F#CK THE STIGMA

In episode 73 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Dr. Kenny Clark who returns for an honest conversation about addiction, relapse, and what getting sober doesn’t automatically fix. We explore whether addiction is a disease or a choice, the biggest lies addicts tell themselves, AA and 12-step recovery, Suboxone and methadone, and how addiction affects marriage and family. What keeps someone using, even when everything is on the line?Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Kenny's Links Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drkennyclark/Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556847637005Podcast | https://www.youtube.com/@soloanddoc/Chapters |00:00 Introduction and Sobriety Journey01:30 Changes in Recovery06:00 Redefining Gratitude10:50 Wife's Support Through Relapse20:00 Lessons in Marriage and Recovery22:50 Awareness of Addiction28:40 Debunking the Allergy Myth37:00 Dealing with Anger and Resentment42:40 Addiction: Disease and Choice55:00 Career, Licenses, and Amends01:04:20 Working at the Shelter01:09:10 Biggest Lies and Addictive DrugsFollow us! Instagram | https://instagram.com/fthestigmapodTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/fthestigmapodWebsite | www.fthestigma.comTags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, felony, felonies, forgiveness, spiritual, DUI, 5150, psych wards, #fthestigma #podcast #addiction #mentalhealth #mentalillness #recovery #criminal #addictionrecovery #addict #alcoholism #doctor

In episode 72 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Dave Manheim, opens up about his heroin addiction, using drugs while working at MTV, losing custody of his daughter, and the painful road to sobriety. He shares how he rebuilt his life and turned his darkest experiences into one of the most recognized addiction recovery podcasts. This is an honest conversation about addiction, relapse, fatherhood, recovery, and second chances.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Dave Manheim's Links | Website | https://dopeypodcast.com/Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dopeypodcast/Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/dopeypodcast/Chapters |00:00 Welcome to F the Stigma00:20 Type A vs. Type B Personality01:40 Vaping and Quitting Smoking04:30 Dopey Podcast Origins07:00 Interviewing Hunter Biden08:30 Early Days of Dopey10:00 Naming the Podcast11:30 Sobriety and Uncertainty13:20 Growing Up in Manhattan15:00 First Encounters with Drugs17:30 Career in TV Production20:30 Heroin Addiction Begins23:00 Rehab and Relapse26:00 Moving to LA and Struggling29:00 Benzos and Blackouts31:00 Mother's Illness and Turning Point34:00 Fatherhood and Shame39:00 Losing Custody and Rock Bottom42:00 Finding AA and Sobriety47:00 Dopey's Growth and Community49:00 Coping with Loss54:00 Why We Use and the Power of Choice57:00 Obsessions and Recovery01:00:00 Lessons from AA Meetings01:03:00 The Real Reason for Using01:05:00 Learning Hard Work at Katz's01:09:00 Dominican Roots and Connection01:11:00 Working at Katz's and Dopey01:13:00 Grieving the Old Life01:15:00 Dopey Con and Future Plans01:17:00 Defining Addiction and Breaking StigmaFollow us! Instagram | https://instagram.com/fthestigmapodTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/fthestigmapodWebsite | www.fthestigma.comPod links |Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3Apple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224Tags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, felony, felonies, forgiveness, spiritual, DUI, 5150, psych wards, #fthestigma #podcast #addiction #mentalhealth #mentalillness #recovery #criminal #addictionrecovery #addict #alcoholism

In episode 71 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Matt Barker, who was recently featured on Soft White Underbelly, joins the podcast to share how he transformed his life after decades of addiction, meth use, prison, and devastating loss. Today, Matt is sober, has earned his master’s degree, and uses his experience to help others find recovery. In this raw conversation, we break down the disease of addiction, the insanity and destruction that surround it, the reality of getting sober, and how purpose, accountability, and helping others gave Matt a chance to rebuild his life.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Matt's Links |Podcast | https://www.youtube.com/@almostfamoustotallysoberChapters |00:00 Welcome Matt Barker00:14 Growing Up in the Valley00:46 Last High and Jail02:34 Sister's Ultimatum04:40 Running Into Tiny06:29 Attempted Robberies07:32 Pep Boys Incident08:38 Long Beach Detox11:53 Mother's Call and Dark Knight14:29 Beginning of Sobriety16:04 Finding a Sponsor18:20 Withdrawal Symptoms20:24 Running Into Weasel21:11 20 Years of Addiction26:00 Best Friend's Death29:05 Meeting Willie30:38 AA Meetings and Stories32:23 Anonymity and Comments34:46 Sobriety and Life36:35 Obsession Lifted38:00 Expunging Felonies40:56 Six Months and Ten Days42:43 Almost Relapsing45:40 Importance of Drunkalogue50:15 Education and Career54:00 Writing and Screenplays57:00 Working in Treatment01:00:20 Wife's Cancer Scare01:01:33 Understanding Addiction01:03:00 Stigma and Treatment Industry01:06:50 Future of Recovery01:09:45 AA Traditions and Bill Wilson01:12:00 Different Paths to Recovery01:14:55 Living in the World01:16:11 Where to Find MattFollow us! Instagram | https://instagram.com/fthestigmapodTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/fthestigmapodWebsite | www.fthestigma.comPod links |Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3Apple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224Tags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, felony, felonies, forgiveness, spiritual, DUI, 5150, psych wards, #fthestigma #podcast #addiction #mentalhealth #mentalillness #recovery #criminal #addictionrecovery #addict #alcoholism

In episode 70 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Pej, a professional interventionist with 19 years of sobriety and a powerful story of addiction and recovery. Pej spent nearly a decade addicted to drugs and meth while working as a drug dealer, with his addiction escalating after a fatal car accident. Today, he uses his personal experience with addiction to help others, specializing in interventions for clients struggling with psychosis, substance abuse, and addiction. Pej shares what it took to get sober, how he turned his past into a career helping others, and what families need to know when a loved one is struggling with addiction.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Pej's Links |Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/pejinterventions/Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PejizCorner/Podcast |  @PrimaryPurposeWithPej  &  @PejInterventions  Website | https://pejinterventions.com/Tiktok | https://www.tiktok.com/@pejinterventionsChapters |00:00 Welcome to F the Sigma Podcast00:28 Pej's Recovery Story and Mission00:53 Pej's Background and Family Life01:07 Early Childhood and Memories02:24 Moving to California and First Substance Use03:43 The Genesis of Addiction04:59 The Car Accident and Its Aftermath07:23 Addiction Spiral and Legal Troubles09:33 The Drug Dealing Lifestyle12:31 From Counselor to Interventionist13:43 Becoming an Interventionist15:35 The Importance of Interventions17:42 The Reality of Drug Dealing19:50 The Toll on Humanity22:32 Hitting a Spiritual Bottom24:40 The Role of a Mentor26:00 From Addiction to Advocacy28:25 Facing the Toughest Interventions31:27 Enabling vs. Helping34:47 Personal Struggles in Recovery38:22 Shedding the Ego41:49 Where to Find PejFollow us! Instagram | https://instagram.com/fthestigmapodTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/fthestigmapodWebsite | www.fthestigma.comTags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, felony, felonies, forgiveness, spiritual, DUI, 5150, psych wards, #fthestigma #podcast #addiction #mentalhealth #mentalillness #recovery #criminal #addictionrecovery #addict #alcoholism

In episode 69 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Danny Shannon. Who shares his incredible journey from teenage addiction and years of heroin and ice use to incarceration, homelessness, countless attempts at rehab, and ultimately long-term recovery. Danny opens up about the darkest moments of his addiction, what finally made him choose recovery, and how he transformed his past into a mission to help others struggling with substance use and mental health. Today, Danny is a recovery advocate, speaker, entrepreneur, and the host of the Colorful Past Podcast, where he shares powerful stories surrounding addiction, recovery, and the people who have lived through them. In this episode, we talk about addiction, prison, recovery, relapse, the reality of trying to get sober, and what it takes to completely rebuild your life after years of substance abuse.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Danny's Links |Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dan_the_man_46_/Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/danny.shannon.395/Podcast |  @AColourfulPastPodcast  Chapters |00:00 Welcome and Introduction02:38 Growing Up in Australia04:35 First Substance Use07:37 The First Heroin Hit10:30 Progression to Addiction14:17 What Heroin Solved16:32 First Withdrawal and Jail19:21 Life in Australian Prison23:00 Methadone and MAT Debate27:56 Rock Bottoms and Attempts32:02 Recovery in America35:55 Overdoses and Fear of Dying38:17 Explaining Addiction42:16 Parenthood and Regret46:06 The Turning Point49:59 Life Today and Encapsulator53:03 Crucial Factors in Recovery57:01 Leaving 12-Step Fellowship01:04:12 Message to Those StrugglingFollow us! Instagram | https://instagram.com/fthestigmapodTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/fthestigmapodWebsite | www.fthestigma.comTags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, felony, felonies, forgiveness, spiritual, DUI, 5150, psych wards, #fthestigma #podcast #addiction #mentalhealth #mentalillness #recovery #criminal #addictionrecovery #addict #alcoholism