Sobriety Sucks

Meredith and Jack mourn the loss of their friend and immortal Twitter poster Alan Hanson. They also forced Zachary A. Siegel aka Zach on Twitter to watch Painkiller with them and talk about the ongoing opioid crisis, how it's mishandled in media, and what we can do when people we love use drugs.   Read the piece Meredith read at the beginning here. Read Alan's incredible Newsletter Take the Surface Streets. Read Alan's poetry and other brilliant writing here. Read how Alan was almost Elon Musk's twitter ghostwriter here. More information on overdose prevention, Narcan, and how you can do more here.

TW: Eating disorders, fatphobia, body dysmorphia. WE'RE BACK SUCKOS Jack (or should I say "John") and Meredith talk about Jennette McCurdy's best-selling book I'm Glad My Mom Died and everything that comes with having a mother. They also talk about codependency, family systems and get really deep into Meredith's struggles with eating.

The boys are back in town!!! The BIDEN BOYS that is! Jack and Meredith watch the republican propaganda film My Son Hunter. They resist the urge to tear the film to shreds and try to focus on the recovery aspects. They deep dive into why people think addiction is a weakness, and how the family system can impact recovery.

WE'RE BACK SUCKOS. You asked for it, you got it: Jack and Meredith celebrate their triumphant return to podcasting by discussing the Hulu show the Bear. They also shit on LA, and make a very special announcement about the future of the pod. Thanks for sticking with us suckos. We love you!

Meredith and Jack discuss the incredible graphic-novel blog 'Joe vs. the Cult' (https://elan.school/). They get into the dark world of the "Troubled Teen industry", and whether or not AA is actually brainwashing us to be better people.

Jack and Meredith are still avoiding their inevitable Euphoria Episode by talking about the art of the SCAM, baby. Meredith goes off on a tangent as an Airbnb private investigator, Jack talks about the Tinder Swindler, and they both discuss what their grifts would be had they not gotten into AA.

Jack and Meredith talk about the lowkey amazing movie Nightmare Alley, and how it may be the most AA movie of all time. Meredith also whines about twitter and Jack deep dives on the personal history of an old member of the program: the author of nightmare alley himself.

Meredith and Jack take a humiliatingly deep dive into Meredith's pre-sobriety sex columnist-style tumblr. They also talk about zoom bombing, Jack's first time smelling weed, and insecurities. Also apologies for shitty audio quality, we had some computer issues.

Meredith forced Jack to watch the Sex and the City Reboot "And Just Like That". They talk about the West Elm Caleb witch hunt, get sidetracked by a brief argument (haunted dolls, always fighting), and the problems with retroactively trying to make shows more progressive.

Meredith gets too famous to podcast. Jack humbles her with his wiles and they talk about twitter, the Floyd arc in 30 Rock, love bombing, detaching with love, and control issues. Special guest: Muzzy Carmichael.

TL;DR to avoid sad story: 21:38. Meredith bums everyone out. Jack proves that he is a good listener by not interrupting a crying woman. They leak Jason Schwartzman's old gmail address and talk about narrativizing one's own experiences. Also, Jack forces Meredith to sing a song from Once on this Island in a desperate attempt to gain listeners. Listen to Jack's Chapo Trap House episode here.

Guess what suckos? Santa brought you the ultimate Christmas present this year, the return of sobriety sucks. Meredith and Jack give updates about their life, talk about Flaked Season 2, and negative self talk.

Jack and Meredith talk about the WTF episode with Hunter Biden. Listen along as they deep dive into the man, the myth, the legendary liar Baby Boy Biden. They also talk about how annoying it is to be sober in your twenties, Bukowski bros, and how some people truly are incapable of being honest with themselves.

WHATS UP SUCKOS. Meredith and Jack talk about Darius Marder's exceptional directorial debut Sound of Metal. They also talk about some other stuff too. I don't remember what but I guarantee you there's other stuff in there. I promise.

WERE BACK SUCKOS. After a BIT OF A BREAK due to ***depression*** and ***insert another thing here*** Jack and Meredith triumphantly return despite Jack's inability to record the audio correctly to talk through the brief recovery narrative in Sia's Music, Celebrity AA culture, and Adam Curtis' documentary Can't Get You Out of My Head.

Hey suckos. This episode primarily focuses on Meredith's recent struggles with her eating disorders. Jack and Meredith were supposed to talk about Princess Diana's arc on the Crown, but to be real, they barely talk about it. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR SUCKOS! Jack and Meredith were supposed to talk about Pixar's Soul. They did not. Meredith had a lot of burning questions about victimization, narcissism, and self-preservation in a sober setting. So that's kind of more what they talk about.

Happy New Year Suckos!!! Jack and Meredith talk about the Euphoria Christmas Special so you guys will stop DM'ing them about it. They also discuss the holidays and Meredith goes through her infamous top 10 Spices of the Year countdown.

SORRY SUCKOS MEREDITH IS AN IDIOT!!! We've missed you SUCKOS. Jack and Meredith don't watch anything this week but they are back with general updates on their life, the state of the nation, and how the return to "normalcy" is stressing us sober folk the f*ck out.

We've missed you SUCKOS. Jack and Meredith don't watch anything this week but they are back with general updates on their life, the state of the nation, and how the return to "normalcy" is stressing us sober folk the f*ck out.

HAPPY TDAY SUCKOS. Jack and Meredith vaguely review the first five minutes of the season premiere of Law and Order: SVU and just generally give updates about their lives. WE LOVE YOU AND ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOU SUCKOS. Sometimes I forget to write in third person. oops.

Meredith and Jack watch the 2016 Netflix series Love and try to pinpoint why exactly it is so bad. But you know what they do love? Their SUCKOS. LOVE YOU SUCKOS!!!!

Jack and Meredith talk about the results of the 2020 Election and try as hard as they can to relate it back to sobriety. 

Jack and Meredith have a VERY SPOOKY EPISODE talking about some show about a haunting of hill house or whatever. I don't remember what the title was. SPOOKY!!! HAPPY HALLOWEEEN SUCKOS!!!!!

Jack and Meredith cringe and talk about two episodes from the absolutely ICONIC television show GIRLS. 

WE'RE BACK SUCKOS. On the first episode back from hiatus, Jack and Meredith get in a FIGHT.

Hey gang, Meredith fucked up the editing here. So she is rereleasing the podcast again to avoid spoilers. WHATSUP SUCKOS. Jack and Meredith are back with a hot fresh **AFTER DARK** episode that MAY OR MAY not go COMPLETELY OFF THE RAILS. They talk about the Sopranos, Seinfeld being a perfect Harold, and the falls of modern communications.

WHATSUP SUCKOS. Jack and Meredith are back with a hot fresh **AFTER DARK** episode that MAY OR MAY not go COMPLETELY OFF THE RAILS. They talk about the Sopranos, Seinfeld being a perfect Harold, and the falls of modern communications.

HELLO SUCKOS. It's Meredith's five year sober anniversary so we celebrate her like the beautiful queen she is. (She wrote this)

Jack and Meredith make good on their promise to cover Honey Boy, directed by Alma Har'el and written by none other than Shia LaBeouf. They also talk about twinless twins, musical theatre and the downsides to child stardom.

You asked for it and WE DID IT suckos. Jack and Meredith cover the seminal recovery film Mad Max Fury Road and somehow wind up in a very intense debate about where the Hero's Journey belongs in the recovery narrative.

JACK AND MEREDITH WATCHED ROCKETMAN ABOUT SIR ELTON JOHN AND THEY TALK ABOUT IT. LOVE U SUCKOS.

WE'RE BACK BABY. After a brief hiatus Jack and Meredith are back slammin' on those mics heading right into your earbuds. Or Airpods. Or WHATEVER. This week they talk about dating in sobriety, the relationship between different genders, and the complications of fantasy and intrigue in romantic relationships. CHECK IT OUT SUCKOS WE MISSED YOU!!!

DONATE gofundme's: Justice for Breonna Taylor Gianna Floyd (George Floyd's daughter) future fund Justice for David McAtee Peace and Healing for Darnella Fund bail funds: Oakland: Bay Area Anti-Comission Repression Bail Fund Anti Police Terror Project Chicago: Chicago Community Bond Fund and finally because this is I guess required of us to say: While Sobriety Sucks is about twelve step and AA, the views reflected in the podcast are our own and do not necessarily represent the opinions or views of any 12 step organization.   

HEY SUCKOS! We're back with a VERY SPECIAL EPISODE and a VERY SPECIAL GUEST. Listen in as Jack, Meredith, and Tompkins discuss his deployment, the addiction of war and how to make amends when you return back home. 

How we DOIN SUCKOS??? Jack and Meredith come together once again to discuss the classic movie Leaving Las Vegas. As DIEHARD CAGE FANS WE WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY CAGE HATE HERE. They discuss what it looks like when someone has given up the idea of getting better, how Elizabeth Shue's character could fall in love with Ben, and Bruce Springsteen's thoughts on recovery.

We're BACK BABY with a brand spankin' hot off the presses new episode SUCKO!!! After some major lazy addict resistance, Jack and Meredith watch the delightful Criterion movie Withnail and I. Listen in as they talk about "We are not a glum lot", Ms. Monopoly, and the pain of leaving old friends behind after getting sober. 

WHATS UP SUCKOS. In this VERY SPECIAL EPSIODE, Meredith and Jack absolutely NERD THE HELL OUT over Red Dead Redemption 2. Listen as they discuss their experience strength and hope about the best video game of all time.

WHAT's UP SUCKOS. We're back with a VERY SPECIAL GUEST, Luke Taylor (Shrimp Boys, Helltrap Nightmare, threatening to kill Mr. Peanut on twitter, etc.) to talk about the South Park episode Make Love Not Warcraft and the unglamorous side of video game addiction. 

What's up SUCKOS!! Jack and Meredith conclude their 4/20 Vapril Dabstravaganza with one of the best stoner comedies out there, Pineapple Express. And guess what? They ACTUALLY recorded this on 4/20 YA STONERS. Spark one up for the old times and enjoy as they talk about weed, Juicy Couture, and how family members don't quite understand the accomplishments of recovery. 

WELCOME BACK SUCKOS. Continuing their Vapril QuarTwenty Dabstravanganza, Meredith and Jack somehow made their way through the 2008 slog of a movie Superhigh me. They deep dive into everything wrong with Doug Benson, stoner culture and discuss the stigmas of pot as an addictive substance. 

Get ready ladies and jointleman!!!! Jack and Meredith continue their 4/20 Vapril Smokestravaganza with Season 1 Episode 6 of Weeds where Andy Botwin finds himself attending an MA meeting. Take a rip off that fat White Widow and chill out for these great vibes y'all.

Jack and Meredith talk about the results of the "What TV/Movie character are you most like". They discuss Meredith's failed bread attempt, MENSA, twitter conversations and Westworld.

Light it up suckos. Its the PREMIERE episode of the Sobriety Sucks 4/20 Vapril Dabestravaganza. Meredith and Jack do a line by line analysis of the Sublime hit "Smoke Two Joints" and discuss the perils of pot addiction, stoner culture, and their mutual love of "That Jazz Flower".

Jack and Meredith are tasked with tackling the first bender of Bojack Horseman, but mainly end up talking about the difficulty of discussing relapse in the rooms, attachment styles, and Ben Schwartz. 

BUCKLE UP SUCKOS!! In another emergency quarantine episode, Jack helps Meredith through waking up in a piss poor mood. They talk about horse girls, creativity during quar, Joe Biden, nightmares and Jack writes some incredible sober cowboy poetry.

Jack and Meredith watch the Sex and the City Episode 'Was It Good For You' and discuss sex and dating while sober, the tired trope of relapsing in television, and just chillin' in Cedar Rapids.

Live from our separate bunkers it's JACK AND MEREDITH GOING CRAZY. Isolation is a complete and total bitch for sober folk, so we fired up our mics to try and make ourselves less insane. Jack and Meredith try to find a sense of purpose and resolution during quarantine. 

What do you want me to say. Flaked is bad for sobriety. 

Jack and Meredith watch the 2017 Netflix Original Series Flaked so you don't have to. Seriously, you're welcome.

The gang hunkers down with the OG of the program, no other than the bossman Bill W. Jack and Meredith discuss the 1989 made for TV movie My Name is Bill W., starring none other than James Woods. Listen as Meredith mistakes James Woods for Adam West the entire episode!