Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction

LISTEN WITHOUT ADS ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Summary This Week on Dopey! Dave opens the show reflecting on hosting the Phoenix House Soiree and presenting Hank Azaria with an award in the same neighborhood where he once bought heroin nearly 30 years earlier. He talks about gratitude, recovery, shame, redemption, and how addiction and recovery both shaped his life. Dave reads listener emails featuring cocaine cravings, crack addiction, federal charges, acid smuggling, trap houses, prostitution, and early recovery. Montana Ruckman sends in another brutally honest “day in the life” letter from prison describing drug hustling, scams, theft, hookups, and the loneliness of active addiction. Dave also reads Spotify and Patreon comments reacting to the Zoe Hansen episode and the backlash to Amanda de Cadenet, with listeners praising Zoe’s warmth, storytelling, and voice. Then Margaret Cho returns to Dopey for one of the funniest and most honest recovery conversations in recent memory. Margaret talks about approaching 10 years sober, her intervention, rehab, kratom addiction, dry scooping kratom powder, benzo withdrawal, seizures, meth fascination, weed reservations, psychedelic therapy, boofing weed lube, and the strange fantasy of someday growing opium poppies in a psychedelic garden. Dave and Margaret bond over romanticizing drugs, relapse fears, and the dangerous line between humor and real addiction. They discuss ketamine therapy, Bill Wilson taking LSD, Hamilton Morris, the Nick Reiner tragedy, death in recovery culture, and why addicts “walk with death.” The conversation also drifts into Snoop Dogg blunt culture, bong rituals, Errowid drug hacks, and the weird creativity and mythology surrounding addiction. ALL THAT AND MUCH MUCH MORE ON ABRAND NEW EPISODE OF THAT GOOD OLD DOPEY SHOW! Check out workit health at www.workithealth.com   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

LISTEN WITHOUT ADS ON PATREON for 25 cents a day www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Episode Summary Dave opens this week’s Dopey Greatest Hits by explaining the Patreon poll that lets listeners choose classic replay episodes. After Jason Ricci lost a last-minute battle to Dr. Gabor Maté the previous week, this week’s theme becomes “kids of famous people,” featuring guests like Jack Osbourne, Mackenzie Phillips, Dwayne Betts, and ultimately the winner: Gilbert Trejo, son of actor Danny Trejo. Dave reads Spotify and Patreon comments reacting to the Jason Ricci replay, including discussions about bipolar disorder, darkness, spirituality, demonology, and the Amanda de Cadenet backlash episode. Tommy from Long Island then calls in with a crack-smoking Dopey story involving a lost $20 bag hidden underneath the center console of a late-90s Toyota Corolla. Dave also reads a brutally honest listener email criticizing the early days of Dopey for chewing into microphones, interruptions, phone ringing, and lack of structure — which Dave both defends and reflects on emotionally. The episode then shifts into a deep and emotional conversation with filmmaker and recovering heroin addict Gilbert Trejo. Gilbert talks about growing up in Venice Beach as Danny Trejo’s son, being raised around AA meetings, childhood exposure to recovery culture, fighting, punk rock, skating, and eventually spiraling into heroin addiction. He shares horrifying overdose stories, including trying to revive his best friend while covered in blood, discusses his film From A Son, and reflects on the strange mixture of toughness, secrecy, masculinity, fear, and identity that shaped his addiction. Gilbert and Dave connect deeply over losing close friends to overdose, the mythology of junkie friendships, and the challenge of telling drug stories honestly without glorifying them. The conversation also covers heroin romance, Panic in Needle Park, Venice gang culture, punk shows, crack smoking, addiction genetics, hiding drug use from family, and the relief of eventually becoming comfortable in his own skin. It’s one of the rawest and most thoughtful Dopey conversations about addiction, masculinity, survival, and recovery.  ALL THAT AND MORE ON THIS NEW OLD EPISODE! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

LISTEN WITHOUT ADS FOR 25 CENTS A DAY at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Episode Summary This week on the Wednesday Dose! Dave opens the Wednesday Dose of Dopey talking about Patreon backlash over Selby’s heavy breathing during the Tuesday Patreon show, his hatred for the newest season of Euphoria, Lena Dunham’s audiobook, Knicks obsession, and getting ready to emcee the Phoenix House gala honoring Hank Azaria. He then reads an email from a Scottish listener who got sober from alcohol after discovering Dopey through This American Life, but later spiraled into opioids, heroin, and benzos before finally trying to get clean again after hearing DJ’s episode. Then Dave dives into a massive pile of brutal Spotify and Patreon comments reacting to the Amanda de Cadenet episode, with listeners calling her “insufferable,” “guarded,” “pretentious,” and “the worst guest ever,” while others defend her and praise Dave for surviving the awkward interview. The episode shifts into a long and funny conversation with comedian Zach Noe Towers. Zach talks about growing up gay in Missouri, discovering weed through theater kids, using alcohol and drugs to quiet fear and insecurity, moving to Los Angeles, rich gay party culture, ecstasy at Indiana University, Coachella mushroom disasters, being trapped in the trunk of a drug dealer’s car, and eventually getting sober after years of chaotic partying and emotional bottoming out. Dave and Zach also talk comedy, AA, twink culture, Midwestern niceness, gay identity, stand-up anxiety, and planning the Dopeywood Comedy Store show. PLUS MORE! on the brand new Wednesday Dose of Dopey!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

LISTEN TO FULL EPISODE AT www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast 📝 Summary   This episode of Dopey blends recovery updates, dark humor, and one of the most bizarre drug stories ever told on the show. Selby celebrates 101 days sober and reflects on a powerful in-person group inventory, while Cormac opens up about hitting a wall in long-term recovery and rebooting his physical and spiritual health through meetings and a new fitness routine.   The episode takes a surreal turn when Cormac recounts a detailed and unsettling story from his past experimenting with research chemicals, including dissociatives and unconventional methods of use. The conversation explores the psychology of dissociation, addiction, and the illusion of control that comes with “safer” drug use.   Dave shares updates on the Dopey Fitness Challenge, struggles with sugar, and reads listener feedback, including praise, criticism, and ongoing debate about fan-favorite guest “Heart Attack Doug.” PLUS A SMIDGE MORE ON THE NEW DOPEY TUESDAY TEASE - listen to more on patreon!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

LISTEN WITHOUT ADS FOR 25 Cents a day! www.patron.com/dopeypodcast Episode Summary Total Replay #25! Dave opens Monday’s Dopey Total Replay by revisiting Dopey Episode 25 from April 2016, titled Cocaine Overdose, Prince. Before the replay, he talks about plans for the Dopey Recovery Film Festival in Manhattan, Patreon perks, the Tuesday Reddit Roundup with Selby and Cormac, and addresses listener reactions to a previous sex-and-love addiction email. He then reads a powerful email from Willow about long-term recovery through Sex Addicts Anonymous and finding sobriety after years of relapse. Next comes a wild voicemail from Bailey in Chicago involving the world’s worst drug dealer, accidental crack purchases, a drunken camping trip, bachelor party chaos, abortion scam drama, crack smoking in a tent, and jumping out of a moving truck. Dave then reads Spotify and Patreon comments before launching the classic replay. In the 2016 episode, Dave and Chris react to Prince’s death, speculate about addiction, and Chris repeatedly confuses Prince with Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury. They spiral into nonsense about Annie Lennox, Blondie, dancing, and music ignorance. Then Chris tells the main event: a brutal cocaine overdose story involving shooting a huge amount of coke in a bathroom, collapsing violently, a neighbor breaking the door down, and Chris still worrying about hiding the remaining cocaine instead of dying. The episode ends with more chaotic drug stories, sleepwalking on ketamine, early Dopey banter, and one of the first appearances of Chris saying “toodles.” Dave returns afterward reflecting on Chris, the strange beauty of these old recordings, and invites listeners to stay involved with Dopey Nation. On a Brand New 10 Year old episode of ye good olden dopey sho. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dopey wood tickets: https://www.showclix.com/event/dopeywood-2026 Full Episode: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast   On this Dopey Tuesday, Dave and Heart Attack Doug remember Cross Talk Larry — the vegetarian, money-collecting, sweat-soaked meeting staple who felt like he’d always been there… until he wasn’t. They talk about the fleeting nature of life in AA, the uncomfortable debate about flowers and donations, and whether sobriety protects you from dying (spoiler: it doesn’t). Plus: The air fryer conspiracy. Raw chicken legs. A relapse email that hits hard. The realization that your mind can still try to destroy you — even sober. And Dave puts Doug on the spot about sponsorship, step work, and what’s actually keeping him sober now. AI NOTES AND GRAPHICS - SORRY EVERYONE! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This Week on The Wednesday Dose of Dopey!Dave kicks off this Wednesday Dose solo from his dad's house, riffing on nostalgic broke-addict snacks (Little Debbie oatmeal pies as cheap highs) and weird fridge finds, before diving into fan Spotify comments praising last week's emotional Erin Khar episode. He shares wild Miles Davis coke-paranoia excerpts from the autobiography (Ferrari abandonment, trash-room hiding, dealer tricks), and recommending Kind of Blue and In a Silent Way as sick sick records!Then we welcome Sandra Vergara (Selling Sunset star, Sofia Vergara's cousin/sister-figure). Sandra opens up about a traumatic Colombian childhood: brother's murder at age 9, raised by an aunt after her bio-mom's brain damage left her mentally stuck at 12, feeling like a "burden," early glue-sniffing experiment, near-fatal ruptured appendix/septic shock at 16, and constant walking-on-eggshells survival via art, empathy, and never taking abuse personally.In LA from 18, she dabbled in makeup/acting (Fright Night), when she began drinking heavy. Blackouts, self-harm (throwing herself through glass), and suicide ideation. followed. First rehab in Medellín (befriended staff for special treatment → false security). Post-rehab: mushrooms sparked a "psychedelic love" fling, ayahuasca faced childhood trauma head-on, but led to half-assed AA and relapses.COVID alone-time in NYC brought painting growth, but cat Stewie's death (worse than losing family) plunged her into deep  depression. Enter ketamine: started therapeutic (Mindbloom) but escalated to daily K-holes with Oculus VR for near-death/grief escapes, addictive Journey Circle weekends (MDMA/ayahuasca/mushrooms group catharsis without integration), erratic calls to mom, club blackouts, and cousin finding her passed out. Family intervention (Sophia pays, nephew packs her) lands her in trauma-focused Breathe Life rehab.She firmly rejects "California sober" as a trap—psychedelics delayed real surrender for her; true addicts can't substitute one mind-alter for another. Full AA commitment (no more a la carte) + Kabbalah (post-breakup desperation) changed everything: tikkun (soul correction via tough life choices), turning reactive impulses (anger/gossip) into proactive restriction, daily study/meditation for frequency shifts. Ties Kabbalah to quantum physics (observer effect = perception shapes reality, entanglement = we're all connected, certainty in the unknown = surrender).Sandra discusses Selling Sunset challenges (producer manipulation, ego, glamour vs. spiritual presence) and her new neuroscience/IFS/Kabbalah coaching for holistic recovery (mind stories, body regulation, spirit alignment). All that and much more on the brand new episode of that good old dopey show!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen without ads at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastIn this Dopey replay, We revisits rare and unfiltered moments with Nick Reiner and Chris O’Connor from early episodes of the show — recorded years before the tragic events surrounding the Reiner family.The episode reflects on a time when addiction and mental illness had not yet fully hardened into catastrophic consequences. Dave explains why he chose to release this material now, reading listener reactions and grappling with the complexity of showing who Nick was before everything went wrong.What follows is a raw, chaotic, often funny, and deeply human stretch of Dopey history: arguments, drug stories, recovery talk, basketball injuries, relapse temptations, seizures, rehab memories, and one particularly moving story of Nick tripping on LSD and being cared for by his father through the night.The episode closes with a reflection on recovery, connection, and the importance of reaching out — both to those struggling and to those we love — alongside a tribute to Chris O’Connor and the reminder that hindsight doesn’t protect us, but connection sometimes can. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

for shows without inserted ads join:www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis two-hour emergency Dopey  episode compiles all of Nick Reiner’s appearances — spanning relapse, heart attack, family pressure, recovery attempts, weed/Adderall use, and wild stories. Dave and Chris walk through Nick’s upbringing as the son of Rob Reiner and grandson of Carl Reiner, the contrast between privilege and addiction, and the comedy-tragedy tension that defines Dopey.Nick describes relapsing with an old dealer, falling back into heroin and cocaine, and ultimately having a cocaine-induced heart attack mid-flight. He wakes up in a Boston hospital with Chris at his bedside. Dave and Chris revisit Nick’s movements through detoxes, sober living in Maine, and his premeditated plan to return home so he could smoke weed again without consequences.The episode also includes Nick’s childhood sex-work story (“Cherry Red”), his guest-house meth/coke destruction spree, and his reflections on relapse, weed maintenance, and creative paralysis.Dave and Chris add personal context — the pain of losing friends, the shock of Chris’s death, anger, humor, and the push-pull dynamic they shared trying to support Nick.The final third moves into classic Dopey: a listener email about sexual trauma and a predatory case manager; Dave and Chris reacting with equal parts disbelief and empathy; side rants on AA, weed, Adderall harm reduction, NBA players, LSD myths, and Nick’s writing ambitions.This is a serious American tragedy - please send your thoughts to [email protected]  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

📝 Episode Notes (with emojis, links & vibes):🔥 Dopey 526: Andy Roy, Angelo, Bobby & Tuan🎉 Andy Roy celebrates 5 years clean and brings along Angelo and Bobby from New Origins—the sober living home that’s keeping them grounded and inspired.🛹 Hear wild tales from the past (jerk-off contests??), what makes recovery actually work, and why the crew plans to stick around and give back.💥 “The love is real, bro.” This one’s about brotherhood, resilience, and turning chaos into a calling.💬 Then Dave dives in deep with Dopey spiritual consigliere Tuan from Mountainside 🧘‍♂️ on:The trap of workaholism in recoveryWhy it's so hard to just sit stillWhat happens when you lose your sponsor (RIP)🧠 Can you be too spiritual to need a sponsor?And why love, presence, and stillness are the medicine🎧 Plus: Dopey poet Ian drops a killer verse, and Dave gives a shoutout to Safe Spot and CustomStickers.com (use code Dopey20 to get 20% off your own stickers!).💌 Got a thought on Andy or New Origins? Write in: [email protected]🧦 Want a sticker? Hit us up. Or join us on Patreon for tons of bonus content + goodies: 👉 patreon.com/dopeypodcast❤️ Stay strong, Dopey Nation 🖕 Fucking toodles for Chris

This week on the teaser - Ben tells an insane Dopey story full of Walmart, guns and needles! Then the teaser with Leah Knauer - plus Should I go to Cuba??? https://www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Here is what AI says: "Shot in the Groin, High on Chaos: Ben’s Unbelievable Survival Story" 🎙️ New Episode: Detours Through Chaos Ever heard a buddy story involving Walmart receipts, a gunshot wound, and detox gone wild? 🌀 This week’s Dopey is exactly that kind of madness. 🔥 Ben Croxton shares an insane tale of survival, stupidity, and somehow finding recovery amidst the chaos. Plus, I’ve got updates on DopeyWood, an unexpected invite to Cuba with some very big names (Bill Murray, anyone?), and a sneak peek of Leah Knauer’s comedy, chaos, and song. 💥 Listen, laugh, cry, and cringe. You won’t believe half of it. 🎧 www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast Got a story that tops a near-miss dick injury? 😳 Share it in the comments. Let's hear the madness. 👇 #DopeyPodcast #StayStrong #Recovery #ToodlesForChris

This week on Dopey! DopeyCon IV!!!! A cavalcade of Dopes! A treasure Trove ofand  Dopey Stories! It's all here! Bobby Dukes burning a dude's dick with a crack pipe in a glory hole to Jessa Reed's Opus Owl Story! Plus great recovery with Hank Azaria, Joe Schrank, Ask Erin Khar! Music by Ray Brown and so very much more on this weeks brand new spanking episode of that good old Dopey Show! DopeyCon IV!!!!! More About Dopey: Dopey Podcast is the world’s greatest podcast on drugs, addiction and dumb shit. Chris and I were two IV heroin addicts who loved to talk about all the coke we smoked, snorted and shot, all the pills we ate, smoked, all the weed we smoked and ate, all the booze we consumed and all the consequences we suffered. After making the show for 2 and a half years, Chris tragically relapsed and died from a fentanyl overdose. Dopey continued on, at first to mourn the horrible loss of Chris, but then to continue our mission - which was at its core, to keep addicts and alcoholics company. Whether to laugh at our time in rehab, or cry at the worst missteps we made, Dopey tells the truth about drugs, addiction and recovery. We continually mine the universe for stories rife with debauchery and highlight serious drug taking and alcoholism. We also examine different paths toward addiction recovery. We shine a light on harm reduction and medication assisted treatment. We talk with celebrities and nobodies and stockpile stories to be the greatest one stop shop podcast on all things drugs, addiction, recovery and comedy pathfinding the route to the heart of the opioid epidemic.

This week on Dopey! In an extra long, extra dopey episode of Dopey we are joined by Bobby Dukes who brings the seriously debaucherousness back to the show!  From the mean streets shooting galleries of Philadelphia to pulling a geographic to Australia. Bobby did it all plus more stealing then you could shake a stick at! PLUS emails, voicemails and a surprise call ins from Friend of Jerry's Jersey Jerry and It's All Bad's Ukranian Danny More about Dopey; Dopey Podcast is the world’s greatest podcast on drugs, addiction and dumb shit. Chris and I were two IV heroin addicts who loved to talk about all the coke we smoked, snorted and shot, all the pills we ate, smoked, all the weed we smoked and ate, all the booze we consumed and all the consequences we suffered. After making the show for 2 and a half years, Chris tragically relapsed and died from a fentanyl overdose. Dopey continued on, at first to mourn the horrible loss of Chris, but then to continue our mission - which was at its core, to keep addicts and alcoholics company. Whether to laugh at our time in rehab, or cry at the worst missteps we made, Dopey tells the truth about drugs, addiction and recovery. We continually mine the universe for stories rife with debauchery and highlight serious drug taking and alcoholism. We also examine different paths toward addiction recovery. We shine a light on harm reduction and medication assisted treatment. We talk with celebrities and nobodies and stockpile stories to be the greatest one stop shop podcast on all things drugs, addiction, recovery and comedy!