In episode 39 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with William Mitchell, who was wrongfully sentenced to life in prison for attempted murder at just 23 years old and ended up serving 18 years behind bars. William opens up about battling crack addiction, how prison transformed him, and the moment he found his faith in Christianity. He shares how becoming a minister and paralegal while incarcerated changed the course of his life, and how he now dedicates his time to advocating for people in recovery and supporting those impacted by overdoses in Baltimore. This is a powerful conversation about resilience, redemption, and using your story to help others.

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 Intro & Prison Backstory

03:35 Growing Up Around Addiction

08:00 Prison Life & Self-Transformation

14:00 Faith, Purpose, and Religion in Recovery

20:45 Meeting People Where They Are

25:25 Family Influence & Early Recovery Attempts

32:00 Crack Addiction: Control & Recovery

38:45 Stigma, Language, and Helping Others

45:35 Recovery Identities & Harm Reduction

52:00 Addiction, Faith & The 'God-Sized Hole'

59:40 Working as an Overdose Coach

01:07:00 Giving, Money, and Service in Recovery

01:11:45 Loving Difficult People

01:17:00 Overdoses, Fentanyl, and Community Response

01:21:00 Breaking the Stigma of Addiction & Mental Health

01:25:05 Explaining Addiction to Non-Addicts

01:32:00 Closing Reflections & Final Thoughts

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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