Explore every episode of the podcast Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| Is Sex and Love Addiction Really Addiction? Dean Spade's Story | 13 oct. 2026 | 01:06:38 | |
Dean Spade, author of Love in a F*cked Up World joins Early to talk about his story with sex and love addiction, work addiction, and how his childhood experiences shaped his relationships as an adult. He talks about how a lot of this stuff maybe isn't even an "addiction" and how perhaps we all have strange relationships to work under capitalism and sex and love within patriarchy. Buckle up as we enter another gray area and explore the question: Is sex and love addiction really addiction? Book a Recovery Coaching call with Early! Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg
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| Staying Sober (and Even Happy) While the World Falls Apart | 06 oct. 2026 | 00:27:48 | |
I somehow accomplished the impossible -- I remain happy, content, and stay sober no matter what happens. What are my personal secrets and methods? And how do I stay steady through external crisis and impending apocalypse? I'm just here for the ride, my dudes. Tune into this week episode's to learn some of my best kept secrets to living the good life. 988 - Suicide and Crisis LifelineSchedule a free 20-minute recovery coaching call with Early! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg
If this show helps you or reminds you of someone, tell a friend! Thanks for your support! | |||
| From Blacking Out to the Mental Shift That Changed Everything: Brian Walker of A Day Without Love | 29 sept. 2026 | 01:08:35 | |
Brian's story begins with a deep knowing that he was an outcast. Alcohol helped him fit in, and helped him feel confident: something he had rarely felt before. After a while, things spun out of control, and he found himself blacking out and waking up places he had never been before. One day he realized -- what if everything could get better? Even the good stuff? Check out Brian Walker's music: A Day Without Love Similar resources for those outside the US Connect with us: Book a free Recovery Coaching consultation with Early! Credits: Theme music - Logan Bragg Logo - Stevie Petet Everything.... else.... - Early Brunner
Your generosity is what keeps us going! Please rate, review, and share this episode with a friend who needs to hear this message today. You're doing amazing work! | |||
| Why You Keep Relapsing, Part 2: How to Stop the Voice in Your Head and Find Peace | 22 sept. 2026 | 00:29:40 | |
Relapsing is a drag. You're not alone. A forgotten skill from Rational Recovery called Addicted Voice Recognition Technique might just be the key that you've been searching for! In today's episode, we go over AVRT more thoroughly -- what it is, why it works, and how you can use this skill to finally stop going back out and using/drinking. The best part about it is it's FREE! Part 1 of Why You Keep Relapsing (Start here!) Another episode on AVRT (Addicted Voice Recognition Technique)
Looking for more?? Book a Recovery Coaching call with Early! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg | |||
| A Southern Trans Addiction Story: Genderfucking Labels & Reclaiming Authenticity | 15 sept. 2026 | 01:10:25 | |
A lot of us use substances to bury our trauma and discomfort -- especially those of us who are queer and trans. Today we hear from Brody who tells their story of growing up queer in the deep south in heavily Christian surroundings. After being bullied for their gender expression, they flipped to hyper-femininity. They found solace and escape in substances, effectively self-medicating their trauma. Eventually, they found recovery through trauma therapy, meditation, making 12-step work for them, and notably -- coming out as trans. They talk about their stays in the psych ward, finding diagnostic labels to be meaningless, but finding the right medication to be helpful. Book a Recovery Coaching call with Early! Visit our merch store! (link fixed) Theme music - Logan Bragg Logo - Stevie Petet | |||
| How to Build a Life You No Longer Need to Escape From (It's Not as Hard as it Seems!) | 08 sept. 2026 | 00:31:00 | |
Hot take alert! Making your life AWESOME isn't as hard as it seems -- and here's how you can do it! Today I talk about ways to balance our lives by reducing stress, adding in more cool stuff, and changing our perspective on life to make ourselves feel grateful as a knee-jerk reaction. I talk about my favorite empowerment skill from the book Nonviolent Communication, why we should all read the news less, and why we should work less. Then I talk about making space and intentionally doing things that make our life more comfortable and more meaningful and connected. Last, I discuss internal shifts we can make that allow us to have a more positive perspective, naturally. Oh, and I encourage you to get a happy fun cute DOG!!! Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching Strategy Call with Early! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg | |||
| Weed, Extreme States, Psych Drugs, and Re-thinking Mental Health Care: Sascha Altman Dubrul's Story | 01 sept. 2026 | 01:00:54 | |
Sascha Altman Dubrul is a punk elder, therapist, and co-founder of The Icarus Project -- a radical mental health support network. In his interview he talks about being friends with people on TV as a kid, finding weed and having the whole universe open up, psychedelics, and ending up involuntarily commited to the psych ward. Sascha discusses extreme mental states, finding punks, how psychiatric drugs are also very much drugs, the harm reduction guide to coming off psych meds, AI relationships, and the complicated situation of having his life saved and simultaneously squashed and limited through being involuntarily committed to the psych ward. He talks about starting The Icarus Project, more compassionate and humanizing ways to think about mental health struggles, and ways of viewing ourselves and others outside of the lens of shame and discrimination. Harm Reduction Guide to Coming off Psychiatric Drugs ------------------------------ Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching Strategy Call with Early! Get some cool RD shirts! (updated link that actually works!) | |||
| Why You Keep Relapsing: You're Not Broken & Here's How to Break the Cycle | 25 août 2026 | 00:34:56 | |
When it comes to mysteries, why we relapse is among the most common problems in addiction recovery. In this episode I discuss four reasons why you keep relapsing and provide clear, actionable ways to catch yourself before it's too late. If you've ever wondered "Why do I keep relapsing?" ... get out your pen and paper, because we are about to demystify that shit. You're not broken, you just need more information about what it takes to re-write our programming. You can do this! Related episodes - The Two Mental Shifts That Make Addiction Recovery Possible The #1 Skill You Need to Be Bulletproof in Recovery Stop Fighting With Yourself - Train Your Brain to Stop Cravings
Support the Podcast - Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching strategy call with Early! Theme music - Logan Bragg Logo - Stevie Petet | |||
| The Pills to Heroin to Meth Pipeline: What Your Doctor Doesn't Warn You About, Josh's Addiction Recovery Story | 18 août 2026 | 00:55:11 | |
Josh Datant joins us today to tell his harrowing story of becoming an IV meth and heroin user after first being prescribed the painkiller pills Oxycontin by his doctor at the age of 15. The pills to heroin to meth pipeline is very real, and it's not the first time we have heard someone go down this path on our show. Opiate pills can seem like a miracle drug at first, but like so many folks, Josh quickly became addicted and then seek out heroin as a cheaper and easier to find alternative. We talk about his childhood trauma, growing up with an addicted parent, and living with OCD. We talk about how things crumbled and fell apart, and the tools he used (like music) to put them back together. Josh is here to show us that no one is too far gone. If you are having a hard time, there's hope for you. Book a free 20 minute 1:1 Recovery Coaching strategy call with Early! Get some world famous RD merch! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg | |||
| Anxiety - Why You Have It and the Unexpected Way to Get Rid of It | 11 août 2026 | 00:32:25 | |
Nobody likes anxiety. It makes sense to want it to go away. In this episode we dive into how alcohol and other substances can cause a neurochemical spike that causes the anxiety that we are using the substance to relieve, and how this can be a slippery slope into self-medicating and addiction. What if the secret to getting rid of anxiety isn't about trying to make it go away? What if we can find a way to understand it, greet it, and allow it to happen -- and the allowing is what sets us free? We also talk about nervous system overwhelm (fight or flight) and how to get grounded again when the anxiety gets too far outside of our window of tolerance. And strangely enough, anxiety has a purpose, and we will talk about that as well. You might not have an anxiety "disorder"... your body might just be adapting to the substances you're giving it, seeking homeostasis. Through healthy emotional regulation techniques and questioning our relationship to substances, we can get rid of that pesky anxiety or at least figure out how to negotiate space with it and let it process through us naturally. We dive into the RAIN technique and vagus nerve activation to relieve anxiety and panic. The only way out is through. You got this. Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching consultation with Early! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg | |||
| Is Weed Addictive? Armstrong's Story of Addiction, Psychedelics, and an Existential Crisis | 04 août 2026 | 01:13:25 | |
Why do people think weed addiction isn't real? Today we hear from Armstrong about his experience with the magic, medicine, and misery of weed. He also talks about high-dose psychedelic experiences and having what might be defined as a spiritual psychosis. Near the end of his addiction, he was scrounging around for roaches on the ground. The existential crisis has eased a bit, but it's still with him. If you've ever wondered if weed is addictive, you'll definitely know the answer after today's episode. If you're questioning your use of weed, you're not alone. If you haven't fully recovered from a psychedelic experience, you're not the only one! Send me an email! info@recoverydemystified.com Book a 1:1 free consultation for Recovery Coaching with Early! Theme music - Logan Bragg Logo - Stevie Petet | |||
| When Shame and Self-Loathing Lead to Binge Drinking - Colleen's Story | 28 juil. 2026 | 01:06:26 | |
Binge drinking can be a response to unbearable emotions -- and that was the case for our guest today, Colleen Clifford. She talks about being a kid whose needs were unmet, people pleasing, and how a difficult diagnosis left her feeling broken. Unsure where to turn, she ended up finding solace in binge drinking. She kept it together while at sea as a commercial fisherwoman, but her time on land was frought with brown-outs, black-outs, and hangovers. We talk about death of a loved one, grief, and how one moment can change everything. Book a free 20-minute recovery coaching consultation with Early! Support this podcast; join the Patreon! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg | |||
| Sobriety Can Get Lonely - How to Socialize While Sober | 21 juil. 2026 | 00:29:57 | |
Getting sober can mean your social life changes overnight — and nobody really prepares you for that. We often get really bad advice about how we need to make extreme changes, but sometimes that can cause more harm than good. What if we moved slowly, with more intention, and landed in a place that is authentic to our needs? This episode highlights unmasking and neurodivergence in addiction recovery, why "doing less" can be more sustainable, and why the rulebook that says you have to cut off every friend who still uses might not be right for everyone. Some of those friendships are worth keeping. This episode is for anyone who's felt awkward, isolated, or lost in a sea of other people's opinions. What you need to know is already inside of you, and planet Earth is your third space. Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching call with Early! Join the Patreon and support this podcast! Donate to our nonprofit via our website! Holler at me in the email - info@recoverydemystified.com Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg
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| What If We Stopped Feeling Ashamed of Ourselves? Elizabeth Roberts on Her Book "In Praise of Addiction" | 14 juil. 2026 | 01:02:17 | |
Shame is a huge driver of addiction, and cultural overvaluing of independence is keeping us stuck. How might things change if we destigmatized substance use, genuinely cared for each other, and prayed with endless devotion to the things that spark our ravishment? In today's episode, we talk about one of my favorite books of 2025 - "In Praise of Addiction" by Elizabeth Roberts. We dig into the gray areas and dusty corners of addiction, compulsive eating, and the things that bring us together. Elizabeth didn't intend on studying addiction, but the thread interwove itself into her life in a way that made her re-think everything. Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching consultation! Join our Patreon and help support this podcast! Donate to our nonprofit via our website! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg | |||
| You're Not Broken if Autism & ADHD Addiction Recovery Hits Different - Resources From Off the Beaten Path | 07 juil. 2026 | 00:25:04 | |
In this episode we dive into books & podcasts that are off the beaten path -- ones that cater specifically to struggles of people who are autistic and/or have ADHD. The way we recover is not the same as everyone else, and it has everything to do with authenticity and honoring our needs. We also hear about a 30+ year old book that dives into intersectional feminism and how it relates to addiction and recovery. And we talk about a book that destigmatizes addiction on the next level. Buckle up and get out your pen and paper because you won't want to let these resources slip through your fingers. Book a free 20-minute Recovery Coaching call with Early! Support the podcast and join our Patreon! Subscribe to our Substack newsletter! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg | |||
| The Unknown History of Harm Reduction: Meesh Mori on Queer + BIPOC History, the Drug War, and Getting Free | 30 juin 2026 | 01:03:57 | |
Let's talk about the origins of harm reduction that are often overlooked: queer & BIPOC folks have always used underground methods of mutual aid as a method of survival. In this episode Meesh and Early discuss their paths to finding harm reduction spaces and practices, and we get a couple history lessons from Meesh on the origins of harm reduction and the war on drugs. Importantly, we also hear about how queerness and BIPOC struggles are inextricably linked to how we are treated differently when it comes to substance use. If you're looking for a radical history lesson, you're in the right place. Support the podcast by joining our Patreon! Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching strategy call with Early! Get a cool toad shirt from our merch store! Subscribe to our Substack for more recovery content! Donate to our nonprofit anonymously! Holler at us with feedback - info@recoverydemystified.com Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg | |||
| Why AA Failed Me as a Queer, Neurodivergent Person (Part 2) Recovery Resources #35 | 23 juin 2026 | 00:37:03 | |
If AA didn't work for you, you're not broken. One size fits all isn't real, and it's ok to want something different... In Part 2 of this series, we're diving deeper into why the 12-step model fell short — not as a personal failure, but as a structural one. If you're crossing our half the words in a book to make it work for you, why not just toss the book aside and write something brand new that fits YOU? We're shining a light on the Christian purity culture hiding underneath "spiritual but not religious" language, and why trying to figure out "am I an alcoholic" (or not) is a meaningless exercise. We dive into how a program that tells you to distrust yourself and surrender to a higher power might be the last thing a trauma survivor needs, and the complete erasure of BIPOC history and resistance in mainstream recovery spaces. Oh, and how the 12 step abstinence-only model shuns harm reduction, lacks nuance, and doesn't take into account the fact that recovery is not a straight line for most people. This one's for the queer, neurodivergent, radical people who sat in those folding chairs and thought — something is wrong here, and it isn't me. Book a free 20-minute Recovery Coaching consultation with me! Donate to our nonprofit via our website! Logo -Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg | |||
| Pretending I Wasn't Gay Almost Killed Me - Chris Conde's Story of Pushing Addiction to the Brink | 16 juin 2026 | 01:01:42 | |
Chris's addiction story started with drinking at 13 because he wanted to be included in what the grown-ups were doing. Later he also found that drinking made the pain of his trauma go away. Things got very dark, very fast. His sobriety journey is not a straight line -- like many of us, he had bouts of sobriety, followed by times of going back out. It got a lot worse before it got better. He illustrates how vital it is to love ourselves completely, and how being dolled up in drag by a fellow queer gave him permission to do so. Chris's story is harrowing, dark, and illustrates clearly that nobody is ever too far gone. If you're looking for a passionately queer hero's journey, you're in the right place. Book a free 20-minute Recovery Coaching Strategy Call with Early Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg | |||
| You Asked For It! - Healing With Kink, Overcoming Shame, What to Do When You Feel Sad, and Helping Loved Ones With Addiction - Recovery Resources #34 | 09 juin 2026 | 00:34:36 | |
In today's Recovery Resources episode Early answers some listener questions! Addiction recovery and harm reduction come with a multitude of curve balls and challenges. Sober but still riddled with shame for being a degenerate? Have a deeply loved family member with an addiction and don't know how to help? Wondering how to get back on track after a relapse? We will discuss all this and more in this week's recovery resources. Free 20 Minute Strategy Session with Early! Put the Shovel Down YouTube Channel Get some toad shirts from our merch store! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg
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| Annette - Weed Addiction, ADHD, Trauma, and Healing With Meditation & Acupuncture - Addiction Recovery Story #42 | 02 juin 2026 | 01:16:56 | |
In this episode we hear Annette's addiction recovery story. Their life starts with the divorce of their parents at a young age and exposure to a step-parent who was using substances. She talks about struggling with social anxiety, ADHD, and multiple traumas. Her drinking and psychedelic use eventually spiraled out of control, and as she quit drinking her weed use accelerated. After a series of allergic reactions to intense weed use and trying to control their use with edibles and dabs, Annette decided it was time to call it quits. I'm super grateful to Annette for talking about quitting weed addiction. This topic is often brushed under the rug even though so many folks are struggling with weed addiction. If you're struggling today -- weed addiction is real, and you deserve help. Mindfulness as Treatment for ADHD Article Schedule a Free 1:1 Recovery Coaching Strategy Call with Early Support the Podcast and join our Patreon!
Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg
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| Learn How to Trust Yourself Again - Even in Muddy Waters of Trauma, Oppression, and Religious Indoctrination - Recovery Resources #33 | 26 mai 2026 | 00:28:24 | |
In today's Recovery Resources episode, we talk about exactly what in the heck our "intuition" is... and how it is our guiding light in addiction recovery! We each require a constellation of changes in our life in order to create a life we no longer need to escape from. How do we know what the next right step should be? When we learn how to listen to our intuition, we begin to trust ourselves again, and we can each work authentically to find our own unique paths to addiction recovery. Send listener questions to info@recoverydemystified.com Schedule a Recovery Coaching Consultation!
Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg | |||
| Adam - Transforming Deep Shame into Finding Purpose - Addiction Recovery Story #41 | 19 mai 2026 | 01:04:08 | |
In today's episode we hear Adam's addiction recovery story. His life starts with a feeling of being very different. After he found out he was adopted -- it was confirmed for him that yes, in fact, he was different. Finding alcohol gave him an initial sense of relief, and an immediate bout of consequences. Things got a lot worse before they got better. When faced with the news from his doctor that if he kept drinking, he would die -- Adam got in his car and pulled out his sleeve of nips. His survival was no small task. Adam is a testament to learning how to love ourselves, building on small successes to make big changes, and never giving up. He now works as a Recovery Coach and is the host of the Finding Purpose podcast. Check out Adam's website here! Click here to check out Adam's podcast! Want to support Recovery Demsystified? Did you know that we are a 501c3 nonprofit?? Help us help others and keep this work sustainable! Join our Patreon! You get to know SECRETS!!! Donate to our nonprofit via our website! Get some cool toad items from our merch store!!
Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg
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| How to Stop Being So Hard on Yourself - Rewiring Your Brain to Dismantle The Inner Critic - Recovery Resources #32 | 12 mai 2026 | 00:28:40 | |
In today's episode of Recovery Resources we build our skills on rewiring our brains to move past our addictions. Do you ever argue with yourself about if you're going to drink/use? Do you find it exhausting to let yourself down over and over again? You're not broken, and you can rewire your brain to move past difficult thoughts. There's a reason why we have an inner critic, an inner addicted voice, and a fearful voice that's afraid of change. Today we will learn how to identify them, how to interrupt the feedback loop of addiction, and how to build new neural pathways so we can move past our addiction and into healing. Click here to book a free 20 minute recovery coaching call with Early! Click here to donate to our nonprofit! Check out our Substack!Shop our merch store! Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg | |||
| Pepe Bandit - From Latchkey Kid to Trafficking Weed on an Airplane - Addiction Recovery Story #40 | 05 mai 2026 | 01:21:51 | |
In today's episode we hear Pepe Bandit's story. He describes growing up with divorced parents, and a lot of freedom. School never made sense to him, so he dropped out and started hanging out with older kids who opened up the world of drugs. This quickly led to acid-freakouts, weed turning on him, and it fizzled out when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant. He was only 17. Working for a living was fruitless and entirely unfulfilling, so he started selling weed to support his family. Then he started selling more weed, continually escalating until it "made sense" to buy an airplane. This episode explores the gray area of process addictions, compulsion, and watching things escalate out of control. We talk about childhood trauma, helping loved ones with addiction, and rebuilding after a total collapse. Check out Pepe's podcast - Click here to listen to Back on the Grind! Want to support this podcast? Join our Patreon! Prefer to donate to our nonprofit via our website? Click here! Theme music - Logan Bragg Logo - Stevie Petet
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| Stop Fighting With Yourself - Train Your Brain to Stop Cravings - Recovery Resources #31 | 28 avr. 2026 | 00:27:22 | |
In today's episode Early discusses how and why we have addictive cravings, and why we tirelessly argue internally with ourselves about whether or not we are going to drink/use. Are you sick of broken promises to yourself? Sick of fighting an exhausting internal battle at every twist and turn? Fortunately, once we understand why our brain is like this, we can train our brain through neuroplasticity to stop cravings in their tracks. Click here for a free 20 minute 1:1 recovery coaching consultation with Early! Donate to support our nonprofit! Get some toad swag at our merch store! Study showing 75% of people recover from their addictions!
Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg | |||
| Mary - ADHD, Rebellion, and Finding a Home in Secular AA - Addiction Recovery Story #39 | 21 avr. 2026 | 01:25:28 | |
Today we hear Mary's addiction recovery story. She grew up with both parents in recovery and doing direct care work for people in crisis with their alcohol addictions. A fierce inner critic ruled the landscape with fear and shame -- something that she found only alcohol could quiet down. Her drinking spun out of control while she worked as a flight attendant, and after a co-worker called her out at a bar, she put down the drink and never looked back. During her three decades of recovery she has learned how to love herself, how to quiet down the inner critic without alcohol, and most importantly she honors her own authenticity by not listening to other people's dogmatic projections. She is passionate about an empowering secular approach to recovery and her wisdom will leave you with a lot to chew on. Click here to learn more about 1:1 coaching and book a free 20 minute consultation! Click here to join our Patreon! Click here to donate to our nonprofit! Click here to get some sick merch! Click here to check out our Substack! Click here to follow us on Instagram! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg Mary's Contributions: Send Mary an e-mail - secularaa@gmail.com Website for more information - https://www.aasecular.org Recommended podcasts: Secular AA speakers/panels: https://secularaa.buzzsprout.com/ Rebellion Dogs Radio: https://rebelliondogspublishing.com/rebellious-radio Beyond Belief Sobriety: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondBeliefSobriety Recommended Readings: One Big Tent: AA Grapevine stories from 1964 to 2018 of atheists and agnostics Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life, by Rebellion Dogs Publishing Staying Sober Without God: The Practical 12 Steps to Long-Term Recovery from Alcoholism & Addiction, by Jeffery Munn https://www.amazon.com/Staying-Sober-Without-God-Alcoholism/dp/1733588000
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| Why AA/12 Step Didn't Work for Me as a Queer, Neurodivergent, AFAB Heretic - Recovery Resources #30 | 14 avr. 2026 | 00:44:17 | |
In today's episode I talk about being queer, neurodivergent, AFAB, and living with religious trauma while trying to be involved in AA/12 Step programs. I discuss exactly how and why I felt worse after being involved in Alcoholics Anonymous, not better. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) claims that their simple program works for everyone -- provided the person is capable of being completely honest with themselves. When the 12 steps didn't work for me, I was told that "It works if you work it. Keep coming back." The shame I felt about my failure only grew, causing my addiction to feel hopeless. It turns out that the 12 steps were created by and for a very select group of people, and I wasn't one of them. I have never believed in God; I hated the idea of declaring myself powerless; and I simply will not be considering myself to have "character defects." I am so grateful to be at a place in my recovery where I have found answers outside of a one-size-fits-all program, where I have created a life I no longer need to escape from, and where I love myself and feel whole. Readings from books include: Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker and First in the Family by Jessica Hoppe Click here to learn more about my coaching practice and to book a free 20 minute consultation! Click here to sign up for the Patreon! Click here to check out our Instagram! Click here to check out our Substack! Click here to donate to our nonprofit! Click here to buy some truly iconic RD swag! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg | |||
| Sierra - Adopted and Raised in a Cult, BPD, and Losing a Someone to Addiction - Addiction Recovery Story #38 | 07 avr. 2026 | 01:04:47 | |
Today we hear Sierra's story. She talks about growing up with an addicted mother, and then being adopted into a strict religious family. She describes how these polar-opposite childhood traumas created a foundation of trauma and mental instability in her life. Later she gets into a difficult partnership that is characterized by intense substance use. We talk about weed induced panic attacks, using cocaine pretty regularly while getting a degree in addiction studies, working at a homeless shelter, and the tragic loss of her ex-partner. She highlights the importance of harm reduction in her life and shows that we don't need to hit rock bottom to address our use of substances! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg | |||
| The #1 Skill You Need to Be Bulletproof in Recovery - How to Be Comfortable in Any Situation - Recovery Resources #29 | 31 mars 2026 | 00:30:26 | |
Recovery Resources is a series about skills and addiction recovery resources that actually help. Feeling lost? Tried everything? Buckle up, because this episode is going to introduce an idea that will set you free. Today Early talks about their most important resilience-building skill in addiction recovery -- being comfortable with being uncomfortable. Once mastered, this essential skill will make you completely bulletproof in your recovery. Every time we survive being uncomfortable without suppressing our feelings, we grow stronger and stronger, until we are able to feel steady in every situation. Triggers? Cravings? Mere bumps in the road! Early recovery can feel overwhelming, and when we are used to stuffing down every uncomfortable feeling with substances, doing something new can feel nearly impossible. We can build our skills over time by nurturing our basic needs to increase our baseline resilience when we focus on things like sleep, nutrition, and movement. This foundation matters more than you think. The next layer involves learning how to recognize and regulate our emotions. This is a skill that is infinitely beneficial and can be learned by turning the gaze inwards to observe our emotional landscape and sensations in the body. The third layer addresses nervous system overwhelm, and we discuss various tools that we can practice to guide our body out of fight or flight mode. The amazing thing here is that you are in control of so much more than you think. Stress, cravings, and triggers can become small and insignificant in our lives by practicing this method. Being comfortable with being uncomfortable just might be your new superpower! Study showing 75% of people recover from their addictions! Click here to join our Patreon! Click here to donate via our website! Click here to visit our merch store! Click here to check out our Instagram! Click here to visit our Substack! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg
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| A Special Message for New Listeners! | 27 mars 2026 | 00:04:06 | |
12 Step doesn't work for everyone! Freaks and weirdos are welcomed! In this introduction, Early discusses what you can expect here at the Recovery Demystified Podcast. We tell stories of people who use harm reduction, people who came back from the brink and rebuilt their lives, and people who returned to controlled use. We also talk with people who quit before it got bad. You do not need to hit rock bottom in order to address your use of substances! We also hear stories from queer and neurodivergent people in addiction recovery. Early also puts out solo episodes discussing addiction recovery resources that actually work. Whether you're looking for secular recovery outside of the 12-step model, queer and neurodivergent community, or a place where you are fully accepted as your weird self -- you're in the right place. We advocate for harm reduction, not purity politics. We foster an environment of empowerment, growth, and healing. Do you hate being told what to do? So do we. You're in the right place. Join our Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit via our website! Check out our merch store! Follow us on Instagram! Check out our Substack! Holler at us in the email - info@recoverydemystified.com Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg | |||
| Jacob - How Anxiety, AuDHD, and Chronic Pain Lead to Addiction, And How Music Brought Him Back - Addiction Recovery Story #37 | 24 mars 2026 | 01:17:35 | |
Jacob's story of addiction and recovery reveals how ancestral trauma, chronic anxiety, autism, ADHD and chronic pain can intersect in ways that push people toward substance use -- and how healing is still possible. In this episode, Jacob shares how opiates initially felt like a miracle solution to all of his problems, temporarily easing a lifetime of overwhelming anxiety and chronic pain. But what began as relief then escalated into dependence, leading him from prescription pills to IV heroin and fentanyl. After developing a life-threatening blood infection that required open heart surgery, Jacob faced a turning point. He eventually stopped using heroin with the help of Suboxone and began rebuilding his life through harm reduction, self-understanding, and playing the drums. Study showing 75% of people recover from their addictions! Want to support this work? Join our Patreon! Want to donate to our nonprofit? Click here to donate! Check out our merch store! Click here for toad shirts! Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/recoverydemystified/ Substack! https://substack.com/@recoverydemystified Holler at us in the email! info@recoverydemystified.com Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg | |||
| Addiction Recovery Resources That Actually Help - Epigenetics & ACEs, Healing Relationships w/ Attachment Theory, Queer and Punk Community - Recovery Resources #28 | 17 mars 2026 | 00:26:20 | |
Recovery resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Addiction recovery community support... incoming!! Looking for addiction recovery support outside traditional programs? In this episode, Early shares recovery resources that will actually help you build a sustainable recovery community and find meaningful addiction recovery support in your everyday life. We explore how science and relationships shape recovery, starting with the impact of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and epigenetics of addiction, trauma, and healing. Understanding how early experiences affect the brain and nervous system can be a powerful step toward compassionate self-understanding and long-term addiction recovery support. We also talk about healing relationships through attachment theory -- how learning about secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized attachment can help people become self-aware and strengthen their relationships in order to build healthy recovery community around them. Healthy relationships are one of the most powerful forms of addiction recovery support. If you're just starting your recovery journey, you might like to try the simple and accessible "un-f*ck" yourself books that introduce personal growth, emotional regulation, and practical tools for building stability. These kinds of beginner resources can provide immediate addiction recovery support while taking off the pressure to read something too over-complicated. Early also recommends several podcasts that offer ongoing addiction recovery support and help listeners feel less alone in the process. Included are a podcast focused on storytelling and neuroscience, a queer harm reduction podcast, and a folk punk recovery community adjacent show. Books: The Deepest Well by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris Attachment Theory by Amire Lavine and Rachel Heller Unf*ck Your Addiction and Unf*ck Your Brain by Dr. Faith G. Harper Podcasts: Queering Up Harm Reduction by Meesh The Addicted Mind by Duane Osterlind Back on the Grind by Pepe Bandit
Help Support This Work! Donate to our nonprofit via our website!
Contact & Connect with us! Email us! info@recoverydemystified.com
Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg Every fkn thing else: Early Brunner | |||
| Katy - Growing Up in a Meth House, Becoming Enlightened & Un-Enlightened, and an Easy Way to Quit Nicotine! - Addiction Recovery Story #36 | 10 mars 2026 | 01:12:46 | |
Katy's story is a powerful look at addiction, trauma, and recovery outside the traditional 12-step model. Growing up in a meth house surrounded by hard drugs and instability, she experienced firsthand how addiction can shape a childhood and ripple into adulthood. She shares how those early experiences influenced her relationship with substances, identity, and the search for meaning. After what most people would perceive as a minor mistake, Katy turned fully inwards and experienced a period of enlightenment. It didn't last forever, and unfortunately she lost that sense of clarity and grounding, and at some point beer and cigarettes took its place. Instead of waiting for rock bottom, Katy recognized the patterns forming and chose to quit before things spiraled further. We also explore Katy's brilliant discovery on how to quit smoking cigarettes -- the easy way. If you're interested in non-12-step recovery, harm reduction, trauma-informed healing, or are simply looking for a story that will lend addiction recovery support, this episode is for you. Study showing 75% of people recover from addiction! Check out our online merch store! Want to tell your story on this podcast? Have feedback? Send us an email! info@recoverydemystified.com Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg | |||
| Joey Part 2 - The Part of Recovery Nobody Talks About, Accountability & Sobriety After Causing Harm - Addiction Recovery Story #35 | 03 mars 2026 | 01:00:21 | |
In Part 2 of Joey's story, we talk about accountability in sobriety and what it means to stay sober after causing harm. Accountability in addiction recovery isn't just about stopping substance use, it's about taking responsibility and working on our growth and healing. Joey discusses the things that he tried after his accountability process, which included therapy, self-education, and exploration of abolitionist frameworks through his zine writing. He emphasizes the importance of being met with love instead of shame, and how that created fertile soil for him to grow. We also talk about the importance of community in addiction recovery, and how our connections to each other foster an environment of collective healing. Joey's Accountability Reading List: Books on Radical Compassion: I Hope We Choose Love by Kai Cheng Thom How to Go Mad Without Losing Your Mind by Lamar Bruce Communism of Love by Richard Gilman-Opalsky Joyful Militancy by Carla Birgman & Nick Montgomery Books on Substances and Harm: This Naked Mind by Annie Grace Towards a Less Fucked Up World by Nick Riotfag Books on Accountability Processes: Creative Interventions Toolkit by Incite! Toward Transformative Justice by Generation Five How to Be Accountable by Joe Beil & Faith Harper After Accountability by The Pinko Collective Conflict is Not Abuse by Sara Schulman Books on Abolition: Becoming Abolitionists We Will Not Cancel Us by Adrienne Maree Brown Resources for Supporting People Who Have Caused Harm: As if They Were Human: A Different Take on Perpetrator Accountability (zine) What About the Rapists? (zine) Supporting Harm Doers & Building Accountable Communities (Video Series by Banard Center for Resesarch on Women) Study showing 75% of people recover! Sexual assault hotline: 1-800-656-4673 https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/ Click here to join our Patreon! Click here to donate via our Donorbox! Connect with us on Instagram & Substack @recoverydemystified Holler at me in the email! info@recoverydemystified.com Logo: Stevie Petet Theme music: Logan Bragg
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| Joey Part 1 - (New Intro) Punk Rock & Harm Repair, Alcohol Addiction and How We Can Do Better - Addiction Recovery Story #34 | 24 févr. 2026 | 01:06:20 | |
In today's episode, Joey shares his journey from a kid longing for attention to a touring punk musician immersed in a culture that normalizes alcohol addiction. Passed around between family members growing up, Joey learned how to adapt, perform, and fight for belonging. He finally found a place to belong in the punk community, but a life of touring and party culture slowly sunk him into deep alcohol addiction. We talk about attachment wounds, punk culture, and how he ultimately caused harm to someone while drunk. Joey's road to healing was not perfect, and not linear, and it showcases how and why we need better methods of holding each other accountable when harm is caused. National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/ Want to support this work? You can donate in any amount to our nonprofit and we would be forever thankful! Click here to donate! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Have feedback? Send an email to info@recoverydemystified.com Connect with us on Instagram & Substack! @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg | |||
| Jakob - Weed Addiction, Cannabinoid Hyperemesis in the ER, & Raw Dogging the Shit Out of Life - Replay Addiction Recovery Story #6 | 17 févr. 2026 | 00:52:24 | |
In today's episode Jakob tells his addiction recovery story. Jakob's story begins with supressing deep traumatic grief with the use of substances- something he saw demonstrated by adults in his life. His story moves through dabbling and being addicted to a variety of hard drugs, alcohol, and weed. Kratom and cocaine ultimately landed him in a not very classy rehab, which he left after three days, and then returned to. He spent a while being Cali-Sober (only using weed products) until that landed him in the emergency room, with a near death experience. He tested the waters on weed again, resulting in a second round of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome. After that he decided to leave it all behind, raw dogging the shit out of life, and he has never looked back. In today's episode we also discuss the ultimate question: How DO you pronounce "kratom"????? Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send an email to info@recoverydemystified.com Want to help support this work? Your tax deductible donations can be made via our website! Click here to donate! Connect with us on Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg | |||
| Sara - From Meth in a Lightbulb at Age 15 to Spontaneous Sobriety - Replay Addiction Recovery Story #2 | 10 févr. 2026 | 00:52:34 | |
In this episode we hear Sara's addiction recovery story. Her life starts with being raised in a party environment, picking up cigarette butts at the age of 7, and using alcohol and every drug under the sun before graduating high school. After a series of awful relationships and worsening addiction to drugs and alcohol, Sara's life imploded and she ended up stuck in the psych ward. After she got out she decided she wanted to "try something different"- and moved on forever. Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send an email to info@recoverydemystified.com Want to support this work? Tax decuctible donations can be made via our website! Click here to donate! Connect with us on Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg | |||
| When No One Else Could: How Pets Support Us in Addiction Recovery - Recovery Resources #27 | 03 févr. 2026 | 00:23:49 | |
Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Addiction recovery starts with survival. In this episode, Early shares how their relationship with their dog Cheyenne helped them survive addiction and have a reason to live. They share how even during times of complete isolation and social rejection, their dog propped them up and gave them unconditional love. They also discuss the importance of our ability to learn how to tolerate discomfort and how this emotional skill is fundamental to a strong recovery. Grab a box of tissues and buckle up. Want to support this work? Sign up for our Patreon by clicking here! Or donate to our Donorbox in any amount by clicking here! Check out our merch store! Click here! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send us an email! info@recoverydemystified.com Connect with us on Instagram & Substack @recoverydemystified Theme music - Logan Bragg Logo - Stevie Petet | |||
| Cecil Part 2 - "Shame Is the Antagonist Here" — Escaping Addiction Through Emotional Processing - Addiction Recovery Story #33 | 27 janv. 2026 | 00:56:35 | |
In part two of Cecil's story, he opens up about how continued emotional suppression and ADHD contributed to his worsening addiction to alcohol. He also shares about porn addiction, self-harm, being cheated on, and another tragic suicide attempt. He was ultimately kicked out of the military after seeking mental healthcare for his struggles. After spending sometime homeless and living in his car, he found a path to lasting healing by learning how to deal with his emotions in a healthy way, and hashing out his childhood trauma with a therapist. Want to support this work? Donate via our Patreon by clicking here! Or, donate via Donorbox on our website. Click here! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send us an email! info@recoverydemystified.com Connect with us on Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg | |||
| Cecil Part 1 - How Childhood Trauma, Poverty, and Emotional Suppression Lead to Addiction - Addiction Recovery Story #32 | 20 janv. 2026 | 01:07:31 | |
In Part 1 of Cecil's story of addiction recovery and neurodivergence/ADHD, he talks about how childhood trauma, poverty, and emotional suppression lead to his addiction to alcohol. ACEs, or adverse childhood experiences, have been shown to have a dramatic affect on a person's chance of developing addiction. Cecil reflects on his upbringing in a trailer in podunk Arkansas with an abusive father who drank to excess. He quickly learned that showing emotions was unwelcome, and learned how to stuff them down. As a teenager he found that drinking with his cousins led to the human relationships he had longed for as a kid. He signed up for the military at age 17 as a way to escape. Tune in next week for Part Two! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send us an email! info@recoverydemystified.com Want to support this work? Join our Patreon here! You can also donate to our Donorbox (less fees for us as a 501c3 nonprofit!) Click here to donate! Connect with us on Instagram/Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg | |||
| Secular Dry January Resources: Indigenous Wisdom, Intersectional Feminism, and Neuroscience - Recovery Resources #26 | 13 janv. 2026 | 00:26:13 | |
Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Dry January can be more than a break from alcohol. It can be the beginning of the path to long-term secular addiction recovery, especially when our focus is on healing ourselves with science and community instead of shame and dogma. In this episode, Early shares their highlight reel of secular addiction recovery books and podcasts for sober curious folks exploring sobriety outside of the traditional 12-step or religious frameworks. These authors and podcasters explore recovery through the lenses of neuroscience, intersectional feminism, indigenous wisdom, and harm reduction. Addiction doesn't exist in a vaccuum; it's shaped by intergenerational trauma, capitalism, colonialism, gender race, and access to care. Whether you're doing Dry January, are sober curious, practicing harm reduction, or seeking sustainable recovery without religion, we got you! It is time to bathe our brains in a soup of new information. Click here to sign up for our Patreon! Click here to donate via our website! Click here to check out our merch store! Want to be a guest on this podcast? Send us an email! info@recoverydemystified.com Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg Connect with us on Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified | |||
| JT Part 2 - Coping With ADHD in Addiction Recovery, Managing Cravings and Emotional Regulation to Prevent Relapse - Addiction Recovery Story #31 | 06 janv. 2026 | 01:04:11 | |
JT returns for a follow-up conversation on ADHD and addiction recovery, exploring how ADHD affects cravings, emotional regulation, school, and daily routines. We discuss building structure, finding purpose in recovery, and navigating grief and emotional overwhelm. This episode also touches on social media's impact on mental health, and some very nosey questions from Early about dating in recovery and the asexual/aromantic spectrum. Tune in if you've been struggling with executive dysfunction with ADHD/neurodivergence, want tools for emotional regulation, or are learning how to manage cravings in recovery. Want to donate to our nonprofit? Click here! Sign up for our Patreon and get fun gifts! Click here to join the Patreon! Connect with us on Substack/Instagram @recoverydemystified Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send us an email! info@recoverydemystified.com Logo: Stevie Petet Theme music: Logan Bragg | |||
| Benji - Loving Someone in Recovery and the Grief of Losing Them to Fentanyl Overdose - Addiction Recovery Story #30 | 30 déc. 2025 | 00:59:38 | |
In this episode, Benji shares the story of dating a partner in addiction recovery and the loss that followed from a fentanyl overdose. Through the lens of a queer relationship, they discuss the reality of loving someone in recovery, navigating mental health struggles, and coping with the grief in the aftermath of addiction. The episode also incudes harm reduction education, addressing the dangers of fentanyl, why recovery can be fragile, and how stigma impacts people seeking support. We explore the complexity of addiction recovery, queer love, mental health and the importance of compassion, education, and community in reducing harm. Want to tell your story on our podcast? Send an email to info@recoverydemystified.com Want to support our nonprofit? Donate here! https://www.recoverydemystified.com/donations/ Connect with us on Instagram/Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme music: Logan Bragg | |||
| How to Find a Therapist If You're Poor and/or Neurodivergent and in Addiction Recovery - Recovery Resources #25 | 23 déc. 2025 | 00:32:33 | |
Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Trying to find addiction recovery support can feel overwhelming when you're poor, neurodivergent, or have never had to navigate the world of mental healthcare. In this episode, we talk honestly about how to look for a therapist when money is tight, the system is confusing, and the process itself can be overwhelming or retraumatizing. We also unpack something that doesn't get talked about enough: how to balance your emotional needs between yourself, your community, and a therapist. This episode explores: -Why and how we can balance community support, professional help, and emotionally regulating ourselves -Step by step how to find, narrow down, and choose a therapist -How to get insurance -Options for people who cannot get insurance Want to support this work? Check out our donation page on our website! Every little bit helps. https://www.recoverydemystified.com/donations/ Check out our merch store! Click here! Join our Patreon! Click here! Want to tell your story on our podcast? Send an email to info@recoverydemystified.com Connect with us on Instagram/Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme music: Logan Bragg
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| Hana Part 3 - Rebuilding a Life From Scratch After Addiction: Managing Triggers, Avoiding Relapse, and Deciding to Cut Off Her Mother - Addiction Recovery Story #29 | 16 déc. 2025 | 01:19:54 | |
In part 3 of Hana's miraculous addiction recovery story, she breaks down the step-by-step reality of going from homelessness to rehab, sober living, and long-term stability. She shares how she managed triggers, avoided relapse during chaotic jobs, and stayed sober while building her business and buying a home. All the while, she follows her intuition through every growth phase, confronts the reality of being a felon, and unlearns the shame society projected onto her. This episode explores setting boundaries with family, including the painful decision to cut off her mother, and what it actually takes to protect sobriety in real life.
Want to tell your story on this podcast? Send an email to info@recoverydemystified.com Want to support this work with a tax-deductible donation? Click here to donate! Connect with us on Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified Connect with Hana @pickle_de_chip Theme music: Logan Bragg Logo: Stevie Petet | |||
| Sober for the Holidays: Practical Skills for Coping with Loneliness & Fostering Empowerment Through Self-Inquiry - Recovery Resources #24 | 09 déc. 2025 | 00:27:47 | |
Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Let's take a deep dive into a neurodivergent, radical perspective on surviving the holidays with practical addiction recovery skills. We discuss tools that foster empowerment, nonviolent communication, healthy boundaries, and harm reduction that are specific to the unwanted pressure society puts on us this time of year. Family dynamics can cause added stress that fuels cravings. We talk about addressing and sitting with our loneliness without shame. You'll learn how having somatic awareness of your own nervous system can save you from getting overwhelmed. If you've been looking for an off-the-beaten-path view on holiday survival, you're in the right place. Want to support this work? We welcome tax-deductible donations in any amount! Click here! Check out our merch store! Click here! Sign up for our Patreon! Click here! Connect with us on Substack & Instagram @recoverydemystified Want to tell your story on this podcast? Have thoughts or feedback? We would love to hear from you! info@recoverydemystified.com Theme music: Logan Bragg Logo: Stevie Petet | |||
| Hana Part 2 - From A Homeless, Drug Addicted Sex Worker to Finding Hope While Being Held at Gunpoint - Addiction Recovery Story #28 | 02 déc. 2025 | 00:56:16 | |
In this episode, Hana shares her raw and unflinching story of addiction, trauma, and survival. We dive into Part 2 of her story with a harrowing tale of being held at gunpoint by a drug dealer, followed by stories of a near-amputation, sex work, and homelessness in Seattle. She was in and out of jail and treatment. One day she heard another addict tell their story of addiction and recovery, and had a lightbulb moment. Recovery was possible for her. She found her path to sobriety and has been off drugs for 8 years. She now owns her own home and business, and gives special credit to her cat, Smash, the unsung hero of her story. This episode is for anyone seeking hope for their own addiction recovery, trauma recovery and healing, harm-reduction approaches, or alternative recovery paths. Hana's miraculous story is a testament to resilience, radical honesty, and the possibility of building a life worth living. Want to tell your story on this podcast? Send us an email info@recoverydemystified.com Want to support this work with a tax deductible donation? https://www.recoverydemystified.com/donations/ Connect with us on Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme music: Logan Bragg | |||
| Hana, Part 1 - Dealing With a Chaotic Mother, Smoking Meth as a Troubled Teen, and Using Alcohol to Quit Suboxone - Addiction Recovery Story #27 | 25 nov. 2025 | 01:18:33 | |
Hana's miraculous addiction recovery story begins with growing up with an alcoholic mother who created an extremely chaotic living environment. Hana was forced to caregive and be a "friend" to their mother, a phenomenon known as parentification -- when a child is forced to be in an adult role. She got into meth and alcohol as a teen in order to make friends and be away from her home life. Hana's substance use and rebellious behavior managed to get them kicked out of everywhere, including school. As an adult, alcohol and substance use quickly spiraled out of control, and stayed out of control. Hana's story is an astonishing example of just how far we can dig ourselves into a hole, the resilience of the human spirit, and how no one is too far gone to find lasting recovery. Want to tell your story on our podcast? Send an email to info@recoverydemystified.com Connect with us on Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified Support this work with a tax deductible donation to our Venmo or PayPal @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg
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| You're "Helping" Your Loved Ones All Wrong: Addiction in Families with Amber Hollingsworth - Recovery Resources #23 | 18 nov. 2025 | 00:47:04 | |
Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. In today's episode, Early and Amber Hollingsworth of popular YouTube channel Put the Shovel Down discuss data-informed methods of how to help our loved ones escape their addiction. Most people accidentally put themselves in the "villian" role in their addicted family member's life, even though their actions are rooted in love. Why is this? What can we do better? How can we use compassionate understanding to help them escape from alcoholism and drug addiction? We also discuss dual diagnosis, and how folks often recieve false bipolar disorder diagnosis and other mental health problems due to exacerbation of their addictions. If you want to know the best way to help an alcoholic or drug addicted loved one, this is the episode for you! Want to support this work? Click here to donate! Join our Patreon! Click here! Check out our merch store! Click here! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send an email to info@recoverydemystified.com Connect with us on social media! Instagram & Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme music: Logan Bragg | |||
| Recovery Resources: Decolonization, Internal Family Systems, The Holistic Psychologist, Somatics & Nutrition, and More! - Recovery Resources #22 | 11 nov. 2025 | 00:29:25 | |
Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Today Early discusses more addiction recovery resources for people in recovery, sober curious folks, and anyone else on a healing journey with their relationship to drugs and/or alcohol. They discuss a book from White Bison Inc about the hundreds of years old Indigenous resistance to alcoholism, and the decolonization movements that heal Native American communities. Next is a book outlining the principals of a unique trauma therapy modality called Internal Family Systems. They also discuss the controversial Dr. Nicole LePera and her book How to Do the Work. They then go over the (also controversial) podcast by Luis Mojica, which covers topics like how we can heal trauma with nutrition and somatics. Last, we've got next week's podcast guest: Amber Hollingsworth of the popular YouTube channel, Put the Shovel Down, and how she teaches family members to support their loved ones with addiction. Books: Alcohol Problems in Native America by Don L. Coyhis and William L. White No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz, PhD How to Do the Work by Dr. Nicole LePera Podcast: The Holistic Life Navigation Podcast by Luis Mojica YouTube Channel: Put the Shovel Down by Amber Hollingsworth Join our Patreon! Click here! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Have other feedback or ideas? Send an email to info@recoverydemystified.com Connect with us! Instagram & Substack @recoverydemystified Want to support this work? Click here to donate! Check out our merch store! Click here!
Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg | |||