S2E7: Harm Reduction, Heavy Bass, and Safe Spaces with Slinger EntertainmentS2E7: Harm Reduction, Heavy Bass, and Safe Spaces with Slinger Entertainment
APC Recovery Cafe
Heavy bass meets harm reduction as Slinger Entertainment talk about handing out Narcan, building safe party spaces and supporting DJs in Birmingham. The conversation also touches on sobriety, friendship and how non-traditional partners can strengthen overdose prevention efforts.
41:30•30 Apr 2026
Harm Reduction on the Dancefloor: Slinger Entertainment’s Safe-Party Mission
Episode Overview
- Carrying Narcan is framed as basic safety gear, "like a fire extinguisher," and Slinger have helped distribute over 600 cases at events.
- Harm reduction at shows includes Narcan kits, ear protection, condoms and test strips, aiming to keep people alive rather than preach abstinence.
- Slinger’s "fat stack" Tuesdays give DJs free access to club-level sound so they can clearly hear their mixes and improve their craft.
- A mix of sober and non-sober team members shows that safe spaces can include everyone while staying firmly "anti-addiction."
- Strong community ties with local venues and partners help make Birmingham’s music scene both welcoming and supportive of recovery journeys.
“We view it as a fire extinguisher. You would rather have a fire extinguisher when there's a fire than not have one if there's not.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation at APC Recovery Cafe drops you right into Birmingham’s heavy-bass party scene, where harm reduction, creativity and community all share the same dance floor. Host Nicole chats with Anthony Phillips, Sam Macca and Parker from Slinger Entertainment, a crew throwing immersive EDM and bass music events while actively keeping their scene safer.
You would rather have a fire extinguisher when there's a fire than not have one if there's not." You’ll hear how Narcan, earplugs, condoms and test strips sit right alongside subs, strobes and visuals, creating an environment where people can "have a good time, but be safe while they're having a good time." The team share how harm reduction is simply a non-negotiable part of their culture, not a marketing add-on – Anthony notes he’d be giving kits out "no matter what." The episode also digs into Slinger's community-building projects like "fat stack" Tuesdays at Woodlawn, where DJs stand in the middle of a club-level sound system to truly hear their mixes.
They talk about partnering with APC to hand out more than 600 Narcan "encases" at shows, with Anthony explaining, "We view it as a fire extinguisher. It’s part skill-building, part mentorship, and very much about sending Birmingham artists out into other cities prepared and confident.
Threaded through the bass and tech chat is sobriety and balance: Anthony marks four years sober, Parker six, while Sam is not sober but firmly "anti-addiction" – proof there’s room for everyone in a genuinely safe space. For anyone curious how harm reduction can live right at the heart of nightlife, this one might change how you look at a dancefloor. Could your favourite venue be doing more to keep people alive and welcome?
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