AG 098: Building Simple Systems

Discussing my observational take that we are all addicted to something. From sin products like gambling, alcohol, or tobacco to relationships, to work, to working out, to social media, I’ve yet to meet a person who wasn’t addicted to something. This shift in how we view addiction changes the story (and the weight that comes with it), freeing us up to stop hiding from each other and instead start shifting our thoughts and behaviors so this “curse” becomes a “superpower”.

In this episode, Jamie shares the plan he would suggest for behavior change to a friend, family member, podcast listener, and most importantly...himself.

After a year off, I'm back doing the podcast for all the right reasons and I encourage you to do the same in your life after gambling.

I often see the question "Does anyone ACTUALLY get better?" in many of the support groups online.  Well, today I bring you an interview with someone who can emphatically say "YES!" to that question. Steve is back again to celebrate 9 years...and he's actually already halfway towards ten as this interview took place back in October! If you want to learn more about Steve's journey, you can check out Episode 41 or follow him on X under the handle @gambling_free

A great reminder of the importance of reengaging with things we enjoyed doing before gambling in our life after gambling.

So, I read this article on the state of problem gambling funding titled "Despite Millions of Dollars Earmarked for Gambling Treatment in Massachusetts, Few in State Get Help" and it triggered a thought that has been brewing for a long time. Needless to say, I needed a bit of a vent...so, here goes!

As I say at the end of each episode, I have no letters before or after my name. I'm just a guy that had a gambling addiction. Well, today's guest has letters...lots and lots of letters. This past winter, I once again was blown away by the insights Jody shared centered on the "failure to launch" cohort at a conference and it resonated with everything I've experienced personally and have seen in many others. I asked her to share her wisdom on the podcast and she did not disappoint. While this is a tremendous episode for friends and family (specifically parents) to better understand and address gambling addiction in their loved ones, there is a ton of fresh insight for those of us who were gamblers as well...including a fantastic quote she highlights about finance. I encourage you to check out The Better Institute website to connect with Jody and her team which offers everything from online therapy to courses for providers, parents, teens, and athletes. As if that isn't a lot already, you can grab a copy of her book "The Gambling Disorder Handbook: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals" on Amazon.

When I first started the After Gambling Podcast, I never considered that an active gambler might listen as a way of reducing harm. In this 100th episode, I'm joined by Mark Checkwicz to take a different look at problem gambling and gambling harm, that through the eyes of a current gambler. Mark shares his journey of gambling, the impacts it has had on him, as well as how he uses the podcast to better examine his gambling behaviors. You can find Mark on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Mark_Checkwicz

The more we seem to discuss mental health and addiction issues, the higher the numbers seem to go.  And I don't think this is a coincidence! For the past 10+ years, I've been studying our current messaging and listening to the stories of those impacted to try to figure out where we are going wrong. Most notably, I've been trying to figure it all out to make sense in my own life. In this episode, I take the first attempt at highlighting what I feel we are getting wrong, while also providing a new storytelling framework that I believe can help us to reverse course. Please listen. Please give feedback. And please share widely. Link to Bonus.com Article* https://www.bonus.com/news/gambling-addiction-genetic-predisposition/ *note: this is a gambling affiliate news site and you will be exposed to gambling advertisements. Please do not click if this is a concern for you  

John Gall had a brilliant take on how to build systems. "A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked. A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work. You have to start over with a working simple system." In this episode, I discuss how I'm creating my simple systems and how you can do the same.