Pondoff's Anonymous Podcast By Chris Pondoff Jeff Allen Jakob Miller cover art

Pondoff's Anonymous

Pondoff's Anonymous

By: Chris Pondoff Jeff Allen Jakob Miller
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 What the back of the book would say… Pondoff’s Anonymous offers a sober, unique, authentic, and faithful perspective on grief and alcoholism… hope and grace… anger and love. Addiction, Recovery, and Mental Health.Chris Pondoff, Jeff Allen, Jakob Miller Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • S2 E16 Kurt Garner

    S2 E16 Kurt Garner
    May 12 2025

    Who this episode is for:
    Those gutted by playoff heartbreak.
    Anyone who’s blacked out and called mom from jail.
    Teachers who taught Spanish while sweating out tequila.
    The sober curious, the secret drinkers, and the still spiraling.
    And anyone who’s ever run from a strip club tab and lived to tell it.

    EPISODE 16: “Señor Tequila & the Long Walk Home” (with Kurt Garner)

    Chris and Jakob are emotionally wrecked. The Blues blew it with 1.6 seconds left. Enter Kurt Garner—a guy who once taught elementary Spanish still buzzed from the night before.

    From blackouts and breakups to a Mexican strip club escape, Kurt’s story is wild, hilarious, and brutally honest. Now four years sober, he’s up at 3 a.m., hitting the gym, and helping others tell their stories through mysoundstory.com.

    What’s Inside:
    – Blues trauma, 1.6 seconds of hell
    – Dating apps, tequila-fueled teaching
    – DUI and a jail call to mom
    – Mexico, 75 Hard, and recovery
    – Finding purpose with SoundStory

    Plug:
    🎙️ Kurt Garner – Co-host of TMA and contributor at mysoundstory.com

    📍 Timestamp Breakdown:
    00:00 – Intro – bertarellico.com
    01:20 – Blues heartbreak
    02:30 – Gretzky & goalie PTSD
    05:00 – Meet Kurt
    08:00 – Hate-watching hockey
    11:00 – Soccer & Cardinals
    13:00 – Sober dating
    15:50 – Putshack dates
    18:00 – Señor Tequila opens up
    23:20 – First drink to DUI
    30:00 – Jail call & car wreck
    33:00 – Tequila Rose chaos
    39:00 – Teaching blackout
    43:00 – Divorce, denial
    47:00 – Mexico escape
    53:00 – Spanish saves him
    55:00 – 75 Hard begins
    58:00 – Gym & routine
    01:06:00 – Addiction patterns
    01:10:00 – Fired, freed
    01:14:00 – Building SoundStory
    01:27:00 – Storytelling & legacy
    01:36:00 – Radio chaos
    01:47:00 – Family purpose
    02:00:00 – 4 years sober
    02:02:00 – Share your story

    Sponsored by:
    🔪 bertarellico.com
    🏥 illinoisrecoverycenter.com
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    2 hrs and 3 mins
  • S2 E15 Cam Janssen

    S2 E15 Cam Janssen
    May 5 2025
    🎙️ EPISODE 15: Cam Janssen – "Painkillers, Playoffs & Garth Fucking Brooks"Who this episode is for:Anyone who’s ever played hurt, lived high, or faked being fineMoms who can smell bullshit before you open your mouthBlues fans screaming “LET’S GO!” and flipping off WinnipegKids who grew up begging to stay on the ice till the Zamboni chased ‘em offThose who overdosed in front of their neighbors and somehow kept it movingAnyone who’s ever made a mess of their lifeCam Janssen rolls into the studio with a story that’ll punch you right in the soul. What starts off as some rowdy playoff hockey talk turns real fast—like, real real—when Cam dives into the wreckage of his painkiller addiction.We’re talking overdoses in his driveway while the whole neighborhood watches. We’re talking hiding withdrawal in a pro locker room while pretending to be the funny guy. We’re talking about being a “good” drug user—that dangerous kind who keeps functioning just enough to not get help.But it ain’t all darkness. There’s a lot of laughs, too—like Garth Brooks accidentally storming the ice during a charity game and nearly getting murdered. And Cam’s dad eating a hot dog thrown by a pissed-off fan, then chucking it back into the crowd like a savage.There’s locker room stories, childhood fights, recovery truths, and some absolute mayhem from the Blues’ playoff run. Oh, and we get deep into what it means to actually show up—for your teammates, for your city, and for yourself.And major love to the St. Louis Blues Warriors—a team of badass disabled veterans taking names and scoring goals. Cam drops stories about getting hacked up by those guys and loving every second of it. If you're in STL, support them or just go watch ’em throw down:👉 www.stlblueswarriorhockey.comIf you’ve ever been addicted, ever been broken, or ever been almost famous while absolutely falling apart inside—this one’s for you.🕒 TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Intro & sponsor shoutouts01:08 – Show theme music kicks in01:22 – Cam joins the chaos01:28 – Jersey number talk and mid-convo nonsense01:43 – “Always on hot bitches”—Cam lets loose early02:10 – Law & Order, Dell Guy, and guest rankings03:17 – From podcasting to radio to color commentary04:11 – Garth Brooks walks on the ice mid-play (yes, really)06:36 – Scoring 4 goals instead of throwing fists07:59 – Blues beatdown of the Jets: full breakdown10:29 – “You can’t get traded to Winnipeg”12:47 – Blues defense is buzzing14:02 – Bonuses, the cap, and nerding out on contract math16:19 – Packed barns, playoff energy, and money flying18:30 – Montreal chaos and goaltenders getting trucked20:25 – Goalies are psychos, period.22:43 – Why the Jets’ “park the bus” defense collapsed24:07 – Cam’s dad, a flying hot dog, and Granite City glory27:04 – Why respecting refs lets you get away with murder28:33 – Driving 14 hours to get kicked out in 10 seconds30:13 – Hockey isn’t a sport—it’s a fraternity31:02 – Cam shouts out the Blues Warriors (and gets hacked by a vet)33:03 – Blues alumni locker room = country club for ex-brawlers35:16 – Dwight Schofield, hurricane hero37:57 – The stuff moms carry that dads can’t39:29 – Cam’s full descent into painkillers: how it started42:06 – The yellow Percs. 190 of ‘em. Alone in Jersey.47:12 – Collapse #1: Cam overdoses in his driveway54:45 – Collapse #2: “That was it.”56:25 – “I thought I could beat this on my own”58:05 – Being the functioning addict is the most dangerous kind1:00:02 – Suboxone: the lifesaver that nearly killed his fire1:01:46 – Libido’s gone, energy’s gone, but at least he’s clean1:02:51 – Tapering off, staying off, and keeping the chaos at bay1:04:10 – Why opioids no longer have a grip—but other vices still try1:05:22 – Laughs, love, real talk, and a few final body blows1:06:45 – Fade to blackSponsored by:Illinois Recovery Center – www.illinoisrecoverycenter.comBertarelli Cutlery – www.bertarellico.com
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    1 hr and 27 mins
  • S2 E14 What the FAQ?! Part Deux

    S2 E14 What the FAQ?! Part Deux
    Apr 28 2025
    Who this episode is for:Anyone teetering on the edge of “maybe I need help”Parents of addicts who keep asking, “Am I helping or enabling?”People in recovery wondering if they can keep their phone in rehab (spoiler: no)The spiritually curious and the godless skepticsBosses trying to figure out WTF is going on with their flaky employeeAnyone who’s ever paced around their house yelling at a hockey game with chicken wing grease on their shirt🎙️ Episode 14 – What the FAQ: Easter Hangovers, Higher Powers, and Rehab Real TalkA no-BS recovery Q&A straight from the mouth of experience. Pondoff and the gang go deep, dumb, and raw on everything you ever wanted to know (but were probably too afraid or fucked up to ask) about addiction, getting clean, and what happens when you actually show up at rehab.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Bertarelli Cutlery shoutout01:01 – Intro bars by Eric01:22 – Episode 14 begins: Stats, views, and Mr. Beast envy02:45 – Meet Eric Conley03:17 – Treatment center chaos stories04:01 – Blues playoff breakdown05:01 – Cam Janssen teaser06:24 – Easter check-in + hangover tales07:24 – Jeff’s birthday wing party08:41 – Mijofsky’s Easter sermon: Hope in the darkness09:22 – Rehab: First day of the rest of your life10:34 – Finding light in the darkest moments11:03 – What the hell is Kee-poo?12:01 – Email wars + business card drama12:53 – Why “What the FAQ” episodes matter13:43 – Shirtless Eric + SNL Chippendales14:37 – AC wars: Staff vs. clients15:31 – From heavy to healing: Finding balance17:25 – Best Easter candy (spoiler: Reese’s wins)17:55 – Do you need God to recover?23:53 – Higher Power hacks: From moms to the group26:25 – Humility, open-mindedness, and not knowing it all28:15 – Are you helping or enabling?31:15 – Don’t give addicts cash32:47 – Addicts are genius-level creative (just misfired)34:32 – Artistic gifts in recovery35:44 – What can I bring to rehab?36:14 – Cell phones in rehab: Here’s the deal38:34 – Eric got hacked. It was a blessing40:13 – Why phones can derail your recovery41:44 – How IRC handles phones and triggers43:24 – Changing your number = freedom43:53 – Missing your kids is part of the process45:01 – Pondoff’s inbox detox46:13 – What happens when you first call IRC47:41 – Who qualifies for treatment?49:28 – Why hospitals aren’t always the answer50:41 – IRC’s record: 25-minute admission52:22 – Calls, check-ins, and staying alive long enough to show up54:43 – Fear, excuses, and the willingness window57:24 – Toiletries and welcome bags58:18 – Donations from staff and clients59:35 – Laundry detergent philosophy1:00:06 – Roommates, beds, and living setup1:02:02 – Roommate matching system1:03:03 – How to talk to your boss about rehab1:04:11 – Your boss probably already knows1:05:35 – Legal rights + FMLA explainedReferenced in this episode:👉 Illinois Recovery Center: https://illinoisrecoverycenter.com/👉 Bertarelli Cutlery: https://bertarellico.com/Sponsored by:🪓 Bertarelli Cutlery – https://bertarellico.com/🏥 Illinois Recovery Center – https://illinoisrecoverycenter.com/Hit that subscribe button if you’re into hard truths, heavy laughs, and healing that doesn’t sugarcoat a damn thing.
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    1 hr and 54 mins
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