In My 22 Month Addiction recovery Journey, I’ve noticed lots of things I find it hard to understand. In this episode I stream of conscience my thoughts on one of the hardest.

Alcohol is the only drug you have to explain quitting.

In this episode, I’m not telling anyone what to drink, how to live, or what choices to make. I’m trying to understand something that’s confused me for a long time — why alcohol is embraced, protected, and normalized despite being one of the most harmful substances humans consume.

From holidays and social pressure, to celebrity doctors claiming alcohol is “good for you,” to the way society excuses drunk violence while condemning mental illness, this is a messy, honest, unscripted attempt to make sense of a culture that treats some addictions as acceptable and others as moral failure.

Coming from lived experience, homelessness, addiction, and 22 months of sobriety, this isn’t a lecture or a call to arms. It’s a reflection.

No judgment. No preaching.

Just noticing.

Step Five in addiction recovery asks us to confront the uncomfortable truth about ourselves—out loud, to another person. It’s about revealing the raw, unpolished reality behind our addict stories, breaking the cycles of shame, secrecy, and self-deception that hold us back. In this episode, we explore why this step is a critical turning point on the recovery journey, offering insights into sober living and psychological healing. Whether you’re navigating your own addiction journey, supporting someone in recovery, or seeking understanding of the human need for honesty, this conversation sheds light on the power of truth as a path to freedom and connection. Join us for a candid exploration of recovery, addiction support, and the transformative power of being truly known.

Recovery is truly a group project, and this episode dives into the crucial role loved ones play in addiction support and relapse prevention. If you care about someone in recovery, prepare for some uncomfortable but honest truths. Jason explains why relapse doesn’t begin with drugs or alcohol but with isolation, control, and silence, and how well-meaning support can sometimes unintentionally feed addiction. Discover early relapse warning signs, why control can backfire, the danger of fake forgiveness, and why joy and laughter are vital for sustained recovery. This episode offers real talk on maintaining honesty, setting healthy boundaries, and building a livable, sober life. Join us for an insightful discussion that challenges myths about drug addiction and highlights effective strategies for addiction recovery.

In this deeply personal episode, Jason invites listeners into his sobriety journey as he sits down with his partner, Wendy, for an honest and heartfelt conversation about connection, isolation, and the realities of addiction recovery. Together, they unpack why isolation can feel safer during early recovery and how genuine connection supports maintaining long-term sobriety.

They delve into the razor-thin line between socializing and relapse, what partners often misunderstand about addiction support, and the complex emotions—fear, shame, and mental chaos—that drive addiction. Wendy shares her experience supporting Jason through relapses and healing, offering valuable insights for families and partners navigating the challenges of recovery together.

This episode is raw, messy, and vulnerable, delivering powerful survival stories and shedding light on rebuilding trust, setting boundaries, and the emotional reality of recovery. If you or someone you love is walking the path of addiction recovery, this candid conversation offers hope and understanding that truly matters.

Step 4 of the 12 Steps in addiction recovery challenges us to make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. While it may sound straightforward, this process can feel emotionally taxing and overwhelming, like facing your past head-on. In this episode of The Loudness McEvil Symposium, we explore what Step 4 truly means for those battling addiction and seeking recovery.

Discover how to confront resentments, fears, and a complicated history without falling apart or turning cruelty inward. Learn why honesty is difficult but necessary, and how writing can be a powerful tool to save us from our own thoughts. We'll tackle topics like shame, secrets, and the liberation that comes from self-truth, sharing personal experiences that make this step approachable and real for addicts and those supporting them.

If you're working the steps or supporting someone in recovery, this episode will provide valuable insights and encouragement. Addiction recovery is messy and imperfect, but you don't have to face it alone.

Subscribe for more episodes focused on addiction, recovery, and the complex systems we navigate on this journey. Remember, your story matters.

In this brutally honest episode of The Loudness McEvil Symposium, Jason opens the lid on the “Secrets Box” — revealing the unspoken traumas, shame, and confusion that shaped a generation struggling with addiction and drugs. From the fluorescent nightmare of 1980s small-town adolescence to the harsh realities of a detox ward, this story is about survival, addiction recovery, and the high cost of silence.

Jason dismantles myths surrounding mental health, masculinity, and personal responsibility, confronting systems that punish addicts instead of offering real help. This episode delves into childhood abuse, ADHD before it was understood, body dysmorphia, and the long, painful road to communication — the crucial element that could have prevented decades of destruction.

💬 Topics: addiction, drugs, addicts, childhood trauma, mental health stigma, ADHD, addiction recovery, communication, suicide prevention, family healing, homelessness, recovery storytelling.

🎧 Whether you’re curious about how addiction truly begins or how it can be overcome, this episode offers raw insights and hope.

👉 Subscribe, share, and help someone find a reason to keep going.

Explore the realities of early addiction recovery and the challenges that come with leaving behind a life of opioid addiction and homelessness. In this episode, Wendy and Jason share their deeply personal journeys through sobriety, with Jason now 20 months sober after 30 years battling opioid addiction and homelessness, and Wendy celebrating 8 years alcohol-free. They discuss the true meaning of early recovery, why "one day at a time" is crucial, and the grief involved in letting go of the life and substances that once defined them.

Hear candid reflections on transitioning from street life to stability, the misconceptions about white-knuckling sobriety, and the unspoken privilege dynamics in recovery spaces. They also give a unique perspective on COVID-19’s impact from the viewpoint of those experiencing homelessness.

If you're navigating early recovery, supporting a loved one, or seeking real stories about addiction recovery, this episode offers unfiltered insight into the difficult but transformative path toward long-term sobriety.

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This episode delves deep into the complex world of addiction and recovery through the lens of Wendy McCallum — a former corporate lawyer, life coach, and friend who has experienced love and loss intertwined with addiction firsthand. Explore the emotional and challenging reality of loving addicts, the heartbreak, and the hope embedded in the recovery journey. Whether you're navigating the struggles of addiction yourself, loving someone who is an addict, or seeking understanding, Wendy's story offers raw insight and powerful perspective. Tune in to hear how addiction impacts not only those who suffer but those who love them, and discover why recovery is often the hardest path yet the most necessary. This episode sets the stage for a deeper conversation about addiction, recovery, and the human connections that survive them.