The behavioral health recovery podcast ‘No Thanks But Yes‘ features chill conversations with splendid people who‘ve overcome problematic relationships with substances and behaviors via many pathways. Donald McDonald, a behavioral health recovery expert and person thriving in sustained recovery from severe mental & substance use disorders, connects with people who’ve found freedom from bondage and have made their lives extraordinary.
Episodes
Friday Oct 21, 2022
Friday Oct 21, 2022
China Darrington is the Director of Advocacy & Public Policy at Thrive Peer Recovery Services in Ohio. She also serves on the board of directors for a brand new recovery community organization, Summit Recovery Hub in Summit County. We talk about advocating for pregnant and parenting people who use drugs, teaching people that ROSC isn't rocket science, BMX freestyling, and fostering vulnerable kittens. Yup. She's all that.
- Recorded 10.17.2022 in NC & OH on Zoom.
- Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald
- Theme music: 'Truth?' by Zen Groove Arkest (that's me on trumpet!)
Saturday Oct 15, 2022
Saturday Oct 15, 2022
It was a delight finally to launch season 2 LIVE at Recover-Con 2022 in Dixon, IL. Gerald Lott is a rural health champion and recovery community leader. He's the executive director of Sauk Valley Voices of Recovery - the RCO that organized this 2nd annual event. We laughed a lot. Check it out.
- Recorded 9.23.2022 in Dixon, IL.
- Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald
- Theme music: 'Truth?' by Zen Groove Arkest (that's me on trumpet!)
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
Honesty Liller is the CEO of the McShin Foundation, a newly published author, wife, mother, entrepeneur, and a woman thriving in recovery. We talk about everything from authentic recovery support services, to the writing process, to paddle boarding with sharks. You don't want to miss this lively conversation with my splendid friend, Honesty. Purchase her memoir 'Scattered Pink: A Diary of a Woman in Recovery' from BookShop.org. They support local, independent bookshops.
- Recorded 2.17.2022 from Raleigh, NC & Richmond, VA on Zoom
- Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald
- Theme music: 'Truth?' by Zen Groove Arkest (that's me on trumpet!)
Wednesday Feb 16, 2022
Wednesday Feb 16, 2022
Alex Rosenberg is a Philly artist, teacher, and glass studio director at Wheaton Arts College in Millville, NJ. He appears on Blown Away's season 1 on Netflix and Blown Away: Christmas most recently. A splendid and lovely fellow, he's a person thriving in his 4th year of sustained recovery, and we had so much fun on this episode - so did his cat, Søren. Learn more about Alex & purchase his beautiful glass art at AlexanderRosenberg.net.
- Recorded 2.8.2022 from Raleigh, NC & Philadelphia, PA on Zoom
- Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald
- Theme music: 'Truth?' by Zen Groove Arkest (that's me on trumpet!)
Wednesday Feb 09, 2022
Wednesday Feb 09, 2022
Morgan Godvin is a writer, editor, harm reductionist, drug policy advocate, and formerly incarcerated person thriving in her 7th year of recovery. We talk about her cool gig as an editor at JSTOR Daily, where she creatively shares wisdom from over two centuries of prison-based newspapers. We discuss her advocacy to reform drug policy, including her role in the oversight of Oregon's historic move to decriminalize drugs. Finally, we get into Beats Overdose, her collaboration with Atmosphere to being harm reductino to hip hop. Learn more at MorganGodvin.com.
- Recorded 2.4.2022 from Raleigh, NC & Portland, OR on Zoom
- Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald
- Theme music: 'Truth?' by Zen Groove Arkest (that's me on trumpet!)
Wednesday Feb 02, 2022
Wednesday Feb 02, 2022
Please, enjoy this episode, featuring my friend Greg Williams. He's the managing director at Third Horizon Strategies, leading the Alliance for Addicti0n Payment Reform. He's also one hell of a film producer with The Anonymous People, Genration Found, and, most recently, Tipping the Pain Scale to his credit. This is such a rich episode with an undeniably splendid fellow. Learn more about his advocacy for addiction treatment patients at ThirdHorizonStrategies.com and IncentivizeRecovery.org. Find a Tipping the Pain Scale screening near you at TippingThePainScale.com.
- Recorded 1.19.2022 from Raleigh, NC & Danbury, CT on Zoom
- Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald
- Theme music: 'Truth?' by Zen Groove Arkest (that's me on trumpet!)
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with my special guest Shauntelle Hammonds. We talk about everything from dismantling discriminatory barriers to doing laundry for self-care. She's the executive director at Peter's Place RVA. Its mission is to provide compassionate and accessible housing, resources, and trauma-informed care to LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking individualized recovery support. Learn more at PetersPlaceRVA.org.
- Recorded 1.17.2022 from Raleigh, NC & Richmond, VA on Zoom
- Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald
- Theme music: 'Truth?' by Zen Groove Arkest (that's me on trumpet!)
Wednesday Jan 19, 2022
Wednesday Jan 19, 2022
My new friend Kristin "Gypsy" Schloesser is a woman thriving in some seriously contagious recovery, and we had a gret conversation. Gypsy's a tour manager for Obsessed Intl. - a new platform by Five Senses Reeling. It helps you discover where your favorite LGBTQ+ talent, including drag, music, and comedy are performing, buy exclusive merchandise, watch engaging content, and more. Find out more at ObsessedWith.co.
- Recorded 1.13.2022 from Raleigh, NC & Reading, PA on Zoom
- Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald
- Theme music 'Truth?' by Zen Groove Arkest (that's me on trumpet!)
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
Tracey Helton, featured in the 1999 HBO documentary "Black Tar Heroin: The Dark End of the Street," author of 2016's "The Big Fix" (Seal Press), and San Francisco's "Naloxone Lady" joins me for a discussion about harm reduction, recovery, hardcore music, and the chaos of cats. She is @TraceyH415 on Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram. Check her out.
- Recorded 12.22.2021 from Raleigh, NC & San Francisco, CA on Zoom
- Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald
- Theme music 'Truth?' by Zen Groove Arkest (that's me on trumpet!)
Wednesday Jan 05, 2022
Wednesday Jan 05, 2022
Kaya Littleturtle is the Cultural Enrichment Coordinator for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. He also provides community-based recovery support services in the form of talking circles and is a splendid singer-songwriter as well. Come get you some good medicine.
- Recorded 12.22.2021 from Raleigh, NC & Lumberton, NC on Zoom
- Hosted & Produced by Donald McDonald
- Theme music 'Truth?' by Zen Groove Arkest (that's me on trumpet!)