Dopey 576: Crust Punk, Trans Superstar, Autistic Alcoholic, Whippets, Psychosis & Recovery Demystified - The Early Brunner Story
🕒 FULL TIMESTAMP NOTES (DOPEY EPISODE) 00:00 – Dopey theme song intro (drugs, chaos, humor) 01:00 – Oro Recovery sponsor read 02:27 – Dave intro + gratitude rant about his dad 03:30 – Dopeywood lineup + Comedy Store plug 04:50 – Patreon + Zoom plug 05:30 – Dave cooking rant + Dopey Fitness Challenge 07:20 – Guest intro: Early Brunner (trans crust punk alcoholic) 08:00 – Voicemail: dead lizard funeral + buried speed story 12:00 – Dave reacts + praises voicemail 12:30 – Mountainside sponsor read 13:30 – Spotify comments: gratitude + Ken Rideout debate 16:30 – Fitness + recovery encouragement from listeners 18:30 – Suboxone/methadone debate in comments 21:00 – Orchard on the Brazos sponsor 22:30 – More comments + drug/recovery arguments 26:30 – Harsh comment rattles Dave (Ibogaine + “fanboying”) 29:30 – Braeburn recovery doc plug 31:30 – Listener email: meth + cutting jeans to masturbate 34:00 – Recovery Unplugged sponsor 35:00 – Early Brunner interview begins 36:00 – Toad story prevents relapse 38:00 – Childhood: Wisconsin + feeling like a “freak” 43:00 – Autism explained (sensory + social issues) 45:00 – First substance use (~10, beer + cigarettes) 48:00 – First real high (weed + dissociation) 50:00 – High school: stoner life + apple pipes 55:00 – Punk scene + anti-system worldview 01:00:00 – Milwaukee: drinking + whippets take over 01:05:00 – First failed attempt to quit drinking 01:07:00 – Moves to Austin to escape chaos 01:09:00 – Drinking escalates again immediately 01:10:00 – Alcohol-induced psychosis begins 01:11:00 – Tattoo shop + no sleep + instability 01:12:00 – Full mental breakdown building 01:13:00 – Leaves Austin after collapse 01:14:00 – Moves to Florida 01:15:00 – Hard drug use begins 01:17:00 – Addiction deepens + identity forms around it 01:18:00 – Total loss of control 01:20:00 – Survival mode living 01:22:00 – Fully immersed in crust punk chaos 01:25:00 – Addiction as connection + escape reflection 01:27:00 – Awareness something is wrong begins 01:29:00 – Seeds of recovery start forming 01:31:00 – Tone shifts toward reflection + meaning 01:35:00 – Discussion of recovery philosophy + individuality 01:40:00 – Early connects addiction to identity + belonging 01:45:00 – Continued life story + instability themes 01:50:00 – Deeper reflection on punk life vs reality 01:55:00 – Emotional insight into addiction patterns 02:00:00 – Recovery perspective continues developing 02:10:00 – More stories from active addiction life 02:20:00 – Discussion of consequences + survival 02:30:00 – Transition toward helping others 02:40:00 – Lead-in to EMT work + recovery work 02:45:00 – Early becomes EMT + tries helping people 02:46:00 – Duster/inhalant epidemic discussion 02:47:00 – Early describes seeing death from inhalants 02:48:00 – Shame + lack of inhalant conversation 02:49:00 – Call for Dopey Nation to share inhalant stories 02:50:00 – Early plugs Recovery Demystified 02:51:00 – Dave thanks Early + invites ongoing connection 02:52:00 – Interview ends after long conversation 02:52:30 – Dave recaps: “alcoholic, punk, trans Dopey” 02:53:00 – Encourages feedback on Early + podcast 02:54:00 – Dave spirals on angry Spotify comment 02:55:00 – Explains Sublocade vs Vivitrol 02:56:00 – Reflects on past treatment confusion 02:57:00 – Gratitude for listeners + Dopey Nation 02:58:00 – Push for Dopeywood, Patreon, reviews 02:59:00 – “Stay strong” + “toodles for Chris” 03:00:00 – Outro music plays
Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction
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Show Notes
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This week on Dopey! Lots of good stuff with TRANS, CRUST PUNK, AlCOHOLIC SUPERSTAR - EARLY BRUNNER! We play a voicemail about someone burying a dead lizard with meth and later digging it up to do lines on the coffin!
Spotify Comments! Someone questions my ibogaine/sublicad/vivtrol experience!
Then we are joined by Early Brunner! Early describes growing up in Wisconsin feeling socially different and isolated, later identifying as autistic and queer. They begin using substances at a young age, first alcohol and cigarettes, then marijuana, finding that drugs helped them connect with others.
In high school and early adulthood, their use escalates. After moving to Milwaukee for college, they drop out, develop a heavy alcohol problem, and become addicted to nitrous oxide. They attempt to stop drinking briefly but quickly relapse.
They move to Austin, where their drinking worsens and leads to alcohol-induced psychosis, compounded by lack of sleep and unstable work. After a breakdown, they leave and move to Florida, where their drug use expands and their life becomes increasingly unstable and survival-focused.
Early becomes fully immersed in a punk/crust lifestyle tied to substance use and identity. Over time, they begin recognizing the negative impact of addiction but continue using.
Later, they become an EMT and witness deaths related to inhalant abuse, which they say is rarely discussed and carries significant shame.
The episode ends with Early discussing their current recovery and work with “Recovery Demystified,” followed by Dave reflecting on the interview, addressing a critical listener comment, and closing with gratitude and show announcements.
All that PLUS TONS MORE on this weeks new episode of the brand new Friday episode of the good old Dopey Show!
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