Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies

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 us on Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit! Get some RD merch! Follow us on Instagram! Subscribe to our Substack! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

Dean 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 call with Early! Donate to our nonprofit! Follow us on Instagram! Subscribe to our Substack! Get some RD merch! Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg

I 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! Subscribe to our Substack! Get some RD merch! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg If this show helps you or reminds you of someone, tell a friend! Thanks for your support!

Brian'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 a free Recovery Coaching consultation with Early! Join us on Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit! Follow us on Instagram! Subscribe to our Substack! Credits: Theme music - Logan Bragg Logo - Stevie Petet Everything.... else.... - Early Brunner Your generosity is what keeps us going! Please rate, review, and share this episode with a friend who needs to hear this message today. You're doing amazing work!

Relapsing 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 Recovery Coaching call with Early! Donate to our nonprofit! Join the Patreon! Follow us on Instagram! Subscribe to our Substack! Get some merch! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

A 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 meaningless, but finding the right medication to be helpful. Join us on Patreon! Book a Recovery Coaching call with Early! Donate to our nonprofit! Follow us on Instagram! Subscribe to our Substack! Visit our merch store! (link fixed) Theme music - Logan Bragg Logo - Stevie Petet

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 connected. Last, I discuss internal shifts we can make that allow us to have a more positive perspective, naturally. Oh, and I encourage you to get a happy fun cute DOG!!! Join us on Patreon! Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching Strategy Call with Early! Donate to our nonprofit! Get some cool RD t-shirts! Subscribe to our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

Sascha 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 to the psych ward. He talks about starting The Icarus Project, more compassionate and humanizing ways to think about mental health struggles, and ways of viewing ourselves and others outside of the lens of shame and discrimination. Sascha's Substack! Harm Reduction Guide to Coming off Psychiatric Drugs ------------------------------ Join us on Patreon! Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching Strategy Call with Early! Donate to our nonprofit! Follow us on Instagram! Subscribe to our Substack! Get some cool RD shirts! (updated link that actually works!)

When 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 The #1 Skill You Need to Be Bulletproof in Recovery Stop Fighting With Yourself - Train Your Brain to Stop Cravings Support the Podcast - Join us on Patreon! Get some RD merch! Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching strategy call with Early! Donate to Our Nonprofit! Follow us on Instagram! Subscribe to our Substack! Theme music - Logan Bragg Logo - Stevie Petet

Josh 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 up with an addicted parent, and living with OCD. We talk about how things crumbled and fell apart, and the tools he used (like music) to put them back together. Josh is here to show us that no one is too far gone. If you are having a hard time, there's hope for you. Book a free 20 minute 1:1 Recovery Coaching strategy call with Early! Join us on Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit! Subscribe to our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Get some world famous RD merch! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

Nobody 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 nervous system overwhelm (fight or flight) and how to get grounded again when the anxiety gets too far outside of our window of tolerance. And strangely enough, anxiety has a purpose, and we will talk about that as well. You might not have an anxiety "disorder"... your body might just be adapting to the substances you're giving it, seeking homeostasis. Through healthy emotional regulation techniques and questioning our relationship to substances, we can get rid of that pesky anxiety or at least figure out how to negotiate space with it and let it process through us naturally. We dive into the RAIN technique and vagus nerve activation to relieve anxiety and panic. The only way out is through. You got this. Join our Patreon! Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching consultation with Early! Follow us on Instagram! Donate to our nonprofit! Shop our merch store! Subscribe to our Substack! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

Why 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 fully recovered from a psychedelic experience, you're not the only one! Send me an email! info@recoverydemystified.com Join our Patreon community! Book a 1:1 free consultation for Recovery Coaching with Early! Follow us on Instagram! Donate to our nonprofit! Get some cool RD merch! Subscribe to our Substack! Theme music - Logan Bragg Logo - Stevie Petet

Binge 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 free 20-minute recovery coaching consultation with Early! Support this podcast; join the Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit! Check out our merch store! Subscribe to our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

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 those friendships are worth keeping. This episode is for anyone who's felt awkward, isolated, or lost in a sea of other people's opinions. What you need to know is already inside of you, and planet Earth is your third space. Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching call with Early! Join the Patreon and support this podcast! Donate to our nonprofit via our website! Check out our merch store! Subscribe to our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Holler at me in the email - info@recoverydemystified.com Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

Shame is a huge driver of addiction, and cultural overvaluing of independence is keeping us stuck. How might things change if we destigmatized substance use, genuinely cared for each other, and prayed with endless devotion to the things that spark our ravishment? In today's episode, we talk about one of my favorite books of 2025 - "In Praise of Addiction" by Elizabeth Roberts. We dig into the gray areas and dusty corners of addiction, compulsive eating, and the things that bring us together. Elizabeth didn't intend on studying addiction, but the thread interwove itself into her life in a way that made her re-think everything. Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching consultation! Join our Patreon and help support this podcast! Donate to our nonprofit via our website! Get some cool RD merch! Subscribe to our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

In 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 you won't want to let these resources slip through your fingers. Book a free 20-minute Recovery Coaching call with Early! Support the podcast and join our Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit! Subscribe to our Substack newsletter! Get some cool RD merch! Follow us on Instagram! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg

Let'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, you're in the right place. Support the podcast by joining our Patreon! Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching strategy call with Early! Follow us on Instagram! Get a cool toad shirt from our merch store! Subscribe to our Substack for more recovery content! Donate to our nonprofit anonymously! Holler at us with feedback - info@recoverydemystified.com Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

If AA didn't work for you, you're not broken. One size fits all isn't real, and it's ok to want something different... In Part 2 of this series, we're diving deeper into why the 12-step model fell short — not as a personal failure, but as a structural one. If you're crossing our half the words in a book to make it work for you, why not just toss the book aside and write something brand new that fits YOU? We're shining a light on the Christian purity culture hiding underneath "spiritual but not religious" language, and why trying to figure out "am I an alcoholic" (or not) is a meaningless exercise. We dive into how a program that tells you to distrust yourself and surrender to a higher power might be the last thing a trauma survivor needs, and the complete erasure of BIPOC history and resistance in mainstream recovery spaces. Oh, and how the 12 step abstinence-only model shuns harm reduction, lacks nuance, and doesn't take into account the fact that recovery is not a straight line for most people. This one's for the queer, neurodivergent, radical people who sat in those folding chairs and thought — something is wrong here, and it isn't me. Book a free 20-minute Recovery Coaching consultation with me! Sign up for the Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit via our website! Follow us on Instagram! Check out our merch store! Subscribe to our Substack! Logo -Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

Chris'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 so. Chris's story is harrowing, dark, and illustrates clearly that nobody is ever too far gone. If you're looking for a passionately queer hero's journey, you're in the right place. Join our Patreon! Book a free 20-minute Recovery Coaching Strategy Call with Early Donate to our nonprofit! Follow us on Instagram! Get some cool RD merch! Check out our Substack! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg

In 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! Check out our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Get some toad shirts from our merch store! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg