Diary of an Addict

This story comes from back home in Cherokee, NC. Brandy Pheasant joins us to share her story of how she overcame some severe trauma in her teenage years, and how that has helped shape who she is today. She talks about the different things along her journey that have helped her, and her husband reach 7 years of sobriety!ALSO - Gabe Crow is still missing. Gabe Crow was last seen on Jan. 27 in West Asheville and concerns continue to grow as his family has not heard from him. Anyone with any information about Crow's whereabouts is asked to contact the Asheville Police Department with an anonymous tip using the TIP2APD smartphone application (search "Asheville PD" in your app store) or by texting TIP2APD to 847411. You can also contact APD at 828-252-1110.*Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

This powerful testimony comes to us from the West Coast. Barry Brown tells us his story in hopes that it will help someone else. He grew up on the pow wow trail and he tells us how traditions, and treatment, have helped him turn his life around. ALSO - Gabe Crow is still missing. Gabe Crow was last seen on Jan. 27 in West Asheville and concerns continue to grow as his family has not heard from him. Anyone with any information about Crow's whereabouts is asked to contact the Asheville Police Department with an anonymous tip using the TIP2APD smartphone application (search "Asheville PD" in your app store) or by texting TIP2APD to 847411. You can also contact APD at 828-252-1110.*Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

We're back with a powerful message from Dallas Morrison, AKA "Marlboro Slim" from Oaks, Oklahoma. He tells us about growing up in a family dynamic that was a little different than most, and how he overcame a 15 year battle with his demons. ALSO - Gabe Crow is still missing. Gabe Crow was last seen on Jan. 27 in West Asheville and concerns continue to grow as his family has not heard from him. Anyone with any information about Crow's whereabouts is asked to contact the Asheville Police Department with an anonymous tip using the TIP2APD smartphone application (search "Asheville PD" in your app store) or by texting TIP2APD to 847411. You can also contact APD at 828-252-1110.*Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

We’re back with a powerful episode with Kathy “Kat” Maney from Cherokee. Kathy walks us through her journey of abuse, despair, and recovery. She’s worked hard to break the cycle and helps us understand how we focus on others to avoid working on ourselves. She gives us a great reminder to love ourselves and know we’re worthy of love.ALSO - Gabe Crow is still missing. Gabe Crow was last seen on Jan. 27 in West Asheville and concerns continue to grow as his family has not heard from him. Anyone with any information about Crow's whereabouts is asked to contact the Asheville Police Department with an anonymous tip using the TIP2APD smartphone application (search "Asheville PD" in your app store) or by texting TIP2APD to 847411. You can also contact APD at 828-252-1110.*Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

Deidrea Salabye brings some good medicine to the show by sharing her heartfelt story of overcoming addiction. She describes her quest to overcome childhood trauma by pleasing others and striving for perfection, all the while using alcohol as a crutch. Deidrea fooled so many, including herself, into thinking she didn’t have a problem, until a life-changing loss send her over the edge. Thankfully, she made it back and can see the beauty in life again. **ALSO - Gabe Crow is still missing. Gabe Crow was last seen on Jan. 27 in West Asheville and concerns continue to grow as his family has not heard from him. Anyone with any information about Crow's whereabouts is asked to contact the Asheville Police Department with an anonymous tip using the TIP2APD smartphone application (search "Asheville PD" in your app store) or by texting TIP2APD to 847411. You can also contact APD at 828-252-1110.*Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

Kandace Griffin has battled addiction for most of her adult life. In 2023 she had finally of the vicious cycle of detox, drugs, and addiction. Through recovery, she has learned how she used drugs to cover up her emotions and is now learning who she really is sober. She shares her powerful message of overcoming people’s misconceptions so she can be her true self, and who her kids need. *Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

Reconnecting with another family member, Alex Taylor, on this episode. Alex shares her struggle from athletic injury to drug addiction. She gets vulnerable and explains what it really took for her to get clean. Now Alex helps others as a peer support specialist and helps meet people where they’re at through the overdose response team in Buncombe County. *Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

Listen in to Taelon Jumper’s miraculous story of overcoming addiction. Taelon grew up with guardians in the drug game and drugs became a normalized part of his life, to the point he was dealing with his own mom. He would go on to witness his mom fall victim to those same drugs. He describes his full circle moment of realizing he needed to get clean so he could be a better person and not have his kids go through what he went through. *Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

In this episode, Felicia Deleon explains how growing up in a broken home led to her using drugs and alcohol as a teenager. She describes how she feels like she’s had to start life all over again and learn to deal with things head-on, rather than numb the pain away. Felicia also shares how she found Jesus along her recovery journey and how she uses her peace to help others find theirs. *Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

Another very special guest this week, my great friend, Kallup McCoy II. Kallup walks us through his journey to recovery, unpacking his childhood traumas and revealing his struggles. He explains how movement has helped him find his purpose and hopes to cure our community's deeper generational curses. *Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

Buster Biddix joins the show to talk about his tumultuous journey to recovery. From a tough childhood in and out of foster care to alcohol and drug addiction, he took on the persona of being a hardcore druggie and struggled to leave that behind. Now his daughter drives him to be the man his grandma always wanted to be. Listen in to hear how “Family First, Never Last,” became his new mantra. *Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

Another special one this week as I speak with Caine Lambert, my first cousin, for the first time to discuss his recovery journey. Caine used alcohol from an early age to suppress his mental health challenges and it almost cost him his life. He explains how he unpacked his trauma and found ways not to spiral back into alcoholism. Caine gives valuable advice and inspiration to overcome addiction for yourself, because you have to do it for you. *Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

In this episode, we talk to Nerissa Woodard, who exemplifies how addiction doesn’t discriminate. She had what she describes as an ideal childhood but got into the wrong crowd, which led her to heroin and meth addiction. She describes how addiction would transform her into someone she could have never imagined. Nerissa explains how loss and the threat of further loss led her to quit cold turkey. Listen in to hear her advice for others who are struggling. *Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

Taking it back to the Qualla Boundary this week with one of my old friends, Tristan “Trik” Long. We talk through learning what you thought was “normal” really wasn’t and chasing a high you can never really catch. Trik explains his artistic inspirations and how he now helps others who are battling addiction just like he did. Much like our traditions, in order to keep it, we must give it away. People helping people.*Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcohol*Intro music by Dallas Morrison

Special episode this week with Cece Estrada, LCSW. Cece is a licensed clinical social worker who works with young people dealing with mental health and co-occurring disorders with substance abuse. She walks us through what led her to this work and the misconceptions about mental health as well as specialized therapies such as EMDR.

Jaazaniah Owle joins the show this week to walk us through her indoctrination into addiction from an early age. “Jazz” was exposed to the drug world through her mom at a young age and was able to maintain an image of being “ok” with good grades before ultimately being separated from her family. She walks us through her struggles, rebelling against the system, and how she came out the other side. She is a living example of taking recovery “one day at a time”. *Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

This week’s guest is Destiny Burgess, a Targeted Case Manager at Family Safety in Cherokee. Due to her addiction, it wasn’t too long ago that Destiny was having her kids taken away from her by the same organization she now works with. She discusses the beating addiction took on her heart and how her kids inspired her to change. Now Destiny gets to use her experience to walk alongside others and help them overcome their pain. Listen to hear her inspiring story of the power of loving through the pain and anger of addiction.*Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

We're going off the Rez but still keeping it in the family with Colton Muskrat aka Highwae. Listen in to hear about his quick fall and what made him run away from his addiction, literally. Colton shares his appreciation for the simple things, including being able to create TikTok videos with his daughters, and the power of positivity.*Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

We have another beautiful full-circle story In honor of International Overdose Awareness Day. In this episode, Cody Brady walks us through her long journey to recovery. She covers the complications of growing up with conflicting identities, using drugs to cope, all the way through to now helping others who have hit the same rock bottom.

Thanks for coming back for Part 2 of my story. In this episode, I really get into my rock bottom moments and my true battle with addiction. How that addiction took over everything and I denied all the bigger issues. But there was a turning point and I keep that rock bottom in mind as I continue on this recovery journey. Thanks again for joining me.*Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

Thank you to those who have listened to this podcast. Now it’s time for me to share my story. It’s important for me to share not because I want to center myself but because I want listeners to understand my motivation for this project. I don’t look to glorify or glamorize addiction but I want to really get into why and how addiction happens, raw and unfiltered. I hope that by sharing my story it will encourage others to do the same. Stay tuned for Part 2. *Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

Josie Owle is an example of confronting addiction head-on. Not only has she overcome her own cycle of addiction but she is now dedicated to helping others recover. While she has overcome her drug addiction, she’s quick to admit she’s still a work in progress. Josie is a grateful mother and hopes to help others find their way out of desperation and remind everyone to “never say never”*Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and alcoholIntro music by Dallas Morrison

The second guest on the Diary of an Addict podcast is a first-class advocate for recovery. After spending his youth moving around the world, Rob Martens landed back home in Cherokee, NC, and quickly fell into the spiral of addiction. Rob explains how addiction is much deeper than drugs and alcohol and how he continues to recover out loud. Rob currently works at the Cherokee Indian Hospital as a certified alcohol and drug counselor and qualified mental health professional. Enjoy Rob's real, raw message of overcoming addiction.*Trigger warning - discussion of sensitive issues including drugs and suicide. Intro music by Dallas Morrison

We’re starting off this podcast with a guest whose transformation is nothing short of miraculous. Katelyn Ledford-McCoy joins us to tell us her story of trauma, tragedy, transformation, and triumph. Katelyn is currently employed at the Cherokee Indian Hospital as a peer support specialist. She is also the executive director and co-founder of the nonprofit organization RezHOPE Recovery & Consulting. Join us as we dive deep into her story of redemption. Trigger Warning: Discussion of sensitive issues including sexual assault, drugs, and addiction.Intro music by Dallas Morrison