Daddy Chased a Dragon with Nikki Blanche & Stephanie CastellanoDaddy Chased a Dragon with Nikki Blanche & Stephanie Castellano
Recovery Recharged with Ellen Stewart Pushy Broad from the Bronx
Daddy Chased a Dragon is a book that addresses the complicated subject of addiction and substance abuse in a manner appropriate for children using metaphor and fantasy. The tale allows adults flexibility to interpret and apply the topic while keeping...
25:55•12 Mar 2025
Daddy Chased a Dragon: Talking Honestly to Kids About Addiction
Episode Overview
- Metaphor and fantasy can make conversations about addiction safer and more understandable for children.
- Portraying the addict as separate from the “dragon” helps kids see their loved one as more than the illness.
- Inclusive, ambiguous character design allows children from any background to relate to the story.
- Open, age-appropriate honesty is presented as healthier than secrecy or avoiding difficult topics.
- There is no single “correct” outcome for families; the book models several possible paths toward healing.
“I really don’t think any topics are off. I don’t think anything’s too taboo for kids.”
Experience the emotional and inspiring tales of recovery as Ellen Stewart chats with author Nikki Blanche and illustrator Stephanie Castellano about their children’s book, *Daddy Chased a Dragon*. Aimed at families living with addiction, the episode focuses on how to talk honestly with kids without frightening or overwhelming them. You’ll hear Nikki explain how the story grew from a friend’s struggle to explain a loved one’s addiction to a five-year-old.
Drawing on her own childhood with an addicted father and alcoholic stepfather, she shapes a narrative where a “dragon” symbolises addiction: present and dangerous, but separate from the person. As she puts it, she hopes children will see that “the addict is not a dragon… it’s just one part of them.” Stephanie brings the visual heart of the book to life with shimmering watercolour dragons and expressive family faces, carefully designed so children from any background can recognise themselves.
The child character is intentionally ambiguous in age, gender and race, helping show that addiction affects “all walks of life” and every kind of family. The conversation leans heavily into open dialogue.
Nikki shares that she wants parents to respect children enough to tell them the truth in age-appropriate ways: “I really don’t think any topics are off… Nothing is too taboo.” Stephanie adds that the book helps adults start tough conversations when they don’t know where to begin, offering multiple possible outcomes rather than one “right way” to handle addiction at home.
Along the way, both women talk about how creating the book changed them – giving Nikki a sense that she deserves calm and safety, and giving Stephanie confidence to respond to her students’ home struggles with more than silent sympathy. If you’re wondering how to explain addiction to children with honesty and kindness, this episode might be the gentle starting point you’ve been looking for.
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