Talkin' Trash • Episode 252

We welcomed Mary, who shared a deeply personal and heartbreaking account of the horrific trauma she endured throughout her childhood. This was one of those conversations where the pain was palpable, but so was the strength it took to sit with us and speak so openly about experiences no child should ever have to endure. Behind every painful memory was a woman who refused to let her past have the final say in her future. Mary reminded us that recovery isn't always just about putting down drugs or alcohol; sometimes it's about confronting wounds that were inflicted long before addiction ever entered the picture. There were heavy moments, uncomfortable truths, and the kind of raw honesty that makes you forget you're even doing a podcast. We can't thank Mary enough for trusting us with her story and reminding everyone watching why we recover out loud.

Plenty of reasons to celebrate as we recognized Jennifer Mansfield, our very own Brad’s sister, to recognize an incredible milestone: three years clean and serene! What better excuse to get the whole dysfunctional family together for another evening of recovery, ridiculousness, and the occasional meaningful conversation? Between the laughs, the usual questionable behavior, and a litatle genuine reflection, we celebrated Jennifer’s journey and the hard work behind those three years. Because around here, we know recovery isn't always pretty, it sure as hell isn't easy, but it's absolutely worth celebrating (she just happens to be very pretty).

Tonight we welcomed a special guest who finally got to check something off her bucket list: being on a podcast! Having always dreamed of sharing her voice and being part of the conversation, Kyla joined us for an evening of laughs, personal experiences, and a little bit of everything in between. What started as a longtime wish turned into an opportunity to share stories, exchange perspectives, and enjoy some genuine conversation. Sometimes it's the simplest dreams that make for the most memorable moments.

It's that time of the month again when the Talkin' Trash crew gets its regularly scheduled check-up with our very own medical professional, Elizabeth McKeon, PMHNP! Welcome to another edition of "Trash Medical," where our resident Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner brings some much-needed medical expertise to a room full of questionable characters. From addiction medicine and mental health to the science behind recovery, Liz helps us separate fact from fiction, answer the questions nobody else wants to ask, and occasionally remind us that we're not nearly as smart as we think we are. Real medicine, real recovery, and the usual dose of Talkin' Trash nonsense!

Fresh off our 250th episode celebration, the Talkin' Trash crew returned for another evening of recovery, ridiculousness, and conversations that occasionally resembled a professionally produced podcast. This time we welcomed Victor Vandreser into the circus, giving him a front-row seat to our unique brand of organized dysfunction. With plenty of laughs, questionable commentary, and the usual detours, the boys continued doing what they do best: proving that recovery can be meaningful without everybody sitting around looking miserable. Different personalities, different perspectives, and one common purpose: recovering out loud, having a good time, and reminding people they're never alone in this thing.

All five members of the Talkin’ Trash crew were in the house for another evening of recovery, ridiculousness, and the kind of conversations that somehow manage to be both meaningful and completely off the rails. Tim, Jim, Brad, Will, and Matt brought their own unique perspectives, plenty of laughs, and just enough questionable behavior to remind everyone why we call this thing Talkin’ Trash. Between the usual banter, a few unexpected detours, and some genuine moments of reflection, the boys once again proved that recovery doesn't always have to be serious to be taken seriously. Five different personalities, five different journeys, and one common purpose: recovering out loud and having a damn good time doing it.

Tonight on Talkin’ Trash, the whole crew was in the house for another evening of honest conversation, questionable humor, and the kind of camaraderie that makes this show what it is. We welcomed our newest addition to the Trash family, Matt Sandberg, who fits right into this dysfunctional collection of recovering misfits. Tonight’s conversation centered on exhaustion, both physical and emotional, and the importance of recognizing when life is taking more out of us than we're putting back in. We talked about the pressures of everyday life, the weight of recovery, and why sometimes simply showing up is an accomplishment worth celebrating. As always, the discussion wandered, the laughs were plentiful, and somewhere between the nonsense and the sincerity, a little wisdom managed to sneak through. Oh and Matt writes poetry.

Episode 244 welcomed our resident medical professional, Elizabeth McKeon, PMHNP, for a conversation about the increasingly accessible world of “gas station pharmaceuticals,” including Kratom and 7-OH.Beyond the medical facts, Elizabeth showed exactly why we value having her as part of Talkin’ Trash. Her compassion for people struggling with addiction isn’t something she simply talks about. It shows in how she treats them. Tim shared his own experience trusting Elizabeth with his MAT, addiction and mental health treatment, giving the conversation a personal perspective on what compassionate, knowledgeable care can actually look like. An informative episode, but more importantly, a reminder that people battling addiction deserve to be treated like people first.

Down two Canadians, the gents forged ahead without missing a beat. We welcomed Nicole as she celebrated 8 years clean and serene, bringing the kind of wisdom and perspective that only comes with eight years of recovery. Larry picked up some of Canada’s slack while Jimmy was at a Journey concert and Brad had to work. The nerve of these Canucks. Congratulations to Nicole on eight incredible years, and thank you for sharing your experience, strength and hope with the boys and our audience

We apologize for the lateness in dropping this particular TT-pod. Sobriety scholastics as Jennifer's friend, Jennifer caught us off guard with a moment of raw honesty. A year sober, she admitted she was struggling, and when asked whether she considered herself in recovery or simply sober, she almost defeatedly answered, “just sober.” We called bullshit. A hard night doesn’t erase a year of growth, work, and change. Sometimes recovery is hard to see when you’re the one living it, so tonight we made sure Jennifer gave hers the credit it deserved.