One on One with Coach Blu: Think Before You ActOne on One with Coach Blu: Think Before You Act
Addict II Athlete Podcast
Coach Blu reflects on a controversial rivalry game stunt that mocked a recovering athlete, using it to highlight how stigma harms people affected by addiction. Callers share how community, support networks and honest self-reflection help them stay sober in the face of everyday challenges.
57:05•15 Sept 2021
Think Before You Act: Rivalries, Stigma and Building a Recovery Village
Episode Overview
- Addiction-related deaths are occurring at a rate of about 255 people per day, underscoring the urgency for real action, not just awareness.
- Mocking someone’s lowest moments, such as a mugshot from active addiction, reinforces stigma and can stop others from seeking help.
- Long-term recovery hinges on community; strong relationships and support networks are often more crucial than formal treatment alone.
- People leaving rehab need clear guidance to build a "village" of support rather than being sent out alone without follow-up structure.
- Self-awareness, ongoing soul-searching and educated decision-making are vital parts of maintaining sobriety and mental health.
“It has to be literally the erasing of that addiction and replacing it with something of greater value.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation with Coach Blu on Addict II Athlete’s One on One show zeroes in on that question, while calling out some pretty toxic attitudes toward addiction. Coach Blu opens by talking about National Overdose Awareness Day, reminding everyone that an average of 255 people die each day from addiction-related causes.
Team Addict II Athlete’s philosophy is simple but demanding: "It has to be literally the erasing of that addiction and replacing it with something of greater value." You’ll hear how the team runs events, supports families, and helps train recovery coaches to take that message into their own communities.
The episode’s central story is the fallout from the BYU vs University of Utah rivalry football game, where Make-A-Wish board member Todd Noall wore a shirt mocking former BYU quarterback Max Hall’s past mugshot and addiction struggles. Coach Blu doesn’t pull punches as he challenges the cruelty and ignorance behind the joke, especially during a time when so many families are losing loved ones to addiction.
The point isn’t cancel culture; it’s about asking people to think before they act and to "read the room" in a world where nearly everyone knows someone affected by addiction. Two callers, Selena and Donnell, bring the focus back to recovery itself. Selena shares how her support network quietly notices when she’s slipping and steps in, wishing someone had told her after rehab that "you need a village".
Donnell talks about soul-searching, self-awareness, and how small, tight-knit groups can be more honest and healing than big crowds. This episode suits anyone in recovery, family members, or anyone who’s ever wondered how jokes and stigma can push people further away from help. It gently asks: are you adding to the problem, or helping build a community where people feel safe to ask for support?
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