In Episode 5 of The Shane Vitko Podcast, Chaos to Creativity, I sit down with Boston graffiti artist Jason “Jay Mac” McDonald, better known in the streets as BACK. We talk about growing up on Section 8, a mom in addiction, bouncing from city to city, and what it does to a kid to always feel like the outsider in towns where everyone else has two parents and hockey gear.Jay walks through the first time he stole at eight years old, how tagging with white-out behind a brick building turned into a full graffiti identity, and how his name BACK became “Bad Ass City Kid.” From there, we get into opiates turning into IV heroin, denial, crime, and the moment he finally had to admit to himself that he was hooked. He shares how art and adrenaline saved his life, how recovery and treatment work gave that energy somewhere to go, and how he built a career painting massive murals while helping addicts in the trenches.We also get into the stuff most people never see: fear, rage, ego, shame, and what it really takes for men like us to pick up the phone and tell another guy, “I’m not okay.” We talk about relapse after eight and a half years clean, losing friends to overdose, building a life as a dad and creator, and what it feels like to pull into your own driveway and realize you were supposed to be dead or doing life, but somehow you are here, sober and trusted. If you have ever felt like you already ruined your life and there is no way back, this episode is for you.Guest: Jason “Jay Mac” McDonald aka BACKInstagram: @the_backstah#svthehardway #TheShaneVitkoPodcast #ChaosToCreativity #JayMac #TheBackstah #bostongraffiti #graffitilife #streetart #addictionrecovery #realrecovery #soberlife #mensmentalhealth #traumasurvivor #healingjourney #streetstories #podcastsonyoutube #podcastsonspotify #podcastsonapple #podcastsonamazonmusic