1st November 2024
Backstage with Backup
E6: Erica Basniki - Recovery Is Not A Bad Word

Guest: Erica Basniki is a writer who specialises in brand language, tone of voice, and content strategy. She trained as an audio engineer, and then had a career as an audio industry journalist. She is also a passionate mental health and recovery advocate.

Host: Sarah James runs PR agency Gasoline Media and is proud to be able to help spread the word about the great work Backup does, taking care of their Press & PR.

In this conversation: Erica and Sarah discuss Erica’s personal experience of alcohol addiction and recovery, her ongoing journey with mental health issues, and her desire to help normalise these by promoting industry-wide discussion.

Episode key topics + chapter markers:
2:46 – Erica and Sarah discuss the importance of medical help to recover from alcohol addiction.

5:39 – Erica talks about how her identity revolved around her ability to drink, starting at the age of 19 and her denial that she had a problem.

8:53 – Erica discusses how genetics, trauma and mental health issues affect a person’s predisposition to alcoholism, how she used alcohol as a coping mechanism.

12:05 – Erica relays how, once she reached her mid-30s, there was no denying she had a serious problem, but that she didn’t know what to do about it.

15:10 – Erica talks about the first steps on her journey to recovery.

19:50 – Erica explains how the process of recovery means changing your mind, in the most literal sense, her resistance to asking for help, how it’s not possible to do that alone, how she found a sense of community through organisations that is essential to recovery.

26:00 – Erica emphasises how a dependence on alcohol isn’t a choice, how it’s not the fault of the person going through it. She explains how grateful to be where she is now, and what organisations in the industry like Music Support and Roadies in Recovery are helping the industry.

Music Support: Addiction & Recovery Awareness Workshop
Roadies In Recovery: Backup Resources lists weekly sessions and joining info under 'Support Groups'

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