6 Years of Heroin Addiction to Now 4 Years of Sobriety

In episode 31 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Maggie who opens up about her journey through addiction, recovery, and rebuilding her life. She shares what it was like growing up around addiction, experimenting as a teen, and facing early arrests and probation. From her first rehab stay—where she admits she tried to “beat the system”—to the depths of opiate and heroin addiction in Kensington, Maggie’s story is raw and eye-opening. She talks about the repeated attempts at treatment, the turning point of true surrender, and how community became essential to her recovery. Now years sober, Maggie reflects on becoming a parent in recovery, working in treatment, navigating mental health challenges, and finding spirituality and purpose in long-term sobriety. This episode is a real, honest look at what it takes to rebuild and heal after addiction.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Chapters |00:00 Intro and Podcast Mission00:35 Maggie's Early Years & Family Background02:00 Childhood Experiences with Addiction04:34 Noticing Differences & First Encounters07:14 Teen Experimentation and Escalation13:10 High School Arrests & Probation Struggles17:00 First Rehab and Intentions to ‘Beat the System’19:09 Opiates, Heroin, and Full-Blown Addiction23:18 Going Deeper: Kensington and Consequences27:30 Multiple Attempts at Treatment32:00 The Role of Community and True Surrender38:29 Early Recovery, Growth, & New Challenges44:24 Becoming a Sober Parent and Building a New Life47:07 Working in Treatment & Family Recovery52:18 Mental Health, Stigma, and Support Needs55:26 Spirituality in Recovery01:03:42 Long-term Sobriety and Changing Recovery Paths01:07:07 Biggest Highlights and Reflections01:09:54 Ongoing Mental Health and Support in Recovery01:13:23 Final Thoughts and ClosingFTS Medication Assistance Program | Apply today : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/rx-assistanceDonate to support! : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/donateFuck the Stigma is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes people shouldn’t be judged or labeled based on their mental health status. Whether you are struggling with an addiction or have been taking meds for a diagnosis, our community doesn’t judge and seeks to collectively end the stigma around mental health. Our mission is to normalize mental health and mental illness as widespread, treatable, and acceptable. We do this by providing useful resources, improving access to services for those who need help, sharing stories, and building a community of young people who all agree… Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/Instagram | https://instagram.com/fukthestigmaTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/FTStigmaX | https://x.com/fthestigmaTags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, nonprofit, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholic, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, baltimore diagnosis, felony, felonies, DUI, DWI, forgiveness, #fthestigma #podcast #addiction #overdoseawareness #nonprofit #mentalhealth #mentalillness

In episode 30 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Michael to share his story of addiction, recovery, and rebuilding his life. From early identity struggles to his first experiences with substances, legal trouble, and near-death moments, Michael opens up about what it took to reach rock bottom and finally seek treatment. He discusses relapse, homelessness, and the importance of finding a sponsor, setting family boundaries, and doing the hard internal work of change. Together, Laisha and Michael dive into stigma, mental health, overdose prevention, Narcan access, and what recovery really means. This conversation is raw, real, and a reminder that addiction recovery is possible.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Chapters |00:00 Meet Michael & Podcast Intro01:05 Growing Up: Childhood and Family Dynamics02:27 Trauma, Emotions & Early Identity Issues04:07 First Experiences with Substances07:07 School Years and Deepening Addiction10:19 Legal Consequences & Arrest Stories13:31 The Role of Psychedelics and Opinions on Recovery16:15 Abstinence, Relapse, and Recovery Definitions19:35 Reaching Rock Bottom & Going to Treatment23:39 Homelessness, Health Scares, and Near-Death27:01 Finding a Sponsor & Starting Over31:39 Family Boundaries, Al-Anon & Building Relationships34:47 Describing Addiction & Seeking Internal Change39:34 Struggles in Recovery & What Matters Most43:12 Forgiveness, Amends & Maintaining Relationships47:11 Foundations for Recovery: Steps, Community & God53:40 Powerlessness & The Nature of Choice in Addiction54:46 Treatment Industry, Body Brokering & Advice01:00:06 Stigma, Normalizing Recovery & The Mental Health Crisis01:02:44 Why Are We Addicts? Nature, Nurture & Accepting Reality01:04:50 Overdose, Narcan, and Access to Help01:07:08 Final Thoughts & The Importance of ConversationFTS Medication Assistance Program | Apply today : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/rx-assistanceDonate to support! : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/donatePod links |Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3?si=35349a057d564bacApple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224Fuck the Stigma is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes people shouldn’t be judged or labeled based on their mental health status. Whether you are struggling with an addiction or have been taking meds for a diagnosis, our community doesn’t judge and seeks to collectively end the stigma around mental health. Our mission is to normalize mental health and mental illness as widespread, treatable, and acceptable. We do this by providing useful resources, improving access to services for those who need help, sharing stories, and building a community of young people who all agree… Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/Instagram | https://instagram.com/fukthestigmaTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/FTStigmaX | https://x.com/fthestigmaSubscribe for more! | https://www.youtube.com/@fthestigmaTags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, nonprofit, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholic, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, baltimore diagnosis, felony, felonies, DUI, DWI, forgiveness, #fthestigma #podcast #addiction #overdoseawareness #nonprofit #mentalhealth #mentalillness

In episode 29 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Joe as he opens up about his journey through pain, addiction, and redemption. From a rough childhood marked by school struggles, trauma, and searching for belonging, Joe shares how early challenges led him down a path of experimenting with drugs that eventually escalated into hard addiction. He speaks candidly about coping with personal loss, navigating the streets of Baltimore, and becoming involved in criminal enterprises that brought both wealth and devastating consequences. Joe reflects on his time in prison, the unraveling of his life, and the moment he truly hit rock bottom. From there, he describes his fight for sobriety, the healing process, and how he ultimately found purpose in recovery. The conversation also dives into Baltimore’s ongoing addiction crisis, the stigma and misconceptions society holds, and the struggles of mental health, isolation, and suicide that many face in silence.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Chapters |00:00 Intro 00:18 Joe's Rough Childhood & School Struggles04:34 Special Ed, Trauma & Seeking Belonging09:01 Experimenting with Drugs and Addiction Starts14:00 Escalation to Hard Drugs & Coping Mechanisms20:00 Personal Loss, Grief, and Street Outreach Work27:00 Criminal Enterprise, Wealth, and Consequences36:00 Prison, More Business & Life Falling Apart44:00 Hitting Rock Bottom & Journey to Sobriety47:00 Healing, Recovery and Finding Purpose49:00 Baltimore's Addiction Crisis & Street Realities53:00 Mental Health, Isolation & Suicide Struggles01:00:00 Society, Connection & Simplicity of Life01:03:00 Biggest Misconceptions About Addiction01:04:38 Life Purpose, Community & The Power of Connection01:07:00 Final Thoughts & Podcast Wrap-UpFTS Medication Assistance Program | Apply today : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/rx-assistanceDonate to support! : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/donatePod links |Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3?si=35349a057d564bacApple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224Fuck the Stigma is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes people shouldn’t be judged or labeled based on their mental health status. Whether you are struggling with an addiction or have been taking meds for a diagnosis, our community doesn’t judge and seeks to collectively end the stigma around mental health. Our mission is to normalize mental health and mental illness as widespread, treatable, and acceptable. We do this by providing useful resources, improving access to services for those who need help, sharing stories, and building a community of young people who all agree… Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/Instagram | https://instagram.com/fukthestigmaTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/FTStigmaX | https://x.com/fthestigmaSubscribe for more! | https://www.youtube.com/@fthestigmaTags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, nonprofit, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholic, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, baltimore diagnosis, felony, felonies, DUI, DWI#fthestigma #podcast #addiction #overdoseawareness #nonprofit #mentalhealth #mentalillness

In episode 28 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Catie to share a raw and powerful story of addiction, self-harm, and healing. Catie opens up about growing up in a chaotic household, experimenting with drugs at a young age, and spending seven years trapped in addiction while battling self-harm. She talks about how trauma, toxic and addictive relationships, and the stigma surrounding substance use shaped her path, leading to moments of pain, legal troubles, and loss. Through honesty and vulnerability, Catie reflects on her journey of finding strength, building self-worth, navigating grief, and learning healthier ways to cope with life’s challenges. Today, with over a decade of sobriety, Catie is a wife, a mother of two children, and an addiction counselor helping others find hope and healing. Together, Laisha and Catie dive into the realities of addiction, mental health, treatment systems, motherhood, mindfulness, and breaking the stigma to create space for empathy and understanding.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Chapters |00:00 Introduction & Katie's Sobriety Journey01:10 Family History & Early Substance Exposure03:10 Coping With Trauma & First Drug Experiences06:03 Growing Up in a Chaotic Household09:01 Teenage Years: Self-Harm, School, and Escape13:20 Addictive Patterns: Relationships & Escalation17:40 Legal Troubles & Turning Point22:00 Early Recovery: Loss, Grief, and Healing26:30 Growing Up in Recovery & Learning Life Skills31:15 Building Self-Worth & Staying Clean36:00 Therapy Styles: Compassion and Empathy41:00 From Addiction to Mental Health Advocacy47:40 Comorbidity: Treating Addiction & Mental Health55:00 The Realities of Treatment Systems & Stigma01:03:00 Individual Healing Journeys & Supporting Others01:13:00 Motherhood, Loss, and Life Lessons01:24:00 Mindfulness, Living In The Moment & Parenting01:32:00 Understanding & Explaining Addiction01:38:00 Destigmatizing All Struggles & Empathy in Practice01:45:00 Closing Thoughts & ReflectionsFTS Medication Assistance Program | Apply today : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/rx-assistanceDonate to support! : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/donatePod links |Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3?si=35349a057d564bacApple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224Fuck the Stigma is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes people shouldn’t be judged or labeled based on their mental health status. Whether you are struggling with an addiction or have been taking meds for a diagnosis, our community doesn’t judge and seeks to collectively end the stigma around mental health. Our mission is to normalize mental health and mental illness as widespread, treatable, and acceptable. We do this by providing useful resources, improving access to services for those who need help, sharing stories, and building a community of young people who all agree… Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/Instagram | https://instagram.com/fukthestigmaTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/FTStigmaX | https://x.com/fthestigmaSubscribe for more! | https://www.youtube.com/@fthestigmaTags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, nonprofit, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholic, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, baltimore diagnosis, felony, felonies, DUI, DWI#fthestigma #podcast #addiction #overdoseawareness #nonprofit #mentalhealth #mentalillness

In episode 27 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Tristan, who’s back to share what life looks like now at 4 years sober. Tristan talks about what it was really like in the thick of his addiction—six years of IV heroin use, seven stints in rehab, and even losing all his teeth. He contrasts that with where he’s at today: learning how to cope, building real tools to get through the tough moments, and figuring out what long-term recovery actually looks like.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Chapters |00:00 Welcome & Catching Up02:30 Reflections on Recovery and Four Years Sober05:45 Realizing Imperfection in Recovery07:30 Professionalism, Mentors, and Being Human12:30 The Road to Recovery: Tristan's Journey18:00 What Was Different This Time in Treatment?22:30 Individualized Care & Shared Stories26:00 Building a Life in Recovery29:30 Dealing with Perspective and Daily Peace33:00 Early Signs: Discontent and Escapism36:30 From Marijuana to Opiates: Escalation of Addiction40:30 IV Drug Use and Understanding Self-Harm44:45 Life at the Lowest Points48:30 Realizing Addiction & Reflecting on Rock Bottom53:00 Why Some Need Multiple Trips to Treatment57:00 Normies vs. Addicts: Is There a Real Difference?FTS Medication Assistance Program | Apply today : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/rx-assistanceDonate to support! : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/donatePod links |Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3?si=35349a057d564bacApple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224Fuck the Stigma is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes people shouldn’t be judged or labeled based on their mental health status. Whether you are struggling with an addiction or have been taking meds for a diagnosis, our community doesn’t judge and seeks to collectively end the stigma around mental health. Our mission is to normalize mental health and mental illness as widespread, treatable, and acceptable. We do this by providing useful resources, improving access to services for those who need help, sharing stories, and building a community of young people who all agree… Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/Instagram | https://instagram.com/fukthestigmaTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/FTStigmaX | https://x.com/fthestigmaSubscribe for more! | https://www.youtube.com/@fthestigmaTags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, nonprofit, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, los angeles, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholic, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, baltimore diagnosis, felony, felonies#fthestigma #podcast #addiction #overdoseawareness #nonprofit #mentalhealth #mentalillness

In episode 26 of F The Stigma Podcast, the roles are reversed as host Laisha of the Fuck The Stigma podcast sits down with Santana to share her own story in honor of hitting 4 years of sobriety. Laisha opens up about her rock bottom moment in a jail cell after her third DWI and the painful reality of admitting she was an addict at just 18 years old. She reflects on the struggles of early recovery, the ongoing battle with anxiety and depression in sobriety, and the way mental health has become her main focus now that drugs are no longer the issue. Laisha also speaks on the lifelong process of making amends, the weight of still righting past wrongs, and how she continues to cope with the lasting consequences of her DUIs. Raw, vulnerable, and deeply honest, this conversation is a powerful reminder that recovery is not just about putting down substances, but about rebuilding, healing, and growing every single day.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Chapters |00:00 Celebrating Four Years Sober02:00 Reflecting on Milestones & Sobriety Feelings04:20 The Decision to Get Sober: Hitting Rock Bottom07:00 The Early Recovery Journey & Facing the Past12:20 Making Amends & Living With Consequences17:10 Family Relationships and the Healing Process21:45 Self-Reflection: Why Did I Use Substances?25:10 People Who Impacted Recovery & Wisdom From Treatment30:00 Accepting Addiction & Overcoming Stigma34:00 Guilt, Amends, and Self-Forgiveness38:30 Biggest Challenges in Staying Sober42:30 Supporting Others in Addiction & Relapse47:00 Boundaries, Outgrowing Friends & Loss52:30 Relationships in Recovery: From Shallow to Meaningful57:30 Life After Addiction: Fulfillment & Contentment01:03:00 Using Pain, Sharing Your Story & Embracing Growth01:08:40 The Weight of Recovery & Lessons Learned01:13:00 Advice, Self-Love & Acceptance01:17:15 Looking Back & Moving Forward With HopeFTS Medication Assistance Program | Apply today : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/rx-assistanceDonate to support! : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/donatePod links |Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3?si=35349a057d564bacApple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224Fuck the Stigma is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes people shouldn’t be judged or labeled based on their mental health status. Whether you are struggling with an addiction or have been taking meds for a diagnosis, our community doesn’t judge and seeks to collectively end the stigma around mental health. Our mission is to normalize mental health and mental illness as widespread, treatable, and acceptable. We do this by providing useful resources, improving access to services for those who need help, sharing stories, and building a community of young people who all agree… Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/Instagram | https://instagram.com/fukthestigmaTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/FTStigmaX | https://x.com/fthestigmaSubscribe for more! | https://www.youtube.com/@fthestigmaTags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, nonprofit, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, los angeles, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholic, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, baltimore diagnosis, felony, felonies, dui, xanax, #fthestigma #podcast #addiction #overdoseawareness #nonprofit #mentalhealth #mentalillness

In episode 25 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Matt Bell, CEO of Team Recovery and founder of the Team Recovery Foundation, to share his journey through addiction, loss, and redemption. Matt opens up about losing his father to cancer—a tragedy that became the catalyst for more than a decade of active addiction. From getting a DUI on the very first day he received his driver’s license to progressing from marijuana and alcohol to daily heroin use, his story is one of relentless struggle. With three overdoses, 28 treatment centers, and 13 arrests behind him, Matt’s road to recovery was anything but easy. In this candid conversation, he reveals the turning point that helped him finally achieve sobriety, the “missing piece” he discovered along the way, and how he now uses his story to inspire change and bring hope to others.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Chapters |00:00 Intro & Guest Welcome00:17 Meet Matt: Team Recovery Origins02:59 Making Recovery Cool & Community Focus07:01 Early Life, Family, and Beginnings of Addiction13:14 College, Prescription Pills, and Denial20:20 Escalation: Injecting and Daily Struggles24:42 Legal Consequences and Breaking the Law29:44 28 Treatment Centers and Family Dynamics33:39 The Turning Point: Faith, Surrender, and Recovery37:39 What Treatment Really Means & Mental Health42:43 Pain, Triggers, and Getting to the Root47:02 Rock Bottom: Family, Boundaries & Suicidal Thoughts50:57 The Final Surrender & Intervention53:04 Biggest Lessons from Recovery56:56 Making Amends & Facing the Past58:46 Overcoming Stigma as a Leader in Recovery01:01:36 Is Addiction a Disease? Medical Model & Stigma01:05:52 Changing Perspectives on Addiction01:09:12 Closing Thoughts and GratitudeMatt Bell & Team Recovery Links |Website | https://theteamrecovery.org/Matt's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thatmattbell/Team Recovery Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/teamrecovery419/FTS Medication Assistance Program |Apply today : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/rx-assistanceDonate to support! : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/donateFuck the Stigma is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes people shouldn’t be judged or labeled based on their mental health status. Whether you are struggling with an addiction or have been taking meds for a diagnosis, our community doesn’t judge and seeks to collectively end the stigma around mental health. Our mission is to normalize mental health and mental illness as widespread, treatable, and acceptable. We do this by providing useful resources, improving access to services for those who need help, sharing stories, and building a community of young people who all agree… Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/Instagram | https://instagram.com/fukthestigmaTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/FTStigmaX | https://x.com/fthestigmaSubscribe for more! | https://www.youtube.com/@fthestigmaTags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, nonprofit, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, los angeles, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholic, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, baltimore diagnosis, felony, felonies#fthestigma #podcast #addiction #overdoseawareness #nonprofit #mentalhealth #mentalillness

In episode 24 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Ben Nolot, filmmaker and founder of Exodus Cry—a nonprofit advocacy organization committed to ending sex trafficking and abolishing the commercial sex industry in all its forms, including pornography, strip clubs, and prostitution. Ben opens up about the deeply exploitative nature of the porn industry, shedding light on how it profits from the objectification and abuse of women while normalizing harmful behaviors and mindsets. Together, Laisha and Ben dive into the realities of porn and sex addiction—how it starts, what drives it, and how it silently devastates lives and relationships. This conversation challenges mainstream narratives and encourages listeners to rethink what society has normalized. If you're ready to confront uncomfortable truths and learn more about the movement to fight exploitation, this episode is a must-watch.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Chapters |00:00 Introduction & Guest Background01:01 Exodus Cry and Its Mission02:56 Documentaries and Raising Awareness06:47 The Roots of Sex Trafficking13:54 Culture, Pornography, and Self-Worth20:32 Prostitution, Violation, and Dissociation25:49 Redefining Worth and Dignity33:58 Clarifying Terms: Trafficking, Sex Trade, and Sex Work41:35 Pro-Sex Work Narratives vs. Abolitionists46:40 Gender Dynamics & Misogyny in the Sex Trade54:15 Childhood Exposure to Pornography01:00:55 Cultural Impact of Pornography on Boys & Girls01:04:10 Relational, Object, and Malevolent Sexuality01:12:35 Why Men Buy Sex & The Issue of Power01:22:10 Pornography's Connection with Trafficking01:26:35 Accountability for Porn Platforms01:30:22 Culture, Addiction, and Closing ThoughtsBen Nolot & Exodus Cry Links |Website | https://exoduscry.com/Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/benjinolot/ & https://www.instagram.com/exoduscry/Watch Newest Film 'Buying Her' | https://exoduscry.com/exodus-cry-films/FTS Medication Assistance Program | Apply today : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/rx-assistanceDonate to support! : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/donatePod links |Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3?si=35349a057d564bacApple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224Fuck the Stigma is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes people shouldn’t be judged or labeled based on their mental health status. Whether you are struggling with an addiction or have been taking meds for a diagnosis, our community doesn’t judge and seeks to collectively end the stigma around mental health. Our mission is to normalize mental health and mental illness as widespread, treatable, and acceptable. We do this by providing useful resources, improving access to services for those who need help, sharing stories, and building a community of young people who all agree… Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/Instagram | https://instagram.com/fukthestigmaTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/FTStigmaX | https://x.com/fthestigmaSubscribe for more! | https://www.youtube.com/@fthestigmaTags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, nonprofit, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, los angeles, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholic, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, baltimore diagnosis, felony, felonies#fthestigma #podcast #addiction #overdoseawareness #nonprofit #mentalhealth #mentalillness

In episode 23 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Monica, who bravely shares her journey of surviving 24 years of active addiction. Monica opens up about the trauma that sparked it all—being forced to have an abortion—and how that pain led her down a dark path of substance use and self-destruction. She recounts multiple suicide attempts that she believes she miraculously survived through divine intervention. From her experiences as a drug dealer on the streets of Baltimore to the emotional and spiritual battles she faced daily, Monica holds nothing back. Now sober, she reflects on how she coped during her addiction versus the tools she uses today in recovery, offering hope, honesty, and inspiration to anyone who has ever felt lost. This is a raw conversation about pain, survival, redemption, and the power of transformation.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Chapters |00:00 Intro & Early Life in Baltimore03:00 Family, Community, and Moving Neighborhoods07:00 First Encounters with Drugs14:00 Escalation: High School, Substances, and Challenges22:00 First Job, College Dreams, and Heroin25:00 Living with Addiction & Functioning31:00 Dealing & Consequences: From Selling to Prison39:00 Experiences in Prison & Streets Culture46:00 Changing Drug Scenes, Fentanyl Crisis, and Harm Reduction54:00 Multiple Suicide Attempts and Hitting Bottom01:00:00 Spiritual Programs & Beginning Recovery01:08:00 The Turning Point: Realizing Responsibility01:16:00 Accepting the Past & Embracing Recovery01:23:00 Living in Recovery & Finding Purpose01:29:00 Purpose, Teaching, and Looking Ahead01:30:00 Closing Thoughts & Podcast OutroFTS Medication Assistance Program | Apply today : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/rx-assistanceDonate to support! : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/donatePod links |Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3?si=35349a057d564bacApple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224Fuck the Stigma is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes people shouldn’t be judged or labeled based on their mental health status. Whether you are struggling with an addiction or have been taking meds for a diagnosis, our community doesn’t judge and seeks to collectively end the stigma around mental health. Our mission is to normalize mental health and mental illness as widespread, treatable, and acceptable. We do this by providing useful resources, improving access to services for those who need help, sharing stories, and building a community of young people who all agree… Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/Instagram | https://instagram.com/fukthestigmaTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/FTStigmaX | https://x.com/fthestigmaSubscribe for more! | https://www.youtube.com/@fthestigmaTags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, nonprofit, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, los angeles, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholic, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, baltimore diagnosis, felony, felonies#fthestigma #podcast #addiction #overdoseawareness #nonprofit #mentalhealth #mentalillness

In episode 22 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Will, who shares his powerful story of addiction, recovery, and what it means to keep pushing forward through some of life’s darkest moments. His battle with substance use began in his early teens, leading to two felonies by the age of 16 and a suicide attempt that nearly cost him his life. At 19, he got sober and has stayed committed to his recovery ever since. But just as he hit two years sober, he was faced with another challenge—a cancer diagnosis. Will opens up about what it’s like to carry all of this at such a young age and how he continues to show up, stay sober, and speak out. This episode also highlights the importance of men’s mental health, breaking the silence around the emotional weight so many young men are carrying alone.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.FTS Medication Assistance Program | Apply today : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/rx-assistanceDonate to support! : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/donatePod links |Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3?si=35349a057d564bacApple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224Fuck the Stigma is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes people shouldn’t be judged or labeled based on their mental health status. Whether you are struggling with an addiction or have been taking meds for a diagnosis, our community doesn’t judge and seeks to collectively end the stigma around mental health. Our mission is to normalize mental health and mental illness as widespread, treatable, and acceptable. We do this by providing useful resources, improving access to services for those who need help, sharing stories, and building a community of young people who all agree… Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/Instagram | https://instagram.com/fukthestigmaTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/FTStigmaX | https://x.com/fthestigmaSubscribe for more! | https://www.youtube.com/@fthestigma#fthestigma #podcast #addiction #overdoseawareness #nonprofit #mentalhealth #mentalillness