No Thanks But Yes

S3/E12: Sarah Laurel – Zooming Out

After recovering from substance use disorder, Sarah Laurel sought to offer resources to women like herself. What began organically grew into a program providing housing, street-based outreach, and nationwide training. She's the founder and executive director at Savage Sisters Recovery, a nonprofit whose mission is loving ferociously, in a judgment-free space while honoring the autonomy of those it serves. 

• Recorded 10.01.2024 in Raleigh, NC and Philadelphia, PA on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S3/E11: Ralf Rasmussen – Get It All Back

Dive into the fascinating world of Ralf Rasmussen, a singing sober Danish kinkster in London, who believes in embracing life's pleasures with clarity of mind and quality of connection. As the creative force behind RealClearFetish, he's crafted a welcoming space for gay, queer, bi, and trans men to explore their kinks without the opaqueness of intoxication. On his YouTube channel, Ralf hosts captivating conversations with the global sober kink community, offering insight and inspiration to all who tune in. His social media presence is equally engaging – don't miss out on following @RealClearFetish for a dose of his unique perspective. Ralf is also a cherished member of the London Gay Men's Chorus, lending his splendid voice to its harmonies. In fact, you might have caught a glimpse of him in fierce LGBTQ+ ally Hannah Waddingham's (Ted Lasso) heartwarming AppleTV+ film, "Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas."

• Recorded 3.19.2024 in Raleigh, NC and London, UK on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S3/E10: Jessica Anne Pressler – Safe to Be Me

Jessica Anne Pressler is a social worker, author, and all around lovely human.  Her upcoming novel, The Traitor Within, creatively shares her story of toxic relationships, physical and emotional abuse, erotic misadventure, and a host of traumas – all in the company of her personified inner saboteur. We talk about trauma, attachment, and how we come about our adaptive behaviors honestly. I was moved by her compassionate embracing of this endogenous force as they eventually become one and The Traitor is invited to rest. Brilliant. We chat about complex people, loving partners, even more loving dogs, beaches, and mountains. Learn more and read Jessica's blog at JessicaAnnePressler.com and enjoy her digital content at @JessicaAnnePressler.

• Recorded 2.16.2024 in Raleigh, NC and Los Angeles, CA on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S3/E9: Shannon Cason – Live! (rhymes with give)

Shannon Cason has told stories all over the country with The Moth, Snap Judgment, and other popular storytelling platforms. He hosts his own long-running podcast, Shannon Cason's Homemade. He is the chief educator for the Brutally Honest Storytelling workshop series. Shannon is originally from Detroit. Find him at shannoncason.com. I caught one of his stories regarding a critical turning point in his relationship with gambling and invited him over for some chill conversation. Dude’s a gifted storyteller, and I’m delighted to introduce him to listeners.

• Recorded 1.31.2024 in Raleigh, NC and Detroit, MI on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S3/E8: Braunwyn Windham – Get to the Good Part

Join me for an extraordinary episode featuring Braunwyn Windham, a proud queer mother of seven and a passionate advocate for LGBTQIA+ equity. As she approaches four years of sustained recovery, Braunwyn takes us on a captivating journey through her growth since her days on The Real Housewives of Orange County. From overcoming behavioral health disorders to discovering the healing power of joy, Braunwyn shares her experiences with refreshing honesty and contagious energy. Discover the power of connection, the transformative journey to becoming a peer recovery support specialist, and the destigmatizing potency of living out loud in our authentic identities. Her final message encourages listeners on any pathway to resolving problematic relationships with substances and behaviors to hang in there until you “get to the good part.”

• Recorded 1.12.2024 in Raleigh, NC and Franklin, TN on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S3/E7: Ariel ”Air” Britt – Beyond Wellness

Ariel “Air” Britt received her Master of Social Work from The University of Michigan. Most of her career has been focused on substance use prevention, intervention, and recovery support services. In 2019, she created an award-winning podcast Beauty in the Grit. It shares true stories from her own journey in recovery and others that have inspired her along the way.  In 2021, she served as a political appointee for the Biden-Harris Administration at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Currently, Air is an Adjunct Professor and the Associate Director of Policy and Community Impact at the Addiction Research Institute (ARI) in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin.

• Recorded 11.27.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Kalamazoo, MI on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S3/E6: Darius Christian – Just Listen

I met Darius Christian at Mobilize Recovery 2021 in Las Vegas after he performed with Macklemore during the #RecoverOutLoud concert. In this episode, discover the multifaceted elements of Darius's recovery, from the soulful collaborations with fellow "behind the fame" artists to the transformative power of meditation. Uncover the unexpected joy of pickleball and the profound impact of the simple yet sublime act of listening. We explore Darius's unique journey, where his natural recovery pathway intertwines seamlessly with his roles as a captivating performer, visionary artist, and groove-infused producer. Tune in and let the rhythm of Darius's story resonate, inspiring you to embrace your own unique pathway of recovery. Just listen, as we embark on a journey that transcends boundaries, celebrating the transformative power of music, connection, and the art of living in recovery.

• Recorded 12.04.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Los Angeles, CA on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S3/E5: Annemarie Ward – Dog with a Bone

Annemarie Ward is the Chief Executive Officer at Faces & Voices of Recovery UK. She’s a courageous, passionate, and intense advocate for people experiencing substance use disorder. We’ve been Twitter (X) mates since I entered the field and looking to connect with leading voices on social change. Annemarie is currently focused on promoting equitable policies to save lives *and* advance thriving wellness for people in recovery. We talk about recovery walks, health policy, the emotional regulation and depth of relationships that recovery brings, and haggis. That’s right.

• Recorded 11.20.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Glasgow, Scotland, UK on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S3/E4: Bryan Black – Strange Love

Bryan Black is a SoCal surfing tattoo artist with a big heart. He opened up about his recovery status on Paramount+'s Ink Master, so I hit him up for a chill conversation. On this Thanksgiving episode (literally recorded right before we smashed turkey & pie), we talk about gratitude, memorable tattoos, the transformative power of love from strangers, and our imperative to roll deep on this recovery journey.

• Recorded 11.23.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Orange County, CA on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest

S3/E3: Dziko Singleton – Be Good to People

Dziko Singleton is a social norms disrupter, harm reductionist, community activist, racial equity consultant, public speaker, and as she says, “most importantly, a Black woman in recovery.” She is a certified peer support specialist, HIV/HCV testing counselor, and the comprehensive harm reduction program co-coordinator, with the Health Brigade in Richmond, VA. We talk about everything from collegiate recovery to comprehensive harm reduction services to massages versus facials.

• Recorded 11.13.2023 in Raleigh, NC and Richmond, VA on Zoom
• Hosted & produced by Donald McDonald, MSW
• Theme Music: Truth? by Zen Groove Arkest