• Anyone deep in the bottle and lying to themselves
• The “functioning” alcoholics hiding bottles in the garage
• Friends or family watching someone drink themselves to death
• People in recovery who still white-knuckle their way through a gas station
• Anyone who’s ever told themselves “I’ve got it under control”
• People who don’t think they have a drinking problem—but maybe do

Sean Keeley joins Chris and Jeff (Jakob’s out for a month—he’s off getting married, congrats you beautiful bastard) to drop a quiet bomb of a story—the kind that doesn’t come with sirens and flashing lights, just slow, silent self-destruction. No DUIs. No arrests. No bar fights. Just airplane bottles hidden in gloveboxes, vodka disguised as water, and a growing sense of dread that everything was about to fall apart.

Sean lays out how he went from managing people and showing up to work every day to drinking 15 mini bottles of 99 Bananas before checking into rehab. Twice. And when the second round didn’t stick, he didn’t quit. He built his own system. Breathalyzers at home and in the car. Daily accountability to his wife and coworkers. A plan with no wiggle room.

This episode isn’t about hitting bottom. It’s about what happens when you’re about to and decide to turn the wheel.

• 00:00 – Introduction and Sponsorships
  McKelvey Insurance (https://www.mckelveyins.com/) and LightSource Psychotherapy (https://findyourlightsource.com/)
• 02:25 – Golfing Experiences and Personal Stories
  Cold brews, bad golf, hipster confessions, and rake-stepping laughs.
• 12:12 – Introducing Sean and His Unique Story
  Quiet alcoholism that didn’t look chaotic—until it was.
• 24:00 – The Journey to Acknowledging Alcoholism
  Sharpie bottle lines. Hidden Jameson. Growing denial.
• 26:24 – The Journey to Recovery Begins
  First stint in rehab. Detox. Relapse after 45 days.
• 30:30 – The Struggles of Sobriety
  The 99 Bananas episode. Hiding the drinking better. Medical red flags.
• 39:48 – Finding Accountability in Recovery
  Breathalyzers at home and work. No escape hatch.
• 46:49 – The Role of Medication in Sobriety
  From Trazodone to Naltrexone to nothing.
• 54:42 – Building a Support System
  Wife, coworkers, radical honesty—not AA this time.
• 55:15 – Facing the Consequences of Addiction
  Liver failure warnings. Watching others die from it.
• 01:01:14 – The Journey to Sobriety: Finding What Works
  No sponsors. Just systems. Brutal self-honesty.
• 01:10:04 – Building a New Life: Recovery and Personal Growth
  No meds. No excuses. Just better health and clearer living.
• 01:17:43 – Strength in Adversity: Overcoming Life's Challenges
  Christmas Eve becomes Sean’s sober date. One day at a time.
• 01:25:44 – The Ripple Effect: Inspiring Change in Others
  Sean starts giving back, pushing for change, helping others see the signs.

• Wagon Coffee Roasters (Denver-based Recovery Café): https://wagoncoffeeroasters.com
• Il Bel Lago Italian Restaurant (Where Sean celebrated Year 1): https://www.bellagostl.com

• McKelvey Insurance
  https://www.mckelveyins.com
  Quick solutions to real-life insurance bullsh*t.
• LightSource Psychotherapy
  https://findyourlightsource.com
  If you’re f*cked up mentally or emotionally—this is where you start digging out.

• McKelvey Insurance
• LightSource Psychotherapy

• Ben’s Friends St. Louis
• Taylor Streiff Instagram

• Musicians who drink more than they practice
• Restaurant industry lifers trying to stay off the sauce
• Those battling anxiety, addiction, and the lies they told to cover both
• Family members supporting someone in recovery
• Anyone who's ever made a mess of their life and called it "normal"

Taylor Streiff — Musician, Former Heavyweight Boozer, and Proof That Recovery Can Rock

Taylor Streiff rolls into Pondoff's Anonymous with his whole damn soul. He's got restaurant war stories, musician grind tales, and a past soaked in UV Blue and regret. But this isn't your typical redemption arc—this one's got a jukebox, a jazz fest, and enough self-inflicted chaos to fill an HBO mini-series. From getting misdiagnosed and medicated as an anxious kid, to puking UV Blue into a blue toilet, to touring the country as a piano-playing savant, Taylor takes us through his decades-long detour into addiction and how he finally got clean enough to be present for the people he loves. If you've ever thrown up and said "never again" only to do it all again the next night, welcome to church.

• 00:00 Introduction to Pondoff's Anonymous and Sponsors
• 01:45 Meet Taylor Streiff: A Journey in Music and Recovery
• 06:03 The Impact of Family and Community in Recovery
• 08:58 Ego and the Struggles of Addiction
• 11:58 Musical Beginnings and Influences
• 17:52 The Spiritual Connection to Music
• 21:57 Navigating Introversion and Anxiety in Music and Life
• 23:20 Understanding Introversion and Extroversion
• 25:05 Navigating Anxiety and Misdiagnosis
• 27:48 High School Experiences and Social Dynamics
• 30:54 First Jobs and the Restaurant Industry
• 34:53 College Aspirations and Musical Journey
• 42:30 Rejection and Finding a Path
• 44:33 Freshman Year: Love, Loss, and Lessons
• 49:39 Confronting Loss and Addiction
• 52:40 The Illusion of Normalcy
• 56:14 The Struggles of a Touring Musician
• 01:01:11 The Turning Point: A Move to St. Louis
• 01:08:43 The COVID-19 Impact on Drinking Habits
• 01:13:16 The Journey Begins: From Bar Back to Bartender
• 01:15:06 Facing Personal Challenges: Family Health Crises
• 01:16:32 The Turning Point: Seeking Help and AA
• 01:18:37 Struggles with Sobriety: The Reality of Addiction
• 01:21:25 California Sober: A Controversial Approach
• 01:24:38 Vulnerability in Recovery: Honesty and Support
• 01:26:57 The Relapse Debate: Defining Terms and Experiences
• 01:29:25 Rehab Experience: A New Beginning
• 01:32:43 Life After Rehab: Embracing Authenticity
• 01:39:28 Navigating Sobriety in a Triggering Environment
• 01:40:42 The Power of Music in Recovery
• 01:43:44 Authenticity and Connection Through Art
• 01:44:58 The Journey of a Musician in Recovery
• 01:47:15 Balancing Work and Passion
• 01:51:01 The Significance of Recovery Tokens
• 01:53:31 Support Systems in Sobriety
• 01:56:48 The Role of Therapy in Recovery

Who this episode is for:
Anyone who has loved an addict and didn’t know what to do. People drowning in codependency and calling it love. Addicts who swore they would never end up like their parents. Folks in recovery who still flinch at intimacy. And anyone not in recovery who keeps setting their life on fire and calling it growth.

Kristin Casey shows up with zero filters. She is a recovering addict, former sex worker, author, and the ex-girlfriend of Joe Walsh from the Eagles. This is not a glamorized rock story. It is a brutally honest look at addiction, survival, and the messy miracle of healing.

Chris and Jeff dig into modern drug dangers, the collapse of intimacy in addiction, sex work, sobriety, and spiritual growth that actually sticks. Kristin talks about stopping the running, coming back to herself, and why recovery is not just quitting. It is becoming someone new. There is heartbreak, heavy truth, raw honesty, and still a few laughs.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to the Conversation
• 01:54 The Impact of Addiction on Lives
• 04:52 Personal Stories of Struggle and Recovery
• 07:57 The Evolution of Substance Abuse
• 11:05 The Role of Environment in Addiction
• 14:02 The Dangers of Modern Drugs
• 17:10 The Journey Through Recovery
• 19:55 The Influence of Relationships on Addiction
• 23:11 The Challenges of Treatment
• 25:54 Reflections on Sobriety and Life After Addiction
• 38:31 A Fateful Meeting with Joe Walsh
• 42:52 Navigating Love and Heartbreak
• 46:05 The Descent into Addiction
• 51:13 The Impact of Substance Abuse
• 55:09 Understanding Addiction Through Literature
• 01:00:24 Healing Relationships and Personal Growth
• 01:05:40 The Journey of Forgiveness
• 01:10:00 Finding Purpose in Recovery
• 01:16:07 Finding a Second Chance
• 01:19:13 The Struggle for Sobriety
• 01:22:46 The Role of Spirituality in Recovery
• 01:25:27 Empowering Others Through Experience
• 01:29:43 Transitioning from Sex Work to Coaching
• 01:33:43 Navigating Vulnerability in Relationships
• 01:48:01 Supporting Women in Recovery

Kristin Casey’s Books
Explore her work here: https://www.kristincasey.com/
Titles include: Rock Monster: My Life with Joe Walsh and Casey Dancer: A Memoir About Dating, Stripping, and a Little Hot Yoga.

Hosts
Chris and Jeff

Sponsored by
Illinois Recovery Center
McKelvey Insurance
LightSource Psychotherapy