No Thanks But Yes

Michael Botticelli is a person thriving in over three decades of sustained recovery from substance use disorder. Also key to his identity are his heritage as an Italian American and his status as a married gay man. Michael served as Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy under the Obama administration – the first openly in recovery person to receive that appointment. I...

Harry Cunnane and his mother, PA Rep. Madeleine Dean, wrote two books together. Under Our Roof  is the memoir illustrating their family journey of recovery from substance use disorder. Harry's quick to tell you that it's not a how to; it's just their story. You Are Always Loved is a wonderful companion to the memoir, focused on helping children have conversations about healing emotions and to unde...

Kyle Johnston wants us to drop the label, love on each other, and stand up for what's right. He says hope shows up when we put people first. It's not a mystery. Y'all, this cat is a disruptor, and I want to share him with you. We met in a digital Harm Reduction Works meeting and finally hugged in-person at Recover-Con 2022. Now, our chill conversation is documented forever. Check it out. Recorded...

Tom Hill is an artist, recovery advocate, and exquisite man. After a career working to increase opportunities for people to find freedom and wellness, he served as senior policy advisor at SAMHSA and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Now, he fills his retirement with revisiting ideas & pieces from his early recovery and incorporating them into larger works with greater wisdom...

China Darrington is the Director of Advocacy & Public Policy at Thrive Peer Recovery Services in Ohio. She also serves on the board of directors for a brand new recovery community organization, Summit Recovery Hub in Summit County. We talk about advocating for pregnant and parenting people who use drugs, teaching people that ROSC isn't rocket science, BMX freestyling, and fostering vulnerable kitt...

It was a delight finally to launch season 2 LIVE at Recover-Con 2022 in Dixon, IL. Gerald Lott is a rural health champion and recovery community leader. He's the executive director of Sauk Valley Voices of Recovery - the RCO that organized this 2nd annual event. We laughed a lot. Check it out.  Recorded 9.23.2022 in Dixon, IL. Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald Theme music: 'Truth?' by Zen Groov...

Honesty Liller is the CEO of the McShin Foundation, a newly published author, wife, mother, entrepeneur, and a woman thriving in recovery. We talk about everything from authentic recovery support services, to the writing process, to paddle boarding with sharks. You don't want to miss this lively conversation with my splendid friend, Honesty. Purchase her memoir 'Scattered Pink: A Diary of a Woman...

Alex Rosenberg is a Philly artist, teacher, and glass studio director at Wheaton Arts College in Millville, NJ. He appears on Blown Away's season 1 on Netflix and Blown Away: Christmas most recently. A splendid and lovely fellow, he's a person thriving in his 4th year of sustained recovery, and we had so much fun on this episode - so did his cat, Søren. Learn more about Alex & purchase his beautif...

Morgan Godvin is a writer, editor, harm reductionist, drug policy advocate, and formerly incarcerated person thriving in her 7th year of recovery. We talk about her cool gig as an editor at JSTOR Daily, where she creatively shares wisdom from over two centuries of prison-based newspapers. We discuss her advocacy to reform drug policy, including her role in the oversight of Oregon's historic move t...

Please, enjoy this episode, featuring my friend Greg Williams. He's the managing director at Third Horizon Strategies, leading the Alliance for Addicti0n Payment Reform. He's also one hell of a film producer with The Anonymous People, Genration Found, and, most recently, Tipping the Pain Scale to his credit. This is such a rich episode with an undeniably splendid fellow. Learn more about his advoc...

I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with my special guest Shauntelle Hammonds. We talk about everything from dismantling discriminatory barriers to doing laundry for self-care. She's the executive director at Peter's Place RVA. Its mission is to provide compassionate and accessible housing, resources, and trauma-informed care to LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking individualized recovery support. Lear...

My new friend Kristin "Gypsy" Schloesser is a woman thriving in some seriously contagious recovery, and we had a gret conversation. Gypsy's a tour manager for Obsessed Intl. - a new platform by Five Senses Reeling. It helps you discover where your favorite LGBTQ+ talent, including drag, music, and comedy are performing, buy exclusive merchandise, watch engaging content, and more. Find out more at...

Tracey Helton, featured in the 1999 HBO documentary "Black Tar Heroin: The Dark End of the Street," author of 2016's "The Big Fix" (Seal Press), and San Francisco's "Naloxone Lady" joins me for a discussion about harm reduction, recovery, hardcore music, and the chaos of cats. She is @TraceyH415 on Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram. Check her out. Recorded 12.22.2021 from Raleigh, NC & San Francis...

Kaya Littleturtle is the Cultural Enrichment Coordinator for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. He also provides community-based recovery support services in the form of talking circles and is a splendid singer-songwriter as well. Come get you some good medicine. Recorded 12.22.2021 from Raleigh, NC & Lumberton, NC on Zoom Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald Theme music 'Truth?' by Zen Groove Ar...

Maia Szalavitz has written or co-written around eight books, including the seminal work 'Unbroken Brain'. Her latest release, 'Undoing Drugs', is the first history of the harm reduction movement. We talk about harm reduction & recovery, music & dancing, and lifting weights & cake! This is my longest episode so far, but I didn't want leave anything on the cutting room floor. Find out what Maia is u...

Seek Healing co-founder and executive director Jennifer Nicolaisen joins me for a love-filled conversation about the good medicine that is authentic connection and keeping pleasure & playfulness in recovery. Learn more about Seek Healing's mission and services at SeekHealing.org. Recorded 12.10.2021 from Raleigh, NC & Asheville, NC on Zoom Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald Theme music 'Truth?'...

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer (Joan Jett & The Blackhearts), Recovery Coach, & man thriving in 34 years of recovery Ricky Byrd joins me for a super chill conversation about a bunch of things & stuff. We talk about everything from the healing power of music to the chaos of Chrismas decorations. Find out what the Recovery Troubadour is up to at RickyByrd.com. His latest album Sobering Times is bomb. Che...

Best selling author Brian Cuban shared his memoir 'The Addicted Lawyer' in 2017, and his legal  thriller 'The Ambulance Chaser' hit shelves Dec. 7th. He's a man thriving in recovery who leverages his story to address stigma and increase help-seeking, particularly among those in the legal profession - a population disproportionately impacted by alcohol use disorder. Please, enjoy our conversation a...

Enjoy this chill conversation with my old friend Joseph Hogan-Sanchez, Director of Programs at Faces & Voices of Recovery. We talk about everything from keeping peer recovery support services authentic to not folding your laundry to finally having fun at the gym. Like, subscribe, & share. Thanks. Learn more abour ARCO & CAPRSS at FacesAndVoicesOfRecovery.org.  Recorded 11.22.2021 from Raleigh, NC...

Meghan Hetfield is pretty freaking awesome. She's a recovery coach, harm reductionist, and mushroom afficionado. At the intersection of harm reduction & recovery, she's an important voice. Meghan does such strong work with WEconnect Health Management's person-centered digital health app, particularly its Harm Reduction Works (HRW) and All Recovery mutual support meetings. Check out some creative a...

This conversation really filled my cup. My exquisite friend Sazha Alexandra Ramos: Navy veteran, social worker, & Kundalini Yoga guide is the co-founder & CEO of Recovery Organization Resources (RecoveryOrganization.com) and host of Breathe Network (Breathe-Network.mn.co). She's also a woman thriving in her 7th year of recovery. We talk about our Navy experience (squaring away racks, gig lines, &...

Chris Marshall is a passionate & kind fellow and founder of Sans Bar, an alcohol-free bar in Austin, TX. We talk about having a life filled with fun and how recovery is a daily decision to love yourself. I love that. I *just* bought my early bird ticket to Sans Bar's Tour 2022 when they roll into Charlotte, NC on 1/22. Follow this link to see if & when they'll be in your neck of the woods with an...

I really enjoyed this conversation with the absolutely splendid Kateri Coyhis, executive director of White Bison. We talk about stepping out into the great mystery with perseverance, not perfection, and what we *get* to do in recovery. Recorded 10.20.2021 from Raleigh, NC & Colorado Springs, CO on Zoom Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald Theme music 'Truth?' by Zen Groove Arkest (that's me on tru...

My old friend, recovery coach & professional stand up comic, Roxanne McDonald joins me for a quirky discussion about recovery high schools, recovery coaching, stand up comedy, and this business of #SoulCare . Recorded 10.13.2021 from Raleigh, NC & Charlotte, NC on Zoom Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald Theme music 'Truth?' by Zen Groove Arkest (that's me on trumpet!)

Music artist & old friend Eric Jennings joins me for a lively discussion about coffee, music, vacuum cleaners, & 'running to life' in recovery. Keep up with Eric's projects at GeishaHitSquad.com. Recorded 10.12.2021 from Raleigh, NC & Atlanta, GA on Zoom Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald Theme music 'Truth?' by Zen Groove Arkest (that's me on trumpet!)