Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction

dopeycon tix:https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/1765668Patreon:www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastA new kind of Dopey! A kinder, Gentler Dopey? Me and New Yorker Rock Critic, Amanda Petrusich sit down to discuss recovering from grief. Amanda lost her husband suddenly during covid from a random seizure. Hear how Amanda got through it raising their one daughter, Nico alone. Plus some of Amanda's experiences covering Phish, Aerosmith, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan and more!Plus Ben Croxton's shooting story(but not how you think), a horrible kratom death, and me basking in the adulation of being included in Rolling Stone Magazine! Plus a bunch of other stuff - all here!Also More on this Dopeycon Eve's offering of the good old Dopey Show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

im not sure if we actually talk about Keith and Jerry - but we do on the actual epiode at:www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastDopeycon tickets:https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thedopeyfoundation/1765668 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! We are joined by Oro Recovery Medical Director - Dr. Jason Giles! We also read old comments and hear from a few dopes in the dopey nation. Then Dave interviews Dr.  Giles—twice board-certified in addiction medicine (via ABAM then ABPM), previously board-certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine, and a recovering opioid addict. He grew up in Santa Monica with a severely alcoholic father, fell into the second-wave ska/mod scene (Vespa, sharkskin suits, amphetamines), dropped out of high school, then clawed his way through community college to Berkeley, volunteering at the Berkeley Free Clinic and falling in love with medicine.He explains anesthesia’s demands (no pain, no memory; muscle relaxants; airway control), the human connection of pediatric anesthesia, and the hope-work of pain management. In 1999, curiosity and stress led him to divert fentanyl: he edited paper records, carried a 2 mL syringe for a month, then IV-used with sterile technique. After a six-week gap he used again, convincing himself he could “handle it.” Use escalated to daily “after work,” leaving him in daytime withdrawal. The department chair paged him about missing fentanyl; instead of punishment, he offered help and a path into California’s 5-year diversion program (treatment, meetings, testing). Giles detoxed cold turkey, went to AA (first meeting mostly doctors), found he wasn’t unique, and built long-term sobriety (nearly 26 years by his telling), learning service and vulnerability through treatment feedback groups.With sobriety he finished residency, married, had a son, worked in cardiac anesthesia and pain, and then moved into addiction treatment (Malibu), where his science and lived experience met the work. He and Dave range widely: purpose/mission as a recovery engine; Bill W., boomerangs and ants; truth-serum myths; Halsted (cocaine→heroin), Freud letters, Hitler’s amphetamines/opioids (book Blitzed), kratom (mixed withdrawal profiles), benzos vs. opiates (benzo withdrawal = fear), intraoperative awareness & memory, Suboxone vs. abstinence (cast/training-wheels framing), fentanyl’s dominance (counterfeit pills; heroin now rare), and whether fentanyl appears in non-opioid street drugs (he says he’s seen it). ALL THAT AND MUCH MORE ON A BRAND NEW EPISODE OF THAT GOD 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.

PATREON:www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastDOPEYCON TICKETS:https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/1765668The teaser isn't great but the actual episode is wicked fiah. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/1765668NO INSERTED ADS ON PATREON:www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis week on Dopey! We are joined by old school recovery/addiction legend Johnny Mac! From Queens! But first we learn about Sky Fly in PA, we hear from a benzo addict in the UK and then hear a nice story about Salvia from Loosey in California! Then we get this fuckin Johnny Mac! A 74-year-old New York junkie-turned-AA old-timer, who lays out his wild ride from Woodside Irish Catholic rules to acid-dealing in Ecuador, nodding out on heroin in Queens, and finally finding peace in AA. Johnny talks about his first bag at 16 (while tripping on mushrooms), copping in Bushwick and Harlem, nearly dying on the toilet, watching friends die, and pulling scams from coke hustles to copper wire “mongo.” He tells insane stories from La Perla in Puerto Rico, sneaking bundles on planes, running a Port Authority newsstand, and OD’ing only to chase the same dope the next morning. But through all the chaos, Johnny shares deep reflections on God, spirituality, and why being “stupid enough not to drink and keep showing up” has kept him sober. This one’s pure Dopey gold—equal parts junkie chronicles and spiritual wisdom. All that and more! On the good old dopey show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/1765668www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis week on tuesday teaser! We rejoice at the release and all around greatness that is the Charlie Sheen Netflix show - AKA Charlie Sheen.Then we play a tiny smidge of Luc Zarrato from IG's Marathon2sobriety Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

DOPEYCON TICKETS: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thedopeyfoundation/1765668PATREON:www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis week on Dopey! We are joined by Tik ToK superstar Gabby Eagen! But first we hear some of the notes and comments from last weeks Dopey - we read an email from a Russian film maker heroin addict who used to get high off poppy seeds. The we hear a crazy drug story from a crazy dopey who gopt stung in his eye by a bee! Then we hear from Gabby! Dave chops it up with TikTok creator and tie-dye shop owner Gabby (Gabrielle) Egan. She grew up in Fayetteville, NC; first got high on Triple C’s in middle school and smoked weed at 12; got pregnant at 13; joined the Army at 17 (diesel mechanic) and drank heavy. Fame hit on TikTok during COVID. Two alcohol arrests landed her on TMZ (Vegas blackout/“kicking a cop,” later a Nashville headbutt). In Sept 2024, Rachel from Against All Odds brought her to an AA meeting—Gabby white-knuckled a hotel night with no weed, flew home, and hasn’t smoked or drank since (sober date 9/20/24). She talks bipolar I (diagnosed 21), quitting carts/edibles, withdrawals, motherhood of four (his/hers/ours), pop-up tie-dye hustle, anxiety about meeting followers IRL, and how group accountability (Sober Girls chat) plus sitting in discomfort keeps her straight. She caps it by telling her whole story in 60 seconds. ALL THAT PLUS MORE on a brand new edition of that good old dopey show!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on the teaser!An Old Anonymous friend comes through and we talk propofol, guy on guy 69 and other dumb shit. PLUS a Canadian EMAIL - is it the end of Dopeycon?Get tickets to possibly the las DOPEYCON ever - here! https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thedopeyfoundation/1765668Listen to the rest of the teaser show here:www.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.

DOPEYCON TIX HERE: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thedopeyfoundation/1765668This Week on Dopey! Getting ready for DopeyCon - who is coming? This week on the show we have a voicemail from Matt WC on shooting coke - a riveting kratom email - and then we pay a house call to Tzvi Heber in Los Angeles - of Ascendent Recovery and he shares a not usual Dopey Recovery story starting out deep within the orthodox Jewish community. We cover - Jewish identity, loss, resentment, addiction, recovery, community, basketball, opiates, personal growth, spirituality, addiction, recovery, detox, OxyContin, fentanyl, family, spirituality, gambling, community, self-esteem and how Tzvi got better! Plus gambling kicking and much more on a brand new episode of that good old Dopey show!Join Patreon: www.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.

 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thedopeyfoundation/1765668This week on the teaser - i read some emails - reflect on the end of summer and get excited for dopeycon - before handsome evan shows up with his family problems!Listen at www.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.

This week on Dopey! We are getting ready for Dopeycon! You coming? https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/1765668Montana, OG DOPE, writing in from prison, about smuggling fentanyl and Percs past cops by hiding a bundle between his butt cheeks. Another listener voicemail “Gay for Crack” tells a darkly comedic tale of hustling a guy in Baltimore who offered crack in exchange for sex.Then Anders Osborne and Bill Taylor (Trombone Shorty Foundation, The Phoenix) recount using and surviving during Hurricane Katrina — a lawless, apocalyptic New Orleans with flooded streets, National Guard, no electricity, and dealers flooding in. Anders tells a jaw-dropping story of stealing a kid’s BMX bike at 4 a.m. to ride six miles to cop from a bug-collecting dealer uptown. Bill shares how Anders helped him find recovery after years of vodka mornings and loneliness.The episode dives deep into recovery philosophy, spirituality, and Anders’ realization after playing Jerry Garcia’s guitar at Red Rocks that fame and status will never fill the void. They reflect on the “Send Me a Friend” foundation, their bond in recovery, and the meaning of service.Their segment ends with Anders’ High Sierra butterfly story — a psychedelic nightmare/vision where he stripped naked and flapped around during a String Cheese Incident set on LSD, morphine, cocaine, and Dilaudid. Anders later connected the experience to his mother’s deathbed promise to return to him as a butterfly, making the tale haunting and strangely spiritual.Then Howard 'Beach' Buksbaum Returns to share about his new black girl AI group 'lux'! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For Dopeycon tickets: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/1765668 For patreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastMy Dad is back to talk shit! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dopeycon 2025 Tickets: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/1765668This week on Dopey we celebrate Dopes Heather and Jen! Both with ONE YEAR! We read some emails and I got to sit down with the legend! IDGAF Foods (aka the guy behind eating hot dogs off the floor on Instagram) for a brutally honest trip through his addiction, art, and recovery. From smoking crack at 15 in Manchester, CT, to guzzling buckets of Molly and shards of ketamine out of Kahlua bottles, to swallowing and later digging through his own shit for balloons of drugs, his story is a nonstop circus of chaos. He dodged arrests, hustled Oxy 80s and Hartford heroin, spent $500 a day chasing tar and Roxies in Utah, and somehow never got caught.Out of the madness came art: digital psychedelia, album covers for major bands, and eventually his IDGAF Foods account—where eating sketchy food became exposure therapy and a way to help addicts. Along the way: scam hustles, OCD hand-washing, sitting in trees at parties to dodge cops, exposure therapy with oat milk, Jimmy Fallon holding up his artwork, and a grandmother calling him an idiot. Now clean since 2012, he’s turned the insanity into purpose, with IDGAF Foods helping people avoid relapse by saying “Don’t Be a Fucking Pussy.”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.

This week on the Teaser! I get back from Park City Song Summit! Preparing for DopeyCon, going upstate! Jay is back - if you want to hear whats up - go to www.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.

www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast📋 Show NotesTeaser/Intro:Dave’s septic tank explodes into the shower; plumber drama and Beach Club day.Announces Park City Song Summit panel on “Writing Under the Influence” with Anders Osborne, Anders Beck & Matt Warren.DopeyCon VI lineup: Ian Fidance, Sam Miller, Jake from WV, Aaron Carr, Ray Brown, Dave’s dad, Linda, Brandon Novak, Hank Azaria, maybe Jason Biggs; tickets via Patreon.Notes that August 16th (“Dopey Day”) marks Chris’s birthday; urges listeners to put the Dopey logo over their eyes and send photos.Dopey Day & Listener Messages:Dave celebrates his own upcoming 10‑year recovery milestone.Reads emails from Madeline (new listener noticing a story about Chris comforting a driver), Rick from Baltimore (finding out about Chris’s death while in rehab), and congratulates those anniversaries.Plays voicemails from Jake (63 days sober), Aaron Carr, Ishmael (tongue‑in‑cheek), Ray (suggesting listeners vote for Dave), and more.Conversation with Annie (Chris’s partner):Now in California, married with a son and pregnant with her second child; reflects on seven years since Chris’s death.Describes Chris’s kindness, humor and availability; acknowledges he loved drugs and struggled with sensitivity.Emphasizes relapse as part of recovery and the dangers of fentanyl; recounts the night he relapsed before a Taylor Swift concert, their fight over driving his sister, and how he died alone.Urges listeners to care for themselves and others; shares her own experience of losing crippling anxiety after surviving her worst fear.They laugh about Sammy’s anal glands and joke about Halloween babies versus Christmas birthdays.Listener Story & Updates:Kelly tells a story about buying Molly, meth & heroin, shooting up in a motel with toilet water, passing out, and getting arrested on multiple charges.Dave updates listeners on Fentanyl Jay (alive and in detox), thanks Justin Cambria for helping him, and plugs Mountainside Rehab & Recovery Unplugged.Kimber calls to remind everyone about SafeSpot (1‑800‑972‑0590); Dave mentions customstickers.com for Dopey merch.Classic Clip (Dopey 104):Dave and Chris read emails about Troy’s passing and discuss the dangers of relapse and fentanyl.Share stories of cheating drug tests: bleach drops in urine, Tide with Bleach Alternative, hiding urine in a rubber duck strapped to one’s groin, etc.Talk about shooting coke in feet, hitting veins in the neck, life at a brain‑injury clinic.Dave and Chris banter about ginger beer, advertisers, and their silly battles over “toodles.”Dave recites a Dumbledore quote: “Help will always be given to those who ask for it,” reminding listeners that recovery works if you do it and nobody has to die.Honors those who’ve died: Troy, Dave Marshall, Andrew, Colleen, Todd, Chris, Brian Hot Wheels Connolly, Annie Eley, Don, Ryan Leone, and others. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 Septic saga: Dave’s septic tank blows up into the shower; plumber drama ensues. Park City Song Summit: Dave previews his session with Anders Osborne, Anders Beck and Matt Warren on writing under the influence vs. in recovery. DopeyCon 6 lineup: Ian Fidance, Sam Miller, Jake from WV, Aaron Carr, Ray Brown, Dave’s dad, Linda, Brandon Novak, Hank Azaria, Jason Biggs, and other “influencers/junkies galore” — tickets on Patreon. Spotify comments: Fans want comedian Modi at DopeyCon (he probably won’t be there); others complain about teaser paywalls; praise for Patreon content. Dopey Day: Aug. 16 — put the Dopey logo over your eyes to honour Chris and all addicts who’ve died. Heart Attack Doug preview: Dave introduces Doug (aka HAD), who’s become a Zoom legend. Topics they plan to cover include: Johnny Mac, Leonardo da Vinci, breakfast, summer vacations Finger-picking guitars vs. “finger-banging” jokes The Dopey Nation, Doug’s “gender fluidity” bit Fentanyl Jay sightings, the Dopey Handbook, tipping plumbers Doug’s obsession with cop gear and law-enforcement swag Closing: Dave invites listeners to join Patreon for extra meetings and ad-free episodes, signs off with “stay strong” and plays the Dopey song “I Wanna Be Good So Bad.” 🔍 SEO/Search terms        Ask ChatGPT  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

dopeycon tix available at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastAnnie’s anniversary: Dave marks one year since Annie Ellie died, plays her voicemails and messages, and reflects on how fragile life in recovery is.Travis’s email: A listener’s relapse saga: he meets a girl at a meeting, falls in love, helps her get sober, then watches the relationship implode into infidelity and emotional breakdown.Rachel Slocum returns:• Talks about relapsing, volunteering during Texas floods, and how service triggered a heavy depression; admits isolating in bed and feeling like a “lazy, dirty sewer rat.”• Finds old PhotoBucket photos showing how skeletal she looked on OxyContin, and discusses body image and denial.• Chats about being an “influencer” vs. “content creator,” getting her Instagram banned, then restored, and how fragile her self‑worth felt.• Debates weed: she loves the smell but hates vaping; she and Dave share stories of stoner snacks, weed vaporizers at concerts, and the eternal “crack or heroin?” question in a silly “This or That” game.• Dave and Rachel riff on Roblox addiction: Dave admits he and his daughters play “Grow a Garden” obsessively, buying seeds and selling veggies like junkies.• Dave invites Rachel to do stand‑up at DopeyCon and they both nervously laugh about bombing on stage.Doug Bopst interview:• From felony to fitness: Doug explains how a cellmate taught him push‑ups and faith, turning jail time into the start of a new life.• They reboot the Dopey Fitness Challenge: more steps, more protein, less sugar, maybe join a gym — and debate smoothies vs. whole milk, Ozempic vs. ayahuasca.• They talk Billy Joel: Doug and Dave quiz each other on Billy Joel, Elton John, Zeppelin and Stones song titles; discuss the sadness in Billy Joel’s documentary and question whether he ever really got sober.• Weed wars: Doug insists today’s high‑THC weed and vaping are dangerous; Dave pushes back with nostalgic stoner stories; they both riff on weed at concerts, edibles, and how weed compares to Ozempic and mushrooms.• Fatherhood & love: Dave urges Doug to have kids, insisting parenthood gives back more than any high; Doug admits he’s not sure.   You said:did rachel tell a good drug story? ChatGPT said: Stopped after 20 seconds You said:vomitting ChatGPT said: Worked for 14 secondsIn this episode Rachel doesn’t spin a classic “Dopey‑style” caper involving cops or car crashes, but she does share a vivid slice of what using was like for her: she describes taking Oxycontin, chain‑smoking Newports and puking so much she’d have to ask her boyfriend to pull the car over so she could throw up – once even throwing up in a Red Lobster parking lot right after trying to force down a meal. Those vomiting stories are about as close as she gets to a full‑blown drug tale in this conversation.   window.__oai_logHTML?window.__oai_logHTML():window.__oai_SSR_HTML=window.__oai_SSR_HTML||Date.now();requestAnimationFrame((function(){window.__oai_logTTI?window.__oai_logTTI():window.__oai_SSR_TTI=window.__oai_SSR_TTI||Date.now()})) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 👉 Full Erin Khar episode + DopeyCon 6 tickets only on:🎟️ www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast 📓 Episode Notes:🐎 Guest: Erin Khar – author, advocate, and recent NYC election winner🧠 Topics: stigma, recovery, school boards, getting called out, Ask Erin segment🎂 Dopey Day is August 16 – Chris’s birthday and a day to remember all who’ve died from addiction. Put the Dopey logo over your eyes 🖤🎤 Dave saw Wilco, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson🥴 He got mistaken for Ted Cruz🏋️‍♂️ He’s on a crash keto diet before heading to Park City Song Summit🎟️ DopeyCon 6 is coming: Ian Fidance, Sam Miller, Erin Khar, Brace Belden, Jake from WV, and more TBA👩‍🎤 Still looking for another great woman for the DopeyCon lineup🔥 Patreon is the only place for tickets + full episode: 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.

Show NotesEarly Life & Tattoo Beginnings:JS grew up going back and forth to NYC, starting Fun City tattoo shop in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s, working with punk legends, including Iggy Pop and hanging around the Lower East Side near Katz’s Deli. Took over Spider Webb’s tattoo shop and innovated tattoo styles internationally.Wild Addiction Years:Struggled with violent, restless addiction in LA, carrying guns, dealing with near-death overdoses, and hitting rock bottom multiple times. Describes being surrounded by tragedy (neighbors dying, violence) while strung out.First Sobriety Attempts:Found AA through a phone call, went to meetings while sick and broken, experienced his first sober year full of fear and confusion but connected with a tribe. Stayed sober for 10 years but was still dangerously angry and unstable.Relapse & Real Surrender:After years dry but miserable, relapsed hard on speedballs and other drugs. After a near-fatal speedball overdose, sincerely prayed for help for the first time — a turning point that led to a true surrender and lasting recovery.Spiritual Awakening & 12 Steps:Recommitted to sobriety at 48, dove deep into 12-step literature and principles, learning the disease was rooted in selfishness, self-centeredness, and insanity, not just substances. Developed a personal understanding of “God as we understood Him” and built a spiritual relationship that restored sanity.Plant Medicine Experiences:Explores ayahuasca and ibogaine ceremonies in Brazil and Mexico — the mother and stern general of plant medicines. Describes transformative, often brutal trips, communicating with ancestral spirits, and being a bridge to help suffering souls find peace.Integration with AA:Believes his foundation in AA allowed the plant medicine experiences to speak in a language he understood, blending 12-step spirituality with psychedelic healing. Emphasizes these tools aren’t for everyone; people must be called to them.Writing & Legacy:Channels his higher self to write influential, raw literature about addiction and recovery. Proud of his work that connects deeply with people facing darkness.Wild Stories & Encounters:Remembers meeting Johnny Depp and Hunter S. Thompson, including a hilarious story about buying mummified fingers at a flea market and delivering a sarcastic note to a hotel room. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 📓 NOTES: Aurora returns to Dopey Tuesday after time away Dave jokes she’s been "downgraded to Tuesdays" Aurora just came back from working on Love Island in Fiji Norah (Dave's daughter) sent Aurora reviews of the show while on vacation Aurora shares what Fiji was like (sunrises, culture, working overnight) She didn’t swim under any waterfalls (but wants to) Dave proposes a spinoff show about the Love Island crew hooking up DopeyCon 6 updates: Ian Fidance, Sam Miller, Ray Brown, Aaron Carr, Adam David, Linda, Dave's dad, and more Tickets are only available via Patreon www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Meta/Instagram account takedown still weighing heavy Gratitude for Dopey, recovery, and community Call for more voicemails, reviews, Dopey Day involvement Ends with a mystery version of “Good So Bad” — request for the artist to come forward Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.