feral but sober

feral but sober

By feralbutsoberAlternative HealthHealth & FitnessMental Health
Download on the App Store

feral but sober episodes

  • I Went Far While I Was Sitting Stillpt1-clawsoutpart6

    🕯️ A story of transformation, education, and radical community care

    In this powerful episode of Claws Out, we sit down with James Barr—a man whose journey defies every expectation. Sentenced to five years in prison on his fourth number, James chose not to waste a moment. While confined, he earned an Associates of Arts degree, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Development—all through Ashland University. He graduated Summa Cum Laude, ranked in the top 1% of his class, and was inducted into both the National Communication Association and the National Society of Leadership and Success.
    Now just four months out, James is putting his education to work in the heart of Athens County, Ohio. As a Peer Recovery Supporter with Recovery Connections, he dedicates his time to harm reduction outreach, peer mentorship, and community education. He’s also a proud member of Leadership Athens County, a program funded by the Athens Foundation that cultivates local changemakers.
    James’s passions—connection, self-growth, and helping others achieve their dreams—are more than words. They’re the foundation of his vision: to launch a nonprofit that centers the underserved, the justice-impacted, and those navigating mental illness or substance use disorder. His story is a testament to what’s possible when education meets purpose, and when recovery is rooted in community.
    This episode explores:
    •  📚 The emotional and academic grit it takes to earn multiple degrees behind bars
    •  🤝 The power of peer support and harm reduction in real-world recovery work
    •  🧠 How leadership, advocacy, and lived experience intersect in rural Ohio
    •  🔥 James’s vision for a nonprofit that uplifts the most marginalized
    Whether you’re justice-involved, in recovery, or simply seeking proof that growth can happen anywhere—this episode will move you.

    1 hr 1 min
  • “We Won't Give Addiction Another Minute”-Episode10

    In this powerful tenth episode of Feral But Sober, Leanna sits down with Kandra—a longtime friend, former housemate, and someone deeply woven into her family and recovery story. Kandra opens up about growing up in a household shaped by addiction, losing her father early, and following the path of her older sisters into substance use. From weed to pills, meth, heroin, and crack, her journey includes multiple stints in prison, rehab, and surviving an abusive relationship.

    Together, Leanna and Kandra reflect on their shared confessions, the chaos they lived through, and the daughters Kandra lost along the way. Now a stay-at-home mom to a toddler who is her whole world, Kandra shares how she used MAT and eventually Sublocade to taper off without withdrawals—reclaiming her life, her peace, and her future. She also speaks about the healing process of reconnecting with her oldest daughter, rebuilding trust, and nurturing a strong relationship after years of separation.
    This episode was co-hosted live on TikTok, bringing a new visual format to Feral But Sober and a wider audience to this brutally honest conversation. It’s a testament to survival, sisterhood, and the radical act of never giving addiction another minute.

    55 min
  • Truth, Trauma, and Triumph1- Claws Out Part 5

    This time, I’m joined by the fierce and fearless Rachel—an unapologetic truth-teller with a story that cuts deep and heals loud. Together, we dive headfirst into the vault for a game of radical honesty, emotional grit, and community-powered chaos.

    We cracked open the question vault and let the audience choose our fate, one number at a time. Each prompt pulled was a wild card: some hit like gut punches, some healed like gospel, and some made us laugh when we weren’t supposed to.
    Host and guest go head-to-head answering questions that dig into survival, identity, recovery, rebellion, and everything in between. No scripts. No filters. Just truth, trauma, or triumph—whichever shows up first.
    💥 Expect:
    •  Unapologetic storytelling
    •  Emotional chaos with consent
    •  Audience-powered prompts
    •  Laughter, grit, and maybe a few tears
    •  A community that listens without judgment
    This is your invitation to play along, speak up, or just sit back and witness what happens when the claws come out and the masks come off

    41 min
  • “No Script, Just Truth”-claws out part4

    When a last-minute cancellation threatened Claws Out Part 4, Debra stepped in—and what followed was one of the most unfiltered, soul-baring conversations yet. In this impromptu stream, Leanna and Debra ditch the script and dive deep into their lived experiences with addiction, recovery, and the systems that shaped their journeys.

    They unpack the stigma around CPS, challenging the myth that child protection is about tearing families apart. Instead, they speak to the reality: sometimes CPS is the only safety net when addiction takes over. They share raw stories of survival, grief, and the dangerous choices that come with living the lifestyle—like driving high, a decision many have made, but one that can end in tragedy.
    This episode is about accountability, compassion, and the uncomfortable truths that come with recovery. It’s a reminder that healing isn’t linear, and sometimes the most powerful insights come when the mic is live and the heart is open.

    1 hr 10 min
  • From Overdose to Outreach: The Jake Bowman Fresh Start Foundation- episode9

    In this raw and deeply personal episode, we sit down with Kim—a mother in recovery whose son Jake passed away from an overdose. When Kim couldn’t afford the funeral, the community stepped in and paid for everything. From that act of collective care, the Jake Bowman Fresh Start Foundation was born.

    This isn’t just a story about grief. It’s about what happens when grief turns into grit, and loss becomes a launchpad for radical support. The foundation now helps people cover rent, buy work shoes, pay reinstatement fees, and access treatment—meeting the real, everyday costs of recovery that most systems ignore.
    We talk about:
    •  Jake’s life and legacy through Kim’s eyes
    •  The moment the community showed up—and what it meant
    •  How the foundation funds second chances
    •  What recovery really costs, and why mutual aid matters
    •  The emotional toll and power of turning pain into purpose
    This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt unseen in their recovery, anyone who’s lost someone to addiction, and anyone who believes that showing up for each other is the most punk thing we can do.

    The link to their FB page to purchase T-Shirts and other merchandise! : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551928103812

    56 min
  • The Dopeless Fiend & The Flip Side- episode 8

    In this unflinching episode of Feral But Sober, Leanna sits down with Josh—better known as The Dopeless Fiend—author of Flip Side different sides of the same coin. From trap house survival to spiritual awakening, Josh shares the gritty truth behind addiction, identity, and the radical act of flipping your own narrative.

    We dive deep into the duality of destruction and redemption, the shame that silences, and the storytelling that sets us free. With punk-infused honesty and trauma-informed insight, this conversation is a raw reminder that recovery isn’t just sobriety—it’s rebellion, rebirth, and reclaiming your voice.
    Topics include:
    •  What it means to be “dopeless” in a world built to keep you numb
    •  Writing through pain without losing your power
    •  The spiritual side of punk recovery
    •  How The Flip Side is helping others rewrite their own endings

    the link to his book is: https://a.co/d/2MfyExE

    Trigger warning: This episode contains candid discussions of addiction, trauma, and recovery.

    46 min
  • co parenting- claws out- part 3

    🎙️ Claws Out Part 3: Co-Parenting (with Brittany)

    “I overdosed in front of my son—and somehow, that’s what saved me.”
    In this unflinching episode, Brittany claws her way through the chaos of addiction, motherhood, and survival. Prescribed benzos for anxiety and depression, her spiral began quietly—until it exploded. After a 90mg overdose in front of her child, seizures from withdrawal landed her in the ER. Benzo withdrawal is one of the few that can kill you. But Brittany lived. And that’s where her story begins.
    She opens up about:
    •  💔 Navigating co-parenting with a narcissistic ex she can’t even speak to directly
    •  🧠 Mental health battles, trauma, and the moment God found her in a facility
    •  🏚️ Losing housing, leaving her kids behind, and surviving on weekend visits
    •  🗣️ The heartbreak of being shut out of decisions about her children
    •  😡 The rage of hearing her ex speak badly about her in front of their kids
    •  💪 The daily fight to accept what she can’t change—and reclaim what she can
    This episode is not about perfection. It’s about persistence. Brittany’s story is a testament to the brutal beauty of recovery, the grief of fractured motherhood, and the power of naming your truth—even when it hurts.
    Trigger warning: addiction, overdose, emotional abuse, custody trauma.

    1 hr 1 min
  • Addiction Ain’t a Moral Failing: The Science Behind the Struggle- Episode 7

    In this raw and radically honest episode of Feral But Sober, we rip the shame veil off addiction and dig into the science that proves it’s not about weakness—it’s about wiring. From Dr. Benjamin Rush’s 1700s declaration that addiction is a disease, to modern neuroscience, trauma theory, and social risk stacking, we explore how biology, psychology, and environment collide to shape substance use.

    We break down the myths, spotlight the systemic setups, and name the real culprits—poverty, trauma, isolation, and inherited vulnerability. Whether you’re in recovery, supporting someone who is, or just tired of the stigma, this episode arms you with facts, fire, and fierce compassion.
    Featuring:
    •  The roots of the disease model
    •  Brain chemistry and dopamine hijacking
    •  Trauma-informed risk factors
    •  Why “willpower” is the wrong conversation
    This one’s for the rebels, the researchers, and the radically curious. Tune in, get loud, and let’s rewrite the narrative. 

    Trigger warning: This episode contains candid discussions of addiction, trauma, and recovery.

    there were  2 presentations in this episode here are links to both

    the first one : https://prezi.com/view/b6zdq85O6eZdLWuCdfJK/?referral_token=NMjzg9lnB3FN

    the second one : Addiction as a disease model ^M its genetic.pptx

    50 min
  • Parenting in the Ashes : Claws out part 2

    “Parenting in the Ashes: Nichole’s Fight to Reconnect”

    In this unflinching episode of Claws Out Confessions, we sit down with Nichole—a mother, survivor, and warrior—whose story begins in a home shaped by addiction and spirals into her own battle with substance use, young pregnancy, and the devastating loss of her children to CPS.
    Nichole opens up about:
    •  Growing up with addicted parents and repeating cycles she swore she'd escape
    •  Falling into addiction after a young pregnancy and losing custody of all her kids
    •  The painful distance from her oldest daughter, who lived with her father while the others entered state care
    •  The crushing weight of self-hatred and addiction that kept her from reaching out—even when she had access
    •  And finally, after 15 years of struggle, the slow, sacred work of rebuilding trust with her daughter and bonding with her two grandsons
    This episode is a testament to the long road back—a raw look at parenting through addiction, the systems that separate families, and the radical hope of reconnection. Nichole’s voice is fierce, vulnerable, and full of truth. If you’ve ever wondered what healing looks like when the damage runs deep, this one’s for you.
    🖤 Claws out. Hearts open. The fight to parent doesn’t end when the system says it does.

    Trigger warning: This episode contains candid discussions of addiction, trauma, and recovery.

    1 hr
  • Pathways — Recovery Dharma - Episode 6-

    In this enlightening episode, Leanna sits down with James, a practitioner of Recovery Dharma—a Buddhist-inspired recovery pathway rooted in mindfulness, compassion, and radical self-inquiry. James shares a glimpse into his personal journey through addiction and recovery, then dives deep into the spiritual tools that have transformed his life. From meditation and the Dharma Book to the fascinating birth story of the Buddha, James walks us through the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, revealing how these teachings helped him rebuild not just his recovery—but his marriage, his mindset, and his sense of self.

    He also opens up about the moment he experienced a spiritual awakening, and how Recovery Dharma gave him a framework to heal from the inside out. Whether you’re curious about Buddhist recovery or just looking for a new way to connect with your own healing, this episode offers insight, inspiration, and a powerful reminder that there are many paths to freedom

    Trigger warning: This episode contains candid discussions of addiction, trauma, and recovery.

    50 min

About feral but sober

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to the frontlines of recovery—where grit meets growth and every voice matters. Feral But Sober is a punk-fueled talk show and podcast that tears down stigma and builds connection through…