Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies

Early Brunner
  • 4.8 (20)
  • Alternative Health

Recovery Demystified is a non-religious addiction recovery podcast exploring the queer and neurodivergent (autism/ADHD/etc) experience of addiction recovery, sobriety, and harm reduction. Our guests tell their addiction recovery stories to destigmatize recovery while navigating life in the process of healing from addiction and trauma. We leave shame and purity politics at the door. We talk about addiction recovery support from a radical lens, thinking outside the box and providing viable alternatives to 12-step programs. Defining and creating our own recovery/sobriety/harm-reduction lifestyle fosters the environment of empowerment and self-love necessary to change our habits. We uplift perspectives from queer and neurodivergent people (autism/ADHD/etc), exploring things like relapse prevention, coping with cravings, trauma, anxiety, socializing while sober, and other common struggles. You can expect: -Empowerment, encouragement, and a healing environment -Representation & recovery stories from queer, ND, and non-religious voices -Shame reducing harm reduction tools and strategies -Discussions about sobriety challenges, relapse, and mental health -Guidance for secular and alternative recovery paths -A punk, stigma-free, and inclusive approach to healing Whether you're looking for a queer recovery podcast, neurodivergent sobriety support, or just want real talk about addiction and harm reduction, Recovery Demystified is here to provide clarity, compassion, and community. We explore the dusty corners, the gray areas, and we are here to show you that nobody is too far gone. If you have ever felt left behind or pushed to the fringes of society, you are in the right place! Recovery for the rest of us! Connect with us: Instagram - @recoverydemystified Substack - @recoverydemystified Email - info@recoverydemystified.com Donate to our cause! Patreon - Link in episode descriptions! Venmo & Paypal - @recoverydemystified https://www.recoverydemystified.com/donations/

  1. 4d ago

    The Pills to Heroin to Meth Pipeline: What Your Doctor Doesn't Warn You About, Josh's Addiction Recovery Story

    Josh Datant joins us today to tell his harrowing story of becoming an IV meth and heroin user after first being prescribed the painkiller pills Oxycontin by his doctor at the age of 15. The pills to heroin to meth pipeline is very real, and it's not the first time we have heard someone go down this path on our show. Opiate pills can seem like a miracle drug at first, but like so many folks, Josh quickly became addicted and then seek out heroin as a cheaper and easier to find alternative. We talk about his childhood trauma, growing up with an addicted parent, and living with OCD. We talk about how things crumbled and fell apart, and the tools he used (like music) to put them back together. Josh is here to show us that no one is too far gone. If you are having a hard time, there's hope for you. Book a free 20 minute 1:1 Recovery Coaching strategy call with Early! Join us on Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit! Subscribe to our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Get some world famous RD merch! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

  2. Aug 11

    Anxiety - Why You Have It and the Unexpected Way to Get Rid of It

    Nobody likes anxiety. It makes sense to want it to go away. In this episode we dive into how alcohol and other substances can cause a neurochemical spike that causes the anxiety that we are using the substance to relieve, and how this can be a slippery slope into self-medicating and addiction. What if the secret to getting rid of anxiety isn't about trying to make it go away? What if we can find a way to understand it, greet it, and allow it to happen -- and the allowing is what sets us free? We also talk about nervous system overwhelm (fight or flight) and how to get grounded again when the anxiety gets too far outside of our window of tolerance. And strangely enough, anxiety has a purpose, and we will talk about that as well. You might not have an anxiety "disorder"... your body might just be adapting to the substances you're giving it, seeking homeostasis. Through healthy emotional regulation techniques and questioning our relationship to substances, we can get rid of that pesky anxiety or at least figure out how to negotiate space with it and let it process through us naturally. We dive into the RAIN technique and vagus nerve activation to relieve anxiety and panic. The only way out is through. You got this. Join our Patreon! Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching consultation with Early! Follow us on Instagram! Donate to our nonprofit! Shop our merch store! Subscribe to our Substack! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music -  Logan Bragg

  3. Aug 4

    Is Weed Addictive? Armstrong's Story of Addiction, Psychedelics, and an Existential Crisis

    Why do people think weed addiction isn't real? Today we hear from Armstrong about his experience with the magic, medicine, and misery of weed. He also talks about high-dose psychedelic experiences and having what might be defined as a spiritual psychosis. Near the end of his addiction, he was scrounging around for roaches on the ground. The existential crisis has eased a bit, but it's still with him.  If you've ever wondered if weed is addictive, you'll definitely know the answer after today's episode. If you're questioning your use of weed, you're not alone. If you haven't fully recovered from a psychedelic experience, you're not the only one! Send me an email! info@recoverydemystified.com Join our Patreon community! Book a 1:1 free consultation for Recovery Coaching with Early! Follow us on Instagram! Donate to our nonprofit! Get some cool RD merch! Subscribe to our Substack! Theme music - Logan Bragg Logo - Stevie Petet

  4. Jul 28

    When Shame and Self-Loathing Lead to Binge Drinking - Colleen's Story

    Binge drinking can be a response to unbearable emotions -- and that was the case for our guest today, Colleen Clifford. She talks about being a kid whose needs were unmet, people pleasing, and how a difficult diagnosis left her feeling broken. Unsure where to turn, she ended up finding solace in binge drinking. She kept it together while at sea as a commercial fisherwoman, but her time on land was frought with brown-outs, black-outs, and hangovers.  We talk about death of a loved one, grief, and how one moment can change everything. Book a free 20-minute recovery coaching consultation with Early! Support this podcast; join the Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit! Check out our merch store! Subscribe to our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

  5. Jul 21

    Sobriety Can Get Lonely - How to Socialize While Sober

    Getting sober can mean your social life changes overnight — and nobody really prepares you for that. We often get really bad advice about how we need to make extreme changes, but sometimes that can cause more harm than good. What if we moved slowly, with more intention, and landed in a place that is authentic to our needs? This episode highlights unmasking and neurodivergence in addiction recovery, why "doing less" can be more sustainable, and why the rulebook that says you have to cut off every friend who still uses might not be right for everyone. Some of those friendships are worth keeping. This episode is for anyone who's felt awkward, isolated, or lost in a sea of other people's opinions. What you need to know is already inside of you, and planet Earth is your third space. Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching call with Early! Join the Patreon and support this podcast! Donate to our nonprofit via our website! Check out our merch store! Subscribe to our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Holler at me in the email - info@recoverydemystified.com Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

  6. Jul 14

    What If We Stopped Feeling Ashamed of Ourselves? Elizabeth Roberts on Her Book "In Praise of Addiction"

    Shame is a huge driver of addiction, and cultural overvaluing of independence is keeping us stuck. How might things change if we destigmatized substance use, genuinely cared for each other, and prayed with endless devotion to the things that spark our ravishment? In today's episode, we talk about one of my favorite books of 2025 - "In Praise of Addiction" by Elizabeth Roberts. We dig into the gray areas and dusty corners of addiction, compulsive eating, and the things that bring us together. Elizabeth didn't intend on studying addiction, but the thread interwove itself into her life in a way that made her re-think everything. Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching consultation! Join our Patreon and help support this podcast! Donate to our nonprofit via our website! Get some cool RD merch! Subscribe to our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

  7. Jul 7

    You're Not Broken if Autism & ADHD Addiction Recovery Hits Different - Resources From Off the Beaten Path

    In this episode we dive into books & podcasts that are off the beaten path -- ones that cater specifically to struggles of people who are autistic and/or have ADHD. The way we recover is not the same as everyone else, and it has everything to do with authenticity and honoring our needs. We also hear about a 30+ year old book that dives into intersectional feminism and how it relates to addiction and recovery. And we talk about a book that destigmatizes addiction on the next level. Buckle up and get out your pen and paper because you won't want to let these resources slip through your fingers. Book a free 20-minute Recovery Coaching call with Early! Support the podcast and join our Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit! Subscribe to our Substack newsletter! Get some cool RD merch! Follow us on Instagram! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg

  8. Jun 30

    The Unknown History of Harm Reduction: Meesh Mori on Queer + BIPOC History, the Drug War, and Getting Free

    Let's talk about the origins of harm reduction that are often overlooked: queer & BIPOC folks have always used underground methods of mutual aid as a method of survival. In this episode Meesh and Early discuss their paths to finding harm reduction spaces and practices, and we get a couple history lessons from Meesh on the origins of harm reduction and the war on drugs. Importantly, we also hear about how queerness and BIPOC struggles are inextricably linked to how we are treated differently when it comes to substance use. If you're looking for a radical history lesson, you're in the right place. Support the podcast by joining our Patreon! Book a free 20 minute Recovery Coaching strategy call with Early! Follow us on Instagram! Get a cool toad shirt from our merch store! Subscribe to our Substack for more recovery content! Donate to our nonprofit anonymously! Holler at us with feedback - info@recoverydemystified.com Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

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4.8
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Recovery Demystified is a non-religious addiction recovery podcast exploring the queer and neurodivergent (autism/ADHD/etc) experience of addiction recovery, sobriety, and harm reduction. Our guests tell their addiction recovery stories to destigmatize recovery while navigating life in the process of healing from addiction and trauma. We leave shame and purity politics at the door. We talk about addiction recovery support from a radical lens, thinking outside the box and providing viable alternatives to 12-step programs. Defining and creating our own recovery/sobriety/harm-reduction lifestyle fosters the environment of empowerment and self-love necessary to change our habits. We uplift perspectives from queer and neurodivergent people (autism/ADHD/etc), exploring things like relapse prevention, coping with cravings, trauma, anxiety, socializing while sober, and other common struggles. You can expect: -Empowerment, encouragement, and a healing environment -Representation & recovery stories from queer, ND, and non-religious voices -Shame reducing harm reduction tools and strategies -Discussions about sobriety challenges, relapse, and mental health -Guidance for secular and alternative recovery paths -A punk, stigma-free, and inclusive approach to healing Whether you're looking for a queer recovery podcast, neurodivergent sobriety support, or just want real talk about addiction and harm reduction, Recovery Demystified is here to provide clarity, compassion, and community. We explore the dusty corners, the gray areas, and we are here to show you that nobody is too far gone. If you have ever felt left behind or pushed to the fringes of society, you are in the right place! Recovery for the rest of us! Connect with us: Instagram - @recoverydemystified Substack - @recoverydemystified Email - info@recoverydemystified.com Donate to our cause! Patreon - Link in episode descriptions! Venmo & Paypal - @recoverydemystified https://www.recoverydemystified.com/donations/

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