Podcast summary and Notes on "addictionandmusic"

Scott Strode Overcoming Addiction with Connection The Phoenix

Scott Strode, sober for over 25 years, is the Executive Director of The Phoenix, a transformational nonprofit he founded in 2006. The Phoenix harnesses the power of connection to ignite a movement that’s changing how society looks at addiction and recovery. The Phoenix provides free programs both in-person and virtually, across the globe, including yoga, climbing, music, CrossFit, art, and more. The only cost to participate is 48 hours of sobriety. Scott says, “It might be the activity that brings someone in, but it’s the community of sober friendships that keeps them coming back.” This spark of hope for recovery, that Scott himself experienced, has continued to grow and help thousands rise from addiction. Not limited to those in recovery, The Phoenix movement is for anyone who has been impacted by substance use disorder — because the solution to the addiction crisis lives in all of us. This is our movement! To learn more, or to connect with our community, volunteer, or donate, please go to thephoenix.org.

The Phoenix is a national sober active community that provides free, active, and meaningful programming—ranging from yoga and rock climbing to CrossFit and art—to individuals impacted by substance use. The Phoenix fosters a welcoming and safe community where participants, with a minimum of 48 hours of sobriety, can heal and grow together. The organization has achieved remarkable results: 83% of members report sustained sobriety after three months of participation. In 2022, The Phoenix realized a gap in recovery support in the music industry despite the fact that addiction disproportionately affects the music industry – 56% of music industry professionals cite problematic substance use (Source: Tulane University School of Social Work 2022), so they partnered with Stand Together Music and Stand Together Foundation to launch 1 Million Strong—an impact initiative to support one million people impacted by substance use, starting in the music industry. Over the past year, 1MS has hosted sober-supportive retreats at over a dozen renowned music festivals, supporting hundreds of thousands of fans. Positioned strategically amid the festival's heart, these retreats offer a VIP-like experience with mocktails, The Phoenix programming (like guided meditations and yoga) and a supportive atmosphere to meet other likeminded people. The impact of these events are undeniable: Since the launch of 1MS in September 2022, The Phoenix has had nearly 140,000 new members join the community. We’re not slowing down the tempo – 1 Million Strong will be hosting sober-supportive retreats at In Between Days, Park City Song Sumit, Bourbon & Beyond, Telluride Blues & Brews, Louder than Life, and Camp Flog Gnaw between now and the end of the year and planning for a festival-filled 2024! The Phoenix and 1 Million Strong are transforming how America approaches addiction, so those in recovery can go from surviving to truly living. Scott’s personal story and work with The Phoenix and 1 Million Strong could offer your listeners a fresh perspective on the power of connection in overcoming addiction.

thephoenix.org

1millionstrong.com

The Phoenix - A Sober Community (app)

HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE:
https://bit.ly/Fightdrugs

PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK.

AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES:
https://theaddictionpodcast.com

Intro and Outro music by:

Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Return

enNovember 16, 2023

Josh Datant Villareal Music in Recovery

Well obviously my name is Josh. Basically in a nutshell as it were I was a careered musician and was very successful in many capacities. I once owned a recording studio with Gordon Raphael (producer of the strokes & Regina Spektor) after getting my own record deal I worked on my debut album with Anthony Braun Perry and Scott Montoya (both from the band the growlers) and was well on my way. I have met and worked with many successful musicians and others in the entertainment business for years, and had built up quite a catalogue of gear and equipment along with a nice shiny resume. I had a house a supportive girlfriend who actually quit her job to work with me on my career full time because she believed in mine that much. I had custody of my autistic and diabetic son from a previous relationship.

Life was good then I gave it all away for one small yet very big thing. That thing was so elusive and so deceitful. It was so romantic looking and yet so insidious. That thing was heroin. I’ve dabbled in drugs and alcohol for a long time and they sunk their teeth into my life long ago but I was always able to go dry for a while so I thought I had it under control. Through everything I’ve lost and all the problems I’ve gained it all changed October 1st, 2021. You see after a few jail stints and a prison sentence I basically just resigned myself to drugs and thought ok music is over so I’ll become a full-fledged criminal.

But this last year I got in trouble once again with the law and to my surprise instead of sending me back to prison they gave me probation and when I screwed that up I thought surely they’ll send me back now but they didn’t; they gave me a corrections based treatment program. When I left there I relapsed once again while living with my brother and ended up getting into a huge fight with him about who was the better addict. My brother had his own demons but in his mind he was ok because he was still living in his own place with a job and a car. So he kicked me out after the fight and that was the last I ever spoke to him. I feel very fortunate indeed but it came with a price and with consequences.

Sadly my brother passed away from drugs a few months ago as did my ex girlfriend so those things and a few other things blessed me with the gift of desperation. But I’ll tell you, through my brother’s death I was able to be reborn. On September 31st, 2021 I was parked in a car I had borrowed from a friend while he was doing some time in jail and I tried to shoot myself in the head not long after I found out about my brother. However, before I could get the gun against my temple it randomly went off right before I got it in the place I wanted. So I had just done a bunch of heroin and from the adrenaline shock and the last bit of drugs; I fell asleep and woke up to cops knocking on the window of the car I was in. They found me with a gun, drugs and all sorts of other illegal things. They should have taken me back to jail then prison, as I’m already on probation. They were about to, when all of a sudden the police officer asked me what I was doing with the gun and I told him.

That was October 1st, 2021. I relapsed in May 2022 and have been sober ever since. I go to meetings; reach out to people; and help wherever I can; and I work a 12 step program. I honestly wish I would have started a long time ago because it’s the best thing I’ve ever done aside from having my son. So yeah! My recovery comes first as does my program. I surrendered myself to a higher power and realized my life was unmanageable and that I desperately needed and wanted a change. Now I’m learning to love myself again and I started some projects but I’m focusing on helping other bands again but I also help other addicts. My story could be so much longer but this is as I said in a nutshell!