Recovery in the Middle Ages - Two Middle-Aged Suburban Dads Talk About Recovering From Addiction to Drugs & Alcohol.

Recovery in the Middle Ages
  • 4.8 (180)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Mike and Nat are two middle-aged suburban dads wrestling with addiction and recovery while trying to juggle home life, work, and staying sober. Listen as they discuss current topics in the recovery community including 12 Step, alternative addiction recovery and the newest medical research . Listen to the guys talk about their daily struggle to maintain their recovery and anonymity in the world of soccer moms and PTA meetings. If the neighbors only knew...

  1. 4d ago

    The LADY BUZZKILL! RMA Blockbuster Interview with the Booze Slayer

    Episode: 155 The Lady Buzzkill: Danielle B. on Alcohol, Cancer, and Who Gets Hurt | RMA 155 Danielle B. didn't quit drinking because she hit bottom. By every standard society uses, her drinking looked completely normal; a few nights a week, a high tolerance, no rock bottom, no trouble stopping. She didn't learn alcohol causes cancer until she was 40, and the word she uses for how that felt is duped. And angry. One reel in June went viral, and she's been talking ever since as Lady Buzzkill. Mike and Nat go deep with her on how little honest information about alcohol actually reaches people, and how much marketing reaches kids instead, including the beer logo that ended up on a box of crackers. Why modeling moderation doesn't protect children the way parents hope. Why calling alcohol a drug is apparently the most inflammatory thing you can say on the internet, and the hate she's gotten for saying it. Why comparing alcohol to sugar and hot dogs is a logical fallacy. Alcohol as a neurotoxin, as a parasite, and as the side effect of a poison rather than a state your body was built to enjoy. Plus the secondary harms nobody counts — roughly four in ten people killed in alcohol-impaired crashes weren't the one who chose to drink. WIW: Nat brings the mystery sound that rattled Milwaukee's South Side on Monday night. Residents miles apart heard it on and off for about two hours. One neighbor called it a robot alien screech; others swore it was a recording repeatedly saying "bad boy." Not a siren, not a train, not a tornado. Police, the Department of Neighborhood Services, and the county supervisor all received nothing about it. The source is still unknown. FIND DANIELLE B.: Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/TheLadybuzzkill Instagram — @Ladybuzzkill_ YouTube — Lady_Buzzkill LINKS: Mystery sound baffles Milwaukee residents (WISN 12) — https://www.wisn.com/article/robot-alien-screech-mysterious-sound-baffles-milwaukee-residents/73855194 Nat's WIW video — https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GahP8ifuT-0 NHTSA 2024 alcohol-impaired driving data — https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/Publication/813713 Surgeon General's Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk — https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/alcohol-cancer/index.html Recovery in the Middle Ages is a podcast about finding lasting sobriety later in life. Mike and Nat are two middle-aged suburban dads covering addiction recovery news, 12 Step and alternative recovery paths, alcohol use disorder, and the research behind it all. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Please SUBSCRIBE on your favorite platform, and leave us a 5-star review if you're enjoying the show. We're listener-supported. As little as $3 a month keeps the lights on: https://www.patreon.com/RecoveryintheMiddleAges Tell us your story and we'll share it on the show — miker@middleagesrecovery.com Nat: Natx@middleagesrecovery.com Facebook page and private group — request to join and keep the conversation going. If you're in trouble with substance abuse, reach out. We neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, but the sheer number of AA and NA meetings makes that a good first step — maybe not the last step — on your road to recovery. https://www.aa.org/ · https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/

  2. Sep 26

    Kratom on Campus, Methadone on Main Street — Presley Gerber & a Changing Recovery World

    RMA 154 — Ole Miss, Presley Gerber, Methadone at the Pharmacy Season 7 · Episode 154 Two Ole Miss students were found dead with packaged kratom at both scenes and nothing confirmed by toxicology. Presley Gerber, Cindy Crawford's 27-year-old son, died of a suspected overdose hours after checking into a Santa Monica rehab. And MOTAA 2.0 — the bipartisan methadone bill — would let addiction physicians prescribe methadone and put it on pharmacy shelves in the 80% of US counties with no opioid treatment program. Mike and Nat try a new format this week, each building a separate outline and pitching stories cold. Then the lighter half: coffee raves, Brad Pitt drinking again after seven years sober, Elton John's non-alcoholic wine at 36 years, and a Lower East Side sober bar ranked ninth in North America. RITN: Elton John hits 36 years sober six months after launching his own 0% wine, and a James Beard winner puts a zero-proof mole negroni on the menu at one of North America's best bars. Sobriety stopped being the consolation prize. WIW: Over 100 people gathered above Ocean Beach in San Francisco to scream at the Pacific. Judged on volume, length, and style. The winner hit 121.9 decibels. First prize was a small megaphone. Attendees brought freshly cut fruit. Links Ole Miss student deaths and kratom — https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ole-miss-student-deaths-kratom-rcna599305 Students identified — https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/24/us/ole-miss-student-deaths-wwk Presley Gerber death investigated as overdose — https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/presley-gerber-son-cindy-crawford-dies-27-rcna598952 MOTAA 2.0 methadone bill (Markey/Paul) — https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-markey-paul-reintroduce-legislation-to-modernize-rules-for-treating-opioid-use-disorder ASAM on methadone access — https://www.asam.org/advocacy/national-advocacy/methadonetxoud The case against MOTAA 2.0 — https://filtermag.org/motaa-2-0-methadone-reform/ Elton John and sober celebrity brands — https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/13-celebrities-opened-sobriety-203000987.html NYC sober bar scene — https://millennialmagazine.com/2026/06/01/sober-curious/ Coffee raves and soft clubbing — https://grass.camp/en-US/blog/soft-clubbing-coffee-rave-run-rave-trend-2026 'Scream at the Sea' Competition Crowns a Winner — https://www.coasttocoastam.com/article/scream-at-the-sea-competition-crowns-a-winner/ Podbean tag field (separate box from the description — fill it) ole miss kratom, presley gerber, cindy crawford son, 7-oh, methadone pharmacy, MOTAA 2.0, opioid treatment, addiction recovery, sobriety, brad pitt sober, sober bars nyc, alcohol use disorder, recovery podcast Standing boilerplate — goes on every episode Recovery in the Middle Ages is a podcast about finding lasting sobriety later in life. Mike and Nat are two middle-aged suburban dads covering addiction recovery news, 12 Step and alternative recovery paths, alcohol use disorder, and the research behind it all. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Please SUBSCRIBE on your favorite platform, and leave us a 5-star review if you're enjoying the show. We're listener-supported. As little as $3 a month keeps the lights on: https://www.patreon.com/RecoveryintheMiddleAges Tell us your story and we'll share it on the show — miker@middleagesrecovery.com Nat: Natx@middleagesrecovery.com Facebook page and private group — request to join and keep the conversation going. If you're in trouble with substance abuse, reach out. We neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, but the sheer number of AA and NA meetings makes that a good first step — maybe not the last step — on your road to recovery. https://www.aa.org/ · https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/ Note: the first italic paragraph is new. It's what makes an episode page about Presley Gerber also turn up for "recovery podcast" and "sobriety later in life" — the traffic that actually subscribes. Put it on every episode from here on.

  3. Sep 19

    Changing Seats on the Titanic? Gambling, Nicotine & Replacement Addictions

    Episode: 153: What Fills the Hole? Last week, we asked whether America is genuinely getting sober or simply swapping one addiction for another. This week, we examine what people are using to replace drugs and alcohol. Nobody warns you that quitting leaves a hole — not a metaphorical one, a real five-o'clock-on-a-Tuesday hole where a thing used to go. Something is going to fill it. (Hehe). The only question is what, and whether you picked it or it picked you. So today: emergency rooms are seeing twice as many gambling cases since sports betting went online, and the industry says that's just better screening. Twenty-five companies are suddenly racing to build a pill for drinking, in a field that's had three drugs for decades. Half the guys we know who quit drinking now have a tin of nicotinein their pocket. And the non-alcoholic drinks business has figured out that the one thing its product can't do — make you feel something — is the thing people actually want, so they're putting THC in it. Four replacements. Some of them are fine. Some are the same deal wearing a different hat. We try to work out which is which. LINKS: Gambling ER visits for gambling disorders double after online sports betting — https://www.deseret.com/lifestyle/2026/09/16/sports-betting-gambling-addiction-disorder-emergency-room-visits-increase-study/ Prediction markets and the new gambling frontier — https://woub.org/2026/09/08/ohio-university-modern-science-gambling-addiction-prediction-markets/ Sports betting addiction statistics — https://gamblingharm.org/sports-betting-addiction-statistics/ The AUD drug pipeline 25+ companies, 25+ investigational therapies — https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/11/3360198/28124/en/alcohol-use-disorder-pipeline-insight-2026-examines-25-companies-and-25-emerging-therapies.html Shorter trials, more reliable results — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acer.70368 Nicotine pouches Nicotine pouch use surges — https://www.cdcfoundation.org/blog/Nicotine-Pouch-Use-Surges-Among-Young-People The evidence that pouches help smokers quit is limited — https://www.theexamination.org/articles/nicotine-pouches-smoking-path-data Sober September and what's in the glass Sober September, 2026 edition — https://sober.com/sober-september-offers-a-chance-to-reaffirm-your-sobriety/ Week in Weird Hard Mountain Dew's $1M Bigfoot Bounty — https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/16/3363360/0/en/hard-mountain-dew-puts-1m-bounty-on-bigfoot-this-fall.html Maine police: it was a guy in a costume — https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2026/09/02/bigfoot-sighting-was-just-a-man-in-a-costume/ This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Please SUBSCRIBE on your favorite platform, and leave us a 5-star review if you're enjoying the show. We're listener-supported. As little as $3 a month keeps the lights on: https://www.patreon.com/RecoveryintheMiddleAges Tell us your story and we'll share it on the show — miker@middleagesrecovery.com Nat: Natx@middleagesrecovery.com Facebook page and private group — request to join and keep the conversation going. If you're in trouble with substance abuse, reach out. We neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, but the sheer number of AA and NA meetings makes that a good first step — maybe not the last step — on your road to recovery. https://www.aa.org/ · https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/

  4. Sep 5

    Season 7: We're Back, and Nobody's Drinking Anymore

    Episode: 152: Season 7: We're Back, and Nobody's Drinking Anymore  SEASON 7 IS HERE. After a long hiatus, Mike and Nat are back for National Recovery Month. We catch up on where we've both actually been, and Nat explains why he's becoming a Freemason — which, for a show called Recovery in the Middle Ages, feels overdue. Then: a non-alcoholic bottle shop opened one town over, so we brought some of it into the studio. NA beer goes down fine. The fake wine did something else entirely — it made us both uncomfortable in a way we spent a while trying to name. Why does one substitute feel harmless and the other feel like a near miss? We don't fully land it, but the conversation is worth having if you've ever stood in that aisle. That leads into the numbers. Gallup says the share of Americans who drink just tied its lowest reading since 1939 — real sobriety, or just substitution? A 340,000-person study rises from the grave to tell us wine is heart-healthy again, the same myth we buried in Episode 143, and we take it apart. And buried in the crosstabs is something nobody can explain: since 2023, drinking is down 12 points among Republicans and 11 among independents, while Democrats haven't budged. Mike thinks it's Ozempic. Nat isn't buying it. Welcome back, Monksters. WIW: The Syracuse Figure — upstate New York has a Bigfoot, and it's four foot nine. LINKS: Gallup, "Americans' Drinking Remains at Record Low" — https://news.gallup.com/poll/713534/americans-drinking-remains-record-low.aspx Wine vs. beer vs. spirits, ACC.26 — https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260808235008.htm GLP-1 usage by state — https://dataexplained.com/news/weight-loss-drug-usage-by-state-in-us/ PLOS One, health and political geography — https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0254001 This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Please SUBSCRIBE on your favorite platform, and leave us a 5-star review if you're enjoying the show. We're listener-supported. As little as $3 a month keeps the lights on: https://www.patreon.com/RecoveryintheMiddleAges Tell us your story and we'll share it on the show — miker@middleagesrecovery.com Nat: Natx@middleagesrecovery.com Facebook page and private group — request to join and keep the conversation going. If you're in trouble with substance abuse, reach out. We neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, but the sheer number of AA and NA meetings makes that a good first step — maybe not the last step — on your road to recovery. https://www.aa.org/ · https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/

  5. Apr 25

    RFK Snorts Ibogaine off of a Toilet Seat?! AND- Kratom-Born into the Blues

    Episode 151: Ibogaine and Kratom-Born into the Blues In this week’s show, we tackle two of the most debated botanicals in the addiction space from completely different angles. First, things get personal (and combative) as we dissect a Facebook argument Mike recently had with hardcore kratom proponents, diving into the fiercely protective and often wild online culture surrounding the Southeast Asian leaf. We then pivot from internet drama to clinical science to unpack ibogaine. We explore the profound pharmacology behind this powerful West African root bark and its intense potential to essentially "reset" the brain's opioid receptors and abruptly interrupt severe withdrawal. Join us as we contrast the volatile community politics of kratom with the raw therapeutic realities of ibogaine. Also, new music from Nat to close out the show! Check out the world premier of Born into the Blues. RITN: Kash Patel, get your rear end to a meeting. WIW: More Bigfeet on the move. *This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.* Please remember to SUBSCRIBE to the podcast on your favorite platform to get the latest episode delivered right to your devices as soon as it’s released. LINKS: We are a listener-supported podcast. If you like what we’re doing here at RMA and want to support the show, JOIN THE RECOVERY IN THE MIDDLE AGES PATREON  Our sole mission is to help other people achieve sobriety and become their best, most authentic selves. As little as $3 a month makes a big difference and helps us keep the lights on.  https://www.patreon.com/RecoveryintheMiddleAges As always, we thank you for your support.  RMA ON YOUTUBE FOLLOW US ON TWITTER  Facebook Page We also have a Facebook Group! Request to join the group. It’s a private space for continuing the discussion of what Nat and Mike talk about on the podcast. Hope to see you there. PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you’re enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.  Email: MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com Natx@middleagesrecovery.com We all have a story. Tell us yours and we’ll share it on the show! E-Mail your story to miker@middleagesrecovery.com If you’re in trouble with substance abuse and need help, reach out. There are thousands of people who have put problems with addiction in their rear-view mirrors and you can be one of them. While we neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, the sheer number of available AA and NA meetings suggest that reaching out to those organizations would be a good first step, (but maybe not the last step), on your road to recovery.   https://www.aa.org/ https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/ Marijuana Anonymous (just in case): This Naked Mind

  6. Mar 20

    The Addictaholic Deconstructed- by Dr Labor - Is Addiction a DISEASE??

    Episode 150: The Disease Model of Addiction We hear it everywhere-addiction is a disease. It’s the foundation of rehab, recovery culture, and even how people talk about themselves. But what if that idea isn’t as settled as it sounds? In this episode, we take a look at The Addictaholic Deconstructed by Doctor Nicole Labor and her persuasive case for the disease model. There’s real truth in it; brain changes, genetics, the feeling of compulsion; but we dig into where the argument starts to stretch. Does neuroscience actually prove addiction is a disease, or does it just show that behavior and learning leave a mark on the brain? We also get into the uncomfortable stuff most people don’t question: why the model seems impossible to disprove, why so many people recover without treatment, and why addiction, if it’s a biological disease, is so often “treated” with prayer and surrender in 12-step programs. There’s  a different way of looking at it: addiction as a learned, reinforced coping strategy that works… until it doesn’t. And what that shift means for how people recover, especially those who don’t fit the classic “rock bottom” story. If you’ve ever felt like the disease label helped you… or held you back… this one’s for you. RITN: Pity the poor restaurants who are closing because people aren’t drinking enough. WIW: Bigfoot spring migration in Ohio. *This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.* Please remember to SUBSCRIBE to the podcast on your favorite platform to get the latest episode delivered right to your devices as soon as it’s released. LINKS: We are a listener-supported podcast. If you like what we’re doing here at RMA and want to support the show, JOIN THE RECOVERY IN THE MIDDLE AGES PATREON  Our sole mission is to help other people achieve sobriety and become their best, most authentic selves. As little as $3 a month makes a big difference and helps us keep the lights on.  https://www.patreon.com/RecoveryintheMiddleAges As always, we thank you for your support.  RMA ON YOUTUBE FOLLOW US ON TWITTER  Facebook Page We also have a Facebook Group! Request to join the group. It’s a private space for continuing the discussion of what Nat and Mike talk about on the podcast. Hope to see you there. PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you’re enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.  Email: MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com Natx@middleagesrecovery.com We all have a story. Tell us yours and we’ll share it on the show! E-Mail your story to miker@middleagesrecovery.com If you’re in trouble with substance abuse and need help, reach out. There are thousands of people who have put problems with addiction in their rear-view mirrors and you can be one of them. While we neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, the sheer number of available AA and NA meetings suggest that reaching out to those organizations would be a good first step, (but maybe not the last step), on your road to recovery.   https://www.aa.org/ https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/ Marijuana Anonymous (just in case): This Naked Mind

  7. Mar 14

    Can AI Actually Help People Stay Sober? The DMT Reality Laser!

    Episode 149: Recovery 101-AI Sponsors, Real Life Problems We discuss AI, sober apps, mental health,  and navigating the vicissitudes of life. We basically shoot the shit for an hour and a half. Also, Nat shares some bad news, we have three RITN articles, and we engage in our usual hijinks. RITN: Nassau County bans 7OH WIW: Does DMT open a portal to the source-code of life? *This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.* Please remember to SUBSCRIBE to the podcast on your favorite platform to get the latest episode delivered right to your devices as soon as it’s released. LINKS: We are a listener-supported podcast. If you like what we’re doing here at RMA and want to support the show, JOIN THE RECOVERY IN THE MIDDLE AGES PATREON  Our sole mission is to help other people achieve sobriety and become their best, most authentic selves. As little as $3 a month makes a big difference and helps us keep the lights on.  https://www.patreon.com/RecoveryintheMiddleAges As always, we thank you for your support.  RMA ON YOUTUBE FOLLOW US ON TWITTER  Facebook Page We also have a Facebook Group! Request to join the group. It’s a private space for continuing the discussion of what Nat and Mike talk about on the podcast. Hope to see you there. PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you’re enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.  Email: MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com Natx@middleagesrecovery.com We all have a story. Tell us yours and we’ll share it on the show! E-Mail your story to miker@middleagesrecovery.com If you’re in trouble with substance abuse and need help, reach out. There are thousands of people who have put problems with addiction in their rear-view mirrors and you can be one of them. While we neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, the sheer number of available AA and NA meetings suggest that reaching out to those organizations would be a good first step, (but maybe not the last step), on your road to recovery.   https://www.aa.org/ https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/ Marijuana Anonymous (just in case): This Naked Mind

  8. Feb 27

    Recovery 101: Take it From the Top! Getting Back to Basics

    Episode 148: Recovery 101-Back to Basics In this episode we explore the foundational and advanced tools needed to build a lasting, fulfilling sober life. We start by dismantling the outdated stereotypes of the "bridge drunk" to embrace the nuance of the Alcohol Spectrum, while explaining why quitting in middle age offers unique advantages like a strong work ethic and immunity to peer pressure.  Also, Nat shares some good news, we read some reviews, and engage in our usual jijinks. RITN: Don’t feed convenience store booze to Cooper’s Hawks.  Is Zebra-striping even a real thing?  *This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.* Please remember to SUBSCRIBE to the podcast on your favorite platform to get the latest episode delivered right to your devices as soon as it’s released. LINKS: We are a listener-supported podcast. If you like what we’re doing here at RMA and want to support the show, JOIN THE RECOVERY IN THE MIDDLE AGES PATREON  Our sole mission is to help other people achieve sobriety and become their best, most authentic selves. As little as $3 a month makes a big difference and helps us keep the lights on.  https://www.patreon.com/RecoveryintheMiddleAges As always, we thank you for your support.  RMA ON YOUTUBE FOLLOW US ON TWITTER  Facebook Page We also have a Facebook Group! Request to join the group. It’s a private space for continuing the discussion of what Nat and Mike talk about on the podcast. Hope to see you there. PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you’re enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.  Email: MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com Natx@middleagesrecovery.com We all have a story. Tell us yours and we’ll share it on the show! E-Mail your story to miker@middleagesrecovery.com If you’re in trouble with substance abuse and need help, reach out. There are thousands of people who have put problems with addiction in their rear-view mirrors and you can be one of them. While we neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, the sheer number of available AA and NA meetings suggest that reaching out to those organizations would be a good first step, (but maybe not the last step), on your road to recovery.   https://www.aa.org/ https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/ Marijuana Anonymous (just in case): This Naked Mind

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4.8
out of 5
180 Ratings

About

Mike and Nat are two middle-aged suburban dads wrestling with addiction and recovery while trying to juggle home life, work, and staying sober. Listen as they discuss current topics in the recovery community including 12 Step, alternative addiction recovery and the newest medical research . Listen to the guys talk about their daily struggle to maintain their recovery and anonymity in the world of soccer moms and PTA meetings. If the neighbors only knew...

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