Talkin' Trash Addiction Recovery Podcast

Our theme tonight was "Making Your Comeback". Anybody who's in recovery, we've all written a comeback story (or you're working on the next chapter). Everybody loves an underdog and if you've decided to live a life of recovery, you don't start out on top. Our guest tonight reminded us of just that. It doesn't matter where you are or who you are, addiction does not discriminate. Our guest JJ (friend of Mike Oxley) came on and shared his 'rags-to-riches' story of overcoming addiction. Kajsa's Canadian Tour wrapped up as she's safely back home after 4 days of being with Jim.

It was just the boys live on the pod while den mother Kajsa's absence was for a good cause. The men were sea level while our female star was 35,000 feet high en route to Saskatchewan. Our team is essentially headlining the 72 Annual Regina Roundup A.A. gala. Kajsa travels 1,717.6 miles to spread the message that recovery is worth it. That's just the trip there. We're so proud of our crew and their involvement in the recovery community. The show has more of a 'guys night' theme as we accomplished pretty much nothing and likely offended somebody. We're satirical, sarcastic and sometimes edgy but that's us, showing the fun side of recovery making it accessible to everyone.

We carried the torch of recovery month on national sober day. You’re really in trouble if you drink today. Phyllis joined us in studio on her son’s 41st birthday. Who won’t be joining us, is her son who died from an overdose last year. Phyllis’ strength and emotion pour through her as always. She’s a shining light and a sobering example of how addiction can destroy a family. She had a front row seat and she did all she could do. We’re happy to have her in the fold. Tim called Will, Phil. It was very funny.

Recovery Month continues as the crew did their thing to continue the message. There were shenanigans aplenty as Jim gave his best Ron Burgundy impersonation his best shot. We honored the lives lost on September 11th 24 years ago and we recognized the horrific events that transpired in Utah, giving their thoughts and prayers to those affected. Will is off probation and he expanded on how that felt and what his life is to look like now. Kajsa is heading up north to join fellow show-member Jim in his hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan to be the keynote speaker at the 72nd Regina Roundup.

We welcomed Sam and Noelle Borgia to the show as they shared their experience, lack of experience, strength and hope with our crew and our people. Noelle, early 40s, found herself late to the party in finding out the man she married carried a dark passenger. Most aren't made from the same stuff as addicts and Nicole managed to claim her right in recovery history and we'll be retiring her number to the rafters at our first home game that isn't real. Sam showed that the drugs were only a symptom of a deeper spiritual malady. They were a blessing to the team, their delivery and accessibility is what made Silence the Lion so relatable on varying levels.

We kick off National Recovery Month this episode as we looked at the basics of addiction, recovery, physical and mental health. Knowing how to navigate early sobriety can be difficult for the newly sober and clean addict. The team shares their experiences in early recovery and expand on the levels of care and treatment options. Knowledge is key. The problem is, as addicts, we think we know everything. The only successful step towards recovery is the first step, admitting you have a problem. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. We applaud those who are doing it and those who are still trying to find their way.

Are you aware of overdose? Get aware, and tell someone else. Overdose awareness day is in the books. There's a lot of purple gots ta' be changed back to creamy trashy brand. Tim presents the full show recorded just 6 hours earlier. Done in such a way that he's tolerable, like to a point. But we're satisfied with Talkin' Trash's response to #IOAD. Get Narcan. 30 bucks, yes we get it, but trust us, you would pay anything if you found yourself in a situation you could've intervened and find yourself empty handed. The glove box, nada. Purse, just lip gloss and melted livesavers. Narcan. We hope we brought a little levity to an always busy time of year. The team all faced some life, but his face punched by some life by the name Arrowood, infamous for their face punching but Timothy stood tall as the prison powder keg ah went boom.

Our old friend Michael Oxley, LPN, joined us as a guest this evening. As we close in on International Overdose Awareness Day, we took this time to look at overdose and addiction from a clinical standpoint. Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive and persistent engagement in a substance or behavior despite significant negative consequences. It involves changes in brain chemistry and reward pathways that take time to heal, if they ever do. Addiction touches pretty much everyone on some level and it's important to remember why we decided it was a good idea to self medicate in the first place.

Overdose awareness continued as we maneuvered around a last minute change to the show like the pros we are. We talked about harm reduction, gratitude and fortitude in recovery. Life's getting lifey for pretty much the entire show staff and we lean on each other for support rather than how we used to handle hard situations.

Manny joined us in studio as we touched on gratitude in recovery. Gratitude in recovery is a practice of acknowledging the positive aspects of life, which helps build resilience, improve mental and physical health, and foster stronger relationships. Practicing gratitude can be as simple as keeping a gratitude journal, focusing on what truly matters, expressing appreciation to others, or being of service. This active mindset shift, focusing on what is present rather than what is lacking, can also help to reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and provide motivation to maintain sobriety. 

Overdose awareness month continues as we broaden our cultural horizons by welcoming a returning friend of the show, Thomas guffi Vestergaard from Denmark. We talked about the differences and commonalities between the U.S. and Denmark. The biggest common factor, is that we’re all addicts. The differences we surprising. Tim shared a dream he had a few days ago where Will stole a baby. Not just any baby, a radioactive baby. Calamity ensued as our producer graciously gave you a look into what goes on between his ears when he’s sleeping. 

As we continue to spread the message of overdose awareness in the month of August, we welcomed back Phyllis, a regular friend and guest on the show. She has a powerful personal attachment to overdose as she lost her son to a Fentanyl overdose a little over a year ago. Phyllis has been on the show several times, each time bringing a new perspective on how one overdose can affect the lives of so many. 300 people a day die from drug overdose. The majority of them from Fentanyl. The synthetic opioid Fentanyl is finding it's way into everything. Especially pressed pills. These dummy pills are identical to the pharmaceutical pills and can be up to 50 times more potent than morphine.

Tonight's loose topic was "Crystal Inspired" as we talked about boldness in sobriety. There's a way to be bold without being overbold and having the opposite desired effect. Confidence, not arrogance. We never look down at any person in or out of recovery. Us addicts are forever afflicted with the core reason we self-medicated to begin with. How we cope and how we hope are directly related. Harm reduction has been added to many of our vocabularies as have addiction and overdose. We announced our plans for International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31st.

The team wrapped up their "Team Testimonial" series for the month of July as Tim gave his account of "What's your name and how'd you do it?". He shared about his unconventional experiences that led him to where he is today. His story is unfolding as we speak. 42 years old, 2 adult children, divorced, displaced and dismayed. His geographical change is another safeguard to his sobriety.

Will carried on the "Team Testimonial" series by sharing his experience, strength and hope with us and our audience. Parental struggles, legal issues, mental health and sexual orientation all play a big role in defining the 'Will', the man, the myth and the legend. Will calls his own shots today and is a month away from being on probation. He explained what it was like going through drug court and paying your dues. He did the geographical thing, and Will was there wherever he went. He treats both his mental heal ADHD responsibility and explains how he does that. Will took a serious blow finding out he'd gotten HIV. All these things, all excuses to use again but he's held t camott tanner gerson...years now and is giving back through the show.

The show welcomed former show host of Talkin' Trash, Mike Oxley, LPN. As we evolve in our format and production, the show looked flippin' awesome. Whoever's responsible for the production deserves a tip of the cap. Anyway, Mike Oxley, a tenured detox/addiction nurse, joined us on the program. Mike's not only a nurse, he was a show host for about 75 episodes. OG for sure. He's a character and his personality always brightened the room. Sometimes it's nuked the room. Either way it was a good time and Mike came on tonight with a specific topic in mind. Since we're unorganized, haphazard and rushing everything, we were happy to have the guest come in our house and throw topics around.

It's important the cast each tell their story, cover to cover, here and there, especially for our new friends. We continue our July mid-week series 'Talkin' Trash Team Testimonials' with the man who invented maple syrup, Jim Leibel. Our guy will be sharing his triumphant fight against addiction and the losses he sustained in the process...Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he pulled up his sleeves and got to work. Today, he's 3 years clean and sober and he's kicking the shit out of life. Jim's gonna' show you what it looks like when you embrace recovery and live that dash... it really is a miracle, bring your notebooks kids.

"The mental obsession" refers to the persistent, intrusive, and often irrational thoughts and urges related to substance use or other compulsive behaviors that can trap individuals and lead to relapse. It's a core component of addiction, described as a "spiritual malady" alongside a physical allergy and a mental obsession, according to Alcoholics Anonymous. We stayed in the rooms and discussed "principles before personalities" This means that members should prioritize the principles of AA.

In July, each cast member will be re-telling their personal testimonies during the mid-week, Wednesday night live shows at 8pm. Kajsa kicked off the initiative, the very same that was haphazardly devised just moments before the show. Very on-brand for Talkin' Trash being last minute and barely throught through. We're addicts, our attention spans rival that of a cashew. The nut. Kajsa killed it of course. We refer to Kajsa as "fiercely sober". Meaning, nothing more needs to be said after those two words are put next to each other and said in succession. 5 years of sobriety. It's hard to imagine her with that blanket of darkness that comes over us, snuffing out her light. Taking her hostage in the bonds of addiction. That was 2037.92 days ago. She is an absolute force of recovery in whom we all respect... who we admire. Not sure we'd have seen that light come back on so bright if she she acted upon the thought, "you know what, i gotta get this pool cleaned all the sudden so i'll go to treatment...tomorrow". An alcoholics pool, that's sat in neglect for probably a decade, all the sudden is a pressing matter to our delusional, alcoholic brain in motion. Jimmy thought our minor league baseball team names bit was a competition. Tim whined on and on about being sick for what seemed like hours. Dude shows up after a week off the grid rockin' a flow like that, would you look at that? This episode was brought to you in part by the Rocket City Trash Pandas, AAA affiliate of the Greensboro Grasshoppers, AA affiliate of the Hartford Yard Goats, Single-A affiliate of those frackin' Binghamton Rumble Ponies.

What a peach this one is. Our girl did 8.5 years in the pen, did everything the opposite of what the fiber of her being is. What an inspiration and we were honored to have her donate her time and nerves on our little show. Jana is working 12 hour shifts in addiction recovery. Stick with what you know, some of us have done it. Proud Mom, honest human being who's putting the work into her recovery times 10. And she's cute as a button. Tim celebrated 2 years to the day and shared a never before seen photo circa 2 years ago of him just at his worst. He'll tell you, It's a privilege to do this show, he shouldn't be around to anything but he's survived and now he's desperate to get the message out there, help soften the blow to the innocent bystanders and show addicts that recovery is rewarding if you're doing it right. And there's no right or wrong way to do it, except not doing it at all. Giving back seems to help FYI.