Don't Die Wisconsin

Don't Die Wisconsin is a podcast focusing on the Heroin and Opioid epidemic facing our state and the country. Join Counselor Kevin Schaefer, Counselor Patrick Reilly and resident junkie Ryan Gorman as they tackle a range of issues in regards to active use, recovery, despair, and hope. This podcast is in no way intended for diagnosing addiction or to be used as a program of recovery. Please consult a professional when you are ready for help. Also, Kevin, Patrick and Ryan want to warn you of the sometimes graphic content surrounding drug use. If you are easily triggered by discussions about drug use this isn't the podcast for you. The Don't Die name is used with permission from Bob Forrest's Don't Die Podcast. We do not represent any treatment facility or 12 step recovery program.

Billy Holiday is the Michael Jordan of Heroin 10/24/2021

Billy Holiday is the Michael Jordan of Heroin The boys are on a roll. 2 episodes in a row! The boys discuss harm reduction models, safe consumption sites, decriminalization, and so so much more. Patrick gets his harm reduction card back just minutes after it being taken away as he sloughs off the last of his more conservative views on the war on drugs. Yes. That's the correct spelling of "slough." /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/20921336

Season 2.1: I would like a huck-funeral, please 10/06/2021

Season 2.1: I would like a huck-funeral, please It's season 2 of DDW! No, really. 2021 has been a jumble of job changes, babies, COVID, depression, and general too-busy-for-this-podcast-BS for the boys...but they're back in action. Season 2 starts out with a bang: talking about addiction, drugs, death/dying, ideal funerals, death awareness meditation, Ryan's new mental health diagnoses, and some other super joyful shit. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/20734982

Episode 53 04/16/2021

Episode 53 We cleaned out the Don't Die Wisconsin refrigerator and found, wayyyy in the back, this mold-covered plate of leftovers. We brushed it off and are making it available for your listening pleasure. Don't judge us /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/18749309

52 12/23/2020

52 How do vampires bone non-vampires? Will Kevin get a bionic foot at some point and will it accidentally start a nuclear war? And how do people in recovery deal with surgeries and pain meds? Kevin gets honest. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/17309762

Episode 51 09/19/2020

Episode 51 Impulse Control Disorder. Wtf is that? Does anyone care? Ryan has a bad trip. Patrick may be wanted for attempted murder. How to properly buy Whippets from a porn store in the 90s. and Patrick wants to get to know the boys better with "behind the actors studio" questions and it goes as well as you might think. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/16073687

Episode 50 08/30/2020

Episode 50 This is one about morphine...and codeine...and Ketamine...and propofol...These are a few of our favorite things. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/15808307

Episode 49 08/15/2020

Episode 49 What makes a coke head a coke head? Are their ideas really as good as they say they are? And what's with all the lists? Patrick explains. Plus should Kevin go on a spirit quest with ayahuasca? Probably not, right? Drug-reference packed episode. Buckle Up. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/15624632

Episode 48 08/01/2020

Episode 48 Pink Floyd and Benzos. Japan has it's own language? 100% increase in fatal overdoses. Did anyone catch the masters? The real question is 'what didn't we cover this episode?' /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/15434627

Episode 47 06/29/2020

Episode 47 What does white privilege mean within the addicted and alcoholic community? Here are some of the first hand accounts from those within that community directly effected by that privilege. Uncomfortable ? Good. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/15009023

Episode 46 05/06/2020

Episode 46 Safer at home...but is it, really? How are addicts and alcoholics dealing with the isolation? How is COVID effecting prisons and jails? Is it finally proving that jail sentences are arbitrary and punitive? Or is this just another thing for Ryan to get irritated by? /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/14307161

Episode 45 04/03/2020

Episode 45 Continued from episode 44. Motivational interviewing : What is ? Does it work? Is it black magic? and throat singing. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/13833260

Episode 44 03/11/2020

Episode 44 Join the guys on another two parter. Learn the meaning of the word "esoteric." Listen to the boys wrestle with the idea that changing HOW we talk about addiction may or may not change how people see and treat addiction. Spoiler: Ryan hates it. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/13509743

Episode 43 01/26/2020

Episode 43 Join the guys as they discuss the ugly reality which still exists in the recovery world. Ryan goes on a tear about a specific snake oil salesmen who claims he has cracked the alcoholic code and is happy to share it with you...for a price. Patrick reads a letter from a listener that knits together a great episode which also includes discussions about Australian sports, for some reason /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/12891020

Episode 42 12/10/2019

Episode 42 Welcome to part two of the basement antics of Don’t Die Wisconsin. This episode Patrick finally takes full control and forces his childish cohorts to discuss many relapse warning signs taken from traditional sources. Listen as Ryan confronts the source of some these and lays out fresh new opinions that, in the end, has everyone agreeing, including Kevin. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/12349610

Episode 41 12/04/2019

Episode 41 Welcome to another ridiculous installment of Don’t Die Wisconsin. Listen as the guys attempt to declutter their own thoughts on early recovery, relapse, treatment, and the like. Big discussions about the ego and the tendency of the newly sober addict to instantly feel as though they need to catch up with the rest of the world rather than simply focus on their recovery. Also, more on John Wick, Sweet November, and the correct pronunciation of “Cillian Murphy.” (Like KILLian) /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/12279869

Episode 40 11/05/2019

Episode 40 Boozy boozy bop, the guys are back, and in rare form by sharing their David Lee Roth fandom stories. On a more positive and educational note Patrick shares the test results from initial data regarding fentanyl test strips and the profound change and effect its having on our state as well as props to the state DHS for believing in the test strips. Lastly, even though Wisconsin can be the butthole of weather the guys still had a great musically spooky Halloween. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/11918315

Episode 39 10/31/2019

Episode 39 The boys took another period of much needed time off. Kevin, Patrick, and Ryan are coming back, for real...I think...The guys catch each other up on their lives. Ryan takes on a new career and opens up about new perspectives on money vs his purpose. Kevin is grappling with keeping positive despite attending very few 12 step meetings. Patrick shares his frustration with taking on an extremely demanding job and balancing that against his life. Also, #metoo comes for the recovery industry and much much more... /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/11859677

Episode 38 06/12/2019

Episode 38 The guys are back! Discuss what’s been happening in their lives, Ryan’s afraid of sharks, and find out if they’re narcissistic. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/10131905

Episode 37 03/25/2019

Episode 37 After the guys recorded a live podcast at the Opioid Conference in Green Bay they got to talk to their buddy Bob Forrest, who was also a keynote speaker for the conference. The boys all got together at their hotel and recorded this episode. Ryan's computer crashed about 10 minutes in, so the recording gets a bit wonky...but Bob helped to right the ship. The 4 of them talk Wisconsin, Universal Healthcare, Dr Drew, Socialism, generational poverty, and the rust belt. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/9122027

Episode 36 03/04/2019

Episode 36 The dudes are back and live at the Milwaukee Junior Fire Institute with Fireman Jeff. The guys share abbreviated versions of their stories and answer some great questions from the audience. Things get a bit heated around the question of Marijuana legalization, but settle down as they talk about the love and compassion that is necessary to tackle the opioid epidemic. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/8868824

Episode 35 02/12/2019

Episode 35 Recorded live at the 3rd annual Addiction Information Resource fair in South Milwaukee, Patrick and Kevin share their experience with the fine people of said city. Ryan was off galavanting in foreign countries and couldn't be present for this amazing event. He wishes to say that given the choice to do over again, he'd still rather be on the beach in Mexico. Mediated by South Milwaukee's Mayor, this event was a great opportunity for the remaining 2/3s of DDW to get their message of hope to another audience. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/8623226

Episode 34 01/29/2019

Episode 34 In this episode the dudes discuss a question from one of our listeners. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/8447552

Episode 33 01/03/2019

Episode 33 Finally! We get to hear (more or less) Yoda's story in its entirety. "Yoda" being our own Kevin Schaefer. This dude packed about 30 years of hard living into, about, 15. The years following his drug and alcohol consumption are the most interesting, though. From inactive, "white knuckle" sobriety to a spiritual awakening at around year 5; to a journey across Asia, ending in Korea where he spent time with buddhist monks in a monastery; to his full and rich life today, married with two wonderful kids. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/8123072

Episode 32 12/22/2018

Episode 32 In this episode the boys tackle a newer phenomenon of the interwebs involving taking videos of people nodded out or overdosing and posting it to social media sites. To complicate matters further, how do those people then recover, knowing their lowest moment was captured and is out there for millions to see? They also talk about men going to therapy and tackle live questions...well, one live question. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/8017460

Episode 31 12/09/2018

Episode 31 God only knows what this one is about. The boys talk about their interview on the This Life Podcast with Dr Drew. They talk about their meeting with the Emergency Department of the Medical College of Wisconsin. They briefly talk about the history of opiates and their impact on the arts which leads to a frank discussion about how much of a dick Andy Warhol was. Finally Kevin, Patrick, and Ryan talk about the drugs they miss most and how to process that in sobriety. Sheesh. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/7855625

Episode 30 11/08/2018

Episode 30 After a nearly 2 month sabbatical, the boys are finally back! It's our 1 year anniversary and we spent it talking about our event back in September which raised around $2,000 for Lifepoint needle exchange; we spent it talking about where we pictured ourselves and the podcast a year ago and compared it to where we are today; and we talked about tripping in school and how much fun that is. Thanks for being patient with us!! /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/7479425

Episode 29 09/17/2018

Episode 29 In the world of treatment facilities and support groups, abstinence is the golden rule. This week the boys get into why they think that is. They also get into the shame that can inadvertently be placed on recovering people when they don't perfectly adhere to abstinence: either when they relapse and try to return or if they are using harm reduction as a means of recovery. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/7057518

Episode 28 09/04/2018

Episode 28 Opioid-related overdose deaths increased from 144 in 2012 to 337 in 2017. 88% of those deaths happen to those in the age range of 20-59. Where do these numbers come from? The COPE Report. Join us as we try really hard to keep up with Phd researcher and professor Brooke Learner from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Guaranteed you will be smarter after listening to this episode. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/7006927

Episode 27 08/17/2018

Episode 27 “Some live a life of indecision /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/6939921

Episode 26 07/27/2018

Episode 26 This episode is dedicated to Chris from Dopey Podcast who passed away this week. A massive amount of love goes out to Chris' family and to Dave in this impossibly difficult time. /episode/index/show/dontdiewi/id/6856127

Don't Die Wisconsin

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