EPISODE 032726EPISODE 032726
Clean and Sober Radio
Gary Hendler and Mark Sigmund turn to their audience for candid feedback on Clean and Sober Radio while covering rising stimulant deaths, the Matthew Perry ketamine case, and growing concerns about gambling addiction. The conversation blends humour, personal stories and practical helplines aimed at supporting people affected by addiction.
55:57•28 Mar 2026
Clean and Sober Radio Turns the Mic Around: Feedback, Fresh Fears and Honest Recovery Talk
Episode Overview
- Gary and Mark openly ask their audience how to improve the show’s content, tone, and balance between serious and lighter moments.
- Recent data on stimulant use shows a major rise in cocaine and methamphetamine overdose deaths, even as opioid deaths decline.
- The hosts discuss the ‘ketamine queen’ case tied to Matthew Perry’s death and question how punitive the justice system should be.
- Gambling addiction, especially via sports betting apps, is highlighted as a growing problem that can be as destructive as substance use.
- The show emphasises that users who are struggling need help, not prison, and shares national helplines for addiction and suicidal crisis.
“If you're a user and you have a problem, you need to get help. You don't need to be incarcerated.”
What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? This broadcast of Clean and Sober Radio gives you a front-row seat to a long-running recovery show pausing to ask a brave question: “How are we actually doing?” After 13 years on air, host Gary Hendler and co-host Mark Sigmund turn to their audience for honest feedback on everything from content and tone to whether people want to hear more about their personal lives.
You’ll hear Mark share worrying stats about a sharp rise in cocaine and meth-related overdose deaths, with cocaine now “king” in some areas of the Northeast. The pair also talk through the high-profile “ketamine queen” case linked to Matthew Perry’s death, raising big questions about punishment versus treatment. As Gary puts it clearly: “If you're a user and you have a problem, you need to get help.
You don't need to be incarcerated.” The show’s easy banter keeps heavy topics accessible. Gary and Mark laugh about how they used to show up an hour early out of nerves, and now stroll in just before airtime. Yet underneath the jokes is serious commitment to helping people, shown in Gary’s story of a man who ripped him off, only for Gary to then arrange his admission to rehab the very next morning. Listeners play a big role here.
Regular caller and fellow host Randall Jefferson phones in to praise the show’s mix of real-life recovery stories and education. Facebook comments spark a lively discussion about gambling addiction, sports betting apps, and how process addictions can be just as destructive as drugs or alcohol.
The episode wraps with practical resources, including national helplines for addiction and suicidal crisis, making it ideal listening for anyone in recovery, anyone who loves someone who’s struggling, or anyone who just wants honest talk about addiction without judgement. Where could your own feedback help shape the recovery conversations you depend on?
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