Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies — Podcast

The Pills to Heroin to Meth Pipeline: What Your Doctor Doesn't Warn You About, Josh's Addiction Recovery Story 18.08.2026 55p

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! Join us on Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit! Subscribe to our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! 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 11.08.2026 32p

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. Join our Patreon! Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching consultation with Early! Follow us on Instagram! Donate to our nonprofit! Shop our merch store! Subscribe to our Substack! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

Is Weed Addictive? Armstrong's Story of Addiction, Psychedelics, and an Existential Crisis 04.08.2026 1ó 13p

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 Join our Patreon community! Book a 1:1 free consultation for Recovery Coaching with Early! Follow us on Instagram! Donate to our nonprofit! Get some cool RD merch! Subscribe to our Substack! Theme music - Logan Bragg Logo - Stevie Petet

When Shame and Self-Loathing Lead to Binge Drinking - Colleen's Story 28.07.2026 1ó 6p

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! Donate to our nonprofit! Check out our merch store! Subscribe to our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

Sobriety Can Get Lonely - How to Socialize While Sober 21.07.2026 29p

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! Check out our merch store! Subscribe to our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Holler at me in the email - info@recoverydemystified.com Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

What If We Stopped Feeling Ashamed of Ourselves? Elizabeth Roberts on Her Book "In Praise of Addiction" 14.07.2026 1ó 2p

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! Get some cool RD merch! Subscribe to our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

You're Not Broken if Autism & ADHD Addiction Recovery Hits Different - Resources From Off the Beaten Path 07.07.2026 25p

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! Donate to our nonprofit! Subscribe to our Substack newsletter! Get some cool RD merch! Follow us on Instagram! 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 30.06.2026 1ó 3p

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! Follow us on Instagram! 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 23.06.2026 37p

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! Sign up for the Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit via our website! Follow us on Instagram! Check out our merch store! Subscribe to our Substack! 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 16.06.2026 1ó 1p

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. Join our Patreon! Book a free 20-minute Recovery Coaching Strategy Call with Early Donate to our nonprofit! Follow us on Instagram! Get some cool RD merch! Check out our Substack! 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 09.06.2026 34p

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. Join our Patreon! Free 20 Minute Strategy Session with Early! Put the Shovel Down YouTube Channel Donate to our Nonprofit! Check out our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Get some toad shirts from our merch store! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg

Annette - Weed Addiction, ADHD, Trauma, and Healing With Meditation & Acupuncture - Addiction Recovery Story #42 02.06.2026 1ó 16p

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! Donate to our nonprofit! Check out our merch store! Follow us on Instagram! Check out our Substack! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

Learn How to Trust Yourself Again - Even in Muddy Waters of Trauma, Oppression, and Religious Indoctrination - Recovery Resources #33 26.05.2026 28p

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! Join our Patreon community! Donate to our nonprofit! Get some cool toad merch! Follow us out on Instagram! Subscribe to our Substack! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

Adam - Transforming Deep Shame into Finding Purpose - Addiction Recovery Story #41 19.05.2026 1ó 4p

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!! Follow us on Instagram! Subscribe to our Substack! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

How to Stop Being So Hard on Yourself - Rewiring Your Brain to Dismantle The Inner Critic - Recovery Resources #32 12.05.2026 28p

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! Join our Patreon! Check out our Instagram! 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 05.05.2026 1ó 21p

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! Check out our merch store! Follow us on Instagram! Check out our Substack! Theme music - Logan Bragg Logo - Stevie Petet

Stop Fighting With Yourself - Train Your Brain to Stop Cravings - Recovery Resources #31 28.04.2026 27p

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! Check out our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! 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 21.04.2026 1ó 25p

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 https://www.aagrapevine.org/store/one-big-tent?srsltid=AfmBOopMICJPNr2rQkkGyQHVmMuO0HnDaQ8_FXpltG-0ugBUycBLP4t6 Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life, by Rebellion Dogs Publishing https://www.amazon.com/dp/0988115700?ie=UTF8&sr=8-6&linkCode=sl1&tag=rebeldogspubl-20&linkId=0a5f1ca06a67508187859a0ebe9d5e88&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl 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 We're Not All Egomaniacs: Adopting the 12 Steps for people with low self-esteem, by Beth Aich https://www.amazon.com/Were-Not-All-Egomaniacs-Self-Esteem/dp/1098362624/ref=sr_1_1?crid=WBGRRX3RS9SA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Vp5ZUlR9urY0lYC7VW4IJw.wZE34XSD3nWRavOyaSZp0RgQD5yxB45Nx4-v46Os1Mk&dib_tag=se&keywords=We%27re+not+all+egomaniacs&qid=1776466802&sprefix=we%27re+not+all+egomaniacs%2Caps%2C326&sr=8-1

Why AA/12 Step Didn't Work for Me as a Queer, Neurodivergent, AFAB Heretic - Recovery Resources #30 14.04.2026 44p

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 07.04.2026 1ó 4p

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! Check out our merch store! Donate via our website! Deep dive into our Substack! Connect with us on Instagram! Join our Patreon! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg