Ep 209 Thirty Rehabs, Leaving AA + Pioneering Modern Recovery — Justin's Story
Kirsten Johnson PodcastShow Notes
Justin had to leave 12 step after 17 years in order to get sober. He shares about people dying in AA, realizing it's a cult, and how Ibogaine is what ultimately got him sober. Now he runs a modern addiction detox clinic and is pioneering modern addiction recovery. Justin's Karity Clinic and TikTok
Timestamps: 00:00 Intro Justin's Story 12:50 Ibogaine Treatment 18:04 Day He Left AA 21:12 DJ AM's Death + 12 Step 28:11 Relapse, Shame, Shunning 35:46 Addiction Recovery Is Outdated 50:33 Psychedelics Got Him Sober 57:17 "Your Part," Amends, R*pe 1:03:26 Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy + Modern Rehabs 1:15:40 Deprogramming Abstinence 1:25:28 Why Traditional Rehabs Fall Short 1:36:20 Psychedelics In Recovery, Predators, Narcissists 1:44:19 Psychedelics After AA Awakening 2:11:25 AA Trolls 2:17:29 K-holes, Ketamine, Healing 2:27:05 Drugs To Get Off Drugs? 2:31:58 Brainwashing Can Happen Fast
🔥 Free Deprogram Course + leaving AA resources → here 🧠 Brain optimization tools → here ❤️🔥 If you’re ready to stop holding yourself back → here
Come vibe with me: Kirsten's Facebook Kirsten's Instagram Kirsten's TikTok
📱 My content creation setup (camera, mic, lighting, etc.) → here 💻 Tools + software I use to run my business and create online → here
⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a therapist, doctor, or licensed healthcare provider. Everything shared is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional care. 💖 Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use and love.
More from Kirsten Johnson Podcast
Did Bill W., co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, consume alcohol after getting sober in 1934? According to his wife, Lois Wilson, yes—but there's a catch. In this episode, we examine the rumors about Bill's drinking, his requests for whiskey on his deathbed, and an incident involving alcohol documented in Lois Remembers. I also share my own experience with a “freelapse” and explore what these stories reveal about one of AA's core claims.
No more groupthink and being "powerless" over critical thinking... This episode is our reminder to not turn our thinking and judgement over to "authorities" outside ourselves. Critical thinking for the win.
I saw a comment in a Facebook deprogramming group that asked if that group was a cult. So I thought we'd dive on in and discuss it on the pod today...
Carrie is back! Between the two of us, we have 54 years of recovery—and a lot to say about AA old-timers. What even makes someone an old-timer, and why does time sober so often translate into authority? We talk about the hierarchy around sober time, “AA math,” sponsorship and service, the difference between longevity and expertise, predatory old-timers, and the recovery beliefs we once accepted and passed on ourselves. We also get into what happens when you stop treating sober time as a measure of wisdom, healing, or how much someone else should listen to you.
Today I join Victor from Quackaholics Anonymous for a wide-ranging conversation about Alcoholics Anonymous, indoctrination, and what happens when recovery becomes an identity. We talk about why people are drawn into AA, love bombing and belonging, shame and the “alcoholic” identity, neurodivergence and mental health being mislabeled as alcoholism, the religious and cult dynamics of the program, predatory behavior and accountability, amends, and the difficulty of questioning a system you were taught you needed to survive. We also explore what it means to deprogram, rebuild trust in your own experience, and speak openly about both the help—and the harm—people can experience in AA.