Recovery in the Middle Ages - Two Middle-Aged Suburban Dads Talk About Recovering From Addiction to Drugs & Alcohol.
Mike and Nat are two middle-aged suburban dads wrestling with addiction and recovery while trying to juggle home life, work, and staying sober. Listen as they discuss current topics in the recovery community including 12 Step, alternative addiction recovery and the newest medical research . Listen to the guys talk about their daily struggle to maintain their recovery and anonymity in the world of soccer moms and PTA meetings. If the neighbors only knew...
Mike and Nat are two middle-aged suburban dads wrestling with addiction and recovery while trying to juggle home life, work, and staying sober. Listen as they discuss current topics in the recovery community including 12 Step, alternative addiction recovery and the newest medical research . Listen to the guys talk about their daily struggle to maintain their recovery and anonymity in the world of soccer moms and PTA meetings. If the neighbors only knew...
Episodes

Friday Oct 16, 2020
Kratom, Harm-Reduction & How Not to Buy Weed: Mike in da Bronx '86
Friday Oct 16, 2020
Friday Oct 16, 2020
Recovery in the Middle Ages-Episode 9 Show Notes:
This week Mike and Nat talk harm reduction, kratom, shame, legalized weed and buying drugs in places you shouldn’t.
All that, plus Recovery in the News and The Week in Weird, on a reduced harm, microdosed, Kratom drinking, arresting episode of Recovery in the Middle Ages.
PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you’re enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.
APPLE LINK https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recovery-in-middle-ages-two-middle-aged-suburban-dads/id1528859864
You can reach us by email at:
MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com
Natx@middleagesrecovery.com
Send comments, complaints, death threats, ideas and requests to be interviewed. We’ll talk to anyone!
WE ARE NOW ON TWITTER! FOLLOW US! WE COMMAND IT!
https://twitter.com/RecoveryAges?s=20
Join the Facebook Group! Exciting things are finally happening there!
https://www.facebook.com/Recoveryinthemiddleages
If you’re in trouble with substance abuse and need help, reach out. There are thousands of people who have put problems with addiction in their rear-view mirrors and you can be one of them. While we neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, the sheer number of available AA and NA meetings suggest that reaching out to those organizations would be a good first step on the road to recovery.
https://www.aa.org/
https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/
Kratom:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/01/13/789145948/the-kratom-debate-helpful-herb-or-dangerous-drug
The Pink Cloud:
https://www.thetemper.com/pink-cloud-early-sobriety/
Harm Reduction:
https://harmreduction.org/about-us/principles-of-harm-reduction/
Oregon Measure 110
https://theappeal.org/politicalreport/oregon-could-decriminalize-drugs-in-november/
Mike’s Old Stomping Grounds
https://forgotten-ny.com/2017/07/fordham-belmont-bronx-part-2/

Friday Oct 09, 2020
Resentments, Relapse, and Mike Loses His Pants Buying Crack
Friday Oct 09, 2020
Friday Oct 09, 2020
Recovery in the Middle Ages-Episode 8 Show Notes:
This week the boys tackle the thorny issue of resentment; what it is, and how to deal with it. Mike and Nat share their own resentments and explore how court-mandated treatment can make the addict even MORE resentful.
The lads also cast a critical eye on the predominant addiction paradigm and how it might exclude the problem drinkers who don't identify as alcoholics. Plus, Mike shares a story about a crack-deal that turned into a walk of shame through the streets of the South Bronx back in the year of our Lord 1988..
All that, plus Recovery in the News and The Week in Weird, on a philosophical, cracked-up, moderate drinking episode of Recovery in the Middle Ages.
Correction: In his story this week, Mike incorrectly identified the location of his drug buy as Briggs Ave. While Briggs was indeed an anxiety-provoking second choice for buying drugs, the incident in question actually took place on Bathgate Avenue
PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you’re enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.
APPLE LINK https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recovery-in-middle-ages-two-middle-aged-suburban-dads/id1528859864
You can reach us by email at:
MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com
Natx@middleagesrecovery.com
Send comments, complaints, death threats, ideas and requests to be interviewed. We’ll talk to anyone!
Join the Facebook Group! Exciting things are finally happening there!
https://www.facebook.com/Recoveryinthemiddleages
If you’re in trouble with substance abuse and need help, reach out. There are thousands of people who have put problems with addiction in their rear-view mirrors and you can be one of them. While we neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, the sheer number of available AA and NA meetings suggest that reaching out to those organizations would be a good first step on the road to recovery.
https://www.aa.org/
https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/
Brandon Novak (The Indiana Jones of Recovery)
https://brandonnovak.com/product/signed-dreamseller-book/
Mother’s Little Helper
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/03/style/am-i-drinking-too-much.html
Loch Ness Monster
http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2020/10/06/scientist-records-eighth-official-sighting-of-nessie-this-year-scottish-news/
Article & Photojournalism Highlighting the Bronx Street Where Mike Lost his Pants
https://slate.com/culture/2014/09/stephen-shames-photographs-the-bronx-in-his-book-bronx-boys.html

Friday Oct 02, 2020
Free-lapsing, Drug Dreams and Seamus Checks In.
Friday Oct 02, 2020
Friday Oct 02, 2020
Recovery in the Middle Ages -Episode 7 Show Notes:
This week on Episode 7 of RMA we welcome Mike’s old friend Seamus to the podcast. Seamus shares his experience of getting sober in the middle ages, shares a few stories from the good old days, and a couple from the bad new days. Also, Mike gets a freelapse, and was Nat really sleeping when Mike’s wife caught him snoozing at work a couple years back? Tune in to find out!
PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you’re enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.
APPLE LINK https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recovery-in-middle-ages-two-middle-aged-suburban-dads/id152885986
You can reach us by email at:
MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com
Natx@middleagesrecovery.com
Send comments, complaints, death threats, ideas and requests to be interviewed. We’ll talk to anyone!
Join the Facebook Group! Exciting things are finally happening there!
https://www.facebook.com/Recoveryinthemiddleages
If you’re in trouble with substance abuse and need help, reach out. There are thousands of people who have put problems with addiction in their rear-view mirrors and you can be one of them. While we neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, the sheer number of available AA and NA meetings suggest that reaching out to those organizations would be a good first step on the road to recovery.
https://www.aa.org/
https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/
Drug Dreams. What do They Mean?
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/199801/the-nightmare-drug-dreams
Dax Shepard’s Relapse
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-09-25/dax-shepard-podast-armchair-expert-relapse
Lakes Beneath the Surface of Mars
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02751-1
The Bronx in the 1980s-Imagine being a sheltered suburban kid dropped into the middle of this. So much fun!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cpn9G9SN4A
Jerry Garcia on Broadway 1987
https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/jerry-garcia-1987-broadway-residency/
10/27/87-JGB Lunt Fontanne-The Harder They Come (Bootleg Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO0Fql6zP7Q

Friday Sep 25, 2020
Discussing Trauma, Addiction, Recovery and Misphonia with Erin Moore!
Friday Sep 25, 2020
Friday Sep 25, 2020
RMA-Episode 6 Show Notes:
This week we welcome Erin Moore to the Podcast! Erin is a recovering alcoholic and pill aficionado who lives in North Carolina and has seven-plus years of sobriety. There’s a lot to identify with here. Erin’s experience mirrors what a lot of us in the suburbs go through when we struggle with substance abuse while simultaneously raising our kids and trying to hold our shit together. Mike and Nat talk to Erin about recovery, cult-like rehabs, trauma, and Brass Monkey. It’s a freewheeling discussion that could only take place here, in The Middle Ages.
As if THAT wasn’t enough entertainment, Mark and Nat also comment on some listener mail, give an update on John the Can Man, and Nat tells a story about his failing memory. All that, plus Recovery in the News and Weird & Wacky on a looong but compelling episode of Recovery in the Middle Ages.
PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you’re enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.
APPLE LINK https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recovery-in-middle-ages-two-middle-aged-suburban-dads/id1528859864
You can reach us by email at:
MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com
Natx@middleagesrecovery.com
Send comments, complaints, death threats, ideas and requests to be interviewed. We’ll talk to anyone!
Join the Facebook Group! Exciting things are happening there!
https://www.facebook.com/Recoveryinthemiddleages
If you’re in trouble with substance abuse and need help, reach out. There are thousands of people who have put problems with addiction in their rear-view mirrors and you can be one of them. While we neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, the sheer number of available AA and NA meetings suggest that reaching out to those organizations would be a good first step on the road to recovery.
https://www.aa.org/
https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/
The Message of AA Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-message-of-aa/id1519027264
Church and Other Drugs Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/church-other-drugs/id1191035186
Dopey
https://www.dopeypodcast.com/
Brass Monkey
https://www.myrecipes.com/extracrispy/where-did-brass-monkey-come-from
Gabor Mate on Trauma
https://www.thefix.com/dr-gabor-mate-trauma-underlying-stigma-addiction-interview
Synanon
https://www.revealnews.org/american-rehab/
Misophonia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misophonia

Saturday Sep 19, 2020
WTF is Kombucha? Mike's 9/11 Story & John the "Can Man" Is Homeless
Saturday Sep 19, 2020
Saturday Sep 19, 2020
RMA-Episode 5 Show Notes:
It’s a mixed bag this week. Nat goes long with a superbowl party story for the ages. Mike talks about 9/11 and its impact on his drinking. There’s a story of a local fellow down on his luck, and a Kombucha tasting that leaves Nat wanting more. Put that together with a discussion on MAT and people leaving their brains on a beach and it’s a late summer episode with something for everyone.
PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you’re enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.
APPLE LINK https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recovery-in-middle-ages-two-middle-aged-suburban-dads/id1528859864
You can reach us by email at:
MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com
Natx@middleagesrecovery.com
Send comments, complaints, death threats, ideas and requests to be interviewed. We’ll talk to anyone!
Join the Facebook Group! Exciting things are happening there!
https://www.facebook.com/Recoveryinthemiddleages
If you’re in trouble with substance abuse and need help, reach out. There are thousands of people who have put problems with addiction in their rear-view mirrors and you can be one of them. While we neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, the sheer number of available AA and NA meetings suggest that reaching out to those organizations would be a good first step on the road to recovery.
https://www.aa.org/
https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/
Kombucha
https://greatist.com/health/why-is-kombucha-good-for-you
Link to the Pictures of the Plane Engine (UA 175) that Almost took Mike’s Head off on 9/11.
https://sites.google.com/site/wtc7lies/aircraftpartsnyc911
Philadelphia Inquirer Article on Buprenorphine
https://cumberlink.com/live_well_in_the_cumberland_valley/some-doctors-avoid-prescribing-popular-addiction-treatment/article_7673ac6e-e378-51b3-a08f-ff0ffe0b483a.html

Saturday Sep 12, 2020
FULL LENGTH-The God Particle - Religion in Recovery:
Saturday Sep 12, 2020
Saturday Sep 12, 2020
FULL LENGTH
The God Particle - Religion in Recovery: What's It Good for?!
RMA-Episode 4 Show Notes:
This week Mike and Nat tackle matters of the spirit. What does God mean to two middle-aged Dads in the suburbs? Is there too much God in recovery? Are you doomed to fail in your sobriety if you don’t believe in the same God as a bunch of long-dead white men from the 1930s? This and so much more, including Nat’s bad back and pitched battles with little green men down in Kentucky. Tune in, turn on, and rock out with the hottest new podcast in the recovery movement.
PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you’re enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.
APPLE LINK https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recovery-in-middle-ages-two-middle-aged-suburban-dads/id1528859864
You can reach us by email at:
MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com
Natx@middleagesrecovery.com
Send comments, complaints, death threats, ideas and requests to be interviewed. We’ll talk to anyone!
Join the Facebook Group! Exciting things will eventually happen there!
https://www.facebook.com/Recoveryinthemiddleages
If you’re in trouble with substance abuse and need help, reach out. There are thousands of people who have put problems with addiction in their rear-view mirrors and you can be one of them. While we neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, the sheer number of available AA and NA meetings suggest that reaching out to those organizations would be a good first step on the road to recovery.
https://www.aa.org/
https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/
The Addictionary Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-addictionary-podcast/id1326876235
AA Agnostica
https://aaagnostica.org/
The Catholic Worker Movement
https://www.catholicworker.org/
Refuge Recovery/Recovery Dharma
https://recoverydharma.org/
https://refugerecovery.org/
You should be aware that Recovery Dharma split from Refuge Recovery due to some controversy relating to the actions of the founder of RR, Noah Levine. There’s plenty of information about this on the internet so I won’t rehash it here. I personally recommend Recovery Dharma, but I’ve provided both links so you can make your own choice.
-Mike
Smart Recovery
https://www.smartrecovery.org/
A wonky analysis of the degrees of spiritual awakening by someone who has put too much thought into it:
http://www.aatheoriginalway.com/3-basic-awakenings-in-aa
Little Green Men in Kentucky
https://en.wikipedia.osrg/wiki/Kelly%E2%80%93Hopkinsville_encounter

Friday Sep 11, 2020
The God Particle - Religion in Recovery: What's It Good for?!
Friday Sep 11, 2020
Friday Sep 11, 2020
The God Particle - Religion in Recovery: What's It Good for?!
RMA-Episode 4 Show Notes:
This week Mike and Nat tackle matters of the spirit. What does God mean to two middle-aged Dads in the suburbs? Is there too much God in recovery? Are you doomed to fail in your sobriety if you don’t believe in the same God as a bunch of long-dead white men from the 1930s? This and so much more, including Nat’s bad back and pitched battles with little green men down in Kentucky. Tune in, turn on, and rock out with the hottest new podcast in the recovery movement.
PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you’re enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.
APPLE LINK https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recovery-in-middle-ages-two-middle-aged-suburban-dads/id1528859864
You can reach us by email at:
MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com
Natx@middleagesrecovery.com
Send comments, complaints, death threats, ideas and requests to be interviewed. We’ll talk to anyone!
Join the Facebook Group! Exciting things will eventually happen there!
https://www.facebook.com/Recoveryinthemiddleages
If you’re in trouble with substance abuse and need help, reach out. There are thousands of people who have put problems with addiction in their rear-view mirrors and you can be one of them. While we neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, the sheer number of available AA and NA meetings suggest that reaching out to those organizations would be a good first step on the road to recovery.
https://www.aa.org/
https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/
The Addictionary Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-addictionary-podcast/id1326876235
AA Agnostica
https://aaagnostica.org/
The Catholic Worker Movement
https://www.catholicworker.org/
Refuge Recovery/Recovery Dharma
https://recoverydharma.org/
https://refugerecovery.org/
You should be aware that Recovery Dharma split from Refuge Recovery due to some controversy relating to the actions of the founder of RR, Noah Levine. There’s plenty of information about this on the internet so I won’t rehash it here. I personally recommend Recovery Dharma, but I’ve provided both links so you can make your own choice.
-Mike
Smart Recovery
https://www.smartrecovery.org/
A wonky analysis of the degrees of spiritual awakening by someone who has put too much thought into it:
http://www.aatheoriginalway.com/3-basic-awakenings-in-aa
Little Green Men in Kentucky
https://en.wikipedia.osrg/wiki/Kelly%E2%80%93Hopkinsville_encounter

Friday Sep 04, 2020
Should Mike Smoke Pot? Moral Relativism in Recovery & the Grateful Dead
Friday Sep 04, 2020
Friday Sep 04, 2020
PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you’re enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.
APPLE LINK https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recovery-in-middle-ages-two-middle-aged-suburban-dads/id1528859864
You can reach us by email at:
MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com
Natx@middleagesrecovery.com
Send comments, complaints, death threats, ideas and requests to be interviewed. We’ll talk to anyone!
Join the Facebook Group! Exciting things will eventually happen there!
https://www.facebook.com/Recoveryinthemiddleages
If you’re in trouble with substance abuse and need help, reach out. There are thousands of people who have put problems with addiction in their rear-view mirrors and you can be one of them. While we neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, the sheer number of available AA and NA meetings suggest that reaching out to those organizations would be a good first step on the road to recovery.
https://www.aa.org/
https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/
Annie Grace-This Naked Mind
https://thisnakedmind.com/
Dead & Company
https://deadandcompany.com/
A review of the Coney Island Further show where Mike lost his marbles:
https://jambands.com/reviews/shows/2010/07/05/furthur-mcu-park-coney-island-ny-6-26/
The face slapping incident:
https://www.todayonline.com/world/refusing-drink-boss-he-was-slapped-face
The Jetpack Guy
https://www.wearethemighty.com/news/lax-rocket-man?rebelltitem=2#rebelltitem2

Saturday Aug 29, 2020
Happy Soberversary to Mike & How to Pass a Piss Test Without Really Trying
Saturday Aug 29, 2020
Saturday Aug 29, 2020
PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you’re enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.
APPLE LINK https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recovery-in-middle-ages-two-middle-aged-suburban-dads/id1528859864
You can reach us by email at:
MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com
Natx@middleagesrecovery.com
Send comments, complaints, death threats, ideas and requests to be interviewed. We’ll talk to anyone!
Join the Facebook Group! Exciting things will eventually happen there!
https://www.facebook.com/Recoveryinthemiddleages
William Porter-Alcohol Explained:
https://www.alcoholexplained.com/
Annie Grace-This Naked Mind
https://thisnakedmind.com/
Utopia:
(Warning-might be triggering-pictures of drug stuff)
https://www.instagram.com/utopianewyork/?hl=en
The cabin where Mike Had His last drink:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/25265068?location=Catskills%20and%20Hudson%20Valley&source_impression_id=p3_1598645618_r4tWLBa1w4XS44Ef

Saturday Aug 22, 2020
Recovery in the Middle Ages: The first episode....Nice to meet you!
Saturday Aug 22, 2020
Saturday Aug 22, 2020
In this first episode, Mike and Nat introduce themselves to the audience. They give brief introductions as to who they are and what they intend to discuss. The topics vary from how they got sober from drug and alcohol addiction to how they stay anonymous in their small town. Learn what their plans are for this podcast and what to expect in future episodes.
Since this is our first episode so we would love to know what you think. Contact us at:
Natx@middleagesrecovery.com
MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com
Join the Facebook Page!
https://www.facebook.com/Recovery-In-The-Middle-Ages-114229677063547/?modal=suggested_action¬if_id=1598532853382235¬if_t=page_user_activity
Show Notes & Links
Shair Podcast:
https://theshairpodcast.com/
Dopey Podcast:
https://www.dopeypodcast.com/
Recovery Elevator Podcast:
https://www.recoveryelevator.com/podcasts/
That British Guy With The Ted Talk on Connection:
https://www.ted.com/talks/johann_hari_everything_you_think_you_know_about_addiction_is_wrong?language=en
Doctor Silkworth:
https://silkworth.net/pages/silkworth/
The Anonymous People
https://www.amazon.com/People-Kristen-Johnston/dp/B00IX1KCGA








