The Mechanic

IN THIS EPISODE Scott Weiser, this episode's guest is one of my oldest friends. I don’t mean he’s old - though he is two years older than me - I mean we’ve known each other practically forever. I’m talking high school. I was a sophomore. He was a senior. But someone said we should meet and hang out - and we’re still at it. In between, as you’ll hear, we experienced a lot of life together. A lo...

IN THIS EPISODE Ever have an assistant or team member who you just knew would make something of themselves because only an idiot would get in their way? Today’s guest was that person – a great assistant who can now afford his own assistants. However many he wants. As you’ll hear, back in the 1990’s, Vince Gerardus and I worked together at The Agency, a small but solid Hollywood talent agency. Vinc...

IN THIS EPISODE My friend Labib has achieved seven years and two months of sobriety. While every day of sobriety is an accomplishment, Labib's is an ongoing testament to his dedication to being sober. As you'll hear though, it took Labib a while to realize that dedication. But when he did, it change his life in the best ways possible. SHOW NOTES If you enjoy this podcast, please share it w...

IN THIS EPISODE One of the things I want to focus on with this podcast is what it's like at the beginning or relative beginning of a sober life. While every day can have its challenges, the challenges at the start can be a little more challenging because you haven't had the time yet to build and practice your defenses and healthy responses. But, an alcoholic or addict can't get to day...

IN THIS EPISODE One thing that alcoholics do a lot is perform. Brennan's a friend of mine from a 12 step program, a former athlete with a commanding presence. He's 6'6" and good-looking as hell. Think Rick Springfield. He's the kind of guy other people just wanna know, but alcohol doesn't care about any of that. It became an overpowering presence in Brennan's life, as...

IN THIS EPISODE I first met Miri at my regular Sunday 12th step meeting. I was instantly drawn to her energy, her aura, her being - and her renewed commitment to living a sober, manageable, existence. Miri is a mother, newly sober - coming up on nine months. I wanted to talk to her because she’s got less than a year of sober time under her belt. I’ve  had conversations here with people who’ve...

IN THIS EPISODE My regular Wednesday meeting is a stag meeting. It's just the guys - because sometimes, guys just want to say things to other guys that guys would understand. That's where I met my friend Anthony - who's been sober for about a year. That's why I wanted Anthony on the podcast - to talk about the experiences of the newly sober - and how one deals with those challenges. SHOW NOTES If...

IN THIS EPISODE My friend Dan Pearson has an interesting job. He handles customer complaints for a large insurance company. When I say it’s not an easy job, I’m understating it by a lot. He’s an avid long distance runner. I wanted to have Dan on the podcast because he’s such a warm, compassionate and loving human being. I think you’ll get that immediately. SHOW NOTES If you enjoy this podcast, ple...

IN THIS EPISODE Stephen and I have known each other for a decade. He’s a true craftsman who builds custom cabinets for high end homes and businesses. Stephen, as you’ll hear, has been sober for 14 years. He’s been happily married for ten years. He’s both a father and a grandfather. He’s also my sponsor. What makes someone be a sponser and what separates a good sponser from a great one? S...

IN THIS EPISODE Nick continues his conversation with lawyer, friend and former alcoholic, Don Sherwyn. In part two of their chat, Don points out all the ways that getting sober changed his life and the way he practiced law, all for the better. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

IN THIS EPISODE My friend Sari and I go back 47 years. We’re talking the sixth grade! In fact, Sari was one of the first friends I made when my family moved to California. Sari’s been sober for 29 years. She’s a mother, a grandmother, a hair stylist and a craft services professional in the movie and TV business. She sets out a great table! She’s a constant service to men and women struggling...

IN THIS EPISODE My friend Dan Pearson has an interesting job. He handles customer complaints for a large insurance company. When I say it’s not an easy job, I’m understating it by a lot. He’s an avid long distance runner. I wanted to have Dan on the podcast because he’s such a warm, compassionate and loving human being. I think you’ll get that immediately. SHOW NOTES If you enjoy this podcast, ple...

IN THIS EPISODE Nick talks to Rabbi Jay Siegel. The Rabbi is senior rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom of Santa Clarita in Southern California and a former associate rabbi at Beth Teshuva Recovery. That’s where his path crossed mine. Rabbi Jay was my spiritual advisor. He connected me to my spirituality and that helped connect me to my higher power. I hope you're ready to be uplifted! SHOW NOTES If...

IN THIS EPISODE Movie and TV writer/producer (and producer of this podcast) Alan Katz goes back thirty plus years with Nick - as client, friend, fellow drug-taker and, these days, partners in various podcasts including this one. Alan and Nick do a deep dive into their joint story - the good, the bad and the ugly. SHOW NOTES If you're enjoying this podcast, please visit Costard & Touchstone to...

IN THIS EPISODE My friend Sean Kanan first made a name for himself playing villain Mike Barnes in The Karate Kid III. These days, he's still working that world as part of Cobra Kai. Sean's also a regular on The Bold And The Beautiful. Sean's also a recovering alcoholic who inspires people on screen and beyond with his incredible message of hope. SHOW NOTES If you enjoy this podcast, please check o...

IN THIS EPISODE: My friend Phil Reeves is an actor, a writer, a playwright, a former police officer and, currently, a patrol chaplain with the LA County Sheriff’s Department. Bet you didn't even know such a job exists. It does. And, with Phil in the role, it's an example of perfect casting! SHOW NOTES If you enjoy this podcast, please check out some of the other podcasts we make at Costard & T...

IN THIS EPISODE Just hearing my friend Don Sherwin's story - at an AA meeting in 2019 - gave me hope. Before he got sober forty years ago, Don was an alcoholic and was addicted to both crack and powdered coke. 40 years later (which include a long, successful marriage and a long, successful career as lawyer), Don is completely free of his former mental obsession (with drugs and alcohol). And, to be...

IN THIS EPISODE  I first met today's guest, Nick Wallace, when I was a resident at the Rancho Park Recovery (a sober living facility). Nick was the house manager. and h e and I instantly hit it off. Having grown up in show biz (Nick's dad was and is a prominent TV director/producer), Nick understood the lure. But he also understood twelve step programs on a granular level. More than anything,...

IN THIS EPISODE My buddy Craig Darian might as well go by the name "Mister Hollywood". He has his talented hands in many different places. His Occidental studios have a ton of stages and production facilities here in Los Angeles, his production company – Tricor – has made movies with people like De Niro, Anthony Hopkins and Kathy Bates. He’s also a movie distributor. Like I said, he works various...

THE BLURB: Owning and running restaurants has been my friend Michael Levine's family business going on three generations now. Over the course of my show biz career, I had hundreds of meals at Monty's, the Levine family's restaurant in the Westwood area of Los Angelels with clients and friends. Years of standing, greeting customers - and servicing their craziness with a smile - has made Michael unr...

THE BLURB: Addiction medicine didn’t always exist. The good news: not only does it now exist, but it’s got my friend Dr. Courtney Scott as one of its distinguished leaders. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Scott is the medical director for more than 25 detox, residential and outpatient substance use disorder – SUD – treatment centers across multiple states. His clinical approach seamlessly in...

THE BLURB: My friend Diane is something of a sober role model. She's been sober since June 1980 when a ife of alcohol abuse and transporting drugs suddenly crashed in on Diane. She landed in rehab – her first stint there. But, to her absolute surprise, she experienced something profoundly spiritual that completely changed her world. She discovered a completely new way to live. Sobriety. In this ep...

THE BLURB: Shia Blakeny works at the intersection of mental health, addiction and human development – and what happens when that intersection gets complicated. To that end, Shia has built programs that challenge traditional models of treatment. As CEO of Recover Integrity and cofounder of Antedote Lab, he develops experiential and relational approaches to recovery that are grounded in what Shia ca...

THE BLURB: My friend John Kiriakou might just be the best known spy in the whole world. A former CIA officer, during america's war on terror, John led the counter-terrorism force that captured Abu Zubaydah, the man we thought was the Number 3 at Al Qaeda. When John learned later that we had tortured Abu Zubaydah, he ratted out the CIA's illegal torture program and spent 23 months in federal prison...

THE BLURB: Finding the right drug counselor or sober/therapeutic companion can make a huge difference in whether or not an addict conquers their addiction. My friend Phil Hamburger isn't merely a good substance abuse professional, he's a great one. You'll hear what makes him so special - how he helped Nick - and how his life experience and professional experience have made him the go-to guy when t...