Show Notes
In episode 40 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Emily, who shares her journey with alcoholism, starting from drinking at a young age and the struggles that followed her into high school, including an abusive relationship that shaped how she coped with pain. She opens up about using alcohol to numb the grief of losing a close family member and how that loss deepened her addiction. Now approaching 15 years of sobriety, Emily reflects on what it took to break the cycle, heal from trauma, and build a life rooted in recovery, honesty, and resilience.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.
Fuck the Stigma is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes people shouldn’t be judged or labeled based on their mental health status. Whether you are struggling with an addiction or have been taking meds for a diagnosis, our community doesn’t judge and seeks to collectively end the stigma around mental health.
Our mission is to normalize mental health and mental illness as widespread, treatable, and acceptable. We do this by providing useful resources, improving access to services for those who need help, sharing stories, and building a community of young people who all agree…
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Tags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, nonprofit, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholic, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, baltimore diagnosis, felony, felonies, forgiveness, spiritual, DUI
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In episode 77 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Fausto Castellanos o discuss nearly nine years of sobriety after 11 years of alcohol and cocaine addiction. In this candid conversation, we explore childhood sexual abuse and grooming, questioning sexuality after trauma, addiction-related seizures, relapse, narcissistic abuse, boundaries, people-pleasing, social anxiety, and why toxic love can feel as addictive as drugs. Fausto shares what recovery has taught him about self-worth, healthy relationships, and taking his power back. If you’re navigating addiction recovery, trauma, or unhealthy relationships, this episode is a reminder that you’re not alone.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Fausto's Links Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/hopedealerfausto/Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/hopedealerfausto/Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/@HopeDealerFaustoPodcast | https://www.youtube.com/@Journey2SolutionsPodcastChapters |00:00 Welcome Back Fausto01:20 Fausto's Addiction and Recovery Story04:53 Sexual Abuse and Questioning Sexuality12:50 Why Victims Blame Themselves20:34 Why Fausto Chose Cocaine and Alcohol23:02 Growing Up with a Narcissistic Father27:55 Navigating Romantic Relationships in Recovery32:53 The Polyamory Experiment36:52 EMDR Therapy and Dating Apps42:36 Conflict Avoidance and Social Anxiety48:25 A Day in the Life of Active Addiction55:50 Seizures and Living on the Edge59:00 The Obsession That Never Quits01:02:45 Rethinking Relapse01:06:48 The Love Drug: Addiction to Relationships01:08:46 Toxic Love and Heartbreak01:14:43 Final Thoughts and FarewellFollow us! Instagram | https://instagram.com/fthestigmapodTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/fthestigmapodWebsite | www.fthestigma.comPod links |Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3Apple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224Tags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, felony, felonies, forgiveness, spiritual, DUI, 5150, psych wards, #fthestigma #podcast #addiction #mentalhealth #mentalillness #recovery #criminal #addictionrecovery #addict #alcoholism #doctor
In episode 76 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Ashley Moore who shares her raw story of her nine-year battle with heroin, meth and fentanyl addiction and the two near-death experiences that finally pushed her toward sobriety. Ashley opens up about childhood trauma, repeated relapses, losing herself in addiction and what it took to rebuild her life in recovery. This is an honest conversation about overdose, healing, motherhood, accountability and the reality that recovery is possible, even when all hope feels lost.
In episode 75 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Timothy Obis speaks honestly about addiction, homelessness, and life on the streets. Timothy shares his experiences with crystal meth and Xanax, the circumstances that led to homelessness, and the physical and psychological effects that living without stability can have on a person. This powerful episode offers a firsthand look at survival, isolation, substance abuse, and the human realities that are often overlooked when people talk about homelessness.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Timothy Obis' Links Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/timobiscomedy/Chapters |00:00 Welcome & Introduction00:15 Tim's Background & Recovery00:28 Childhood & Family Struggles02:04 First Encounters with Substances03:20 Self-Image & Early Substance Use04:32 Feelings of Shame & Not Fitting In06:42 Father's Alcoholism08:03 Parent's Split & Family Impact08:28 The Gateway Drug Effect09:50 The War on Drugs Debate12:47 Identifying as an Addict13:54 Life After High School & Moving16:23 Exposure to Sobriety & Meetings17:13 Path to Rock Bottom19:20 The Meth & Xanax Combo20:08 The Slide into Homelessness21:01 First Time Trying Crystal Meth22:03 Life on the Streets26:30 Repeated Attempts at Sobriety27:38 The Mindset of Relapse30:48 Romanticizing Addiction & Using33:40 All-or-Nothing Personality36:00 Struggles With Adderall37:02 The Turning Point to Sobriety39:30 Friend's Death & Seeking Help40:40 Inside Impact Treatment Center42:10 Processing Grief in Sobriety44:20 Life After Homelessness47:00 Financial Struggles & Sobriety54:30 Discovering Stand-Up Comedy58:00 Comedy as a Sober Outlet01:00:00 Advice for Those StrugglingFollow us! Instagram | https://instagram.com/fthestigmapodTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/fthestigmapodWebsite | www.fthestigma.comPod links |Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3Apple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224Tags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, felony, felonies, forgiveness, spiritual, DUI, 5150, psych wards, #fthestigma #podcast #addiction #mentalhealth #mentalillness #recovery #criminal #addictionrecovery #addict #alcoholism #doctor
In episode 73 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Dr. Kenny Clark who returns for an honest conversation about addiction, relapse, and what getting sober doesn’t automatically fix. We explore whether addiction is a disease or a choice, the biggest lies addicts tell themselves, AA and 12-step recovery, Suboxone and methadone, and how addiction affects marriage and family. What keeps someone using, even when everything is on the line?
In episode 72 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Dave Manheim, opens up about his heroin addiction, using drugs while working at MTV, losing custody of his daughter, and the painful road to sobriety. He shares how he rebuilt his life and turned his darkest experiences into one of the most recognized addiction recovery podcasts. This is an honest conversation about addiction, relapse, fatherhood, recovery, and second chances.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Dave Manheim's Links | Website | https://dopeypodcast.com/Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dopeypodcast/Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/dopeypodcast/Chapters |00:00 Welcome to F the Stigma00:20 Type A vs. Type B Personality01:40 Vaping and Quitting Smoking04:30 Dopey Podcast Origins07:00 Interviewing Hunter Biden08:30 Early Days of Dopey10:00 Naming the Podcast11:30 Sobriety and Uncertainty13:20 Growing Up in Manhattan15:00 First Encounters with Drugs17:30 Career in TV Production20:30 Heroin Addiction Begins23:00 Rehab and Relapse26:00 Moving to LA and Struggling29:00 Benzos and Blackouts31:00 Mother's Illness and Turning Point34:00 Fatherhood and Shame39:00 Losing Custody and Rock Bottom42:00 Finding AA and Sobriety47:00 Dopey's Growth and Community49:00 Coping with Loss54:00 Why We Use and the Power of Choice57:00 Obsessions and Recovery01:00:00 Lessons from AA Meetings01:03:00 The Real Reason for Using01:05:00 Learning Hard Work at Katz's01:09:00 Dominican Roots and Connection01:11:00 Working at Katz's and Dopey01:13:00 Grieving the Old Life01:15:00 Dopey Con and Future Plans01:17:00 Defining Addiction and Breaking StigmaFollow us! Instagram | https://instagram.com/fthestigmapodTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/fthestigmapodWebsite | www.fthestigma.comPod links |Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3Apple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224Tags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, felony, felonies, forgiveness, spiritual, DUI, 5150, psych wards, #fthestigma #podcast #addiction #mentalhealth #mentalillness #recovery #criminal #addictionrecovery #addict #alcoholism