Show Notes
In episode 37 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Chris Yarnell, In this episode, Laisha sits down with a guest who opens up about a lifetime of stigma, trauma, and addiction. He talks about growing up in a household shaped by alcohol and drugs and how fractured family dynamics fueled his early substance use. He shares how his drinking escalated through adolescence, how a chemical imbalance influenced his drug choices, and what ultimately pushed him to join the Marines. He dives into the reality of serving while struggling mentally, the injuries and losses that followed, and the survivor’s guilt that nearly destroyed him. As addiction progressed, sobriety became a cycle of chaos, relapse, and consequence that eventually led to jail time, psychosis, and a rock-bottom moment that forced him to confront the truth. Now in recovery, he reflects on rebuilding purpose, the importance of service, and why healing means more than just staying sober. This conversation sheds light on the stigma around mental health, the impact of unspoken trauma, and the power of asking for help.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.
Chapters | 00:00 Welcome and Podcast Intro 01:29 Breaking Stigma Around Mental Health & Addiction 02:58 Growing Up: Family, Community and Early Exposure 05:47 Alcohol and Drugs in the Home 10:13 First Experiences With Drinking and Family Dynamics 15:41 Teens, Substance Use, and Parental Relationships 20:48 Adolescence & The Progression of Alcohol Use 27:01 Chemical Imbalance and Drug Choice Discussion 33:14 Joining the Marines: Motivation & Pre-Military Life 38:33 Struggles in the Military, Family, and Trauma 46:11 Injury, Discharge, and Caregiving at Home 50:40 Loss, Survivor’s Guilt & Mental Health Impact 57:12 Addiction Progression & Cycles of Sobriety 01:01:33 Complacency, Chaos, and Staying Sober 01:09:34 Relapses, Triggers, and Uphill Recovery 01:17:42 Consequences: Jail and the Wrong Path 01:27:06 Bad Criminal Luck: Court, Mistakes, and Stigma 01:36:00 The Breaking Point: Psychosis & Ultimate Rock Bottom 01:44:11 Recovery Work, Service, and What It Means 01:53:19 Defining Addiction & Hope for Recovery 02:01:01 Purpose, Wellness, and Community Healing 02:04:02 Why Recovery Means More Than Sobriety 02:09:07 Trauma, Comparison, and The Value of Asking For Help 02:15:05 Final Thoughts: Breaking Down Stigma and Moving Forward
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… Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/ Instagram | https://instagram.com/fukthestigma TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigma Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/FTStigma X | https://x.com/fthestigma
Subscribe for more! | https://www.youtube.com/@fthestigma
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
More from F#CK THE STIGMA
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