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 Intro

01:05 Growing Up: Childhood and Family Dynamics

02:27 Trauma, Emotions & Early Identity Issues

04:07 First Experiences with Substances

07:07 School Years and Deepening Addiction

10:19 Legal Consequences & Arrest Stories

13:31 The Role of Psychedelics and Opinions on Recovery

16:15 Abstinence, Relapse, and Recovery Definitions

19:35 Reaching Rock Bottom & Going to Treatment

23:39 Homelessness, Health Scares, and Near-Death

27:01 Finding a Sponsor & Starting Over

31:39 Family Boundaries, Al-Anon & Building Relationships

34:47 Describing Addiction & Seeking Internal Change

39:34 Struggles in Recovery & What Matters Most

43:12 Forgiveness, Amends & Maintaining Relationships

47:11 Foundations for Recovery: Steps, Community & God

53:40 Powerlessness & The Nature of Choice in Addiction

54:46 Treatment Industry, Body Brokering & Advice

01:00:06 Stigma, Normalizing Recovery & The Mental Health Crisis

01:02:44 Why Are We Addicts? Nature, Nurture & Accepting Reality

01:04:50 Overdose, Narcan, and Access to Help

01:07:08 Final Thoughts & The Importance of Conversation

FTS Medication Assistance Program |

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Pod links |

Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3?si=35349a057d564bac

Apple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224

Fuck 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…

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