Early Brunner - Podcast Details

Shows

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Feeling Worse After Getting Sober? You're Normal. I Promise.Are your emotions overwhelming after you got sober? Or do you feel nothing at all? Navigating the unpredictable emotional landscape of sobriety can be a rocky road. In today's episode we talk about the grief of losing the substance, the process of allowing our brains to heal, and how addiction itself can be trauma. Whatever you're going through is normal, you're not broken, and you'll find some of my most helpful tips in this episode. Thanks for being here. Get in touch! info@recoverydemystified.com Book a Recovery Coaching call with Early! Join...

2026-10-2027 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Is Sex and Love Addiction Really Addiction? Dean Spade's StoryDean Spade, author of Love in a F*cked Up World joins Early to talk about his story with sex and love addiction, work addiction, and how his childhood experiences shaped his relationships as an adult. He talks about how a lot of this stuff maybe isn't even an "addiction" and how perhaps we all have strange relationships to work under capitalism and sex and love within patriarchy. Buckle up as we enter another gray area and explore the question: Is sex and love addiction really addiction? Join us on Patreon! Book a Recovery Coaching...

2026-10-131h 06

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Staying Sober (and Even Happy) While the World Falls ApartI somehow accomplished the impossible -- I remain happy, content, and stay sober no matter what happens. What are my personal secrets and methods? And how do I stay steady through external crisis and impending apocalypse? I'm just here for the ride, my dudes. Tune into this week episode's to learn some of my best kept secrets to living the good life. 988 - Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Schedule a free 20-minute recovery coaching call with Early! Join us on Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit! Follow us on Instagram!

2026-10-0627 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies From Blacking Out to the Mental Shift That Changed Everything: Brian Walker of A Day Without LoveBrian's story begins with a deep knowing that he was an outcast. Alcohol helped him fit in, and helped him feel confident: something he had rarely felt before. After a while, things spun out of control, and he found himself blacking out and waking up places he had never been before. One day he realized -- what if everything could get better? Even the good stuff? Check out Brian Walker's music: A Day Without Love National Suicide Hotline Similar resources for those outside the US Connect with us: Book...

2026-09-291h 08

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Why You Keep Relapsing, Part 2: How to Stop the Voice in Your Head and Find PeaceRelapsing is a drag. You're not alone. A forgotten skill from Rational Recovery called Addicted Voice Recognition Technique might just be the key that you've been searching for! In today's episode, we go over AVRT more thoroughly -- what it is, why it works, and how you can use this skill to finally stop going back out and using/drinking. The best part about it is it's FREE! Part 1 of Why You Keep Relapsing (Start here!) Another episode on AVRT (Addicted Voice Recognition Technique) Looking for more?? Book a Re...

2026-09-2229 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies A Southern Trans Addiction Story: Genderfucking Labels & Reclaiming AuthenticityA lot of us use substances to bury our trauma and discomfort -- especially those of us who are queer and trans. Today we hear from Brody who tells their story of growing up queer in the deep south in heavily Christian surroundings. After being bullied for their gender expression, they flipped to hyper-femininity. They found solace and escape in substances, effectively self-medicating their trauma. Eventually, they found recovery through trauma therapy, meditation, making 12-step work for them, and notably -- coming out as trans. They talk about their stays in the psych ward, finding diagnostic labels to be...

2026-09-151h 10

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies How to Build a Life You No Longer Need to Escape From (It's Not as Hard as it Seems!)Hot take alert! Making your life AWESOME isn't as hard as it seems -- and here's how you can do it! Today I talk about ways to balance our lives by reducing stress, adding in more cool stuff, and changing our perspective on life to make ourselves feel grateful as a knee-jerk reaction. I talk about my favorite empowerment skill from the book Nonviolent Communication, why we should all read the news less, and why we should work less. Then I talk about making space and intentionally doing things that make our life more comfortable and more meaningful and...

2026-09-0831 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Weed, Extreme States, Psych Drugs, and Re-thinking Mental Health Care: Sascha Altman Dubrul's StorySascha Altman Dubrul is a punk elder, therapist, and co-founder of The Icarus Project -- a radical mental health support network. In his interview he talks about being friends with people on TV as a kid, finding weed and having the whole universe open up, psychedelics, and ending up involuntarily commited to the psych ward. Sascha discusses extreme mental states, finding punks, how psychiatric drugs are also very much drugs, the harm reduction guide to coming off psych meds, AI relationships, and the complicated situation of having his life saved and simultaneously squashed and limited through being involuntarily committed...

2026-09-011h 00

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Why You Keep Relapsing: You're Not Broken & Here's How to Break the CycleWhen it comes to mysteries, why we relapse is among the most common problems in addiction recovery. In this episode I discuss four reasons why you keep relapsing and provide clear, actionable ways to catch yourself before it's too late. If you've ever wondered "Why do I keep relapsing?" ... get out your pen and paper, because we are about to demystify that shit. You're not broken, you just need more information about what it takes to re-write our programming. You can do this! Related episodes - The Two Mental Shifts That Make Addiction Recovery Possible

2026-08-2534 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies The Pills to Heroin to Meth Pipeline: What Your Doctor Doesn't Warn You About, Josh's Addiction Recovery StoryJosh Datant joins us today to tell his harrowing story of becoming an IV meth and heroin user after first being prescribed the painkiller pills Oxycontin by his doctor at the age of 15. The pills to heroin to meth pipeline is very real, and it's not the first time we have heard someone go down this path on our show. Opiate pills can seem like a miracle drug at first, but like so many folks, Josh quickly became addicted and then seek out heroin as a cheaper and easier to find alternative. We talk about his childhood trauma, growing...

2026-08-1855 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Anxiety - Why You Have It and the Unexpected Way to Get Rid of ItNobody likes anxiety. It makes sense to want it to go away. In this episode we dive into how alcohol and other substances can cause a neurochemical spike that causes the anxiety that we are using the substance to relieve, and how this can be a slippery slope into self-medicating and addiction. What if the secret to getting rid of anxiety isn't about trying to make it go away? What if we can find a way to understand it, greet it, and allow it to happen -- and the allowing is what sets us free? We also talk about...

2026-08-1132 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Is Weed Addictive? Armstrong's Story of Addiction, Psychedelics, and an Existential CrisisWhy do people think weed addiction isn't real? Today we hear from Armstrong about his experience with the magic, medicine, and misery of weed. He also talks about high-dose psychedelic experiences and having what might be defined as a spiritual psychosis. Near the end of his addiction, he was scrounging around for roaches on the ground. The existential crisis has eased a bit, but it's still with him. If you've ever wondered if weed is addictive, you'll definitely know the answer after today's episode. If you're questioning your use of weed, you're not alone. If you haven't f...

2026-08-041h 13

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies When Shame and Self-Loathing Lead to Binge Drinking - Colleen's StoryBinge drinking can be a response to unbearable emotions -- and that was the case for our guest today, Colleen Clifford. She talks about being a kid whose needs were unmet, people pleasing, and how a difficult diagnosis left her feeling broken. Unsure where to turn, she ended up finding solace in binge drinking. She kept it together while at sea as a commercial fisherwoman, but her time on land was frought with brown-outs, black-outs, and hangovers. We talk about death of a loved one, grief, and how one moment can change everything. Book a f...

2026-07-281h 06

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Sobriety Can Get Lonely - How to Socialize While Sober Getting sober can mean your social life changes overnight — and nobody really prepares you for that. We often get really bad advice about how we need to make extreme changes, but sometimes that can cause more harm than good. What if we moved slowly, with more intention, and landed in a place that is authentic to our needs? This episode highlights unmasking and neurodivergence in addiction recovery, why "doing less" can be more sustainable, and why the rulebook that says you have to cut off every friend who still uses might not be right for everyone. Some of...

2026-07-2129 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies You're Not Broken if Autism & ADHD Addiction Recovery Hits Different - Resources From Off the Beaten PathIn this episode we dive into books & podcasts that are off the beaten path -- ones that cater specifically to struggles of people who are autistic and/or have ADHD. The way we recover is not the same as everyone else, and it has everything to do with authenticity and honoring our needs. We also hear about a 30+ year old book that dives into intersectional feminism and how it relates to addiction and recovery. And we talk about a book that destigmatizes addiction on the next level. Buckle up and get out your pen and paper because...

2026-07-0725 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies The Unknown History of Harm Reduction: Meesh Mori on Queer + BIPOC History, the Drug War, and Getting FreeLet's talk about the origins of harm reduction that are often overlooked: queer & BIPOC folks have always used underground methods of mutual aid as a method of survival. In this episode Meesh and Early discuss their paths to finding harm reduction spaces and practices, and we get a couple history lessons from Meesh on the origins of harm reduction and the war on drugs. Importantly, we also hear about how queerness and BIPOC struggles are inextricably linked to how we are treated differently when it comes to substance use. If you're looking for a radical history lesson...

2026-06-301h 03

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Pretending I Wasn't Gay Almost Killed Me - Chris Conde's Story of Pushing Addiction to the BrinkChris's addiction story started with drinking at 13 because he wanted to be included in what the grown-ups were doing. Later he also found that drinking made the pain of his trauma go away. Things got very dark, very fast. His sobriety journey is not a straight line -- like many of us, he had bouts of sobriety, followed by times of going back out. It got a lot worse before it got better. He illustrates how vital it is to love ourselves completely, and how being dolled up in drag by a fellow queer gave him permission to do...

2026-06-161h 01

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies You Asked For It! - Healing With Kink, Overcoming Shame, What to Do When You Feel Sad, and Helping Loved Ones With Addiction - Recovery Resources #34In today's Recovery Resources episode Early answers some listener questions! Addiction recovery and harm reduction come with a multitude of curve balls and challenges. Sober but still riddled with shame for being a degenerate? Have a deeply loved family member with an addiction and don't know how to help? Wondering how to get back on track after a relapse? We will discuss all this and more in this week's recovery resources. Join our Patreon! Free 20 Minute Strategy Session with Early! Put the Shovel Down YouTube Channel Donate to our Nonprofit!

2026-06-0934 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Annette - Weed Addiction, ADHD, Trauma, and Healing With Meditation & Acupuncture - Addiction Recovery Story #42In this episode we hear Annette's addiction recovery story. Their life starts with the divorce of their parents at a young age and exposure to a step-parent who was using substances. She talks about struggling with social anxiety, ADHD, and multiple traumas. Her drinking and psychedelic use eventually spiraled out of control, and as she quit drinking her weed use accelerated. After a series of allergic reactions to intense weed use and trying to control their use with edibles and dabs, Annette decided it was time to call it quits. I'm super grateful to Annette for talking a...

2026-06-021h 16

Back On The Grind Addiction & Recovery Q&A w/ Early Brunner of Recovery Demystified #73*** If you need to support a friend, loved one, or yourself...You can call, text, or chat with a 988 Lifeline counselor for help during difficult moments anytime, day or night. Just dial 988 it's free & confidential.***If you or someone you care about needs support, SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals & families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. 1-800-662-HELP (4357)In this conversation, Early Brunner of Recovery Demystified joins Pepe Bandit in responding to listener's questions about addiction & recovery. They...

2026-06-011h 14

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies How to Stop Being So Hard on Yourself - Rewiring Your Brain to Dismantle The Inner Critic - Recovery Resources #32In today's episode of Recovery Resources we build our skills on rewiring our brains to move past our addictions. Do you ever argue with yourself about if you're going to drink/use? Do you find it exhausting to let yourself down over and over again? You're not broken, and you can rewire your brain to move past difficult thoughts. There's a reason why we have an inner critic, an inner addicted voice, and a fearful voice that's afraid of change. Today we will learn how to identify them, how to interrupt the feedback loop of addiction, and how to...

2026-05-1228 min

Back On The Grind From Train Hopping To Healing Trauma Through Internal Work w/ Early Brunner #71Pepe talks to Early Brunner who shares their journey through the punk community & train hopping to exploring themes of addiction/recovery, & the quest for freedom. They discuss their experiences with the challenges of navigating friendships amidst substance use, the realities of migrant farm work & they explore ideas around internal work.Early's story is a testament to resilience & the search for identity within the punk community while navigating trauma. Expect to learn about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), the importance of emotional awareness & processing & the idea of post-traumatic growth fostering resilience & strength. In closing, Early reflects on their li...

2026-05-011h 00

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Stop Fighting With Yourself - Train Your Brain to Stop Cravings - Recovery Resources #31In today's episode Early discusses how and why we have addictive cravings, and why we tirelessly argue internally with ourselves about whether or not we are going to drink/use. Are you sick of broken promises to yourself? Sick of fighting an exhausting internal battle at every twist and turn? Fortunately, once we understand why our brain is like this, we can train our brain through neuroplasticity to stop cravings in their tracks. Click here for a free 20 minute 1:1 recovery coaching consultation with Early! Donate to support our nonprofit! Get some toad swag...

2026-04-2827 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies The #1 Skill You Need to Be Bulletproof in Recovery - How to Be Comfortable in Any Situation - Recovery Resources #29Recovery Resources is a series about skills and addiction recovery resources that actually help. Feeling lost? Tried everything? Buckle up, because this episode is going to introduce an idea that will set you free. Today Early talks about their most important resilience-building skill in addiction recovery -- being comfortable with being uncomfortable. Once mastered, this essential skill will make you completely bulletproof in your recovery. Every time we survive being uncomfortable without suppressing our feelings, we grow stronger and stronger, until we are able to feel steady in every situation. Triggers? Cravings? Mere bumps in the road!

2026-03-3130 min

Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction Dopey 576: Crust Punk, Trans Superstar, Autistic Alcoholic, Whippets, Psychosis & Recovery Demystified - The Early Brunner StoryDopeyWood Tickets: https://www.showclix.com/event/dopeywood-2026 Ad Free on $8 and up on Patreon - www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast This week on Dopey! Lots of good stuff with TRANS, CRUST PUNK, AlCOHOLIC SUPERSTAR - EARLY BRUNNER! We play a voicemail about someone burying a dead lizard with meth and later digging it up to do lines on the coffin! Spotify Comments! Someone questions my ibogaine/sublicad/vivtrol experience! Then we are joined by Early Brunner! Early describes growing up in Wisconsin feeling socially different and isolated, later identifying as autistic and queer. They begin using substances at a young a...

2026-03-273h 01

2026-03-272h 56

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies A Special Message for New Listeners!12 Step doesn't work for everyone! Freaks and weirdos are welcomed! In this introduction, Early discusses what you can expect here at the Recovery Demystified Podcast. We tell stories of people who use harm reduction, people who came back from the brink and rebuilt their lives, and people who returned to controlled use. We also talk with people who quit before it got bad. You do not need to hit rock bottom in order to address your use of substances! We also hear stories from queer and neurodivergent people in addiction recovery. Early also puts out solo episodes discussing addiction...

2026-03-2704 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Addiction Recovery Resources That Actually Help - Epigenetics & ACEs, Healing Relationships w/ Attachment Theory, Queer and Punk Community - Recovery Resources #28Recovery resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Addiction recovery community support... incoming!! Looking for addiction recovery support outside traditional programs? In this episode, Early shares recovery resources that will actually help you build a sustainable recovery community and find meaningful addiction recovery support in your everyday life. We explore how science and relationships shape recovery, starting with the impact of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and epigenetics of addiction, trauma, and healing. Understanding how early experiences affect the brain and nervous system can be a powerful...

2026-03-1726 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Katy - Growing Up in a Meth House, Becoming Enlightened & Un-Enlightened, and an Easy Way to Quit Nicotine! - Addiction Recovery Story #36Katy's story is a powerful look at addiction, trauma, and recovery outside the traditional 12-step model. Growing up in a meth house surrounded by hard drugs and instability, she experienced firsthand how addiction can shape a childhood and ripple into adulthood. She shares how those early experiences influenced her relationship with substances, identity, and the search for meaning. After what most people would perceive as a minor mistake, Katy turned fully inwards and experienced a period of enlightenment. It didn't last forever, and unfortunately she lost that sense of clarity and grounding, and at some point beer...

2026-03-101h 12

The Addicted Mind Podcast Episode 371: Neurodivergence, Identity, and the Science of Micro-Recovery with Early BrunnerIn this episode, Duane speaks with Early Brunner, the founder of Recovery Demystified. Early shares their powerful journey of navigating addiction as a queer, neurodivergent (autistic) person growing up in a small town. They discuss why traditional recovery models like AA can feel alienating for marginalized groups and how science-based "Quit Lit," neuroscience, and self-compassion provided the path to lasting sobriety.Key Topics & Chapters[00:03] Introduction to Early Brunner Early introduces their background: growing up undiagnosed autistic in 90s Wisconsin, dealing with profound social rejection, and discovering substances at age 10 as a way to...

2026-02-0939 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies When No One Else Could: How Pets Support Us in Addiction Recovery - Recovery Resources #27Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Addiction recovery starts with survival. In this episode, Early shares how their relationship with their dog Cheyenne helped them survive addiction and have a reason to live. They share how even during times of complete isolation and social rejection, their dog propped them up and gave them unconditional love. They also discuss the importance of our ability to learn how to tolerate discomfort and how this emotional skill is fundamental to a strong recovery. Grab a box of tissues and...

2026-02-0323 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Secular Dry January Resources: Indigenous Wisdom, Intersectional Feminism, and Neuroscience - Recovery Resources #26Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Dry January can be more than a break from alcohol. It can be the beginning of the path to long-term secular addiction recovery, especially when our focus is on healing ourselves with science and community instead of shame and dogma. In this episode, Early shares their highlight reel of secular addiction recovery books and podcasts for sober curious folks exploring sobriety outside of the traditional 12-step or religious frameworks. These authors and podcasters explore recovery through the lenses...

2026-01-1326 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies JT Part 2 - Coping With ADHD in Addiction Recovery, Managing Cravings and Emotional Regulation to Prevent Relapse - Addiction Recovery Story #31JT returns for a follow-up conversation on ADHD and addiction recovery, exploring how ADHD affects cravings, emotional regulation, school, and daily routines. We discuss building structure, finding purpose in recovery, and navigating grief and emotional overwhelm. This episode also touches on social media's impact on mental health, and some very nosey questions from Early about dating in recovery and the asexual/aromantic spectrum. Tune in if you've been struggling with executive dysfunction with ADHD/neurodivergence, want tools for emotional regulation, or are learning how to manage cravings in recovery. Want to donate to our nonprofit? Click here!

2026-01-061h 04

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Hana Part 3 - Rebuilding a Life From Scratch After Addiction: Managing Triggers, Avoiding Relapse, and Deciding to Cut Off Her Mother - Addiction Recovery Story #29In part 3 of Hana's miraculous addiction recovery story, she breaks down the step-by-step reality of going from homelessness to rehab, sober living, and long-term stability. She shares how she managed triggers, avoided relapse during chaotic jobs, and stayed sober while building her business and buying a home. All the while, she follows her intuition through every growth phase, confronts the reality of being a felon, and unlearns the shame society projected onto her. This episode explores setting boundaries with family, including the painful decision to cut off her mother, and what it actually takes to protect sobriety in real...

2025-12-161h 19

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Sober for the Holidays: Practical Skills for Coping with Loneliness & Fostering Empowerment Through Self-Inquiry - Recovery Resources #24Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Let's take a deep dive into a neurodivergent, radical perspective on surviving the holidays with practical addiction recovery skills. We discuss tools that foster empowerment, nonviolent communication, healthy boundaries, and harm reduction that are specific to the unwanted pressure society puts on us this time of year. Family dynamics can cause added stress that fuels cravings. We talk about addressing and sitting with our loneliness without shame. You'll learn how having somatic awareness of your own nervous system can save...

2025-12-0927 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Hana Part 2 - From A Homeless, Drug Addicted Sex Worker to Finding Hope While Being Held at Gunpoint - Addiction Recovery Story #28In this episode, Hana shares her raw and unflinching story of addiction, trauma, and survival. We dive into Part 2 of her story with a harrowing tale of being held at gunpoint by a drug dealer, followed by stories of a near-amputation, sex work, and homelessness in Seattle. She was in and out of jail and treatment. One day she heard another addict tell their story of addiction and recovery, and had a lightbulb moment. Recovery was possible for her. She found her path to sobriety and has been off drugs for 8 years. She now owns her own home and...

2025-12-0256 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Hana, Part 1 - Dealing With a Chaotic Mother, Smoking Meth as a Troubled Teen, and Using Alcohol to Quit Suboxone - Addiction Recovery Story #27Hana's miraculous addiction recovery story begins with growing up with an alcoholic mother who created an extremely chaotic living environment. Hana was forced to caregive and be a "friend" to their mother, a phenomenon known as parentification -- when a child is forced to be in an adult role. She got into meth and alcohol as a teen in order to make friends and be away from her home life. Hana's substance use and rebellious behavior managed to get them kicked out of everywhere, including school. As an adult, alcohol and substance use quickly spiraled out of control, and...

2025-11-251h 18

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies You're "Helping" Your Loved Ones All Wrong: Addiction in Families with Amber Hollingsworth - Recovery Resources #23Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. In today's episode, Early and Amber Hollingsworth of popular YouTube channel Put the Shovel Down discuss data-informed methods of how to help our loved ones escape their addiction. Most people accidentally put themselves in the "villian" role in their addicted family member's life, even though their actions are rooted in love. Why is this? What can we do better? How can we use compassionate understanding to help them escape from alcoholism and drug addiction? We also discuss dual diagnosis, and h...

2025-11-1847 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Recovery Resources: Decolonization, Internal Family Systems, The Holistic Psychologist, Somatics & Nutrition, and More! - Recovery Resources #22Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Today Early discusses more addiction recovery resources for people in recovery, sober curious folks, and anyone else on a healing journey with their relationship to drugs and/or alcohol. They discuss a book from White Bison Inc about the hundreds of years old Indigenous resistance to alcoholism, and the decolonization movements that heal Native American communities. Next is a book outlining the principals of a unique trauma therapy modality called Internal Family Systems. They also discuss the controversial Dr. Nicole...

2025-11-1129 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Danny - LSD at Age 11, IV Meth and Heroin Use, and Unlocking Healing With Ibogaine - Addiction Recovery Story #26Today we hear Danny's addiction recovery story as a neurodivergent person. He describes himself as being a highly emotional child who cried often. He tried LSD at the age of 11, and promptly changed his world view and became a musician and someone who ditched class. He got kicked out of multiple schools and was sent to a jail-like boarding school. After a bad breakup in early adulthood, opiates started to hit different. He got deeper and deeper into hard drugs until working with plant medicine Ibogaine, which unlocked his creativity and set him free. We explore the...

2025-11-041h 02

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Three Plant Medicines That Helped Me Survive & Thrive After Addiction: Valerian Root, Kratom, and Ayahuasca - Recovery Resources #21Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Today Early discusses a bit more about their own story in addiction recovery. They outline the three most important plant medicines they have worked with on their journey: valerian root, kratom, and ayahuasca. What's right for one person may be harmful for another, and the most important thing is learning to listen to your own intuition and find what's right for you. Our relationship to plants, the earth, and each other has been growing further and further apart as our...

2025-10-2838 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Kelly - "It's Called Blow, Not Save" Cocaine Addiction From Party Girl to Drug Court - Recovery Resources #25 Today we hear Kelly's addiction recovery story. Her life started with a complicated childhood: a mix of happiness, love, and abuse. She was tasked with caring for her younger brothers as they suffered from life-threatening health problems, which she later realized was parentification. She had an "aha" moment after her first drink, and soon fell in with a crowd of older kids who were partying with ecstasy and weed. She lived the life of the party girl for a long time, getting heavily into cocaine and kratom, along with a variety of other drugs. She continued to play the...

2025-10-211h 11

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Foundational Thoughts for Empowerment: What RD Secular Addiction Recovery Support Groups Look Like - Recovery Resources #20Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. In today's episode, Early discusses the foundational ideas that the RD secular addiction recovery/sober curious support groups have been built upon. These ideas are a work in progress, but include: -a land & history acknowledgement -viewing oneself as a scientist and a test subject in our recovery -the belief that we are powerful and already whole -a practice of recognizing our addicted voice and distinguishing it from our core self ...

2025-10-1435 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Brittany - Drinking Through Childhood Trauma, Never Ending Grief and Tragedy — and Deciding to Take Her Life Back - Addiction Recovery Story #24In today's episode, we hear Brittany's addiction recovery/sober curious story. She grew up with parents in active addiction and experienced abandonment and trauma in early childhood. When she had her first drink, fireworks started going off, and she knew that this was the key to feeling better... for now. As she became an adult her drinking got out of control, although she wasn't able to view it that way at the time. She experienced tragedy after tragedy, and as she did, she spiraled further and further with alcohol. No one called her out on it at the time...

2025-10-071h 09

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Nutrition & Alcohol, Accountability and Transformative Justice, Buddhism & Dark Emotions, and Another Gay Memoir! - Recovery Resources #19Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. In order to rewire our brains, we must feed them new information. Or bathe them in a soup of new information. Today, Early recommends a few books and podcasts to support addiction recovery. They also start the conversation about accountability for harm caused during addiction. Books: How to Eat to Change How You Drink by Brooke Scheller, DCN, CNS Dry by Augusten Burroughs The Places That Scare You by Pema Chodron

2025-09-3028 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Emily - An Utterly Chaotic Childhood, Self-Medicating With Substances, and Beginning to Question It All - Addiction Recovery Story #23Today we hear Emily's addiction story and about how she became sober curious. Emily's childhood involved having one parent in severe addiction, and the other parent covering for them. She discusses the complexity of loving someone who is abusing you, and using sex as a young person to seek the approval she wasn't getting at home. She began drinking and smoking pot, and soon began using both quite heavily. Emily reflects on how her upbringing affects her relationships in adulthood. Today she is wondering: what are all these substances really doing for me? Support this work! Donate...

2025-09-231h 05

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies The Two Mental Shifts That Make Addiction Recovery Possible - Recovery Resources #18Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. In today's episode, Early discusses the two pivotal mental shifts they made in their life that turned recovery from feeling impossible to being possible. Once they made these mental shifts, they were no longer "trying to quit drinking." Instead, they finally just quit. Want to donate to our nonprofit? Click here to donate! Join our Patreon! Click here! Check out our merch store! Click here! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? S...

2025-09-1629 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Bill - From Waking Up in Jail to Getting Sober During Covid - Addiction Recovery Story #22Today we hear Bill's addiction recovery story. Bill first saw the destructive powers of alcohol when his dad started drinking a lot after his parents got divorced. His own experimentation with binge drinking led to blackouts early on. In high school, he recognized that his drinking and weed smoking had started messing up his life and he decided to move in with his grandmother. After moving out and going to college, the lack of oversight led to an acceleration in his drinking and he flunked out of college. Working in the restaurant industry normalized this level of drinking and...

2025-09-091h 06

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Recovery Resources Galore: Wingnuttery, a Gay Crackhead Memoir, Buddhism, and Three Queer Uplifting Podcasts - Recovery Resources #17Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Today we explore more secular addiction recovery resources for sober curious people. What works for you is what works for you! Try everything and see what sticks. Maybe understanding your shadow self will help. Perhaps reading about someone else who has been on a crack bender will make you feel less alone. Maybe the practical tools of Buddhism will soothe your anxious mind. Everything is connected, and perhaps if we can destroy our inner queerphobia/transphobia and start to love...

2025-09-0228 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Jonny - Getting Sober in a Bar, Proof There's No One "Right Way" to Quit Drinking - Addiction Recovery Story #21Today we hear Jonny's addiction recovery story as a neurodivergent veteran. Jonny grew up with a father who drank quite a bit. He made it to the age of 19 without ever drinking or using drugs, and then after signing up for the navy, he started to party. Drinking felt like a better version of himself - at first. After leaving the military he started working at a bar on Dickson Street. The drinking culture of bartenders gave him a free pass to take shots whenever, and to be drunk at work. Eventually things spiraled out of control, and a...

2025-08-261h 10

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Things You've Never Tried to Survive A Craving - Recovery Resources #16Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. In this week's episode, Early shares a bit about addictive cravings and how to survive them for sober curious people or folks in addiction recovery. They also share a few resources of things that have been helpful for them along the way. However, what's most important is to find what works for you. Do you like running? Music so loud your ears bleed? Yoga videos? Do you like calling your mom? Make a list of things that you like, and...

2025-08-1927 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Hope - From Being Orphaned by Addicted Parents to Finding Healing Through the Pain of Grief - Addiction Recovery Story #20In today's episode, Early speaks with Hope about their addiction recovery story as a queer and neurodivergent person. They were raised by their grandparents due to their parents being in active addiction. Hope was determined to not be like their parents, but things didn't turn out the way their kid self had planned. They began by smoking weed to alleviate cramps, and later started stealing beer from their grandparent's fridge. Skipping school became the norm, and after getting their GED they started drinking more and more. They watched their friend have a near death experience while using inhalants, went...

2025-08-121h 13

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Addiction Recovery Resources: Attachment Theory, A Memoir About Being Black in Recovery, A Memoir About Pill Addiction - Recovery Resources #15Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Let us continue to bathe our brains in a soup of new information. This month's list contains two addiction memoirs and a book on attachment theory, as well as three single-episode recommendations for podcasts on attachment theory. Addiction recovery stories help us feel less alone, and understanding attachment theory can help us lead a healthier sober or sober curious life! Books: I'm Black and I'm Sober by Chaney Allen Pill He...

2025-08-0528 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Obsidian's Update - Using Drugs Again After a Period of Abstinence, Relapse or Research? - Addiction Recovery Story #19Obsidian returns to discuss their ongoing addiction recovery story as a queer and neurodivergent person! In today's episode, we discuss the complexity of using again after a period of abstinence. Our healing work doesn't just disappear, and it can inform our experience when we use again. Picking back up again can be very different, end quickly, and be a reminder of why we quit in the first place. The danger lives within our perspective, and whether we view ourselves as inherently "bad" for using again. Do we believe that using again means we are a failure, or unintelligent, or...

2025-07-2955 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Randy - From Ruining His Life With Crack, Heroin, and Meth to Running a Men's Sober Living Nonprofit - Addiction Recovery Story #18Today we hear Randy's addiction recovery story. Randy's life started with tragedy and abandonment trauma; he was the sole survivor of a car wreck that killed his mother and two brothers when he was only 9 months old. Growing up he was always the odd one out until he found drugs and bad kids. He managed to keep his life together for a long time while drinking and using a variety of drugs. Eventually, crack became his downfall. Years of hard drug use landed him in a scientology based rehab, then later, drug court. He decided to go "all-in" and...

2025-07-221h 18

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Community & Alone Time in Recovery: Anti-Capitalism, Evolution, and the Alcohol Industrial Complex - Recovery Resources #14Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. In today's episode Early goes over our inherent need for both community and alone time, why your social anxiety makes you normal, how alcohol advertising targets our "wound of existence", anti-individualism, why normal things don't feel good anymore, and the ultimate question to ask while socializing: "Why am I here??" Follow along with the slideshow: Click here! Johan Hari's Ted Talk: Click here! Help support our cause! Click here to d...

2025-07-1532 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Elise - From an Abusive Relationship and an Eating Disorder to A Life She Doesn't Need to Escape From - Addiction Recovery Story #17In today's episode, Early talks with their friend Elise about her addiction recovery story. Elise suffered sports concussions as a kid and had to stop playing soccer, which at that time was a huge part of her identity. A resulting change in her body and self-image led to an eating disorder as a teen. During high school she experimented with alcohol with her friends. As an adult she entered into relationships with men who had addictions, and this led to her also drinking more. A relationship with someone who abused her led her to self-medicate to numb the pain...

2025-07-081h 16

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Gabor Mate, A Podcast for Wine Moms, Confronting Imposter Syndrome and More! - Recovery Resources #13Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably ever heard of. Today Early discusses a few more books & podcasts to supplement your recovery, along with a speech from their soapbox and for some reason - a lot of cussing. They discuss a practical book about methods to expore while quitting drinking, an addiction memoir, tracing addiction back to childhood trauma with Gabor Mate, imposter syndrome and how to overcome it, a podcast for wine moms, and a podcast about the first few months of being sober. Enjoy. B...

2025-07-0125 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Andie - From "A Junkie and a Fiend" to Hosting Harm Reduction/Recovery Groups - Addiction Recovery Story #16Today we hear Andie's addiction recovery story and how they got into harm reduction. Andie's life started in a family with everyone in various degrees of neurodivergence and addiction. They began as many of us do, with stealing beer out of a friend's parent's garage fridge. Soon they got in legal trouble from bringing alcohol to school. They and their brother both proceeded to escalate their drug and alcohol use, although things went of the deep end much more quickly for their brother. After high school they found traveling community and started riding trains and hitchhiking. When Andie was 18...

2025-06-241h 06

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Imposter Syndrome & Negative Self-Talk on "Sort of Sure" Podcast with Samar Kargbo - Recovery Resources #12Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. This is a replay of Early's interview with Samar Kargbo on his podcast "Sort of Sure" - a podcast about imposter syndrome. Early talks about their time in EMS, a bit about their addiction recovery story, starting a nonprofit, and how they overcome seemingly insurmountable tasks. Check out Samar's work - https://samarthinks.com Join our Patreon! Click here! Check out our merch store! Click here! Donate to our cause! Cl...

2025-06-1825 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Sophia - From Selling Meth and Being Pregnant in Prison to Walking Beside Others on Their Healing Journeys - Addiction Recovery Story #16Today we hear Sophia's addiction recovery story. Sophia grew up in a house where both parents drank. She took her first drink when she was 12 and was smoking meth by age 14, and began rebelling in every way possible. She met some older friends, began selling meth and weed, and remarks on how her relationships felt transactional. Later she went to prison several times, once where she was subjected to a prison boot camp, and another time she was pregnant while in prison. A persistent discomfort with sitting still and being alone caused her to go back out several times...

2025-06-101h 16

Sort of Sure Podcast Eating An Elephant with Early BrunnerEpisode Notes Early Brunner joins Samar this week to share their story and encourage you to get past the self-doubt that hurts your progress and live a life of an awesome eulogy! To know more about Early's nonprofit Recovery Demystified: Click Here! To support their work with a GoFundMe donation: Click Here! For entry into my Basecamp Community for Startups ($20/month): Click Here Facebook Page for regular updates: https://www.facebook.com/SamarThinks Want to receive highlights, special freebies, and inspiration? Join my mailing list: Click Here

2025-06-0621 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Sober Sex Advice, Addressing Burnout and Neurodivergence, Addiction Recovery Stories and More! - Recovery Resources #11Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Another curated list of recovery resources to help you on your journey! It is time to reprogram our brains and bathe them in a soup of new information. We hear about a book discussing sober sex and dating, addiction recovery stories, and a book about addressing burnout and neurodivergence under capitalism. Books: Dry Humping by Tawny Lara Girl Walks Out of a Bar by Lisa Smith Laziness Does Not Exist by Dr...

2025-06-0326 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Misha - From Drinking Alone as a Kid to Finding What Was Lost Along the Way - Addiction Recovery Story #14Today we hear from Misha about their addiction recovery story as a LGBT and neurodivergent person. He describes his childhood as both boring and traumatic, having grown up queer in a strict religious household. His brothers introduced him to the liquor cabinet, and after they moved away, it became all his. A sexual assault in college sent him spinning out of control and he shortly found himself in the psych ward, which proved to be less than healing. He found recovery through a series of steps in harm reduction, coupled with healthy accountability and remembering the things that used...

2025-05-281h 22

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Clay - From Squatting, Multiple Rehabs, & Running from Fear to Feeling Hope & Genuine Love - Addiction Recovery Story #13Today we hear Clay's addiction recovery story as a neurodivergent person. His life began with both parents having problems with addiction, and having to leave with his mother and sister on the run from their father. This created a foundation of deep fear that characterized much of his life. Struggling in school as a neurodivergent person added additional stress. Smoking weed allowed him to have the social connection he yearned for as a young person, then opiates soon came into the picture, as did alcohol. Things spiraled out of control, and Clay found himself homeless and in multiple rehabs...

2025-05-201h 08

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Indigenous Storytelling, Neuroscience, Becoming Sober Curious, Sober Black Girls Club and More! - Recovery Resources #10As we continue to bathe our brains in a soup of new information, we grow, and we become stronger and more resilient. Learning new things helps to rewire our brains! Make your addiction a thing of the past. We discuss becoming sober curious, a book on the neuroscience of addiction, indigenous storytelling, sober black girls club, a podcast on women in recovery, and more! Books: Sober Curious by Ruby Warrington The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction is Not a Disease by Marc Lewis Crazywater by Brian Maracle P...

2025-05-1321 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Obsidian - The Antics of Crack and Quitting Before it Gets Bad - Addiction Recovery Story #12In today's episode, Obsidian tells their addiction recovery story. Their life begins with a mix of emotions, with their loved ones both caring for them in some ways and also being emotionally abusive in others. They mostly abstained from substances even though their friends were imbibing-it just didn't feel safe enough to experiment at the time. Their first experiences with alcohol and weed were both unexpected. In adulthood, they had a major friend group fracture, followed by a serendipitous encounter with the person who would become their wife. Obsidian decided they finally felt safe enough to experiment with drugs...

2025-05-061h 22

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Why I Started Recovery Demystified as a Non-Religious Alternative to AA - Recovery Resources #9Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. People are always asking how/why Recovery Demystified got started! In today's episode, Early discusses why they started Recovery Demystified as a non-profit instead of a for-profit business. They also give a reader's digest version of their story with addiction and recovery as a queer and neurodivergent person, including bits and pieces of why AA/NA caused more harm than good. Recovery Demystified supports people who may not identify as alcoholics or addicts who are looking for options outside of...

2025-04-2926 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Karrie - From Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy in Childhood & Reckoning With Suicide to a Life Worth Living - Addiction Recovery Story #11In today's episode, Karrie tells her addiction recovery story. Her life began as a victim of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy - her stepmother created fake health problems on her behalf which resulted in unnecessary medications and surgeries. Much of the time she was locked in her room. She later went to juvie, a shelter, and the foster care system. When she found alcohol, she experienced a "hallelujah moment," and began drinking as fast and as much as she could. Soon, she burned through all her friend's couches and was homeless while living in her car in a parking lot. E...

2025-04-221h 14

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Three Easy, Free Methods for Responding to Difficult Thoughts/Cravings - Recovery Resources #8Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Click here to follow along with the slideshow! Today, Early discusses how thoughts originate, and how addictive processes can hijack our thoughts. They then present three concrete methods to address difficult thoughts. We explore the HALT method, the RAIN method, and the kitchen table method for responding to challenging emotions. Addiction recovery opens us up to experiencing everything we had previously been numbing, and learning healthy mental coping skills is essential for growth and healing. Understanding our emotions...

2025-04-1530 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Kailey - Addressing Gray Area Drinking & Anxiety - Addiction Recovery Story #10In today's episode, Kailey tells her addictionr recovery story with alcohol and vaping. Her parents were divorced and as the oldest child she took on much of the role of parenting her siblings. Soon, she started with average teenage experimentation and college binge drinking. She reflects on how "no one teaches us how to drink" and how this led to her binge drinking and vaping to the max. She began to create rules around her drinking to rein it in. Ultimately, her supressed emotions began bubbling out in unexpected ways, such as high anxiety and a panic attack. She...

2025-04-081h 08

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Addicted Voice Recognition Technique, Nonviolent Communication, What Alcohol Does to the Brain and Body, Secular Buddhism, and more! - Recovery Resources #7Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Addiction recovery support... incoming! Let us continue to bathe our brains in a soup of new information. Knowledge is power, after all, so how about picking up a new book or listening to a new podcast? Addiction recovery resources can come in many shapes and sizes. Learning how to communicate with ourselves and others, as well as understanding the science of addiction, can be helpful tools as we grow and heal. Looking for addiction recovery support? You're in the right...

2025-04-0123 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Robert - From Being Arrested 34 Times to Finding Recovery Through Healthy Accountability and Taoism - Addiction Recovery Story #9n today's episode we hear Robert's addiction recovery story. Robert's life began in a pretty rough way: with childhood neglect, abuse in the family, and having his dad give him beers because he thought it was funny. Robert's childhood consisted of misbehavior, escalating drug and alcohol use, and being repeatedly kicked out of different schools. In adulthood he followed his intuition to seek more in life by traveling, though his addiction and arrest record tagged along with him. He couldn't keep a job for very long, and managed to stay drunk (and arrested) via theft. A series of unhealthy...

2025-03-251h 18

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies JT - From Broken Bones and Drug Math to Freedom Through Books & Podcasts - Addiction Recovery Story #8In today's episode we hear JT's addiction recovery story. JT's story began with a traumatic childhood and being medicated for ADHD (which may have just been symptoms of trauma.) Later, her self-medication of unresolved trauma blossomed into binge drinking and multiple drug concoctions. After some broken bones, benders, and embarassment, she realized something needed to change. It took a few attempts, but she ultimately found freedom through immersion in self-education via books, podcasts, exercise, and a litany of other coping skills. Donate to our GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/0211812f Prefer PayPal or Venmo? : @r...

2025-03-181h 01

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Decolonizing Addiction Recovery: Resources for Indigenous Community, Trauma in the Body, and The Neuroscience of Being Sober - Recovery Resources #6Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Addiction recovery community support... incoming! It is time yet again to bathe our brain in a soup of new information. The learning never ends, and as we keep trying new things, our recovery grows and becomes more secure. Looking for addiction recovery community support? You're in the right place! March Reading and Podcast List: The Red Road to Wellbriety in the Native American Way (book) by White Bison Inc. First in the Family (book...

2025-03-1114 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Natalie - Growing Up With a Severely Addicted Parent and Not Wanting to do the Same - Addiction Recovery Story #7In today's episode we hear Natalie's addiction recovery story. Natalie tells the story of her childhood growing up with a severely addicted parent, and how it affected her as a kid and into adulthood. She demonstrates the need to communicate effectively with children at an age appropriate level- because if we don't communicate to them, they create their own answers, and they often know much more than we realize. Natalie goes on to dabble with substances as she enters her teen years, and quickly sees the writing on the wall. Before things got too out of hand she decided...

2025-03-041h 01

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies The Secret Addiction: Can We Talk About Inhalant Addiction? - Recovery Resources #5Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Addiction recovery community support... incoming! Many people have struggled or dabbled with inhalants, yet we very rarely hear it discussed. In today's episode Early discusses their own personal use of inhalants as well as their experience as an EMT treating patients who use inhalants. Inhalant addiction is more common than we think, primarily because of the shame and stigma that keep inhalant addicts in the shadows. Looking for addiction recovery community support? You're in the right place!

2025-02-2514 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Jakob - Weed Addiction, Cannabinoid Hyperemesis in the ER, & Raw Dogging the Shit Out of Life - Addiction Recovery Story #6In today's episode Jakob tells his addiction recovery story. Jakob's story begins with supressing deep traumatic grief with the use of substances- something he saw demonstrated by adults in his life. His story moves through dabbling and being addicted to a variety of hard drugs, alcohol, and weed. Kratom and cocaine ultimately landed him in a not very classy rehab, which he left after three days, and then returned to. He spent a while being Cali-Sober (only using weed products) until that landed him in the emergency room, with a near death experience. He tested the waters on weed...

2025-02-1854 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies EK - From Self-Medicating Trauma to Sobriety is an Act of Radical Self-Love - Addiction Recovery Story #5In today's episode we hear EK's addiction recovery story. They describe seeing their family use alcohol and cigarettes while they were a kid. EK's drinking and use stopped being fun at a very young age, as they navigated survival through abusive relationships. They describe self medicating after reaching out for help with the pain of experiencing sexual assault and depression. After a close encounter with the law, they had an epiphany, and received some really good advice from friends, and started a journey towards sobriety. Donate to our cause! https://gofund.me/be6d99f7

2025-02-1155 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies DharmapunxNYC, Recovery Happy Hour, Neuroscience of Addiction, and Laura Cathcart Robbins - Recovery Resources #4Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Addiction recovery community support... incoming! Early discusses their book and podcast list for February, 2025! It is time to bathe your brain in a soup of new information! Searching for addiction recovery community support? You're in the right place Stash: My Life in Hiding - book by Laura Cathcart Robbins The Only One in the Room - podcast by Laura Cathcart Robbins DharmapunxNYC - podcast by Josh Korda Recovery Happy Hour...

2025-02-0618 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Alison - Sober Curious - Addiction Recovery Story #4In today's episode we hear Alison's addiction recovery story. Alison grew up with addiction on both sides of the family. Her mother was not very present in her childhood and her dad was a single parent most of the time. She describes meeting alcohol and becoming "thick as thieves immediately." At the age of 27, and dabbling in her third Dry January, she wonders if there's more to life than this. She discusses trying the drug Naltrexone to deter cravings, which inspired Early to discuss medication based treatements for Alcohol Use Disorder in the introduction. Support o...

2025-02-041h 03

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies TK - From Drunkenly Signing Up for the Army to Finding Real Community in the DIY Punk Scene - Addiction Recovery Story #3In today's episode we hear TK's addiction recovery story. TK spent their high school years as a sober person, then began drinking at the age of 19, and rolled their car by the age of 21. After drunkenly signing up for the army, their partner became pregnant, and their whole world started to change. TK demonstrates that for most of us the path of recovery is not linear. It consists of trials, fuck-its, taking time to let new knowledge sink in, and peeling back the layers of the onion. If we can get down to that middle layer and figure out...

2025-01-2847 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Two Free, Easy Tricks To Boost Contentment and Happiness in Sobriety - Recovery Resources #3Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Addiction recovery community support... incoming! Disclaimer: Recovery Demystified is intentionally and explicitly non-religious. This episode mentions that practices of mindfulness and meditation can be traced historically back to several Eastern spiritual traditions. The episode also uses the word "spiritual." It is important to note that there is also a wealth of modern, scientific data to back these practices. Whether you believe in science, spirituality, both, neither, or something else entirely- we support you. You are in charge of your own...

2025-01-2030 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Sara - From Meth in a Lightbulb at Age 15 to Spontaneous Sobriety - Addiction Recovery Story #2In this episode we hear Sara's addiction recovery story. Her life starts with being raised in a party environment, picking up cigarette butts at the age of 7, and using alcohol and every drug under the sun before graduating high school. After a series of awful relationships and worsening addiction to drugs and alcohol, Sara's life imploded and she ended up stuck in the psych ward. After she got out she decided she wanted to "try something different"- and moved on forever. Recovery Demystified is a 501c3 nonprofit, help support our mission to empower people to create...

2025-01-1053 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Dry January Ultimate Non-Religious Resource List! Annie Grace, Holly Whitaker, Recovery Elevator, Dr. Nzinga Harrison - Recovery Resources #2Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Addiction recovery community support... incoming! Dry January is HERE! It is time to unbrainwash yourself, or, rebrainwash yourself? It is time to bathe your brain in a soup of new information! In this episode Early shares their Dry January reading and podcast list for 2025 and a couple tips to find success in your goals this month. Lookiing for addiction recovery community support? You're in the right place! This Naked Mind (podcast and book) by Annie Grace ...

2025-01-0421 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Logan - From Waking Up in Human Shit to Discovering the Cure to Anxiety - Addiction Recovery Story #1In the first ever Recovery Demystified interview, we hear Logan's miraculous addiction recovery story. He is a welder and musician who has been sober for 4 1/2 years. Logan's journey starts as experimentation with alcohol and weed in his teens and evolves to using anything and everything to squelch anxiety and depression. He got sober during covid and has never looked back.

2024-12-3150 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies The Car in the Garage: A Metaphor for Addiction - Recovery Resources #1Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Addiction recovery community support... incoming! If you ever want to experience the full complexity of what life has to offer, it is time to let go of the car door handle and walk into the house. You will experience discomfort but you will also experience a greater joy and depth than you could ever imagine! Looking for addiction recovery community support? You're in the right place! Join our Patreon! Click here! Donate to our n...

2024-12-2315 min

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies Intro: Looking for Non-Religious Addiction Resources? You Are in the Right Place!!Welcome to Recovery Demystified! You are in the right place! RD is self help and addiction recovery for the rest of us. If you have ever felt alone, left behind, or pushed to the fringes of society, we love you and you belong here. RD is non-religious and adaptive to you and your own unique inner wisdom and needs. RD is LGBTQ+ friendly, disability friendly, and neurodivergent friendly. We believe in harm reduction. We welcome those who are sober curious or questioning their relationship to substances in any context. We welcome those looking for an alternative to AA.

2024-12-2308 min

The Financial Compass Here’s How to Retire EarlyDuring this show, we’ll discuss the FIRE, or Financial Independence, Retire Early, technique.

2024-08-0300 min

The Financial Compass Looking to Retire Early?During this show, we’re going to highlight and discuss some of the lesser known elements of retiring early.

2023-05-0600 min

The Financial Compass Looking to Retire Early?During this show, we’re going to highlight and discuss some of the lesser known elements of retiring early.

2023-05-0600 min

The Financial Compass Is the FIRE strategy right for you?This week we examine the FIRE, or Financial Independence, Retire Early, movement as well as how you can stay active during retirement.

2023-04-0100 min

The Financial Compass Don’t rush into early retirementDuring this episode, we’re going to provide some of the core reasons you should be cautious and thoughtful about jumping into an early retirement.

2022-07-1600 min

The Financial Compass How to increase your Social Security paymentsDuring this episode, we’re going to examine how you may be able to increase your Social Security payment as well as what you should know about 401(k) early withdrawal penalties.

2022-04-0200 min

The Financial Compass So, You Want to Retire EarlyOn this episode, we examine the 10 potentially critical things you need to know if you’re considering early retirement.

2021-07-1000 min

The Financial Compass So, You Want to Retire EarlyOn this episode, we examine the 10 potentially critical things you need to know if you’re considering early retirement.

2021-07-1000 min

The Financial Compass What's Keeping You From Early Retirement?Do you ever feel like you need a guide to help navigate your retirement? Retirement can be scary, but it doesn't have to be! Listen in to learn more about creating a RELIABLE and LONG-TERM retirement and download your COMPLIMENTARY Retirement Income Toolkit.

2017-11-1800 min

The Financial Compass Why Start Retirement Planning EarlyDo you ever feel like you need a guide to help navigate your retirement? Retirement can be scary, but it doesn't have to be! Listen in to learn more about creating a RELIABLE and LONG-TERM retirement and download your COMPLIMENTARY Retirement Income Toolkit.

2017-06-0300 min

The Financial Compass Never too Early to Prepare for RetirementDo you ever feel like you need a guide to help navigate your retirement? Retirement can be scary, but it doesn't have to be! Listen in to learn more about creating a RELIABLE and LONG-TERM retirement and download your COMPLIMENTARY Retirement Income Toolkit.

2017-04-2100 min