In episode 35 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Josh, who opens up about his journey from decades of jail, prison, and active heroin addiction to now celebrating 15 years sober. Josh keeps it real about what life was like in and out of institutions, what finally pushed him to change, and how he’s managed to stay grounded in recovery ever since. It’s an honest, no-fluff conversation about the reality of addiction, rebuilding your life, and what long-term sobriety really looks like.

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Chapters |

00:00 Intro & Podcast Purpose

00:32 Breaking the Stigma: Why We Share

00:59 Growing Up: Childhood & Family Dynamics

02:51 Moving, Family Background & School Years

05:59 Adolescence, Rebellion & Early Exposure

09:12 First Experiences with Substances

11:00 Getting Drawn into Drug Culture

13:00 Dropping Out & Life on the Road

17:18 Grateful Dead Tour & Teenage Drug Community

23:04 Psychedelics: Influence & Reflections

27:10 The Progression to Harder Drugs

30:29 Addiction Escalates: Heroin & Real Consequences

36:42 Legal Trouble: Jail, Homelessness & Hitting Bottom

43:08 Rock Bottom Moments & Missed Opportunities

51:00 Seeking Help: Jail, Treatment & Getting Sober

54:01 Entering Recovery: New Life Challenges

01:00:03 Life Skills, Fear & Growing Up in Sobriety

01:03:22 Mindset in Active Addiction vs Recovery

01:06:08 Personal Growth & Lifelong Recovery

01:09:00 Service, Self-Discovery & Staying Grateful

01:10:02 Closing & Final Reflections

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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