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Listen without ads at: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast On a brand-new Dopey Wednesday! Dave announces that DopeyCon is officially happening October 3 at the SVA Theatre, presented by Mountainside—and reveals the game-show-inspired concept for the event. Legendary Dopey storyteller Mick Popham calls in from New Zealand with a brutally dopey story about stealing oxycodone, Valium and dihydrocodeine from an elderly cancer survivor—then replacing her pain medication with laxatives. Later, writer and recovering addict Kevin McEnroe returns for a wide-ranging conversation about the Knicks championship, watching his father John McEnroe celebrate with Larry David, and the strange emotional power of finally seeing the Knicks win. Kevin also opens up about growing up with his mother, Tatum O'Neal, during her addiction; addiction and resentment within a famous family; caring for his mother following her stroke; sobriety, forgiveness, service and the possibility of becoming a father himself. He and Dave compare the challenges of traveling sober, attending alcohol-soaked weddings, missing meetings, resentment toward their wives and learning to show up for other people. Plus: Farrah Fawcett in Playboy, Dave's deeply unfortunate first masturbatory experience, teaching tennis as “chop wood, carry water,” Dave's new Rolling Stone kratom piece—and a potentially great new book idea for Kevin. All that and more on the new new new wednesday! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Listen without ads on patreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Summary: This week on Dopey Greatest Hits, Dave marks the eighth anniversary of Chris O'Connor's death with a powerful replay about relapse, survival and the people addiction takes from us. Before the original episode, Dave reflects on his own recovery, restraint of pen and tongue, missing meetings and the uncomfortable truth that two things can be true at once. He also reads a brutally honest email from James D. DeHart about coming within seconds of buying meth after three years away from hard drugs. The original episode opens with Dave remembering Chris and listening back to the early years of Dopey—the jokes, interruptions and ordinary moments that preserved their friendship. A clip from Episode 100 becomes painfully prophetic as Dave and Chris casually discuss what their relapses might look like and whether either of them could die. Then Dopey legend DJ recounts the complete anatomy of his relapse after nearly two years sober. A new job and relationship slowly replaced meetings, sponsorship and honesty. Social drinking followed, then a drive past his old Detroit dope house. Within weeks, he was smoking crack and fentanyl daily, hiding drugs from his girlfriend and falling out in bathrooms. After mixing fentanyl, Suboxone, tequila, cannabis gummies and Ativan, DJ entered precipitated withdrawal and landed in a Detroit hospital. He left in undersized hospital scrubs and socks, found his way back to the dope spot and spent the day smoking crack and fentanyl in a blackout. He lost his clothes, wandered barefoot through Detroit, handed his debit card to a stranger and eventually surfaced dirty, disoriented and barely alive. His family found him, and he eventually returned to treatment. The episode also includes a classic exchanges between Dave and Chris, followed by a moving conversation with Chris's former sponsor, Dylan. They discuss sponsorship, psychedelics in recovery, the dangers of building a life and then neglecting the recovery that made it possible—and the authenticity, curiosity and independence that made Chris unforgettable. All that and way more! on this Ghosts of ChrisMiss Past episode! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Listen without ads: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Episode summary: This week we continue Allman Brothers Month!Legendary photographer, archivist and Allman Brothers tour manager Kirk West tells the incredible story of his journey from small-town Iowa into the center of American rock-and-roll history. After discovering psychedelics and Chicago blues in the late 1960s, Kirk became an IV meth user and drug dealer. He fled pending charges, landed in the psychedelic communities of Boulder and Northern California, and was eventually identified and arrested while hitchhiking through Nevada with meth and syringes in his backpack. Kirk recounts therapeutic-community rehab, heroin addiction, the murder of his drug-dealing partner, repeated arrests and the camera-store burglary that finally led him back into treatment. He found recovery through one of Florida's earliest Narcotics Anonymous communities—but after five years sober, he attempted to prove that he could drink normally. That experiment ended shortly after John Lennon's murder and ultimately gave Kirk the sobriety date he has maintained ever since. His recovery opened the door to an extraordinary career photographing Bob Marley, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Clash, Jerry Garcia and countless others. Kirk eventually became the Allman Brothers Band's archivist and tour manager, served as Dickey Betts' sponsor and helped preserve the group's history. He shares intimate stories about Gregg Allman, Duane Allman, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, the Big House in Macon—and the night Lowell George offered him cocaine shortly before his death. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Hunter Montgomery has been sober for nearly 20 years – but his story didn't begin with heroin. It began with a football injury, a prescription for painkillers, and the belief that he'd finally found something that made him feel comfortable in his own skin. In this honest conversation, Hunter joins Zac Clark to unpack the hidden beginning of addiction, why so many people suffer in silence, and what finally broke the cycle. They explore the misconceptions surrounding recovery, the danger of trying to "do it your own way," the role of surrender, faith, service, and why long-term recovery isn't about simply avoiding drugs or alcohol – it's about building a life worth staying sober for. Hunter also opens up about surviving an overdose, navigating relapse, living with Tourette syndrome in the public eye, finding recovery at a young age, co-parenting after divorce, becoming a father again, and why he now uses his platform and career to help others ask for help before it's too late. Whether you're in recovery, love someone who is, or simply want to better understand how addiction really takes hold, this is a conversation about hope, identity, and the possibility of lasting change. If this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Follow Hunger Montgomery: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hmontgomery/ Connect with Zac: https://www.instagram.com/zwclark/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/ https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclark https://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553 https://twitter.com/zacwclark If you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release Recovery: (914) 588-6564 releaserecovery.com @releaserecovery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Listen without ads on patreon - www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast SUMMARY This week on the Dopey Total Replay, Dave returns from his summer hiatus and previews the family's Pacific Northwest adventure, the upcoming Patreon Zoom, and the big decision facing DopeyCon: Friday night at the SVA Theatre or Saturday at the old church. Then we travel back to Dopey Episode 37 for a classic conversation with Dave and Chris. They talk about sponsorship, working the steps, honesty, spirituality, and the strange miracle of one addict helping another. Dave tells the story of Jerry Garcia using a radio interview to summon drugs after the Grateful Dead's package went missing in Philadelphia, plus tales of John Lennon's psychedelic excess and Paul McCartney's alleged plan to smuggle Owsley acid inside camera equipment. Things get progressively dopier as Dave remembers stealing fried chicken and vodka at a company party, while Chris describes shooting cocaine in Anguilla, hallucinating benevolent Rastas hiding in the bushes, chasing an imaginary car around an abandoned house, and eventually being rescued from Saint Martin by his brother. Finally, Dave recounts smuggling six bundles of heroin into Jamaica, burning through nearly everything, passing out on Valium during a press trip, and repeatedly sneaking into first class while withdrawing on the flight home. Beneath all the insanity, Dave and Chris reflect on the possession of addiction, the freedom of sobriety, and the strange comfort of no longer needing drugs to feel safe. Stay strong, Dopey Nation, and fucking toodles for Chris. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Listen without ads on patreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This week on Dopey! We open the show with a deep dive into Lou Reed's classic junkie anthem "Waiting for the Man" before reading incredible listener stories involving MDMA-assisted therapy, smashing open a safe with an axe for OxyContin, smoking crack in an airplane bathroom, a horrific flesh-eating abscess, and surviving Antabuse mixed with opioids. Then legendary author Jerry Stahl returns for one of the funniest and deepest conversations Dopey has ever had. Jerry shares never-before-heard stories about writing for Twin Peaks, working with David Lynch and Ben Stiller, learning from Hubert Selby Jr., meeting William Burroughs' son, Oprah admitting she loved crack, surviving heroin addiction, and why kindness matters more than bitterness. The conversation ends with Dave pitching Jerry his outrageous action movie idea: Die Hard... at Katz's Delicatessen. PLUS MORE MORE MORE on a brand new yet timeless episode of that good old dopey show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Listen without ads at 8$ a month or up on patreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast SUMMARY This week on Dopey Greatest Hits, Dave officially declares July to be Allman Brothers Month and revisits one of his favorite interviews—with Duane Betts, guitarist, songwriter and son of the legendary Dickey Betts. Before the interview, Dave talks about his lifelong love of “Blue Sky,” reflects on a difficult Patreon Zoom and reminds himself of one of recovery's hardest lessons: restraint of pen and tongue. Papa Smurf contributes an incredible story about selling mushrooms in an Allman Brothers parking lot, getting grabbed by undercover cops and escaping after an oblivious hippie accidentally distracts them. A listener named Jeff also shares a disastrous Phish adventure involving craft beer, moonshine, cocaine, getting lost outside the venue while “Maze” played in the distance, wandering through a locked campground and receiving a possession charge that ultimately introduced him to AA. Then Dave sits down with Duane Betts for an intimate and wide-ranging conversation about growing up inside the Allman Brothers family, touring with his father, living at Cher's Malibu home, learning guitar on the road and finding his own musical identity. Duane opens up about Hodgkin lymphoma, discovering Dilaudid after surgery, the Malibu party scene, Molly, cocaine, crack, black tar heroin and a gram-a-day opiate habit. He recalls smoking heroin-and-cocaine speedballs, flipping a car after scoring drugs, waking up beside a friend who had overdosed and nearly dying after a massive cocaine hit. He also describes arrests, drug court, treatment, Suboxone, relapse, touring with Dawes and eventually finding lasting recovery. Now more than seven years sober, Duane talks about meeting his wife in Jackson Hole, staying grounded through music, hiking, yoga and connection, and continuing the Allman Brothers legacy through his solo work, Palmetto Motel and the Allman Betts Family Revival. It is a story about rock-and-roll history, inherited addiction, devastating loss, recovery and finding a life filled with music, gratitude and purpose. Allman Brothers month continues! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Listen without Ads for $8 a month on patreon(plus other benefits)! www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This week on the Wednesday Dose of Dopey, We kick off an unofficial "Allman Brothers Month" with acclaimed music journalist and author Alan Paul, whose books One Way Out, Brothers and Sisters, and Texas Flood have become essential reading for fans of Southern rock and rock history. Before the interview, Dave plays a hilarious voicemail from Australia about a first DUI, drinking gin while delivering food, accidentally racing an unmarked police car, and finishing the remaining booze in front of the cops. Dave also dives into listener emails about 2C drugs, psychedelic chemistry, his latest obsession with air fryer chicken thighs, and his fantasy "ultimate junkie cocktail"—before quickly reminding everyone how grateful he is to be sober. Then comes a fascinating deep dive into the lives of Duane Allman, Greg Allman, Dickey Betts, Stevie Ray Vaughan, David Crosby, Jerry Garcia, and the complicated relationship between genius, addiction, recovery, and music. Alan shares remarkable stories about Stevie Ray Vaughan's dedication to Alcoholics Anonymous, how his recovery inspired countless musicians to get sober, the Allman Brothers' heroin use, the infamous Scooter Herring drug trial that nearly destroyed the band, Duane Allman's opposition to shooting heroin despite using it himself, and Greg Allman's controversial testimony that fractured relationships throughout the rock world. The conversation also explores psychedelic culture, the legendary mushroom logo, Eat a Peach, Dickey Betts' complexity, Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead, and why some of rock's greatest musicians remain endlessly fascinating decades after their deaths. ALL THAT AND MORE MORE MORE MORE on a new Allman based episode of that good ol dopey podcast! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
FULL EPISODE ONLY ON: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast STRAIGHT AI SUMMARY: This week on Dopey Tuesday, Dave checks in fresh from another brutally sweaty workout with his new trainer, who thankfully traded emo music for N.W.A. and Biggie. Dave talks about embracing the Dopey fitness challenge, surviving leg day, walking miles in the summer heat, and learning a little humility while trying to get back into shape. Since he's banking episodes before heading out on vacation, Dave changes things up by reading the Just For Today meditation on humility and reflects on what it means to accept getting older, staying teachable, and laughing at himself. Then come the classic Dopey stories. James D. Hart sends in an unforgettable tale from his crack-smoking days in Cleveland, where his favorite dealer—nicknamed "400"—fronted him more and more drugs until James eventually disappeared owing him exactly $400, making for one of the funniest addict coincidences imaginable. Dave follows with a voicemail from longtime Dopey Nation member Amy, who recalls taking what she thought was cocaine after a night of ecstasy at a Lower East Side club, waking up alone after closing time, and walking across Manhattan as the sun rose—one of those strange, lonely New York mornings only addiction can produce. Finally, Dave teases an exclusive Patreon interview with Workit Health's Max, diving into medication-assisted recovery, recovery stigma, and why the conversation around Suboxone and recovery still needs to evolve. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
PATREON: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast On this week's Dopey Total Replay! I recorded before sunrise while his family is on vacation and reflects on how strange it feels to revisit an episode recorded 10 years ago with Chris. He talks about why he still prefers making Dopey close to its release date, the lightning outside our window, early morning workouts, and how stress has him waking up at 4:30 a.m. Dave celebrates the thriving Wednesday Patreon Recovery Zoom, thanks the Dopey Nation for supporting the show, and reads a remarkable email from listener Taylor inspired by Early Brunner's appearance on Dopey. Taylor shares how Recovery Demystified helped shape a recovery program built from multiple pathways before launching into one of the wildest inhalant stories ever read on the show—a multi-day duster binge involving crashes, hotels, jail, NASCAR weekend, and repeated arrests across Alabama. The replay itself returns to Dopey Episode 36, where Dave and Chris are still finding their rhythm. Chris recounts an unbelievable teenage trip to St. Martin that turns into a drunken blackjack winning streak and an unexpected visit to a legal brothel in Anguilla. Dave tells the infamous story of sneaking onto The Howard Stern Show while high by inventing the "Shuffle Entertainer of the Millennium Award," only to have Robin Quivers immediately call him out for being loaded. PLUS MORE! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Listen without ads on patreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This week on Dopey! We kick things off catching up with Dopey Nation, talking recovery, life, and the strange little community that's grown around this dumb podcast on drugs, addiction, and dumb shit. We dive into a listener voicemail about loving an addict, codependency, and the painful reality that sometimes helping someone means stepping back. As always, there's plenty of laughter, honesty, and reminders that none of us have to do this alone. Then Ben Croxton sits down and tells one of the wildest stories we've ever featured. Ben grew up homeschooled in rural Alabama before drugs completely hijacked his life. What started with weed turned into pills, OxyContin, cocaine, meth, and eventually heroin. He talks about getting kicked out of homeschool for smoking weed, discovering drug culture while working at Outback Steakhouse, stealing anything that wasn't nailed down, shooting cocaine at eighteen years old, smoking meth out of homemade light bulbs, surviving overdoses, watching friends get murdered over meth deals, and somehow waking up every day to do it all again. Somehow, it doesn't end there. Ben eventually finds recovery, rebuilds his life one day at a time, and becomes one of the people behind the scenes helping Dopey grow into the community it is today. It's funny, heartbreaking, completely unfiltered, and a reminder that no matter how far things go, recovery is still possible. PLUS MORE! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
NO ADS on PATREON: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This week on Dopey! Dave opens in a reflective mood before vacation, trying to practice gratitude while also admitting how ridiculous and uncomfortable it feels. He gives thanks to the Dopey team, Dopey Nation, the people who helped with the film festival, and talks about being sober, scrambling to get shows done, House of the Dragon, and crying on the Long Island Railroad while watching the Knicks finals mini movie. Then Dave gets into revenge, resentment, recovery, redemption, and the dangerous romance of “getting back.” He plays a wild voicemail from a Scottish Dopey listener coming off opiates, who tells a story about buying a house, snorting heroin before move-in day, doing coke, champagne, and Ritalin while moving furniture, crashing a van, watching his friend get arrested, and then finishing the move on a days-long stimulant binge. Then it's a classic Dopey replay with Michael Todd, former bassist of Coheed and Cambria. Michael tells the story of going from prescription painkillers on tour to OxyContin, heroin, shooting coke and dope, leaving the band, rejoining clean, relapsing, smuggling heroin across the country in Gobstopper boxes, robbing a pharmacy in Massachusetts, getting arrested, losing the band for good, dealing with cancer, shame, probation, relapse, Suboxone, and surviving a suicide attempt. It's one of the rawest Dopey conversations ever: rock stardom, addiction, shame, survival, recovery, and Dave's newly coined phrase — radical gratitude. PLUS MORE!!!! MORE! MORE! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Listen without ads on patreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast DopeyCon looks like 10/2 This week on the Wednesday Dose of Dopey! Dave opens the show with Ben Croxton's classic DopeyCon song before sharing updates on planning DopeyCon 7 and asking the Dopey Nation to help make this year's event the biggest one yet. Along the way, he plays a listener voicemail about an unforgettable acid trip at Minnesota's Jungle Love festival, talks about psychedelic-assisted recovery, patience, tolerance, and the importance of keeping your mouth shut in sobriety, reads one of the darkest emails ever sent to the show, and follows it up with a hilarious listener story about drunken newspaper deliveries and sibling chaos. Then actor, interventionist, and recovery advocate Dominic Cianese Jr.—the son of Sopranos legend Dominic Chianese (Uncle Junior)—joins Dave for an honest conversation about growing up in Brooklyn, discovering drugs through the punk rock scene, heroin addiction, relapse, recovery, and the intervention that ultimately changed his life. They dive into behind-the-scenes stories from The Sopranos, James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli, acting, stand-up comedy, and why helping other addicts has become Dominic's life's work. It's a funny, emotional, and deeply hopeful conversation about addiction, family, redemption, and building a life beyond your wildest dreams. All that and more or less another summer hiatus dopey show! Thoughts? write us at dopeypodcast@gmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
whole episode only on patreon : www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Dave and special guest are back for another gloriously ridiculous Dopey Tuesday. This week they celebrate Christmas in July with a twisted holiday song before diving into heroin poppies, opium tea, Bob Dylan rumors, Andy Warhol, Basquiat, and Dave's latest Hollywood masterpiece: Christmas at Katz's. They also kick off a conversation about the first-ever Dopey Short Recovery Film Festival before the paywall comes crashing down. To hear Ray's full review of the film festival, the birth of "The Dopeys," listener emails, Zoe's voicemail, Elvis, and a whole lot more dumb shit, head over to Patreon and join the Dopey Nation Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Film Festival Tickets: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 PAtreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This Week on Dopey Greatest Hits! My dad is back and we catch up on all things dopey and life including Alan's deeply specific breakfast routine. Dave also reads listener emails and comments about grief, recovery, Motley Crue, Safe Spot, Steve Poltz, Dopey socks, and whether celebrities actually bring the Dopey. Then the episode replays Dave's interview with the legendary Danny Trejo. Danny talks about growing up in Pacoima, smoking weed at eight, using heroin at twelve, idolizing his Uncle Gilbert, surviving violence, robberies, prison, Soledad, heroin withdrawal in the hole, and finally finding recovery through 12-step programs and a higher power. He also talks about his kids, helping addicts get treatment instead of prison, staying clean for decades, why he can't smoke weed, acting as a way to revisit—but not live in—the darkness, and why food, tacos, and pancakes can sometimes reach people better than lectures. All that and much more on this week's Dopey Greatest Hits! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Dopey Recovery Short Film Festival https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 Patreon - www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Summary This week on the Dopey replay, Dave opens the show melting in a ninety-degree attic after removing his ugly window air conditioners and battling his third malfunctioning Rodecaster. He spirals through equipment frustration, a failed attempt to recruit an actress from The Pitt, and his anxiety about banking ten episodes before vacation, before reminding himself that gratitude and acceptance are the answer. Dave promotes the June 26th Dopey Film Festival and reads heartfelt emails from listeners who discovered Dopey after Chris's death and have been listening from the beginning. He reflects on the murder of Dopey legend DJ Don, discussing the tragic circumstances surrounding his death and how loss remains an unavoidable part of making a podcast about addiction. The replay itself features classic chemistry between Dave and Chris with special guest "Vinny," an old friend and longtime stoner. The episode wanders hilariously through stand-up comedy, Leonardo DiCaprio encounters, Perrier pronunciation debates, and Chris's legendary stories before landing on the centerpiece: Vinny's unbelievable Amsterdam LSD tale. While studying abroad, Vinny and a group of fellow Americans drop acid in Amsterdam. One of them, "Tok," completely loses his mind, strips naked in a coffee shop, searches for his dog "Java," swings at strangers, gets whipped by two random guys carrying sex whips, and ultimately ends up handcuffed and sleeping it off in a Dutch jail. By morning, Tok remembers absolutely nothing. The replay closes with stories about Dave bombing at open mic comedy, Chris reliving disgusting drunk escapades, and the timeless chemistry that made early Dopey such a cult classic. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Film Festival: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 Patreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This week on Dopey Greatest Hits,! Dave dusts off one of the biggest episodes in the show's history as the Dopey Patreon votes Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe to the top of the poll. Before the interview, Dave celebrates Ray Brown's legendary “Home Sweet Heroine,” reflects on working Step Eight with a sponsee, and shares another gratitude story involving his father. Then Jules the Cocaine Bear delivers a classic disaster tale involving cocaine, drunken party crashing, a switchblade, British police, and a miraculous escape from drug charges. Kimber King joins the show to react to comments from her replay episode, discuss Wednesday Zoom antics, laugh about bizarre drug combinations, promote Safe Spot, and celebrate the Knicks' championship run. The two revisit old stories and joke about everything from meth vapes to foot fetishes and Suboxone flavors. The centerpiece of the episode is Dave's epic conversation with Nikki Sixx. Nikki discusses twenty-plus years of sobriety, fatherhood, moving to Wyoming, writing The First 21, and how creativity replaced addiction. He opens up about childhood trauma, being introduced to drugs at an early age, selling “chocolate mescaline,” discovering heroin, and surviving the darkest years chronicled in The Heroin Diaries. Nikki reflects on Mötley Crüe's forty-year journey, his friendships with Aerosmith and the Rolling Stones, the monster of addiction that never dies, and why he continues to share his story in hopes of helping others. The interview finishes with a rapid-fire rock and roll quiz before Dave signs off after his dog nearly attacks an Amazon delivery guy. PLUS MORE!!!!! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Steven Trevino grew up battling opiate and pill addiction — and when the money ran out he made a desperate decision that changed everything. He tried to rob a bank. Then a civilian. He got caught by state police and then the feds — and ended up spending over three years in Texas state and federal prisons. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, he opens up about what surviving Texas prisons really looked like — race fights gang threats and being targeted for refusing to fall into prison politics. He rolled with the Paisas and navigated one of the most dangerous environments imaginable. Then came 20 days in segregation after a prison fight — and the spiritual awakening nobody saw coming. He came out of that cell a completely different person. Released in 2020 with nothing — no license no car and strict parole conditions — he built himself back from absolute zero. And he did it by starting a business called I Scoop Poop — your dog's business is his business. _____________________________________________ #BankRobbery #truecrimecommunity #prison _____________________________________________ Connect with Steven Trevino: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steven.trevino.3572/ Website: https://www.iscooppoopdfw.com/ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: From Top Salesman to Federal Prison 03:35 How Sales Success Fueled My Addiction 05:55 Hooked on Prescription Pills 09:02 Heroin Addiction & My First Rehab 13:13 Rock Bottom: Losing My Job, Seizures & Crime 16:01 The Botched Robberies That Got Me Arrested 21:22 Facing Federal Charges & Real Prison Time 23:31 Surviving Racial Politics Behind Bars 26:06 Prison Fights & How I Made Peace 32:32 Solitary Confinement & Finding Faith 40:32 Divorce & Reinventing Myself in Prison 49:01 Parole, Transition & the Politics of Getting Out 58:01 Walking Out: Rebuilding Life From Zero 01:03:03 Starting My First Business After Prison 01:11:19 Love, Relationships & Redemption 01:14:47 Scaling the Business & Learning to Win 01:27:01 A Second Federal Case & the Lessons It Taught Me 01:29:29 The Biggest Lessons From It All 01:33:01 Faith, Contentment & Final Thoughts _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dopey Film Festival Tickets: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 Patreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This week on Dopey! Dave battles Long Island summer heat, conquers a dead rat under his porch, rescues Susan's escaped corn snake Noodle, and prepares for the upcoming Dopey Short Film Festival. Along the way he shares a wild voicemail involving fake liquid LSD, sweaty molly, and a hard-earned lesson in not ripping people off. Did we read this cat shit one before????? Dave reads listener comments from the beloved Kelly P episode before welcoming recovery legend Brandon Novak back to Dopey. Novak celebrates 11 years sober and dives deep into his journey from heroin addiction and Viva La Bam chaos to running treatment centers and helping others recover. The conversation gets even better when Novak calls his Dreamseller co-author Joe Frantz, who tells unbelievable stories about Novak stealing his own books from a bookstore signing to buy drugs, disappearing with advances, losing his phone, and the reality of filming during the darkest years of addiction. Together they reflect on Bam Margera, recovery, friendship, forgiveness, and the long road from self-destruction to redemption. Plus: Grateful Dead stories, funeral plots, methadone and Xanax, treatment philosophy, Joe Biden sightings, and why this might be the greatest Brandon Novak appearance in Dopey history. AND MORE!!!!!! on a super fun new installment of that good old dopey show! https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
FILM FESTIVAL TICKETS: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 DOPEY PATREON: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Kevin's Substack: https://kevinjackmcenroe.substack.com/ This week on Dopey Wednesday,!Dave is joined once again by Kevin McEnroe for a powerful, funny, and honest conversation about addiction, recovery, family, tennis, writing, prayer, ego, and the New York Knicks. Dave opens the episode with listener emails about quitting cigarettes, accidental heroin use, childhood Valium, Dopey Zoom chaos, stickers, socks, and Knicks obsession. Then Kevin McEnroe joins the show to talk about his morning routine, sobriety, teaching tennis, being John McEnroe's son, and finding peace with his name and his life in recovery. Kevin opens up about pills, heroin, pancreatitis, isolation, treatment, relapse, his mother Tatum O'Neal's addiction and stroke, and how service has changed their relationship. Dave shares his own stories about heroin, custody, Klonopin, the Amy Winehouse documentary, AA, and finally surrendering. Plus: Hells Angels bars, Roxy 30s, fentanyl, Joakim Noah, 21 yogurts, meth recovery advice, and why sometimes you have to try every path until something sticks. ALL THAT AND MORE! MORE! MORE! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Fentanyl Crisis Is Worse Than You Think w/ Luis Romero | The Hopeaholics PodcastIn this episode of the Hopeaholics Podcast, Luis Romero shares his incredible journey from heroin addiction, gang involvement, and felony charges to becoming a powerful voice in recovery and fentanyl awareness. With over 13 years sober, Luis opens up about the darkest moments of his addiction, the impact of losing his father at a young age, and how searching for belonging led him down a destructive path. He shares the life-changing decision to stay in treatment longer than planned, the challenges of being a "dry drunk," and the personal growth that allowed him to become someone his family could be proud of. We also dive into the fentanyl epidemic, the dangers of counterfeit pills, fentanyl-laced drugs, and the heartbreaking losses that inspired Luis to launch Fuck Fentanyl San Diego and dedicate his life to saving others. This conversation is filled with powerful recovery insights, raw honesty, and an important message about grief, purpose, and honoring the people we've lost by living a meaningful life. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, this episode offers hope, perspective, and proof that lasting recovery is possible.#thehopeaholics #redemption #recovery #AlcoholAddiction #AddictionRecovery #wedorecover #SobrietyJourney #MyStory #Hope #wedorecover #treatmentcenter #natalieevamarieJoin our patreon to get access to an EXTRA EPISODE every week of ‘Off the Record', exclusive content, a thriving recovery community, and opportunities to be featured on the podcast. https://patreon.com/TheHopeaholics Go to www.Wolfpak.com today and support our sponsors. Don't forget to use code: HOPEAHOLICSPODCAST for 10% off!Follow the Hopeaholics on our Socials:https://www.instagram.com/thehopeaholics https://linktr.ee/thehopeaholicsBuy Merch: https://thehopeaholics.myshopify.comVisit our Treatment Centers: https://www.hopebythesea.comIf you or a loved one needs help, please call or text 949-615-8588. We have the resources to treat mental health and addiction. Sponsored by the Infiniti Group LLC:https://www.infinitigroupllc.com Timestamps:00:03:30 - Why He Started Fuck Fentanyl San Diego00:06:57 - 13 Years Sober and Life After Heroin00:14:59 - Living an Animalistic Life Chasing Heroin00:16:08 - Family Taking Him In During Addiction00:17:14 - Heroin Addiction, Gangs and Catching a Felony Case00:18:08 - Running From Police After a Party Gone Wrong00:26:45 - Staying in Treatment an Extra Four Months to Survive00:33:30 - Recovery Turned Him Into Someone His Family Could Be Proud Of00:34:10 - The Pain of Being a Dry Drunk for Nine Years00:43:24 - Losing His Father at 10 and the Impact on His Addiction00:45:24 - His Father Died of a Heart Attack at 3300:46:31 - Seeking Validation Through Gangs After Losing His Dad00:48:11 - How His Friend's Death Sparked His Mission and Podcast00:58:04 - Why Illicit Fentanyl Is Pure Poison01:00:39 - The Shocking Reality of Fake Fentanyl Pills01:01:48 - A Celebration Turned Fatal After Fentanyl-Laced Cocaine01:05:24 - Honoring Loved Ones Instead of Letting Grief Destroy You01:06:02 - Living Life in Honor of His Father and Best Friend
FILM FESTIVAL TICKETS: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 PATREON: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This week on Dopey! We check in from deep inside Knicks playoff mania, tackles a listener email about dating in early recovery, and shares some hard-earned thoughts on relapse, relationships, and protecting your sobriety at all costs. Then we reconnect with fellow Mountainside alum Kelly P, who was in treatment alongside Dave and Chris back in 2011. What follows is a truly classic Dopey story: childhood trauma, smoking weed at 12, cocaine by 17, dealing pills, getting hooked on oxy and heroin, robbing her own supplier, catching a federal indictment, getting arrested by the DEA, doing time in federal prison, finding love behind bars, and eventually surviving years of heroin, fentanyl, crack, and total chaos. Kelly takes us through decades of addiction, crime, incarceration, heartbreak, motherhood, and redemption with brutal honesty and surprising humor. From federal prison relationships to fentanyl addiction and near-total self-destruction, Kelly's story is a powerful reminder that recovery is possible even after the darkest chapters. Now approaching three years sober, Kelly reflects on forgiveness, family, recovery, and the gratitude that comes from building a life she never thought she'd get to live. PLUS: Knicks obsession, 2C-B puke stories, listener mail, Patreon drama, Narcan, recovery resources, cocaine relapse talk, and plenty of classic Dopey nonsense on a brand new episode of the podcast on drugs, addiction, and dumb shit. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Film Festival Tickets: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 PATREON: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This Week on Dopey's Greatest Hits Dave opens the show emotionally wrecked after listening to Sublime's “Pool Shark,” reflecting on Bradley Nowell's addiction, the pain embedded in the song, and memories of his late friend Todd, who loved Sublime as much as he did. He talks Knicks euphoria, recovery gratitude, the upcoming Dopey Short Film Festival, and reads listener emails, Patreon comments, and Spotify reactions about the late Ryan Leone—sparking a conversation about storytelling, addiction, truth, exaggeration, and loss. The heart of the episode is a powerful interview with Jakob Nowell, son of Bradley Nowell and current frontman of Sublime. Jakob tells the story of growing up without his father, who died from a heroin overdose when Jakob was just one year old. He describes a chaotic childhood surrounded by drugs, violence, sex work, addiction, and instability, while also carrying the impossible weight of being “Bradley Nowell's son.” He talks about feeling like an outsider, escaping into fantasy, music, books, video games, and eventually drugs. Jakob shares how he started smoking weed at 12, escalated into pills, meth, alcohol, and speed, got kicked out of high school, moved to Long Beach, started playing music, and spiraled into severe addiction. He recounts suicide attempts, waking up in detox after a blackout, struggling through early sobriety, and ultimately finding recovery through AA and service. Dave and Jakob have an unusually honest conversation about identity, legacy, addiction, and recovery. Jakob discusses the burden of being compared to a father he never knew, the strange expectations people placed on him growing up, and what it feels like to now stand onstage singing Sublime songs with Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson. The interview also explores Bradley's own attempts at recovery, the impact his death had on the family, the mythology surrounding rock-and-roll addiction, and the difference between glorifying substance abuse and surviving it. Jakob reflects on how sobriety gave him opportunities he never thought possible, including leading Sublime into a new chapter while continuing to build his own project, Jakob's Castle. Along the way they talk about Coachella, Gwen Stefani, punk rock, recovery culture, resentment, storytelling, mythology, and why “Pool Shark” remains one of the most accurate songs ever written about heroin addiction. The episode closes with Jakob Nowell performing “Pool Shark,” ALL THAT AND MORE MORE MORE MORE! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Dopey Film Festival Tickets: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 Patreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Long Summary This week's Total Replay features Dopey Episode 30, originally recorded in the Lower East Side apartment when Chris and Dave were still figuring out what the show would become. Dave opens by explaining why Episode 29 won't be replayed. It was Ray Brown's first appearance on Dopey, but Ray has repeatedly requested that his early appearances remain offline. Dave pays tribute to Ray and plugs the upcoming Dopey Recovery Film Festival before reflecting on how strange it is to revisit these early episodes. The episode begins with Chris bringing his then-girlfriend Karen onto the show. Karen and Chris discuss meeting on Tinder, their awkward early dates, Chris almost ghosting her, and the bizarre process of figuring out whether they were actually boyfriend and girlfriend. Dave relentlessly interrogates both of them about their relationship while Karen patiently tolerates the nonsense. Karen reveals she had already listened to Dopey before Chris realized it and shares what it was like hearing some of Chris's wilder stories for the first time. The conversation includes a hilarious story about Karen drunkenly inviting Chris over, only for him to arrive and find her passed out on the toilet. The show then veers into classic early Dopey territory: recovery debates, methadone arguments, active addicts, prison stories, and discussions about whether people on maintenance medications should qualify at meetings. The centerpiece of the episode is Chris's legendary LSD story: After relapsing while working at a sober living house, Chris begins ordering drugs from the Silk Road. He buys heroin, cocaine, and some incredibly strong LSD. While attempting to maintain the appearance of sobriety, he takes acid during a screening of The Wolf of Wall Street with his girlfriend Tina. By the time they return home, Chris is tripping hard and realizes his girlfriend is going to notice. His solution? Convince her he's experiencing HPPD (Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder) brought on by meditation. Chris leads a meditation session, then pretends he's suddenly having an LSD flashback. Initially Tina believes him. Eventually guilt gets the better of him and he confesses. Then he immediately tries to convince her he didn't actually take acid after all, causing her to question her own reality before finally admitting the truth again. The story ends with Tina kicking him out while Chris, deep into the trip, worries less about the relationship and more about whether she'll make him carry home a gigantic cast-iron piggy bank he had previously given her as a gift. The episode closes with a discussion about recovery, why addicts laugh at horrifying things they've done, and how the absurdity of addiction becomes funny only after enough distance and healing. A bonafide dopey classic! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Film Festival Tickets: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 PATREONL www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Zoom: dopeyzoom.com This Week on the Wednesday Dose! The episode opens with Dave feeling sick but super inspired by the Knicks, community in general, and the way Dopey Nation sticks together. He talks about Dopey Zoom, putting up Dopey stickers carefully, and the psychedelic idea that listeners are all connected through the show. Dave also pays tribute to Rob Base and Sonny Rollins, then reads a brutal listener email from Sarah about broken ankles, losing housing, 7OH/Kratom struggles, and leaning on Dopey Nation. He reads Patreon and Spotify comments, talks about Skinny Vinny, drug dreams, Canadian bacon, Patreon tiers, Tom Shoes backlash, and then promotes the Dopey Recovery Short Film Festival. The main conversation is with Handsome Evan, who is celebrating six years sober and just had his second son on his sobriety anniversary. Sitting in the car by the Great South Bay, Dave and Evan talk AA politics, Jewishness in meetings, Anthony Spaghetti, recovery community, and Evan's story. Evan tells stories about smoking crack, driving dealers around Gordon Heights, trading belongings for drugs, stealing from his family, and eventually becoming a drug and alcohol counselor while still smoking weed and later using coke, booze, Xanax, and Ritalin. He talks about the shame of claiming recovery while secretly using, finally going back to rehab after his wife caught him, and how AA, structure, OCD, and fatherhood helped him build a real life. The episode closes with Evan opening up about anxiety around parenting, obsessive fears about his kids, family resentments, and the strange normal problems of sober life. Anthony Spaghetti makes a guest appearance to explain Prince Spaghetti Day. All that and MORE! MORE! MORE! on a new wednesday dose of that good ol' dopey show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
FILM FESTIVAL TICKETS: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 PATREON: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Dave and Alan Manheim return for another classic Dopey Tuesday conversation, this time recorded outside the Dopey studio because of ongoing production issues. Alan immediately launches into a breakdown of his “mutual redevelopment” Manhattan apartment and reminisces about living there for over 50 years while Dave complains about the transformation of his childhood bedroom into the Dopey studio. The conversation drifts into Blake Mycoskie from TOMS Shoes and the Dopey Nation's reaction to a less drug-heavy episode before Alan unveils his newest entrepreneurial fantasy: buying 30 acres upstate to create a solar-powered greenhouse capable of producing meat without animals. This naturally leads into stories about Alan's previous failed business ideas, including indoor lobster farming, eclipse merchandise, imported Chinese knives, underwear futures, cryptocurrency disasters, and the legendary JJ and the Jelly Bean children's books. Dave and Alan then pivot hard into Knicks playoff mania, gambling talk, and the absurdity of spending $1,000 for nosebleed seats at Madison Square Garden. Alan shares a story about his cardiologist's son cashing out a massive preseason Spurs futures bet while Dave reflects on how his father never really took him anywhere growing up besides zoos, museums, and nursing homes. Dave jokes that this emotional neglect may explain how he became a heroin addict in the first place. The episode also dives into Spotify and Patreon comments, listener criticism of Heart Attack Doug, vape addiction rituals, Kratom recovery, and the strange comfort of hearing from the same diehard Dopey listeners every week. The teaser cuts off right before the controversial Patreon comments section, ending with Dave shamelessly trying to convert listeners into Patreon subscribers. FULL SHOW ONLY ON PATREON! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
FILM FESTIVAL TICKETS: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 PATREON: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Summary On this Dopey Monday Total Replay, Dave looks back at Dopey Episode 28, one of the strangest and creepiest early episodes of the show. It features Dave, Chris, and graphic-design Ryan — the guy who made the original Dopey logo — talking through old Lower East Side drug energy, the first major Dopey fan emails, weird ego stuff, drug stories, recovery, Rob Reiner, Nick Reiner, and a whole lot of eerie foreshadowing. Dave reflects on how painful it is to hear Chris again, knowing he died in 2018, and uses the episode to make a simple but brutal point: if Chris had stayed in recovery, he probably wouldn't have died. The replay itself is classic early Dopey: messy, funny, dark, uncomfortable, and weirdly prophetic. Ryan tells a story about refusing to leave a drug pickup even after a guy puts a gun to his head. Chris talks about addiction, genetics, rats drinking heroin water, and recovery. Dylan randomly calls in right as Dave is talking about Dylan from 90210, which feels like Dopey synchronicity. The episode also includes the first big fan email from Tina in Philadelphia, Dave getting wounded by being called “Dan,” and a long, now-haunting conversation about Rob Reiner and Nick Reiner before Nick ever appeared on Dopey. It's funny, painful, and very Dopey. PLUS Drugs, addiction and dumb shit on the new/old 10 year anniversary of this episode!(of Dopey) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Dopey Film Festival: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 Listen without ads www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This week on the Wednesday Dose of Dopey, Dave opens the show with Brer Brian's Dopey Wednesday anthem and immediately starts hustling tickets for the upcoming Dopey Short Film Festival in New York City. Dave explains that only nine tickets have sold so far and promises cheap tickets, food, fellowship, desserts, filmmakers, and recovery community vibes. He begs the Dopey Nation to come out and support the event while Winnie the dog barks in the background. Before getting to the main interview, Dave plays an absolutely insane voicemail from longtime Dopey contributor JD DeHart about surviving a cocaine overdose during a three-day binge in a trailer in Mississippi when he was 20 years old. JD describes an old-school coke and crack marathon involving an entire ounce of cocaine, nonstop shooting coke, smoking crack, drinking beer, no sleep, no food, and no water. He vividly recounts doing a gigantic shot of cocaine and suddenly entering a terrifying paralysis where he could hear and see everything but couldn't move a single part of his body. JD compares the experience to the Metallica “One” video and explains how his paranoid dealer friend may have saved his life by slapping him awake, giving him water and food, and slowly bringing him out of the overdose. Naturally, once he recovered, the first thing he did was smoke an enormous crack hit. Dave praises the voicemail and thanks JD for consistently contributing incredible stories to the show. Dave then dives into Patreon and Spotify comments responding to last week's controversial Blake Mycoskie episode. Listeners debate rich-guy recovery, psychedelic therapy, AI therapy, polo, founder culture, and whether wealthy people talking about depression is relatable to the average Dopey listener. Some commenters defend the episode and appreciate hearing about mental health and self-worth, while others say they turned it off the moment Blake started discussing AI therapy or learning polo in Argentina. Dave jokes that people should blame John Bukaty for bringing in “woo-woo guests,” but still says he genuinely liked Blake and appreciated trying something different. The comment section also leads to discussions about recovery, privilege, treatment access, government responsibility for addiction, and Dave's ongoing balancing act between growing Dopey and maintaining authenticity. Dave also reads a moving Spotify comment from a listener celebrating 120 days clean after a devastating relapse that nearly destroyed his marriage and relationship with his child. Other listeners compliment Dave's podcasting skills, compare his intros to Marc Maron, and joke about Tesla AI therapy and rich recovery people. Dave also contemplates launching a higher Patreon tier with an exclusive Zoom while openly joking about his “cynical cash grab” tendencies and his need to support his family. The centerpiece of the episode is Dave's long conversation with Skinny Vinny inside Steve-O's Wild Ride podcast van in Sherman Oaks, California. The interview covers almost every phase of Vinny's chaotic life story. Vinny explains how the Wild Ride podcast went on hiatus after backlash surrounding a sarcastic Steve-O clip from an episode with Harlan Williams that got taken out of context online. Vinny talks openly about Steve-O's sensitivity, internet outrage culture, and the emotional toll of constant public criticism. The conversation then shifts into Vinny's upbringing in Connecticut and his lifelong obsession with Jackass. Vinny tells the story of being a kid with a camera glued to his hand, idolizing Bam Margera and Jeff Tremaine, and eventually convincing Bam to punch him in the face at a skate shop signing when he was a teenager. Dave and Vinny reminisce about old Jackass dreams eventually becoming reality years later through recovery and content creation. Vinny dives deep into his addiction history, including following Phish and Bob Weir tours while constantly inhaling nitrous balloons in parking lots, discovering Silk Road drug markets in Vermont, and eventually falling into severe heroin addiction. He recounts horrifying years living in Vermont, where heroin was outrageously expensive, and where he watched his girlfriend overdose in front of her parents after both of them desperately tried to detox using kratom. Vinny also describes his obsession with needles, famously saying, “If I could rig it, I could dig it,” while discussing shooting heroin and eventually shooting liquid LSD purchased from Silk Road. One of the darkest sections of the interview involves Vinny describing his infamous “porta potty bottom.” After burning every bridge and alienating everyone in his life, Vinny ended up secretly living inside a handicapped-sized porta potty in Connecticut while hustling to survive. He explains his daily routine of waking up at sunrise, hiding blankets in bushes, charging his Obama phone at Dunkin Donuts, stealing energy drinks from grocery stores, selling them to bodegas, buying heroin and crack, and repeating the cycle endlessly. Dave and Vinny talk about the terrifying comfort that comes with fully accepting life as a hopeless junkie. Vinny also recounts his arrest, jail sentence, and the legendary “prison pocket” story. Knowing he had to turn himself in, Vinny literally trained his body to smuggle heroin, Xanax, rolling tobacco, papers, and even needles into jail. He explains how he eventually ran out of drugs behind bars and suffered brutally through withdrawal on the top bunk in jail while promising himself he'd never use again — only to get released and immediately return to hustling and heroin. The interview takes a more hopeful turn as Vinny explains how recovery unexpectedly transformed his life. He talks about meeting Zackass in sober living, becoming indispensable behind the camera, eventually becoming a co-host, and later joining Steve-O's Wild Ride. Vinny describes feeling like recovery gave him the exact life he fantasized about as a kid obsessed with Jackass culture. Dave and Vinny repeatedly discuss the strange intersection of manifestation, luck, spirituality, showing up, and being willing to work hard without getting high. Later in the interview, Vinny opens up emotionally about his failed marriage to a Canadian woman, the devastating heartbreak that followed, and the depression that nearly broke him. He describes locking himself in his apartment for 45 days, barely eating, crying himself to sleep, and seriously considering drinking despite years of sobriety. Instead of relapsing, Vinny redirected all of his pain into fitness, weight loss, and self-improvement. He explains how discovering peptides, returning to the gym, diving back into recovery meetings and service work, and focusing entirely on himself ultimately helped him lose over 200 pounds and completely transform his life. The episode ends with Vinny discussing his plans to open a sober living house called The Comeback with a former client from his early recovery days. Dave and Vinny also joke about Canadians, Dopeywood structure problems, podcasting, body dysmorphia, fear dreams, and the strange reality of surviving addiction long enough to accidentally build a meaningful life. Dave closes the episode asking listeners yet again to buy film festival tickets, join Patreon, leave Spotify comments, send voicemails, and stay involved in the Dopey community before ending, as always, with “Stay strong Dopey Nation and fucking toodles for Chris.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this episode, Christina Thomas and Charles Patti, the founders of MY Self Wellness, reveal how ketamine therapy and psychedelic healing are reshaping mental health, helping people overcome depression, PTSD, and addiction at the root level. What started as personal survival becomes a fast-growing wellness movement built on purpose, frequency, and transformation. As they expand into advanced psychedelic research and a global healing model, they share the mindset, risks, and unconventional strategies behind scaling impact in a controversial space.Key Takeaways• Healing at the root cause creates lasting transformation, not symptom relief• Personal trauma can become the foundation for a scalable business mission• Psychedelic therapy is redefining mental health treatment models• Raising internal state and mindset directly impacts external success• Building a purpose-driven brand requires risk, belief, and unconventional thinkingNotable Quotes• “Psychedelic medicines gave me the ability to love myself enough to change my life.” • “If I heal myself, I heal the world.” • “Nothing ever worked for me, except psychedelic therapy.” • “We don't put people in boxes. We meet them where they are.” • “It's never too late to redeem yourself.”Connect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter
BUY TICKETS TO DOPEY SHORT FILM FESTIVAL: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 Join Patreon For Cheap Tickets and much more: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Long Summary Notes: Dave opens the Dopey Total Replay by revisiting Episode 27, “Detox Withdrawal,” one of the earliest foundational episodes of Dopey. He explains how the episode introduced both graphic designer Ryan — creator of the iconic nodding Dopey logo — and Todd Curry, Dave's longtime using buddy who would later die in 2018, just weeks before Chris. Dave reflects on Chris's original idea for a “Dopey Stories” book made up of listener submissions and stories from the show. He talks about failed attempts to pitch the project to publishers and wonders whether self-publishing a Dopey book on Amazon might finally make sense. He invites listeners to resend their best stories to dopeypodcast@gmail.com. Disclaimer: I think I called Spanish People Stupid - but it was meant totally with love. Dave then shifts into a recap of Music on the Mountain in Vermont, where he attended with Linda and the kids. He talks about seeing Anders Osborne, Daniel Donato, Jackie Greene, Karina Rykman, Eggy, Lamp, and others. Susan celebrates her eighth birthday and hilariously insists on introducing bands onstage after Dave lets her introduce Karina Rykman. Dave admits Susan might actually be a better MC than him. Dave promotes the upcoming Dopey Short Film Festival at the SVA Theater, mentioning Mountainside as a possible title sponsor and joking about Katz's desserts and Othello cookies potentially being involved. He reads Patreon and Spotify comments reacting to the previous replay episode, including discussion of Rush, Basketball Diaries, Knicks playoff hopes, bread basket addiction, and people missing Chris. Dave goes on multiple tangents about bread, fitness, the Knicks, and Cleveland versus Detroit. The replay itself begins with Chris and Dave just starting to record when Todd randomly calls in. Todd immediately launches into a story about getting arrested while allegedly trying to buy weed in a housing project. Chris and Dave immediately question the story while Todd insists he was only trying to buy marijuana. The conversation spirals into stories about community service, Delancey Street cleanup duty, reverse discrimination jokes, airport profiling, Todd's history with Dave, and their years selling drugs together. Chris openly campaigns for Todd to become a recurring Dopey guest while Dave resists because Todd is still actively using heroin and weed. Graphic designer Ryan joins the conversation and explains why he loved Dopey from the beginning — because it wasn't a traditional recovery podcast. He says recovery shows felt too church-like, while Dopey mixed active addiction stories with recovery in a way that could actually reach addicts. Todd and Dave argue about whether active users should appear on Dopey. Ryan attempts to sober coach Todd live on the air, asking him what heroin does for him emotionally. Todd admits heroin covers feelings of loneliness, insecurity, and self-hatred. He describes failed relationships, yoga classes, women, and using heroin to cope with emotional pain. Ryan explains the basics of abstinence and recovery while Todd half-jokes and half-confesses his inability to stop using. Chris mostly eggs the entire thing on while enjoying the chaos. The episode shifts into stories about Mountainside and the infamous “Phase Four” extended-care house. Ryan explains how he entered treatment planning only to save money for heroin afterward, but somehow ended up getting sober instead. Dave admits he originally thought Ryan would never stay sober, while Dave himself eventually relapsed despite appearing more serious about recovery at the time. Ryan tells wild detox stories involving escaping treatment during withdrawal, trading a $2,500 laptop for heroin bundles, walking through snowstorms, and eventually landing at Mountainside. The group discusses relapse, sobriety, AA sponsorship disasters, yoga, heroin addiction, and the randomness of getting sober. The episode eventually devolves into jokes about Dave's disgusting toenail, Instagram photos, podcast structure, and arguments about whether episodes should be one hour long. Chris insists on ending every episode with “Good So Bad,” while Dave complains nobody wants long podcasts — ironic considering modern Dopey episodes often run three hours. Back in present-day narration, Dave reflects emotionally on hearing Todd and Chris together again. He reveals that Todd eventually appeared on Dopey multiple times, including once when he left mid-recording to go downstairs and shoot heroin before returning to finish the episode high. Dave closes by talking about Ryan's later recovery work at Berkshire Transition Network and how foundational he was to early Dopey. He reflects on the pain, foreshadowing, and innocence captured in the episode before ending with “Good So Bad” and a tribute to Chris and Todd. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
LISTEN WITHOUT ADS ON PATREON: www.patron.com/dopeypodcast Summary Dave opens Dopey Greatest Hits with an AI Dopey song from Josh Clark, updates the chaos around Katz's, Action Bronson, Paul Wall, the Divided Sky festival, Susan's birthday, and the Dopey short film festival. A listener voicemail tells a wild guru story involving opium, coke, mushrooms, MDMA, hot springs, and pee drinking. Dave reads Patreon and Spotify comments from the Gilbert Trejo replay before playing the Gabor Maté episode. In the Gabor Maté interview, Dave and Dr. Maté talk addiction, trauma, shame, ADD, dopamine, recovery, psychedelics, ayahuasca, the “stupid friend,” food addiction, and why addiction is not the primary problem but an attempt to soothe pain. Dr. Maté explains that recovery means getting yourself back. PLUS MORE< MORE, MORE! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
LISTEN TO THE WHOLE WONDERFUL EPISODE: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Dave and Ray kick off a weird “Christmas in May” Dopey Tuesday with an old Ray parody song before diving into stories about Chelsea in the ‘90s, addiction nostalgia, Andy Dick, and the destruction of a longtime neighborhood building. Dave talks about working on a Andy Dick interview for Rolling Stone, while Ray reflects on drinking alone, avoiding chaos in public, and their old neighborhood's transformation from rough-and-dangerous to luxury real estate heaven. The episode spirals into hilarious listener reactions to Selby's heavy breathing during the Patreon Reddit Roundup episode, with fans comparing him to Darth Vader, a dying pug, and someone “pleasuring himself at a men's shelter.” Dave and Ray also talk about recovery shame, missing teeth, NYU dental clinics, old LA drug days, soft-core SLA emails, and the weirdness of getting older in recovery. The episode ends with Dave teasing a big TV pitch meeting and playing “Good So Bad.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
LISTEN WITHOUT ADS FOR 25 CENTS A DAY at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Episode Summary This week on the Wednesday Dose! Dave opens the Wednesday Dose of Dopey talking about Patreon backlash over Selby's heavy breathing during the Tuesday Patreon show, his hatred for the newest season of Euphoria, Lena Dunham's audiobook, Knicks obsession, and getting ready to emcee the Phoenix House gala honoring Hank Azaria. He then reads an email from a Scottish listener who got sober from alcohol after discovering Dopey through This American Life, but later spiraled into opioids, heroin, and benzos before finally trying to get clean again after hearing DJ's episode. Then Dave dives into a massive pile of brutal Spotify and Patreon comments reacting to the Amanda de Cadenet episode, with listeners calling her “insufferable,” “guarded,” “pretentious,” and “the worst guest ever,” while others defend her and praise Dave for surviving the awkward interview. The episode shifts into a long and funny conversation with comedian Zach Noe Towers. Zach talks about growing up gay in Missouri, discovering weed through theater kids, using alcohol and drugs to quiet fear and insecurity, moving to Los Angeles, rich gay party culture, ecstasy at Indiana University, Coachella mushroom disasters, being trapped in the trunk of a drug dealer's car, and eventually getting sober after years of chaotic partying and emotional bottoming out. Dave and Zach also talk comedy, AA, twink culture, Midwestern niceness, gay identity, stand-up anxiety, and planning the Dopeywood Comedy Store show. PLUS MORE! on the brand new Wednesday Dose of Dopey! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
LISTEN TO THE WHOLE EPISODE: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This week on the teaser: A special guestis back and we spiral immediately—bassoon repair shops, weird road trips, and why I told him to stop shoving bassoons in my face. I break down LA, interviewing Andy Dick (who calls me fat repeatedly), Dopeywood fallout, and the insanity of doing 11 interviews in 4 days. Then things get extra Dopey: we discover a gay app called Blowey that's basically Yelp for blowjobs, Ray refuses to admit anything about his sex life, and we somehow end up talking about fear of escalators, driving anxiety, and being old. We wrap with Dopey Nation updates, Spotify comments, Jeremy love/hate, and Drugs, sex, fear, bassoons, and Andy Dick being Andy Dick Plus Ba Ba Boohi! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
PATREON - LISTEN WITHOUT ADS - www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast SUMMARY: This Week on Dopey's Greatest Hits! Dave records from his dad's overheated apartment and opens with a long, chaotic conversation about Dopeywood at The Comedy Store. His dad gives a detailed, meandering recap of the trip, the show, and his mixed reactions to the comedians, praising the turnout but criticizing some of the material as confusing and overly raunchy. They argue about politics, language on the show, and listener feedback, including a back-and-forth with a fan upset about violent rhetoric. Dave reflects on tone, community, and the balance between humor and responsibility. The episode includes emails and voicemails about poppy seed tea addiction, with detailed stories about making opioid-like substances from seeds and pods, building tolerance, and the extreme lengths people went to stay well. The second half features a replay of Dave's interview with Steve Earle. Steve talks about growing up surrounded by recovery, with addiction deeply embedded in his family, including relatives who were part of early AA. He says he avoided recovery at first despite seeing that it worked. Steve describes getting high for the first time at age 11 and explains that music and addiction developed side by side but weren't directly connected. He talks about learning guitar from his uncle, discovering Dylan and the Beatles, and becoming obsessed with songwriting and storytelling. He reflects on his career as a musician, the pressure of performing, and how much he depends on audience feedback to feel okay. He also talks about the realities of the music business, losing his band, shifting to solo work, and writing for theater. Throughout the conversation, Steve is blunt about addiction, family history, and the long-term impact of substance use, while also showing humor, insight, and a deep connection to music as both a craft and a survival tool. ALL THAT AND MUCH MUCH MORE! On an old classic episode with my Dad in it TWICE! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Full Show on Patreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast
Max Jolliffe is the Moab 240 course record holder, elite ultrarunner, and one of endurance sport's more unlikely origin stories. This conversation explores Max's multi-generational family history with addiction, the opioid crisis, his decade-long battle with heroin, the moment in a jail cell that changed everything, and how the tools of sobriety – surrender, teachability, the daily reprieve – became the foundation of an athletic career. Along the way, we get into what it looks like to take an obsessive, addictive mind and aim it at something that gives back. Max is the real deal. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today's Sponsors: BetterHelp: Get 10% OFF the first month
Jay Mewes is an actor and comedian. Catch his YouTube show "5 Things With Jay Mewes," and get ready for his new podcast "The Murdoch Mysteries," out in May wherever you get podcasts—based on the iconic Canadian TV show running for 20 years. Visit jaymewes.com for more.IN THE NEWS: A shocking incident at a California Whole Foods captured a man exposing himself and rubbing his junk against a woman's ear on March 23, with LA County Sheriff's deputies now searching for the suspect. The Chicago Bulls waived guard Jaden Ivey after his Instagram rant called out the NBA's Pride Month celebrations as “unrighteousness,” citing conduct detrimental to the team. Miss Grand Thailand contestant Darathorn Yoothong went viral with her high-energy club-style dance during the swimsuit competition, racking up over 30 million views and Top 20 placement.*NEW MERCH AVAILABLE* – Go to adamcarolla.com FOR MORE WITH JAY MEWES:YOUTUBE SHOW: 5 Things With Jay MewesNEW PODCAST: THE MURDOCH MYSTERIES - Out in MayWEBSITE: jaymewes.com FOR MORE WITH ELISHA KRAUSS: INSTAGRAM: @elishakraussWEBSITE: elishakrauss.com JOURNAL: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/elisha-krauss/LIVE SHOWS: April 10 - Salt Lake City, UT (2 shows)April 11 - Salt Lake City, UT (2 shows)April 12 - San Diego, CA (Live Podcast)April 12 - San Diego, CA (Stand up)Thank you for supporting our sponsors:Stay ready for anything with the American Giant Classic Full Zip. Go to https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code ADAM. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!BetOnlineoreillyauto.com/ADAMPluto.tvSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dopeywood Tickets: https://www.showclix.com/event/dopeywood-2026 PAtreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This week on Dopey's Greatest Hits - The Patrons voted for Artie Lange! In one of my most proud moments - we had the honor of havingArtie Lange on the show. It happened two weeks before Chris died and was loaded with all kinds of crazy emotions. We talk about everything: Artie's rise from Mad TV to the Howard Stern Show, how heroin took over his life, the insanity of fame, gambling, strippers, and self-destruction at the highest level. He tells stories that are as funny as they are fucked — Santa Claus shitting his pants, buying coke before Dirty Work, and getting high while becoming one of the biggest voices in radio. I cannot believe this even happened! Please send comments to dopeypodcast@gmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Dopey Wood Tickets! https://www.showclix.com/event/dopeywood-2026 Patreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This week on the Total Replay we replay - Dopey Episode 19: “Smoking on Plane”, the first appearance of his childhood friend Jeremy! Before the replay, we explain Jeremy's history - from smoking weed and doing psychedelics together as kids in Manhattan to later doing heroin with Todd. We also talk about the Dopey Fitness Challenge, and plays a voicemail from Dade about underage drinking, Spiritualized, getting stung by a bee, vomiting on the side of the road, and getting arrested in North Carolina for driving after having consumed alcohol within 24 hours. In the replayed episode itself, Dave, Chris, and Jeremy joke around about Jeremy being late, EZ Pass disasters, old LA stories, blood in bathrooms from shooting dope, Todd escaping out a window to avoid Jeremy's parents, and Jeremy's drug history. Jeremy talks about how he did plenty of drugs but was able to stop when heroin started interfering with his acting work and life, while Dave and Chris frame that as the difference between an addict and someone who isn't afflicted the same way. The centerpiece is Jeremy's insane “smoking weed on a plane” story, where he rolls a joint, sneaks into the airplane bathroom before takeoff on a flight from London to New York, smokes it, gets caught by a flight attendant, lies and says it was a cigarette, then somehow gets away with it. After the replay, Dave reflects on how early Dopey was more about comedy and chaos than feelings, plugs Save Spot, stickers, Patreon, Dopeywood, and teases future merch and a possible guest named Cece. All that and more???? On the latest dopey total replay! Write us at dopeypodcast@gmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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ADD FREE @ www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastToday on Total Dopey Replay! We are replaying the classic 2016 Episode 13: "Tales from the Plug" — raw early Dopey with Dave and Chris swapping dealer horror stories, rip-offs, close calls, and dumb shit. ). Listener voicemails shine: James Dehart's wild crack-reverse-overdose tale (eye-reset magic), and Haley Shell's epic Mississippi meth-tweak chaos (self-Cheddar-Bob gunshot, swallowing shards in cop car, dirty towel compress, jail sweat puddle). Ends with Dave's song snippet and plugs for emails, Spotify comments, Patreon, Wednesday Zooms, stickers, and more Dopeycon/YouTube love.All that and MORE! on this brand new 10 year old Dopey Episode! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
LISTEN TO THE WHOLE SHOW ON PATREON!www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Episode Summary (for show notes / description)Dave kicks off another chaotic Dopey Tuesday teaser with special guest 'Douglas Brown'! Rival voicemails from the ever-competitive "Heart Attack Doug," and why politics shouldn't wreck recovery friendships or meetings. Fentanyl death drops (blamed on Trump or natural arc?)Family holiday stress (yelling at kids, car fails)The Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime (cinematic flex for Latin expansion vs. stadium spectacle fail), and outrage over Spanish lyrics. Listener comments roast tough times and acronym chaos, plus Dave belts out a raw acoustic tune about bad desires and shadows. Classic Dopey mix of dumb shit banter, recovery reflections, and teases for the full Patreon episode—drugs, addiction, holiday madness with Ray and Alan. Sign up at patreon.com/dopeypodcast for the uncut version. And a bit more on that good old raytreon show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
This week on the Wednesday Dose of Dopey! Dave kicks off an intensely emotional episode amid personal chaos—grieving Linda's dad's death, a bizarre Verizon outage conspiracy vibe, a $1,100 car repair scam, and a half-hearted gratitude meditation to stay grounded. He reads glowing listener comments on the recent Sid Vicious/Ned Van Zandt heroin epic, plugs stickers for Spotify/iTunes reviews, and shares a powerful email from Sarah E. about her ongoing brutal struggle with 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine) dependence after accidents and kratom escalation, highlighting deception, severe withdrawals, and the "master of deception" label despite a strong sober community.The core is a raw, heartfelt interview with returning guest Erin Khar (author of Strung Out, unlicensed advice columnist), who opens up about her recent diagnosis of small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) / chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)—a slow-growing, incurable non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma discovered via routine mammogram/biopsy around Labor Day. Erin details the terrifying pathology call, symptoms (years of unexplained fatigue, anemia, frequent illnesses), watch-and-wait monitoring (no treatment yet until lymphocyte count rises), good-news/bad-news aspects (no chemo likely, keeps her hair, many live normal lifespans especially younger diagnoses like her at 52), and how curiosity over fear helps her cope.They explore parallels to addiction/recovery (one day at a time, sitting on hands during suicidal moments, grief + gratitude coexisting), family impact (kids' anxiety, protecting emotions), quality over quantity of life, and Erin's Substack reveal for connection. Ends with an Ask Erin advice segment, Johnny Thunders love ("Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory"), and Trinity's cover of "Wanna Be Good So Bad". ALL THAT AND MORE MORE MORE! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
This is the interview the Kohberger family never wanted to give — until now.In a bombshell exclusive with The New York Times, Mel Kohberger finally breaks three years of silence about her brother Bryan, the man who pleaded guilty to murdering Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in November 2022.She takes us inside Bryan's troubled youth: the relentless bullying, the undiagnosed autism the family now believes shaped his personality, the heroin addiction that nearly killed him, and the moment he stole her phone to buy drugs — prompting their parents to call police on their own son.She describes the last Christmas before the arrest: vegan cookies their mother baked, TV party games, Bryan helping bandage a cut on her finger. Days later, FBI agents shattered the windows and took him away in handcuffs.And she finally explains the "creepy drawing" that went viral during Bryan's sentencing hearing. It wasn't dark. It wasn't a symbol of evil. It was a vibrant heart she drew for her brother — a reminder that even after everything, he was still loved.Mel also reflects on her own history as a true crime fan — and why she now regrets it.This episode contains new details about the Kohberger family's experience, their ongoing prayers for the victims, and what it's like to be dragged into the center of America's most scrutinized murder case.#BryanKohberger #MelKohberger #KohbergerFamily #KohbergerInterview #IdahoMurders #IdahoFour #KohbergerSister #KohbergerNews #KohbergerUpdate #MoscowIdahoMurdersJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872
Raised around biker culture, gangs, and addiction, Dave began using drugs and alcohol at a young age, experienced multiple overdoses, and lived a life surrounded by violence, crime, and loss. After losing both parents, surviving near-death experiences, and reaching a breaking point, Dave made a life-changing decision to seek recovery.In this episode, Dave talks about trauma, addiction, spirituality, accountability, and what it truly means to rewrite your story. Today, he is a tattoo shop owner, mentor, and someone deeply committed to service, recovery, and personal growth.This is a raw, honest conversation about addiction, recovery, faith, and transformation.00:00 Introduction & Dave's recovery time01:00 Growing up around biker culture and gangs03:00 Early trauma, loss, and first substance use06:00 First overdose and rehab at 1409:00 Exposure to heroin and escalation12:00 Gangs, weapons charges, and self-destruction15:00 Spiritual breaking point and near-death experience18:00 Entering treatment with willingness21:00 Emotional breakthrough in rehab24:00 Early recovery and rebuilding trust27:00 Tattooing, service work, and purpose30:00 Life today in recovery33:00 Giving back and redefining success ----Across the Web----
Tony's story is a whirlwind of loss, chaos, identity struggles, and years spent chasing anything that would make him feel whole. Growing up without a father, he searched for belonging everywhere except within himself. That search eventually pulled him into a fast-moving lifestyle that brought consequences, arrests, and years of feeling stuck in a cycle he couldn't escape.Everything changed when a moment in detox — triggered by a story on TV — cracked him open and forced him to confront the life he'd built. That spark became surrender, and surrender became a complete transformation. Tony rebuilt his life from the ground up: he found purpose, lost over 100 pounds, restored his driver's license after 15 years, and today he works at the CCAR New Haven Recovery Community Center, helping others find the hope he once needed.His story is proof that discipline, purpose, and community can pull anyone out of the darkest places — and into a life they never believed they deserved.0:00 — Introductions0:24 — Growing Up Without a Father1:02 — Early Behaviors & Searching for Belonging2:20 — First Experiences With Substances3:10 — Feeling “Not Enough” as a Kid4:12 — Losing Control in Young Adulthood5:07 — Slipping Into a Dangerous Lifestyle6:05 — Trouble, Consequences & Prison Time7:20 — The Cycle of Relapse8:32 — The Breaking Point9:43 — Spiritual Awakening in Detox10:58 — Starting Over at Davenport House12:18 — Beginning His Fitness Journey13:12 — Losing 100 Pounds14:10 — Food, Obsession & Filling the Void15:22 — Finding Purpose at CCAR16:30 — Coaching Others in Recovery17:50 — Living With Hope & Discipline18:45 — Gratitude, Growth & Becoming a Better Man20:00 — Rebuilding His Life Step by Step22:00 — Getting His License Back After 15 Years23:40 — Working, Volunteering & Relearning Life25:00 — Big Wins & Small Steps Forward26:40 — Advice for Someone in Their First 24 Hours ----Across the Web----
For Ad Free shows go to:www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastDave kicks off the first-ever Wednesday Dose of Dopey talking about post-Thanksgiving food insanity, a brownie-topped cheesecake Linda brought home, and his evolving stance on cheesecake as a “real” dessert. He updates the Dopey Nation on the Dopey Fitness Challenge, his failed attempt at jogging with his dog Winnie that ends with him eating pavement, ripping his pants, smacking the dog in frustration, and then feeling guilty about it all week. Dave reads an email from Haley in Mississippi, who loved the Glenis and Billy Strings episodes and promises heavy dopey stories from homelessness, prison, and IV meth. He begs for more voicemails and then plays a chunk of Miles Davis's autobiography, where Miles describes sliding from snorting heroin into shooting it, realizing he has a habit, and sinking into a four-year “horror show” of heroin and cocaine in New York.Then Dave introduces Naughty God (Dakota), a heavily tattooed Instagram/TikTok/YouTube creator who built a big following rating nod videos “sportscaster-style.” Dakota tells his story: growing up between a sweet, young mom and a meth-addicted dad, starting drugs at 13 by snorting random pain pills he found in a friend's brother's room, and becoming the classic weed-identity kid with a pot-leaf MySpace. He forms the band LAW with his friend Jacob Nowell (Bradley Nowell's son, who now sings for Sublime), and they grow up playing shows in San Diego and Long Beach while having access to grown-up levels of partying. Dakota falls in love with cocaine in his mid-teens, then with speed, and his using gets him kicked out of LAW when Jacob gets sober and can't handle him showing up high to everything.After moving to Orange County, Dakota dives into selling and using coke in San Clemente, then adds Oxy 30s (“blues”), fentanyl pills, and heroin to his daily rotation. He and his tight crew—especially his best friend Robert—live in a constant loop of dealing, partying, and using. Over two months, Robert, Dakota's cousin, and three other friends all die from fentanyl. The losses break him: he has a mental breakdown, calls his grandma, and checks himself into a San Diego hospital detox, where he's put on 100mg of methadone and spends years on the clinic grind.Dakota talks about being on methadone for four–five years, barely using anything else, then deciding—with help from a therapist—that he'll never fully turn a corner if he stays on it forever. He tapers himself from 100mg down to 4mg over about a year, jumps off, and goes through a long, foggy, uncomfortable withdrawal. He's now about a year and a half off methadone, occasionally smokes weed, sees a therapist, plays bass in his band Somehow Unseen, and works on content. He and Dave riff on nodding (“my whole life”), nod techniques, fentanyl's short “legs,” and the economics of why heroin likely won't “come back” in a big way.Dakota explains how he built NaughtyGod into a fast-growing account by structuring it like a recurring “show” and inventing/collecting phrases like “Charm City Rainbow,” “Nodwalk Shuffle,” “Baltimore Street Yoga,” “Sheriff of Nottingham” to describe different nod poses. They talk about Instagram flagging and banning drug content, other junkie meme/recovery pages, and how both of them accidentally stumbled into helping people through content that started out as pure jokes and self-centered ambition. They agree to collab on a nod reel, and Dakota shouts out his band and pages.All that and more on a brand new WEDNESDAY Episode of the good old dopey show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
www.patreon.con/dopeypodcastThis Week on Dopey! I'm in Philly at the Rise for Recovery Conference! I was on Soft White Underbelly! I read Spotify comments, and one of the single greatest dopey emails ever! And Old School Dopey Kirby sends in a voicemail about what it means to be an addict. Then we welcome the incredible Roddy Bottum, keyboardist for Faith No More and lead singer/guitar of Imperial Teen, and author of his new book, The Royal We. Roddy talks about growing up gay in a hard-rock world, his early San Francisco punk days, and how Courtney Love briefly joined Faith No More before their friendship and drug use turned dark. He remembers touring with the Chili Peppers, getting arrested for weed, experimenting with heroin, and being surrounded by chaos as Faith No More blew up with “Epic.”Roddy opens up about how addiction and grief collided — the deaths of his friend Cliff, Kurt Cobain, and especially his father, who died of cancer soon after Roddy got sober. He and Dave talk about recovery, guilt, and the weirdness of surviving when so many others didn't. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Show NotesEarly Life & Tattoo Beginnings:JS grew up going back and forth to NYC, starting Fun City tattoo shop in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s, working with punk legends, including Iggy Pop and hanging around the Lower East Side near Katz's Deli. Took over Spider Webb's tattoo shop and innovated tattoo styles internationally.Wild Addiction Years:Struggled with violent, restless addiction in LA, carrying guns, dealing with near-death overdoses, and hitting rock bottom multiple times. Describes being surrounded by tragedy (neighbors dying, violence) while strung out.First Sobriety Attempts:Found AA through a phone call, went to meetings while sick and broken, experienced his first sober year full of fear and confusion but connected with a tribe. Stayed sober for 10 years but was still dangerously angry and unstable.Relapse & Real Surrender:After years dry but miserable, relapsed hard on speedballs and other drugs. After a near-fatal speedball overdose, sincerely prayed for help for the first time — a turning point that led to a true surrender and lasting recovery.Spiritual Awakening & 12 Steps:Recommitted to sobriety at 48, dove deep into 12-step literature and principles, learning the disease was rooted in selfishness, self-centeredness, and insanity, not just substances. Developed a personal understanding of “God as we understood Him” and built a spiritual relationship that restored sanity.Plant Medicine Experiences:Explores ayahuasca and ibogaine ceremonies in Brazil and Mexico — the mother and stern general of plant medicines. Describes transformative, often brutal trips, communicating with ancestral spirits, and being a bridge to help suffering souls find peace.Integration with AA:Believes his foundation in AA allowed the plant medicine experiences to speak in a language he understood, blending 12-step spirituality with psychedelic healing. Emphasizes these tools aren't for everyone; people must be called to them.Writing & Legacy:Channels his higher self to write influential, raw literature about addiction and recovery. Proud of his work that connects deeply with people facing darkness.Wild Stories & Encounters:Remembers meeting Johnny Depp and Hunter S. Thompson, including a hilarious story about buying mummified fingers at a flea market and delivering a sarcastic note to a hotel room.