Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction

Listen without ads on www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis week on the total replay - Chris tells the depths of his SMI - maybe the first time we discussed SMI - and Chris' reluctance to accepting the SMI mantle. This is what he wrote 10 years ago: 'Chris intentionally flips out in the psych ward to get put into a 5 point restraint... and receive an injection of Ativan and Haldol. Also, he is treated by Bob Forrest and Dr. Drew.' First though Chris makes fun of my fish tank. We had such a good time. I cooked brusell sprouts and so much more! such a good time! We miss and love you Chris!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Super sweet talk with Anders Beck! Say it with an 'ah-nders' not 'and-ers'. Anders tells us his whole musical/drug/alcohol story! Nothing left out - including the crazy intervention and playing with phil lesh! May he rest in peace! PLUS sick email from Montana in prison! (thanks Nicole!) An amazing dildo filled voicemail from Daniel G! A nice mention from Steve from New Hampshire and so much more more more!PLUS Ander's beautiful song 'Born Again' performed by Greensky Bluegrass, Anders' bonus dobro playing, Damon's 'Dopey World' and Jake from West Virginia's classic version of 'Good So Bad'ALL THAT and more, more, more on this brand new episode of that good old Dopey Show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

listen without ads at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis week on Dopey's Greatest Hits!This replay episode features host David Manheim reflecting on personal chaos, gratitude amid frustration, powerful listener emails/stories (including a harrowing crack/coke seizure tale from Minnesota Matt), and a full classic interview with his partner Linda. They share their raw, unfiltered relationship story—from meeting via mutual friend Todd, early partying (coke, Ativan, drinking), pregnancy amid hidden heroin relapse, family destruction during active addiction, separation, supervised visitations, Dave's bottoming out, eventual sobriety, reconciliation, and rebuilding a family with two kids. Interspersed with intros, emails, Spotify comments, voicemails, and musical interludes (Firecracker rap, song snippets), it captures Dopey's signature mix of dark humor, brutal honesty, recovery insights, and "dumb shit" war stories.The episode opens with Dave navigating recent frustrations—dealing with a guest pulling an episode due to cold feet, sponsor issues, and everyday life stressors—while emphasizing core recovery principles like acceptance, gratitude, and service over resentment. He reflects on childhood influences like Popeye's "I am what I am" mantra as a metaphor for self-acceptance in sobriety, and teases upcoming substantive guests while reading heartfelt (and critical) listener feedback. The heart of the show is the replay of a classic episode featuring Dave and Linda's candid conversation, detailing the highs and lows of their relationship: from initial attraction and drug-fueled early days, through the pregnancy discovery and Dave's escalating heroin use (including nodding out during birthing classes and missing key moments post-birth), to the devastating confrontation when Linda discovered the paraphernalia and the subsequent separation.The story doesn't shy away from the pain—Linda's isolation during a complicated delivery, Dave's rock-bottom spiral involving heavy daily use, arrests, and black eyes during supervised visits with their daughter Nora—but it ultimately lands on hope and redemption. Dave credits their daughter as a major motivator for sobriety, and the couple discusses the hard work of rebuilding trust, family life, and even welcoming a second child. Reflections on the losses of close friends Todd and Chris add emotional weight, underscoring how addiction's toll extends beyond the individual. All that and More, more, more on this weeks new new new episode of dopey!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

LISTEN TO THE WHOLE SHOW at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis week on the teaser! We record a raw, outdoor teaser for Dopey Tuesday with returning guest Heart Attack Doug. They eulogize Dave’s high-mileage Subaru (hand-me-down from his dad), recount a hilarious pajama-clad mechanic confrontation that scored a full refund, share voicemails of Doug trash-talking show stats, joke about Dopey Zoom "polls" favoring Doug, read positive Spotify comments, detail Dave’s easy lasagna recipe, discuss Step 12 sponsorship styles, reflect on gratitude, spirituality (Dave’s non-traditional "God = universe/reality" view), quote the Big Book’s powerful closing lines, and tease Patreon-only content: with  an inspirational tribute to Dave’s late father-in-law. Classic Dopey mix of car chaos, recovery wisdom, community drama, and Patreon hooks.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen without ads at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis week on the Monday Complete Dopey Replay! Dave kicks off the brand-new weekly series reliving the classic early episodes with Chris (starting from the beginning after lost tapes 6, 8, 10 & 12), reflecting on 10 years since Dopey launched in 2016, the frozen-in-time joy of hearing Chris’s voice again, and how the show was born from two rehab friends laughing over insane drug stories. He’s still riding the emotional wave from Linda’s father Tony’s beautiful celebration of life, got his $1,100 car repair money back after a pajama-rage showdown, and begs for any surviving lost Dopey episodes (6, 8, 10, 12) with a reward offered.New format twist: Mondays = full chronological Chris-era replays, Thursdays = Greatest Hits. Dave reads grateful/complaining listener emails (send yours: one thing you hate + one thing you’re grateful for), plays Haley’s legendary nitrous-at-the-dentist voicemail (huffing until she thinks she’s “retarded,” crying then laughing while clapping, pure Dopey chaos), and dives into the Episode 5 replay: “Skiing Drunk, Broken Neck, TBI, Jail, and…” — Chris recounts his teenage subdural hematoma from a blackout ski crash (tuna & grape juice vomit fountain, spinal fractures, spleen rupture), court-ordered stay at a traumatic brain injury facility (diaper-wearing roommate flooding the kitchen with Apple Jacks & milk, another nonstop-talking Deadhead/skinhead roommate), sneaking out to shoot crystal meth, watching porn together, and the infamous “let me suck your dick” moment that ends the story in glorious, unfiltered Dopey style.ALL THAT PLUS EMAILS AND VOICEMAILS on a super classic episode of Dopey.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen Ad Free! at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis week on Dopey! Dave powers through a music-heavy, emotional episode amid ongoing family grief (Tony’s celebration of life tomorrow), delivering sober birthday shoutouts (Jennifer Jimenez 20 years, Janine Coulter 11 years), sponsor love, listener stories, and a historic, in-depth interview with James Frey—his first-ever detailed on-record discussion of pre-sobriety life. Dave opens with a raw acoustic snippet (“Trying to score from the plug today…”), reflects on fame/pressure, plugs sponsors (Oro Recovery, Mountainside, Link Diagnostics, Recovery Unplugged, Orchard on the Brazos), and shares powerful listener submissions: Taylor’s 7-OH update (detox → AMA → relapse → QuickMD Suboxone taper + comedy struggles), Oscar (Sweden) on opioid progression to stable methadone, and an anonymous blackout chef tale (insane midnight meals with zero memory, kitchen disasters, one epic hookup dinner).The centerpiece is James Frey’s unfiltered hour-plus conversation: childhood rage (ear infections/surgeries → early drinking/fighting), teenage rebellion (“White Boy James” in Benton Harbor bars), college coke dealing, Paris wild years, crack-fueled North Carolina descent, brutal Hazelden wake-up (face destroyed at 23), and Taoism as his lifelong sobriety anchor (meditation, renunciation, balance over 12-step dogma). He details writing A Million Little Pieces (addict rhythm, artistic defiance, no quotation marks), the explosive Oprah-fueled fame/backlash (“punk outlaw” pedestal → villain), and ongoing battles (suicidal ideation, rage, hockey fights). ALL THAT and MORE MORE MORE on this weeks super fucking robust episode of that good old dopey show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

LISTEN WITHOUT ADS AT www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis week on the CLASSIC Thursday REPLAY!Dave opens with life updates amid heavy grief: prepping for the celebration of life for his father-in-law (Linda’s dad), the car overheating again (mechanic drama continues), and a heartfelt decision to replay a classic “Al-Anon-ic Dopey in the family” episode with his mother-in-law, Sue—the one he calls one of the greatest ever recorded. He reflects on how addiction stories feel triumphant for the addict but painful for the “casualties” (family), shares listener comments on recent replays (including wild rehab tales from Florida), plugs stickers for Spotify comments/reviews, and reads touching emails: Wendy’s condolences + 2-year sober shoutout to Jennifer N (synchronous on Jan 15!), plus her powerful insight on coming clean about kratom/7-OH in AA and discovering others struggling too. Another email from Charlie teases the upcoming kratom documentary “Kratom Side Effects May Include” (screening MLK weekend in NYC) and the dangers of potent 7-OH isolates.The heart of the episode is the full replay of Dave’s emotional, cathartic sit-down with Sue (recorded years ago during COVID era), covering their rocky first impressions, Dave’s early heroin relapse after Nora’s birth, the terrifying custody battles, supervised visits, court drama (Dave showing up high), financial/legal stress, Linda moving back home with Nora for years, Dave’s gradual recovery journey (18 months clean, then true sobriety), rebuilding trust, and the family’s hope that Dave/Linda/Nora could become a unit. Sue shares her perspective as a non-drug-experienced, straight-laced mom/grandma—initial denial, sadness, anger, eventual admiration for Dave’s hard-won sobriety, and deep gratitude for how he became a devoted father/provider. They laugh about Sue’s cookie-stealing, ping-pong lies (she still claims she won!), competitive games, and family adventures gone wrong (like losing Nora/Sue at Gray Fox festival). Ends on hope, surrender, and advice for families: prioritize the grandchild, understand addiction as a disease, hang in there—there’s light at the end (though not always a happy one). Dave closes with love for Sue, reflections on mortality/family. All that and more on a tough loving, good timey hard episode of that good ol dopey show.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on the Wednesday Dose of Dopey! Dave kicks off an intensely emotional episode amid personal chaos—grieving Linda's dad's death, a bizarre Verizon outage conspiracy vibe, a $1,100 car repair scam, and a half-hearted gratitude meditation to stay grounded. He reads glowing listener comments on the recent Sid Vicious/Ned Van Zandt heroin epic, plugs stickers for Spotify/iTunes reviews, and shares a powerful email from Sarah E. about her ongoing brutal struggle with 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine) dependence after accidents and kratom escalation, highlighting deception, severe withdrawals, and the "master of deception" label despite a strong sober community.The core is a raw, heartfelt interview with returning guest Erin Khar (author of Strung Out, unlicensed advice columnist), who opens up about her recent diagnosis of small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) / chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)—a slow-growing, incurable non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma discovered via routine mammogram/biopsy around Labor Day. Erin details the terrifying pathology call, symptoms (years of unexplained fatigue, anemia, frequent illnesses), watch-and-wait monitoring (no treatment yet until lymphocyte count rises), good-news/bad-news aspects (no chemo likely, keeps her hair, many live normal lifespans especially younger diagnoses like her at 52), and how curiosity over fear helps her cope.They explore parallels to addiction/recovery (one day at a time, sitting on hands during suicidal moments, grief + gratitude coexisting), family impact (kids' anxiety, protecting emotions), quality over quantity of life, and Erin's Substack reveal for connection. Ends with an Ask Erin advice segment, Johnny Thunders love ("Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory"), and Trinity's cover of "Wanna Be Good So Bad". ALL THAT AND MORE MORE MORE! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis Week on Dopey Tuesday! Dave opens with a raw, heartfelt intro reflecting on grief after Linda’s dad Tony’s recent passing — how it hits the whole family in unpredictable ways, amps up his worry, and pushes him to double down on recovery (morning meditation, Step 12 with his sponsor, and gratitude work). He shares a beautiful listener email from Kyle, a former heroin/crack/meth addict who found spiritual connection through a wild shroom + heroin beach trip, years of struggle, and a sober Grateful Dead moment listening to “Broke Down Palace” by the river — reminding Dave of his own Mountainside harmonies with Chris and Linda. Dave calls it “perfect” and emotional, awarding Kyle socks and relating deeply to the “hippie dippy” universal energy. He then dives into Spotify/Patreon comments on last week’s Ray Brown episode, plus the ongoing Zoe voicemail drama (some love her chaos, most roast her, Dave teases playing both voicemails next week). The episode wraps with a fun, chaotic clip of Dave, Cormac, and Selby (Asmatic Selby) bantering about early mornings, recovery day counts (Selby at 73 days!), Selby’s winter break dad fails (Santa screw-ups), and a plug for the full Patreon Reddit roundup. LISTEN TO THE FULL DEAL ON PATREON! wwww.patreon.com/dopeypodcast  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

ad free at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis Week on Dopey! Dave opens with a deeply personal and emotional tribute to Linda’s father, Tony, who recently passed after a long battle with Lewy body dementia, and other ailments. He shares heartfelt memories of Tony’s exceptional character—his strength, kindness, love of family, rock ’n’ roll roots, teaching career, and unwavering positivity—reflecting on how Tony’s compassion and support played a huge role in Dave’s own recovery and relationship with Linda. The episode also touches on recent losses (Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead and actor James Ransone from The Wire), with Dave offering a half-hearted amend to Weir, pondering the future of Dead & Company, and urging listeners to reach out if struggling with depression. He then replays his powerful, candid interview with Alec Baldwin, where Alec gets brutally honest about his 40 years of sobriety, wild 80s cocaine-and-alcohol-fueled days in New York and LA, the terrifying overdose that led to his bottom, finding AA as his new “family,” the spiritual shift that kept him sober, and how the program carried him through massive personal and public storms (including his divorce and the Rust tragedy). All that and more on this weeks REPLAY! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This Week on Dopey! Dave kicks off the Friday episode by celebrating Dopey OG Leah Lumberg’s 17 years of sobriety, sharing heartfelt Spotify listener comments (with spirited debates over Breaking Bad characters and more love for the recent Cosmo Lumbino interview), and playing a raw voicemail from Lane opening up about self-medicating with crushed stimulants, kratom, and weed amid depression and a breakup—reminding everyone Dopey welcomes voices from all sides of the struggle. The heart of the show is a deep, hilarious, and profoundly honest conversation with returning guest Hank Azaria, who gets real about his teenage battles with anorexia and bulimia, maintaining his impressive physique through disciplined fitness and calorie tracking, finding primary recovery in Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) work (including a full breakdown of the ACA "laundry list" traits), his enduring love for voicing Moe on The Simpsons, the looming AI threat to voice actors, his Bruce Springsteen tribute band (complete with Bruce's personal thumbs-up), and a thoughtful take on cultural extremism as the real enemy. Packed with lightning-round fun, Mets passion, and classic Dopey vulnerability. All that and more on this brand new episode of that good old dopey show!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

inserted ad free episodes at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastSend emails and voicemails to dopeypodcast@gmail.com - get socks or stickers if we read on the show! Leave reviews on iTunes and Comments on Spotify!This week on the REPLAY! We replay of  episodes 3 and 4 (originally recorded in one marathon session), we reflece on the raw, chaotic magic of the show's beginnings with his late co-host Chris. The intro features classic Dopey elements—voicemails from Heart Attack Doug complaining about his absence from the Tuesday Patreon teasers, listener Spotify comments praising past guests like Steve Poltz, and Dave's ongoing gratitude for five-day-a-week Dopey while teasing upcoming episodes with Hank Azaria and more Reddit roundups. The bulk of the episode replays the vintage recordings: Chris shares his infamous "Dodge the Lodge" story about brewing jailhouse pruno at strict Alina Lodge, fleeing into the woods, and waking up in a Harlem ER after overdosing on stolen GHB from a Powerade bottle (leading to a months-long fruit ban back at rehab). Dave follows with his own tales of odd jobs, including working as a fake private eye in 90s clubs and his 1999 Howard Stern Show appearance where he conned his way on air with a phony "Shuffle Entertainer of the Millennium" award—only to get called out (and kicked out) by Robin for obviously being high. The replay captures the unpolished, hilarious chemistry between Dave and Chris that defined early Dopey, ending with Dave's heartfelt appreciation for preserving Chris's voice in these archived episodes.Dave says Episode 4 includes the Howard Stern story (again)ALL THAT AND MORE! On this weeks new replay of an old old old dopey show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

listen without inserted ads at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastsend emails and voicemails to dopeypodcast@gmail.comOn this Dopey Wednesday!  We get super spiritual about fear, gratitude and love! We read spotify comments which were super sweet. And then we dive deep with legendary actor and recovering addict Ned Van Zandt. Ned takes us from snorting heroin with Andy Warhol superstars in 1978, to living at the Chelsea Hotel the exact week Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen moved in, to fronting Sid heroin and eating at Burger King with him the day after Nancy’s murder. He shares his belief about who really killed Nancy, his years shooting heroin and meth, multiple relapses, jail, and finally finding lasting recovery.Ned also talks about being Townes Van Zandt’s cousin, his acclaimed one-man show “Lost in Delle Valley" and now running the Upper West Side sober living house Transcend NYC.All this and MUCH MORE on The Wednesday Dose!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

No inserted ads: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast The episode opens with your intro, then the bulk of the show is Hairy Tongue Will’s massive, chaotic, detailed telling of his addiction, near-death runs, arrests, relapse cycles, dead friends, and eventual recovery.Will describes the early Long Island chaos with Richie, Mike, and Lenny—everyone strung out on heroin, crack, coke, and whatever they could get. He recalls the first serious turn: showing up to a house where Lenny was passed out after a three-day crack run, realizing “the demons are taking over.” Mike and Richie spiral deeper, and Will keeps managing to “hold it together” thanks to jobs, work ethic, and a strange electrical-job stabilizer that kept him semi-functional.He details years of DUIs, probation, manipulating drug tests, smoking crack constantly while still working 16-hour electrician shifts, and thriving socially because coworkers lived vicariously through him. He normalized chaos, missing only “one no-call/no-show every two weeks,” which he considered acceptable.Will then dives into his first short attempt at stability, living in a basement apartment. His probation officer surprises him the day after a holiday: the apartment is filled with beer cans, bongs, baggies. He fails the test, is sent back to rehab/jail cycles, and explains why Long Island addicts often choose jail over treatment. He describes his surreal time in jail—being sent to the Montauk Lighthouse on work crews, eating egg sandwiches and black-and-milds with the guards, becoming “the useful guy,” actually feeling respected and purposeful.Back outside, he tries again, fails again, collects DUIs, cycles through companies, loses jobs, hustles side work, and repeatedly relapses. A wedding night leads to another DUI. COVID hits while he’s in jail. He gets out, starts working nonstop, earns money, piles cash in a closet, stacks crypto, reads self-help books, sleeps on a mattress on the floor, becomes obsessed with success and control.Then he meets a girl in Tennessee. He drinks again “successfully” only when he flies there. He builds a double life—working himself numb, drinking out of state, convincing himself he’s different.Eventually, on a work trip, he gambles, wins big, drinks an old fashioned, and secretly cooks his boss’s cocaine into crack. This reignites the obsession. Will starts traveling the Northeast and Midwest, repeatedly pulling crack-seeking missions: gas stations, high-crime neighborhoods, asking strangers, “I’m looking for some hard.” He builds drug contacts in Bridgeport, Dayton, Maine, Virginia, wherever the job sends him. He smokes in hotels, hallucinates blood on floors, changes rooms repeatedly.He recounts the deaths of friends:Mike, whose father turned their home into a sheet-walled trap house with dealers and bikers living inside.How Mike died with his father selling sneakers off his dead son’s body.Richie, who got sober then died of fentanyl after nearly two years clean.Will’s life collapses further—obsession, resentment toward God, jealousy, terminal uniqueness. He becomes a “demon,” wanting to die like his friends. He terrifies his girlfriend with delusional FaceTimes, nine-day runs, psychosis. She moves in without knowing the truth and becomes trapped in codependency.He stays high for 26 straight days, manipulates her with antihistamine allergy episodes to cover his psychosis, hides crack pipes around the house with ring cameras everywhere. He finally admits some truth, gives her $5,000 to escape, but she stays another nine months.He tells insane stories:Pretending he’s a trust-fund baby to get free crackGetting shot at by a dealer after a misunderstanding over “two grams” vs “two ounces”Driving through wooded roads barefoot at gas stationsDealers trying to jump himBecoming a mule for a recently-released dealer (Ace)Near misses, violence, and pure street insanityEventually, during a pickup, he gets chased, prays for police lights, and his car breaks down. Cops descend. He gets a mountain of charges (“five decades worth”). He thinks he’ll die in prison. Bail reform gets him released. He immediately uses again for 17 more days.A sober lawyer tries pushing him toward St. Christopher’s. Will resists, manipulates LICR, relapses again, cancels his own insurance, tries to die, and after weeks of chaos his mother gets him re-approved. He enters St. Chris, still delusional, still dangerous.There he breaks. He admits suicidal thoughts, gets a guard stationed outside his door, hears the blunt truth—you’re the worst-off guy here and you did this to yourself. It lands. Will begins working the program: spiritual direction, grief groups, codependency, meetings, kitchen duty, everything. He reconnects with his mother in sobriety. He attends court in suits provided by the facility and ultimately receives an unexpectedly generous plea deal.He comes home early, tries to run his own program, stays sober for months, but on Mother’s Day runs into an old acquaintance who shows him a Newport box with a pipe inside. He relapses immediately for three days, misses Mother's Day entirely.That night, suicidal again, he receives a series of calls: first from Jordan, then from his tough sponsor, who gives him clear direction—go to a sober house, go to daily groups, go to nightly meetings, call people, build structure. Will frauds his urine to get in, but once inside, follows every instruction. He stabilizes.He recounts being 18 months sober now, having been at meetings nearly every night, with a recent slip in commitment due to chasing an “intimate partner godshot” that didn’t work out. You reassure him that it’s fine and that balance is part of recovery.More or less thats the whole thing! On a brand new fucko, crackead episode of that good old dopey show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen without ads at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis week on Dopey! Dave rings in the first Friday of 2026 with multimedia superstar and Queen of Melrose, Cosmo Lombino—fresh off Soft White Underbelly fame—spilling a wild Harlem-to-Hollywood saga of mob-adjacent glamour (Godfather shoots at grandma's apartment, fur coats from car trunks), early gay defiance against Jehovah's Witnesses, freebase-fueled club chaos, near-misses with Michael Jackson pasta invites, MacArthur Park crack binges, cardboard-box homelessness, and finally sustained sobriety (8+ years strong) through rigorous daily step-writing, meditation, and Tarzana redemption. Dave raves about Avatar: The Last Airbender bonding with his kid, plugs Patreon Zooms and ad-free listening, reads spicy Spotify comments (mushroom nipples, crack exam tales), shares voicemails (stolen lunchbox heist gone wrong, Hexen research-chemical nightmare), teases upcoming content, and shouts out community heroes while vowing to care less about haters. All that and more on this first Friday Dopey of 2026! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen without inserted ads at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis week on Dopey! We kick off 2026 with a Thursday replay of one of his all-time favorites—the legendary Steve Poltz's epic first appearance from 2023, packed with altar boy wine thefts, Rugburns stage-wrecking chaos (56 stitches included), mushroom-fueled job quits, co-writing "You Were Meant for Me" with Jewel in Baja Mexico, Ramones opener mayhem, cocaine/crack spirals, a best friend's tragic murder, and ultimate rehab surrender. Dave reflects on Poltz as a true "blessing" to the show and his life, debates sticking with Five Days of Dopey, reads wild listener comments (meth pee anyone?), shares an Australian dad's white-knuckle sobriety struggles, and drops quick recovery tips while prepping lasagna for Linda's mom's 80th. All that and more on this brand new 2 year old replay show of that good old dopey show!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Without inserted ads go to: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/one-show-at-a-time-a-yellow-balloon-experience/id1690094890This week on Dopey! Dave rings in New Year’s Eve with a raw, reflective Wednesday dose amid a “rough fucking week” on the home front, admitting family struggles (including Linda’s dad’s health) have him questioning whether to keep the grueling Five Days of Dopey schedule into 2026 while teasing resolutions like restarting the infamous Dopey Fitness Challenge, daily writing, and maybe even Tai Chi to save his creaky joints. He reads a heartfelt email from old-timer Craig begging him to go full-throttle for the community’s sake, then drops the full replay of his recent guest spot on the hippie Yellow Balloon podcast One Show at a Time—a rapid-fire qualification packed with childhood staph infections, codependency as his first “drug,” heroin-fueled career crashes, supervised visitation shame, and the desperate AA surrender that finally stuck at 41. The share ends with an avalanche of love from the Zoom crowd (random cameos from Ivan Neville and Anders Osborne included), leaving Dave both embarrassed and deeply grateful as he closes out 2025 counting blessings, overeating brookies with Susan at Patchogue’s early ball drop, and reminding the Nation: if you’re struggling tonight, reach out—tomorrow’s a new day. All that and more on this weeks collab show with the one show at a time podcast! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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

AD FREE DOPEY at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This week on Dopey! We start wrapping up 2025 with a candid check-in: feeling under the weather amid a family stomach virus, craving a Sopranos binge, and doubting plans for "Five Days of Dopey" in January (Wednesday/Thursday shows likely intermittent—send opinions to dopeypodcast@gmail.com). We share the ultimate post-Christmas blues remedy: a trip to Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge in Sag Harbor, NY, where chickadees, titmice, and woodpeckers eat seeds straight from your hand in the snowy quiet—described as magical, healing, and the true "opposite of addiction."Dave addresses backlash from replaying Nick Reiner episodes (including harsh comments like "Narcissist Grifter" and "Exploitative Jew"), explains his intent to share old conversations without commentary, notes new listeners discovered Dopey through them, and mentions turning down media interviews. He plugs ad-free listening on Patreon (patreon.com/dopeypodcast) and urges positive iTunes reviews.Listener Emails (Oldies Read Aloud)Wendy: Proposes a dedicated recovery-focused social media platform to avoid bans for "junky" content.James D. Hart: Highlights interracial bands like Prince and the Revolution (inspired by Sly & the Family Stone), Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Smashing Pumpkins.Christy Adams: Celebrates 3 years clean, praises an older neuroscience/meth/GLP-1 episode, and misses the original Dave/Chris dynamic.Stickers or socks for anyone whose email/voicemail gets read—email dopeypodcast@gmail.com.Main Feature: Classic Darrell Hammond Interview Replay (2017) The legendary SNL cast member (longest-tenured before Keenan) gets raw about:SNL highs/lows, iconic impressions (Clinton, Connery), working with Lorne Michaels, and celebrity encounters.Childhood trauma and abuse, flashbacks, and blaming himself to protect the idea of parental love.Alcoholism starting at 14 (first beers felt like "the world turning from black-and-white to color").Self-harm as a "problem solver" and crisis creator during prolific periods.Wild Harlem crack house story (mistaken for a cop, defended as "that motherfucker old TV," spotting the St. Francis Prayer on the wall).Multiple relapses, including after a sponsor's suicide.Stroke-ward epiphany that finally led to lasting sobriety—seeing patients struggle to speak inspired desperation for change.Recovery tools: St. Francis (11th Step) Prayer, connection with others, cognitive therapy, yoga, meetings, and the "law of threes" (expect ⅓ great days, ⅓ okay, ⅓ rough).Wrap-Up Dave re-reads old Spotify comments on the Hammond episode (debates over "This or That," therapy questions, possum facts, etc.) and closes with his heartfelt acoustic cover of "Good So Bad"—the song from the first Dopey episode he heard that inspired him to get clean.All that and more on this weeks installment of that good old Dopey Replay Show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.