Overdose & Aftermath, Losing the Father of My Son

Noize sits down with Alex for one of the most raw, honest, and inspiring conversations we've had so far. Alex opens up about his personal battle with addiction, the dark places it took him, the people it affected, and the difficult journey he faced while trying to reclaim his life.

This episode shines a light on the reality that addiction doesn't discriminate. It can impact anyone, regardless of age, background, or circumstance. Alex shares the mental and emotional struggles that often come with addiction, including feelings of hopelessness, isolation, anxiety, and depression. Through his story, listeners will hear firsthand what it feels like to hit rock bottom—and more importantly, what it takes to fight your way back.

Mental health and addiction often go hand in hand, and this conversation explores the importance of seeking help, finding support, and believing that change is possible even when it feels impossible. Alex's journey serves as a powerful reminder that recovery isn't always easy, recovery isn't always quick, but recovery is absolutely possible.

Whether you're currently struggling with addiction, supporting someone who is, or simply looking for a story of resilience and hope, this episode offers valuable insight and encouragement. The road to recovery begins with a decision, and as Alex explains throughout this episode, if you truly want a better life and are willing to put in the work, transformation can happen.

You are not your mistakes. You are not your addiction. Your past does not define your future.

Tune in now to hear Alex's powerful story and join us as we continue breaking the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health, one conversation at a time.

Retro sits down with us to talk about alcoholism—how it started in her youth, how it quietly became normal, and how it shaped the choices, relationships, and self-worth she carried into adulthood. She breaks down the difference between “just drinking” and drinking to cope, the patterns that kept repeating, and the moments where it started costing more.

If you started drinking young, grew up around it, or you’re realizing alcohol has more control than you want to admit—this conversation will hit home.

Chris opens up about a battle that started with pills and escalated into meth—until it cost him the things that mattered most. He talks about losing his wife and his kid, what addiction turned him into, and the moments that finally made him realize he couldn’t keep living that way. This isn’t a highlight reel or a glamor story—Chris gets real about the shame, the chaos, and the damage addiction leaves behind.

But this episode is also about what recovery can rebuild when you stay consistent. Chris shares how he got sober, what he had to change day-by-day, and what it took to earn back trust and become the man his family could count on again. Getting them back wasn’t luck—it was choices, accountability, and doing the work when nobody was clapping. If you’ve ever felt like you ruined everything beyond repair, Chris’s story is proof that you can come back—but you have to be willing to change for real.

Kelly sits down with us to share one of the hardest stories a parent can tell—the death and overdose of her son. She talks about who he was before addiction took hold, what he was like at his best, and the small changes that slowly became impossible to ignore.

We get into what it’s like watching someone you love change in real time, the signs families often miss, and the helplessness that comes with loving someone you can’t control. Kelly also opens up about the aftermath—how grief changes you, how the world keeps moving when yours stops, and why it took years for her to stop carrying the weight of guilt.

This episode isn’t about blame or shame. It’s about truth, awareness, and honoring the person behind the addiction. If you’ve lost someone to overdose, or you love someone who’s struggling, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to carry it in silence.

Noize sits down with us for the first part of his story, starting where a lot of addiction really begins—childhood trauma. He opens up about what he carried for years, how it shaped the way he saw himself and the world, and how that pain slowly turned into the beginning of his addiction. This isn’t a glamorized “wild times” episode. It’s the real foundation: the coping, the patterns, the survival mode, and the moments that quietly push someone toward numbing out. If you’ve ever wondered why addiction takes hold—or if you’re trying to make sense of your own story—this one will hit hard.

Abbey opens up about starting drugs at a young age and how that early exposure shaped everything that came after—choices, pain, relationships, and the mental battle behind it all. We talk about growing up fast, how addiction takes root early, and what it really takes to fight your way back and rebuild with honesty. If you started young—or love someone who did—this one will hit home.