Leaving CrazyTown

Ever notice how all your relationship wisdom goes out the window the moment you're actually in one?

Finn and Dr. Sarah get brutally honest about their current relationships and the codependent patterns that only surface when you're actually dating someone. Sarah shares her recent discovery about why she starts questioning the whole relationship instead of just speaking up about what's bothering her. Finn reveals his breakthrough about why he insisted no one could ever be special to him and how one simple question from his girlfriend changed everything.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Codependent patterns only fully reveal themselves within actual relationships, not when you're single and theorizing

• When you start making mental lists of what's wrong with your partner, check if you've been avoiding communicating something important

• Our definitions of relationship concepts like special, love, and commitment are shaped by our past experiences and often need clarification with partners

• The question What does that mean to you can create space for breakthrough conversations instead of defensiveness

• Being in a relationship is like being in therapy with two people working on their stuff simultaneously

NOTABLE QUOTE

"What does special mean to you? Game-changer." — Finn

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. With a unique blend of humor, honesty, and clinical insight, this show tackles the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and boundary disasters — while offering practical tools, powerful storytelling, and a roadmap for emotional freedom. Weekly episodes on YouTube (@leavingcrazytown) and all major podcast platforms.

Ever wonder if you can actually have fun traveling without drinking your way through every destination?

Teresa Bergen joins Dr. Sarah Michaud to share her incredible journey from drinking rubbing alcohol as a child to becoming a sober travel expert who's kayaked through Arctic icebergs and rafted the Grand Canyon. With over 40 years of sobriety starting at age 20, Teresa breaks down the real talk on navigating airports, resorts, and adventures without liquid courage. From avoiding wine country with your drinking buddies to finding your tribe of fellow adventurers, this conversation reveals how sobriety opens doors to experiences you never imagined possible.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Start with group trips and guided activities when beginning sober travel to avoid logistics overwhelm
• Choose destinations based on your genuine interests, not what others expect you to enjoy
• Bring accountability support and maintain your healthy habits while traveling
• You don't have to be perfect at new activities to enjoy incredible experiences
• Sometimes the best adventures happen when you step outside your comfort zone (but keep the hotel room)

NOTABLE QUOTE

"You don't have to be good at all of them. I'm not saying that all these things I'm really great at, like when I'm kayaking in every state, it's not like I'm kayaking 50 miles out of the wild by myself. It's like I'm renting a kayak and paddling around for an hour or two and looking at birds." — Teresa Bergen

GUEST BIO

Teresa Bergen is author of The Sober Travel Handbook and a writer for Sober Curator Online magazine. With over 40 years of sobriety beginning at age 20, she's turned her passion for adventure into a mission to help others discover the world without alcohol. Teresa is currently on a quest to kayak in every US state and Canadian province while sharing practical tips for sober travelers worldwide.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. With a unique blend of humor, honesty, and clinical insight, this show tackles the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and boundary disasters — while offering practical tools, powerful storytelling, and a roadmap for emotional freedom. Weekly episodes on YouTube (@leavingcrazytown) and all major podcast platforms.

Do you realize you're still carrying grief from 20 years ago?

Sarah, Amy Liz Harrison, and Erin Lane break down The Grief Recovery Handbook by John James and Russell Friedman in this vulnerable Boozeless Book Club episode. They explore how unresolved grief shows up in codependency patterns, relationship addiction, people-pleasing, and chronic activation. From childhood friendship losses to miscarriage to sexual assault to empty nest, the Crazy Cats share what happened when they actually wrote completion letters and made their grief timelines. This episode is for anyone who thought they didn't have anything to grieve or has been white-knuckling their way through loss for decades.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Grief isn't just about death. It includes job loss, friendship shifts, miscarriage, divorce, empty nest, career changes, and even losing who you thought you were.
• The Grief Recovery Handbook recommends creating a timeline of losses from birth to now, then writing completion letters that include positives, negatives, emotional impact statements, and unsaid things.
• Unresolved grief can show up as depression, addiction, relationship addiction, compulsive busyness, fear of intimacy, detachment, physical problems, and a general lack of aliveness.
• Women especially carry unprocessed grief from childhood friendship losses, which can activate us when our own kids experience rejection or exclusion.
• Completing grief doesn't mean forgetting. It means creating space for new life without being haunted by old pain.

GUEST BIOS

Amy Liz Harrison is a writer, speaker, and recovery advocate. Mother of eight, she brings honesty and humor to conversations about faith, family, and healing.

Erin Lane is a writer and storyteller navigating grief, motherhood, and recovery with vulnerability and grace.

RESOURCES & LINKS

The Grief Recovery Handbook by John James and Russell Friedman

Notable Quote

"We pathologize grief. We don't make space for this normal process. All human beings experience it, yet there's no space for it." — Sarah

Connect With Us

Dr. Sarah Michaud, Author of Co Crazy

Follow @leavingcrazytown on YouTube

Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com

If you loved this conversation, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown.

Hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud. Codependency healing with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up.

For educational and entertainment purposes only. Not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.

In this episode, Sarah shares how the death of her 20-year-old goldfish Joe triggered a full codependency relapse as she obsessed over whether his tank mate Jeff was lonely. Finn and Sarah dive into how we project our own unprocessed feelings onto others including our pets and create suffering where none exists.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Codependency involves obsessive thinking about others similar to how addiction involves obsessive thinking about substances

• We often project our own unmet emotional needs onto others including pets and make up stories about what they need

• The question to ask yourself when you start obsessing is what am I feeling right now and what story am I making up

• Our codependent behaviors usually start with our own unprocessed emotions not the other person's actual needs

• Projection can happen with anyone in our lives from romantic partners to children to pets

NOTABLE QUOTE

"The thing why codependency is awful is it doesn't work for either person. All it does is affect the relationship and it kills us. We go down the tubes with them." — Dr. Sarah Michaud

Connect With Us

Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com

Buy the Book: Co-Crazy

If you loved this conversation, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown.

Hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud. Codependency healing with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up.

For educational and entertainment purposes only. Not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.

Ever wonder why your pet seems cranky despite all your care?

In this eye-opening episode, Sarah and Finn respond to a letter from Bentley, a dog struggling with his codependent owner's over-helping behaviors. Through Bentley's story, they explore how codependent patterns show up in pet relationships and why "helping" can actually harm those we love most.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Codependent behavior with pets mirrors parent-child dynamics where we fix feelings instead of allowing them
• Over-helping pets (or people) removes their opportunity to build self-esteem through their own accomplishments
• When we focus on everyone else's needs while ignoring our own, resentment and anger build up
• Boundaries may start out harsh when we're not used to setting them, but they can be refined with practice
• Pack animals need to interact with their peers, not just be attached to one human
• True helping means allowing others to experience consequences and build their own confidence

NOTABLE QUOTE

"We are not responsible for other people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The most important thing is to notice what is happening for me and what do I need." — Dr. Sarah Michaud

Connect With Us

Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com

Buy the Book: Co-Crazy

If you loved this conversation, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown.

Hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud. Codependency healing with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up.

For educational and entertainment purposes only. Not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.

Do you stay when someone you love is spiraling — or do you walk away?

Sarah and Finn sit down with Alex Konicke, author of Evil Among Us, to talk about a family tragedy no one saw coming — and the mental health system that failed them. Alex's older brother Zach struggled with addiction, mental illness, and escalating behavior that culminated in murder and arson. This is a raw conversation about codependency, boundaries, community, and what happens when love isn't enough to save someone.

Key Takeaways

• Mental illness often looks like addiction — and both get missed until it's too late
• Families can enable and protect out of love — and still end up in danger
• Calling 9-1-1 creates a record — and can be the difference between intervention and tragedy
• Grief isn't linear — it spirals, and everyone processes it differently
• Community, therapy, and sharing your story are essential for survival after trauma

Guest Bio

Alex Konicke is the author of Evil Among Us, a memoir about love, loss, mental health, and survival. After losing his mother in a family tragedy involving mental illness and violence, Alex became an advocate for mental health awareness and the importance of boundaries in crisis situations. He lives with his wife and stepchildren and continues to share his story to help others facing similar pain.

Resources and Links

Book: Evil Among Us by Alex Konicke — available on Amazon

Website: alexkonicke.com

Connect with Alex on Facebook and Instagram

Notable Quote

"Just because someone is crazy doesn't mean they're dumb — and just because you love them doesn't mean you're safe."

— Alex Konicke

Connect With Us

Dr. Sarah Michaud, Author of Co Crazy

Follow @leavingcrazytown on YouTube

Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com

If you loved this conversation, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown — and share it with a friend ready to reclaim their voice and leave confusion behind.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery — with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up — we're leaving CrazyTown.

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. If you're struggling, please seek support from a licensed professional.

Is your pet tired of being your emotional support system?

In this hilarious and insightful episode, Sarah and Finn read a letter from Frank the Cat, who's fed up with being his owner's emotional bandaid during trauma documentaries. Through Frank's story, they explore how codependent patterns show up even in our relationships with pets and offer practical advice for setting healthy boundaries.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• You're not responsible for anyone else's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors - including your pet's comfort with your emotional needs
• Setting boundaries might feel harsh at first, but it's necessary for healthy relationships
• When we stop rescuing others, they're forced to look at their own issues and find real solutions
• Ask yourself "What do I need and want in this situation?" rather than automatically caretaking
• Even pets need freedom from being someone's emotional support system

NOTABLE QUOTE

"You are not responsible for what your owner feels or says, and if he needs to watch a trauma documentary to heal his trauma, then you can just go back into the sunbeam." — Dr. Sarah Michaud

Connect With Us

Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com

Buy the Book: Co-Crazy

If you loved this conversation, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown.

Hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud. Codependency healing with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up.

For educational and entertainment purposes only. Not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.

Do you still carry shame from things you did back then?

Finn and Dr. Sarah both hit major sobriety milestones — and they get raw about what's changed in recovery and what still needs work. They share humiliating stories from active addiction, talk about the gift of self-compassion, and remind us that recovery isn't about perfection. It's about not carrying the old you like a life sentence.

Key Takeaways

• Recovery gives you the ability to laugh at your past without carrying the shame of it
• Compassion for yourself is just as important as compassion for others — maybe more
• The things you work on in long-term recovery weren't even on your radar in active addiction
• Your bottom is your bottom — inside job or outside consequences, it's valid
• Forgiveness for who you were is part of the journey, not a luxury

Notable Quote

"I do not wish to shut the door on that past. I actually think it's quite funny how ridiculous we were, even though it still brings up shame." — Finn

Connect With Us

Dr. Sarah Michaud, Author of Co Crazy

Follow @leavingcrazytown on YouTube

Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com

If you loved this conversation, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown—and share it with a friend ready to reclaim their voice and leave confusion behind.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we're leaving CrazyTown.

*This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. If you're struggling, please seek support from a licensed professional.

Do you drink to numb pain you can't name?

Nicole Cameron endured six pregnancy losses while her alcoholism spiraled—each miscarriage deepening her denial, her isolation, and her belief that something was fundamentally wrong with her. Her husband begged her to get help. Adoption agencies turned her away. And still, she couldn't stop drinking. Until one phone call changed everything. Now 18 years sober, Nicole is an embodiment coach helping women heal trauma they've been carrying in their bodies for decades. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, she and Sarah talk about what happens when grief gets compounded by addiction, why women fall through the cracks, how her marriage survived, and what it actually takes to feel your feelings without medicating them away.

Key Takeaways

• Compounded grief accelerates: Each unprocessed loss makes the next one harder to bear—and easier to medicate
• Your body keeps the score: Trauma from pregnancy loss, abandonment, and addiction doesn't go away until you give it voice and movement
• The sixth miscarriage without drinking: Nicole's first sober pregnancy loss became a turning point—painful, but free
• Shame lives in silence: Women with children feel guilty, women without feel judged, and nobody talks about miscarriage openly enough
• Embodiment is healing: Moving meditation and somatic practices helped Nicole release decades of body-stored trauma

GUEST BIO

Nicole Cameron is an embodiment life coach and licensed Ish Tara teacher based in Calgary, Canada. With 18 years of sobriety, Nicole specializes in helping women heal from compounded grief, addiction, and trauma by reconnecting to their bodies through movement, breath, and nervous system regulation. After surviving six pregnancy losses and hitting her bottom with alcoholism, Nicole now guides women who feel disconnected, stuck in patterns, or numb to rediscover themselves from the body up.

RESOURCES AND LINKS

Coach With Nicole: www.coachingwithnicole.ca

Follow Nicole on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn: @coachwitnicole

NOTABLE QUOTE

"I was more full of glee and happiness that I did not drink, that I didn't self-medicate, that I actually felt it all—and it was hard, but there was a lot of freedom in that hardness." — Nicole Cameron

CONNECT WITH US

Dr. Sarah Michaud, Author of Co Crazy

Follow @leavingcrazytown on YouTube

Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com

If you loved this conversation, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown—and share it with a friend ready to reclaim their voice and leave confusion behind.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we're leaving CrazyTown.

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. If you're struggling, please seek support from a licensed professional.

In this Boozeless Book Club episode of Leaving CrazyTown, Amy Liz Harrison and Dr. Sarah Michaud take a deep, thoughtful dive into Many Roads, One Journey: Moving Beyond the 12 Steps by Charlotte Davis Kasl. Together, they explore how rigidity, fear-based recovery messaging, and one-size-fits-all approaches can unintentionally limit healing—especially for women and people with histories of codependency or religious trauma. With honesty, nuance, and compassion, they discuss how to keep what works in traditional recovery models while making room for choice, discernment, and self-trust.
Key Takeaways

• Recovery loses power when it becomes rigid or fear-based

• One person’s path is not a universal blueprint

• Women often need self-trust and agency, not further self-reduction

• Accountability and compassion can coexist

• Thinking for yourself is not dangerous—it’s necessary

Key Timestamps

[02:00] Why this book feels “meaty” and challenging

[07:00] Rigidity, fear, and belonging in recovery

[13:00] Why women’s recovery needs differ

[20:00] Kasl’s expanded steps and codependency healing

[49:00] “Many roads” and the danger of “only one way”

Notable Resources

• Many Roads, One Journey: Moving Beyond the 12 Steps — Charlotte Davis Kasl

• Women, Sex & Addiction — Charlotte Davis Kasl

Dr. Sarah Michaud — Co-Crazy

If this episode resonated, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown—and share it with someone who needs permission to find their own way.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we’re leaving CrazyTown.