Shows
Wisdom Without The GuruAddiction, Identity, and Recovery - The Disease of Me with Michael BugaryMichael Bugary, a former elite baseball player whose life shifted after injury, addiction, and serious illness changed his direction, reflects on growing up in a military family, finding structure and recognition through baseball, and progressing through college athletics into professional baseball. He speaks openly about prescription stimulant use, injury, and the end of his playing career.Following his release from professional baseball, Michael describes cycles of substance use, repeated attempts to return to the sport, and a family intervention that led him into treatment. He later received a diagnosis of a rare adult brain cancer and underwent...
2026-02-261h 37
U2BDC: Used To Be's Do CountI Used To Be...A Pro AthleteU2BDC: Used To Be's Do Count | Season 2, Episode 10Michael Bugary | I Used To Be...A Pro AthleteMichael Bugary rose from a promising young athlete to the Major Leagues, playing baseball for the Boston Red Sox. But a brutal arm injury shattered his career - and his identity. In this raw and honest episode he speaks to Dean James about spiralling into addiction and depression, and later facing a brain tumour the size of a lacrosse ball. After surviving multiple surgeries and cancer treatments, his battle with mental health and addiction continued...until...
2025-10-291h 20
The Backpick PodcastThe Power of Perseverance: Michael Bugary's Inspiring JourneySend us a textJoin us as we delve into the remarkable story of Michael Bugary, a former baseball star whose journey is a testament to the power of perseverance. From the highs of athletic success to the challenges of addiction and health battles, Michael's story is one of resilience and transformation. Discover how he navigated the complexities of identity, overcame personal struggles, and found a renewed sense of purpose beyond the baseball field. This inspiring journey offers valuable insights and lessons for anyone facing their own challenges. #Baseball #Perseverance #MichaelBugary #OvercomingChallenges #Redemption #PersonalGrowth #Transformation #I...
2025-10-211h 08
Change Happened Then what?When Life Throws a Curveball: The Distance between Ego and LoveHe was the kid who learned to earn attention with strikeouts and satellites of confidence—until the game that defined him began to take everything it had given. In this episode, Michael Bugary tells a raw, unflinching story of wanting to belong so badly he built a life around being someone else: the baseball player, the prospect, the one everyone watched. From a scholarship to UC Berkeley to the lights of the Red Sox organization, his rise looks like the dream. But under the helmet, the pressure, injuries, and a secret dependence on substances hollowed out what he loved mo...
2025-10-1433 min
Brushwood Media NetworkPositive Talk with Kevin McDonald and Michael BugaryPositive Talk with Kevin McDonald and Michael Bugary
2025-10-0659 min
Positive Talk with Kevin McDonaldPositive Talk with Kevin McDonald and Michael BugaryPositive Talk with Kevin McDonald and Michael Bugary
2025-10-0659 min
Messy on Purpose#42: ⚾️ When Baseball, Addiction, and Brain Cancer Collide—And How Michael Bugary Survived It AllWhat happens when life strips away everything you thought defined you?In this episode of Messy on Purpose, I sit down with Michael Bugary—former professional baseball player, motivational speaker, and author of the upcoming book The Disease of Me: How Losing My Professional Baseball Career, Drug Addiction, and Brain Cancer Saved My Life.Michael’s story is raw, painful, and incredibly powerful. After an arm injury ended his career with the Boston Red Sox organization, he spiraled into addiction, eventually reaching heroin. His battle didn’t stop there—he was diagnosed with a rare, malignan...
2025-09-151h 16
Recover Outloud PodcastRecover Outloud: Episode 99: Michael BugaryStep up to the plate for a powerful episode of Recover Outloud. I’m joined by former Boston Red Sox pitcher Michael Bulgary, who takes us from the thrill of the mound to the depths of addiction. Michael opens up about his rise in baseball, the intoxicating pull of fame, and the spiral into alcohol, opiates, and harder substances. He shares the raw truth about life on and off the field, what ultimately ended his career, and the turning point that led him to recovery. This is a story of talent, temptation, and tenacity—and I’m proud to welcom...
2025-09-0341 min
2025-09-011h 00
Deal To Heal With E. JamesEP 201 With Guest Michael BugaryGet your copy of “Forgiving Me: the four steps to S.E.L.F forgiveness” eBook at www.ebooksbyejames.com Join our Deal Heal Fulfill Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018844998864725/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBTWatch this next: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEELXi-wEkwTigHrq675HREOjHhQxQHJw&si=wNBvR-YJtUsduyKdAll products and podcast gear:• Ebooks: www.ebooksbyejames.com • Inspirational Tees and Podcast Shirts: www.deal2healtees.com • Purpose Journal: https://a.co/d/6Yw22WJ • Purpose Planner: https://a.co/d/aKmAw...
2025-08-2837 min
Change Happened Then what?Season two Sneak PeekNew season begins this fall. Hit follow and catch up on Season 1 now.
I didn’t start this podcast because I had the answers. I started it because I had questions. After brain surgery, after loss, after life unraveled—I found myself wondering: When change hits hard and fast… then what?
That question became the heart of this show.
Season 1 shared powerful stories from 13 people who changed my life. Now, in Season 2, the circle gets wider. You’ll hear real, unfiltered stories of heartbreak, healing, and reinvention from people like:
Michael Bugary...
2025-08-2104 min
It's Later Than You ThinkA Conversation with Michael Bugary: Overcoming Adversity, Motivational Speaking, and LingoIn this conversation, Michael shares his inspiring journey of overcoming significant challenges, including a career-ending injury, addiction, and a rare brain tumor. He discusses the importance of personal responsibility in his recovery and the role of motivational speaking and therapy dogs in his healing process. Michael emphasizes the value of helping others and self-discovery as key components of his life after adversity.
2025-08-1232 min
Addict II Athlete PodcastWhen Life Throws You a Curveball with Michael BugaryIn this episode, Coach Blu Robinson interviews Michael Bugary, with a bright future in professional baseball, his life took a dramatic turn due to addiction and a cancer diagnosis. Michael shares his journey from being a promising baseball player to facing the harsh realities of addiction and illness. He discusses the importance of identity, the struggles of coping with loss, and the role of family in his recovery. Michael emphasizes the healing power of therapy dogs and the significance of authenticity in his new role as a motivational speaker and advocate for others facing similar challenges. He reflects on...
2025-07-0845 min
Collective Conversations: Everyday Heroes Extraordinary StoriesEpisode 5 - Michael Bugary - Winning The Undesirable "Triple Crown"Michael Bugary, former pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, talks about his story of winning what he calls the Triple Crown: Playing professional baseball, Becoming an opioid addict, and Receiving a brain cancer diagnosis. Michael takes this from his early years as a Division 1 baseball player at the University of California Berkeley, getting drafted by the Boston Red Sox, his journey through addiction, and a brain cancer diagnosis. Michael Bugary has become a warrior in mind, body, and soul; he is an example of the idiom that what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.
2024-10-201h 13
Speaking of PetsThe Magic of the Human-Animal Bond | SOP ep. 32 - Michael Bugary
Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Michael Bugary, head of the Pet Pals program at University Hospitals of Cleveland, along with his faithful companion, Lingo. Michael, a former baseball player for the Boston Red Sox and University of California, Berkeley, faced a life-altering journey that led him to discover the profound power of the human-animal bond after enduring a career-ending injury and battling brain cancer.
In this heartfelt conversation, Michael shares touching stories about how Lingo, an ex-military dog, has brought joy and comfort to countless young patients at Rainbow Babies Children's Hospital. You'll hear about the incredible...
2024-10-0945 min
Speaking of PetsThe Magic of the Human-Animal Bond | SOP ep. 32 - Michael Bugary
Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Michael Bugary, involved with the Pet Pals program at University Hospitals of Cleveland, along with his faithful companion, Lingo. Michael, a former baseball player for the Boston Red Sox and University of California, Berkeley, faced a life-altering journey that led him to discover the profound power of the human-animal bond after enduring a career-ending injury and battling brain cancer.
In this heartfelt conversation, Michael shares touching stories about how Lingo, an ex-military dog, has brought joy and comfort to countless young patients at Rainbow Babies Children's Hospital. You'll hear about the incredible...
2024-10-0945 min