Kratom Sobriety

In the open, Lily and Jacob discuss the pitfall of only using the podcast as your sole source of support (don't do it!). In the interview, Britton, a 40-year-old MRI tech and endurance athlete from Colorado, shares his journey from using kratom, including 7OH at the end, for five years to achieving over a year of sobriety through AA's 12-step program. He and Lily explore: * The isolating nature of...

Recently, we've had a trend of welcoming back old guests mostly to celebrate anniversary milestones but in Elliot's case, he is returning to warn about the risk of relapse.  After being almost off kratom for three years - June 2022 to March 2025 - Elliot tried 7-OH during a stressful time in his life.  After about 9 months, and getting up to 2,000 mg at a cost of $300 day at his extreme, he is now...

Jacob and Lily discuss how the hosts let guests tell their story from their point of view, and as a podcast we are not able to vet people before they are interviewed. Ramey celebrates two years off kratom with Natalie. To connect with the meetings discussed in the interview, please visit: https://kratomquitters.com/     WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY ON THE PODCAST? https://forms.gle/VWrjhLSTPHqJyVhw7  ...

Episode focused on quitting kratom with a lockbox as a tool. In the interview this week, Gen-Xer Thomas (long-time primarily a powder user with many attempted quits) describes the challenge as: "Addiction lies to you in your own voice".   Lockbox links (like always we don't get any commissions if you buy one): https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/11/style/lockable-box-container.html https://www.goodhou...

Episode focused on 7-OH. Dr. Stanciu's credentials: https://geiselmed.dartmouth.edu/faculty/facultydb/view.php/?uid=7021   Article Charlie & Jazz discuss about 7-OH potency in guinea pig intestines: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320505008167   FDA document Dr. Stancui refers to: https://www.fda.gov/media/187900/download    News article about 7-OH bust from end of open:...

Melanie (episode 110 from January 2025) returns to celebrate a year off 7-OH (quit date October 27, 2024). She is one of our first guests to discuss getting addicted specifically to 7-hydroxymitragynine products. Melanie also did not have any previous history of disordered substance use prior to this addiction. In follow-up questions after the interview, she texted Charlie the following responses...

Charlie introduces Rosa as a new cohost (episode #54 used the alias Sofia). In the interview, Natalie sits down with Stewart, a husband, father of three, and self-employed handyman from Mesa, Arizona, who is celebrating one year of sobriety from kratom. Stewart shares a candid story of how kratom entered his life, how his use escalated, and the impact it had on his health, family, and sense of pur...

Jacob and Jazz talk about the growing presence of kratom extract products in stores, concerns about their sale, and efforts to offer healthier alternatives. In this week's interview, Jazz chats with Matt to discuss the progress he has made since his appearance on Episode #98. Matt shares new insights from his recovery journey and explains how his QuitKit product has become a valuable resource not...

Jacob shares holiday sobriety tips in the open. Our guest this week shares the story of her ex-partner Kevin, a talented and magnetic musician whose life was tragically cut short due to kratom toxicity according to death records (no other substances in his system other than a therapeutic level of Wellbutrin and no pre-existing health conditions at the time of his passing). Through the perspective...

In the intro, Lily and Charlie discuss the isolating nature of Kratom addiction and the importance of reaching out to others for support and community. Lily interviews Eric O, who shares his personal journey with kratom addiction and recovery. Eric describes how he first encountered kratom at a kava bar, initially using it socially and later as a way to manage pain and stress. Over time, his use e...

In the intro, Jacob welcomes co-host Natalie (episodes 15 and 132) back to the podcast as they catch up on her life, career as a paramedic, and her perspective on seeing substance use issues in the field. Guest Ali shares her journey from early struggles with alcohol and opiates to years of dependence on kratom and the challenges of withdrawal. She opens up about the turning points that led her to...

In the open, Charlie and Nolan talk about the YouTuber interview from a couple weeks ago. In the interview, Katja shares with Lily her story of discovering the kava and kratom bar scene while living in Brooklyn and later witnessing her partner’s descent into kratom addiction. She offers a candid look at how extract products, financial strain, and secrecy turned their lives upside down and how she...

This week features an interview Katie Herzog, author of the book "Drink Your Way Sober." Please be aware, you cannot use the Sinclair Method with kratom as it will cause precipitated withdrawals. The discussion explores medicated assisted treatment, harm reduction. the disease model for addiction, and a range of other topics. Drink Your Way Sober https://www.drinkyourwaysober.com/     WANT TO TELL...

Nolan interviews Metta Beshay, who posted a video recently named "The Insane World of Kratom & 7-OH" on YouTube.  HEADS UP: This guest talks about recent kratom use and is not actively committed to kratom abstinence but shares a range of insights and information about kratom that many listeners may find interesting and/or helpful. Metta's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/Pqx_bMGeGwc?si=6X8x6P...

In the open, Nolan and Lily give tips on tapering. Nolan's quitting kratom book: https://a.co/d/b1cgJUJ   In the interview, David Hudnall, a journalist from the Kansas City Star, discusses his investigative reporting on 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine). The discussion covers the rapid rise of 7-OH in the U.S. market, particularly in Kansas City, and how is overtaking traditional kratom products in smok...

Jacob and Lily talk getting into hobbies during recovery. In the interview, Justine shares her quitting kratom journey. She turned to kratom to manage pain and escalated into a serious health crisis that resulted in a lengthy hospitalization. Justine warns about the dangers of unregulated substances and encourages others to seek help and not try to quit alone.   WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY ON THE PODC...

In this week's interview with Tori, an addiction professional in recovery, the growing presence of kratom in treatment settings is explored. She shares insights on client demographics, withdrawal symptoms, misconceptions about safety, and the importance of harm reduction and education, while also reflecting on her personal recovery journey and commitment to helping others.   WANT TO TELL YOUR STOR...

Charlie and Jacob speculate about what is in the kava-kratom tonics to make them more addictive for so many people. Lauren shares her journey with Jacob of nearly five years of daily kratom use that escalated from capsules to extracts, ending in secrecy, shame, and worsening depression. With the support of her therapist and doctor, she tapered off and quit on April 10, 2025, and now celebrates fiv...

Lily's interview with Mckenzie’s followers her journey with kratom, beginning with an initial exposure through wellness marketing and the rapid progression from casual use to daily dependence. After repeated withdrawal attempts, the toll on her mental and physical health was immense, and ultimately finding recovery through a five-week holistic treatment program in Sedona. The discussion also explo...

Guest host Jazz (episode #41) talks with returning expert Dr. Casey Grover, an addiction medicine physician with both clinical expertise and lived experience of PTSD. Together, they explore the frequent intersection of trauma and addiction, breaking down how adverse childhood experiences, big “T” and little “t” traumas, and even intergenerational stress shape vulnerability to substance use. Dr. Gr...

Lily & Charlie discuss - Is the last thing you quit the hardest? John, an engineer and outdoor enthusiast, recounts his decade-long struggle with kratom addiction that began as an alternative to pain pills, leading to escalating use (from 120 grams per day in the early 2010s to 7oh isolates in 2025), financial ruin, and the loss of a significant relationship. After multiple failed attempts to...

In the open, Charlie and Nolan discuss the fed's proposed 7OH ban. Jacob talks to interview guest Alyse about her journey from discovering kratom during bodybuilding training to struggling with addiction, multiple relapses, and ultimately seeking recovery through detox, medically assisted treatment, and support systems. While at time of this broadcast, she is kratom free for a couple months now, s...

Jacob and Nolan open on how addiction is a lifetime journey thought not a permanent ongoing struggle. In the interview, Jonny became addicted to 7-OH in both liquid and tablet versions, which led to rapid tolerance and severe dependence. He ultimately quit after a car accident by entering a treatment facility, where he used Suboxone to help with withdrawal and later the Sublocade injection as part...

Lily and Jacob explore the potential of cannabis becoming a substitute or cross addiction to kratom. Ryan talks to Lily about his struggles this past year relapsing on kava-kratom tonics, and escalating to other substances such as alcohol and opiates.  Heads up, this episode's interview includes talk of suicide. Remember to dial 988 to talk get help, or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Tex...

Charlie and Jacob catch up and discuss how easy access to kratom can influence use.  Violet discusses with Lily her journey through Kratom addiction and withdrawal, highlighting its impact on her active lifestyle as an onsite seamstress and stylist for weddings, as well as her experiences with Ecstatic Dance and sobriety. She shares insights on the effects of Kratom on her daily routines, the vita...