Digest

This episode of "Dopey Wednesday" delves into various aspects of addiction, recovery, and personal experiences. Hosts and guest Allie Mikovsky discuss productivity hacks, the challenges of nicotine addiction and vaping, and the parallels between quitting smoking and other substances. The conversation touches on personal anecdotes, including a listener's wild story of mistaken identity involving heroin, a painful chemical burn incident during early recovery, and the origins of the Dopey podcast. Allie shares her journey to sobriety, detailing her early drinking habits, a blackout car crash, and her eventual commitment to recovery. The episode also explores the use of psychedelics, a sober rave cruise experience, and the speaker's path to sobriety, including finding a sponsor and navigating the initial stages of recovery and dealing with depression. The discussion extends to the speaker's burgeoning comedy career, the impact of sobriety on it, and the common relationship challenges faced by comedians.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction to Dopey Wednesday and Productivity

The podcast begins with its signature intro, setting a lighthearted tone for discussions on drugs and addiction. Dave shares his enthusiasm for completing tasks and offers simple productivity hacks like making lists and taking showers to combat procrastination.

00:02:39

Personal Reflections and Listener Stories

Dave reflects on pausing the Dopey Fitness Challenge due to comfort food and a comment from his daughter about his appearance. A listener shares a wild story about her sister mistakenly receiving a large quantity of heroin, and Eric recounts a painful chemical burn incident from his early recovery.

00:11:58

Musical Interlude and Community Engagement

The podcast features a musical break with "Let the Sun Shine In" and introduces composer Galt McDermott. The hosts then engage with listener feedback from Spotify and Patreon, encouraging participation and mentioning the distribution of show stickers.

00:19:41

Allie Mikovsky on Nicotine Addiction and Recovery

Guest Allie Mikovsky discusses her struggles with nicotine addiction, transitioning between cigarettes and vaping due to dissatisfaction with counterfeit pods. She shares her experiences with maintaining sobriety and the challenges of quitting smoking.

00:25:29

Sobriety Anniversaries and Podcast Origins

Dave and Allie discover they both achieved sobriety in 2015, leading to a discussion about their recovery journeys. Dave recounts the founding of the Dopey podcast, its near demise, and its revival through a connection with comedian Mark Marin.

00:29:39

Family Stories and Childhood Fame

Allie shares a story about her parents meeting at a 12-step convention and their subsequent relapse. She also reminisces about her childhood fame as "Little Allie" on a radio show, making prank calls at age seven.

00:36:51

Allie's Path to Sobriety and Psychedelic Exploration

Allie details her early drinking habits, starting in sixth grade and escalating to a blackout car crash. She expresses cautious interest in psychedelics for therapeutic purposes, preferring a controlled setting.

00:51:07

Sober Companionship and Personal Recovery Narratives

Dave recounts taking a sober friend, Danny, on a rave cruise to prevent relapse. The narrative shifts to Allie detailing the "why" behind her sobriety, stemming from a blackout car crash and family concern, and her realization of alcoholism's progressive nature.

01:03:53

Committing to Sobriety and Sponsorship Challenges

The speaker describes a negative drinking experience before a show, leading to a decision to get sober. They detail reaching out for help, finding a sponsor, and the initial ease of commitment due to misery, followed by doubts as they felt better.

01:06:44

Sponsor's Strictness, Comedy Career, and Relationships

The speaker discusses their sponsor's "hardcore" requirements and a "contract" for sobriety. They reflect on their journey to sobriety at 41, identify as a "classic alcoholic," and discuss their successful comedy career, attributing its genesis to childhood radio experience and early fascination with stand-up. The episode concludes with reflections on how sobriety impacts comedy and the relationship challenges often faced by comedians.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are some simple ways to combat procrastination mentioned in the podcast?

  The podcast suggests simple "hacks" like making a list of tasks and then crossing them off, or taking a shower. These actions can provide a sense of accomplishment and boost endorphins, making it easier to tackle procrastination.

• What was the listener Hannah's sister's bizarre experience with a package?

  Hannah's sister mistakenly received a securely sealed wooden box that turned out to contain a kilo of black tar heroin. Frightened and unsure what to do, they disposed of the drugs by dumping them in garbage cans across the city.

• What led to Allie Mikovsky's decision to quit vaping and return to smoking cigarettes?

  Allie Mikovsky became frustrated with the prevalence of counterfeit and low-quality Jewel vape pods on the market, which caused headaches and throat irritation. This dissatisfaction, combined with a desire for the tactile sensation of smoking, led her to switch back to cigarettes.

• How did Dave and Allie discover they got sober in the same year?

  During a conversation about their sobriety journeys, they realized they both achieved sobriety in 2015. This shared milestone led to a discussion about their experiences and the challenges of maintaining sobriety.

• What was the "God moment" Dave experienced that led to the Dopey podcast's survival?

  After his co-host passed away and the show was struggling, Dave encountered comedian Mark Marin on the street. This chance meeting led to Marin appearing on the Dopey podcast, which revitalized the show and is considered Dave's only "God moment" in the program.

• How did Allie's parents meet?

  Allie's parents met at a 12-step convention. Her mother, who was sober at the time, met her father, who was also in a recovery program. They eventually married, though they later relapsed after many years of sobriety.

• What was Allie's childhood claim to fame?

  At the age of seven, Allie became known as "Little Allie" on a radio show where she made prank phone calls. This early experience with public attention and performance left a lasting impression on her.

• What event prompted Allie to seriously consider sobriety?

  Allie crashed her car in a blackout. Despite initially trying to downplay the incident, her family's increased concern and her own inability to control her drinking led her to attend AA meetings and eventually commit to sobriety.

• Why is Allie hesitant about using psychedelics like mushrooms, even for therapeutic purposes?

  Allie is cautious about psychedelics because she recognizes her addictive tendencies. She fears that recreational use could easily escalate, leading her back to problematic patterns. She prefers a strictly medicinal, doctor-supervised setting.

• How did Danny, a sober friend, end up on a rave cruise with Dave?

  Dave, concerned about relapsing alone on a rave cruise, asked if he could bring a companion. He invited Danny, who was solid in his sobriety and would be a good hang, to join him, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable experience.

Show Notes