Our 4th season and the guys stumbled and fumbled their way into the New Year's End Zone into the new year in an act of sheer luck, perseverance, motivation... and a touch of class. Spoiler alert: the texting shorthand vernacular for bc is not British Columbia. It was a good show, the team were in rare form after and very long, and very trying bit of peak season podcast. Talkin' Trash runs twice a week. It's a podcast at its baseline, but we're producing crazy stuff.
We kicked off our holiday shenanigans tonight as we gratefully welcomed a recored number in viewership for this show. The Canadian influence continued as we invited fellow brother in recovery, Brad the Canadian. The panel all identified with some part of his story and he had a great way of telling it. Dennis Leary made his yearly appearance. As did Tim's dad. Brad Mansfield from Wawota jumped in the trenches with the guys and told a story we all connected to on some level.
Episode 165 marked show host Tim's 900th day of recovery. We don't count the days, we make the days count. That being said, it's something that says "I'm here for real" and can change the way we look at sobriety and the difference between sobriety and recovery. Two very different things. You ask a recovering addict that's put multiple years together how they did it, all unanimously say, "One day at a time". Speaking of which, we invited our old friend and "OG" Manny Vitale back on the program. Manny has his own recovery show "My Fight Our War" and has almost a cult following which both shows share in, and share to. Different show formats but ultimately we find ourselves with recovery at the forefront of both ventures and corporately we feed off each other, sometimes without knowing it. Manny's a legend and we're grateful for his dedication and friendship.
Thanksgiving is upon us once again. The holiday's can bring the best out in some people but for addicts they can seem like an added insurmountable weight and sadness is sure to follow. Countless anniversary dates are this time of year. Love, loss, grief, recovery. Each are magnified exponentially and are often triggered by festive lights or music, if left unchecked leaves us one stray thought. Many relapses happened because of a stray thought and some tinsel. We welcomed Jacqueline Hoffman, CEO of Prairie Sky Recovery Centre in Saskatchewan, Canada. Jim's alma mater, Jacqueline puts every bit of herself and her families heritage into making Prairie Sky feel like a safe environment conducive to the clients specific needs.
The team was shorthanded tonight missing a Canadian who will be back in the mix the next show which is just the 3 of us. It feels like our team can still land the plane with engine failure and no gear. Just 2-guys sobriety-and-fries for this trainwreck. The host, Tim, shared his true experience in giving being better than receiving. Will is clearly going stir crazy. Jim made in onto the program while the outro was playing, i think. Great show, good back and forth, and thank you to our recovery centers we didn't get to tonight. So check on the boys Sunday 9p and Wednesday's and check in next Wednesday as we invite former #2 NFL Draft pick, Tony Mandarich.
The boys did their thing tonight as we looked at grief in early recovery. Grief isn't just reserved for those who've lost a loved one. You can lament a situation, a relationship, a thing. Grief is about loss and we sometimes grieve for our addiction. We believe the lie that we'll never feel okay again. Even though addiction ruined our lives we still mourn for it as if it were a person lost. We get clean and sober to a life of unfamiliarity and adjustment may take some time. How we used to cope is now off the table and we have to talk about our disease with others who are afflicted similarly, just for today.
The gang was back together (minus a beard) for an emotional episode. Daily Reflections was about curbing rashness. In active addiction, our reactions to situations are automatic. Automatic asshole was our default. We enter recovery and realize that those reactions were a product of the substance and we now have the choice to handle things differently. Words can cut deeper than a knife. We not attempting this recovery thing because things were so good when we were using. We come in broken individuals. We need help and mercy to refine us on our recovery journey. Find your people, know your herd. You'll be let down. You're going to let somebody down. Holding yourself accountable when you're wrong is the best way to ensure it doesn't happen again while growing as a person by admitting your mistake. You didn't get here on a winning streak so show others the grace you were shown when you required it.
All fun and games. Down a Canadian, the team pressed on to seal the "W". Will scored the game winner as the shorthanded Trashers rallied for the win. We talked about sports tonight, how it factors into a balanced framework for successful sobriety, one day at a time. We're not a glum lot, we like action, we're addicts we want that instant gratification. So as long as it doesn't cause harm and you blow off some steam, well good on you. When you exercise you unlock these little things we as a society call, endorphins. Even following a team and watching them from your couch, you still release these endorphins along with serotonin and dopamine. We talked about different coping strategies we all use on a daily basis.
Kajsa's home and welcomed with open arms as her absence was clearly felt. We talked a bit about the 72nd Regina Roundup and Kajsa's trip to Canada to spread the message with Jim. She shared her story as the keynote speaker and it was an hour of experience, strength and hope. Will fell asleep in his hot tub behind the trailer and missed the show. Hot tub safety, people... Just can't stress that enough. Swimmies on at all times going forward. Non-negotiable.
Kajsa made it home safe and sound from the great white north. Jim, as always, was first class. He made sure our girl wanted for nothing and had all the comforts of home. The culinary experience was legendary. As Kajsa said "if I ate any more poutine it was gonna' come out my. nose" and had the pictures to prove it. Everyone involved with this experience was touched on a very personal level. We talk a bit about sleep health and how that ties into lifelong sobriety.
Our theme tonight was "Making Your Comeback". Anybody who's in recovery, we've all written a comeback story (or you're working on the next chapter). Everybody loves an underdog and if you've decided to live a life of recovery, you don't start out on top. Our guest tonight reminded us of just that. It doesn't matter where you are or who you are, addiction does not discriminate. Our guest JJ (friend of Mike Oxley) came on and shared his 'rags-to-riches' story of overcoming addiction. Kajsa's Canadian Tour wrapped up as she's safely back home after 4 days of being with Jim.
It was just the boys live on the pod while den mother Kajsa's absence was for a good cause. The men were sea level while our female star was 35,000 feet high en route to Saskatchewan. Our team is essentially headlining the 72 Annual Regina Roundup A.A. gala. Kajsa travels 1,717.6 miles to spread the message that recovery is worth it. That's just the trip there. We're so proud of our crew and their involvement in the recovery community. The show has more of a 'guys night' theme as we accomplished pretty much nothing and likely offended somebody. We're satirical, sarcastic and sometimes edgy but that's us, showing the fun side of recovery making it accessible to everyone.
We carried the torch of recovery month on national sober day. You’re really in trouble if you drink today. Phyllis joined us in studio on her son’s 41st birthday. Who won’t be joining us, is her son who died from an overdose last year. Phyllis’ strength and emotion pour through her as always. She’s a shining light and a sobering example of how addiction can destroy a family. She had a front row seat and she did all she could do. We’re happy to have her in the fold. Tim called Will, Phil. It was very funny.
Recovery Month continues as the crew did their thing to continue the message. There were shenanigans aplenty as Jim gave his best Ron Burgundy impersonation his best shot. We honored the lives lost on September 11th 24 years ago and we recognized the horrific events that transpired in Utah, giving their thoughts and prayers to those affected. Will is off probation and he expanded on how that felt and what his life is to look like now. Kajsa is heading up north to join fellow show-member Jim in his hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan to be the keynote speaker at the 72nd Regina Roundup.
We welcomed Sam and Noelle Borgia to the show as they shared their experience, lack of experience, strength and hope with our crew and our people. Noelle, early 40s, found herself late to the party in finding out the man she married carried a dark passenger. Most aren't made from the same stuff as addicts and Nicole managed to claim her right in recovery history and we'll be retiring her number to the rafters at our first home game that isn't real. Sam showed that the drugs were only a symptom of a deeper spiritual malady. They were a blessing to the team, their delivery and accessibility is what made Silence the Lion so relatable on varying levels.
We kick off National Recovery Month this episode as we looked at the basics of addiction, recovery, physical and mental health. Knowing how to navigate early sobriety can be difficult for the newly sober and clean addict. The team shares their experiences in early recovery and expand on the levels of care and treatment options. Knowledge is key. The problem is, as addicts, we think we know everything. The only successful step towards recovery is the first step, admitting you have a problem. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. We applaud those who are doing it and those who are still trying to find their way.
Are you aware of overdose? Get aware, and tell someone else. Overdose awareness day is in the books. There's a lot of purple gots ta' be changed back to creamy trashy brand. Tim presents the full show recorded just 6 hours earlier. Done in such a way that he's tolerable, like to a point. But we're satisfied with Talkin' Trash's response to #IOAD. Get Narcan. 30 bucks, yes we get it, but trust us, you would pay anything if you found yourself in a situation you could've intervened and find yourself empty handed. The glove box, nada. Purse, just lip gloss and melted livesavers. Narcan. We hope we brought a little levity to an always busy time of year. The team all faced some life, but his face punched by some life by the name Arrowood, infamous for their face punching but Timothy stood tall as the prison powder keg ah went boom.
Our old friend Michael Oxley, LPN, joined us as a guest this evening. As we close in on International Overdose Awareness Day, we took this time to look at overdose and addiction from a clinical standpoint. Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive and persistent engagement in a substance or behavior despite significant negative consequences. It involves changes in brain chemistry and reward pathways that take time to heal, if they ever do. Addiction touches pretty much everyone on some level and it's important to remember why we decided it was a good idea to self medicate in the first place.
Overdose awareness continued as we maneuvered around a last minute change to the show like the pros we are. We talked about harm reduction, gratitude and fortitude in recovery. Life's getting lifey for pretty much the entire show staff and we lean on each other for support rather than how we used to handle hard situations.
Manny joined us in studio as we touched on gratitude in recovery. Gratitude in recovery is a practice of acknowledging the positive aspects of life, which helps build resilience, improve mental and physical health, and foster stronger relationships. Practicing gratitude can be as simple as keeping a gratitude journal, focusing on what truly matters, expressing appreciation to others, or being of service. This active mindset shift, focusing on what is present rather than what is lacking, can also help to reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and provide motivation to maintain sobriety.