Zac Clark Hates Fruit! Meth Scissors, Kratom Wars and MAT, Overcoming Trauma and Recovery for Fun and for Free and The Bachelorette Controversy

Timestamp Notes 00:17 - 02:42 Dave opens with spring in New York, Bob Dylan, music memories, East Lansing, heroin memories, and asks listeners to send in songs tied to Dopey stories. 02:42 - 03:14 Heart Attack Doug update: he’s okay, resting at home, and showed up to the Wednesday Dopey recovery meeting. 03:14 - 05:04 Dave plugs Patreon, the Wednesday Zoom, and introduces Wendy’s email about old episodes, Ray stories, kratom withdrawal, and meth psychosis. 05:04 - 09:51 Wendy’s voicemail: a 2014 Southern California meth story about searching for hidden drugs, cutting the pockets out of every pair of jeans, unrolling toilet paper rolls, locking herself in the bathroom, and coming at her husband with scissors before being subdued with Xanax. 09:51 - 11:18 Dave reacts to Wendy’s story, talks about shameful reminders from using days, burnt clothes, cigarette holes, and holding onto old clothes. 11:18 - 20:59 Spotify comments from the Jana Wu kratom episode: people talk about kratom addiction, 7-OH, quitting with subs, gas station availability, nitazenes, and strong opinions about harm reduction and Tim Ryan. 20:59 - 28:00 Dave answers a comment about “unsung heroes” behind Dopey and gives a long inside-Dopey rundown of people who helped build the show over the years: OG Facebook people, merch people, Bob Forrest, Sam Clark, Amelia, Britta, Eric Papa Smurf, Ben, Melanie, Selby, Stephanie Roberts, Zoom hosts, Aaron Carr, Ray, Howie, Danny, Kira, Don, Lewis, and more. 28:00 - 28:34 Dave thanks the commenters, talks stickers, and introduces Zach Clark from Release Recovery. 28:34 - 30:03 Zach enters. Dave gives him a big intro: Release Recovery founder, Zach Clark Show host, Bachelorette winner, marathoner, stylish, fit, and longtime DopeyCon supporter. 30:03 - 31:06 They talk about DopeyCon, the church venue, the weird detox smell, and why Zach still kind of loves the chaos and wholesomeness of it. 31:06 - 34:10 How Zach knew Chris: Loft 107, Williamsburg recovery world, Joe Schrank, and Chris managing sober living while secretly relapsing on acid and ecstasy. 34:10 - 36:35 Discussion of clinicians relapsing, access to meds and drugs in recovery jobs, and how wild behavioral healthcare really is. 36:35 - 39:03 Zach talks about newcomers wanting to “work in recovery” and why working in treatment is not the same as having your own recovery. Meetings with clients do not count as your own meetings. 39:03 - 41:51 Dave asks about the blurred line between 12-step work and paid work. Zach explains sober companions, recovery coaching, and why clients need meetings without professionals hovering over them. 41:51 - 44:21 Treatment vs 12-step. Zach says treatment, therapy, nutrition, movement, trauma work, and recovery all matter. Dave asks about hobbies and Zach talks about starting to run in rehab when he was 250 pounds. 44:21 - 48:46 Dave praises Zach’s public speaking and asks about the famous bank teller story. Zach tells how a bank teller called his dad when he tried cashing a stolen check while strung out, which directly led to treatment and recovery. 48:46 - 50:28 Zach talks about moving to New York sober, learning the subway through meetings, and building a life through recovery. 50:28 - 54:40 Dave brings up Zach getting vulnerable at DopeyCon and going to Onsite afterward. Zach explains losing his joy, doing the one-on-one Onsite experience, and learning how much of him came from both parents. 54:40 - 56:58 Zach talks more about Onsite, family systems, wanting his family to go there, and how it gave him more understanding and closure. 56:58 - 58:49 Dave talks about his own therapy experience and asks about pettiness, competitiveness, and whether those traits are bad or just part of what drives people. 58:49 - 01:02:47 Dave gets into being socially competitive, artistically competitive, and wanting Dopey to be the best recovery show. Zach talks about rooting for others instead of rooting against them. 01:02:47 - 01:06:43 Zach says Onsite helped him find joy again, but only because he stayed in the work afterward with therapy and continued growth. Dave talks about the marathon, his wife mocking his Couch to 5K track record, and Zach says finishing the marathon could unlock something big for him. 01:06:43 - 01:10:12 Running talk: what Zach gets from running, how slow to start, training for time vs training for completion, and the idea that running is “me versus me.” 01:10:12 - 01:12:58 The Dopey Fitness Challenge gets a possible structure: a Dopey Nation Strava group where people can walk, run, bike, swim, or lift to stay accountable and connected. 01:12:58 - 01:18:10 Kratom and MAT discussion. Dave reads Kirby’s long email defending Suboxone as life-saving MAT. Zach gives a nuanced response: MAT can save lives, especially in long-term opioid addiction, but it should be medically supervised and part of a larger treatment plan. 01:18:10 - 01:24:54 Zach talks about medication-assisted treatment as one tool, not the whole

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