Podcasts about recovery podcast

Listen without Ads: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Dopeywood 2 tix: https://www.showclix.com/event/dopeywood-2026   A Monday Dopey Total Replay where Dave sets up classic Dopey Episode 16—the one with Chris's legendary “city in my boxers” LSD trip and Mark's long, chaotic prank call to a detox intake. Along the way Dave reads Spotify comments (including kratom taper talk and new listeners coming from the Billy Strings episode), shares a voicemail story about meth, a blow-up with in-laws, and a late-season Sonoran Desert toad that leads to a 5-MeO-DMT “purge.” The replay captures early Dopey's exhausted, bickering chemistry—cookies vs donuts, quitting cigarettes, Gloucester “chowder” nonsense—and Dave closes by reflecting on the early origin of “toodles,” asking for voicemails, problems, and more phony phone calls.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, Merrit is discussing how practicing gratitude causes a positive shift not only mentally, but physically!Purchase a copy of Merrit's book "Lost Innocence" by visiting: amazon.comFor the audiobook version, visit Merrit on Instagram @merrithartblay and click the link in his bio.Hosted by: Merrit HartblayExecutive Producer: Jess Branashttp://www.branasenterprises.com

Send a textToday's topic is More Than One Way: Secular Organizations for Sobriety part 1

This week, Merrit is discussing the dangers of all things cannabis.  Although many use it for health reasons, this episode digs deep into recreational use as many states are questioning whether to legalize it.Purchase a copy of Merrit's book "Lost Innocence" by visiting: amazon.comFor the audiobook version, visit Merrit on Instagram @merrithartblay and click the link in his bio.Hosted by: Merrit HartblayExecutive Producer: Jess Branashttp://www.branasenterprises.com

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.

Listen without Ads at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis week on TOTAL DOPEY REPLAY!  The core replay is the full original Dopey Episode 11 (from ~2016), where Dave and Chris banter about AA vs. NA meetings, stereotypes in fellowships, early recovery quirks, listener feedback, random tangents (Damn Daniel viral video, gym routines, therapy at cafes), and Chris's wild story: Relapsing with a girl named Ashley in a Westin hotel (funded by his dad), getting punched in the nose during drunk play, trashing the room with blood on the ceiling, destroying it further, getting confronted by hotel security/police, losing his upcoming night auditor job at the same hotel, and dodging charges by paying for damages. The episode mixes raw addiction tales (heroin, crack, booze, trauma), humor, self-deprecation, early podcast growing pains, and light recovery talk.PLUS super impactful email about grief, and a crazy voicemail about benzos! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a textToday's topic is Carrying the Message: From Recovery to Service

What starts as a simple cup of coffee turns into a life-saving turning point. In this episode of the Recovery Patterns Podcast, Kris Robles shares how getting sober at just 18 years old set him on a path filled with relapse, honesty, homelessness, healing, and ultimately long-term recovery. Kris opens up about using substances to feel connected, surviving a suicide attempt, learning how to live without secrets, and discovering that recovery is bigger than meetings—it's about relationships, balance, and staying honest with yourself. This is a raw conversation about growing up in recovery, redefining success, and learning how to live a full life without drugs or alcohol.00:00 – Introduction & Recovery Dates01:00 – The Mirror Moment That Sparked Change02:30 – “Just Coffee” and the First Meeting04:00 – Getting Sober at a Young Age05:00 – Using Substances to Feel Connected06:00 – Relapsing in Secret While Going to Meetings08:45 – Suicide Attempt & Hospitalization10:45 – Choosing Honesty in Recovery11:45 – Homelessness & Starting Over at 2113:45 – Finishing School & Building Stability15:00 – Codependency & Unhealthy Relationships17:30 – Learning What Healthy Relationships Look Like20:30 – Recovery, Family, and Parenting23:30 – Letting Go of Guilt Around Meetings26:00 – Finding Community in a New Place28:00 – Becoming a Social Worker30:30 – Working in Behavioral Health & Substance Use31:45 – Losing a Friend to Overdose32:45 – Speaking Openly About Recovery33:20 – Advice for Someone in Their First 24 Hours ----Across the Web----

This week, Merrit is flying solo to discuss the importance of treating both addiction and mental health at the same time.  Focusing on the addiction and not it's underlying issues that led to addiction makes the fight harder.Purchase a copy of Merrit's book "Lost Innocence" by visiting: amazon.comFor the audiobook version, visit Merrit on Instagram @merrithartblay and click the link in his bio.Hosted by: Merrit HartblayExecutive Producer: Jess Branashttp://www.branasenterprises.com

Listen with no ads PLUS Dave comments on old episode only on Patreon!www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastDopey TOTAL Replay,! Dave hosts from his dad's apartment!  Reflecting on Chris - INSANE DUI VOICEMAIL. DOPEY Explanation for jumping walls from Dehart. The total replay features classic Dopey Episode 9 (originally Feb 2016): Chris recounts getting mugged in Baltimore after missing a bus from an Orioles game, breaking bones in a chaotic night of college drinking, blackouts, a girlfriend flying to the wrong city, and dorm-room puke-flood disasters. ALL THAT AND MORE MORE MORE on this weeks brand new super old replay episode!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a textToday's topic is Quieting the Noise: Finding Guidance Through Prayer

Mental Health: Hope and Recovery Episode Title: How Helen and Valerie (Mostly) Outsmart Negativity Episode 63 | Duration 47:45 Hosts: Helen Sneed & Valerie Milburn EPISODE OVERVIEW On the brink of the new year, Valerie and Helen do a deep search into the reasons why new year's resolutions so often end in failure and negativity. From their exploration, the ways to outsmart negativity and to pursue something better with a positive outcome become clear and doable. They discover that the strongest course for outsmarting negativity is to replace resolutions with goals. As they bring their insights and examples to the table, the path forward with strategic goal-setting becomes clear.  The objective of the episode is to educate and equip the listener with a large body of information that informs and inspires the creation of a manageable path to achieving a heartfelt goal. Included are strategies, skills, methods, and examples from their own lived experiences. Particular focus is on the mechanics of goal-setting: how to build and sustain a feasible plan with manageable steps. How to overcome procrastination, self-doubt, and setbacks. Mindfulness, acceptance, flexibility, and relationships are critical building blocks to outwitting the negativity and doubt that can stop all forward action. For our hosts, the single greatest way to outsmart negativity is to develop a brain that can create optimistic thoughts, nurture the positive, and develop new techniques to dismiss negative expectation. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ·      Why resolutions often fail and goals often lead to real progress  ·      How SMART goals can be a conduit to commitment and success ·      How skills such as mindfulness and acceptance keep you on track and engaged in the positive ·      How to navigate setbacks without abandoning your goals or the capacity to fight negativity TOOLS AND TAKEAWAYS ·      Resolutions vs. Goals:  Resolutions are strict decisions without structure; goals require action, planning, and flexibility ·      SMART Goals provide a framework for effective goal setting with the following criteria. The goal should be: o   Specific  o   Measurable o   Achievable  o   Relevant  o   Time-bound  ·      Dialectical Behavior Therapy: DBT provides a wide range of goal-seeking skills ·      Mindfulness and Acceptance: They offer many options and activities for overcoming negativity and the positive pursuit of goals. ·      Relationships: Support through individuals and community provides accountability, encouragement, and improved self-image. MEMORABLE QUOTES “Big ambition without an achievable plan is a setup for failure.” – Helen “Acceptance is not endorsement—it's simply recognizing reality as it is.” –Valerie “Goals bring values from theory into practice.” – Helen RESOUCES AND LINKS MENTIONED Mental Health: Hope and Recovery Podcast, Episode 9: Goal Setting: A Necessity for Recovery https://mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.com/episode/goal-setting-a-necessity-for-recovery Mindfulness exercise adapted from https://MindfulnessExercises.com Website: https://MentalHealthHopeAndRecovery.com CONNECT WITH US Website: https://MentalHealthHopeAndRecovery.com Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms RELATED EPISODES Mental Health: Hope and Recovery Podcast, Episode 9: Goal Setting: A Necessity for Recovery https://mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.com/episode/goal-setting-a-necessity-for-recovery Mental Health: Hope and Recovery Podcast, Episode 60: Dialectical Behavior Therapy—The Journey from Pain to Purpose https://mentalhealthhopeandrecovery.com/episode/dialectical-behavior-therapy-the-journey-from-pain-to-purpose  DISCLAIMER This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any health-related questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How AI is really just talking to itself, Marney talks about being a mom, Cori tells a story she wasn't present for.Free recovery meetings (in person & online): 217recovery.com/meetings For more recovery resources, visit 217recovery.com Follow us on social media @217recovery If this episode helped you, please share it with someone who might need to hear it.Recovery is possible. You're not alone.

Today's Show: ARE YOU BEATING YOURSELF UP? This week's short Montyman's Meditorial covers the issue of self-condemnation. Have you made a mistake this week, fallen again, perhaps a relapse? What do you do now? #recovery #alcoholic #twelvesteps #wedorecover #addiction 

Listen without ads at:www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis Week on The Wednesday Dose of Dopey!Dave kicks off this Wednesday Dose solo from his dad's house, riffing on nostalgic broke-addict snacks (Little Debbie oatmeal pies as cheap highs) and weird fridge finds, before diving into fan Spotify comments praising last week's emotional Erin Khar episode. He shares wild Miles Davis coke-paranoia excerpts from the autobiography (Ferrari abandonment, trash-room hiding, dealer tricks), and recommending Kind of Blue and In a Silent Way as sick sick records!Then we welcome Sandra Vergara (Selling Sunset star, Sofia Vergara's cousin/sister-figure). Sandra opens up about a traumatic Colombian childhood: brother's murder at age 9, raised by an aunt after her bio-mom's brain damage left her mentally stuck at 12, feeling like a "burden," early glue-sniffing experiment, near-fatal ruptured appendix/septic shock at 16, and constant walking-on-eggshells survival via art, empathy, and never taking abuse personally.In LA from 18, she dabbled in makeup/acting (Fright Night), when she began drinking heavy. Blackouts, self-harm (throwing herself through glass), and suicide ideation. followed. First rehab in Medellín (befriended staff for special treatment → false security). Post-rehab: mushrooms sparked a "psychedelic love" fling, ayahuasca faced childhood trauma head-on, but led to half-assed AA and relapses.COVID alone-time in NYC brought painting growth, but cat Stewie's death (worse than losing family) plunged her into deep  depression. Enter ketamine: started therapeutic (Mindbloom) but escalated to daily K-holes with Oculus VR for near-death/grief escapes, addictive Journey Circle weekends (MDMA/ayahuasca/mushrooms group catharsis without integration), erratic calls to mom, club blackouts, and cousin finding her passed out. Family intervention (Sophia pays, nephew packs her) lands her in trauma-focused Breathe Life rehab.She firmly rejects "California sober" as a trap—psychedelics delayed real surrender for her; true addicts can't substitute one mind-alter for another. Full AA commitment (no more a la carte) + Kabbalah (post-breakup desperation) changed everything: tikkun (soul correction via tough life choices), turning reactive impulses (anger/gossip) into proactive restriction, daily study/meditation for frequency shifts. Ties Kabbalah to quantum physics (observer effect = perception shapes reality, entanglement = we're all connected, certainty in the unknown = surrender).Sandra discusses Selling Sunset challenges (producer manipulation, ego, glamour vs. spiritual presence) and her new neuroscience/IFS/Kabbalah coaching for holistic recovery (mind stories, body regulation, spirit alignment). All that and much more on the brand new 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.

Send us a textToday's topic is Keeping It Clean: Daily Maintenance of the Spirit

Send us a textToday's topic is Healing the Wounds: The Freedom of Amends

This week, Merrit is joined by Gabriella, who is a trauma counselor, as they chat about how trauma shows up in the body.  Learning to understand what the signals are can unlock your healing journey.Purchase a copy of Merrit's book "Lost Innocence" by visiting: amazon.comFor the audiobook version, visit Merrit on Instagram @merrithartblay and click the link in his bio.Hosted by: Merrit HartblayExecutive Producer: Jess Branashttp://www.branasenterprises.com

Hey amazing listeners! After 160+ episodes together, I want to make sure The Burnout Recovery Podcast is creating content that truly serves YOU in 2026. Whether you're a healthcare professional, someone passionate about workplace wellbeing, or you just love practical strategies that work - your feedback will directly shape what you hear on this podcast. What's in it for you? ✨ One lucky respondent wins a $50 Amazon digital gift card ✨ Your input shapes future episodes, topics, and guests ✨ Takes just 2 minutes (seriously!) Ready to help?

Michaela shares her powerful recovery journey shaped by trauma, homelessness, substance use, and mental health struggles. After surviving a suicide attempt that became her turning point, she found healing through peer support, holistic practices, and breathwork. Now the Executive Director of Advocacy Unlimited, Michaela reflects on long-term recovery, embodied healing, and helping others reconnect with themselves beyond their circumstances.00:00 Intro & long-term recovery01:00 What Advocacy Unlimited does02:00 Childhood trauma and early substance use03:00 Pregnancy, getting sober, and pushing everything down04:45 Relapse, suicide attempt, and rock bottom05:30 Choosing to live and beginning recovery06:45 Early recovery and learning adulthood08:30 Education, identity, and rebuilding life10:30 Finding purpose through advocacy work12:00 Discovering holistic and mind-body healing14:30 Recovery beyond sobriety16:00 Breathwork and nervous system regulation19:00 Guided breathwork practice24:00 How breathwork changed relationships and work25:00 Advocacy Unlimited programs & resources28:00 How to get involved / closing ----Across the Web----

Andrew Grazen shares his journey from a seemingly normal childhood into years of addiction, incarceration, and near-death experiences, and how recovery, community, and writing ultimately saved his life. From discovering substances at a young age to overdosing in his car and writing a memoir while incarcerated, Andrew reflects on loss, resilience, and why staying connected—and holding onto hope—can change everything. ----Across the Web----

Host Jim Ellermeyer welcomes Shane Chojnacki — a professional fighter, trainer, health advocate, and pro wrestler known as Victor Benjamin — for an honest and deeply reflective conversation about resilience, choice, and personal responsibility. Shane opens up about growing up in an environment marked by addiction, violence, and scarcity, while still finding moments of community, guidance, and protection. Rather than becoming a victim of his circumstances, he made intentional decisions to stay grounded in sports, discipline, and work — even when easier and more destructive paths were readily available. Throughout this episode, Shane reflects on learning from the mistakes of others, refusing to settle for less, and choosing action over self-pity. Jim connects these experiences to mindfulness principles, recovery thinking, and the idea that real change comes from effort, behavior, and consistent choices — not just intention or wishful thinking. Topics explored include: Growing up without a safety net Making conscious “wise mind” choices Learning resilience through adversity Taking action instead of living in “ifs, buts, and maybes” Betting on yourself when others doubt you Speaking intention into existence through action This is Part 1 of a continuing conversation that sets the foundation for deeper discussions on identity, growth, and mindful living in future episodes.

Host Jim Ellermeyer welcomes Shane Chojnacki — a professional fighter, trainer, health advocate, and pro wrestler known as Victor Benjamin — for an honest and deeply reflective conversation about resilience, choice, and personal responsibility. Shane opens up about growing up in an environment marked by addiction, violence, and scarcity, while still finding moments of community, guidance, and protection. Rather than becoming a victim of his circumstances, he made intentional decisions to stay grounded in sports, discipline, and work — even when easier and more destructive paths were readily available. Throughout this episode, Shane reflects on learning from the mistakes of others, refusing to settle for less, and choosing action over self-pity. Jim connects these experiences to mindfulness principles, recovery thinking, and the idea that real change comes from effort, behavior, and consistent choices — not just intention or wishful thinking. Topics explored include: Growing up without a safety net Making conscious “wise mind” choices Learning resilience through adversity Taking action instead of living in “ifs, buts, and maybes” Betting on yourself when others doubt you Speaking intention into existence through action This is Part 1 of a continuing conversation that sets the foundation for deeper discussions on identity, growth, and mindful living in future episodes.

In this episode of the Agents of Recovery Podcast, Coach Blu and Wendell explore a decisive shift in how to relate to emotional triggers in mental health and addiction recovery. Rather than treating triggers as threats to avoid, they frame them as trailheads—valuable starting points that lead to deeper self-understanding and lasting change.Episode OverviewCoach Blu and Wendell unpack the idea that triggers are not the problem; they are signals. When something activates a strong emotional response, it often points to an unresolved experience, belief, or wound asking for attention. By slowing down and getting curious instead of reactive, recovery becomes less about control and more about discovery.Throughout the conversation, they share grounded, real-world examples of how triggers show up in daily life and recovery spaces. From interpersonal conflict to internal self-talk, they demonstrate how asking why you feel the way you do can open the door to insight, self-compassion, and freedom.Key Themes Explored- Triggers as information, not danger, and how reframing them reduces shame and fear - Curiosity as a recovery skill, replacing avoidance with awareness - The difference between managing symptoms and understanding sources - How emotional reactions often point to unmet needs or past experiences - Practical ways to pause, reflect, and learn from triggering momentsThis episode is a reminder that every trigger holds potential insight, and that a bit of curiosity can go a long way toward meaningful, sustainable recovery.Join Coach Blu and Team Addict II Athlete and begin your recovery with a tram behind you! Our online addiction and mental health program provides live group sessions with Coach Blu, our weekly Home Base recovery meeting, therapeutic assignments, and educational information at a fraction of what a treatment program would require. Take You Mark, Get Set, Let's Go, and click the link below. https://www.skool.com/addict-ii-athlete-5988/about?ref=9090e81114674311874340c02b1095d0Please join Addict to Athlete's Patreon support page and help us turn the mess of addiction into the message of sobriety!https://www.patreon.com/addicttoathletePlease visit our website for more information on Team Addict to Athlete and Addiction Recovery Podcasts.https://www.AddictToAthlete.org

As Merrit kicks off 2026, he delves into how addiction affects the whole family.  Tune in as he discusses the importance of learning about your loved one's addiction as they start their journey to sobriety.Purchase a copy of Merrit's book "Lost Innocence" by visiting: amazon.comFor the audiobook version, visit Merrit on Instagram @merrithartblay and click the link in his bio.Hosted by: Merrit HartblayExecutive Producer: Jess Branashttp://www.branasenterprises.com

listen to the full show at:www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis week on the Tuesday Teaser!  Dave and a special guest open the show only to realize they just lost an entire hour-long recording — a full tribute episode to Mark F. is gone forever. Instead of forcing it, they pivot and talk about fear, frustration, and what it feels like when things fall apart at the beginning of a new year.Dave shares a very real New Year's Eve story: driving his daughter Susan to Riverhead in a 200,000-mile Subaru while the temperature gauge starts flashing, Google says the car is about to explode, and anxiety takes over. A gas station stop, a stranger with car knowledge, antifreeze drama, and a callback to Susan accidentally drinking antifreeze as a baby somehow make it into the mix.They survive, make it to the aquarium, hit a kid-friendly ball drop, and wind down talking about cookies, brookies, peanut butter, parenting, and selling dessert to anxious people. The episode ends with a teaser for a Patreon-only interview Dave's daughter Nora did with him for a school assignment, followed by music, wandering thoughts, and the familiar Dopey sign-off.much much more - including two more Zoe recordings 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.

In Fishing Without Bait 497, we continue our thoughtful conversation with returning guest Clairvoyant Santina Grace in Part 4 of this series. This episode centers on listening — to ourselves, to others, and to the deeper awareness that helps us release fear, judgment, and mental clutter. Jim Ellermeyer and Santina discuss compassion, choice points, and the stories we hold onto, as well as the freedom that comes from letting them go. Through reflection and shared experience, this conversation invites listeners to slow down, practice mindfulness, and approach life with greater understanding and non-judgment.

In Fishing Without Bait 497, we continue our thoughtful conversation with returning guest Clairvoyant Santina Grace in Part 4 of this series. This episode centers on listening — to ourselves, to others, and to the deeper awareness that helps us release fear, judgment, and mental clutter. Jim Ellermeyer and Santina discuss compassion, choice points, and the stories we hold onto, as well as the freedom that comes from letting them go. Through reflection and shared experience, this conversation invites listeners to slow down, practice mindfulness, and approach life with greater understanding and non-judgment.

Send us a textToday's topic is The Reckoning: Making Amends Begins with Awareness with guest co-host Becky F. 

Listen to the Whole Tuesday Episode at A special guest joins us for the teaser!  (echoes of COVID-era recordings). The duo catches up casually — We recall recording in the attic back in the day, Dave mentions Linda guesting once and shares a wild memory of a bum flicking a cigarette that hit him in the mouth outside CVS.Spotify Comments Segment Dave reads listener comments from the previous Tuesday episode (Ray & Alan guest-hosted):A new listener (another Ray) appreciates the Nick Reiner discussions and hopes for more old interviews.Mucho Gringo teases Zoe's Patreon critique of Dave's Nick handling.Richard calls the Reiner focus a “pathological obsession” and threatens to unsubscribe by spring 2026.Romanil agrees it's sensationalizing and suggests smudging the attic with sage.Dave reveals he depublished the Nick Reiner compilation episodes due to backlash and personal guilt (“It's haunting me”).Listener Email: Andrew Zane's Wild Pitch Dave reads a lengthy email from Andrew Zane asking how to guest on Dopey. Highlights of Andrew's story:Groomed into drugs as a child (huffing Freon, mouthwash, morning glory seeds, intro to heroin).Teen oxy → heroin addiction, crime spree across Midwest with a girlfriend (scamming hospitals for Dilaudid, policy changes in North Dakota(?)).Prostitution, prison for her, desert life in Arizona (licking psychedelic Sonoran Desert Toads, first meth).Arrested drunk pushing daughter's stroller, divorce, more rehab, dope sick on xylazine-laced street heroin.Grindr hookup turned near-sex-trafficking + months-long psychosis.Overprescribed Vyvanse gone wrong; now mostly sober using kratom (harm reduction) and occasional toad psychedelics.Andrew wants to discuss drugs + human trafficking on dating apps and stimulant overprescription.Discussion: Sex Trafficking & Dating Apps They dive into the dark side of apps like Tinder/Grindr — coerced prostitution, pimps forcing partners, shades of consent, why victims don't just leave. Dave admits struggling to understand the coercion aspect until reading the legal definition.Cliffhanger & Patreon Plug Dave teases that he and Ray are starting to work on a movie script together — details only available to Patreon subscribers (patreon.com/dopeypodcast). The free teaser ends here. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a textToday's topic is The Power of Humility in Healing with guest co-host Becky F. 

ad free on patreon @www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis week on Dopey! It's Christmas Eve! Wishing all the listeners a Merry Fucking Christmas! This week we open the show reminding everyone about patreon and reading a note from incarcerated Dope - Montana about prison life, Toastmasters, college aspirations, and his badass DIY cubicle decor.We reflects on Christmas's universal meaning – love, hope, togetherness – while sending love to the Reiner family. The main interview features longtime friend and DopeyCon organizer Rachel Hechtman (@soberincentralpark), recorded the day the Nick Reiner news broke. Rachel shares her wild journey: early drinking and coke at 14, boarding school antics (including Paris Hilton-sourced coke), dealing at Dartmouth, drug-induced psychosis, a secret marriage to an Italian guy (Giuseppe!), massive weight loss (80 lbs), and getting sober through daily Central Park walks with her dog George during COVID – no 12-step, just determination, walking, and community-building.All that plus copious Nick Reiner Spotify comments on this brand new Wednesday version 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.

This week, Merrit is joined Dawn McCormick who went from homeless and addicted to rebuilding her life.  Tune in as they talk about the process of rebuilding even if you experience setbacks.Purchase a copy of Merrit's book "Lost Innocence" by visiting: amazon.comFor the audiobook version, visit Merrit on Instagram @merrithartblay and click the link in his bio.Hosted by: Merrit HartblayExecutive Producer: Jess Branashttp://www.branasenterprises.com

Listen without ads at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastIn this Dopey replay, We revisits rare and unfiltered moments with Nick Reiner and Chris O'Connor from early episodes of the show — recorded years before the tragic events surrounding the Reiner family.The episode reflects on a time when addiction and mental illness had not yet fully hardened into catastrophic consequences. Dave explains why he chose to release this material now, reading listener reactions and grappling with the complexity of showing who Nick was before everything went wrong.What follows is a raw, chaotic, often funny, and deeply human stretch of Dopey history: arguments, drug stories, recovery talk, basketball injuries, relapse temptations, seizures, rehab memories, and one particularly moving story of Nick tripping on LSD and being cared for by his father through the night.The episode closes with a reflection on recovery, connection, and the importance of reaching out — both to those struggling and to those we love — alongside a tribute to Chris O'Connor and the reminder that hindsight doesn't protect us, but connection sometimes can. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a textToday's topic is Ready For Change: Letting Go of What No Longer Serves Us

Welcome back to this week's edition of Paranormal the New Normal for an amazing episode that I've been waiting a long time to release. I am being joined by Laura Giles, host of Paranormal PTSD Recovery podcast, a place where those who need to have their paranormal experiences normalized and recover from the fear involved. Laura and I had an amazing discussion about her love for the paranormal from a young age, her alien experience, paranormal PTSD as a diagnosis, humanities beginning, simulation theory, and so much more. Enjoy an incredible discussion between two paranormal lovers. Paranormal PTSD Recovery Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1t61IwKwHVpBoZ0y5BirKO?si=ba5d315ee58e44f6 Uncensored, Untamed & Unapologetic U^3 Podcast Collective: https://www.facebook.com/groups/545827736965770/?ref=share Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juggalobastardpodcasts?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8xJ2KnRBKlYvyo8CMR7jMg

Ad Free Dopey:www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastIn this crucial emergency episode, Dave is joined by longtime friend and recovery legend Bob Forrest to process the shock, grief, and fallout surrounding the Nick Reiner tragedy and the public backlash aimed at Dopey.Bob speaks from decades of experience in addiction treatment, psychiatry-adjacent crisis work, and firsthand encounters with drug-induced psychosis, violence, and untreated mental illness. He explains why modern drugs—especially meth and stimulants—are producing homicidal and suicidal behavior, and why families often have no remaining safety net when things spiral.They discuss:Why parents can love their children and still need boundaries, charges, or interventionHow decriminalization + lack of psychiatric resources leaves families helplessWhy people project their own trauma and rage onto public figures and podcastsThe danger of separating “mental health” from active addictionCelebrity kids, resentment, identity, and why some survive while others don'tWhy Dopey is being scapegoated—and why that logic doesn't hold upThe conversation moves through music, recovery, punk rock, famous addiction stories, Christmas memories, suicidal ideation, parenting, and connection, ultimately landing on Bob's central belief: connection, love, truth, and honesty are what keep people alive.The episode ends with Bob defending Dopey's right to tell the whole truth about addiction—ugly, funny, painful, and real—and offering a blunt but heartfelt holiday message to Dopey Nation. All that and more on this 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.

Carrie and Michelle talk openly about how addiction, trauma, and unhealthy relationships often go hand in hand. They share lived experiences with abusive relationships, codependency, and emotional manipulation — and how recovery became the foundation for learning self-love, boundaries, and healthy connections. From leaving toxic partners to rebuilding trust in themselves, this episode explores what healing relationships actually look like in sobriety, why community matters, and how spaces like The Phoenix helped them rediscover who they are beyond addiction. ----Across the Web----

In Fishing Without Bait Episode 496 – *Clearing the Etch-A-Sketch: Letting Go of What Isn't Ours, we continue Part 3 of our conversation with returning guest and Clairvoyant *Santina Grace. This episode focuses on healing trauma without rewriting or reliving the past. Through grounding visualizations, breathwork, and recovery-based insights, Santina and the Fishing Without Bait team discuss how emotional experiences can be deconstructed so they no longer control our present moment. Using metaphors like clearing an Etch-A-Sketch or rooting into the earth through mindful breathing, the conversation highlights how releasing emotional energy that doesn't belong to us creates space for clarity, neutrality, and joy. We also explore recovery as a universal human process — because everyone is in recovery from something — and how honoring yourself begins with learning to listen.

A Spine Surgeon's Journey: Seeing the Operating Room From Both SidesWhat happens when a spine surgeon becomes a patient?In this powerful episode of Get Back To It, Dr. David Polly shares his deeply personal journey of moving from the surgeon's chair to the patient's bed. After years of treating complex spine conditions, Dr. Polly experienced firsthand what it's like to navigate pain, uncertainty, and recovery from the other side of the operating room.Through honest reflection, he explores how this experience reshaped his understanding of healing, empathy, and patient care—and how it continues to influence the way he practices medicine today. This conversation offers valuable insight for patients, caregivers, and medical professionals alike, reminding us that recovery is not just physical, but profoundly human.

Send us a textToday's topic is Confession, Connection, and Coming Clean

Corey reaches his seventh year sober from alcohol and takes a moment to look back. How did he do it, and how has life changed?

no inserted ads: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis Week on a super classic episode of Dopey! Dave is visited by local Long Islander - Will P. AKA Hairy Tongue Will. Dave opens the show drinking Ryze mushroom coffee while talking about how cold his recording room is. He announces that Dopey will be releasing five episodes per week throughout December, including replays, Patreon teasers, deep cuts, and new interviews.He gives sobriety shoutouts — notably Lauren's three-year milestone and Maddie Veitch from Leftover Salmon celebrating her own recovery marker. He encourages listeners to email in clean-time milestones for future episodes.Dave then goes through a lengthy run of Spotify comments left on the Darrell Hammond episode. The comments range from people complaining about the “This or That” game, others defending it, jokes about possums, encouragement about psychedelics, questions about whether Darrell is truly sober, praise for the episode, frustration with the interview pacing, random remarks about Lime Drive and “Mike's Amazing Stuff,” plus multiple requests for stickers. Dave reads each comment and jokes along, sometimes offering to send merch.Ads for Mountainside and Link Diagnostics follow. Dave talks about how Mountainside is central to the history of Dopey and how Link Diagnostics offers drug testing services that help people “stay positive and test negative.”Dave then plays an LSD voicemail from Henry in San Francisco, who took two hits of acid alone in college. Henry becomes one with his bicycle, panics at a house fumigation tent he interprets as a circus, fears he'll be mutated by pesticides, runs home, listens to the Butthole Surfers, sees Aztec gods appearing from shifting ceiling patterns, and eventually rides it out. He is now 15 months sober and credits Dopey Nation for support.Next he reads an email from Jerry, who describes crazy addiction history including fighting cops on PCP, overdoses, ventilators, and robbing heroin dealers. Jerry discovered Dopey by typing “heroin” into the podcast search bar while newly out of rehab in 2018. His biggest complaint is that Dave has never watched Joe Dirt.The episode opens with your intro, then the bulk of the show is Hairy Tongue Will's massive, chaotic, detailed telling of his addiction, near-death runs, arrests, relapse cycles, dead friends, and eventual recovery.Will describes the early Long Island chaos with Richie, Mike, and Lenny—everyone strung out on heroin, crack, coke, and whatever they could get. He recalls the first serious turn: showing up to a house where Lenny was passed out after a three-day crack run, realizing “the demons are taking over.” Mike and Richie spiral deeper, and Will keeps managing to “hold it together” thanks to jobs, work ethic, and a strange electrical-job stabilizer that kept him semi-functional.He details years of DUIs, probation, manipulating drug tests, smoking crack constantly while still working 16-hour electrician shifts, and thriving socially because coworkers lived vicariously through him. He normalized chaos, missing only “one no-call/no-show every two weeks,” which he considered acceptable.Will then dives into his first short attempt at stability, living in a basement apartment. His probation officer surprises him the day after a holiday: the apartment is filled with beer cans, bongs, baggies. He fails the test, is sent back to rehab/jail cycles, and explains why Long Island addicts often choose jail over treatment. He describes his surreal time in jail—being sent to the Montauk Lighthouse on work crews, eating egg sandwiches and black-and-milds with the guards, becoming “the useful guy,” actually feeling respected and purposeful.Back outside, he tries again, fails again, collects DUIs, cycles through companies, loses jobs, hustles side work, and repeatedly relapses. A wedding night leads to another DUI. COVID hits while he's in jail. He gets out, starts working nonstop, earns money, piles cash in a closet, stacks crypto, reads self-help books, sleeps on a mattress on the floor, becomes obsessed with success and control.Then he meets a girl in Tennessee. He drinks again “successfully” only when he flies there. He builds a double life—working himself numb, drinking out of state, convincing himself he's different.Eventually, on a work trip, he gambles, wins big, drinks an old fashioned, and secretly cooks his boss's cocaine into crack. This reignites the obsession. Will starts traveling the Northeast and Midwest, repeatedly pulling crack-seeking missions: gas stations, high-crime neighborhoods, asking strangers, “I'm looking for some hard.” He builds drug contacts in Bridgeport, Dayton, Maine, Virginia, wherever the job sends him. He smokes in hotels, hallucinates blood on floors, changes rooms repeatedly.He recounts the deaths of friends:Mike, whose father turned their home into a sheet-walled trap house with dealers and bikers living inside.How Mike died with his father selling sneakers off his dead son's body.Richie, who got sober then died of fentanyl after nearly two years clean.Will's life collapses further—obsession, resentment toward God, jealousy, terminal uniqueness. He becomes a “demon,” wanting to die like his friends. He terrifies his girlfriend with delusional FaceTimes, nine-day runs, psychosis. She moves in without knowing the truth and becomes trapped in codependency.He stays high for 26 straight days, manipulates her with antihistamine allergy episodes to cover his psychosis, hides crack pipes around the house with ring cameras everywhere. He finally admits some truth, gives her $5,000 to escape, but she stays another nine months.He tells insane stories:Pretending he's a trust-fund baby to get free crackGetting shot at by a dealer after a misunderstanding over “two grams” vs “two ounces”Driving through wooded roads barefoot at gas stationsDealers trying to jump himBecoming a mule for a recently-released dealer (Ace)Near misses, violence, and pure street insanityEventually, during a pickup, he gets chased, prays for police lights, and his car breaks down. Cops descend. He gets a mountain of charges (“five decades worth”). He thinks he'll die in prison. Bail reform gets him released. He immediately uses again for 17 more days.A sober lawyer tries pushing him toward St. Christopher's. Will resists, manipulates LICR, relapses again, cancels his own insurance, tries to die, and after weeks of chaos his mother gets him re-approved. He enters St. Chris, still delusional, still dangerous.There he breaks. He admits suicidal thoughts, gets a guard stationed outside his door, hears the blunt truth—you're the worst-off guy here and you did this to yourself. It lands. Will begins working the program: spiritual direction, grief groups, codependency, meetings, kitchen duty, everything. He reconnects with his mother in sobriety. He attends court in suits provided by the facility and ultimately receives an unexpectedly generous plea deal.He comes home early, tries to run his own program, stays sober for months, but on Mother's Day runs into an old acquaintance who shows him a Newport box with a pipe inside. He relapses immediately for three days, misses Mother's Day entirely.That night, suicidal again, he receives a series of calls: first from Jordan, then from his tough sponsor, who gives him clear direction—go to a sober house, go to daily groups, go to nightly meetings, call people, build structure. Will frauds his urine to get in, but once inside, follows every instruction. He stabilizes.He recounts being 18 months sober now, having been at meetings nearly every night, with a recent slip in commitment due to chasing an “intimate partner godshot” that didn't work out. You reassure him that it's fine and that balance is part of recovery.More or less thats the whole thing! On a brand new fucko, crackead 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.

This week, Merrit is joined by Lisa as they chat about her journey into sobriety after addiction struck her during her childhood years.  Hear her story of moving on from the past to flourish in the future.Purchase a copy of Merrit's book "Lost Innocence" by visiting: amazon.comFor the audiobook version, visit Merrit on Instagram @merrithartblay and click the link in his bio.Hosted by: Merrit HartblayExecutive Producer: Jess Branashttp://www.branasenterprises.com

Send us a textToday's topic is Facing The Mirror: The Inventory That Changed Everything

Corey, Marney, & Cori talk about how to use fear, humor, and the past to move forward in recovery.

Send us a textToday's topic is The Art of Letting Go

www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThe teaser opens with you explaining the whole point of a Tuesday teaser: push listeners “like little dogs or lemmings” to Patreon, where the full episode lives. You pitch the Wednesday Patreon Zoom, the Saturday Zoom, the Recovery Zoom, the bonus videos and episodes, and joke about your inconsistent track record of scheduling Patreon Zooms.You welcome the massive influx of Billy Strings fans after the huge episode—Rolling Stone, People Magazine, Yahoo News, and a pile of country sites covered it. You read a handful of Spotify comments reacting to the interview: praise for Billy's vulnerability, your interviewing, people crying, people relating to losing their mothers, and some teasing about your age and your Soft White Underbelly appearance. You joke about the cinematic episode description likely being written by AI.Then you play a clip from last week's recording with Doug, where you two open packages at Katz's from German Dopey fans. A listener named Saul sends a long, heartfelt note about discovering the show via her boyfriend Jake, who listened to Dopey while working in German vineyards. They sent you spelt (“Dinkle”) cookies. Doug refuses to eat them because he's convinced they'll kill him before his hospital appointment. You accuse him of hating “gays and gluten.”The teaser then cuts to your and Doug's conversation about Tank Sinatra being the other “bald Long Islander” who recorded in your garage. Doug doesn't know who he is; you explain Tank's meme empire, his sobriety, Shark Tank appearance, his refusal to promote your episode, and your petty scorched-earth unfollow.Next you preview the beginning of the full Tuesday Patreon episode, where you and Doug get into reading Kevin Sherry's furious anti-AI email. Sherry says AI art is “repulsive,” “lazy,” “morally bankrupt,” “stealing,” and makes you look like you've “given up.” You and Doug riff on the bad AI portraits you've both received, debate AI vs real art, and joke that Sherry has an “autistic flair,” which Doug mishears and then corrects. Doug argues synthesizers and sampling were also hated when they arrived; you argue AI feels different but still fun to play with.The teaser ends with you thanking Saul for the cookies, apologizing again to Tank Sinatra for being petty, updating listeners that you now need glasses, and reminding them to join Patreon. You close with “Stay strong… and fucking toodles for Chris,” followed by a bit of a Dopey song. 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.

Dave opens this Tuesday Dopey Patreon teaser by reflecting on feeling burnt out, upcoming dental implant surgery, and the need to slow down. He jokes about “cultivating illness” to get rest and shares his current obsession with the Martin Scorsese documentary series Mr. Scorsese, hoping listeners will “pray and manifest” Scorsese appearing on Dopey. He talks about Scorsese's film legacy, calling Goodfellas untouchable.Dave reads a Spotify comment from Emma about a pork ad and debates if it's anti-Semitic, then begins a new segment reading from Miles Davis's autobiography — a vivid story about Charlie Parker pawning Miles's belongings for heroin.Next, longtime Dopey Nation member Selby calls in with a story about getting through TSA with weed gummies and ends with “stay strong, Dopey Nation, and fucking toodles for Chris.” Dave laughs about TSA searches, harmonicas being mistaken for weapons, and promises either to play harmonica on the road or stop traveling with it.The teaser transitions into the Patreon preview with Ray Brown and Dave's dad, where a discussion about politics erupts — his dad talks about kindness, empathy, immigration, and frustration with leadership. Dave tries to steer it back but ends up apologizing for the tangent. The teaser closes with Dave's song “I Wanna Be Good So Bad,” a raw, humorous original with lyrics about bad desire, frustration, calling his dad, and seeking peace and love.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.