I've Got A Problem

Forrest Shaw
  • 5.0 (21)
  • COMEDY INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A humorous podcast about addiction. This podcast is for addicts, families and friends of addicts, and anyone and everyone else that wants to listen. The host, Forrest Shaw, is a comedian, writer, and addict. For addiction, laughter might not be the best medicine, but it's better than electroshock therapy.

  1. Falling Off The Bar Stool and Finding Clarity – Tom Rhodes

    5D AGO

    Falling Off The Bar Stool and Finding Clarity – Tom Rhodes

    Comedian Tom Rhodes joins Forrest to talk addiction, drinking, mental health, creativity, and the long road from excess to clarity. They get into growing up around alcohol, the romanticized "drunk artist" myth, dangerous party years, loss, grief, and the moment Tom finally saw himself clearly and decided to change. It's raw, thoughtful, and funny — packed with real stories about alcohol, denial, creativity, regret, love, and learning how much more is possible when you stop numbing out. 🎧 If you've ever believed chaos was part of who you are, or wondered who you might be without it, this episode will hit deep and still make you laugh. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro & Meet Tom Rhodes 01:22 – Growing Up Around Drinking 02:30 – Wanting to Be "Cool" Like Your Heroes 03:47 – Moving to Amsterdam to Slow Down 05:15 – Loss, Grief & Drinking to Numb 06:41 – The Night Everything Changed 08:20 – Seeing Yourself Clearly 11:22 – Regret, Shame & Sensitivity 13:03 – Cringing at Who You Used to Be 15:22 – Social Media & Modern 'Assholishness' 18:49 – Dangerous Party Years 21:44 – What Felt Normal But Wasn't 23:29 – Love as a Catalyst for Change 28:22 – The Lie That It Helps Creativity 41:22 – One Song That Describes Addiction 45:10 – Why Clarity Is Its Own Drug 51:50 – Advice for Anyone Still Struggling 🎙️ Find Tom Rhodes : 🔗 Website: https://www.tomrhodes.net 📸 Instagram: @_tomrhodes https://www.instagram.com/_tomrhodes/ 👉 TikTok : @tomrhodescomedy https://www.tiktok.com/@tomrhodescomedy ▶️ YouTube: @kingofhaha https://www.youtube.com/user/kingofhaha

    58 min
  2. When Addiction Feels Normal: Growing Up Around Alcohol – Cort McCown

    JAN 27

    When Addiction Feels Normal: Growing Up Around Alcohol – Cort McCown

    Comedian and actor Cort McCown joins Forrest to talk addiction, drinking, mental health, and growing up in an environment where chaos felt normal. They get into starting young, family dynamics, fear, the myth of the "drunk artist," and how addiction slowly became a way of coping rather than a choice. It's raw, funny, and packed with real stories about alcohol, denial, isolation, creativity, relationships, and learning how to live comfortably in your own skin without numbing out. 🎧 If you grew up around addiction, normalized unhealthy behavior, or have ever wondered why chaos felt familiar — this episode hits close to home and still makes you laugh. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro & Meet Cort McCown 01:13 – Growing Up Around Alcohol 03:07 – The "Geographic Fix" Myth 04:50 – Remembering 9/11 in Early Recovery 07:09 – Fear as a Driving Force 08:45 – Comedy, Bars & Being Around It 10:40 – Pain on the Inside vs the Outside 12:50 – Why Moderation Never Worked 15:11 – Dating & Not Drinking 18:45 – Responsibility Changes Everything 21:22 – The Drunk Artist Myth 23:39 – Starting Young & Losing Control 27:50 – Barely Getting Through School 30:01 – From Acting to Stand-Up 33:36 – Isolation and Addiction 41:03 – "I'll Worry About It Tomorrow" 46:36 – One Word for Addiction / One for Recovery 🎙️ Find Cort McCown: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortmccown/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/cortmccowncomedy

    55 min
  3. Wants vs Needs

    JAN 20

    Wants vs Needs

    Forrest jumps on for a short solo episode to talk gambling, money, addiction, and the difference between what you want and what you actually need. Sparked by expensive dental work, he reflects on fantasy thinking, chasing jackpots, financial denial, and how addiction convinces you everything will be fixed "once this one thing works out." It's raw, funny, and honest — packed with real talk about gambling, money stress, aging, mental health, and learning to choose stability over ego. 🎧 If you've ever justified risky decisions, chased a financial fantasy, or struggled to tell the difference between wants and needs, this episode will hit close to home and still make you laugh. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro & Dental Bills 02:00 – Wants vs Needs 05:00 – Gambling Fantasy Thinking 09:30 – Closing Perspective

    16 min
  4. Disappearing for Days: When Addiction Feels Normal - Chad Anderson

    JAN 13

    Disappearing for Days: When Addiction Feels Normal - Chad Anderson

    Comedian Chad Anderson joins Forrest to talk addiction, drinking, cocaine, mental health, and the slow creep of chaos becoming normal. They get into small-town drinking culture, disappearing for entire weekends, using "I'm young" as an excuse, and the moments that finally forced him to confront how bad things had gotten. It's raw, funny, and packed with real stories about alcohol, cocaine, denial, broken trust, homelessness, terrifying situations, and what it actually takes to rebuild a life after addiction. 🎧 If you've ever minimized your drinking, vanished on people who love you, or told yourself you're "fine" when you're clearly not — this episode hits hard and still makes you laugh. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro & Meet Chad Anderson 00:56 – "What's Your Problem?" 02:25 – Booze, Then Cocaine, Then Everything 03:49 – Eight Years Clean, Then Weed Comes Back 05:46 – First Time Getting High (Grade Seven) 07:09 – Small-Town Drinking Culture 08:45 – Why Alcohol Gets a Free Pass 09:49 – Being Young as an Excuse 11:58 – Fear of Losing Friends 13:59 – Early Recovery Oversharing 18:37 – Disappearing for Days Became Normal 20:22 – Losing the Relationship That Mattered 23:02 – Crack Apartment & Needle Reality Check 25:55 – Arm Through the Glass Door 42:09 – One Word for Addiction / One for Recovery 55:06 – Advice: get busy and do the work 🎙️ Find Chad Anderson : 🔗 Website: www.chadanderson.net 📸 Instagram: @Chadillmatic Facebook: Chad Anderson

    1h 1m
  5. Christmas Rock Bottom, Free Hot Dogs & Getting Sober – J.F. Harris

    JAN 6

    Christmas Rock Bottom, Free Hot Dogs & Getting Sober – J.F. Harris

    Comedian J.F. Harris joins Forrest to talk addiction, alcohol, sobriety, mental health, and the Christmas Eve spiral that finally forced him to stop drinking. They get into drinking without an off-switch, idolizing the "drunk artist" myth, free hot dogs with every pitcher, and the moment he realized the life he was living wasn't the one he wanted. It's raw, hilarious, and packed with real stories about alcohol, denial, shame, family holidays, rebuilding self-worth, and learning how to show up for life without numbing out. 🎧 If you've ever told yourself "I'll stop tomorrow," romanticized drinking, or wondered if life actually gets better without it — this episode will hit hard and still make you laugh. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro & Reintroducing J.F. Harris 02:10 – "What's Your Problem?" 04:45 – Getting Sober on Christmas Day 07:30 – Drinking Without an Off Switch 10:45 – Free Hot Dogs With Every Pitcher 13:40 – The Hot Bus From Hell 16:20 – CVS Gift Cards & Rock Bottom 19:00 – Lying on the Basement Couch 21:45 – "This Is Not the Life I Want" 25:10 – Why Quitting "For a Bit" Never Works 28:30 – Becoming a Different Person 32:00 – Comedy, Status & Letting Go 36:10 – Food, Weight & Transferring Addictions 41:15 – What People Get Wrong About Addiction 46:30 – Pride, Purpose & Showing Up 52:10 – One Word for Addiction, One for Recovery 🎙️ Find J.F. Harris: 🔗 Website: https://www.jfharris.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejfharris/?hl=en ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-VSmTEtDHNZ1F9ytDTDx1A

    1h 13m
  6. Holidays, Gratitude & the Dark Side of Addiction

    12/23/2025

    Holidays, Gratitude & the Dark Side of Addiction

    Forrest closes out the year with a short solo episode reflecting on gratitude, the holidays, and what addiction can look like when it's left unchecked. He talks honestly about family damage, accountability, compassion, and the devastating consequences that addiction can have — regardless of money, fame, or resources. It's a raw, sincere message about staying vigilant, reaching out, helping others when you can, and remembering that recovery requires ownership, not excuses. 🎧 If the holidays bring up heavy feelings, guilt, fear, or concern about yourself or someone you love, this episode is a grounding reminder that you're not alone — and that action still matters. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 00:00 – Gratitude & Holiday Thanks 02:10 – When Addiction Turns Tragic 04:25 – Final Holiday Message

    6 min
  7. Why Addiction Happens & How the Brain Heals – Dr. Suzette Glasner

    12/16/2025

    Why Addiction Happens & How the Brain Heals – Dr. Suzette Glasner

    Dr. Suzette Glasner joins Forrest to break down the science of addiction — why some people get hooked and others don't, what actually happens in the brain during cravings, and how recovery rewires the circuits that chronic use destroys. They dig into genetics, trauma, dopamine, stress pathways, gambling triggers, access, professional athletes, and why the brain can heal more than most people think. It's raw, smart, and packed with real explanations about addiction, cravings, relapse risk, emotional regulation, and why time, behavior change, and biology all work together in recovery. 🎧 If you've ever wondered why you crave, slip, spiral, or struggle — this episode makes the science finally make sense. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 02:25 – Introducing Dr. Suzette Glasner? 04:30 – "What's Your Problem?" 06:35 – Why Scientists Need Better Platforms 07:55 – The Otani Gambling Scandal Pops Up 09:20 – What Actually Happens in the Brain During Addiction 12:30 – Dopamine, Memories & Chasing the First High 14:52 – Early Gambling & Childhood Reinforcement 17:20 – Social Aspect vs. Alone Behavior 19:05 – Is Addiction an Illness or a Choice? 22:40 – Genetics, Trauma & Why Some People Become Addicted 26:30 – Teen Brains, Risk Windows & Early Use 30:05 – Forrest's Childhood Stories (Pot Brownie Edition) 32:45 – Stress Pathways & Why They Increase Vulnerability 38:40 – What Craving Feels Like in the Brain 43:15 – Money, Cash & Gambling Triggers 47:20 – Can the Brain Heal After Addiction? 51:50 – Time, Neural Rewiring & Building New Pathways 55:20 – Dopamine vs. Serotonin (and Why Both Matter) 58:10 – Gambling in the NBA & Athlete Vulnerability 1:04:10 – Treating Gambling for High-Access Populations 1:08:05 – Legalized Sports Betting & Public Health Risks 1:13:10 – Recovery Outcomes & Why There's Real Hope 🎙️ Find Dr. Suzette Glasner: 🔗 Website: https://www.drglasner.com/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drglasner 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drglasner/ 👉 Book : Addiciton : What Everyone Needs To Know

    1h 17m
  8. Hurricanes, Hangovers & Hard Truths – Gwen Filosa

    12/10/2025

    Hurricanes, Hangovers & Hard Truths – Gwen Filosa

    Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and comedian Gwen Filosa joins Forrest to talk alcoholism, cocaine, recovery, identity, and the messy, hilarious reality of rebuilding your life when your mind refuses to shut up. They dive into New Orleans drinking culture, addiction in Key West, obsessive thinking, dating disasters, internalized homophobia, and what it actually feels like to stay sober one stubborn day at a time. It's honest, funny, and packed with real stories about booze, coke, self-doubt, relapse thinking, bad decisions, better choices, and the relentless nature of addiction. 🎧 If you're queer, questioning, sober, struggling, or just someone with a brain that won't shut up, this episode will absolutely hit you. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 04:23 – Meet Gwen Filosa 05:09 – "My Only Trigger Is Reality" 06:42 – Why Good Decisions Are Hard 08:31 – Drinking in Key West & New Orleans 10:59 – What Alcohol Really Did for Her 12:37 – Gambling vs Drinking Consequences 14:45 – Hitting Bottom in New Orleans 17:13 – Staying Sober in a Drinking Culture 19:19 – Relationships, Boundaries & Patterns 22:29 – Giving Yourself Credit 24:54 – Being Gay, Identity & Self-Acceptance 33:04 – Dating in Key West 43:29 – Lightning Questions Begin 46:40 – Dumbest Excuses We Tell Ourselves 56:11 – Advice for Anyone Struggling 🎙️ Find Gwen Filosa: 🔗 Substack: https://gwenfilosa.substack.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gwenfilosamedia 👉 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/keywestgwen/

    1h 3m
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5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

A humorous podcast about addiction. This podcast is for addicts, families and friends of addicts, and anyone and everyone else that wants to listen. The host, Forrest Shaw, is a comedian, writer, and addict. For addiction, laughter might not be the best medicine, but it's better than electroshock therapy.

Information

  • Creator
    Forrest Shaw
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    I've Got A Problem

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