RMA Episode 158: From Peewee Baseball to DWI ProbationRMA Episode 158: From Peewee Baseball to DWI Probation
Recovery in the Middle Ages - Two Middle-Aged Suburban Dads Talk About Recovering From Addiction to Drugs & Alcohol.
Mike and Nat revisit their first recording, sharing candid stories about addiction, suburban dad life and the search for recovery methods beyond traditional 12-step. The conversation blends humour with frank discussion of anonymity, medically assisted treatment and the realities of staying sober in a small town.
1:04:40•6 Nov 2026
From Peewee Baseball to DWI Probation: Two Dads Rethink Recovery
Episode Overview
- Recovery doesn’t have a single correct path; different people need different approaches.
- 12-step programmes can be life-changing for some, but others may require alternatives and should not see themselves as failures.
- Medically assisted treatment, such as naltrexone and acamprosate, can reduce cravings and support sustained sobriety when supervised by a doctor.
- Online communities, podcasts and books can provide connection and support, especially for those who struggle with traditional meetings.
- Protecting anonymity allows people in recovery to speak more openly, yet it can limit advocacy and visibility in wider society.
“There isn't just one way to the top of the mountain.”
How do different strategies aid in addiction recovery? This throwback episode of "Recovery in the Middle Ages" jumps straight into that question by replaying Mike and Nat’s very first recording from August 2020, framed with a fresh, chatty intro about power cuts, medical appointments and podcast tech hiccups.
You’ll hear two middle-aged suburban dads, both in recovery from drugs and alcohol, figuring out a show format on the fly: "Two guys, a microphone, and no idea what we were doing." They introduce themselves, joke about being set up on a "dad blind date" at a Yes concert, and open up about DWIs, crack years, probation, and the odd comfort of being able to get drugs in the city but not in the suburbs.
The heart of the replay is their honest back-and-forth on recovery approaches. They talk about years spent in AA, NA and other 12-step fellowships, their frustration when "working the programme" still didn’t keep them sober, and the blame that often falls on the person rather than the method. Nat shares how medically assisted treatment with naltrexone and acamprosate helped him finally get past cravings, while Mike describes finding support in online spaces like Reddit’s stop-drinking community and alternative recovery podcasts.
They also wrestle with anonymity in a small town, joking about not wanting their kids’ friends’ parents to know "what we really are", while still wanting to speak frankly about addiction, modern recovery ideas and life among soccer mums and PTA meetings. The tone is loose, funny and self-deprecating, but the aim is clear: to offer company, conversation and options to anyone who isn’t sure that one single path fits.
If you’re juggling family life, work and sobriety—or just wondering if there’s more than one way up the mountain—could this be the perspective you’ve been looking for?
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