Dive into the fascinating world of Ralf Rasmussen, a singing sober Danish kinkster in London, who believes in embracing life's pleasures with clarity of mind and quality of connection. As the creative force behind RealClearFetish, he's crafted a welcoming space for gay, queer, bi, and trans men to explore their kinks without the opaqueness of intoxication. On his YouTube channel, Ralf hosts captivating conversations with the global sober kink community, offering insight and inspiration to all who tune in. His social media presence is equally engaging – don't miss out on following @RealClearFetish for a dose of his unique perspective. Ralf is also a cherished member of the London Gay Men's Chorus, lending his splendid voice to its harmonies. In fact, you might have caught a glimpse of him in fierce LGBTQ+ ally Hannah Waddingham's (Ted Lasso) heartwarming AppleTV+ film, "Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas." Recorded 3.19.2024 in Raleigh, NC and London, UK on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

Jessica Anne Pressler is a social worker, author, and all around lovely human.  Her upcoming novel, The Traitor Within, creatively shares her story of toxic relationships, physical and emotional abuse, erotic misadventure, and a host of traumas – all in the company of her personified inner saboteur. We talk about trauma, attachment, and how we come about our adaptive behaviors honestly. I was moved by her compassionate embracing of this endogenous force as they eventually become one and The Traitor is invited to rest. Brilliant. We chat about complex people, loving partners, even more loving dogs, beaches, and mountains. Learn more and read Jessica's blog at JessicaAnnePressler.com and enjoy her digital content at @JessicaAnnePressler. Recorded 2.16.2024 in Raleigh, NC and Los Angeles, CA on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

Shannon Cason has told stories all over the country with The Moth, Snap Judgment, and other popular storytelling platforms. He hosts his own long-running podcast, Shannon Cason's Homemade. He is the chief educator for the Brutally Honest Storytelling workshop series. Shannon is originally from Detroit. Find him at shannoncason.com. I caught one of his stories regarding a critical turning point in his relationship with gambling and invited him over for some chill conversation. Dude’s a gifted storyteller, and I’m delighted to introduce him to listeners. Recorded 1.31.2024 in Raleigh, NC and Detroit, MI on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

Join me for an extraordinary episode featuring Braunwyn Windham, a proud queer mother of seven and a passionate advocate for LGBTQIA+ equity. As she approaches four years of sustained recovery, Braunwyn takes us on a captivating journey through her growth since her days on The Real Housewives of Orange County. From overcoming behavioral health disorders to discovering the healing power of joy, Braunwyn shares her experiences with refreshing honesty and contagious energy. Discover the power of connection, the transformative journey to becoming a peer recovery support specialist, and the destigmatizing potency of living out loud in our authentic identities. Her final message encourages listeners on any pathway to resolving problematic relationships with substances and behaviors to hang in there until you “get to the good part.” Recorded 1.12.2024 in Raleigh, NC and Franklin, TN on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

Ariel “Air” Britt received her Master of Social Work from The University of Michigan. Most of her career has been focused on substance use prevention, intervention, and recovery support services. In 2019, she created an award-winning podcast Beauty in the Grit. It shares true stories from her own journey in recovery and others that have inspired her along the way.  In 2021, she served as a political appointee for the Biden-Harris Administration at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Currently, Air is an Adjunct Professor and the Associate Director of Policy and Community Impact at the Addiction Research Institute (ARI) in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin. Recorded 11.27.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Kalamazoo, MI on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

I met Darius Christian at Mobilize Recovery 2021 in Las Vegas after he performed with Macklemore during the #RecoverOutLoud concert. In this episode, discover the multifaceted elements of Darius's recovery, from the soulful collaborations with fellow "behind the fame" artists to the transformative power of meditation. Uncover the unexpected joy of pickleball and the profound impact of the simple yet sublime act of listening. We explore Darius's unique journey, where his natural recovery pathway intertwines seamlessly with his roles as a captivating performer, visionary artist, and groove-infused producer. Tune in and let the rhythm of Darius's story resonate, inspiring you to embrace your own unique pathway of recovery. Just listen, as we embark on a journey that transcends boundaries, celebrating the transformative power of music, connection, and the art of living in recovery. Recorded 12.04.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Los Angeles, CA on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

Annemarie Ward is the Chief Executive Officer at Faces & Voices of Recovery UK. She’s a courageous, passionate, and intense advocate for people experiencing substance use disorder. We’ve been Twitter (X) mates since I entered the field and looking to connect with leading voices on social change. Annemarie is currently focused on promoting equitable policies to save lives *and* advance thriving wellness for people in recovery. We talk about recovery walks, health policy, the emotional regulation and depth of relationships that recovery brings, and haggis. That’s right. Recorded 11.20.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Glasgow, Scotland, UK on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

Bryan Black is a SoCal surfing tattoo artist with a big heart. He opened up about his recovery status on Paramount+'s Ink Master, so I hit him up for a chill conversation. On this Thanksgiving episode (literally recorded right before we smashed turkey & pie), we talk about gratitude, memorable tattoos, the transformative power of love from strangers, and our imperative to roll deep on this recovery journey. Recorded 11.23.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Orange County, CA on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

Dziko Singleton is a social norms disrupter, harm reductionist, community activist, racial equity consultant, public speaker, and as she says, “most importantly, a Black woman in recovery.” She is a certified peer support specialist, HIV/HCV testing counselor, and the comprehensive harm reduction program co-coordinator, with the Health Brigade in Richmond, VA. We talk about everything from collegiate recovery to comprehensive harm reduction services to massages versus facials. Recorded 11.13.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Richmond, VA on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

Joanna Free is the author of BUTTKICKERS: Twenty Ways to Leave Tobacco and a writer for Journey Magazine. Find a copy of the 10th anniversary edition of this little red book at your indie bookstore or library today. Joanna is an Army veteran, grounded in trauma-informed education and post-traumatic grown with over 30 years of experience and passion in tobacco and nicotine cessation. We have a delightful conversation about everything from uncovery to finding freedom from nicotine to walking in cemeteries. Recorded 11.6.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Portland, ME on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

We’re off to a great start with this splendid fellow. Mario Bonds is a singer, songwriter, author, motivational speaker, and advocate. We had a “chance” encounter last month at the 2023 Addiction Professionals of North Carolina Fall Conference in Beaufort, NC. We hit it off right away, and I’m optimistic we’ll be getting into good trouble again very soon. Listen to his ethos of courage, creativity, and determination on this pathway of learning to love ourselves more. Learn more about Mario at http://mabspeaks.com/. Recorded 10.30.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Bowie, MD on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

In this lovely season finale, join me as I sit down with the remarkable Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John, a co-founder of Eight Step Recovery, an alternative to the 12-step program for addiction and a founding facilitator of Compassionate Inquiry. With 10 books to their credit, including the best-selling & award-winning Eight Step Recovery: Using The Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction and Detox Your Heart: Meditations for Emotional Trauma, Valerie has helped countless people to find freedom and wellness from chaotic relationships with substances & behaviors. We delve into the profound concept of recovery as an empowering journey towards uncovering authentic joy, and Valerie shares their insights on how we can find purpose and fulfillment (even in our jobs) by helping others discover their own joy. In Joy! Recorded 7.2.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Gibson, BC on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

In this captivating episode, you’ll meet Jose Nicolas Flores, a remarkable man who has not only overcome his own struggles with the trauma of incarceration, extended solitary confinement, and behavioral health disorders but has also emerged as an advocate for others. Currently thriving in his roles as reentry peer specialist and addictions counselor, Jose is passionate about helping individuals navigate the challenges of reentering society after incarceration. His dedication extends beyond his profession, as he actively engages in policy advocacy as a Texas citizen, tirelessly striving to improve the lives of incarcerated and returning citizens. Our paths crossed through the national advocacy work we do together, collaborating on important initiatives via the Recovery Policy Collaborative at O’Neill Institute at Georgetown Law. His story is one of resilience, recovery, and an unwavering commitment to removing barriers to freedom and wellness for his fellows. Recorded 6.30.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Austin, TX on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

Sheilah ‘SheShe’ Powell is making history in the new new recovery advocacy movement. She meets people where they are at the digital intersection of recovery & harm reduction and helps to mobilize our massive constituency of consequence to demand what we deserve. We talk about harnessed anger, salt life self-care, deepening concepts of recovery, and continuing Bill White’s charge to “go make some history.”   Recorded 5.30.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Matawan, NJ on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

Mrs. Kasha Davis (she/her) is the stage name chosen by Ed Popil (he/him), best known for competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race season seven and, most currently, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Kasha’s tag line used to be, “There’s always time for a cocktail!” Now, coming up on eight years of sustained recovery, she’s best known for saying, “There’s always time for kindness.” We discuss childhood trauma, profoundly beautiful recovery experiences, and how more kindness may help heal our country’s sickness of fear and hate. Recorded 5.22.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Rochester, NY on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

Andrea Haddox is the founder and executive director of Oklahoma Harm Reduction Alliance (OKHRA), a social worker, passionate harm reductionist, and budding painter. We talk about everything from saving lives to finding our people to one of the greatest albums of all time. Recorded 4.26.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Tulsa, OK on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

Ryan Hampton is the best-selling author of American Fix — Inside the Opioid Addiction Crisis and How to End It (2018) and Unsettled: How the Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Failed the Victims of the American Overdose Crisis (2021). In 2019, Ryan also created the national advocacy initiative, Mobilize Recovery, an annual experience now in its 5th year, that brings participants together to build capacity for organized community engagement for people in recovery, family members, and recovery allies. Recorded 4.14.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Las Vegas, NV on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

Patti Heffernan is the co-owner of Helios Recovery Services and the executive director of Helios Heuristic in Appleton, Wisconsin. It is a wraparound support service for families who find themselves at the intersection of substance use and child welfare. We talk about everything from compassionate and realistic care for people who use substances to roller derby and cheese. Recorded 3.15.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Appleton, WI on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

Dana Knowles is the inventor of “The Hanging Shower Caddy,” a mentor for women’s empowerment, and the first lady of Martinsburg, WV. Her book The P.A.U.S.E. Method will be available on Amazon very soon.  Recorded 2.03.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Martinsburg, WV on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

Elaine Alec (she/her) is an author, political advisor, women’s advocate, and spiritual thought leader and teacher. Her book Calling My Spirit Back contains stories as teachings, prophecy, and protocols shared throughout the years by Elders, language speakers, Medicine People, and helpers. We talk about decolonizing healing practice from a place of fear & control to faith, trust, & love. Learn more about her training Cultivating Safe Spaces and the inaugural conference of the same name happening this June in Canada. Recorded 1.17.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Kamloops, BC on ZoomHosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSWTheme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest