Buddhist Recovery Network
Buddhist Recovery Network
Not Scratching the Itch: Buddhist Recovery and Hardcore Truths with Mikey Livid
Not Scratching the Itch: Buddhist Recovery and Hardcore Truths with Mikey Livid
Not Scratching the Itch: Buddhist Recovery and Hardcore Truths with Mikey Livid
Monday 23rd June 2025
Join Mikey Livid as he shares his journey from punk rock to Buddhist recovery, exploring grief, addiction, and the power of loving-kindness meditation.
58 minutes
hopeful
challenging
informative
raw compassion
transformative
About this podcast
Author:
Buddhist Recovery Network
Overview:
Categories:
Mindful Recovery
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Mindfulness & Emotional Wellbeing
Sexual Empowerment & Identity
Creative Recovery Journeys
Links:
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Episodes:
74 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!From Punk to Peace: Mikey Livid's Recovery Journey
Episode Overview
- Mikey Livid's journey from addiction to recovery through Buddhism.
- The role of punk rock in expressing and confronting suffering.
- Loving-kindness meditation as a transformative practice.
- Authentic service as a cornerstone in recovery.
- The impact of personal stories in fostering understanding.
Being my authentic self helps other people...true service is not to mold yourself into something that is inauthentic but really just be yourself.
In this enlightening episode of the Buddhist Recovery Network Podcast, host Beth Herzig engages in a profound conversation with Mikey Livid, a guiding teacher at the Wild Heart Meditation Center in Nashville. Mikey's journey is one of transformation, moving from a life marked by addiction and family struggles to one enriched by the teachings of Buddhism.
As someone who grew up in the punk rock scene, Mikey shares how this environment initially gave him permission to express his pain and suffering. However, it was through Buddhism that he learned a more constructive approach to dealing with his emotions. Mikey speaks candidly about his experiences, including the devastating impact of losing close friends to mental illness and addiction during his time in grad school.
These experiences led him to seek a community where he could heal and help others, eventually finding his place in Nashville's thriving Buddhist community. Here, Mikey has introduced meditation practices into treatment centers, helping those battling addiction find peace and recovery. A significant part of Mikey's teaching involves loving-kindness meditation, a practice that initially confused him but later became a cornerstone of his approach to recovery.
He describes it as an inclination to change how the mind meets experience, offering a path to healing and transformation. Throughout the episode, Mikey emphasizes the importance of authentic service, urging listeners to be their true selves and use their experiences to help others. He shares insights from his upcoming book, "Blood, Guts, and Buddhism," where he explores personal stories of heartbreak and suffering with the aim of fostering understanding and empathy.
This episode is a testament to the power of vulnerability and authenticity in recovery, offering listeners a chance to reflect on their own journeys and the potential for transformation through Buddhist practices. Whether you're familiar with Buddhism or new to its teachings, Mikey's story is an inspiring example of how embracing one's true self can lead to profound healing.