Chelsea and Suzanne are no strangers to grief and addiction. Each week, we aim to explore these multi-dimensional topics, diving deep into the full spectrum of recovery, support, and education. We aim to provide a safe, supportive space for our peers who grapple with similar pain and experiences. When it comes right down to it, we are ALL healing from things we do not speak about- and perhaps it’s time to change that
Episodes
Tuesday May 17, 2022
Tuesday May 17, 2022
When I started the podcast, one of things I was most interested in was learning more about children of alcoholics, both young and adult. It’s so weird how it really never dawned on me, oh, yeah….we grow up! We, the children of those afflicted, grow up. But how do we grow WITH? How do we grow with the trauma of our childhoods, how do we grow with the scenes we have witnessed, with certain knowledge that has prematurely been thrust upon us?
For obvious reasons, it’s difficult to interview a minor child for their perspective of what it’s like to live with, and love someone, who is addicted. To that end, a few weeks back, my lovely neighbor (and former guest, who we called “Christine”), gave me a book she obtained from her early days of studying to be a social worker. Entitled "Out of the Mouths of Babes", this small book is a collection of drawings done by children aging in range from 5-17, all of whom are children of parents who abused alcohol and drugs. I don’t know how many of you, parents or not, have ever seen art therapy pieces created by children, but this can be a very powerful thing to witness. Children are very, very preceptive, more than we give them credit for, I think. They are sensitive and malleable, and, of course, can be irrevocably affected by a parent’s addictive behavior. In some of the cases I read in this book, these kids developed severe behavioral issues and mental illnesses of their own as a result of neglect and abusive situations at home. Tomorrow on the show, I will explore some of these instances and what it's like to be the child of someone struggling with addiction.
Feedback is always welcome- you can DM me on IG or email me:
IG: @The_Stiicky_Eddie_Podcast
Email: stiickyeddiepodcast@gmail.com
Visit stiickyeddie.com for more information!
Until next week, thank you for listening- I wish you all peace- be well!
Articles quoted in this week's episode:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/adhd-medication-for-kids-is-it-safe-does-it-help-201603049235
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
If you don't already know Laurie (host of the YouTube podcast channel Laur's World, featuring powerful sober/recovery experiences) you're about to meet one of the warmest, funniest, toughest, most down-to-earth sobriety advocates in this community!
Laurie began her journey as a quiet child, raised to follow rules and never step out of line. Ironically, she didn't even like alcohol the first time she tried it.
Well into adulthood (and, unfortunately, an imperfect first marriage), Laurie was introduced to cocaine, and rediscovered alcohol as well.
Over many decades (and many precarious situations), Laurie managed to find her rhythm in recovery, heal her most important relationships with family, and find a passion for advocacy and promoting self-love. She recounts her experiences in such a way that we are actually able to laugh most of the way through, and talking to her feels like hanging out with your protective big sister. Simply put, she is a PHENOMENAL person, and you should all get ready to smile big when you listen to this one!
Thank you, Laurie, for so bravely sharing your story- and for inspiring all of us with your truly unique spirit!
Thank YOU all for listening, and until next week, I wish you all peace- be well!
Laur's World YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Qugr1ff5KeEa9fBkFNONA
Be sure to check out my newest partner, https://www.sobersoaps.com/ and use code Eddiesoaps10 for 10% off your purchase!
As always, https://www.brainwashedcoffeeco.com/ is where it's at for your caffeine needs- use code Eddie21 there for $5 off your first order!
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
The podcast is officially 1 year old!!!! Cue the air horn sounds! This week’s episode is on the brief side but includes some highlights about things I’ve learned on my journey this past year, and a heartfelt thank you to ALL listeners, as well as some members of the addiction/recovery/podcasting community who have embraced and supported me.
I am proud of this show, I am awed and honored by all of you, and I can’t wait to see what the next year brings!
Thanks for listening for 52 weeks! Until next time, I wish you all peace- be well!
Resources:
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200924-the-feminisation-of-alcohol-marketing
https://www.smartrecovery.org/
Email me: stiickyeddiepodcast@gmail.com
Find me on IG: @the_stiicky_eddie_podcast
Listen to full episodes and check out all things related to the show at: stiickyeddie.com
You can also listen on most platforms, including Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, etc.
Monday Apr 11, 2022
Monday Apr 11, 2022
Starting a business can be very exciting, but traditionally comes with a ton of uncertainty. In 2011, when Alyson Swihart began making homemade soaps using her husband’s hand-brewed beer, their company immediately took off, and the product gained popularity due to the natural ingredients and the super-sudsy quality of the beer. However, not so long into their venture, the couple decided that they needed to commit to a sober lifestyle- “living their brand” was important to them, but in this way, it was becoming detrimental not only to them, but the health of their family unit.
Thus, after a lot of soul-searching (and some professional treatment), Sober Soaps was born! That’s right- they decided that they could still live their brand, sans suds. Pivoting their business model was a bold move, but boy has it paid off in myriad ways!
Listen in as I talk to Alyson about realizing that she and her husband needed to change their relationship with alcohol, and how deeply that has affected their lives. They are incredibly brave, strong, and savvy, and I am so impressed by all that they have accomplished in their journey with Sober Soaps!
Visit sobersoaps.com for more information on their products, their mission, and how you can reach out. Use code “Eddiesoaps10” for 10% off your purchase!
You can email me at stiickyeddiepodcast@gmail.com, and visit stiickyeddie.com for all things podcast-related, including full episodes and resources, as well as my blog.
Find me on IG @the_stiicky_eddie_podcast
Thank you, SO MUCH, for your continued support. Until next week, I wish you all peace- be well!
Monday Apr 04, 2022
Monday Apr 04, 2022
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, so let’s get back to some basics this episode.
When I lost my dad to Alcohol Use Disorder in 2020, I was obviously devastated. I wanted to do something, anything, to help other people out there watching loved ones suffering or coping with addiction themselves. But when I started reading books about grief and loss, and addiction and recovery, I realized how little I actually knew about the complex medical condition that is addiction. I was really embarrassed and saddened that I had lived in ignorance all my life, unable, maybe unwilling, to learn how to offer support and perhaps facilitate change.
As angry as I was with myself, it wasn’t long before I realized I wasn’t alone in this experience. A lot of people I have come to know and love in the addiction and recovery community are not always addicts themselves- they are bystanders who also did not have the information they needed until it was too late. Grief and guilt are what have driven some of us to the point of wanting to break down stigma and make a difference so that no one else must suffer. So today, I will touch on some rudimentary information surrounding Alcohol Use Disorder and, of course, provide a few resources that you can start with if you’re new here.
After you dive into the episode, be sure to check out the following useful resources:
NIH: Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder
Email me at stiickyeddiepodcast@gmail.com, find me on IG @the_stiicky_eddie_podcast, and/or listen to all episodes and find more info on stiickyeddie.com!
Use code Eddiesoaps10 at https://handbrewedsoaps.com/collections/sober-soaps for 10% off your Sober Soaps purchase!
Use code Eddie21 at https://www.brainwashedcoffeeco.com/ for $5 off your coffee purchase!
Thank you, as always, for your support. Until next week, I wish you all peace- be well!
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Monday Mar 21, 2022
I can tell you from personal experience that codependency is nuanced, and you may not even realize that you have this dynamic with someone. Your mental and physical health could start to suffer dramatically before you truly understand the complexities of this relationship and try to disengage from the behavior. In this episode, I would like to share some information as to how to recognize the signs and move away from this space, and into a healthier relationship with your person. Of course, on this podcast we lead with compassion, not judgement. I am now painfully aware that recovery is not one-size-fits-all, and this creed applies to how each person afflicted and their loved ones communicate. Family dynamics can already be affected by so many things outside of addiction, such as generational and shared traumas, and so codependency will not only look different for everyone, but there will also be a unique reason this occurs in the first place. So, if you'd like to hear more, please tune in tomorrow! After all, education is key.
As always, thank you for your support! Until next week, I wish you all peace- be well!
Visit stiickyeddie.com for more information and to listen to full episodes for free!
Email me at stiickyeddiepodcast@gmail.com
Catch me on IG @the_stiicky_eddie_podcast
Books mentioned in this episode:
The Weight of Air by David Poses
Undoing Drugs by Maia Szalavitz
The Body Keeps The Score by Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk
Never Enough by Dr. Judith Grisel
Podcast mentioned:
Web sources used in this episode:
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Monday Mar 14, 2022
My guest this week, Kenny, is an O.G. in the radio game, having been a DJ in the early 00’s. A time when Amy Winehouse was saying “No, no, no” to rehab, and Busta Rhymes was passing the Courvoisier (confused members of this audience born after 1990 will need to Google these references). I am fairly certain that for a brief period in 2003, “Tipsy” may have even been my ringtone (ah, to be young and ill-informed). Point being, Kenny has lived a multi-layered life with many chapters, from his time hosting up-and-coming artists and even partying with them, to being essentially homeless, addicted to alcohol, and pretty much in alignment with Amy in his views on treatment.
Kenny’s story is one with so many interesting angles, not only as a person in recovery from active addiction, but as a Black male having been through the worst of the rehabilitation system here in the U.S., a man who has been the victim of domestic abuse, and someone who found himself at his lowest point while serving in the Army for 6 years. After hitting bottom, getting divorced, and getting sober, Kenny returned to school and earned his master’s degree in Strategic Media Communications from SCSU in 2018.
Over the past year, Kenny has published his book “12 Faces of Sober” and kicked off the eponymous podcast. He does a beautiful job interviewing people from all cultures and backgrounds about their experiences with active addiction, and in his own words, has created a space where he plays by his own rules. Kenny’s energy and determination are infectious, and I really appreciated his perspective on such a wide array of topics. I am certain you will, too!
As always, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love and support. Until next week, I wish you all peace- be well.
Email me: stiickyeddiepodcast@gmail.com
Visit my website and read my blog: stiickyeddie.com
Find me on IG: @the_stiicky_eddie_podcast
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Monday Mar 07, 2022