Drop the Needle

Welp. Here we are, elbowing our way back into your podcast queue again. In the 2+ years we've been away, a couple of things have changed (to say the least) but that's why we've returned. Sean's steel-trap music memory is intact, Paul still doesn't enunciate words correctly, and Mike is leveling up with his recovery like never before. 

We're also more professional for Season 6, too. Literally! Our new co-host Rikki is a licensed counselor with a specialization in trauma, which puts an entirely different spin on "giving it a whirl."

This episode features music by Alexi Murdoch and Toad the Wet Sprocket, not to mention a little Steve Martin action in the mix for good measure.

Before we kick off Drop the Needle 2.0 next week, here's one more unarchived episode from the not-all-that-different 1.0 version of this show. This one's from 2018. It features segments from tracks by Hippo Campus, Sharon Van Etten, R.E.M., HAERTS, Ten Fe, and Ashe, not to mention all three of us in very good places in life.

Our last new episode was released in December '19. Right after the holidays, the world shut down.

Between then and now, so much has happened with the three of us that it's almost hilarious if some of it wasn't so sad. (We have a lot to talk about, you guys.)  Anyway, this episode finds Paul setting the table for Season 6. Each week until the new season, we'll be running some of our favorite, previously unavailable episodes from years past, like this one. 

But first: a discussion of why DtN is back and how it'll be different.
Next, you'll find our very first podcast recording ever: an hour-long interview with Mike, before we formally asked him to join as a co-host. It's somewhat naive and unpolished, but it's true and honest. If nothing else, it's a fun time capsule in all the same ways as it's a permanent document of our sobriety, circa 2017. 

Fun fact: this episode has been in the Recycling Bin of Paul's Mac at least three times on accident, with no other versions saved anywhere. In other words, this is one lucky mp3 file. 

It's been cleaned and remastered to the best of our ability, so please enjoy.  

Sean, Mike and Paul get into the topic of loyalty—for people, for brands, for recovery programs and everything in between. (This episode also boasts references to Boxcar Willie and "Toy Story," so it can't be all bad.) Artists include Randy Newman, Miya Folick, R.E.M. and Local Natives.

(Drop the Needle does not own or claim ownership of any music used in this podcast. All rights go to original owner.)

"I'm an alcoholic and an addict and I unleashed the monster. I didn't realize how severe the consequences of that would be." Co-host Mike Verlie returns to the show—and to recovery. Mike shares a bit of his journey over the past few months as well as his hopes for the future. Artists in this episode include Lucy Dacus, Gaz Coombes and Daft Punk.

(Drop the Needle does not own or claim ownership of any music used in this podcast. All rights go to original owner.)

By far, this is our happiest, bounciest and most upbeat collection of music in one episode. That's because we're talking about "the pink cloud" in addiction recovery—the temporary sense of euphoria, hope and well-being that occurs during very early sobriety. Artists this time around include Phantom Planet, Gotye, Phoenix, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Florence + The Machine and Jessica Lea Mayfield. 

(Drop the Needle does not own or claim ownership of any music used in this podcast. All rights go to original owner.)

Instant gratification is one of the hallmarks of suffering from addiction⁠—the soulless chase of a short-term high without thinking through the long-term consequences. Sean and Paul talk about self-control, impulse purchases, patience and focusing on the big picture. Artists include Now, Now, Bat for Lashes, Arcade Fire, Saint Motel, The Beach Boys, and Sylvan Esso. 

(Drop the Needle does not own or claim ownership of any music used in this podcast. All rights go to original owner.)

When you're in addiction recovery, it's easy to beat yourself up for the things that you did. But it's how you move past your bad decisions and forgive yourself that truly defines your future. In this episode, Sean and Paul talk about letting go of the past, awkward moments, dwelling on mistakes and pushing forward. Artists include Metronomy, Mr. Little Jeans, Fruit Bats and Teenage Priest. 

(Drop the Needle does not own or claim ownership of any music used in this podcast. All rights go to original owner.)

If you're struggling with alcoholism and addiction, you know how cruel sleep can be. Likewise, if you're struggling with sobriety, you know just how cruel sleep can be, too. There's no happy medium. Many routines over many years have to be built. Paul has had a contentious, ugly relationship with sleep for nearly six years after getting sober. In this episode, Sean and Paul discuss sleep habits, dream imagery in songs, and Paul's addiction to Ambien. They also share songs by Hey Ocean!, Youth Lagoon, M83 and Explosions in the Sky.

(Drop the Needle does not own or claim ownership of any music used in this podcast. All rights go to original owner.)

This week, we discuss the complicated, thorny and entirely unofficial “Step 13” in 12-step programs: the common phenomenon of long-timers preying romantically upon short-timers. It’s an episode about protecting yourself against vulnerability and recognizing whom to trust in recovery. With the help of our frequent guest Adam, we offer some solutions and strategies for navigating this minefield. We also share songs by Air Traffic Controller, little hurricane, Hellogoodbye, and Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross. 

(Drop the Needle does not own or claim ownership of any music used in this podcast. All rights go to original owner.)