Alex Wood Quits Everything

I read Kareem Abdul Jabbar's op-ed in the L.A times from this past weekend. My guest this episode, co-host of the Uncolonized Podcast, comedian, Bee Black. We talk about the everyday racism faced by black people, how he learned from his own prejudices and what we can all do moving forward.

I read another excerpt that was cut from my upcoming book but before that admit to a crisis of faith. My guest this episode if comedian George Rivard. Originally from the Yukon now making his home in Toronto. We talk quitting alcohol, cocaine, cigarettes, weed and even nutmeg. 

I read excerpts that were cut from the final draft of my book. My guest this episode, the founder of Lifeboat Counselling Services, it's Jordan Kearns. LCS is an online addiction and mental health counselling service. Jordan discusses the most common mistakes addicts make in recovery, relapsing, seeking help and what it's like to have a family member as an addict.

The intro for this episode is a special Mother's Day gift from me to all of your mothers. I talk about missing; comedy, the dog park and my ex.  This episode is all about mental health. My guest this episode, from the podcast "Sad in the City" it's: Marisa Bettino. We talk about her Bi-Polar 2 diagnosis and the hilarious struggle that is our mental health. 

My dog is doing better on dating apps than I am.  I also succumbed to the pandemic craze of doing something stupid to your hair.  This episode is all about inequality.  I interview James Kwak author of Economism:Bad Economics and the Rise of Inequality.  I also interview comedian and friend Peter Anthony about which Billionaires we would execute with a guillotine.  

Add red meat, dairy, chips and candy to the growing list of things I've quit.  In this episode I talk injecting bleach, the evils of chips, breakups and wisdom.  My guest, making his return to the podcast, Marito Lopez.  Marito relapsed last year but as always he comes back stronger than he was before.

My guest this episode is legendary boxer, "Irish" Micky Ward.  Ward is a 3 time winner of Ring Magazine's "Fight of the Year" and his life is the basis of the Oscar winning movie "The Fighter" starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale.  As inspiring as his boxing career was, the things he overcame outside of the ring are even more impressive.  We talk about the iconic trilogy with Arturo Gatti, addiction, family, childhood trauma and how boxing prepares you for life.  

Climate change, plastic in the ocean, porn relapsing, honoring Carole Baskin, Amazon's tax avoidance, nail biting, WWE in Saudi Arabia, my dog and so much more in the intro.  Then I interview Sarah Buchanan from the non-profit Environmental Defence.  We discuss what politicians and society at large could be doing to slow climate change and help out planet.

I’m on day 1,878 off cocaine day 1,570 off booze, day 1219 off hard drugs, day 1010 off cigarettes, day 704 off amazon, day 539 off plastic water bottles, day 522 off WWE, day 188 off cigars, day 92 off coffee, day 6 off buying anything new, day 6 off online shopping, day 3 off weed and until right now I was 739 days off this podcast. It's been 2 years since my last episode and a lot has happened.  Trigger warnings: everything 

It's day 365 off Weed, day 335 off caffeine, day 304 off biting my nails, day 275 off cigarettes, day 244 off red meat, day 212 off dairy, day 182 off porn, day 182 off cigars, day 151 off credit cards, day 121 off gossip, day 90 off sugar, day 59 off social media and day 31 off of my smartphone.  I did it.

I went to a Naloxone workshop that teaches people how to treat opium overdoses.  I'm also dealing with some pretty serious injuries before my upcoming fight and I talk about boxing helped get me sober.  It's part 2 of catching up with former guests.  I talk to; Robbie Stevenson now 6 months clean from Crystal Meth, Shawn who is coming up on two years sober and my girlfriend Laura, who is 8 months off of kratom.  It's the second to last episode, and I'm getting emotional.

There's less than 10 days left before I complete season one of the podcast and my challenge to quit all of my vices.  In this episode I catch up with past guests to see how they are doing now in they're sobriety.  Joining me; from "Swimming Lessons" is John Mostyn, from "Future Bird" Meg Mackay and from "Our Own Worst Enemy" Marito Lopez. 

There's less than two weeks left in season one and an unexpected death nearly pushed me to drink.  What would this podcast be without some a near relapse and death?  My guest this episode is a talented writer for Vice, Jordan Foisy.  He hasn't had a smart phone for two years!  We talk about how much better he feels with a flip phone, how confusing it is to other people and the evil's of 24/7 social media. 

I'm 12 days off of my smart phone and I'm reading a book for the first time in longer than I care to admit.  I'm sleeping better and my eyes don't feel strained since I'm not staring at a tiny glowing screen for large portions of the day.  My guest this episode, Melissa Story!  She's 4 months off of rehab and had an outpatient rehab treatment to kick the bud.  We talk about how much better her entire life has gone in such a short amount of time since then. 

There's less than one month left in season one and I'm on day 5 off of my smartphone.  Another incredibly tempting night, an instant classic heavyweight title fight and a trip to the museum were my last few days in New York.  My guest this episode is up and coming comedian, Ana-Marie Stoic.  She is 18 months off of booze, with a few slips in there because we all slip.  We talk about her home country and how children drink and smoke.  We also talk about the links between mental health and addiction. 

Look, if you aren't a fan of the intros where I'm sad and I feel bad for myself then you should just fast forward through this pity party.  BUT if you have your pity party hat on, then this is the intro for you.  I hated myself on the Today Show and I almost relapsed because of it.  My guest this episode is Ian Fidance.  We talk about his addiction to cocaine, alcohol and prostitutes.  We also go into both of our repeated relapses and why we hope this time is the one that sticks for both of us.  One of my favorite interviews. 

I'm in New York again because NBC has flown me here to be a guest on the Today Show to talk about the podcast and my addictive personality.  Not bad for a podcast that started 11 months ago that took me 1500 takes for the first episode.  My guest is ONE of my best friends, Dylan Gott.  Dylan is a month off of booze and I couldn't be happier that he has a friend like me in his life. 

February 15th 2018 marks three years since I last did cocaine.  It's the longest I've gone in my adult life.  I remember the bad times of hard drug addiction, relapses, licking bathroom floors and the positive changes that have happened to me since then.  My guest this episode is my good friend, Alexis O.  Over the last 8 months she has quit drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.  We talk about what made her want to make these changes and taking her mental health seriously for the first time.

I'm 10 days off of social media and I feel less like a zombie already.  I used my credit card and I'm not happy about it.  Although I am happy that Laura and I have found a place to live.  My guest this episode is Joel who is 9 months clean from oxycontin, percocet and heroin.  We talk about the sports injury that lead to his addiction, his rehab and the group therapy that helped him to get clean.  

I'm on day 3 off of social media and I am shocked at how difficult it is to quit.  I monitored how many times I had an impulse to check Facebook/Instagram/Twitter on the first day and it was 48 times.  Yikes.  I've also signed up for my first boxing fight and I'm moving in with my girlfriend.  My guest this episode is entrepreneur, Allie Sweeting.  We talk about the why Snapchat was playing havoc with her anxiety and how she was able to quit it.