Dopey 570: Kevin McEnroe (Son of John): $5,000-a-Week Oxy to Heroin Spiral, Mom Tatum O'Neal's Overdose Coma, Coke Bust on the Post Cover, Pancreatitis Hell, Codependency, Writing! Recovery!! PLUS A Listener Flushes a Ton of Heroin Whilst on Acid!
Timestamp Notes (Approximate) 00:00 – 02:20: Intro + Dopey theme song lyrics/recap, sponsor spot (Oro Recovery – Bob Forrest's Malibu/West LA facility, compassion-based treatment, amenities like surfing/equine therapy). 02:20 – 05:40: Dave's Friday the 13th ramble (superstition origins, Thelonious Monk reference), listener shoutouts/birthday wishes (Daniel Griggs' 40th), mom listener appreciation, new Patreon sign-up excitement, SMART Recovery/Bricsadi (Buvidal) mentions. 05:40 – 10:25: Spotify comments from Amanda Crossley episode (fan reactions, tough love praise, Drugstore Cowboy nods, recovery retreat shoutout). 10:25 – 14:53: More comments, band EP tease, free Narcan/fentanyl test strips offer, new Dopey sticker contest, Dopeywood comedy show announcement (April 12 at Comedy Store: Zach No Towers, Darrell Hammond, Margaret Cho, Bobby Lee, Marc Maron + more). 14:53 – 17:00: Mountainside sponsor spot (continuum of care, call John Jones). 17:00 – 21:52: Dustin's voicemail (Kratom/7-OH relapse after sobriety slips, cold turkey hell, Dopey as lifeline, warning to nation). 21:52 – 24:16: Orchard on the Brazos sponsor spot (independence-focused, private rooms, chef meals, fishing pond/gym). 24:16 – 28:52: Leroy's wild story (found heroin bag on acid trip, flushed most but sniffed residue, got sick, NA meeting high). 28:52 – 31:13: Recovery Unplugged sponsor spot (music-based treatment, higher recovery rates, touring musician program), intro to Kevin McEnroe. 31:13 – 35:43: Kevin intro, fame proximity struggles, anonymity in bars, teaching tennis as service/acceptance, Substack "Serenity Side Down" origins (grandmother's story, novel title nod). 35:43 – 42:38: Grandmother's Hollywood/addiction arc (diet pills, Elvis stories, journals), empathy in writing, mom's self-sabotage (Rescue Me set relapse), codependency patterns. 42:38 – 47:11: Kevin's first highs (high school drinking, college tramadol), mom's custody/test clean periods, codependency guilt (felt responsible for her safety). 47:11 – 53:34: College mom crack arrest fallout, co-dependency ("shouldn't live my own life"), mom's threats post-stroke, boundary-setting breakthrough. 53:34 – 58:12: Writing as outlet (child's perspective piece), pairing opiates with creativity (fearlessness), bougie-to-burn-it-down theory. 58:12 – 01:02:57: Childhood avoidance of mom's drug scenes (mattresses in corner, closed doors), embarrassment stories (camp drop-off), terminal uniqueness shattering. 01:02:57 – 01:07:21: High school/college restraint, girlfriend normalcy, post-college LoweEast scene (Schiller's bar life, coke culture). 01:07:21 – 01:11:38: Schiller's escalation (shift drinking to coke-at-work), paranoia stories (dad's voice hallucination). 01:11:38 – 01:16:13: Public vs. private personas, mom's interviews, writing class outlet, Columbia grad school. 01:16:13 – 01:20:58: Oxy 30s turning point (presence, listening), rapid progression, book deal excitement amid using. 01:20:58 – 01:25:33: Book sale, dad dinner disaster (high, cops, Post cover "McEnroe Kid Drug Bust"). 01:25:33 – 01:30:06: Betty Ford treatment (resistant, planning Day 121 drink), Anthony Bourdain fantasy. 01:30:06 – 01:34:41: Post-treatment drinking explosion, pancreatitis, more treatment. 01:34:41 – 01:39:24: Relapse cycle, gay bar epiphany, pancreatitis again, heroin switch. 01:39:24 – 01:43:58: Darkest phase (suicide notes, agoraphobia, liver failure fear), sister's sobriety influence, hospital month (Mount Sinai). 01:43:58 – 01:48:32: Mom's overdose/coma during treatment, plug-pulling decision, willingness breakthrough. 01:48:32 – 01:53:03: Mom's recovery signs (singing Personal Jesus), escape attempt, chair-throwing visit. 01:53:03 – 01:58:01: Full willingness, meetings, tennis teaching as service, Substack for transparency. 01:58:01 – 02:02:43: Dad's hug/visit, current life (writing novel, Knicks obsession). 02:02:43 – 02:07:12: Wrap-up, thanks to AJ Delario/Small Bow, final thoughts. 02:07:12 – end: Banjo cover of Dopey theme song by listener Jake (with extra verse), outro plugs.
Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction
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Show Notes
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This week on Dopey! We have the great Kevin Jack McEnroe, son of John McEnroe and (world class heroin addict-in recovery) Tatum ONeil! We start with emails and voicemails and spotify comments - Dustin on his Kratom Replapse and Leroy's crazy finding and flushing heroin on acid!
Then we get to the meat of the show with Kevin McEnroe:
Kevin McEnroe grew up in a house where everyone already knew his last name.
In this unguarded conversation with David Manheim, Kevin talks about being the son of two famous parents while managing fear, secrecy, and responsibility far beyond his years. He describes protecting his mother through her addiction, learning early how to split public image from private truth, and eventually becoming the very thing he swore he wouldn’t: a full-blown addict.
From opiates and alcohol to liver failure, pancreatitis, and waking up in a hospital bed at 33, Kevin walks us through from denial to collapse. He opens up about selling his first novel while secretly drinking, faking composure, and the humiliation of being known but not respected — recognized as “McEnroe’s kid,” but unsure who he was as an individual.
This is a conversation about inherited chaos, codependency, ego, shame, and what happens when you finally stop trying to outrun your story. It’s about service. About humility. About the strange relief of admitting you don’t know what to do.
Kevin is sober now. He teaches tennis and he writes every day. He’s building a life that feels like his own.
ALL THAT AND MORE!!!!!! on this week's brand new episode of that good old Dopey Show!
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