I've Got A Problem

Forrest chats with mental health advocate Patrick Chester to talk gambling addiction, rock bottom, and the lie every compulsive gambler tells themselves: one more big win will fix everything. Patrick opens up about draining his 5-year-old son's piggy bank, racking up over $1 million in debt, landing in jail, and putting $45,000 on the Seahawks in the 2015 Super Bowl — a bet that shattered him on the 1-yard line. They break down shame, secrecy, chasing losses, the rise of live betting and props, and how Patrick now teaches college athletes what he wishes someone had told him. It's raw, honest, and painfully relatable — especially if money, gambling, or denial has ever taken over your life. 🎧 If you've ever chased "one last bet" or felt trapped by money and addiction, this episode's for you.🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes about addiction, recovery, mental health, and the chaos of being human. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro & No-Hat Day 06:22 Introducing Patrick Chester 07:10 Patrick's 15-Year Gambling Spiral 11:58 How Gambling Became Normalized 20:25 The $45,000 Super Bowl Bet 26:55 Jail Time, Shame & Consequences 45:55 Rock Bottom: The Piggy Bank Moment 52:59 "Are You Jealous of Normal Gamblers?" 59:02 Recovery Wins & Advice for Anyone Struggling Watch Patrick's TEDx talk here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSi1zbLbXAs

Episode 15 of the 'I've Got A Problem' podcast with Forrest Shaw. Forrest is flying soloooooooo! He talks about addiciton as a disease, gambling while committed, being happy, and he plays a few calls! Plus, hey airlines! Stop price gouging us.

Comedian Al Jackson returns to join Forrest for a very off-the-rails episode about addiction, money, losing your wallet on tour, and trying to grow up without losing your sense of humor. They get into traveling broke, staying in sketchy motels, gambling away paychecks, and what it means when your past lies and bad decisions still follow you around years later. It's raw, funny, and packed with real stories about losing everything in casinos, pawning family heirlooms, cashless culture, race and police, parenting, and how sobriety changes the way you tell the truth, handle money, and show up for your kids. 🎧 If you've ever blown up your life with money, lies, or bad decisions—and are still trying to be a better human—this episode will make you cringe, laugh, and feel less alone. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:42 Al Jackson returns: chaos lighting, cat stare, and credits Forrest can't remember 3:49 Apocalypse podcast studios and how we'll broadcast after the world ends 5:51 Al's latest problem: losing his wallet before an 8-city tour 7:38 Uber from Cleveland to Pittsburgh and checking into a real-life meth motel 9:40 Forrest's Soho House story: heavy keys, no phones, and hating fancy places 12:02 Traveling broke, losing wallets 20+ times, and what it says about money 16:00 Singapore story: pawning a family necklace to gamble, then trying to win it back 19:24 Cash is disappearing, tip screens are everywhere, and dirtbag gas hacks 24:18 Lying, "white lies," and why keeping track of lies isn't worth it sober 29:05 White lies, racism in language, and Black Lives Matter vs "All Lives Matter" 34:18 Growing up with racism: cops, friends, and stuff that never happened to Forrest 43:10 Kids today vs our generation: phones, news, and being way more put together 49:35 Good kids, bad kids, and how much of it is parenting vs personality 54:42 Al's daughter graduating, being present, and fixing your life late 1:04:10 Kratom, new addictions, Al's music, and Forrest's messy but heartfelt wrap-up 🎙️ Find Al Jackson: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AlJackson 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aljacksonig/?hl=en

Forrest goes solo from the desert to talk bad internet, big regrets, and whether it's insane or reasonable for a gambling addict to move to Las Vegas. He gets into early casino stories from college, driving hours in a beat-up Dodge Aspen just to chase action, and how proximity to gambling isn't nearly as dangerous as what's going on in your head. It's raw, funny, and honest about gambling addiction, shame, regret, dating apps, and the quiet ways we try to escape—whether it's blackjack, DraftKings, or getting hooked on Tinder and AdultFriendFinder just to feel less alone. 🎧 If you've ever struggled with addiction, obsessive thinking, or the weight of your own regrets, this episode will make you feel seen and still make you laugh. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 0:00 Fiona Apple lighting, desert life & why the episode is late 2:16 "I've got another problem" – bad internet in 2025 3:39 Lotion, almond oil & realizing we don't know how anything works 6:15 No guest, donations, and living solo in the desert with Arie 7:54 Tour dates, Vegas, Boise, Florida & the Australia plans 9:34 Someone finally called the show – clarifying the phone rules 11:06 Sitting alone in the desert and deciding to try dating apps 12:13 Should a gambling addict move to Las Vegas? 15:02 Why distance doesn't matter when you're an addict 16:14 The Turning Stone Casino years – driving hours in a deathtrap to gamble 23:31 The snowball of guilt, regret, and broken trust 27:09 Deciding to attack guilt and regret head-on 28:20 Desert diet, working out, and trying meditation & breathwork 31:12 First time on Tinder – writing a ridiculous profile on purpose 36:56 AdultFriendFinder, dom messages, and instantly seeing the addiction in dating apps

Comedian Jeff Leach joins Forrest to talk alcoholism, drugs, weed, escapism, depression, grief, and the brutal losses that finally forced him to change. They get into using booze and drugs to escape reality, near-death moments at music festivals, getting jumped in Lithuania over cocaine, and watching his dad slowly die from drinking. It's raw, funny, and packed with real stories about blackouts, weed dependency, emotional dysregulation, suicidal thoughts, losing friends and parents, and how he's rebuilding his life around honesty, acceptance, and actually feeling his feelings instead of running from them. 🎧 If you're struggling with alcohol, weed, grief, or that urge to escape your own brain, this episode hits hard and still makes you laugh. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:25 Meet Jeff Leach: comedian, actor, voice actor, clown for hire 3:13 "What's your problem?" – Jeff's alcoholism, drugs, weed, and mental health 5:03 Rave culture, drum & bass, and doing ecstasy, coke, MDMA, ketamine 9:03 Using weed after quitting booze and the real reason Jeff kept smoking 9:56 Addiction as escapism: wanting to shut off your own brain 15:04 Forrest's gambling addiction vs Jeff's drinking: escaping reality in different ways 18:44 Losing hours in casinos, Vegas design, and how gambling hijacks your brain 22:02 The $18,000 blackjack hand where Forrest thought his heart might explode 23:58 Jeff's heart stopping at a music festival after a huge drug cocktail 32:25 Beaten unconscious in Lithuania after a cocaine deal goes wrong 36:36 Jeff's dad's alcoholism, slow self-destruction, and what his death taught him 37:52 Best friend's suicide, grief, and why those losses forced Jeff to really live 41:52 "Playthroughs," reincarnating yourself, and finding purpose after addiction 54:03 Brad Pitt's "B PIT" license plate, fame as an addiction. 🎙️ Find Vince Carone: 🔗 Website: https://jeffreyleach.com/ 📸 Instagram: ttps://www.instagram.com/jeffleach/?hl=en ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC487HjN3m6dpCb1YAa6VpWQ

Comedian Vince Carone joins Forrest to talk gambling addiction, Vegas, blackjack, giant swings, hiding debt, and the moment he finally decided he was done. They get into boredom on the road, online bookies, pawn shops, and how easy it is to blow up your life chasing "just one more win." It's raw, funny, and packed with real stories about compulsive gambling, secret credit cards, family bailouts, and what it actually takes to walk away from the table and start rebuilding. 🎧 If you've ever chased your losses, stared at the ceiling all night doing gambling math, or wondered if your "bad habit" is really an addiction, this episode hits hard and still makes you laugh. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 4:18 Forrest admits his own gambling addiction on mic 4:59 Vince's problem: "I'm a gambling addict" 6:28 Why gambling addiction hides better than booze and drugs 8:59 How Forrest protects himself from gambling in Vegas 11:15 Triggers, boredom, and why free time is dangerous 19:19 Vince's Davenport story: sprinting from blackjack to the stage 23:00 Pawn shops, guitars, and the math that never adds up 27:19 The $15,000 hole, parents bailing him out, and gambling again 34:38 Pawning his grandfather's necklace in Singapore 41:06 Uncut Gems, anxiety, and why that movie nails gambling addiction 47:01 Lost payments, bank chaos, and sleepless nights 55:03 Vince on rock bottom, hope, and what he'd tell another addict 🎙️ Find Vince Carone: 🔗 Website: https://www.vincecarone.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vincecarone ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/vincecarone

Forrest talks about his gambling addiction, why he keeps sabotaging his own happiness, and how shame, sarcasm, and grief have all played a part. He opens up about losing millions, taxes on gambling, chasing that casino feeling, and the weird ways he punishes himself instead of letting himself be happy. It's raw, funny, and packed with real talk about gambling, self-hatred, grief, sleep issues, meds like Ozempic, and what it actually feels like to try and build a life you don't want to escape from. 🎧 If you've ever blown up your own life, wrestled with gambling, or wondered why happiness feels uncomfortable, this episode might hit closer than you expect. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 4:52 "Why am I gambling?" – starting to question the real reasons 5:30 Fear of happiness, comedy, and losing your edge if you feel good 6:52 Sarcasm as a form of anger & the old group session that stuck with him 8:12 Saving a guy as a marine biologist and hiding the commendation in the bathroom 10:16 Ozempic, naltrexone, and the idea of taking drugs to kill cravings 12:25 "Have I ever actually been happy?" – moments with his dog vs. constant self-punishment 20:48 Listener question: how much has he lost gambling in his life? 22:44 Millions won, millions lost & why that way of living is brutal on your body and brain 29:25 Why he always reads the crisis hotlines at the end of the show 33:35 Inviting emails, calls, and questions for future episodes 36:14 Outro

Comedian Dave Yates joins Forrest to talk alcoholism, addiction, grief, medication, weight-loss shots, sleep, and the moment he realized he was his own problem. They get into using work as a drug, losing his dad, what cold plunges and therapy have done for his brain, and whether things like Ozempic can really help or just become another crutch. It's raw, funny, and packed with real stories about blackout drinking, withdrawal, grief, CPAP machines, gambling urges, and trying to build a life that actually feels manageable. 🎧 If you're wrestling with grief, thinking about quitting a habit, or just stuck in your own head, this episode is painfully honest, surprisingly hopeful, and still makes you laugh. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 00:00 Into 02:01 "I've Got Another Problem": traffic, ego, and being the center of the universe 06:08 Introducing Dave Yates 07:02 The hot sauce hustle: comedy pay, survival, and Carolina Reapers 09:48 "What's your problem?" — Dave explains how he is the problem 13:10 Influencer gamblers & why Forrest would've been a great one 17:03 Ozempic, cravings, dopamine, and the science of addiction 19:56 Why addicts hate medication… until they need medication 23:30 The ego trap: "I can quit whenever I want" and other lies 26:03 Dave on 13 years sober and the reality behind it 31:45 CPAP machines, bad sleep, and finally admitting you need help 38:05 Cold plunges, recovery tools, and learning to treat yourself gently 44:48 Grief, losing a parent, and the part no one prepares you for 52:12 Withdrawal, breakups, and why your brain attacks your body 58:05 Dave's message to anyone struggling right now 59:43 Outro 🎙️ Find Dave Yates: 🔗 Website: https://www.hahahotsauce.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yatescomedy ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@daveyatescomedy

Comedian John Hastings joins Forrest to talk cigarettes, addiction, anxiety, emotional avoidance, and the strange rituals that keep people smoking long after they want to quit. They get into the psychology of nicotine, the chaos of smoking through stress, the identity trap of being "a smoker," and the real moment John decided he was done for good. It's raw, funny, and packed with real stories about smoking culture, anxiety loops, quitting attempts, emotional crutches, and the surprising ways people rebuild their lives once they finally stop lighting up. 🎧 If you're struggling with cigarettes, wrestling with anxiety, or trying to break a habit that won't let go, this episode hits hard and still makes you laugh. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:46 Clearing Up the Viral Rat Study 03:07 Introducing "Passing the Buck" with Forrest's Dad 04:22 Slayton's Vegas Gambling Story 06:57 The Worst Bet of His Life 08:58 Can Gambling Be Inherited? 10:56 The Miami Environment & Early Addiction Seeds 11:59 Introducing Comedian John Hastings 13:01 John's Cigarette Addiction Begins 15:12 Smoking as a Social Crutch & Anxiety Mask 17:54 The Chaos of Smoking While Working in Restaurants 21:26 Crack in the Workplace (Truly Insane Story) 28:00 The Moment John Finally Quit for Good 33:10 Airline Smoking, Europe, and Wild Smoking Culture 42:03 Forrest's Mom & How Hard Quitting Can Be 48:03 Mindfulness, Anxiety, and Life After Cigarettes 55:40 Forrest's Wrap-Up, Reflections & Final Thoughts 58:01 Outro 🎙️ Find John Hastings: 🔗 Website: https://www.thejohnhastings.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejohnhastings/?hl=en ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ5LNH6xl0bxS6EFrChNjcQ

Comedian Andy Haynes sits down with Forrest to talk addiction, anxiety spirals, mindfulness, Buddhism, panic attacks, and the beautiful stupidity of trying to grow as a person when your brain absolutely refuses to cooperate. They get into relapse thinking, ego, meditation, relationships, and the "I swear I'm working on myself" moments every addict knows too well. It's honest, funny, and packed with real stories about fear, recovery, self-improvement, and why the brain seems engineered to sabotage you right when things are going well. 🎧 If you've ever tried to be a better human and immediately fell on your face, this episode is for you. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on addiction, recovery, mental health, and comedy. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:03 Forrest's "another problem": Unsubscribe hell 04:45 Meet Andy Haynes 06:01 Andy's problem: alcohol, weed & the hole inside 07:59 First sports bet in Vegas and instant "genius" 10:01 How gambling hijacks watching sports 13:06 Forrest's first gambling memories & college bookies 16:03 Teenage blackouts, getting hit by a car & waking up in mom's bed 20:06 Busy hands, depression that won't let you sleep & idle addict brains 23:16 Marine biologist Forrest, drugs, bookies & manatees 31:04 Climate change, dead lakes & why manatees freeze 37:04 Rat studies, idle minds & how addiction rewires memory 41:32 Structure, marriage, 12-steps & trading chaos for routines 54:00 Weed, "California sober" & 90 meetings in 90 days 1:01:27 Coke-era comedy stories & why the 80s would've killed us 1:07:07 Fatherhood, being of service & advice for young comics in addiction (plus suicide hotlines) 🎙️ Find Andy Haynes: 🔗 Website: https://www.imandyhaynes.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imandyhaynes/?hl=en ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AndyHaynes