One on One With Coach Blu: Episode 8One on One With Coach Blu: Episode 8
Addict II Athlete Podcast
Coach Blu, Marissa and several athletes talk about emotional triggers, childhood trauma, honesty about relapse and pornography, and the gritty work of staying sober. Personal stories of literal and emotional mountain climbs highlight community support and the power of not giving up.
1:01:35•27 Aug 2020
Climbing Emotional Mountains: Triggers, Truth-Telling and Grit in Recovery
Episode Overview
- Triggers from places, sights and memories can hit hard, but grounding yourself in where you are now helps keep you out of the past.
- Painful childhood experiences can explain addiction, but using them as a permanent excuse keeps change out of reach.
- Hiding relapse or pornography use tends to worsen damage; honest conversations, even when messy, are the first step towards repair.
- Clear, calm, open-ended questions are key for families who suspect a loved one is struggling, rather than blame or defensiveness.
- Grit often appears only after effort runs out, as shown by Selena’s demanding hike and Donnell’s ongoing emotional climb.
“Don't waste your freaking time stuck in addiction. Don't waste your time, period.”
What makes a recovery story truly inspiring? One clue lies in this chat-heavy episode of Addict II Athlete, where everyday moments and gritty honesty turn into powerful lessons on staying sober. Coach Blu and athletic director Marissa kick things off with news of their virtual 5k for National Recovery Month and a simple idea: run for someone you love, for someone you've lost, or for your own recovery.
From there, the conversation shifts into early recovery triggers, as Coach Blu describes visiting the rough old apartment complex of his childhood and feeling flooded by memories of abuse, neglect and poverty. Instead of getting stuck in the past, he talks about using an "erase and replace" mindset and asking, "Where are you at now from where you were?" – a question that quietly challenges anyone in recovery to look at their own progress.
The episode leans hard into action over avoidance. Coach Blu urges people: "Don't waste your freaking time stuck in addiction," and stresses that help really is just a call away. He and Marissa unpack how to come clean about relapse, secrets or pornography use at home, stressing open, respectful communication and the importance of accountability over hiding. Call-in athletes bring the themes to life.
Selena shares an eight-hour hike on a prosthetic leg, pushing past exhaustion to reach the summit, a raw example of digging deep when effort runs out and only grit is left. Donnell reflects on “climbing a mountain” emotionally in her own life, and the team reminds her she’s no longer climbing alone.
You get straight talk, humour, and a big dose of community spirit – the kind of conversation that might nudge you to ask: what mountain are you ready to climb next in your own recovery?
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