Series 2, Bonus Episode: I mean... Calling this a bonus episode is overstating it a bit. It’s an additional episode that doesn’t relate entirely to alcoholism. It overlaps with some of the “principles” in the Big Book. And it was inspired by another secular 12-step podcast at aabeyondbelief.org. So, if I were to be generous with myself I’d call it an opinion piece, but in truth it’s more of a rant because I’m fed up with a lot of the noise surrounding rape, assault, and abuse. The Jussie Smollett hoax has done a great disservice to our society. It has created more skepticism around reported hate crimes, which I doubt will actually deter the liars but will instead deter the honest. It’s the same for victims of rape and assault, and I think hoaxes like his have an greater reach. I’ve already listened to men without any first-hand experience of either crime compare Jussie’s hoax to “all the women who lie about being raped.” Good times. And while I think in many cases rape should be likened to a hate crime, at the moment I’m glad it’s not as people latch onto Jussie Smollett’s hoax as an example of a greater truth. After watching “I Am Evidence” last night on HBO it’s very clear that the statistics people like to point to are mostly irrelevant, at least in the cases of reported rape because the cases are never actually handled properly—thousands of never processed rape kits for decades. Wow.

Ok that’s enough out of me. This is short. As I say, just an opinionated rant.