This Is Our Normal Podcast

Saul and the guys sit down with Troy Shenker (Detox Technician at Soul Sanctuary) to talk about his journey getting sober. Troy tells us a funny story about taking too much Baclofen. He opens up about the loss of his mother. Troy talks about the time he got red flagged at a pharmacy. He walks us through the days leading up to going into treatment. Troy takes us through what its like working in treatment. Lastly He shares with the guys what he does to stay sober on a daily basis.

Saul and the guys sit down with James Green to talk about his journey getting sober. James talks about his first time in treatment. He walks us through how he got Hepatitis C in New Mexico. James tells us about his newly found spirituality. The guys discuss what they are doing to stay sober. James closes the episode with some words of wisdom.

Saul and the guys sit down with Miles Williams their new audio engineer. Miles talks about his journey getting sober. He tells us about what it was like to go to treatment as a freshman in high school. Miles explains how he got kicked out of rehab. Hood and Saul talk about what it is like for them working in treatment.

    Saul and the guys sit down with Brittany Morris recovering addict. Brittany talks about crashing someones car wile under the influence of alcohol. Young Brittany talks about her experience leaving home and going far away to treatment. She talks about the struggle she had being a female at a co-ed treatment center. Brittany tells us what she is doing to stay sober each day.

Saul and the guys sit down with George Changpo (former Behavioral Health Technician for Resolutions Recovery) to talk about his journey both getting sober and working in treatment.  George and Saul talk about Saul relapsing and George noticing something was wrong with Saul that day.  George talks about what he does for his own recovery.  The guys get silly on this one (it's a lot of fun).  

Elizabeth talks about losing someone very close to her to the disease of addiction.  She tells the guys about her passion for working in the field of treatment.  Saul and Elizabeth share some stories from Saul's time in treatment with Elizabeth as his case manager.  

Saul and the guys sit down to talk about the importance of family support when trying to get sober.  Saul talks about his siblings spending their Thanksgiving searching for a treatment facility to get him into.  The guys talk about growing up too fast.  Lastly, the guys talk about how hard it is to find help if you don't have insurance. 

Saul and the guys sit down with Jessica Zarillo to talk about her journey getting sober.  She talks about using while trying to hold down a job operating heavy machinery.  Jessica's friends put her through a much needed intervention of sorts.  She walks us through going to rehab and what it's like for her now that she is sober.  Lastly, Jessica shares what it was like going through an abusive relationship and how she had the courage to get away.

Saul and the guys sit down to talk about methadone clinics.  They discuss what society might be able to put in place rather than methadone clinics.  After Hood and Saul go into their personal experiences with the clinics they switch the conversation over to Joel.  Joel talks about the positive actions he's been taking and what an impact it has made on him both physically and mentally.  

Saul and the guys sit down with Ray Barker, former behavioral health technician for Resolutions Recovery Las Vegas, to talk about his journey getting sober.  Ray walks us through the days of psychosis leading up to going into treatment.  He tells us about living in a trailer park and thinking that the government was after him.  Rays life became unmanageable, and luckily for Ray his family stepped in and gave him some help.  Ray tells us about the difference in his life after going into treatment.  

Saul and the guys sit down with Dave Marlon (former owner of Solutions Recovery and VP of AAC Nevada Region) and Andy to talk about their journeys getting sober.  Dave walks us through his life before, after, and during treatment.  Dave talks about why solutions was so unique.  Saul talks about how Solutions saved his life.  Andy talks about what he does to stay sober.  

Saul and the guys sit down to talk about the absolute fact that this IS a DISEASE.  After sharing a story about trying to buy heroin and Hoodie showing up in place of the dealer to scare Saul out of buying drugs, Saul breaks down the definition of disease and how addiction falls into that category.  The guys talk about how to educate society on addiction to help prevent the plague of addiction that is affecting the country.  

Saul and the guys sit down with Colton Salaz, Executive Producer of CBS News Radio, to talk about his journey getting sober.  Colton talks about going through drug court and how it tremendously benefited his life.  He talks about having a seizure while on tramadol in a foreign country.  Lastly, he walks us through what it took for him to get sober and stay sober.  

Hood, Joel, and Saul sit down to talk about the difference between glorifying their pasts and taking responsibility for the things they did while using.  They talk about their differences in their experiences growing up and how that affected their willingness to begin using drugs.  They talk about their first times going through withdrawal.  Lastly, they announce they are heading to Vegas to record podcasts for the weekend.  

Saul and the guys sit down with Nathen Lord to talk about his battle with addiction.  Nathen talks about how he used substances to fight off his depression, but it only made things worse.  Nathen tells us about his trauma he went through as a child and what he has done to get past it.  Lastly, he breaks down the differences in his life before and after treatment.

Joel has a conversation with the guys about what it's like to be dual diagnosed.  He explains the challenges of what it's like having bipolar disorder and later battling his addiction with cocaine.  Joel explains how his drug use intertwined with his interactions with women and Saul talks about the dangers of using substances before the brain is fully developed.  

Saul and the guys sit down with Aric Archambault to talk about how we can still have fun in recovery.  Aric talks about breaking down his walls and taking off his mask while in treatment.  He tells us about the days leading up to rehab and what pushed him to go.  Lastly, Aric shares a story about his experience in jail.  Of course, Joel Cowen produces another great episode.

Joel, Brian, and Saul sit down and have a discussion about current issues in addiction, specifically about kratom.  Brian tells an intimate story about the death of an inmate while he was in jail caused by mixing benzos and opiates.  Saul tells the story about getting pulled over by the cops.  The guys finish the episode with a couple laughs and an unofficial announcement.  

Saul sits down with Courtney Crutcher and Guest Co-Host Brian Hood.  Courtney walks us through going from using drugs, becoming suicidal, losing her mother, and then coming all the way back to becoming a house manager and living life in recovery.  As always, Joel Cowen produces another beautiful episode.  

Saul sits down with Brook Lazaro to talk about what she does to stay sober. They roll play on how she handles a client that wants to leave rehab early. Brook gives us an inside view on the life of a house manager at a rehab facility. As always Joel Cowen produces another top quality production of the podcast.