Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988

National Helpline 1-800-662-4357

Veterans Crisis Line (dial 988 then press 1)

National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE)

letsexamineaddictionhonestly@gmail.com

​

theleahpodcast@gmail.com

​

My Podcast Server

https://discord.gg/9MSPwRG4p

In this episode, I explain the Patreon I’ve set up for the podcast and why it exists. There’s absolutely no obligation to sign up—this isn’t a money grab. I mainly created it as a place to store extra resources and audio files for both of my podcasts, and to keep things organized as they grow.

If someone does choose to support it, the funds go directly back into the podcasts through things like audio software, equipment upgrades, books, training, and guest-related costs. My goal is simply to improve the quality of the show and make it a better resource, not to profit from it. As always, I appreciate you listening, and I’m grateful for any feedback you’re willing to share.

00:00 — Intro + Why This Patreon Exists

00:20 — Pricing Options ($5 each / $8 both) + No Obligation

00:38 — What Support Goes Toward (Adobe Audition, Guests, Resources)

00:56 — Books, Classes, Speech Improvement, Training

01:17 — Not a Money Grab + Ad-Free / Resource Storage Intent

01:27 — Feedback Invite + Closing

My Patreon

​https://patreon.com/TheFosterDadDirective?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988

National Helpline 1-800-662-4357

Veterans Crisis Line (dial 988 then press 1)

National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE)

letsexamineaddictionhonestly@gmail.com

​

theleahpodcast@gmail.com

​

My Podcast Server

https://discord.gg/9MSPwRG4p

In this episode, I share additional resources to go along with Episode 10, Losing Friends Through Sobriety. I highlight the Michigan-based website mi211.org/grief, which offers a wide range of grief and bereavement resources that can be especially helpful when you’re dealing with loss while trying to stay sober. The site covers everything from counseling and support groups to veteran services, substance use resources, crisis lines, and other life disruptions that often overlap with addiction and recovery.

I also talk about the importance of exploring different kinds of support, including therapy, group settings, and alternative approaches like EMDR, art therapy, or music therapy. I know how overwhelming it can feel to search for help and not know where to start, which is why I wanted to share a resource that gathers many options in one place. This episode is about reminding you that you’re not alone, that help exists beyond substances, and that even during loss, there are healthier paths forward—and people who want to walk them with you.

00:00 — What This Is: Episode 10 Resources Add-On + Where to Put It

00:21 — Michigan Resource: mi211.org/grief (Grief + Bereavement Services)

00:57 — What the Site Covers: Hospice, Burial, Veterans, Groups, Crisis Help

01:23 — Therapy Plug: In-Person vs Virtual + Privacy Concerns

01:39 — Support Groups Idea: Starting One at the American Legion

01:59 — Why Groups Help: Better Fit Than 1-on-1 for You Sometimes

02:20 — Mixed Therapy Experiences: What Worked / What Didn’t

02:39 — “Try Different Kinds”: EMDR, CBT, Art/Music Therapy, Groups

03:17 — Ask Listeners for More Resources + Use This as a Roadmap

03:53 — Avoiding Google Overload: Why This Site Helps + Closing Message

My Patreon

​https://patreon.com/TheFosterDadDirective?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988

National Helpline 1-800-662-4357

Veterans Crisis Line (dial 988 then press 1) National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE)

letsexamineaddictionhonestly@gmail.com

​

theleahpodcast@gmail.com

​

My Podcast Server

https://discord.gg/9MSPwRG4p

In this episode, I walk through how the description is structured and why I put crisis and support resources first, including national and veteran hotlines. Seeking help isn’t a weakness, and I want anyone who’s struggling to know that support is available and that reaching out matters.

I also talk about the rest of the description layout, including how to contact the podcast, share feedback, use timestamps, and access additional resources. I explain the purpose of the Patreon as a low-pressure storage and resource hub rather than a requirement, where I hope to eventually organize books, links, and helpful programs in one place. My goal with both podcasts is to create a supportive, honest space that prioritizes mental health, resources, and real human connection.

00:00 — Why This Episode Description Is Crafted The Way It Is

00:19 — Personal Struggles & Consistency With The Show

00:36 — Resources First: Crisis & Support Hotlines

00:55 — Seeking Help Is Not Weak

01:28 — Military & Law Enforcement Mental Health Stigma

01:49 — The World Is Hard, Reach Out Anyway

02:10 — Community Support, Email & Personal Outreach

02:35 — Discord, Feedback & Listener Interaction

03:10 — Episode Descriptions, Timestamps & Navigation

03:36 — Patreon Purpose, Resources & Closing Thanks

My Patreon

​https://patreon.com/TheFosterDadDirective?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988

National Helpline 1-800-662-4357

Veterans Crisis Line (dial 988 then press 1)

National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE)

letsexamineaddictionhonestly@gmail.com

​

theleahpodcast@gmail.com

​

My Podcast Server

https://discord.gg/9MSPwRG4p

In this episode, I talk about how changing my relationship with alcohol—and moving toward sobriety—quietly cost me a lot of friendships. Even without being fully sober, drinking less and stepping away from partying exposed which relationships were real and which were built around convenience, alcohol, or using me. Using an article from DitchTheDrink.com as a guide, I reflect on several friendships that ended painfully, including one long-term friend who took advantage of me financially and emotionally. Losing those people hurt, but it also forced me to confront how unhealthy those relationships really were.

I also share how watching friends fall deeper into addiction, especially when children were involved, pushed me toward fostering and toward a more purposeful life. While some friendships faded, others became stronger—particularly the few people who have always shown up for me without alcohol being involved. I talk honestly about how hard it is to make new sober friends, how volunteering has helped give me a sense of belonging, and how regret and guilt continue to shape my choices. This episode is messy and emotional, but it’s about accepting loss, protecting your growth, and believing that healthier connections are still possible—even if they come later.

00:00 — Topic Setup: Losing Friends as You Change Your Life

00:43 — Why You’re Using Articles Right Now + Disclaimer

01:27 — Article: “What Nobody Tells You About Friends in Sobriety”

02:11 — Friendship #1 (“Demon”): Old Friend, Addiction, Moving In

03:18 — Being Used: Money, Alcohol, Games, Eviction, Insurance Threats

07:52 — Friendship #2 (“Sam & Kay”): Drinking Days → Wreck → Harder Drugs

10:08 — Loyalty vs Drinking Friends: Your Core Friends + Dad’s Losses

14:13 — Their Kids + Why This Pushed You Toward Fostering

15:03 — Isolation After Cutting Back: Missing the “People Who Get It”

21:15 — New Sober Connections + AA Thoughts + Closing

My Patreon

​https://patreon.com/TheFosterDadDirective?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988

National Helpline 1-800-662-4357

Veterans Crisis Line (dial 988 then press 1)

National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE)

letsexamineaddictionhonestly@gmail.com

​

theleahpodcast@gmail.com

​

In this episode, I talk about signs of addiction using an article focused on alcohol, while applying those same warning signs to other struggles I’ve dealt with, including nicotine and technology. I reflect on how addiction doesn’t always look like losing your job or falling apart—it can show up as using substances or screens to cope during downtime, stress, boredom, or emotional exhaustion. I share personal experiences from my time in the military and working in corrections, where drinking became routine, and how patterns like drinking to cope, spending more time recovering than living, and continuing despite consequences slowly wore me down.

I also discuss how addiction impacts family, relationships, and self-respect, including missed time, guilt, unhealthy role modeling, and long-term regret—especially after my DUI. I walk through common red flags, the stages of recovery, and where I currently stand in that process, while being honest about my hesitation with medication and my desire to return to therapy. This episode isn’t about labels or shame—it’s about recognizing patterns early, being honest with yourself, and remembering that change is always possible, even one small step at a time.

00:00 — Intro: Signs of Addiction & Why This Topic Matters

00:29 — Technology, Phone Use & Modern Addiction

01:27 — Disclaimer, Articles & Why I Use Them

01:59 — Personal Reflection: Drinking, Presence & Regret

02:23 — Functioning While Addicted & Daily Escape Habits

03:26 — My Relationship With Alcohol & Ritual Drinking

05:22 — Drinking, Recovery Time & Physical Consequences

06:22 — Coping With Stress, Boredom & Emotions

08:10 — DUI, Risk, Guilt & Turning Points

13:43 — How Addiction Affects Family, Recovery Stages & Closing Message

My Patreon

​https://patreon.com/TheFosterDadDirective?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988

National Helpline 1-800-662-4357

Veterans Crisis Line (dial 988 then press 1)

National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE)

letsexamineaddictionhonestly@gmail.com

theleahpodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, I talk openly about the deep connection between grief and addiction, drawing from my own life experiences with loss and substance use. I share how my relationship with alcohol began after my great grandmother passed away in 2011, and how drinking became my way of avoiding the pain and regret of not being there when she died. I also reflect on the recent loss of my grandfather, the difficult decision not to visit him due to illness and logistics, and how—thankfully—I did not turn to alcohol this time. I discuss losing my dogs, the emotional weight of those losses, and how grief shows up in many forms, not just death. This episode is a raw look at how grief shaped my past drinking and how I’m trying to respond differently today.

I also break down key insights from two major resources—the Hazelden Betty Ford Institute and The Addiction Center—about how grief can lead to addiction through avoidance, substance-based coping, replacing relationships with alcohol, and lacking healthy coping skills. I connect these concepts directly to my own struggles with alcohol, nicotine, impulsive behaviors, and emotional suppression learned from family and military culture. I explain how therapy, fitness, and creative outlets like podcasting have helped me build healthier coping skills, and why this podcast exists in the first place—to remind people that they are not alone and that change is possible. My goal isn’t fame or money, but to help even one person choose healing over self-destruction and to show that we are never obligated to stay the same person we were yesterday.

00:00 — Intro, Addiction, Grief & Great Grandma’s Passing

00:28 — Drinking Through Loss & Deep Regret

01:56 — Grandpa’s Passing, Choosing Not to Drink

03:36 — Family Drinking History & Health Decline

04:57 — Stages of Grief & Loss of Dogs

05:52 — Hazelden Betty Ford: Complicated Grief Defined

07:02 — Why I Started the Podcast & Healthier Outlets

08:09 — Nicotine Sobriety & Addictive Tendencies

12:03 — Four Ways Grief Leads to Addiction

16:27 — Learning Coping Skills, Recovery Goals & Closing Message

My Patreon

​https://patreon.com/TheFosterDadDirective?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988

National Helpline 1-800-662-4357

Veterans Crisis Line (dial 988 then press 1) National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE)

letsexamineaddictionhonestly@gmail.com

theleahpodcast@gmail.com

In this episode of Let’s Examine Addiction Honestly, I open up about my lifelong struggle with alcohol and how deeply it has shaped who I am. I talk about my first experiences drinking at 17, the influence of my friends and family, and how alcohol quickly became woven into my social life and identity.

I share what it was like entering the Army, where drinking wasn’t just common—it was expected. I discuss the risky situations I put myself in, the embarrassing moments, the injuries, and the arrests that happened along the way. Looking back, I can clearly see how alcohol fueled so many of my bad decisions and strained relationships.

After the military, my drinking only increased. I was frustrated with my career path, angry at myself, and disappointed in the person I felt I’d become. I also talk about the impact addiction had on my relationships, including the pain of losing a child because of someone else’s substance use—an experience that still affects me deeply.

I also address my DUI, the consequences that followed, and the counseling that forced me to confront the truth about my behavior. For a long time, I didn’t like who I was, and alcohol was at the center of that.

Now, I’m working to slow down my drinking and move toward a life without alcohol. This podcast is part of that journey. I want to be honest about my past, take responsibility for my choices, and create a space where others can feel safe sharing their own experiences.

I end the episode reminding listeners that even if your past is messy or painful, you’re not alone. Change is real, and it’s possible—even if you have to rebuild your life piece by piece.

00:00 — Introduction & Purpose

Podcast intro, disclaimer, and first memories of drinking/smoking.

00:23 — First Experiences With Alcohol

Graduation party, Army training, early drinking patterns.

01:10 — Influence of Friends & Family

How friend groups and family drinking shaped early habits.

02:13 — Siblings & Different Paths

Comparing drinking habits among siblings; early exposure.

03:29 — Early Adult Drinking & Relationships

First sexual experience, Army years, early relationship issues.

04:33 — Alcohol-Related Incidents

Injuries, arrests, dangerous situations, and regrets.

05:24 — Post-Military Drinking & DUI

Transition home, becoming dependent, self-resentment, career struggles.

06:16 — Addiction, Parenting, and Loss

Relationship with addicted partner, DUI restrictions, losing a child.

07:04 — Acknowledgment & Accountability

Owning choices, recognizing alcohol’s role, shifting mindset.

07:51 — Recovery Goals & Closing

Slowing down, desire to quit fully, invitations for listener engagement.

Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988

National Helpline 1-800-662-4357

letsexamineaddictionhonestly@gmail.com

theleahpodcast@gmail.com

In this episode of Let’s Examine Addiction Honestly, I explore both my personal relationship with alcohol and the broader history behind it. I talk about how addiction has followed me throughout my life—drinking, smoking, technology—and how this podcast serves as an honest audio journal while I try to understand why I’ve relied on these habits for so long. I trace alcohol’s origins from ancient civilizations to the development of stronger distilled spirits, and I discuss how cultures have used it for religion, medicine, trade, and daily life. Along the way, I reflect on how alcohol shaped early America, the rise of distillation, why some religions ban alcohol, and how inconsistent historical sources make it hard to pin down a single truth. I also share how psychedelics helped reduce my drinking and why I don’t recommend that path for everyone.

From there, I shift into the connection between alcohol and crime, especially drunk driving. I cover the evolution of DUI laws, early breath-testing devices, and how groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving pushed for safer roads after preventable tragedies. I share statistics about alcohol-related violence and crime, talk about how DUI punishments have become harsher over time, and reflect on my own DUI—what I regret, what I learned, and how the system often feels more like punishment than treatment. Ultimately, I end the episode by encouraging listeners to reach out, share their stories, and remember that recovery isn’t about perfection. Even one sober day is something to be proud of, and none of us have to stay the person we were five minutes ago.

00:00 – Intro & Purpose
Opening the episode and explaining the podcast’s focus on addiction and personal reflection.

00:12 – Personal Addiction Background
Technology, drinking, smoking, and the feeling of isolation.

01:27 – Episode Theme: Alcohol, Crime & History
Setting up the discussion and goals for the episode.

01:54 – Origins of Alcohol
Ancient fermentation, accidental discovery, early cultural use.

03:34 – Rise of Stronger Alcohol
Distillation, freezing methods, increased potency, and risks.

06:15 – Alcohol’s Social Role
Medicine, sanitation, naval use, and everyday drinking.

09:48 – Religion & Alcohol
How major religions restrict or incorporate alcohol.

10:47 – Drinking in Early America
Early habits, stigma, and personal reflections on drinking as social lubrication.

12:08 – Prohibition & Crime
Illicit alcohol, dangerous manufacturing, and unintended consequences.

17:02 – Alcohol & Modern Crime
DUI history, statistics, MADD/SADD, and evolving legal penalties.