Talkin' Trash Addiction Recovery Podcast

Tonight, Talkin’ Trash welcomed Dustin B. into the mix with the usual Trash fashion. Dustin was a great sport and shared his story with us as he approaches an incredible milestone—eight years clean and serene in just a few days. We took the opportunity to pump his tires a little and celebrate the hard work, perseverance, and growth that got him there. The outdoor ambience was dialed back this time, but Dustin proved a little tough to hear in spots, so we cranked his audio up as much as possible while Tim’s heavy breathing continued its quest to become the show's unofficial fifth host. As always, the Talkin’ Trash crew forges ahead in mediocrity twice a week with the same low expectations we've proudly maintained from the start, which is why the recent influx of new family members and supporters has been such a fun surprise. Thanks for sticking with us as we grow—we're working behind the scenes to make things better every step of the way.

Tonight on the pod the team announced the addition of Larry Foster as a recurring member of the podcast family. A respected voice in recovery, Larry brings decades of experience, hard-earned wisdom, and a perspective shaped by perseverance and personal growth. During the discussion, he shared powerful insights on the role shame often plays in relapse and the importance of addressing it in long-term recovery. Tim ate pizza and heavy breathed into the mic more than usual. The show announced Larry (tonight's co-host) and Elizabeth McKeon PMHNP as monthly recurring team members as both Larry and Liz step into larger roles to help guide the podcast's future conversations and overall direction. The incessant clicking of a pen and the echo's of Georgia crickets in Will's backyard are just a couple reasons why Talkin' Trash's pursuit of professionalism is second to none.

Tonight the crew got together for another honest discussion about addiction, recovery, and life on life's terms. Four men with different recovery journeys shared their experience, strength, and hope while reflecting on the challenges and rewards of staying sober one day at a time. Through candid conversation and a few laughs, the team reminded listeners that recovery is possible and that nobody has to do it alone.

Tonight the team checked in with one another before welcoming Anthony Cocco to the show. Hailing from Philadelphia—Tim’s old stomping grounds—Anthony brought a relatable and down-to-earth perspective to the conversation. With more than six years clean and sober, he shared his experience navigating recovery one day at a time, speaking candidly about the challenges, rewards, and daily commitment required to maintain sobriety. His honesty, humility, and gratitude for recovery offered hope and encouragement to anyone still struggling, proving that long-term recovery is possible when we focus on today and stay connected to those walking the same path.

Tonight, we had the pleasure of welcoming Tanya from Halifax, Nova Scotia to the show. With more than a decade in recovery, Tanya shared her experience with a level of honesty and clarity that made it feel as though her journey happened yesterday. Her lighthearted spirit, positive outlook, and thoughtful delivery brought both hope and inspiration to the conversation. Tanya reflected on the challenges of active addiction, the lessons learned through recovery, and the gratitude she has found along the way. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that long-term recovery is possible and that a fulfilling life awaits those willing to take the first step.

What was supposed to be a guest episode turned into an unexpected in-house conversation when our scheduled guest didn't make it—and it ended up being one of those shows that reminded us why we do this. We talked about overdose, a situation close to home, and leaned on the strength we find in each other when life puts us to the test. Nearly two hours later, it was nothing but high-fives all around. To everyone who continues to get something from this show: thank you. You took a chance on a small, scrappy podcast and helped build it into what it is today. World Cup News: Bosnia invades Herzegovina after a 2–0 loss to the Red, White & Blue. And finally, a reminder that the ground we live/build/stand on can move violently. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela.

We welcomed Elizabeth back to the podcast for another recurring appearance as our trusted medical professional. A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner serving rural Georgia, Liz brings much-needed clinical insight to the often complex and confusing world of addiction recovery. Our team and audience are incredibly grateful for the time she donates to educate, support, and help those struggling with addiction. Her approach recognizes addiction as a "changed brain" condition, emphasizing that every individual is different and that effective recovery sometimes requires setting rigid rulebooks aside in favor of compassionate, personalized care.

Tonight we welcomed Melanie Brown and her daughter, Rebekah, to the show. Melanie, CAO and co-owner of Prairie Sky Recovery Centre and a Registered Social Worker, shared how her lived experience in addiction and recovery has helped shape both her personal journey and her life's work. Joined by Rebekah, an emerging voice in the recovery community, the conversation highlighted the importance of carrying the message of hope to the next generation. A longtime friend of the show, Prairie Sky Recovery Centre continues to make a lasting impact through the legacy of founder Ardyth Wilson and its commitment to helping people find lasting recovery.

Tonight we welcomed back one of our dearest friends, Jenny Mansfield. If the last name sounds familiar, that's because she's Brad's sister. Our girl Jenny took center stage and showed everyone what independent, sober living looks like. She shared her trials, triumphs, and the many obstacles she's overcome in both life and recovery. We're incredibly grateful she took the time to tell her story, because there is a strength in that kind of honesty that transcends distance, borders, and time zones. Her message was powerful, heartfelt, and a reminder that recovery is not only possible, it's worth fighting for.

Tonight we welcomed back one of our dearest friends, Jenny Mansfield. If the last name sounds familiar, that's because she's Brad's sister. Behind the scenes, we've been working tirelessly to remove copyrighted music from our production after Spotify forced us to edit and repost nearly 40 episodes. Tonight brought a new challenge when our live feed was cut after airing just two minutes of World Cup highlights. Lesson learned, and how it may affect our Facebook account remains to be seen. As viewership plummeted, we pushed ahead, and thank God we did, because our sister Jenny took center stage and showed everyone what independent, sober living looks like. She shared her trials, triumphs, and the many obstacles she's overcome in both life and recovery. We're incredibly grateful she took the time to tell her story, because there is a strength in that kind of honesty that transcends distance, borders, and time zones. Her message was powerful, heartfelt, and a reminder that recovery is not only possible, it's worth fighting for.

Here’s a cleaned-up version that keeps your voice while tightening the flow: On a shorthanded midweek show, we welcomed back Steve, who never hesitates to step up when the team needs him. We appreciate his honesty, candor, and willingness to donate his time to the cause as we recover out loud and carry the message to those still suffering. With just a couple of months to go before reaching the two-year mark, we celebrated that milestone with Steve and our audience. There’s something special about watching people you care about finally "get it." Tried and tested, giving away what was so freely given to us remains one of the best ways to stay sober. As Men's Health Month continues, awareness around men's mental health is growing, largely because the stigma around saying, "I'm not okay," is beginning to fade. Admitting that you're struggling isn't weakness—it takes strength—and that message is becoming more accepted, especially within the world of addiction recovery. Chat GPT had nothing to do with this show summary.

We welcomed longtime friend of the show Steve M. back to the podcast tonight. Coming in hot with over a year clean, Steve continues to prove that recovery is not only attainable—it's worth it. His story resonates with so many who have walked a similar path, and he's now seeing the fruits of sobriety as a long-standing legal situation has finally come to an end. Steve shared his experience, strength, and hope with our audience, reminding us that life gets better when we stay the course. A devoted father, rabbit enthusiast, and living example of recovery in action, Steve brought honesty, humor, and inspiration to another great episode.

Bethany Basler joined the team tonight. Bethany, or "BB" as we call her, was amazing as always. A passionate advocate for recovery and peer support, Bethany has built a strong presence online and recently launched her own podcast, Rock Bottom Recovery. While she's been a guest on our show before, there are still parts of her story that haven't been told. Tonight, she opened up about her journey, shared insights from her recovery experience, and discussed the importance of connection, community, and carrying the message to those still struggling. Bethany continues to be a powerful voice in recovery, and we're grateful she spent the evening with us.

We welcomed back Larry Foster—the man, the myth, the legend—to the podcast as we kicked off Men's Health Month in Middle Earth. Larry fits right in with the team because, truthfully, he is part of the team. As a longtime counselor in addiction recovery and Lord Protector of the Realm, Sir Larry shared the wisdom and insight we all needed to hear, covering mental health awareness, generational influences, and the realities of today's recovery landscape. Bringing both old-school experience and a modern perspective, Larry offered a balanced view of addiction and recovery that resonated with everyone. "Larry the Grey" also helped us bring our Lord of the Rings theme to life. We like to have fun. Thank you, Larry, for joining us once again and for your continued support—we're grateful to have you as part of the family.

We welcomed back Larry Foster—the man, the myth, the legend—to the podcast as we kicked off Men's Health Month in Middle Earth. Larry fits right in with the team because, truthfully, he is part of the team. As a longtime counselor in addiction recovery and Lord Protector of the Realm, Sir Larry shared the wisdom and insight we all needed to hear, covering mental health awareness, generational influences, and the realities of today's recovery landscape. Bringing both old-school experience and a modern perspective, Larry offered a balanced view of addiction and recovery that resonated with everyone. "Larry the Grey" also helped us bring our Lord of the Rings theme to life. We like to have fun. Thank you, Larry, for joining us once again and for your continued support—we're grateful to have you as part of the family.

We welcomed Kaeden to the show tonight. At just 26, he has already overcome a tremendous amount of adversity and is now four months clean, embracing the sober living lifestyle. Our crew first met Kaeden at Prairie Sky Recovery Centre during the live, on-site broadcast of Episode 190. As they so often do, the boys connected with someone who heard the message of recovery and thought, "I want that." Four months later, we caught up with Kaeden to hear his story and see how he's doing. He is a great example of what can happen when someone reaches the point of being truly ready for change and has a supportive family willing to advocate for them along the way. We're incredibly proud of Kaeden and all that he's accomplishing and we're humbled that our team plays a role in this young man's recovery. That's recovering out loud!

We welcomed back a very special friend of the show, Elizabeth McKeon. Liz is a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) with a Master's of Science in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing — and simply put, she’s one of the good ones. In addiction recovery, many of us suddenly think we have all the answers. We self-diagnose, self-treat. The only doctor's we're referring to are Dr. Google and Dr. Chatgpt and we convince ourselves we know best. The truth is, the real difference-makers are clinicians like Elizabeth who genuinely care. Through both personal and professional experience, she has built a unique approach to recovery that is medically grounded and compassionately delivered. Her wisdom and insight transcended miles and time zones during this conversation. Keep posted, we'll be seeing Liz again sooner than you think!

Tonight on the pod, we welcomed another fellow Saskatchewanian. Our special guest Larissa celebrated an incredible milestone — 10 months clean. Her story was a powerful reminder that addiction does not discriminate. No matter our backgrounds, appearances, or experiences, the disease connects us all in ways many never fully understand. Larissa shared openly about her struggles with codependency, growth, and hope she’s found in recovery, proving that while we may not all look the same on the outside, we are the same where it matters most. Her honesty, strength, and willingness to keep fighting delivered a message that resonated far beyond addiction itself — recovery is possible for anyone willing to reach for it.

Tonight’s episode featured an incredible guest, Bethany, who shared her experience, strength, and hope with us in a truly powerful way. She’s seen it all and been through it all, but her story is one of resilience, recovery, and finding purpose through the struggle. Bethany spoke openly about the challenges she’s faced and the lessons she’s learned along the way, reminding listeners that no matter how difficult life can become, hope is always possible. Her honesty, courage, and passion continue to fuel her crusade to help and inspire others who may still be fighting their own battles.

We kicked off our Mental Health Awareness Month campaign by welcoming back Mike Oxley, a longtime addiction recovery nurse and original co-founder of the show. Mike, a proud New Jersey native, brought plenty of personality along with more than a decade of experience in addiction recovery. Beyond his professional background, Mike shared what truly set him apart — his willingness to go the extra mile and treat every patient with dignity and respect, no matter their circumstances. Tim and Mike reflected on a powerful moment from Tim’s early recovery journey, when Nurse Mike extended that same compassion to him firsthand. Mike was the first person to truly connect with Tim during one of the darkest periods of his life. Tim shared with the audience the lasting impact of that kindness, explaining that the show — and possibly even Tim himself — might not exist today if not for the compassion shown by a stranger at such a critical moment.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Trashers out there!Tonight, we welcomed a very special guest — someone incredibly close to the show. Brad’s sister, Jennifer, joined us alongside Brad for a powerful and heartfelt conversation. Their bond, forged through recovery, was impossible to miss. Jennifer bravely shared her story on this special Mother’s Day episode of Talkin’ Trash, speaking openly about the joy and peace she’s found in sobriety. She said, without hesitation, that the life she lives today is the happiest she’s ever been.So many people fear that getting sober means giving up fun, and many of us in long-term recovery remember feeling exactly that way. But as time passes, we stop comparing ourselves to others and start identifying with them instead. We realize we’re not alone, and when that happens, real joy and genuine fun begin to return. We’re grateful Jennifer spent the evening with us, and we look forward to catching up with her again soon. And of course, we also learned tonight that Winston Churchill’s mother apparently invented both Mother’s Day and modern plumbing. What an absolute legend.

Tonight’s show was blessed with a father-daughter duo whose connection transcended addiction and recovery. In this extra-long edition of Talkin’ Trash, we heard from two addicts representing two very different generational perspectives on addiction, mental health, and recovery. First we heard from Brody, whose story was filled with both life experiences and the challenges of starting a family at a young age. He shared his journey through more than 20 years of active addiction, but perhaps the most powerful message was the one left unspoken. The bond between father and daughter was something both the hosts and audience could genuinely feel. It was as if they represented the same struggle experienced through different generations — proving that while some things change over time, others remain timeless. At just 24 years old, Eden shared a story shaped by mental health struggles and, in turn, addiction. She celebrated six months clean yesterday, and it was clear that her father’s impact on her recovery journey has played an integral role in her newfound sobriety.

The team welcomed a powerful guest from south who recently celebrated two years of sobriety. He shared an honest and relatable perspective on what it takes to stay clean, emphasizing consistency, accountability, and learning to face life without escaping it. He was right at home with the squad as the 5 shared their similar views on addiction, recovery, relapse and treatment. His message hit home—it was real, hard-earned, and relatable, highlighting both the struggles and the quiet victories that come with long-term recovery. If our target demographic was males age 40-50 who survived addiction from 1998-2012, we nailed it. For everybody else, pull up a chair, addicts say the darnedest things.

The boys were shorthanded tonight while they tackled the topic of patience in addiction recovery. With some last-minute changes behind the scenes, the episode had an unpolished, off-the-cuff energy that actually mirrored the reality of recovery itself—imperfect, unpredictable, and constantly evolving. Despite it being amateur hour, the boys landed on their feet touching on meaningful insights, highlighting how patience isn’t just about waiting, but about trusting the process even when things feel chaotic. The candid nature of the episode gave it an authentic edge tying in our addictive thinking when it comes to instant-gratification, reminding listeners that growth doesn’t always happen in neat, structured moments. It happens through hard work and infinite patience.

Talkin’ Trash hits a major milestone with its 200th episode, a testament to the power of honest conversation, shared experience, and the strength of the recovery community. What started as a space to talk openly about addiction and healing has grown into a platform that’s impacted countless lives, offering hope, laughter, and real connection along the way. This moment isn’t just about the number—it’s about every guest who showed up, every story that was told, and every listener who found a piece of themselves in the message. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported the show over the years—this journey wouldn’t be possible without you.

Tonight 75% of the gang welcomed Art, a guest from Manitoba whose life stands as a powerful testament to long-term recovery. With 30 years clean, 50 years of marriage, and 70 years of life experience, Art brought wisdom, humility, and a steady sense of gratitude to the conversation. He reflected on the ups and downs of his journey, emphasizing the importance of consistency, community, and staying grounded in the principles of the program. More than anything, Art was living proof that recovery isn’t just possible—it’s sustainable, meaningful, and deeply rewarding. His presence on the show was a true pleasure and a reminder that the program really does work if you work it.

We were greeted with a very special "normie" tonight as Lara brought her powerful outside perspective. Though she’s never struggled with addiction personally, Lara shares how deeply it has shaped her life—growing up around it, navigating relationships impacted by it, and often stepping into the role of caretaker. Her insight highlights the often-overlooked reality that addiction doesn’t just affect the individual, but ripples through families and loved ones in lasting ways. With genuine curiosity and emotional awareness, Lara connects with the hosts on a human level, offering a meaningful reminder that recovery conversations belong to everyone—not just those in the trenches, but also those who’ve been standing beside them all along.

This episode featured Charlotte Wells, a guest whose story carried both grit and a surprising light. A former meth and benzodiazepine addict, she spoke with a level of energy and enthusiasm that immediately filled the airwaves. Her emotion was genuine, transcending borders and miles all well challenging the usual expectations people might have about someone with her past. Her honesty about the chaos of addiction, paired with her humor and sharp perspective, created moments that were both heavy and uplifting. The team found themselves relating to her on multiple levels—whether it was the patterns of addiction, the resilience required to keep going, or the clarity that can come with time and hard-earned sobriety.

This episode features a deeply emotional conversation with Blair S., on the verge of celebrating three years clean, offering a powerful reflection on just how far he'd come. Through moments of vulnerability and honesty, he shared the pain of his past, the struggles of early recovery, and the turning points that helped him stay the course when it felt impossible. What stands out most is Blair 's gratitude—for the people who didn’t give up on him, for the small daily victories, and for a life that once felt out of reach but is now filled with purpose. Blair's story is a powerful reminder that recovery isn’t perfect or easy, but it is worth it, and that even in the hardest moments, change is possible with persistence, support and hope.

We welcomed Caylen to the family tonight. A sharp, quick-witted veteran who brings both experience and honesty to the mic as she shares her journey in recovery. A recovering meth addict, Caylen opens up about how this time feels different—not because the struggle has been easier, but because she’s finally addressing her mental health head-on. With insight beyond her time clean, she emphasizes that real recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all, and that each addict needs personalized, specialized support tailored to their substance and their story. Her authenticity, intelligence, and ability to find lightness in heavy moments make for an inspiring and relatable conversation that highlights both the challenges and hope found in starting over.

Smiles all around we merged holiday sized efforts and last-minute additions. The boys welcomed former pro sports announcer, Rod Pedersen who graciously shared his journey of overcoming alcoholism and celebrated 11 years of recovery with us. We were grateful for his time and insight. He reflected on the darkest moments of his addiction and the turning points that led him to recovery. Living the double life of a functioning alcoholic eventually cost him the very public job his identity was built upon. He found himself blacklisted after a illustrious 20 year career and he shared the success and victories that've come through over a decade of clarity. Perspective is essential for surviving addiction and it's the agent of true change. Recovery parallels the spirit of Easter—resurrection, growth, and new beginnings. Here at Talkin' Trash, we all about happy Easter's and we share a collective mindset that nobody is beyond help.

A midweek lineup adjustment was required as our frontman was called away for service obligations—true to form for Jim—making the April Fools’ Day timing feel especially fitting for this one hour and fifty-three minute episode. Despite limited preparation, as Tim candidly noted at the outset, the team delivered a solid performance; with eight shows a month, not every episode can be a home run. Will led both the opening and closing with confidence and ultimately stood out, while Steve continues to establish himself as a consistent presence, followed closely by Brad. The episode leaned into a more candid, emotionally driven tone, extending beyond our typical one hour and fifteen minute target as we allowed the conversation to develop naturally. Tim, coming off a particularly long day, rounded out the group’s efforts. The team also made a concerted effort to use primarily royalty-free music, minus 3.6 seconds of the late Amy Winehouse and .3 seconds of Pink, who is alive. If you're reading this and still considering whether to skip this one, you probably shouldn't watch this one. If you're still undecided, may we humbly suggest skimming to Will's parts. Come on.

The team welcomed Daniel onto the pod tonight and he shared his experience, strength and hope about getting clean and staying sober for over a year. Daniel opened up about growing up in a difficult home environment and how those early challenges shaped many of the struggles he faced later in life. A central theme of the conversation was the role of mental health, with Daniel emphasizing that untreated mental health issues were a primary driver behind his addiction. The hosts echoed this perspective, agreeing that addressing mental health should be a core part of recovery rather than an afterthought.

Tonight's show featured a special guest Misty D., who shares a raw and deeply personal account of her journey through substance use, physical abuse, emotional-relapse, loss of control, and ultimately, long-term recovery. Misty opens up about the progression of her addiction, the denial and isolation that kept her stuck, and the turning point that led her to seek help. She reflected on the challenges of early sobriety, the importance of community support through recovery programs, and the spiritual and emotional growth that reshaped her life.

On tonight’s episode of the addiction recovery podcast, hosts Tim and Brad dove deep into the powerful connection between fear and change in the recovery journey. Drawing from personal experience and conversations within the recovery community, they explored how fear often shows up at pivotal moments—whether it’s the fear of relapse, the fear of facing past mistakes, or even the fear of success and a new identity beyond addiction.

In this episode, we sat down with Richard, who shared his powerful story of getting sober at a young age and navigating the challenges of early recovery. He spoke candidly about the fears, identity shifts, and social pressures he faced while choosing sobriety, and how committing to personal growth transformed his life. Together, we explored the role of codependency in addiction—how unhealthy relationship patterns can fuel substance use and hinder recovery—and discussed what it truly means to change. The conversation highlighted that recovery isn’t just about abstaining from substances, but about learning healthier boundaries, rebuilding self-worth, and embracing ongoing emotional and behavioral growth

We welcomed special guest Donald B. in a powerful and thought-provoking conversation about “Change in Recovery” and the “Fear of Change.” Together, we explored how growth in recovery often requires stepping into the unknown and letting go of familiar but unhealthy patterns. Donald B. shared honest insights about how fear can keep people stuck, even when they genuinely want a better life, and how embracing change—though uncomfortable—is essential for long-term sobriety and personal transformation. Don highlighted that fear is a natural part of recovery, but it doesn’t have to control the journey. It was an inspiring discussion that reminded listeners that real change is possible when courage is stronger than fear.

We suffered in silence—now we recover out loud. That’s how we roll here on Talkin’ Trash. We’re not ashamed of our afflictions; quite the opposite. We find strength in vulnerability, and staying open-minded breaks down walls we never thought possible. Tonight, we unveiled Trash 2.0—a new look, a new year, and a new cast member. We’re always adapting, always evolving, one day at a time. We handed the mic to Brad tonight, our newest team member, to get to know what makes him tick. Turns out… he’s nuts—so he fits right in with the boys. Around here, we identify, not compare. Enjoy the show, it's a long-n. Thank you all for the continued support. We couldn’t do this without you.

Get it while it's hot. Spotify is randomly pulling episodes for copyright nonsense so this show could disappear over the next few days. We're appealing everything, just takes time. Meanwhile, our content is readily available and chronologically organized on YouTube, Facebook and X. So that's that. We welcomed our new friend Brad to the team tonight. Much like Jim, Brad's a natural and he's authentic. That transcends borders and timezones. Also like Jim, Brad is from Canada and like the rest of the staff, he donates his time, energy and emotions into spreading the message in order to keep what we get when we give it away. Resentment in recovery is like carrying a backpack full of stones—you don’t always notice the weight until it starts breaking you down. It feeds old patterns, keeps wounds open, and quietly pulls you back toward using. Letting go doesn’t mean excusing the harm; it means choosing freedom over staying tied to the past. Recovery grows when resentment is faced, felt, and slowly released. Like Will says, name it, claim it and tame it.

We were joined tonight by special guest Logan Mainil. Logan hails from north of the wall as well in Regina with Jimmy. Jim recruited Logan to tell his story in the making. Logan's just over a year clean and sober and he's doing everything the right way. His attitude is grounded and lets face it, the guy's a pisser. The gang laughed their way through an hour and a half of addiction, sports, sobriety and recovery. As always, the team shared their common affliction, met each other where they're at and had an authentic conversation you only find in recovery. We find our second family in longterm sobriety, likeminded individuals that share a common goal of never going picking up again.

Final show in October and we went full sleepy hollow on this tricky treat. Moving forward, 1 of our 8 shows a month will be an addiction medicine specialty episode. For tonight's kick-off, former show host and LPN, Mike Oxley brought a fellow nurse-friend to the podcast. Krystal was amazing. Her experience, strength and hope will put you in check or at the least shed light on family dynamics and addiction. Trauma is a major cause of addiction. A specific event or events that replay in our mind almost as self-torture. Since day one we've said, if you not addressing the reason you felt the need to self medicate in the first place (trauma, abuse, etc.) while some live with untreated mental illness (anxiety, depression, etc.) and medicate themselves which never ends well. That's the point of a medically focused episode, addressing those questions that we all have in recovery.

In early addiction recovery, resentments can feel loud and relentless, bubbling up from old hurts, broken trust, and the raw unfairness of starting over. When substances are gone, the feelings they once numbed come rushing back, and resentment often becomes a way to protect pain that hasn’t yet found words. These resentments can quietly drain energy, distort perspective, and threaten recovery if they’re left unexamined. Our new Canadian friend, Brad Mansbeard joined us tonight subbing in for Jim.

The power came back on an hour before the show and the crew rallied to pull together ill prepared. It didn't hurt that we had one of our favorite friends on the show for the fourth time. When you make real connections in this line of work they're real, regardless of race, creed, identity, it doesn't matter. We all share the same affliction of addiction. We meet on this level playing field and share openly without fear of censorship or rebuke. This is how we heal. We share our feelings, we get them out there and take part in giving the same support we're getting out of opening up. We start to identify and not compare.

The team was back together for a full episode of fresh original content. We welcomed Colin M. into the fray tonight. We were honored to share in his early recovery and hear how he's overcoming real life, difficult situations. These things ran us back to the bottle or pill or needle and now, what a surprise, things are easier when you're not sabotaging your life. Our very own Jim Leibel celebrated 1,500 days of continuous sobriety tonight live on the program. Jim is a big part of our organization and is committed to helping the newcomer in whatever way is necessary. A true ambassador for recovery. Will's just... Will. We love him too. Thanks for your support and thank you Colin for your impactful appearance.

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.

We celebrated Christmas Eve together by having a fun episode and looking at "The art of Losing". As we get older, we learn how to fall gracefully. The art of losing is about how we land. Whether we have a good landing or not is all about how we fall. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when, and when we fall are we prepared for the landing? It's all about having a good landing. Minimize the collateral damage, life is going to happen, if need be, we lean on one another when the weight is too heavy to bear. We dusted off the board games and played Christmas Recovery Jeopardy by light of our Christmas Trees and counted ourselves grateful for the moment. Merry Christmas everyone.

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.

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.

Tonight we took a look at where our respective recovery journey's started. Were we forced in? Did we go voluntarily, had you finally had enough? As a team we stress mental health in recovery and sometimes that doesn't mean just diagnosis and prescription, albeit just as important. Sometimes to plan for the future, we have to learn from the past. We keep that door cracked so we can revisit our mistakes so that we don't repeat them. Be advised, this is an acquired skill. In early recovery, regret is in no short order. Living in the past is the best way to miss the present and make the same poor choices you did back then. We now take measures such as prayer or giving back to others, to ensure our own sobriety.

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.