May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month shines a light on the struggles that so many people silently face every day, and it also reminds us of the deep connection between mental health and addiction. For many, substance abuse begins as an attempt to cope with anxiety, depression, trauma, loneliness, or emotional pain. What starts as an escape can quickly become a cycle that affects every part of a person’s life and the lives of the ones they love. Recovery is not just about putting down drugs or alcohol — it’s about healing mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well. By breaking the stigma around both addiction and mental health, we create space for honest conversations, support, and hope for those still suffering. Every show is about mental health but tune in all month long for a little extra (which kinda describes us overall). We'll be bringing on medical professionals throughout the month to provide professional prospective to the broadcast.
5/14 Episode 205: Mental Health Awareness
We kicked off our Mental Health Awareness Month campaign by welcoming back Mike Oxley, a longtime addiction recovery nurse & original co-founder of the show. Mike, a proud New Jersey native, brought plenty of personality along with more than a decade of experience in addiction recovery. Beyond his professional background, Mike & Tim shared what truly set him apart — he treated every patient with dignity and respect, didn't matter the shape they were in. Tim & Mike reflected on a powerful moment from Tim’s early recovery journey, when Nurse Mike extended that same compassion to him firsthand. Mike was the first person to truly connect with Tim during one of the darkest periods of his life.
5/11 Episode 204: Family Matters
Happy Mother’s Day to everyone out there in garbage land!
Brad’s sister, Jennifer, joined us alongside Brad for a powerful and heartfelt conversation on a very special Mother's Day edition of Talkin' Trash. So many people fear that getting sober means giving up fun, and many of us in long-term recovery remember feeling exactly that way. But as time passes, we stop comparing ourselves to others and start identifying with them instead. We realize we’re not alone, and when that happens, real joy and genuine fun begin to return. We’re grateful Jennifer spent the evening with us, and we look forward to catching up with her again soon. And of course, we also learned tonight that Winston Churchill’s mother apparently invented both Mother’s Day and modern plumbing. What an absolute legend.
5/6 Episode 203: A Family Solution
Tonight’s show was blessed with a father-daughter duo whose connection transcended addiction and recovery. In this extra-long edition of Talkin’ Trash, we heard from two addicts representing two very different generational perspectives on addiction, mental health, and recovery. We first heard from Brody, whose story was filled with both life experiences and the challenges of starting a family at a young age. He shared his journey through more than 20 years of active addiction, but perhaps the most powerful message was the one left unspoken. The bond between father and daughter was something both the hosts and audience could genuinely feel.
5/3 Episode 202: Carolina On My Mind
The team welcomed a powerful guest from south who recently celebrated two years of sobriety. He shared an honest and relatable perspective on what it takes to stay clean, emphasizing consistency, accountability, and learning to face life without escaping it. He was right at home with the squad as the 5 shared their similar views on addiction, recovery, relapse and treatment. His message hit home—it was real, hard-earned, and relatable, highlighting both the struggles and the quiet victories that come with long-term recovery. If our target demographic was males age 40-50 who survived addiction from 1998-2012, we nailed it. For everybody else, pull up a chair, addicts say the darnedest things.
4/29 Episode 201: Can't Win 'Em All
The boys were shorthanded tonight while they tackled the topic of patience in addiction recovery. With some last-minute changes behind the scenes, the episode had an unpolished, off-the-cuff energy that actually mirrored the reality of recovery itself—imperfect, unpredictable, and constantly evolving. Despite it being amateur hour, the boys landed on their feet touching on meaningful insights, highlighting how patience isn’t just about waiting, but about trusting the process even when things feel chaotic. The candid nature of the episode gave it an authentic edge tying in our addictive thinking when it comes to instant-gratification.
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