feral but sober

“Relapse vs Recovery: Games, Coloring Books, and Breaking the Rules with Dave” - claws out 12

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Dave—the creative force behind the board game Relapse vs Recovery and its expansion pack, as well as the unique coloring books designed specifically for people in recovery. Dave’s work is more than just creative projects; it’s a bold statement about turning lived experience into tools for healing, reflection, and even laughter in the face of struggle.
Dave opens up about his own journey through addiction, jail time, and rehab, sharing how those experiences shaped his vision for recovery-focused art and games. We talk about the risks he took in publishing Relapse vs Recovery, including the fallout at his former job where he was fired under claims of “dual relationships” if clients at the recovery center purchased his game. Despite the setback, Dave continues to push forward, creating resources that challenge stigma and spark conversation in unconventional ways.
This episode dives deep into the intersections of creativity, recovery, and resilience. From the expansion pack that adds new layers to his board game, to the coloring books that give alcoholics a way to process and express themselves, Dave’s projects are proof that recovery can be rebellious, innovative, and unapologetically real.
Whether you’re in recovery, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about how art and play can transform lives, Dave’s story will leave you inspired, challenged, and reminded that recovery isn’t just about surviving—it’s about creating.

“Faith, Recovery, and Redemption: Paula & Jessica at ROAR”-episode17

Tonight’s episode brings together two powerful voices in recovery and faith. Jessica returns to share how she and her husband have walked the path of sobriety side by side, finding strength in each other and in their recovery community. Joining her is Paula Wilson, pastor of Redeemed Outreach (ROAR) Church in Maysville, KY, a recovery‑based ministry where faith and healing meet. Paula is also a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor and counselor at Mountain Comprehensive Care Center, blending professional expertise with spiritual guidance.Together, Paula and Jessica open up about the role of ROAR in their lives, the unique support a recovery‑based church provides, and how community, counseling, and faith can transform the journey of healing. From personal breakthroughs to the power of testimony, this conversation highlights the hope that comes when recovery is rooted in connection and redemption.

“From Survival to Sobriety: Tyler’s 8‑Month Journey”-clawsoutpart11

Tyler’s story is one of resilience, faith, and determination. Born into an abusive home, he often stepped in to protect his younger siblings until CPS intervened, splitting the children between grandparents who gave them safer lives. Despite finding stability and excelling in sports, Tyler’s teenage years took a sharp turn — experimenting with drugs and alcohol, dropping out of school, and spiraling into IV drug use.By 22, prison became a revolving door until a six‑year sentence forced him to confront his past. Behind bars, Tyler found God and began reshaping his future. Now, eight months into recovery, he’s building a new life: working union carpentry, showing up for meetings, practicing self‑care, and sharing his journey with honesty and grit.In this episode, Tyler opens up about the turning points that shaped him, the hiccup that reminded him of the path he doesn’t want to take, and the joy of reconnecting with family after years apart. His story is a raw reminder that recovery is possible — and that hope can be rebuilt one day at a time.

“From Handcuffs to Hope: Trinity’s Road to Recovery- Episode 16

Trinity’s journey began with a shocking revelation around age 11—the man she thought was her father wasn’t, and her parents’ divorce sent her spiraling. Soon she was drinking, skipping school, and chasing chaos, even wrecking her mother’s car while pretending to be sick at home. A basketball injury introduced her to opiates, and by 17 she was a young mother hiding her addiction behind lies and late nights.Her spiral deepened: another marriage, another child, and eventually the devastating choice to give up her parental rights. Jail cells, hospital beds, and courtrooms became routine, but nothing slowed her down—until her mother’s tragic accident forced her to confront the reality of her life.With little support and stigma surrounding treatment, Trinity fought her way into rehab, spending her mother’s final days by her side before committing to recovery. Today, she has years clean, works for the city, and even found herself behind the wheel of a police car—not in handcuffs, but driving it to the shop. She’s rebuilding relationships with her children and walking alongside a partner in recovery, proving that redemption is possible no matter how far you’ve fallen.This episode is a raw, unflinching look at resilience, the fight for sobriety, and the power of second chances.

“Six Months Clean: Tyler’s Fight Against the Odds”-Clawsoutpart10

Tyler grew up in a family rooted in law enforcement and military values, but trauma found him early. First came sexual abuse by a family friend—pain he carried in silence until adulthood. Then came the violence of an ex-stepfather, where Tyler and his brother “took the beating for their mom.” By 18, prison, gangs, and meth had taken hold.The spiral deepened when he lost someone he loved—an ex who overdosed beside him while they were homeless. That moment pulled him into fentanyl addiction, leading to five overdoses, one so severe that the maximum dose of Narcan barely brought him back.Yet Tyler’s story doesn’t end there. After jail, rejection, and relapse, he found harm reduction—a program that met him where he was, without pressure or judgment. Today, Tyler is six months clean, proving that recovery is possible when compassion and persistence collide.This episode is a raw look at survival, resilience, and the power of meeting people where they are.

"She Ran Until She Rose: Katrina’s Reckoning"-Episode15

Tonight’s episode dives deep into the unflinching truth of Katrina’s journey—from abandonment at age 2 to surviving molestation, foster care trauma, juvenile detention, domestic violence, addiction, and the brutal cycles of loss and relapse. Katrina shares how running became her survival instinct, how systems failed her again and again, and how the streets nearly swallowed her whole. But in a trap house bathroom, praying to a God she wasn’t sure existed, everything changed.A surprise message from her daughter cracked open the door to redemption. What followed was a raw, chaotic, and miraculous climb back to life. Katrina now works in recovery, reconnects with all her children, and holds her grandchildren close—proof that even the most shattered stories can be rebuilt.Her oldest daughter and father watched this episode live, and we’re planning a follow-up featuring her daughters’ voices—how addiction shaped their childhoods and how healing is reshaping their future.

“Oxys, Heartbreak, and the Trap House Wake-Up Call”-episode14

Tonight’s episode is a gritty, unfiltered ride through the early chaos and hard-won clarity of Derrick’s story—a friend from my past whose journey through addiction, love, loss, and survival hits deep.We talk about how it all started: smoking weed young, chasing older girls, and trying to “look big” in a world that rewarded recklessness. Derrick opens up about stealing Oxy pills from his grandfather to impress a girl, how that spiraled into full-blown addiction, and how love—twisted up with pain—kept pulling him deeper. From pill parties to heroin, from our small-town streets to city trap houses, Derrick shares the raw truth of what it looked like to lose everything, including his mother, right under our noses.We lived some of this together—same house, same hustle, same heartbreak. He talks about the criminal fallout, the desperation, and the moment he knew something had to change. We ran out of time before diving into the full redemption arc, but we do get a glimpse: Derrick today is a father, a fiancé, and a man in recovery with a solid career and a fierce commitment to doing better.He’ll be back for Part 2—but for now, this one’s a heavy, honest look at what it means to fall hard and still find your way back

"Kenny’s Kindness and the Power of Showing Up”-Clawsoutpt9

In this impromptu episode of Feral But Sober, Kenny returns to the mic—filling in last-minute after a guest cancellation—and what unfolds is a raw, unscripted conversation that hits deeper than any planned theme could.We dive into the evolving world of peer support, recovery credentials, and what it means to help others without a formal title. I share my own journey: certified APSS, nearly CSA, actively pursuing my CADC, and mapping out the path toward RADPSS. Kenny opens up about his unconventional love story—how his girlfriend found the strength to walk away from drugs without formal treatment, simply saying, “I saw something I wanted more.” That something was him. Now, they’re both clean, thriving, and rewriting what recovery can look like.We talk about Kenny’s use of marijuana maintenance, the hate comments he’s received, and how he responds with radical kindness instead of defensiveness. His approach? Compassion over conflict. We also explore his growing interest in peer support and the unexpected ways he’s already making an impact—like when a stranger from a Facebook group invited him to a Zoom meeting that turned into a one-on-one crisis conversation. Kenny showed up, listened, and helped, no script, no training—just heart.This episode is a testament to resilience, unconventional healing, and the power of simply being there. Whether you’re credentialed or just starting out, this one’s for anyone who’s ever wondered if they’re “qualified” to care. Spoiler: you are.