Two Talking Fools

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Two Talking Fools, Kate sits down with Tom, a 26-year-old paramedic who shares his firsthand experience with addiction to 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine), a potent opioid-like compound derived from the kratom plant.

As someone who spends his career helping others in their most vulnerable moments, Tom never imagined he would find himself fighting a battle of his own.

What began as 7-OH use quickly escalated into dependency, taking a serious physical and emotional toll and putting his career, relationships, and future at risk.

Tom opens up about the reality of withdrawal, the mental struggles that come with addiction, and the strategies that helped him begin reclaiming his life.

His story is a reminder that addiction does not discriminate. It can affect anyone, including the very people trained to save lives.

This interview is not about judgment. It's about awareness, education, recovery, and giving a voice to those who are struggling in silence.

Tom has chosen to remain anonymous to protect his privacy and professional career, but his willingness to share his experience may help someone else recognize the dangers of 7-OH before it's too late.

If you or someone you love is using 7-OH, this is a conversation worth hearing.

Two Talking Fools will continue bringing real stories and firsthand experiences to the forefront because awareness starts with conversation.

#7OH #AddictionAwareness #RecoveryJourney #KratomAwareness #TwoTalkingFools

Kate sits down with Jon for another important conversation in Two Talking Fools’ ongoing series on 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine), dependence, withdrawal and recovery.

Jon shares his firsthand experience with 7-OH—how it entered his life, how quickly his tolerance increased, and how something that was readily available quickly became something he felt he could no longer simply stop taking.

He speaks openly about the severity of the withdrawals, the physical and emotional toll of dependence, and the consequences happening in the background of his life—some of which he says he couldn’t fully recognize until he began getting sober.

The conversation also looks at the bigger questions surrounding 7-OH: Why are products this powerful so easily accessible? What do people actually know about what they’re taking? Where is the line between traditional kratom and highly concentrated 7-OH products? And what role should education, regulation and harm reduction play moving forward?

Most importantly, Jon talks about recovery and what life looks like on the other side.

This is another firsthand story in our continuing Two Talking Fools 7-OH awareness series. We’ve now spoken with multiple people whose lives were dramatically affected by these products. Their circumstances are different, but one message continues to come through loud and clear:

People deserve to know exactly what they are taking—and how powerful it can be—before they ever take that first pill.

🎙️ Renee — A Survivor’s Story

🎙️ Eric — From a Free Sample to Addiction

These conversations are not about judgment. They are about awareness, education and giving a voice to people who have actually lived through 7-OH dependence.

If you or someone you love is struggling, please know that recovery is possible. Listen to these stories. Share them. Talk to your kids, your friends and your family.

The more people know before they try it, the better.

🎙️ Two Talking Fools Podcast

#7OH #7Hydroxymitragynine #KratomAwareness #AddictionRecovery #TwoTalkingFools

Kate sits down with Jett, a father of three who was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and turned an unimaginable diagnosis into a reason to share his story.

Through his TikTok series, “Dad, Tell Me Your Life Story,” Jett records stories, memories, lessons and pieces of his life for his children—while also using his platform to bring awareness to colon cancer symptoms and the importance of early detection.

Jett opens up about the symptoms he experienced before his diagnosis, his treatment and chemotherapy journey, neuropathy, mental health, forgiveness, fatherhood and what changes when you’re forced to think about the legacy you’ll leave behind.

This conversation is also an important reminder: colon cancer can affect younger adults, and knowing the symptoms and listening to your body matters. If something doesn’t feel right, talk to your doctor and advocate for yourself.

Follow Jett on TikTok and watch his “Dad, Tell Me Your Life Story” series: @jetthascancer

🎙️ Two Talking Fools Podcast

#ColonCancer #Stage4ColonCancer #CancerAwareness #EarlyDetection #DadTellme 

Grief is something none of us escape—but it doesn’t always look the way we think it does.

Kate sits down with grief expert, licensed therapist and author Edy Nathan for an honest conversation about what we carry after loss—and how those experiences can shape who we become.

They talk about the big losses and the small ones, the emotional armor we build to protect ourselves, why grief is anything but linear, and how it can show up emotionally, physically and even spiritually. They also explore the importance of memories, community, connection, and learning how to keep living without leaving behind what mattered to us.

This isn’t a conversation about “getting over” grief. It’s about understanding it, making room for it, and learning how to carry it differently.

Whether you’re grieving someone, something, a chapter of your life—or a version of yourself—this conversation is for you.

📖 Edy Nathan’s book — It’s Grief: The Dance of Self-Discovery Through Trauma and Loss

🎙️ WHAT WE CARRY: Grief, Loss & Learning to Live Again with Edy Nathan

Matt Corey, candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, joins Two Talking Fools for an open and wide-ranging conversation about the challenges facing the state—and what he believes it will take to move Connecticut forward.

A U.S. Navy veteran and longtime small-business owner, Matt brings a perspective shaped by years of running businesses, creating jobs, meeting payroll, and experiencing firsthand the pressures facing Connecticut employers and working families.

In this episode, we move beyond the usual political back-and-forth and focus on the issues themselves. We talk about the cost of living and doing business in Connecticut, taxes and regulations, energy costs, job creation, workforce development, education, the importance of bringing skilled trades back into the conversation for younger generations, and the financial pressures facing many of Connecticut’s smaller towns.

Matt shares why he decided to run for Lieutenant Governor, what he believes Connecticut is getting wrong, where he sees opportunity, and how his small-business background influences his approach to government. We also discuss fiscal responsibility, public safety, education funding, shared municipal services and whether regionalization should be part of the conversation.

But perhaps more importantly, this episode isn’t about pointing fingers or deciding who deserves the blame. It’s about looking at the challenges in front of Connecticut and asking a much more useful question:

How do we fix them?

Whether you agree with Matt Corey politically or not, this is the kind of conversation we believe is worth having—one where people can sit across from each other, ask real questions, disagree when necessary, and still focus on finding common ground and making Connecticut a better place to live, work, raise a family, and build a business.

🎙️ Two Talking Fools | Episode #195

Beyond the Politics: What Does Connecticut Actually Need? A Conversation with Lt. Governor Candidate Matt Corey

For inquiries, advertising, or to be a guest on the show, contact us at [email protected] or visit twotalkingfools.com.

This is the second episode in our Two Talking Fools series exploring 7-OH, kratom, addiction, withdrawal and recovery—because the more we learn about these products, the more we believe people need to be talking about them.

In this solo episode, Kate sits down with Eric, who shares how taking a free sample of 7-OH eventually led to escalating daily use, multiple attempts to quit, dangerous relapses, and ultimately his fight to get his life back.

Eric talks openly about 7-OH dependence and withdrawal, his experience using kratom and a rapid Suboxone taper while trying to stop, and how he later found greater stability with Wellbutrin and low-dose naltrexone.

But Eric is just one of many people with a story like this.

And 7-OH is only part of a much bigger conversation.

As of August 25, 2026, concentrated 7-OH is not yet federally classified as Schedule I. However, the DEA has formally begun the process to temporarily place 7-OH above a proposed specified threshold into Schedule I, along with three related substances: mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15 and MGM-16.

This distinction matters.

The federal action is not intended to target ordinary botanical kratom leaf containing naturally occurring trace amounts of 7-OH. It is aimed at concentrated, enhanced and synthetic 7-OH products and related substances that federal officials say present an emerging public-health threat.

Once a temporary scheduling order takes effect, the covered substances would become subject to the federal restrictions and penalties associated with Schedule I controlled substances.

But while regulators work to catch up with 7-OH, we keep coming back to an even bigger question:

What comes next?

What will be sitting on a shelf next year—or next month? How powerful will it be? How quickly will it become available? And will the average person have any idea what they're actually taking?

That's what makes the packaging, marketing and accessibility of these products such an important part of this conversation.

Concentrated 7-OH products have been sold online and in gas stations, smoke shops, convenience stores and corner stores in forms including tablets, capsules, powders, gummies and dissolvable strips.

And sometimes, nothing about the package says “powerful opioid” to the person looking at it.

That's the part we can't stop thinking about.

Something can be brightly colored, professionally packaged, sitting next to products you've seen a hundred times—and still carry risks of dependence, addiction and opioid-like withdrawal.

The FDA has warned consumers that concentrated 7-OH products are potent opioid products that have not been proven safe or effective for any medical use.

So this series isn't only about 7-OH.

It's about what happens when new substances reach consumers faster than education, awareness and regulation can keep up.

At Two Talking Fools, we lead with compassion, not judgment. We want to hear from the people who lived it, ask the questions people may be afraid to ask, and help someone understand what they're getting into before they find themselves in the same situation.

Eric also shares lessons from his recovery and discusses resources and community support available to people struggling with 7-OH.

Eric's story is one story. There are many more. And we're going to keep talking about them.

Kate and Shaba kick things off the way only Two Talking Fools can—with personal stories, plenty of laughs, random life updates, and the kind of conversation that somehow goes completely off the rails before finding its way back.

Then the episode shifts into a much bigger and more complicated conversation surrounding Sophie Cunningham, transgender athletes, and the ongoing debate over participation in women’s sports. The Fools talk through the controversy, the public reaction, comments from athletes, and the questions at the center of the debate: How do we balance inclusion with fairness? Are there legitimate safety concerns for female athletes? And is there still room to have an honest conversation about biological differences without immediately attacking or labeling people on either side?

Kate and Shaba share their own perspectives while also acknowledging that this is a complicated and deeply personal issue for many people. Rather than pretending to have every answer, they discuss what they've heard, where they agree and disagree, and why conversations about women’s sports, transgender athletes, fairness, inclusion, and athlete safety have become so difficult to have.

As always, this isn’t a perfectly polished debate between experts—it’s two friends talking through a controversial subject in real time, asking questions, sharing opinions, and trying to understand different perspectives while keeping the conversation respectful.

And because it wouldn’t be Two Talking Fools without a little chaos, the episode eventually finds its way back to dogs, calendars, everyday life, plenty of laughs, and a preview of what’s coming next.

Two friends. Two mics. Different perspectives. One conversation.

Can your mind perceive information beyond your five senses? Is remote viewing a real, learnable skill—or something else entirely?

In this episode of Two Talking Fools, we sit down with Craig Signals to explore the fascinating world of remote viewing. Craig shares how he discovered the practice, explains how remote viewing works, discusses the training process, and why he believes almost anyone can develop the skill with consistent practice.

We also talk about one of his most intriguing projects, r/RVTheNews, where participants attempt to describe future news events more than 10 hours before they're publicly reported, then compare their sessions to the actual headlines. Whether you're completely skeptical, genuinely curious, or already familiar with remote viewing, this conversation is guaranteed to make you think.

If you've ever wondered whether consciousness can reach beyond ordinary perception, this episode is one you won't want to miss.

📺 Check out Craig Signals on YouTube:

👇 We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments:

Have you ever heard of remote viewing?

Do you think it's a skill anyone can learn?

Would you ever try it yourself?

If you enjoy conversations that challenge conventional thinking, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share. New episodes every week!

I Took One 7-OH Pill. It Changed Everything. | A Survivor's Story

In this powerful episode of Two Talking Fools, Kate sits down with "Renee" (an alias used to protect her identity) as she shares the deeply personal story of how a single 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine) pill spiraled into a life-changing addiction.

Renee explains how what seemed like an over-the-counter product quickly became something she couldn't control. She opens up about the intense euphoria, rapidly increasing tolerance, escalating doses, financial and emotional devastation, failed attempts to quit, and the severe withdrawal symptoms that ultimately led her to seek medical treatment and rehabilitation.

This conversation explores the growing concerns surrounding 7-OH products, including:

What 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine) actually is

The difference between traditional kratom leaf and concentrated or synthetic alkaloid products

Why some experts believe these products carry significantly greater risks

New compounds entering the market, including MGM-15

How these products are being sold in vape shops, smoke shops, and convenience stores

The challenges regulators and public health officials face as these products become more widely available

Whether you're a parent, healthcare professional, someone struggling with addiction, or simply curious about the growing conversation around 7-OH, this episode offers an honest, firsthand perspective on the real-world consequences that can follow.

Important: "Renee" is not the guest's real name. It is an alias used to protect her privacy while allowing her to share her story in hopes of helping others make informed decisions.

If this episode helps you or someone you know, please consider liking, subscribing, and sharing to help spread awareness.

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#7OH #7Hydroxymitragynine #Kratom #KratomAddiction #AddictionRecovery #Opioids #RecoveryStory #Podcast #TwoTalkingFools #SubstanceAwareness #MentalHealth #DrugAwareness #Withdrawal #RecoveryJourney #PublicHealth

In this episode of the Two Talking Fools Podcast, Kate and Shaba sit down with veteran infrastructure project manager Jack Smith to tackle one of the biggest questions facing communities today: What exactly are data centers, and why are they suddenly being built everywhere?

With more than 20 years of experience in technology infrastructure, cybersecurity, networking, and large-scale IT projects, Jack breaks down the complex world of data centers into terms everyone can understand. From the massive facilities powering cloud computing and artificial intelligence to the hidden infrastructure that keeps the internet running, he explains why these buildings have become some of the most important—and controversial—developments in modern technology.

The conversation explores real-world incidents, including data center failures and fires, while diving into how these facilities are cooled, why some consume enormous amounts of water, and the tremendous energy demands required to support our increasingly digital world. Jack also explains concepts like dark fiber, connectivity, redundancy, and why location matters when companies decide where to build.

As the discussion turns to artificial intelligence, Jack offers a practical look at how AI is fueling an unprecedented surge in demand for computing power and what that means for the future of infrastructure. The group examines the environmental concerns, economic opportunities, job creation, permitting challenges, and community impacts that often accompany large-scale data center projects.

Beyond the technology itself, the episode explores important questions about privacy, data collection, web scraping, and the balance between innovation and responsibility. Whether you're excited about AI, concerned about resource consumption, or simply curious about the technology shaping the future, this episode provides a thoughtful, real-world perspective on one of the most important infrastructure conversations happening today.

If your town was approached about hosting a data center tomorrow, would you know what questions to ask? This episode is a great place to start.

Learn more about Jack Smith and listen to his podcast, IT Horror Stories with Jack Smith:

🌐 IT Horror Stories Website

#DataCenters #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Technology #Infrastructure #CloudComputing #DataCenter #CyberSecurity #JackSmith #ITHorrorStories #TwoTalkingFoolsPodcast