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Artwork for Recovery Demystified

Recovery Demystified - Non-Religious Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, & Their Allies

Early Brunner
Mental Health
Recovery
Addiction
Addiction Recovery
Trauma
Grief
Sobriety
Alcoholism
Community Support
Buddhism
Harm Reduction
Substance Use
Substance Abuse
Homelessness
Family Dynamics
Substances
Neuroplasticity
Suicide
Childhood Trauma
Nutrition

Recovery Demystified is a non-religious, queer, and neurodivergent-friendly recovery podcast exploring addiction recovery, sobriety, and harm reduction. Our guests tell their addiction recovery stories to upend stigma surrounding recovery, and tell stories about navigating life in the process of healing from addiction and trauma. We leave shame, dogma, and purity politics at the door. Each episode... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes87Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessSociety & CulturePersonal JournalsAlternative Health

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Artwork for Recovery Demystified

Latest Episodes

Binge drinking can be a response to unbearable emotions -- and that was the case for our guest today, Colleen Clifford. She talks about being a kid whose needs were unmet, people pleasing, and how a difficult diagnosis left her feeling broken. Unsure... more

Getting sober can mean your social life changes overnight — and nobody really prepares you for that. We often get really bad advice about how we need to make extreme changes, but sometimes that can cause more harm than good. What if we moved slowly, ... more

Shame is a huge driver of addiction, and cultural overvaluing of independence is keeping us stuck. How might things change if we destigmatized substance use, genuinely cared for each other, and prayed with endless devotion to the things that spark ou... more

In this episode we dive into books & podcasts that are off the beaten path -- ones that cater specifically to struggles of people who are autistic and/or have ADHD. The way we recover is not the same as everyone else, and it has everything to do with... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Elizabeth Roberts
Author and anthropologist at University of Michigan
University of Michigan
Episode: What If We Stopped Feeling Ashamed of Ourselves? Elizabeth Roberts on Her Book "In Praise of Addiction"
Meesh Mori
Leader of the Collective Coalition, Queering Up Harm Reduction
Collective Coalition, Queering Up Harm Reduction (San Diego)
Episode: Liberatory Harm Reduction 101: Meesh Mori on Queer + BIPOC History, the Drug War, and Getting Free
Chris Conde
Brooklyn-based rapper, content creator
Self-employed musician and speaker
Episode: Chris Conde - How Living as Authentically Queer Brought Him Back From the Brink - Addiction Recovery Story #43
Adam Vora
Recovery coach; host of The Finding Purpose podcast
Greenwich Lifestyle Magazine (community work)
Episode: Adam - Transforming Deep Shame into Finding Purpose - Addiction Recovery Story #41
Scott "Pepe"
Musician and former weed entrepreneur with a history in underground punk scenes
Independent artist, Stay Free Coffee, Back on the Grind Records
Episode: Pepe Bandit - From Latchkey Kid to Trafficking Weed on an Airplane - Addiction Recovery Story #40
Sierra Jeans
Advocate for harm reduction; works with End Overdose
End Overdose
Episode: Sierra - Adopted and Raised in a Cult, BPD, and Losing a Someone to Addiction - Addiction Recovery Story #38
Average Joey
Traveling musician, zine writer and poet
Independent artist | Average Joey
Episode: Joey Part 1 - (New Intro) Punk Rock & Harm Repair, Alcohol Addiction and How We Can Do Better - Addiction Recovery Story #34
Jakob Schaefer
Session and touring musician, primarily with The Black Legacy Project (Atlanta)
The Black Legacy Project
Episode: Jakob - Weed Addiction, Cannabinoid Hyperemesis in the ER, & Raw Dogging the Shit Out of Life - Replay Addiction Recovery Story #6
Sara Hyatt
Friend of the host, 이야기의 게스트; person sharing a firsthand recovery journey
Individual (guest)
Episode: Sara - From Meth in a Lightbulb at Age 15 to Spontaneous Sobriety - Replay Addiction Recovery Story #2

Host

Early Brunner
Host of Recovery Demystified, guiding interviews, fostering inclusive dialogue, and promoting harm-reduction and secular recovery approaches.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 50 ratings
  • An Enlightening Listen!

    These interviews are of real people who share their lived experiences and Early does a great job at asking questions without judgement. If you are in recovery or just curious about sobriety and need some inspiration, you’re in the right place!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Live onion
    United States2 months ago
  • A much needed take

    Somehow found my way here from the (folk)punk world and I’m glad I did. This is a refreshing and much needed take on approaching addiction & recovery. Keep up the good work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Little Brother...1984
    United States3 months ago
  • Thank you for being here

    This podcast gently offers perspective and validation for folx seeking a recovery community that is focused on acceptance, evidence based practices and compassion. Unlike most mainstream 12 step/abstinence based resources, Early provides a safe space for anyone seeking something different- especially those of us who are LGBTQIA+ and/or people who use drugs and/or people who are neurodivergent.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HarmRedux Mama from the North
    United States3 months ago
  • This podcast fills a need in the recovery community

    Smart, compassionate, honest, questioning, deep dives, and to thine own self be true always

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DiosMadre
    United States3 months ago
  • For a Weirdo Like Me

    Early brings a compassionate heart to asking hard questions around substance use & its impacts. A wide range of knowledge about, & techniques for, working toward recovery are shared in an approachable & judgement free way. This podcast is opening up my thinking around addiction, mental health issues & other complexities of being human. As someone who has been in various stages of addiction & recovery from teenage to midlife, I’m deeply grateful to Early & their guests for opening up new lines of... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A Secret Location
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host for compassionate, nonjudgmental questions and real-life recovery storytelling.
Audience notes the interviews are diverse and deeply insightful, often challenging mainstream abstinence-only norms.
The show is valued for offering safe, inclusive spaces and practical harm-reduction resources.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Liberatory Harm Reduction 101: Meesh Mori on Queer + BIPOC History, the Drug War, and Getting Free
Q: Can you describe how your work started and what Catalyst led you to found your harm-reduction organization?
I founded a harm-reduction-focused, queer-led coalition in San Diego after realizing there were few culturally appropriate resources for queer and neurodivergent folks. I wanted spaces where people could connect without the purity culture of abstinence-only programs and where harm-reduction strategies could be tailored to community needs.
You Asked For It! - Healing With Kink, Overcoming Shame, What to Do When You Feel Sad, and Helping Loved Ones With Addiction - Recovery Resources #34
Q: Could kink be a useful modality for healing toxic relationships with substances?
Kink may offer a pathway to empowerment, trust, and controlled vulnerability, aligning with recovery goals when it enhances self-trust and authentic self-expression rather than increasing risk or harm.
You Asked For It! - Healing With Kink, Overcoming Shame, What to Do When You Feel Sad, and Helping Loved Ones With Addiction - Recovery Resources #34
Q: How do I not take a drink when I am feeling emotional pain?
Treat emotions as temporary, name the pain, acknowledge the addicted voice, and stay with the feeling while using healthy coping strategies to tolerate it rather than suppressing it, recognizing that discomfort is part of being human and can be processed with self-compassion.
You Asked For It! - Healing With Kink, Overcoming Shame, What to Do When You Feel Sad, and Helping Loved Ones With Addiction - Recovery Resources #34
Q: Do you have advice to get over the hump when it feels like it's easy to keep drinking, to have the fuck-its?
Identify the 'fuck-its' as the addicted voice, name it, and pivot to what someone who loves themselves would do; treat relapse as a learning moment, not day one, and maintain awareness of emotions and shame involved to prevent spiraling.
You Asked For It! - Healing With Kink, Overcoming Shame, What to Do When You Feel Sad, and Helping Loved Ones With Addiction - Recovery Resources #34
Q: How much help is too much when supporting a family member with addiction?
Support should balance compassion with recognizing consequences of addiction; prepare resources in advance, avoid over-accommodation that protects the behavior, and allow natural consequences to guide the person while being ready to help when they're ready to pursue recovery.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Recovery Demystified

What is Recovery Demystified about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Recovery Demystified centers on secular, queer, and neurodivergent perspectives in addiction recovery and harm reduction. Episodes feature personal recovery stories, critique of abstinence-only models, and practical tools for navigating cravings, relapse prevention, and mental health without dogma. Noteworthy elements include a strong stance against purity politics, a expansive embrace of harm-reduction strategies, and guest voices from LGBTQ+, ND, and marginalized communities that push for inclusive, evidence-informed paths to sobriety and well-being.

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How many listeners does Recovery Demystified get?

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What are the audience demographics for Recovery Demystified?

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How many episodes of Recovery Demystified are there?

Recovery Demystified launched 2 years ago and published 87 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Recovery Demystified?

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What guests have appeared on Recovery Demystified?

Recent guests on Recovery Demystified include:

1. Elizabeth Roberts
2. Meesh Mori
3. Chris Conde
4. Adam Vora
5. Scott "Pepe"
6. Sierra Jeans
7. Average Joey
8. Jakob Schaefer

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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