the ugly reality which still exists in the recovery world. Ryan goes on a tear about a specific snake oil salesmen who claims he has cracked the alcoholic code and is happy to share it with you...for a price.  Patrick reads a letter from a listener that knits together a great episode which also includes discussions about Australian sports, for some reason

Welcome to part two of the basement antics of Don’t Die Wisconsin. This episode Patrick finally takes full control and forces his childish cohorts to discuss many relapse warning signs taken from traditional sources. Listen as Ryan confronts the source of some these and lays out fresh new opinions that, in the end, has everyone agreeing, including Kevin.

Welcome to another ridiculous installment of Don’t Die Wisconsin. Listen as the guys attempt to declutter their own thoughts on early recovery, relapse, treatment, and the like. Big discussions about the ego and the tendency of the newly sober addict to instantly feel as though they need to catch up with the rest of the world rather than simply focus on their recovery. Also, more on John Wick, Sweet November, and the correct pronunciation of “Cillian Murphy.” (Like KILLian)

Boozy boozy bop, the guys are back, and in rare form by sharing their David Lee Roth fandom stories. On a more positive and educational note Patrick shares the test results from initial data regarding fentanyl test strips and the profound change and effect its having on our state as well as props to the state DHS for believing in the test strips. Lastly, even though Wisconsin can be the butthole of weather the guys still had a great musically spooky Halloween.   

The boys took another period of much needed time off. Kevin, Patrick, and Ryan are coming back, for real...I think...In this episode the guys catch each other up on their lives and recovery. Ryan takes on a new challenging career and opens up about new perspectives on money vs his purpose. Kevin is grappling with keeping a positive mindset despite attending very few 12 step meetings. While Patrick shares his frustration with taking on an extremely demanding job and balancing that against his life outside of work. Also, #metoo comes for the recovery industry and much much more...

The guys are back!  Discuss what’s been happening in their lives, Ryan’s afraid of sharks, and find out if they’re narcissistic.

After the guys recorded a live podcast at the Opioid Conference in Green Bay they got to talk to their buddy Bob Forrest, who was also a keynote speaker for the conference. The boys all got together at their hotel and recorded this episode. Ryan's computer crashed about 10 minutes in, so the recording gets a bit wonky...but Bob helped to right the ship. The 4 of them talk Wisconsin, Universal Healthcare, Dr Drew, Socialism, generational poverty, and the rust belt; also a hint of a possible new podcast featuring Ryan and Bob entitled Bob and the Commie.

The dudes are back and live (again) at the Milwaukee Junior Fire Institute with Fireman Jeff. The guys share abbreviated versions of their stories and answer some great questions from the audience in attendance. Things get a bit heated around the question of Marijuana legalization, but settle down as they talk about the love and compassion that is necessary to tackle the opioid epidemic. The microphone on the floor didn't work, so Ryan has attempted to make the audio a bit louder for those questions. The result is a bit harsh. Apologies.   Keep hitting that subscribe button, tell your friends to do the same. We welcome all questions and comments on all social media platforms and at dontdiewisconsin@outook.com.

Recorded live at the 3rd annual Addiction Information Resource fair in South Milwaukee, Patrick and Kevin share their experience with the fine people of said city. Ryan was off galavanting in foreign countries and couldn't be present for this amazing event. He wishes to say that given the choice to do over again, he'd still rather be on the beach in Mexico. Mediated by South Milwaukee's Mayor, this event was a great opportunity for the remaining 2/3s of DDW to get their message of hope to another audience. Thanks to all who attended. 

In this episode the dudes discuss a question from one of our listeners. They talk about suicidal thoughts and Narcan, and loving people until they (hopefully) love themselves. Then the guys talk about their heroes. And ask "who are the heroes for the millennial generation?" Ryan discusses his distaste for all things Kardashian and the vacuous nature of social media icons. Fun stuff! Don't forget to review us on iTunes. Like us on facebook. Follow us on instagram. Email us questions and comments at dontdiewisconsin@outlook.com.

Finally! We get to hear (more or less) Yoda's story in its entirety. "Yoda" being our own Kevin Schaefer. This dude packed about 30 years of hard living into, about, 15. The years following his drug and alcohol consumption are the most interesting, though. From inactive, "white knuckle" sobriety to a spiritual awakening at around year 5; to a journey across Asia, ending in Korea where he spent time with buddhist monks in a monastery; to his full and rich life today, married with two wonderful kids. There's a reason we call him "Sensei."

In this episode the boys tackle a newer phenomenon of the interwebs involving taking videos of people nodded out or overdosing and posting it to social media sites. To complicate matters further, how do those people then recover, knowing their lowest moment was captured and is out there for millions to see? They also talk about men going to therapy and tackle live questions...well, one live question. Make sure to rate, review, like, and subscribe to DDW. Stay Safe and Don't Die.

God only knows what this one is about. The boys talk about their interview on the This Life Podcast with Dr Drew. They talk about their meeting with the Emergency Department of the Medical College of Wisconsin. They briefly talk about the history of opiates and their impact on the arts which leads to a frank discussion about how much of a dick Andy Warhol was. Finally Kevin, Patrick, and Ryan talk about the drugs they miss most and how to process that in sobriety. Sheesh.

After a nearly 2 month sabbatical, the boys are finally back! It's our 1 year anniversary and we spent it talking about our event back in September which raised around $2,000 for Lifepoint needle exchange; we spent it talking about where we pictured ourselves and the podcast a year ago and compared it to where we are today; and we talked about tripping in school and how much fun that is. Thanks for being patient with us!! Please please review us on iTunes! And click "Subscribe"

In the world of treatment facilities and support groups, abstinence is the golden rule. This week the boys get into why they think that is. They also get into the shame that can inadvertently be placed on recovering people when they don't perfectly adhere to abstinence: either when they relapse and try to return or if they are using harm reduction as a means of recovery. The guys also pay respects to Dan Biggs of Chicago's Recovery Alliance and one of the true revolutionary heroes of harm reduction. The guys build a new outlook on the foundation of harm reduction and are guided by Dan's words that "it's all positive change."

Opioid-related overdose deaths increased from 144 in 2012 to 337 in 2017. 88% of those deaths happen to those in the age range of 20-59. Where do these numbers come from? The COPE Report. A carefully and skillfully collected research report detailing all of the ins and outs of drug related deaths and interventions in Milwaukee county. Join us as we try really hard to keep up with Phd researcher and professor Brooke Learner from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Guaranteed you will be smarter after listening to this episode.

“Some live a life of indecision Strung out in the petty schisms I heard GBH I made a decision Punk rock is my religion" Lars Fredrikson, Rancid. Just like drugs revealed to us our problems, music has and continues to be one of our biggest guiding solutions. In this, our second “Lust For Life" episode we talk about our love for music and the concerts that changed our lives. Some when we were using and many in recovery. In addition to the positive role music plays in our lives, the team also shares some of their life changing and hilarious adventures in recovery abroad. Editor's note: Life has been super crazy for Ryan. Long hours at work and an ever-changing living situation has made it difficult for him to stay caught up with editing and publishing our episodes. This episode was recorded about a month ago. Apologies for only putting it out now.

This episode is dedicated to Chris from Dopey Podcast who passed away this week. We at DDW are huge fans of the show, and he will be greatly missed. A massive amount of love goes out to Chris' family and to Dave in this impossibly difficult time. We're thinking about you. In this episode Ryan talks about his recent dental emergencies, pain, and dealing with taking opiates in sobriety. How do you know the difference between unmanageable pain requiring painkillers and that crazy voice which is still alive and well in most recovering addicts. Kevin and Patrick offer words of wisdom and encouragement. Kevin offers his own recent experience with pain management.

Live from the Hive.  Downtown Milwaukee.  The boys are invited to record live in front of podcast enthusiasts. They interview the amazing people from Drop The Needle, a not-for-profit group which focuses on music to bring people together to raise awareness and money to help those in need in and around the city of Milwaukee struggling with Heroin addiction and recovery. They have an annual event coming up on July 22nd, 2018 at 88.9 Radio Milwaukee which seeks to raise funds for Stop Heroin Now and The Guest House. Special thanks to Mo and the rest of the hard working folks at the Hive and to Kevin, Jake, Chloe, Amanda, and Bryan from DTN for all your selfless work.

The guys at DDW are back and in true knucklehead fashion they are celebrating Patricks 9 years of amazing sobriety. DDW also shares some doleful thoughts and feelings regarding suicide and how important it is to just have a conversation concerning it. In the end wrapping it up with the message, "Finding your tribe."

Amy Dresner is so real it’s shocking yet refreshing. Amy, the self-professed Hollywood Jewish princess, shares a morning with DDW over skype to generously share her two cents about all the mishegas of junkie living and recovery life. Her book, My Fair Junkie: A Memoir of Getting Dirty and Staying Clean is a must for any one who wants to understand the term, "going to any means". She's foul-mouthed, pissed and writes like she experiences it. Listen, laugh and raise the middle finger with us as Amy says what few would dare to say but all are thinking.

Do you hear a bugle in the distance? Nope, neither do we.  The Calvary is not coming. What you can hear in this episode is a clear voice from one of DDW hero’s, Joe Muchka. A passionate guy in our community who has been fighting for alcoholics and drug addicts for over twenty years. Listen as Joe emphasizes why grassroots efforts are a must regardless of your credentials to help our community out of this epidemic.

As promised, we return with the follow-up episode of "the best Sammie." In this heart-felt talk with Sam's father, we agree that there really isn't one right way or, in fact, a wrong way to survive the insidious disease of addiction. Listen as Sam's father shares their families journey through their tornado and come out on the other side with a message of hope.

Don't Die Wisconsin had an unexpected guest join us, our good friend Sam honored us with sharing his crazy adventures through-out his childhood and how he stumbled, stole, lied and crawled his way into recovery. This is a two-part series with Sam’s view point being the first part and next week Sam’s father will join us in sharing his perspective of living with Sam and watching him transform into the awesome "Sammie" he is today.

Welcome to another episode of Don't Die Wisconsin. Join us in this thought meandering episode as we tackle ideas from, "Will I use if I don't go to a meeting?"  Some insights behind the naloxone papers and the latest news regarding the scary government solution to the opioid crisis.

Deep from within the bowels of the villainous lair, ( in batman voice) ....... Don't Die Wisconsin rears its head and is back! We've taken a needed month off to regain our strength and now, come out swinging with some rockin' new t-shirts for sale. Proceeds go to help substances users seeking recovery: in the form of financial aid for housing and or treatment. Today's episode circles around early age beginnings to when it wasn't fun.

Alderman Michael J. Murphy With nearly 400 drug overdoses in Milwaukee county last year, the shocking reality is that the problem is getting worse.  In this episode, Don't Die Wisconsin is privileged to sit down with Milwaukee Alderman Michael Murphy. We have a hard conversation about where Milwaukee county is at with this insidious disease.    We explore some of the issues that Milwaukee faces, as well as solutions Alderman Murphy and the Heroin Task Force are supporting.

Join the guys today in their verbal meanderings centered around the concept of "Hanging with the Winners." The person whose key chain is weighed down with recovery chips isn't necessarily the winner. From the guy who's in the sport coat, to the kid who just white-knuckled 90 days. This Good Will Hunting-esque episode will leave you laughing

Don't die's resident junky Ryan shares his existential travels of his childhood excursions with robots to recovery in Prescott Arizona and on to Florida or bust....listen to Ryan share the good the bad the ugly and finally his hope!

All of us unfortunately will experience losing someone we know to the chaos of reality we call life. Join the guys as they stumble through the stages of grief to find some sort of frame work to learn and cope with the ones we lost.

In this episode the boys talk about the history of drug and alcohol treatment and how the current opioid crisis is overwhelming outdated practices and programs. They get into how effective MAT can be and Ryan attempts to walk back his comments about methadone. And fails.

In 2016 Wisconsin suffered 827 drug related deaths, 97 were related to deadly fentanyl. As of December 5th there were already 182 fentanyl related overdose deaths. Milwaukee County alone is expected to reach 342 drug related deaths by the end of the year.  So we remember why we started this podcast and the unfortunate price addiction can cost. Join us, as just the three of us getting back to basics in this episode. Each of us walk down memory lane with recent past F@#ked up events and how we navigated through without “using".  We review and analyze what each of us liked in past podcasts and remain hopeful for recovery in the future. 

With our last episode of the year, we thought we'd do it right by talking with "Rehab Bob" and explore alternatives to help individuals suffering from addiction. We discuss supporting recovery in creative ways by waiting tables and caring for rescue animals. Bob Forrest, who started Don't Die and graciously gave us our start, wants all to get the message "Don't Die!" We close this episode with an original song by Bob Forrest "Memphis" 

Buddha who? Buddha what? And what does Buddhism have to do with recovery? In this soup for the Zen soul episode, John from Refuge recovery sits down with us and enlightens us to the path of recovery through Buddhist meditation. Listen as John mindfully explains the 4 noble truths to the 8 fold path to better living regardless of your addiction.

Holidays can be ROUGH... This week,  we have Counselor Sara in studio to discuss how we can handle the Holidays.    The Boys also discuss the 8 Overdose Deaths  this past week in Milwaukee. 

The guys are doing their best this week to discuss the family aspect of the disease of addiction. Kevin talks about Lederhosen and adoption Ryan talks about being a shitty friend in Dublin Patrick goes off on tangents..   

Pull over people we have red lights and sirens screaming by us in this episode. This week we share an hour with an amazing friend and righteous dude who literally brings people back from the dead. This firefighter is serious about helping our community. Listen to him tell his story and what it's like screaming through the streets at all hours of the night, saving lives and willing to act on just a glimmer of hope to get the message of recovery to those in need!  

With all the negative press and stories concerning the opioid epidemic we wanted to share with you someone in our own community who is fighting back with honesty and integrity. In this episode, we get the privilege to have a candid conversation with one of our home town hero’s Dr. Arassi. Dr Arassi discusses the disease of addiction, different Medication Treatments available, and how and why they are used.

This episode is 100% certified organic. We're changing it up a little bit this week. In this episode we talk about what kind of life you can have in sobriety. Life doesn't come to a screeching halt just because you stop using. Just like Iggy Pop says, we got a lust for life.