The Small Bow Podcast

Swamp Dogg is a country, soul and R&B singer, musician, songwriter and record producer. He has influenced multiple generations of musicians with his defiantly idiosyncratic discography and has been described by Pitchfork as one of “pop’s great cult acts.” He also happens to sing The Small Bow theme song. He stopped by the studio to discuss his long career, his lifelong search for happiness, and his new album Swamp Dogg Contemplates the Afterlife. I tried to get him to contemplate the afterlife in this conversation, but he wasn’t in the mood. That said, it’s always a pleasure to spend time with a true original— when you get in the room with Swamp Dogg, you never know where you’ll wind up. 00:00:00 Finding true happiness beyond material things 00:01:21 How a random email turned into a 12-year friendship 00:02:00 Behind the new album Swamp Dogg Contemplates the Afterlife 00:05:54 Personal views on God, heaven, and eternal punishment 00:07:26 The story behind writing the podcast theme song 00:09:26 Debunking the famous LSD origin story 00:10:58 Comparing music legends John Prine, Bob Dylan, and Bon Iver 00:13:42 The realities of touring and redefining true success 00:18:01 Facing a childhood curse and surviving past age 21 00:22:20 Learning to ask for help while living your dreams 00:25:39 Why cursing is a family tradition and catching up to Samuel L. Jackson 00:37:00 Clarifying the Jane Fonda movie rumors and future collaboration ideas #SwampDogg #TheAfterLife #NewAlbum #SoulMusicLegend #BonIverCollab IfYouKillItCookbook #AcidStory #MTVLegacy #RadicalThinker #ThoughtsOnGod #JaneFonda#SwampDoggContemplatesTheAfterlife Topics: Recording a new album The afterlife, God, heaven and hell Working with Bon Iver Loving John Prine's music Playing records for Bob Dylan Meeting Jane Fonda Reaching age 84 in the music industry Writing the podcast theme Performing at the Grammys Tour life and live success Redefining success as a star Publishing a cookbook New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

Megan Koester is a writer and stand-up comedian who isn’t writing and won’t promote her stand-up. In my opinion, she should be doing more of both of those things but hey, it’s not up to me. I wanted to have Megan back on the show to talk about self-sabotage and becoming your own worst enemy. Plus, being an atheist in recovery rooms, EMDR and weaponized trauma and how to use craigslist ephemera as self-promotion. New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098 00:00:00 Resenting Your Gifts and Half-Assing Comedy 00:01:06 Why I Hate Video Podcasts 00:02:00 What is EMDR Therapy? 00:04:00 Understanding Childhood Neglect and CPTSD 00:05:30 Dissociation, Trauma, and Coping Mechanisms 00:06:30 The Reality of Relapse and Alcohol Addiction 00:07:52 Desperation, Mental Health, and "The Body Keeps the Score" 00:09:34 Seeking Validation and Re-Parenting Yourself 00:12:12 Overcoming Creative Self-Sabotage and Minimization 00:14:14 An Agnostic View on Spiritual Healing 00:21:00 Navigating the Hollywood Entertainment Industry 00:26:00 Defining Success, Sobriety, and Artistic Expression

When I want to know what’s going on in Hollywood, I turn to Richard Rushfield. Richard is a columnist for the Ankler, his influential newsletter about the state of the entertainment industry. He is also sober, and decided to stop by our show on his 30th sobriety anniversary. We talk about how sobriety has changed his work ethic and made him more comfortable in his own skin. We also discuss the state of sobriety in Hollywood: from Shia Labeouf to Matthew Perry and why it may take a “Me-Too” size reckoning for the industry to kick its addiction to child labor. 00:00:00 Richard Rushfield and 30 years of sobriety 00:02:11 The ""working lush"" era and early journalism 00:07:00 The cost of insurance and uninsurable stars 00:11:12 Corporate Hollywood and post Me Too HR 00:14:13 Matthew Perry, AA, and recovery in the media 00:17:28 The systemic pathology of child stardom 00:22:54 Celebrity downfalls and the media spectacle 00:25:02 Power, influence, and writing for The Ankler 00:31:05 Navigating social anxiety without alcohol 00:35:40 Leaning into fear: Flying and ego 00:41:02 How to stay sober: Daily prayer and service 00:43:39 The infamous bathroom shoving match with Phish #RichardRushfield #TheAnkler #LongTermRecovery #30YearsSober #Phish #ShowerPrayer #SocialAnxiety #ChildStars Topics: Thirty years of sobriety milestones Hollywood's view on uninsurability Robert Downey Jr.'s industry return Modern Hollywood's corporate shift Matthew Perry's recovery legacy The systemic toll of child acting Lack of data on child actors Proposed labor limits for minors Media focus on celebrity downfalls Challenges in reporting misconduct Fighting social anxiety at parties Shoving match and false predictions New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

For this episode of The Small Bow Podcast, my friend Peaceful John joins the show to answer some of your questions about recovery. It should be obvious pretty quickly why I call him Peaceful John. We talk about how to set boundaries with aging parents, how to avoid turning your grief into a weapon, how to care less, how to feel more… basically how to deal with your own sh*t. Thanks to everyone who wrote in (I may have snuck some questions in myself) and thanks to John for showing up and providing some answers. For this episode of The Small Bow Podcast, my friend Peaceful John joins the show to answer some of your questions about recovery. It should be obvious pretty quickly why I call him Peaceful John. We talk about how to set boundaries with aging parents, how to avoid turning your grief into a weapon, how to care less, how to feel more… basically how to deal with your own sh*t. Thanks to everyone who wrote in (I may have snuck some questions in myself) and thanks to John for showing up and providing some answers. Topics: 12-Step & Adult Child Recovery Healing Your Inner "Asshole" Honor Resentment Before Peace The Rescuer Complex Trap Detaching with Love vs. Malice Radical Acceptance: Naming Ugly Career Success & Self-Esteem Intimacy Is Most Terrifying When Grief Becomes a Weapon Aging, Dating & Sexual Honesty New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

Mary H. K. Choi stops by the show for our annual meeting of the dead dads club and a conversation about her new book Pool House. We discuss the major changes in Mary’s life that informed the writing of this book, including her autism diagnosis and the loss of her dad, and the ways that this round of self-promotion has led to new appreciation for her community. Plus, why 12-step is genius, why 20 year-olds are awesome and why Marilu Henner’s still got it. 00:00:00 Mary H.K. Choi and How TV shows get recovery wrong 00:04:15 Reconciling with a Ghost Dad 00:08:45 Road trips with ashes and heaven visions 00:13:10 The Hunted Gawker Era and new beginnings 00:17:35 The social cost of being an introvert 00:21:55 Selling a difficult book in a palatable world 00:26:25 Learning to endure the discomfort of being perceived 00:30:50 Catching the creative glide 00:35:15 12-step programs are like a life guidance counselor 00:39:40 Diagnosed with autism in my 40s 00:44:05 Reframing trauma as just catching strays 00:48:30 The revelations that come from Sleep Googling #MaryHKChoi #PoolHouse #LateAutismDiagnosis #AlAnonRecovery #TheSmallBow #SelfPromotion #HealingTrauma #PowerofIntroverts Topics: Social cost of book promotion How The Bear gets Al Anon wrong Reconciling with grief Late-life autism diagnosis impact Reframing trauma as catching strays Baggage as ballast for survival Forgiveness as death of the past 12-step as a life guidance counselor Processing the hunted Gawker era The honesty of sleep googling New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

Death, Sex and Money is where I go for a jolt of connection to something bigger than myself. Anna Sale hosts that show and is also the author of the book Let’s Talk About Hard Things. On this episode, we talk about the moment Anna realized she didn’t understand death nearly as much as she thought she did. We also get into the origins of Death, Sex and Money and the role that Anna’s visit to recovery rooms in Brooklyn played in her formulation of the show. Plus, how to find the perfect song for when your dad is dying and why we both love Jeff Hiller. 00:00:00 The Pursuit of Intense Human Connection & Anna Sale 00:03:58 AJ Inspired by Jeff Hiller’s Emmy Win 00:07:54 Transitioning from Reporter to Host of Death, Sex and Money 00:11:43 The Deep Need to Belong in Small Spaces 00:15:35 Finding Secret Church In Brooklyn Basements 00:19:16 Theory on Mortality and the Biological Clock 00:23:13 Surviving Childbirth and The Dashlane Password 00:27:17 Cinematic Moments and Songs for Final Goodbyes 00:31:19 Vulnerability on Stage vs Behind the Mic 00:35:15 The Art and Power of the Pause in Conversation 00:39:08 Navigating The High Stakes of Modern Parenthood 00:43:03 Relational Wisdom and the Path to Re-parenting #AnnaSale #DeathSexAndMoney #TheSmallBow #RecoveryJourney #ParentingTruths #InterviewingTips #MentalHealthAwareness #SobrietyStories #HumanConnection #FacingMortality Topics: The art of hard conversations The pursuit of connection Jeff Hiller's Emmy win The secret church in recovery The near-death childbirth story Facing mortality in your 30s The stakes of modern parenting Healing via reparenting New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

Ryan O’Connell had an uncommon path to fame. After starting as a blogger in New York, he wrote a TV script about his life as a young, gay man with Cerebral Palsy. When the show was picked up by Netflix, the network insisted he star in it as well. Now that Special is in the rearview mirror, Ryan has gone back to his roots as a writer. He has a new book of essays out, called Inspiration Porn, which describes his life in Hollywood and the ways he has processed sudden and unexpected celebrity. Oh, and there’s a lot of sex in the book too. In this episode, we talk about intimacy, disability, addiction and the ways that Ryan and I have both felt ambivalent about the promise of “being seen.” Plus, we discuss Ryan’s sobriety, his impressive career confidence and the finer points of Herbie: Fully Loaded. 00:00:00 Ryan O’ Connell and a healthy dollop of delusion 00:04:09 Transitioning from writer to actor 00:08:18 Physical challenges of acting with disability 00:12:27 Getting sober without a traditional program 00:16:36 Professional confidence versus personal anxiety 00:20:45 Memories of the New York blog era 00:24:54 Comparing different forms of addiction 00:29:03 Working through intimacy in therapy 00:33:12 Tying self worth to productivity 00:37:21 Being strategic in the early blog career 00:41:30 Defining the voice of Thought Catalog 00:45:39 The struggle of promoting a personal memoir #RyanOConnell #InspirationPorn #Sobriety #DisabilityRepresentation #NetflixSpecial #AddictionRecovery #HollywoodIndustry #GayMecca #MentalHealth Topics: Writing the book Inspiration Porn Starring in the Netflix show Special Acting with cerebral palsy Visiting Provincetown as a gay mecca Overcoming Percocet and alcohol Sobriety outside of recovery programs Working in the NYC blog era Becoming a Hollywood showrunner Learning about intimacy in sobriety Tying self-worth to productivity New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

Turns out Langhorne Slim and I have a lot in common. We both grew up in the Philly suburbs, we spent formative creative years in New York and we became dads in our forties. We’re also both in recovery. Langhorne’s got a new album out called The Dreaming Kind and he stopped by the studio to chat before playing a show at the Troubadour in LA. In this episode, we talk about the ways we’ve both struggled with the idea of “home.” Plus, forgiving the teachers who failed you, building creative community and the hard spiritual work of being a parent when you’re busy re-parenting yourself. 00:00:00 Intro and the Expansiveness of Love 00:03:15 Licensing Music to Walmart and Supporting a Family 00:05:35 Growing Up as an Outsider in Langhorne Pennsylvania 00:12:13 The Failure of the Public School System for Creators 00:16:13 Expectations and the Reality of the Music Industry 00:19:52 Falling Back Into Addiction and the Benzo Era 00:23:23 Losing Connection to the Divine on Skid Row 00:25:07 The Road Trip and Frightened Look That Led to Rehab 00:26:32 Detox and Treatment at Cumberland Heights 00:30:52 Why I am Grateful for My Relapse 00:33:39 Fatherhood and the Adventure of Being Still 00:49:21 Working with Greta Van Fleet on a New Record Topics: Struggles with the public school system Licensing music to commercials to support family Overcoming drug addiction and the benzo era Seeking treatment at Cumberland Heights The spiritual experience of becoming a father Collaborating with Greta Van Fleet in Nashville New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

Dave Manheim (host of the Dopey Podcast) comes back on the show to drop some Dopey wisdom. We talk about ego, ambition, control issues, slowing down and how to be of service, self-servingly. Plus, what I learned from losing my wallet and why Dave hates the movie Inside Out. New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098 Topics: Control issues and the Gordon Ramsay burden. The paradox of self-serving service. Jamie Lee Curtis on the humility trap. Why Inside Out robbed Internal Family Systems. Embracing pettiness as a connective force. The addictive search for more and the 60m goal. The wallet miracle: a metric for recovery. Why gratitude lists are fake but gratitude works. Friendship based on being worse than each other. The bumbler identity and harmony of internal parts. Scaling a creative business while managing fear

As the publicist for some of the most controversial people in media, including Candace Owens, Clavicular and Adam Friedland, Mitchell Jackson runs toward chaos. I wanted to have him on the show to talk about his own sobriety and how he balances a professional life that’s full of drama with a private life that’s “drama-free.” We talk about Mitchell’s definition of cancellation, his dream clients (Madonna) and the wealthy clients he’s happily turned down. Plus, the best time of year to admit wrongdoing, playing the hand you're dealt and how to capitalize on the worst day of your life. New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

How do you begin to laugh again after experiencing unimaginable grief? Comedian Blair Socci has been trying to answer this question since the sudden death of her brother, but the answer isn’t obvious. I wanted to have her on the show to hear how she’s doing and learn what her recent experience has taught her about vulnerability and healing. Blair’s loss is still fresh and this is a pretty raw conversation— so I brought sour candy to help us get through it. New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098 For more Blair, listen to her podcast Spaced Out with Blair Socci or catch her on tour: all dates at https://blairsocci.com

Michael Strassner makes sure to watch the first scene of his film The Baltimorons at every screening, because he knows that if the events of that scene went differently, he wouldn't be around to watch them. He and I sit down for a frank and funny conversation about depression, getting sober by the skin of your teeth and finding unexpected laughter in recovery rooms. Plus, learning to love the birds at 4am. Please note: This episode contains descriptions of self-harm. If you don’t want to hear that right now, this might be one to skip. New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

My friend Jeremy Luke did something you’re not supposed to do— two months after getting sober, he got a dog. That dog became his “No. 1 Sidekick” and suddenly Jeremy was a “dog guy,” trading in his bar friends for dog friends. When his dog Boogie died, Jeremy didn’t want to be sober anymore. In this conversation, we talk through the particular grief of losing an animal, especially one that has witnessed a major transformation in your life. If a dog has been part of your recovery, then this episode is for you. New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

Every week, Alex Winter and I have a standing date at the House of Pies in LA. I like what he has to say about creativity, fame, sobriety— you know, all the stuff I’m interested in. Alex was on Broadway as a kid and then blew up when he starred in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. In this conversation, we talk about how child stardom messes with your sense of self and why he had to quit the business to figure out who he was. Since that time, he’s become a prolific documentary and narrative film director and earlier this year, he returned to Broadway, starring with his old friend Keanu Reeves in Waiting for Godot. We discuss the rigors of stage acting, his definition of joy and where political activism fits into his recovery. Alex is no guru, but he’s a smart dude. Grab a slice of pie, why don't ya? New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

Chris Witaske has "golden retriever" energy and he knows it, but there’s a bullied kid under that fun-loving guy. You probably know Chris as Pete on The Bear, or from those Progressive commercials. We talk about how he grew up drinking cheap beer in cornfields and dreaming of Animal House, only to crash out after a life-altering trip at a Phish concert. We reflect on the rockstars who made it out alive (Trey Anastasio) and those who didn’t (Chris Farley) and the role psychedelics have played in Chris’s recovery. Plus, phones, gambling and how to sit in your own skin. New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

When Elizabeth Gilbert wrote Eat Pray Love, she described her disordered relationship history using the language of addiction. It wasn’t until years later that she realized that for her, addiction wasn’t only a metaphor. In her new memoir All the Way to the River, Gilbert chronicles the chaos and degradation of her own sex and love addiction and how she finally got clean. The book is messy, and so is Liz. No easy answers here. We talk about the strangeness of entering recovery rooms as the author of a book that “changed peoples’ lives” and how the spiritual technology of recovery has changed hers. Plus, creative ambition and sobriety, delighting in your anger and geeking out about two way prayer. New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

My friend Jerry O’Connell says he’s a simple guy. I wholeheartedly disagree. I was frankly surprised that he agreed to come on the show and discuss his recovery, a topic he has never spoken about publicly before, but I’m glad he was willing to get "serious" with me. We also discuss how he’s processing (or not processing) the shock of losing Stand By Me director Rob Reiner, a man who “changed his whole life.” Plus, why Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and recovery go together, my ongoing feud with Sha Na Na drummer Screamin’ Scott Simon and Jerry’s trick for when he finds himself jealous of Wes Bentley, again. New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

When I found out my old colleague Cord Jefferson was writing a TV show about our time together at Gawker, I got pissed. I think I called him an "a**face." I don't feel resentful toward Cord anymore, but I wanted to have him on the show to talk about why that got under my skin. Plus, I wanted to hear how his recent success winning the Oscar for writing American Fiction had impacted his creative life. Together, we inventory our petty resentments and discuss how anger can be both a motivating force and a distracting nuisance. This one's for anyone who ever held a grudge. New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

Amanda de Cadenet lost control at an early age. As a teenager, she was on TV, married to a rockstar and all over the tabloids, but she had a deep loneliness that she couldn’t face. When she entered recovery, she stepped behind the camera for the first time and discovered the power of her own gaze. Now, as the host of “The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet,” she creates space for some of the world’s best-known people to reveal themselves in surprising ways. Join us for our own conversation about fame, despair and why her recovery is still the most important thing in her life. New episodes release every Wednesday. ➡️ Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 ➡️ Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ ➡️ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW ➡️ Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

People love to dunk on Joe Buck. They think one of the most accomplished play-by-play guys in the history of sports is robotic, elitist or boring. What you may not realize is that the worst things you've yelled at Joe Buck, he's definitely thought about himself. Together, we talk about the strangeness of being on camera and Joe's relationship with vanity, nepotism and never feeling like "enough." Plus, if you were waiting for us to do a hair plug episode, the wait is over. New episodes release every Wednesday. Subscribe to The Small Bow Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBow?sub_confirmation=1 Join The Small Bow Community: https://www.thesmallbow.com/ Get the latest on The Small Bow: https://linktr.ee/THESMALLBOW Download The Small Bow Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bow-podcast/id1576208098

I never expected that Jenn Sterger would become such a big part of my recovery. Jenn is a comedian and former sports commentator and in 2010, I ruined her life. Since then, Jenn and I have rebuilt our friendship (with the help of a dog) and I’m grateful to her for coming on the show. We talk about public shame, forgiveness and how hard it is to let go of what other people think. New episodes release every Wednesday.

The Small Bow Podcast with A.J. Daulerio is re-launching on March 4, with new episodes dropping every Wednesday.  The Small Bow is a show about expanding the definition of recovery, where A.J. talks to writers, entertainers, recovering addicts, recovering jerks, and even the occasional normal person about how they made it through hard things and got better because of it. Episodes explore addiction and sobriety beyond stereotypes, identity shifts and ego, burnout and grief, car crashes and life detours, and the messy, funny, uncomfortable realities of being human.

In this very special episode, Phish's Trey Anastasio talks to us about how his 2006 drug arrest and the court-ordered treatment he received afterward became the catalyst for his second act as both a musician and a human, and also inspired him to open a revolutionary treatment center in Ludlow, Vermont called Divided Sky.  Show Notes:  The story of Divided Sky  Live access to Beacon Jams on November 28, 29, and 30  Trey Anastasio band  New Yorker story on Phish The Small Bow

Oldster Magazine’s Sari Botton talks to us about what she’s learned from her readership, and some of the anxiety she feels about turning 60. Show Notes: Oldster! Sober Oldster! The Small Bow

Social worker/Interventionist/advocate returns to The Small Bow to talk about Recovery Month, which happens every September, but is still being widely ignored. This is our annual attempt to develop a more effective marketing plan to increase interest in Recovery Month.  Show Notes:  Why Does No One Care About Recovery Month?  Unknown Costs by Wilson Sims  Champions of the World The Small Bow Newsletter!

After a car accident left her with catastrophic injuries, writer/teacher/poet Molly Johnsen had to physically and mentally recover. Through EMDR and poetry, she found a way out.  Show Notes: Everything Alive by Molly Johnsen Hit By a Truck Essay How to Survive The Small Bow Newsletter!

After a car accident left her with catastrophic injuries, writer/editor Emma Carmichael had to physically and mentally recover, but mainly she had to learn how to become more durable for when bad things happen in her life. Here's how she did it. Show Notes: Everything Alive by Molly Johnsen Hit By a Truck Essay How to Survive The Small Bow Newsletter!

Actor/Writer/Podcaster Sean Clements tells us about his early recovery -- from an uncomfortable amends to his former employer, at a dry cleaners, to odd jobs in Connecticut, to UCB improv classes, Minnie Driver's seal of approval, to becoming a sought-after comedy writer, to elite podcaster.  SHOW NOTES:  Hollywood Handbook Sean Clements IMDB home page Minnie Driver IMDB home page The Dink Gillian Jacobs, Our Close Friend PLEASE HELP SUPPORT THE SMALL BOW!: GIVE US FIVE STARS ***** ON APPLE * Sign up for the newsletter on Substack

Musician and artist Luke Pelletier comes on TSB and tells us about his incredible manic episode when he attempted to prove his love to his girlfriend by spray painting their names on the Hollywood Sign. We hear about his new album that's come out of that experience and the medication and the friends and the art that is keeping him safe and healthy. This one is wild! Show Notes: Musician and artist Luke Pelletier comes on TSB and tells us about his incredible manic episode when he attempted to prove his love to his girlfriend by spray painting their names on the Hollywood Sign. We hear about his new album that's come out of that experience and the medication and the friends and the art that is keeping him safe and healthy. This one is wild! Show Notes: Luke Pelletier Art Instagram post about his breakdown Soggy Anvil Records  Luke's work on Linktree The Small Bow Newsletter! Help Support TSB!

Do you like inside baseball? Editor Delia Cai joins TSB to discuss the state of independent media and if a career crisis is even a thing anymore. We get into my own anxiety about The Small Bow's expansion plans. Plus -- a Swamp Dogg giveaway! Show Notes: Deez Links  New York Magazine story about Atlantic hiring spree. Puck article about Substack Substack Did Not See That Coming The Small Bow Newsletter! (On Substack for the time being.)  Help Support TSB!

Writer/author Casey Johsnton returns to the pod to discuss her new book, "A Physical Education." We talk about lifting heavy things, when you know you're hot, counting calories, bad body image, insecurity, walking into a gym for the first time, Jessica Simpson, and so much more.  Show Notes: * A Physical Education * "She's a Beast" newsletter * Previous interview with Casey on Really Good Shares * The Small Bow Newsletter!  * Help Support TSB!

New York Times writer and author of "Second Life" Amanda Hess talks to us about motherhood, writing a book, quitting drinking while writing a book, benzos, anxiety, and how to be a steady-seeming parent in the chaotic digital nightmare-verse.   Show Notes: * "Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age" * "Sinead O'Connor Remembers Things Differently" * "Amanda Hess: NYT Archive" * The Small Bow Newsletter!  * Help Support TSB!

New Yorker writer Amanda Petrusich talks to us about all the complicated and gnarly feelings she's working through since the sudden death of her husband in August 2022.  Show Notes:  * "The Sad Dads of The National"  * "The Enduring Genius of Metallica" * "Nick Cave on The Fragility of Life" *  "After Forty Years, Phish Isn't Seeking Resolution" * "The National" (TSB Essay)

Last New Year's Eve, Joe Lynskey was headed home from lunch and stepped onto an empty platform at 18th Street and 1st Avenue when he was violently pushed from behind and inches from being hit by a moving subway car. He survived. And his 12 years of recovery from drugs and alcohol are helping him move forward.  Show Notes:  "He Was Pushed In Front of a Subway Car. How did He Survive?" "NYC Subway Survivor Meets FDNY Who Saved Him" The Small Bow Newsletter! Help Support TSB!

Writer/Novelist Freddie deBoer tells us his experience with bipolar disorder and the six times he entered (or was placed) into a facility.  Show Notes:  * "Why I Won't Write a Mental Illness Memoir"  * Pre-order Freddie's novel "The Mind Reels"  * Here's Your Kanye West Cliff Notes The Small Bow Newsletter! Help Support TSB!

American Fiction Writer/Director Cord Jefferson returns to the pod to discuss winning at the Oscars, losing the Golden Globes, and how he plans to fill the hole in his soul.  Show Notes: American Fiction Stunting Growth w/ Cord Jefferson The Small Bow Newsletter! Help Support TSB!

Joey McIntyre from New Kids on the Block tells us all the ways he's kept himself in check throughout his career and dazzles us with his grace and humility. If you like this kinda stuff, maybe you want to sign up to our newsletter. Show Notes: BUY JOE'S NEW ALBUM "FREEDOM"

Journalist and mental health counselor Jayson Blair tells us all about how his plagiarism scandal at The New York Times gave him the opportunity to get the help he needed – and to help others.  Show Notes: CORRECTING THE RECORD KATIE COURIC INTERVIEW WITH JAYSON GOOSE CREEK CONSULTING: JAYSON’S LIFE COACHING

Writer and director Cory Reeder shares about his life-long quest for inner peace from a family tragedy that haunted him for more than 30 years. Trigger warning: some graphic content.  Show Notes: Cory Reeder

NYT’s writer and author Kate Conger lets us know how she’s holding up since her once humble beat covering a billionaire troll who builds rockets and purchased Twitter has become much more intense, important, and crazy since he’s become a very active member of the Trump administration.  Show Notes: Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter Kate’s recent NYT’s stories

Writer Heather Havrilesky comes on to discuss her creative process and how doing super-vulnerable activities like her Zoom singing lessons helps her grow as a person. Sometimes, our greatest joys come from the process, not the results. As the world continues to fail us, we need more joy; we need more process.  Show Notes: Ask Polly Columns:  “Passion Requires Slow Cultivation”  “Reckoning With This Vicious World” Death, Sex, and Money: “The Transcendent Power of Low-Stakes Art”

Joan Wasser, AKA Joan As Policewoman walks us through her 20 years of sobriety, how her creativity has evolved, what defects remain, and the path of processing grief.  Show Notes: Buy Joan’s Music and Merch Sober Oldster Interview

Peaceful John returns to the pod just in time for the new year and we discuss how vanity and ego never go away, personal needs, and are friendships you develop inside recovery rooms real friendships? Plus, the usual sonorous laughter and deep-ass breaths found in all Peaceful John episodes.  Notes: TSB Newsletter

This is a super Dopey episode of The Small Bow, where we speak with Dave Manheim about whether heroin addicts celebrate Dry January, our future ambitious plans for our respective projects, Dave’s book idea, and more.  Show notes: Dopey Podcast TSB Newsletter Gabby Bernstein

We revisit an old Small Bow essay about my first New Year’s Eve sober—all the feelings of self-pity and loneliness almost drove me to a very bizarre and off-putting relapse. Sobriety didn’t give me the peace of mind and the results I wanted right away. I beat myself up about it, but you don’t have to.  Show notes: The Small Bow’s Newsletter Search Engine episode featuring A.J. Daulerio about Dry January [Swamp Dogg]

I talk to my version of Taylor Swift, Cleveland poet George Bilgere, whose writing and distinctive voice have influenced my post-sobriety writing (and parenting) more than anyone else. It's a time when a lot of new things come and go, and I want to figure out how to be okay with that. Show notes: Poetrytown.com Georgebilgere.com TSB story featuring George’s work.  Writer’s Almanac Poems “Cheap Motels of My Youth” featured on Rattle In this episode: 00:38 Hello and Welcome 05:47 The interview begins 10:32 How to be light and dark, Tony Hoagland 18:50 "I forgot to say goodbye" 26:29 Thinking about death and other endings, Billy Collins 32:32 Children: Believe the hype! Grieving ahead of time 34:35 Sources of Inspiration, Bilgere as aberration, Diaper moments 40:45 How much should we micro-grieve? 52:06 Is this Home? 58:01 Preparing for the world

Today we talk about how a lack of personal safety as little boys taught us how to be drunk, angry, impotent men. It’s about bullying and Bukowski and desperation and an inability to show love for ourselves and accept love from others. Usual shit.  Show notes: John's book Theatre Kids: A True Tale of Off-Off Broadway. Swamp Dogg's record. In this episode: 01:24 - Keep on trying 06:06 - Curtains up, Beard ASMR, Daily Carry Bros 08:57 - Military & Theatre 15:20 - Meeting via Maxim, the Black Table 21:20 - Bonding over 'party fouls' 23:16 - The Email and the party 26:21 - The language of toxic masculinity 30:19 - Calling from the wreckage, John's advice to A.J. 36:46 - The little old lady 40:26 - Confronting fear in early sobriety 47:51 - Jane Fonda's Toxic Masculinity Observation 51:12 - Shakespeare on Masculinity, Back to Buk' 55:48 - Kid Stardust on the Porter House 1:00:22 - Trying to feel safe and loved 1:03:33 - Live from the boxing gym, losing fights, mano a wall 1:07:14 - Anger as an indicator 1:09:43 - Revenge fantasies 1:11:56 - How to become a villain 1:18:56 - Schoolyard: 1 Bukoski: 0, Swamp does CCR

We pause to introduce a new segment, and talk shop about some big plans in the works for the new year. The Small Bow universe is growing in exciting ways, with help from some new friends. Also, a little Q&A about how things are going so far in Season 2, what's next for the podcast, and some industry gossip. Want to help guide things? Take two minutes to tell us what else you’d like to see from The Small Bow in our listener survey here.  Things we mentioned: Hear A.J. interviewed on PJ’s podcast Search Engine here. Listen to the Death Sex and Money episode we’re talking about. Check out Garrett's newsletter Healings. Did we…already mention the survey? There’s a survey. In this episode: 0:38 Intro 0:57 SOTS? 2:06 Growth Plans 3:06 Survey, App plans 11:12 What are people Googling? 14:00 Doing less, check engine light, Death Sex & Money 17:34 How the Slate Ask A.J. column is going 20:26 A.J.'s app plans 23:59 An entry point for early recovery 29:40 Ads creator economy, high bar 32:25 Partnering with people who want to work with us 36:32 Around the world, around the world

The acclaimed and wonderful author of Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma helps us sift through the ugliness of monstrous behavior and the guilty feelings associated with being a fan of the art made by vile people. Is it okay to still watch those movies and listen to those songs? Claire Dederer tells A.J. what to do, plus a lot of great advice on writing memoir, and navigating the world of publishing. Links: Claire’s book Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma, and Claire’s essay in the Paris Review. Listen to Swamp Dogg’s new album "Blackgrass" wherever you get music, or buy a hard copy at Ohboy.com. Thanks to Robo9418 for your recording of people cheering for a banana. In this episode: 0:38 Intro 3:49 Origins of the book, feeling conflicted about Polanski 7:17 The gift of distaster and monstrous perspective 9:23 Feeling shameful in early recovery 13:23 AJ's experience with judgment, shame 16:27 How recovery changed Claire's work, Responsibility 22:07 Two things for A.J. that came from the book 25:37 Ubiquity of biography online, public cancellations, notoriety 32:29 No longer identifying with who you were 43:47 What do you tell your kids about your own monstrousness? 54:40 Different types of monsters 57:27 Charles Bukowski, Gena Rowlands, and other forms 1:03:44 Whether you are your work, Derrida 1:07:21 Are writing retreats helpful? 1:09:45 Claire v. A.J.'s therapist 1:13:46 Balancing sober content, Dopey, TSB's philosophy 1:18:57 Where A.J. feels shaky with blurred lines, how he approaches the newsletter 1:23:23 False Ending 1:26:57 The half-life of Monsters, avoiding getting typecast as a subject matter expert 1:35:52 Outro

Today we talk with writer Kerry Madden-Lunsford about how Al-Anon has helped her deal with the pain of having a child who’s treatment-resistant and now living on the streets of Los Angeles. Find more stories and conversations at thesmallbow.com. Kerry’s book Werewolf Hamlet Kerry’s Substack "Easy Crier" by Al Oldender Listen to Swamp Dogg’s new album "Blackgrass" wherever you get music, or buy a hard copy at Ohboy.com. In this Episode 0:38 Intro 4:51 Flannery's Childhood, Kerry's Parenting Philosophies 5:59 The Christmas Letter 8:04 Flannery Today 10:29 Being in Denial, then Noticing Signs 14:08 The most codependent family ever vs Al Anon 17:17 Diagnosis, Jail, Christmas 19:42 Self-Pity vs Al Anon 22:35 Werewolf Hamlet 25:28 Travel Town Museum, Torment 28:08 Realizing your child is unhoused 30:50 Looking For Flannery 32:50 Justin Szlasa 35:43 What Should You Do? 42:17 Ideal Outcomes 45:17 Kerry's current approach 50:22 Angels 55:04 Outro