Bridget sits down with Jared Klickstein, author of Crooked Smile, to discuss the gritty realities of addiction, homelessness, and the policy failures that have turned them into epidemics. They cover Jared's personal story, being raised by heroin addicts, his own struggle with addiction, surviving a decade on Skid Row, and how he got clean. They dissect the progressive policies that caused addiction and homelessness to explode, the multitude of non-profits intended to address the problems that are actually just scams, why you need ex-junkies running recovery programs, the difference between being homeless and being "houseless," the critical need to prosecute crime, and the immediate action steps that must be taken if the problems are to be effectively addressed.

Sponsor Links:

- Quest offers 100+ lab tests to empower you to have more control over your health journey. Choose from a variety of test types that best suit your needs, use code WALKINS to get 25% off - https://www.questhealth.com

- If you love Walk-Ins Welcome become a supporter at https://phetasy.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Walk-Ins Welcome with Bridget Phetasy - Podcast Bridget Phetasy admires grit and authenticity. On Walk-Ins Welcome, she talks about the beautiful failures and frightening successes of her own life and the lives of her guests. She doesn’t conduct interviews—she has conversations. Conversations with real people about the real struggle and will remind you that we can laugh in pain and cry in joy but there’s no greater mistake than hiding from it all. By embracing it all, and celebrating it with the stories she’ll bring listeners, she believes that our lowest moments can be the building blocks for our eventual fulfillment. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------- 

PHETASY IS a movement disguised as a company. We just want to make you laugh while the world burns. https://www.phetasy.com/ 

Buy PHETASY MERCH here: https://www.bridgetphetasy.com/

For more content, including the unedited version of Dumpster Fire, BTS content, writing, photos, livestreams and a kick-ass community, subscribe at https://phetasy.com/ 

Substack - https://bridgetphetasy.substack.com/ 
Twitter - https://twitter.com/BridgetPhetasy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bridgetphetasy/ 
Podcast - Walk-Ins Welcome with Bridget Phetasy 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/walk-ins-welcome/id1437447846 
https://open.spotify.com/show/7jbRU0qOjbxZJf9d49AHEh 
https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/I3gqggwe23u6mnsdgqynu447wva

Support the show