Dopey NYE Special: Playing My Wednesday Dose of Dopey: Dave's Story, heroin, benzos, weed, Recovery, One Show at a Time Collab!

What this episode covers

It’s been a “rough fucking week” on the home front Despite that, he’s grateful to be sober and alive heading into 2026. Unsure about continuing “Five Days of Dopey” in January — part of him wants to, part doesn’t. Plugs Patreon heavily: $5/month gets Wednesday recovery Zooms + Patreon Zoom + Tuesday show + sticker; higher tiers = ad-free, more stickers, socks, beanie. New Year’s resolutions (not usually his thing, but for fun): restart Dopey Fitness Challenge, continue daily meditation/prayer, start a writing practice, explore Tai Chi for fitness (joints worry him about running). Listener Email: Craig Marsden Old-timer Craig (listening since <10 episodes existed) encourages Dave to keep five days a week for community growth. Loves the show’s development, believes full-throttle effort could get Dave “out of the deli for good.” Appreciates Dave’s interviewing style evolving post-Chris. Defends listening with ads (helps revenue); notes weird gambling/alcohol ads slip through (Dave says he told networks no booze/gambling). Hopes someone has the “lost early episodes” (2, 4, maybe 6, 8, 10 missing). Main Feature: Dave’s Share on “One Show at a Time” Podcast Dave plays his recent guest appearance on the hippie/Yellow Balloon recovery podcast One Show at a Time (hosted by Benji, Lauren, Eric Papa Smurf). Rapid-fire qualification: childhood staph infection, codependency as first “drug,” early drinking disasters, weed love, acid at Grateful Dead, college expulsion for dealing, first heroin (loved it), career highs/lows (TV production, MTV, firing after detox), California meth/heroin spiral, mom’s leukemia death, relapse while girlfriend pregnant, supervised visitation shame, begging to smoke weed, finally desperate in AA at 41. Key moments: obsession lifted, taking suggestions (90-in-90, sponsor, steps, prayer), starting Dopey with Chris, losses (Dave Marshall, Todd, Chris), gratitude/service as antidotes. Post-share: attendees shower Dave with love/gratitude (Ivan Neville & Anders Osborne pop in randomly). Dave felt embarrassed but deeply grateful. Post-Share Discussion with Hosts Dave, Benji, Lauren, and Eric Papa Smurf debrief the share: Why clinician’s “you’re young, you’ll be okay” was the wrong message. Codependency as first addiction (childhood sleepovers = safety). Preferring AA over NA despite being a drug addict (went to AA fully desperate). Medication/shame stories (mom’s Percocets, cat’s liquid Xanax, post-hernia opiates). Sponsoring a kid who smokes weed medicinally (Dave’s open-minded take). Surrender = joining the winning side; recovery as “reverse strip poker” (layer protection) or subtraction (remove blocks). New Year’s Eve Wrap-Up Dave & daughter Susan watched an 8 PM ball drop/fireworks in Patchogue, ate cheeseburgers/fries, peanut-butter brookies, hot chocolate. Home update: 3D printer gift confusion, Harry Potter audiobook, Knicks game ahead. Grateful for 2025 highs (Rolling Stone feature, big guests, community) despite lows (deaths, Nick Reiner fallout). Final message: reach out if struggling, stay strong.

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