The MY House Podcast Ep.70: Sam Sea Lion Goes Solo

The MY House Podcast Ep.70: Sam Sea Lion Goes Solo

What makes a recovery story truly inspiring? Episode 70 of The MY House Podcast puts that question to the test through a charming children’s book and a very real journey out of addiction. Host Isaac Smolden sits down with author Brad Alexander and peer support worker Sam Nergison, better known as “Sam Sea Lion”, to talk about the new Cranky Critters book, *Sam Sea Lion Went Solo*.

The chat is relaxed and funny at times, but it circles some heavy themes: childhood abandonment, isolation, low self-esteem and how those early wounds can fuel addiction. Brad explains why Sam’s story stood out: he already knew Sam’s family and watched him move through treatment at Vita Nova. What began with guarded one-word answers slowly turned into deeper conversations.

Brad recalls that “he did, though, eventually start to open up and started to allow himself to express things and start to heal,” showing how patience and trust can gently crack open long-held defences. The episode also talks about adoption and foster care. Sam was adopted after several years in a home, and the book reflects the push-pull between biological family and “found family”.

Isaac points out that a key theme is “getting to have that found family as well”, especially through the recovery community at MY House and Vita Nova. There’s some fun behind-the-scenes chat too: the orca attack scene that symbolises painful relationship events, chaotic first days in treatment, and which illustrated animal looks most like a real staff member (Maggie the magpie gets a playful shout-out).

Sam rounds things off by sharing what recovery has brought him: “Working for a great place… being able to buy a lot more stuff and keeping more in contact with my family.” If you’re curious how a children’s book can carry this much emotional weight and hope, this conversation might be the next one you queue up.