Alex Wood Quits Everything

I bumped into my old drug dealer on the street and did he have a story for me.  I also had a vicious cigarette craving during Dunkirk and received a touching email from one of my listeners.  My guest this episode is comedian and actor, Anto-Chan.  We talk about his gambling addiction.  We also cover his problems with porn, soda and his button making business that is helping him cope. 

I'm back from New York and 17 days off of red meat.  I took part in a lewd pubic act, saw priceless art and I'm still trying to heal a broken bone.  My guest is Yuk Yuk's comedian and friend, Blayne Smith.  He's two months off of heroin. We talk about his physical withdrawal, how he's never been a smoker and his mental health issues.  

I'm on day 6 off of red meat.  Missing bacon is being aided by being in the Hamptons and swimming in the ocean for the first time in my life.  My guest this episode is rising talent in the Toronto comedy scene, Laura Leibow.  We talk about, how she kicked opium of many different kinds over many years, the overdose death of her friend and falling in love with her new boyfriend. 

Recorded in the basement that I quit drugs and alcohol in, this episode is two days after Just for Laughs.  My guest this episode is my mom!  She has been a smoker for 40 years and she quit 30 days ago with me.  We talk about, smoking as a teenager, smoking while pregnant, my cocaine addiction, her failed attempt at quitting after our dog Bob died and how she is going to make it stick this time. 

Recorded at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal, 2 days after the biggest show of my life.  I'm surrounded by free alcohol and drugs.  Thankfully there's enough free poutine to circumvent those.  My guest is London, England based comedian and star of his own Vice show, Bobby Mair.  We talk about Bobby quitting drugs, booze and how they almost cost him his marriage and career. 

I have a big announcement.  You'll have to listen to find out what it is.  My guest this episode is my old friend, Dom Pare.  His mother died 5 days before we recorded.  We talk about his addiction to anger, seeing a therapist, Kevin Pillar and the similarities between rage addiction and drug/alcohol addiction.  

I've just passed the longest I've ever gone in my adult life without smoking.  I'm 11 days off of cigarettes and the cravings are less rage inducing.  I was able to make it through my friend's wedding while a lot of people were smoking by eating donuts and sucking straws.  My guest this episode is talented, fast rising comedian, Jarret Campbell.  He quit smoking 10 days after I quit drinking, 18 months ago.  We talk about coughing up bile, small town speed balls, if he is a problem drinker and trash talk each other.  There's some distortion on the audio from the 28 minute mark to the 38 minute mark.  Apologies. 

The time has come.  I'm day 3 off of cigarettes.  Withdrawal, mood swings, screaming in a park in front of children and eating ice cream.  I also went to a bachelor party, a strip club and accidentally had a sip of gin(my first in 18 months).  My guest this week, amazing comedian, Nick Beaton.  He's 3 weeks off of cigarettes and feeling great.  We talk about, stealing smokes from our parents, Allen Carr's book, working out, coughing up bile, relapsing and how confident he feels this time.  

I bombed two sets this week and my sobriety morale is about as low as it's been in great while.  I'm having relapse dreams, thinking about drugs/alcohol constantly and I'm consumed with jealousy from people having summer patio beers.  I also did a horrendous job of trimming my nails.  My guest is fantastic comedian, Todd Graham, who is 6 years off of booze.  We talk about alcohol affecting his marriage, weight gain, drunken trips down the stairs and how his cravings are completely gone now. 

I'm 79 days off of weed, 49 days off of caffeine and 18 days off of biting my nails.  My girlfriend has been released from the hospital for the second time, I weigh more than I have since I quit drinking in December 2015 and I helped an old drunk passed out in the street.  My guest this episode from the podcast "The Crimson Wave", Natalie Norman.  She is a self described food addict.  We talk about being body positive, eating disorders, "salad Mondays" and how food addiction is similar to drug addictions.  

5 days after being released from the hospital, my girlfriend is back in.  There's been further complications from the miscarriage.  Her strength through all of this has been my inspiration to not deal with this stress at the bar or at a dealer's house.  We also said something pretty important to one another in the emergency room.  My guest this episode is Jason Maslakow, better known as Toronto Maple Leafs celebrity, superfan, "Dart Guy".  We talk about him becoming a viral sensation from cigarettes, his failed attempts at quitting, his current attempt at quitting for charity and how tough the Leafs' next playoff run will be without smoking. 

After 11 agonizing days my girlfriend is out of the hospital and is on the road to recovery.  I made it through without caffeine, alcohol, weed and biting my nails.  I was finally able to get a good night's sleep and my nails are starting to look almost human.  My guest this episode is a talented actor and comedian, Joel Edmiston.  He's 7 days off of chewing his nails and chewing tobacco.  We talk about "snuff", self harming and Joel tells us something he's never told anyone in his life. 

My girlfriend is still in the hospital with the complications from the miscarriage.  This has made sleeping next to impossible and I would kill every listener of this podcast for a cup of coffee.  My guest this interview is, John Mostyn.  Hailing from SCOTLAND, John quit drinking and drugs 7 months ago and claims it saved his life.  He's training for a triathlon to raise money for an addiction center and has an a bright outlook on his future.  

Recorded after I spent the better part of 48 hours in two different hospitals.  This episode, as good ole J.R would say, "is not for the weak of heart".  My interview this week is with one of my best friends, Trevor Thompson, on his 33rd day off of booze.  We talk about him puking all over himself, his bad mdma trip, AA, alcoholic family members and suicide.  It's still funny. 

Coming to you from New York City, I'm 41 days off of weed and 11 days off caffeine.  I talk about temptation to drink, use, have coffee and chain smoke in NYC.  Also the coping strategy of "playing the tape out".  My guest this episode is my good friend Jhanelle.  She's a student at NYU/comedian/rapper.  She's 8 months off of coffee and weed.  We talk about our experiences quitting those two things and some stupid stuff I said to her while drunk before.   

It's episode 6.  I'm 4 days off of caffeine, I like a girl and I may have saved a crackhead from ODing in a coffee shop bathroom.  There's two guests this episode.  The first is my friend and rising comedian Robbie.  I thought he was 5 months clean off crystal meth, turns out I was mistaken.  He talks about his mental condition, trying to kill his best friend and how he plans on staying clean this time.  Also fantastic comedian Chris Locke tries to quit chips for the month of May. 

I'm 31 days off of weed and 1 day off of caffeine.  I cover the past week regarding, vivid dreams, answering FAQs, apologizing to my mom and erectile difficulties on a first date.  My guest this week is the charming and talented Meg Mackay.  We discuss her addiction to speed and meth.  She's only one month clean, so it's pretty raw. 

It's day 23 off of weed and I'm doing a little better.  Finally getting some sleep, I'm having a more reasonable amount of cigarettes and I taught my first boxing class.  I asked a girl out for ginger ales and had a...weird response.  My guest this episode is Prince Edward Island's own Shawn Hogan.  4 days before he celebrates one year off of weed and booze.  We talk about him peeing everywhere when he's drunk, passing out in playgrounds and the "romantic" story of how he lost his virginity.  Super funny episode. 

I hit the record button at exactly 4:20pm on "420".  It's day 20 off of weed and it's the biggest weed day of the year.  The fog in my brain is slowly going away but I did have a bout of strep throat to deal with.  My guest is Allison Dore.  A successful satellite radio host who quit smoking weed 7 and half years ago.  She actually went to rehab for her weed addiction and talks about her road to recovery leading to success.   

I'm on my 5th day off weed.  It's not been a whole lot of fun, but I've had worse withdrawal symptoms in my life.  My very first guest is one of my best friends and a fantastic comedian, Marito Lopez.  We cover Marito's time in rehab last year, his struggle with alcohol, his alcoholism costing him a television spot and how we got through all of it together.