Before the New Show Begins: Chaz Franke on Pain, Healing & Growing the F*ck Up

Who this episode is for:Those walking through the fire of addiction.Anyone who grew up in chaos and called it normal.Parents raising kids with trauma in their eyes.Social workers hanging by a thread.Therapists questioning if they’re helping or just absorbing.And anyone who's ever face-planted in life, looked up, and thought, “Fuck. Now what?”CHAZ FRANKE RETURNS: MENTOR, THERAPIST, TRAUMA SHERPAWe took last week off because of Thanksgiving—calm down, we're allowed to have lives. But to make it up to you, we're throwing it back to one of the most powerful convos ever recorded in the Pondoff’s Anonymous studio: Chris and the inimitable Chaz Franke, therapist, mentor, and walking embodiment of “safe adult.”And here’s the real kicker—this isn’t just a rerun. It’s a preview. Chris and Chaz are teaming up to launch a brand-new show under the PA umbrella in the new year. He’s the brilliant. Chris is… well, let’s just say it’s appropriately titled.In this episode, you’ll hear why Chaz has been the go-to guy for the hardest shit in Chris’s life since the ice rink days. They unpack everything from adolescent chaos and Zamboni-fueled misadventures to trauma, addiction, meth, grief, and how the fuck we’re supposed to survive it all.Chaz breaks down why people turn to drugs not because they’re weak, but because the pain is unbearable—and why the world’s answer to that has been to shame them. He explains the realm of hungry ghosts, the devastating weight of childhood neglect, and why trauma isn’t what happened—it’s what never got healed.Raw, funny, heartbreaking, and deeply human—this one’s a time capsule of the broken-to-healing pipeline. And a taste of what’s to come.Chapters:00:00 Thanksgiving Reflections and Show Launch01:30 Insurance and Mental Health Support02:17 Introducing Light in the Dark Coffee03:39 Personal Milestones and Family News04:35 Welcoming Chas Frankie: A Mentor's Perspective08:11 Exploring Trauma and Addiction10:15 Nostalgic Ice Rink Stories12:31 Friendship and Shared Memories20:09 Reflections on Personal Growth and Challenges27:54 The Journey to Social Work34:09 First Experiences in Counseling40:20 Understanding Addiction and Its Roots49:57 The Impact of Trauma on Addiction56:02 The Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)01:04:39 Navigating Mental Health Conversations01:06:08 Creating Safe Spaces for Therapy01:09:27 The Concept of Light Source in Therapy01:12:42 Community Investment and Support01:14:02 The Impact of Telehealth on Therapy01:19:35 Feedback and Adaptation in Therapy01:22:38 The Importance of Safe Adults in Trauma Recovery01:28:12 Reflections on Personal Growth and SupportMentions:🧠 Chaz Franke’s therapy practice: https://findyourlightsource.com☕ Light in the Dark Coffee: https://pondoffsanonymous.com📚 Book drop: In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Maté📍 Location: LightSource is located at 114 East Lincoln St, Belleville, ILSponsored by:McKelvey InsuranceLightSource Psychotherapy