Radio Ronin
Blu Robinson
When Life Throws You a Curveball with Michael Bugary
When Life Throws You a Curveball with Michael Bugary
When Life Throws You a Curveball with Michael Bugary
Tuesday 8th July 2025
Discover Michael Bugary's journey through addiction, cancer, and recovery, emphasizing identity, therapy dogs, and motivational speaking.
Explicit
46 minutes
inspirational
challenging
hopeful
motivational
About this podcast
Author:
Radio Ronin
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Family Recovery from Addiction
Body & Mind
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Links:
Visit site
Episodes:
410 (View all)
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Episode Overview
- Michael Bugary's promising baseball career was halted by injury.
- Addiction and a cancer diagnosis transformed his life.
- Therapy dogs played a crucial role in his recovery journey.
- Michael now serves as a motivational speaker, sharing his story.
- He emphasizes the importance of authenticity and helping others.
"Drugs and alcohol are a symptom of my disease. My addict behavior began long before I had my first drink or drug, and they're still with me now."
In this heartfelt episode of the Addict to Athlete Podcast, Coach Blu Robinson sits down with Michael Bugary, a former professional baseball player whose life took an unexpected turn. Michael's journey is one of resilience and transformation, from the heights of college baseball at the University of California, Berkeley, to being drafted by the Boston Red Sox, and then facing a life-altering arm injury.
This setback was just the beginning of a series of challenges that would test Michael’s spirit and resolve. The loss of his baseball career led Michael into a spiral of addiction, initially to cope with the void left by the sport that had defined his identity. Unfortunately, his struggle with drugs and alcohol escalated, culminating in a heroin addiction. Amidst battling addiction, Michael was diagnosed with a malignant medulloblastoma brain tumor, a rare and formidable adversary.
His candid discussion on the podcast reveals how these experiences shaped his understanding of identity, self-worth, and resilience. Michael emphasizes the therapeutic role that animals, particularly therapy dogs, played in his recovery. His companion, Max, a German Shepherd, and other dogs have provided comfort and healing, illustrating the profound impact animals can have on mental health and recovery. Now a motivational speaker, Michael Bugary shares his story to inspire others facing similar challenges.
He stresses the importance of authenticity in his new role and how helping others has become a crucial part of his recovery process. His plans include developing a retreat focused on healing and using his experiences to support others in crisis. Listeners are encouraged to visit Michael's website, michaelbugary.com, to learn more about his journey and his work in motivating others.
His story is a powerful reminder that even when life throws a curveball, resilience and authenticity can lead to profound personal growth and healing.