F#CK THE STIGMA

In episode 30 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Michael to share his story of addiction, recovery, and rebuilding his life. From early identity struggles to his first experiences with substances, legal trouble, and near-death moments, Michael opens up about what it took to reach rock bottom and finally seek treatment. He discusses relapse, homelessness, and the importanc...

In episode 29 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Joe as he opens up about his journey through pain, addiction, and redemption. From a rough childhood marked by school struggles, trauma, and searching for belonging, Joe shares how early challenges led him down a path of experimenting with drugs that eventually escalated into hard addiction. He speaks candidly about coping...

In episode 28 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Catie to share a raw and powerful story of addiction, self-harm, and healing. Catie opens up about growing up in a chaotic household, experimenting with drugs at a young age, and spending seven years trapped in addiction while battling self-harm. She talks about how trauma, toxic and addictive relationships, and the stigma...

In episode 27 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Tristan, who’s back to share what life looks like now at 4 years sober. Tristan talks about what it was really like in the thick of his addiction—six years of IV heroin use, seven stints in rehab, and even losing all his teeth. He contrasts that with where he’s at today: learning how to cope, building real tools to get thro...

In episode 26 of F The Stigma Podcast, the roles are reversed as host Laisha of the Fuck The Stigma podcast sits down with Santana to share her own story in honor of hitting 4 years of sobriety. Laisha opens up about her rock bottom moment in a jail cell after her third DWI and the painful reality of admitting she was an addict at just 18 years old. She reflects on the struggles of early recovery,...

In episode 25 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Matt Bell, CEO of Team Recovery and founder of the Team Recovery Foundation, to share his journey through addiction, loss, and redemption. Matt opens up about losing his father to cancer—a tragedy that became the catalyst for more than a decade of active addiction. From getting a DUI on the very first day he received his dr...

In episode 24 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Ben Nolot, filmmaker and founder of Exodus Cry—a nonprofit advocacy organization committed to ending sex trafficking and abolishing the commercial sex industry in all its forms, including pornography, strip clubs, and prostitution. Ben opens up about the deeply exploitative nature of the porn industry, shedding light on how...

In episode 23 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Monica, who bravely shares her journey of surviving 24 years of active addiction. Monica opens up about the trauma that sparked it all—being forced to have an abortion—and how that pain led her down a dark path of substance use and self-destruction. She recounts multiple suicide attempts that she believes she miraculously s...

In episode 22 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Will, who shares his powerful story of addiction, recovery, and what it means to keep pushing forward through some of life’s darkest moments. His battle with substance use began in his early teens, leading to two felonies by the age of 16 and a suicide attempt that nearly cost him his life. At 19, he got sober and has staye...

In episode 21 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Dr. Rae, a forensic psychologist who works inside a secure psychiatric facility dedicated to treating individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity. These are people who have committed unimaginable crimes—often including murder—while in the grip of severe, untreated mental illness. Together, we explore the complex ques...

In episode 20 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Ian Bick—entrepreneur, speaker, and host of the viral podcast Locked In with Ian Bick—to unpack his extraordinary journey from teenage nightclub owner to federal prison inmate, and ultimately, to one of the most impactful voices in the reentry and criminal justice reform space. At just 30 years old, Ian opens up about the a...

In episode 19 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with actress and director Mädchen Amick—best known for her iconic roles in Twin Peaks and Riverdale—and her daughter Mina Tobias, a musician and mental health advocate. What began as a tragic turning point for their family—when Mädchen’s son, Sylvester, witnessed a death on campus—unfolded into years of mental health struggles,...

In episode 18 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez reconnects with Patrick years after their first interview, this time for Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Patrick opens up about a major shift in his sobriety journey—recently starting medication for his mental health after years of hesitation. He shares how his addiction began with a prescription following a serious surgery, eventual...

In episode 17 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with guest Santana Ryan, who shares her raw and unfiltered experience growing up in Baltimore while battling mental health struggles, suicidal ideation, and self-harm. Santana opens up about the pain of growing up with an absent father due to his struggle with addiction, and how that shaped her sense of self and relationships. S...

In episode 16 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with guest Walt, who shares his raw and unfiltered experience growing up in Baltimore surrounded by addiction. From a young age, Walt witnessed the devastating impact of drugs in his community, which ultimately led him down a path of selling drugs and frequent encounters with law enforcement. With honesty and reflection, Walt op...

In this episode of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with guest Laura Cathcart Robbins, who is also the author of the book Stash, to talk about her personal journey through addiction and recovery. Laura opens up about how a prescription for Ambien to treat postpartum insomnia quietly spiraled into a full-blown dependency—one she kept hidden behind the appearance of a picture-per...

In this episode of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with guest Dr. Kenny Clark, a physician who opens up about his personal journey through addiction, recovery, relapse, and healing. Kenny shares how he battled over a decade of substance use while navigating the intense demands of medical school, and how the loss of his father led him to cope through substances. After achieving...

In this episode of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with guest Madisun to share her raw and deeply personal story of growing up in the foster care system. She opens up about the trauma she experienced, from the neglect and abuse by her father to the painful realities of living in group homes. Madisun speaks candidly about how addiction shaped parts of her journey and how diffic...

In this episode of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with guest Jimmy, known to many as "Jimmy Who Am You," for an open and refreshingly light-hearted conversation about his journey through addiction and into recovery. Jimmy, who has gained recognition for his ability to find humor in even the darkest parts of his past, shares his story of progressive addiction — starting with w...

In this episode of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with guest Aaron Hall, also known as Sun Hat Kid, returns to the FTS Podcast after a year and a half to share how he's been coping with and owning his autism, OCD, and FASD diagnoses. He opens up about dealing with online criticism, what his struggles actually look like behind the scenes, and how he’s continued to grow through...

In this episode of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with guest Big Faith — a Christian rapper from Los Angeles with a story that’s as real as it gets. Growing up surrounded by street life, Big Faith was once caught up in the same cycle that traps so many. But after seeing the darkness and emptiness that came with it, he made a decision to shift his path. Fueled by a love for hi...

In this episode of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with guest Alex for an open and honest conversation about anxiety, addiction, recovery, and the impact of toxic relationships. Laisha and Alex share what triggers their anxiety, how they cope with it, and their personal perspectives on addiction and the recovery journey. They also dive into how toxic relationships shaped their...

We’re joined by Noah Thompson, the winner of American Idol Season 20, as he opens up about his journey from a small-town kid to a national sensation. Noah shares his deeply personal experience of growing up with both parents battling addiction, becoming a father at just 19 years old, and the whirlwind of competing on one of the biggest stages in the world. He also speaks candidly about the grief o...

We’re joined by Michelle Hammer, the founder of Schizophrenic NYC, a clothing and lifestyle brand dedicated to spreading awareness and breaking the stigma surrounding schizophrenia. Michelle shares her personal journey of being diagnosed, what her schizophrenic symptoms were, and how she navigated paranoia and hallucinations. She opens up about the realities of living with schizophrenia, the misco...

FTS sat down with Lillo Brancato, best known for his roles in A Bronx Tale and The Sopranos. Joining us from Yonkers, New York, Lillo opens up about his struggles with addiction, the choices that led to his high-profile burglary case, and the tragic events that resulted in the death of an off-duty police officer—landing him behind bars for years. He shares raw, unfiltered insights on how addiction...