Episodios

  • BONUS: Cristina Preston Re-Release

    BONUS: Cristina Preston Re-Release
    Jun 9 2025
    Who this episode is for: Anyone outworking pain in the gymFolks from good homes who wrecked their livesPeople with pasts they swore they’d never shareAnyone who’s felt like a fraud—addict or notChurch kids hiding chaos behind smiles Chris is on a Staten Island ferry, pizza grease on his fingers, yelling at Lady Liberty and eating humble pie ‘cause the remote-record plan tanked. But that tech fail is your gain—because we’re re-dropping a raw convo with Cristina Preston: fitness model, news junkie, steroid-using bodybuilder, trafficking survivor, and miracle in motion. She leads Celebrate Recovery in Fenton, MO, but she’s lived the wreckage—bullying, self-harm, covering a school shooting, being trafficked during addiction, shady doctors, and a Vegas wedding that made her dad cry the wrong way. This one’s heavy and holy. Laugh. Cry. Throw a chair. Hug your mom. ⏱️ Full Timestamp Breakdown 00:00 – Ferry intro: busted tech & grandma’s 100th01:50 – Why this is a re-release03:20 – Goldberg tease: Ducks, meth, mayhem04:05 – Cristina joins: war-tested & real05:30 – How Chris found Cristina’s testimony06:45 – Celebrate Recovery ain’t just AA08:15 – Codependency, food, image issues09:20 – Why “grateful believer” hits different10:30 – Honesty over polish11:15 – CR outnumbers Starbucks?!12:20 – Church-run, same vibe everywhere13:45 – Big lessons, big tears14:50 – Pondoff talks real recovery spaces16:05 – Why safe doesn’t mean soft17:45 – Losing a dog in sobriety20:00 – Sitting in pain instead of escaping22:00 – Cristina’s “perfect” upbringing23:30 – Bullying & broken stalls25:30 – Before we knew “anxiety”27:15 – The high-achieving mask28:10 – Speech team nerd to newsroom30:00 – Covering the NIU school shooting32:45 – Trauma, Valentine’s, heartbreak34:20 – Cancelled wedding, lost faith36:50 – Panic attacks & silence38:45 – Gym life as addiction in disguise40:30 – Attention, abs, and adrenaline42:00 – Bikini comps & pressure43:45 – First steroid cycle45:00 – “Helpful” doctor + real side effects46:30 – Vegas wedding, mall ring, regrets48:15 – Cocaine enters stage right50:10 – Using on the move51:30 – Broke, exposed, unraveling53:00 – Dependent and out of options54:10 – Doctor with blank-label pills55:30 – Lies, performance, denial57:10 – Who even am I?58:45 – Comfort in chaos01:00:00 – From worshipped to wasted01:01:30 – Realizing it’s all a façade01:03:00 – Surrender & grace01:05:00 – Truth through accountability01:06:20 – Living life again01:07:45 – Family healing01:09:00 – Second marriage, no lies01:10:15 – Parenthood post-recovery01:12:00 – Telling your kids the truth01:13:20 – Sharing to save others01:14:40 – Message to the struggling01:16:00 – How to plug into CR01:17:30 – Church ≠ performance01:19:00 – What healing really means01:20:20 – Sobriety doesn’t erase shame01:23:00 – Self-forgiveness is brutal01:25:00 – Cristina opens up: trafficked in addiction01:27:30 – Manipulated, silenced by shame01:29:00 – Her son asks the hard questions01:32:10 – Even now, cravings sneak in01:34:45 – Triggers: mirrors, songs, stores01:38:20 – Faith in the ugly middle01:40:50 – Leading while healing01:44:10 – Routine, friends, raw prayer01:47:00 – “You’re not too far gone”01:50:30 – Chris on public shame & honesty01:53:00 – Jakob & Jeff on spiritual BS01:55:45 – Cristina hated “Christianese” too01:58:20 – Healing doesn’t follow rules02:00:10 – Why CR keeps her grounded02:03:30 – Sobriety is sacred and simple02:06:00 – Stories evolve—they don’t end02:10:00 – Gratitude for lifelines02:12:45 – “Stay here”—for anyone slipping02:15:30 – Chris signs off from the ferry02:17:40 – END 🙏 Sponsor Shoutout: Illinois Recovery Center – Putting broken pieces back together. 👉 https://illinoisrecoverycenter.com/Bertarelli Cutlery – Blades that slice through your bullshit. 👉 https://bertarellico.com/
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    2 h y 7 m
  • S2 E19 Angela Schenewerk

    S2 E19 Angela Schenewerk
    Jun 2 2025

    Who this episode is for:
    • Anyone battling booze, burnout, or both
    • Moms hanging on by a thread with a wine glass in hand
    • Those who think “functioning alcoholic” means everything’s fine
    • Anyone who ever woke up and said, “How the hell did I get here?”
    • People not in recovery who’ve ever run from themselves and called it “freedom”

    Episode Title: "Closet Wine & Corporate Flights: Angela’s Fight for Herself"

    Angela Schenewerk shows up and blows the roof off. From Cahokia childhood to hidden booze bottles in adulthood, she takes us through what it’s like to lose yourself in motherhood, wine, work trips, and bad relationships—and still come crawling back with a pulse. This one’s got fake arrests, rehab denial, blackouts, stalking boyfriends, air mattresses with wine underneath, and the dangerous myth of “having it together.” It’s wild. It’s heavy. It’s very Pondoff’s Anonymous.

    Episode Timestamps:

    • 00:00 - Bertarelli Cutlery shoutout & intro 🔪
    • 01:26 - Angela enters the chat: Cahokia pride, first kisses & frozen rinks 🏒💋
    • 05:01 - Bullied, broke & beloved: childhood chaos with JJ the underdog 👧💔
    • 10:06 - Fake cops at a party, chipped teeth & her first wine cooler 🚓🍷
    • 15:33 - Marriage, the bar biz, and wine as a coping strategy 🥂🏗️
    • 20:48 - Work trips = escape hatch: hotel drinking begins 🏨🍾
    • 25:57 - Freedom or isolation? India trip blurs the line 🇮🇳😶‍🌫️
    • 30:39 - Skipping a wedding to drink alone: the addict’s choice 👰🚫
    • 35:14 - Closet wine rituals, motherhood pressure & boxed denial 🧃🧠
    • 39:58 - Bottles hidden everywhere, vodka refilled with water 💧🍸
    • 44:15 - The trash bag moment: caught red-handed & broken 🗑️😵
    • 45:41 - Rehab round one: denial, comparison & zero humility 🚫🏥
    • 50:03 - Apartment after the split: air mattress, no furniture, lots of wine 🛏️🍷
    • 54:17 - Trying to drink “normally” and failing fast 🌀📉
    • 56:40 - Enter: the GPS-tracking boyfriend & Punta Cana chaos 📍🌴
    • 01:01:19 - Alcohol over everything—even all-inclusives & love 💔🍺
    • 01:03:33 - Stood him up for Cabo so she could drink freely at home ✈️🏠
    • 01:06:08 - Hacked emails, blackmail & rock bottom behavior 💻🕳️
    • 01:09:44 - Drinking before the kids woke up & donut-lie mornings 🍩🥃
    • 01:14:27 - From motherhood to misery: drinking to function 👩‍👦‍👦💀
    • 01:18:56 - Rehab roulette: detox, flights, and every excuse in the book 🎢✈️
    • 01:22:35 - Still not ready to stop. Still not done breaking her own heart ⏳💣
    • 01:26:47 - Final reflections: lost dreams, missed weddings & brutal truth 🪞🧨

    Angela Schenewerk – Mom, ex-wife, closet drinker, blackout flyer, and survivor with a mic.
    This is the kind of episode you share with someone who's still out there, hiding it all and thinking nobody sees them. Angela was that person. And she made it back.

    Need help? Know someone who does?
    Illinois Recovery Center

    Keep your knives sharp (literally):
    Bertarelli Cutlery

    Pondoff’s Anonymous – where we call bullshit on silence, shame, and fake recovery stories.
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    2 h y 19 m
  • S2 E18 Christopher Schenewerk, M.D.

    S2 E18 Christopher Schenewerk, M.D.
    May 26 2025
    Who this episode is for:Anyone who thinks addiction can't touch high-achieving professionals 🧠💉People who think "functioning alcoholic" is a badge of honor 🥃🏆Those stalling on help because \"work is too busy\" 🏃‍♂️📅Anyone who's survived a brutal divorce 💔Healthcare workers, therapists & rehab skeptics 🩺🧪Family members who don’t get why their addicted loved one keeps spiraling 😔👨‍👩‍👧‍👦People NOT in recovery but know they’re circling the drain 🚨🌀Dr. Chris Schenewerk is in the building. And if you think doctors are immune to the wreckage addiction brings, buckle the hell up. Chris, Jakob & (a Jeff-less) Pondoff dive into a no-holds-barred convo with the Medical Director of Illinois Recovery Center—who also happens to be a recovering alcoholic with one hell of a story.From vodka before work & blacking out mid-interviews to meeting his now-wife in rehab & launching a recovery movement across Southern Illinois, Dr. Chris drops wisdom & one-liners like it’s second nature. This episode is raw. It’s real. It’s redemption in action. 🔥We hit everything: colonoscopy prep as a diet plan, trauma in kids, why "functioning addict" is bullshit, & how the Three Amigos AA group grew from four in the back of a doctor’s office to 50+ strong at Life Community Church in Columbia, IL. Oh, & don’t worry—dude still remembers Halloween riots at Carbondale. 🎃💥Highlights:The look in the mirror that scared him sober 👀Checking into rehab instead of waiting for an intervention 🚑Why Angela’s 12th rehab stay was the one that stuck 💪Letting go of a dream home for an 800 sq ft apartment & a new life 🏚️➡️🏠Building a recovery group where loved ones, doctors, students & misfits all get a seat at the table 🪑❤️Get ready for a mix of heartbreak, laughter, truth bombs & a whole lotta hope. 💣💬✨Timestamps:00:00 - Bertarelli Cutlery shoutout & intro 🔪01:23 - Dr. Chris Schenewerk joins the chaos 👋03:00 - Colonoscopy prep & weight loss dreams 💩💭05:07 - Sober date & first (only) rehab 🗓️🍷06:09 - Meeting Angela in rehab 💞08:40 - War stories vs. character defects 💥⚙️11:38 - His kids were sponges absorbing the wreckage 🧽👶13:42 - The trauma that never leaves kids 😢15:20 - Divorce, drinking & blame 🥃💔19:15 - Functioning alcoholic is a lie 🚫🍻21:50 - Blood alcohol levels & reality checks 🧪🧠26:06 - Interview gone wrong & mirror moment 🪞😨29:30 - Checked in before the intervention could happen 🙏31:36 - Why he refused the \"doctor-only\" rehab 🩺🚷35:26 - Humility is the key to first-time success 🙇‍♂️🔑39:01 - Angela's old bar used to be his watering hole 🍺🏠41:13 - Her blood alcohol was nearly 0.5 before they shocked her back ⚡🩸44:18 - Moved from mansion to minimalism to rebuild life 🏰➡️🛏️47:32 - You won't die without your job, but you might without rehab 🚫💼➡️🏥50:07 - Therapist laid it down: \"You can't fix anyone but yourself\" 🛠️🙅‍♂️54:59 - The birth of the Three Amigos meeting 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🔥1:01:06 - Why their AA group is different ✨👐1:03:07 - Medical students are now required to attend 🎓📖1:08:47 - If you clown, expect to get called out 🤡🛑1:10:15 - Triggered by truth? Good. Sit with that. 💥🧠1:12:00 - Calling BS in meetings—why coddling doesn't save lives 🚫🍼1:15:33 - Why victim mentality keeps people stuck 🧱😩1:20:10 - Creating recovery community beyond the meeting walls 🏘️🧑‍🤝‍🧑1:24:44 - Getting honest with yourself in step work 🔍🧾1:30:19 - The holy ground of AA: why this stuff works 🙌📿1:37:52 - Final thoughts on service, healing & legacy 💬🕊️1:44:59 - One last bomb from the Doc: stay humble, or get humbled 🔚😤Books & Resources:The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der KolkThree Amigos AA Meeting:Fridays @ 7PM at Life Community Church in Columbia, IL(Yes, it’s open to the public. Yes, it’s raw & real.)Sponsored by:Illinois Recovery CenterBertarelli Cutlery
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    1 h y 51 m
  • S2 E17 Victory Palmisano-Bruckner

    S2 E17 Victory Palmisano-Bruckner
    May 19 2025
    Guest: Victory Palmisano-Bruckner – Hollywood Producer, Stunt Industry Survivor, and Daughter of a Vietnam Vet/AddictWho this episode is for:Anyone with an alcoholic parent or a complicated grief storyDaughters who loved their dads even when it hurtFolks haunted by the war they never fought inSurvivors of church trauma, spiritual abuse, and Hollywood bullshitCreatives chasing their own IP dream (and still broke)Anyone who’s ever loved someone they couldn’t saveAND anyone not in recovery who thinks “just stop drinking” is solid adviceThis one hits the gut and the funny bone in equal measure.Victory Palmisano-Bruckner stops by the studio for a raw, hilarious, and soul-punching convo with Chris, Jeff, and Jakob. She may be Hollywood through and through—raised on sets, daughter of a legendary stuntman turned director—but she’s also as grounded as a St. Louis brick house and just as scarred.Her story is soaked in love and loss. Growing up the daughter of a Vietnam vet and lifelong alcoholic who doubled as a real-life action hero, Victory paints a brutal but beautiful picture of what it means to carry the legacy of a man who could survive car crashes, war, and fire—but not himself.There’s talk of strip club scouting (for a low-budget film, we swear), the trauma of church camp cults, daddy issues, and how alcoholism shape-shifts through generations. She helped her dad detox in her damn living room, only to watch him go back to the bottle. She buried him a year and a half ago. He was in the In Memoriam at the Oscars. Big time.You’ll laugh. You’ll ugly cry. You might want to call your dad. Or curse his name. Or both.Also: Chris drops one-liners like “flop a titty out” that are now canon in the Palmisano family. Jeff nerds out on stunt IMDBs. Jakob gets exposed as ChatGPT-ing guests. And Victory, despite growing up in the biz, reveals her realest role ever—daughter of an addict, and survivor of it all.Episode Timestamps:00:00 – Intro, sponsor shoutouts01:25 – Victory joins the chaos03:00 – Stunt double stories, Hollywood roots08:00 – Her path into podcasting, NBC Universal10:00 – Church trauma & leaving evangelicalism13:00 – Titty jokes, family legends15:00 – Launching Quantum Spin Studios19:00 – Husband’s script: Sopranos meets This Is Us22:00 – Her dad’s legacy: stunt safety & SAG activism28:00 – Oscar’s stunt category & grief spike33:00 – Vietnam trauma, PTSD, and substance abuse38:00 – Alec Baldwin, stunts, and industry danger41:00 – ACA & Al-Anon, strip club scouting horror46:00 – Making cocktails for dad at age 752:00 – Detoxing dad at home, COVID chaos56:00 – The rare apology before it was too late1:00:00 – Loving someone who doesn’t love themself1:05:00 – Boundaries, therapy, codependency truth1:10:00 – *World of Vesser* and the loneliness cure1:13:00 – Braves talk, Chipper Jones & Daniel nerd-out1:15:00 – Advice for people with addicted parents1:18:00 – Al-Anon’s power to make you feel less alone1:22:00 – After he died: health crashes, then calm1:23:26 – Naming the episode: Dad’s Club1:27:00 – Weekend at Bernie’s stunt reveal1:28:15 – Gino Lucci black car story, NYC-style sendoff1:30:00 – Viola, Serenity Prayer, and future visits1:31:36 – Game name slip: World of Vesser1:31:59 – Closing gratitude, grief, and fanboy loveResources Mentioned:Adult Children of AlcoholicsIllinois Recovery CenterBertarelli CutlerySponsored by:Bertarelli CutleryIllinois Recovery CenterEpisode Title: Dead Dad’s Club
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    1 h y 33 m
  • S2 E16 Kurt Garner

    S2 E16 Kurt Garner
    May 12 2025

    Who this episode is for:
    Those gutted by playoff heartbreak.
    Anyone who’s blacked out and called mom from jail.
    Teachers who taught Spanish while sweating out tequila.
    The sober curious, the secret drinkers, and the still spiraling.
    And anyone who’s ever run from a strip club tab and lived to tell it.

    EPISODE 16: “Señor Tequila & the Long Walk Home” (with Kurt Garner)

    Chris and Jakob are emotionally wrecked. The Blues blew it with 1.6 seconds left. Enter Kurt Garner—a guy who once taught elementary Spanish still buzzed from the night before.

    From blackouts and breakups to a Mexican strip club escape, Kurt’s story is wild, hilarious, and brutally honest. Now four years sober, he’s up at 3 a.m., hitting the gym, and helping others tell their stories through mysoundstory.com.

    What’s Inside:
    – Blues trauma, 1.6 seconds of hell
    – Dating apps, tequila-fueled teaching
    – DUI and a jail call to mom
    – Mexico, 75 Hard, and recovery
    – Finding purpose with SoundStory

    Plug:
    🎙️ Kurt Garner – Co-host of TMA and contributor at mysoundstory.com

    📍 Timestamp Breakdown:
    00:00 – Intro – bertarellico.com
    01:20 – Blues heartbreak
    02:30 – Gretzky & goalie PTSD
    05:00 – Meet Kurt
    08:00 – Hate-watching hockey
    11:00 – Soccer & Cardinals
    13:00 – Sober dating
    15:50 – Putshack dates
    18:00 – Señor Tequila opens up
    23:20 – First drink to DUI
    30:00 – Jail call & car wreck
    33:00 – Tequila Rose chaos
    39:00 – Teaching blackout
    43:00 – Divorce, denial
    47:00 – Mexico escape
    53:00 – Spanish saves him
    55:00 – 75 Hard begins
    58:00 – Gym & routine
    01:06:00 – Addiction patterns
    01:10:00 – Fired, freed
    01:14:00 – Building SoundStory
    01:27:00 – Storytelling & legacy
    01:36:00 – Radio chaos
    01:47:00 – Family purpose
    02:00:00 – 4 years sober
    02:02:00 – Share your story

    Sponsored by:
    🔪 bertarellico.com
    🏥 illinoisrecoverycenter.com
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    2 h y 3 m
  • S2 E15 Cam Janssen

    S2 E15 Cam Janssen
    May 5 2025
    🎙️ EPISODE 15: Cam Janssen – "Painkillers, Playoffs & Garth Fucking Brooks"Who this episode is for:Anyone who’s ever played hurt, lived high, or faked being fineMoms who can smell bullshit before you open your mouthBlues fans screaming “LET’S GO!” and flipping off WinnipegKids who grew up begging to stay on the ice till the Zamboni chased ‘em offThose who overdosed in front of their neighbors and somehow kept it movingAnyone who’s ever made a mess of their lifeCam Janssen rolls into the studio with a story that’ll punch you right in the soul. What starts off as some rowdy playoff hockey talk turns real fast—like, real real—when Cam dives into the wreckage of his painkiller addiction.We’re talking overdoses in his driveway while the whole neighborhood watches. We’re talking hiding withdrawal in a pro locker room while pretending to be the funny guy. We’re talking about being a “good” drug user—that dangerous kind who keeps functioning just enough to not get help.But it ain’t all darkness. There’s a lot of laughs, too—like Garth Brooks accidentally storming the ice during a charity game and nearly getting murdered. And Cam’s dad eating a hot dog thrown by a pissed-off fan, then chucking it back into the crowd like a savage.There’s locker room stories, childhood fights, recovery truths, and some absolute mayhem from the Blues’ playoff run. Oh, and we get deep into what it means to actually show up—for your teammates, for your city, and for yourself.And major love to the St. Louis Blues Warriors—a team of badass disabled veterans taking names and scoring goals. Cam drops stories about getting hacked up by those guys and loving every second of it. If you're in STL, support them or just go watch ’em throw down:👉 www.stlblueswarriorhockey.comIf you’ve ever been addicted, ever been broken, or ever been almost famous while absolutely falling apart inside—this one’s for you.🕒 TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Intro & sponsor shoutouts01:08 – Show theme music kicks in01:22 – Cam joins the chaos01:28 – Jersey number talk and mid-convo nonsense01:43 – “Always on hot bitches”—Cam lets loose early02:10 – Law & Order, Dell Guy, and guest rankings03:17 – From podcasting to radio to color commentary04:11 – Garth Brooks walks on the ice mid-play (yes, really)06:36 – Scoring 4 goals instead of throwing fists07:59 – Blues beatdown of the Jets: full breakdown10:29 – “You can’t get traded to Winnipeg”12:47 – Blues defense is buzzing14:02 – Bonuses, the cap, and nerding out on contract math16:19 – Packed barns, playoff energy, and money flying18:30 – Montreal chaos and goaltenders getting trucked20:25 – Goalies are psychos, period.22:43 – Why the Jets’ “park the bus” defense collapsed24:07 – Cam’s dad, a flying hot dog, and Granite City glory27:04 – Why respecting refs lets you get away with murder28:33 – Driving 14 hours to get kicked out in 10 seconds30:13 – Hockey isn’t a sport—it’s a fraternity31:02 – Cam shouts out the Blues Warriors (and gets hacked by a vet)33:03 – Blues alumni locker room = country club for ex-brawlers35:16 – Dwight Schofield, hurricane hero37:57 – The stuff moms carry that dads can’t39:29 – Cam’s full descent into painkillers: how it started42:06 – The yellow Percs. 190 of ‘em. Alone in Jersey.47:12 – Collapse #1: Cam overdoses in his driveway54:45 – Collapse #2: “That was it.”56:25 – “I thought I could beat this on my own”58:05 – Being the functioning addict is the most dangerous kind1:00:02 – Suboxone: the lifesaver that nearly killed his fire1:01:46 – Libido’s gone, energy’s gone, but at least he’s clean1:02:51 – Tapering off, staying off, and keeping the chaos at bay1:04:10 – Why opioids no longer have a grip—but other vices still try1:05:22 – Laughs, love, real talk, and a few final body blows1:06:45 – Fade to blackSponsored by:Illinois Recovery Center – www.illinoisrecoverycenter.comBertarelli Cutlery – www.bertarellico.com
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    1 h y 27 m
  • S2 E14 What the FAQ?! Part Deux

    S2 E14 What the FAQ?! Part Deux
    Apr 28 2025
    Who this episode is for:Anyone teetering on the edge of “maybe I need help”Parents of addicts who keep asking, “Am I helping or enabling?”People in recovery wondering if they can keep their phone in rehab (spoiler: no)The spiritually curious and the godless skepticsBosses trying to figure out WTF is going on with their flaky employeeAnyone who’s ever paced around their house yelling at a hockey game with chicken wing grease on their shirt🎙️ Episode 14 – What the FAQ: Easter Hangovers, Higher Powers, and Rehab Real TalkA no-BS recovery Q&A straight from the mouth of experience. Pondoff and the gang go deep, dumb, and raw on everything you ever wanted to know (but were probably too afraid or fucked up to ask) about addiction, getting clean, and what happens when you actually show up at rehab.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Bertarelli Cutlery shoutout01:01 – Intro bars by Eric01:22 – Episode 14 begins: Stats, views, and Mr. Beast envy02:45 – Meet Eric Conley03:17 – Treatment center chaos stories04:01 – Blues playoff breakdown05:01 – Cam Janssen teaser06:24 – Easter check-in + hangover tales07:24 – Jeff’s birthday wing party08:41 – Mijofsky’s Easter sermon: Hope in the darkness09:22 – Rehab: First day of the rest of your life10:34 – Finding light in the darkest moments11:03 – What the hell is Kee-poo?12:01 – Email wars + business card drama12:53 – Why “What the FAQ” episodes matter13:43 – Shirtless Eric + SNL Chippendales14:37 – AC wars: Staff vs. clients15:31 – From heavy to healing: Finding balance17:25 – Best Easter candy (spoiler: Reese’s wins)17:55 – Do you need God to recover?23:53 – Higher Power hacks: From moms to the group26:25 – Humility, open-mindedness, and not knowing it all28:15 – Are you helping or enabling?31:15 – Don’t give addicts cash32:47 – Addicts are genius-level creative (just misfired)34:32 – Artistic gifts in recovery35:44 – What can I bring to rehab?36:14 – Cell phones in rehab: Here’s the deal38:34 – Eric got hacked. It was a blessing40:13 – Why phones can derail your recovery41:44 – How IRC handles phones and triggers43:24 – Changing your number = freedom43:53 – Missing your kids is part of the process45:01 – Pondoff’s inbox detox46:13 – What happens when you first call IRC47:41 – Who qualifies for treatment?49:28 – Why hospitals aren’t always the answer50:41 – IRC’s record: 25-minute admission52:22 – Calls, check-ins, and staying alive long enough to show up54:43 – Fear, excuses, and the willingness window57:24 – Toiletries and welcome bags58:18 – Donations from staff and clients59:35 – Laundry detergent philosophy1:00:06 – Roommates, beds, and living setup1:02:02 – Roommate matching system1:03:03 – How to talk to your boss about rehab1:04:11 – Your boss probably already knows1:05:35 – Legal rights + FMLA explainedReferenced in this episode:👉 Illinois Recovery Center: https://illinoisrecoverycenter.com/👉 Bertarelli Cutlery: https://bertarellico.com/Sponsored by:🪓 Bertarelli Cutlery – https://bertarellico.com/🏥 Illinois Recovery Center – https://illinoisrecoverycenter.com/Hit that subscribe button if you’re into hard truths, heavy laughs, and healing that doesn’t sugarcoat a damn thing.
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    1 h y 54 m
  • S2 E13 Dillon Dunnagan

    S2 E13 Dillon Dunnagan
    Apr 21 2025

    Who this episode is for:
    - Musicians living gig to gig, paycheck to bar tab
    - Anyone who ever tried to quit drinking with “just a few more beers”
    - People who’ve played on stage… and people who’ve blacked out in the crowd
    - Friends who’ve called in a wellness check and hoped to God it worked
    - Anyone who’s ever made a mess of their life and thought, “F***, I can’t keep doing this”

    Episode 13: 4-3-2-1 — The Day I Chose Not to Die

    Pondoff sits down with Dillon Dunnagan—frontman of The Winks and a dude who played on stage with Green Day at Riverport. Behind the badass moments? Booze, blow, heartbreak, and a third-story balcony. This one’s raw, dark, hilarious, and brutally honest. From the “Piss Palace” to a psych ward, Dillon shares how a wellness check—and saying yes to help—changed everything.

    🧨 Breakdown – Chaos by the Minute
    • 1:25 – Irish genes and early gigs
    • 10:16 – Playing on stage with Green Day — watch it
    • 20:48 – Booze + band life = unraveling
    • 33:48 – Fire pits, cops, and “strippers are here!”
    • 50:55 – The balcony moment that changed it all
    • 1:06:10 – The last drink and the day he chose life
    • 1:17:04 – Playing sober—and getting laid again
    • 1:45:16 – The Winks and writing through recovery
    • 1:56:45 – Episode closes with raw, poetic lyrics
    🎸 Featured Links
    • Green Day moment: https://youtu.be/YwGPboK3OEE
    • The Winks: https://linktr.ee/thewinks
    • Pop Disaster Tribute – June 28: https://www.ninemilegarden.com
    💥 Sponsored by:
    • Illinois Recovery Center: https://illinoisrecoverycenter.com
    • Bertarelli Cutlery: https://bertarellico.com

    Like what you heard?
    Subscribe, rate, and share it with the friend who needs to hear it. This one’s for the fighters and the f***ups still trying.
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    2 h
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