Dopey Wednesday: Heroin, Tatum O'Neal, John McEnroe, Recovery & the Knicks with Kevin McEnroeDopey Wednesday: Heroin, Tatum O'Neal, John McEnroe, Recovery & the Knicks with Kevin McEnroe
Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction
Timestamps 0:02 – Dopey Wednesday theme song 1:03 – Welcome to Dopey Wednesday 1:30 – Kevin McEnroe returns after the Emergency Knicks episode 2:10 – Knicks loss, Steve Poltz, and Spurs fans in Dopey Nation 2:50 – Listener asks Dave how he quit smoking 5:50 – Dave on cigarettes, withdrawal, prayer, gum, candy, and recovery tools 7:50 – Gordon from London writes in 8:15 – Childhood “travel medicine” turns out to be Valium 9:20 – Accidentally doing heroin in Paris 10:40 – Emails, voicemails, socks, and stickers 11:25 – Patreon comments from the Michael Muniz episode 13:00 – Phoenix House jokes, Dopey Zoom, and Go Knicks 15:25 – Emergency Knicks Patreon comments 17:50 – Kevin McEnroe joins the show 18:30 – Kevin on writing, tennis, and morning routines 20:10 – Prayer, getting on your knees, and willingness 22:50 – Being John McEnroe’s son and teaching tennis 24:30 – Sobriety, bartending, nightlife, and old drug environments 27:00 – Tennis as “healthy bartending” 28:00 – Kevin on accepting the McEnroe name 30:30 – Kevin guards Joakim Noah in high school 32:20 – Turning 40 after surviving addiction 33:20 – Kevin’s worst years in LA and Brooklyn 35:30 – Dave on heroin, custody, court, and shame 37:50 – Dave’s half-measures before AA 40:45 – Dutch Wonderland, Xanax, Klonopin, and the Amy Winehouse documentary 43:30 – Dave finally surrenders in AA 44:45 – Kevin’s relapse, isolation, heroin delivery, and treatment 48:30 – Kevin’s mother and addiction 50:30 – Tatum O’Neal’s stroke, sobriety, and recovery 51:30 – Dopey Zoom chaos: meth, drug court, and real recovery 52:45 – Kevin buying groceries for his mom 53:30 – The legendary 21 yogurts story 55:30 – Listener asks for stickers and mentions crushing pills 56:30 – Kevin on snorting pills and Roxy 30s 58:00 – Hells Angels bar story: fast or slow 59:50 – Fentanyl, heroin, and barely missing the worst era 1:02:00 – Kevin’s mom’s prescription bag and denial 1:04:00 – Listener asks how to help meth-addicted stepdaughter 1:05:30 – AA, NA, SMART, Dopey Zoom, and trying everything 1:07:35 – Kevin agrees to come back monthly 1:07:50 – Toodles for Chris 1:08:00 – “Good So Bad” outroDescription:
1:11:31•10 Jun 2026
Heroin, Knicks and 21 Yoghurts: Recovery with Kevin McEnroe
Episode Overview
- Nicotine withdrawal is often less severe than feared, and simple tools like prayer, sweets, water and exercise can help string early smoke-free days together.
- Cigarettes, like other drugs, sell the lie of a ‘special’ moment that doesn’t actually exist once you step back from the habit.
- Spiritual routines such as daily readings, meditation and physically getting on one’s knees can help shift focus from self to something bigger.
- Acceptance of one’s story – including famous parents, past using and humbling work – can ease shame and support long-term recovery.
- For loved ones on meth, there’s no perfect meeting; trying AA, NA and different groups increases the chances something will resonate.
“I loved smoking and I do miss smoking, but I love not smoking even more.”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This Dopey Wednesday instalment brings back writer, tennis coach and long-term Knicks sufferer Kevin McEnroe for a funny, messy and surprisingly tender chat about addiction, recovery and family baggage. The episode kicks off with Dave reading from Dopey Nation emails, including a heartfelt plea from a long-time smoker facing major hip surgery.
Dave talks through how he quit cigarettes live on the show years ago, swapping Marlboros for a simple vape and then leaning heavily on 12-step tools. As he puts it, "I loved smoking and I do miss smoking, but I love not smoking even more," reminding anyone stuck on nicotine that the withdrawal in their head is often worse than the real thing.
There’s a sharp turn into classic Dopey territory with Gordon from London’s story about childhood “travel medicine” that turned out to be Valium, accidental heroin in Paris, and quietly boozing on woodpecker cider without knowing it was alcohol. It’s dark, it’s ridiculous, and it’s exactly the sort of story people in early recovery will recognise all too well. When Kevin joins, the tone shifts into something more reflective.
He talks about his structured morning routine, getting on his knees to pray even though he doesn’t fully “get it”, and how simple willingness – doing things he doesn’t like – keeps him sane. He shares what it’s like teaching tennis as John McEnroe’s son, being “just an okay player” and learning acceptance instead of running from his famous surname.
Later, Kevin opens up about his mum, actress Tatum O’Neal, her long addiction history, her stroke, and the way service – like ordering her groceries – keeps him grounded, even when she eats 21 yoghurts in one night. The episode wraps with Dave and Kevin answering a stepdad’s question about supporting a stepdaughter on meth, stressing that trying lots of different meetings and supports is better than waiting for the perfect one.
If you’ve ever wondered whether recovery can be brutally honest, hilarious and hopeful at the same time, this one might be worth your time.
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