I fronted Sid Vicious Heroin and ate Burger King with him the Day Before Nancy's Murder – Ned Van Zandt's crazy Recovery JourneyI fronted Sid Vicious Heroin and ate Burger King with him the Day Before Nancy's Murder – Ned Van Zandt's crazy Recovery Journey
Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction
00:00 – Bomb intro & “It’s Dopey Wednesday!” theme 00:41 – Welcome, theme song credit to Brayer Brian Homa, Five Days of Dopey update 02:00 – Recovery nugget: Gratitude as the antidote to fear in the new year 06:30 – Listener Spotify comments & social media shout-outs 13:30 – Guest intro: Ned Van Zandt (actor, counselor, Townes Van Zandt’s cousin, former sponsor to the late DJ/Don) 15:30 – Ned performs the opening rap from his one-man show “Lost in Del Valle' 18:00 – How Ned met Don/DJ, Ned’s 18 years clean 19:00 – Connection to Townes Van Zandt 21:30 – First time getting high (age 18, Warhol crowd, heroin) 24:00 – Moving to the Chelsea Hotel fall 1978 – same week as Sid & Nancy 27:00 – Life at the Chelsea: parties, Warhol stars, punk scene 30:00 – First heroin habit with Warhol superstar Katrina 34:00 – Sid & Nancy stories, Burger King, Nancy’s murder, Ned’s theory on who did it 41:00 – Sid’s overdose death 43:00 – Ned’s own habit escalates, gets mugged, leaves NYC for Austin 49:00 – Long Beach meth period, stealing Sudafed for meth labs 59:00 – Stevie Ray Vaughan’s sobriety inspires Ned 01:01:00 – Gets clean in 1987 in Hawaii, 13 years sober 01:11:00 – Relapses New Year’s Eve 1999, 7-year run ends with meth arrest 01:30:00 – Final surrender in treatment (day 9 flushes smuggled pills) 01:38:00 – 3 years in Hawaii sober living, returns to acting 01:43:00 – Develops one-man show “Delvalley,” Edinburgh Fringe success 01:45:00 – Running Transcend NYC sober house 01:55:00 – Wrap-up & outro song
1:53:50•7 Jan 2026
Heroin with Sid Vicious: Ned Van Zandt's Recovery Tale
Episode Overview
- Gratitude can be a powerful antidote to fear.
- Ned's journey highlights the chaotic allure of addiction.
- Personal connections play a crucial role in recovery.
- Ned's work as a counsellor helps him stay grounded.
- The punk scene offered both temptation and inspiration.
“"I found that when I make a decision to be spiritual, I am spiritual."”
What drives someone to the edge of addiction and how do they find their way back? In this gripping episode, actor and counsellor Ned Van Zandt shares his rollercoaster journey from the chaotic days of New York's punk scene to sobriety. Ned recounts his wild experiences, including a surreal encounter with Sid Vicious at a Burger King just before Nancy Spungen's tragic murder.
His tales from the infamous Chelsea Hotel and the gritty streets of 1970s New York offer a vivid backdrop to his story of recovery. Ned, a cousin of legendary musician Townes Van Zandt, opens up about the dark allure of heroin and the pivotal moments that led him to seek a clean life. With honesty and humour, he discusses the challenges of staying sober and the unexpected paths that life takes.
Alongside host Dave, Ned explores themes of gratitude, resilience, and the transformative power of recovery. Listeners will be moved by Ned's candidness about his struggles and inspired by his dedication to helping others as a counsellor at a sober house. This episode isn't just about the lows of addiction; it's a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome and thrive.
Whether you're in recovery or simply curious about the personal battles against addiction, Ned's story is one you won't want to miss. So, what’s your antidote to fear? Could it be gratitude, as Ned suggests? Or something else entirely? Tune in to find out.
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