2 Addicts & A Moron – EP 72: Tyler's Journey To Sobriety

Podcast Date: September 17, 2025
Guest: Tyler
Main Theme: Tyler shares his raw, unvarnished story of addiction, multiple relapses, and finding lasting recovery. Hosts Stu and Joey (“the Moron”) guide the conversation, delving into the mindset of addiction, recovery pitfalls, community, and the importance of staying teachable.

Episode Overview

This episode centers on Tyler’s powerful and honest journey through more than a decade of addiction, his struggle to find and sustain sobriety, and the lessons learned through multiple stints in treatment. The hosts and Tyler explore what “recovery” really means, the traps of thinking you know it all, and finding fulfillment in sober living. The tone is candid, friendly, and peppered with humor and real talk—the exact blend that has connected listeners to this show.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Tyler’s Timeline and Drugs of Choice

• Tyler’s Sobriety: 15 months (sober since June 3, 2024) [01:57]
• Drugs of Choice: Started with meth in his 20s; later cocaine (IV), alcohol, kratom—basically, “whatever’s around” [02:21]
  • “I will use anything. Even if I hate it, I will use it. Just whatever’s around.” – Tyler [02:33]
• Nature of Addiction: Early exposure at 16, first blackout, rapid escalation with every new substance, and identity wrapped up in being “a stoner guy” [08:20]
• Length and Progression: About 12–13 years of “hard enough use that I realized life sucked. It wasn’t fun anymore.” [07:40]

The Allure and Normalization of Substance Use

• Normalization of Alcohol: Hosts and Tyler discuss how society makes alcohol ever-present and ultra-accessible, making it uniquely hard for alcoholics to avoid [03:23–05:43]
  • “The cost of admission for alcohol is so low and the acceptability of it, too.” – Tyler [04:12]
• Fitting In and Trauma: Tyler was driven by wanting to fit in, and later used substances to cope with significant trauma, including sexual abuse in high school [09:49–14:21]
  • “I did drugs because I wanted to fit in and be cool. I was a lost little kid at 15.” – Tyler [10:49]
  • “I have some sexual trauma from around high school... there was a switch where it became a coping strategy.” – Tyler [12:37]

Treatment & Relapse: The Chaos of Recovery

• Multiple Stints in Rehab: Tyler attended 6 different treatment centers, with each experience offering something new but also requiring him to “start from scratch” [16:30, 54:22–55:38]

  • “Six is about, like, middle of the road.” – Tyler [16:33]

• Relapse Stories: candid recounting of relapse triggers—some meticulously planned, some utterly impulsive [25:15–31:16]

  • “When I relapsed... I didn’t, like, immediately seek out meth. I ended up trying kratom.” – Tyler [20:16]
  • “I had to pretend like I didn’t know… The things I thought I knew were probably going to get me killed.” – Tyler [55:38]

• The Cycle of Addiction: Relapses often rationalized or disguised as “helping” others; sometimes so impulsive he questioned the reality after the fact [31:07–33:10]

  • “I was like, we’re gonna set him up… three minutes after he walks out, I walk in and snort it.” – Tyler [30:24–31:02]
  • “I’m just trying to be of service here...” – Tyler (sarcastic, about using drugs) [31:35]

• Insight on Recovery Traps:

  • “The knowledge is cumulative, but I have to always be searching for a different perspective... and be willing to be coachable.” – Tyler [57:00]
  • “You always have to be teachable.” – Stu [57:22]

What Works in Recovery

• Staying Connected: The most important protective factor was staying in communication and being accountable to sober friends [34:37–36:21]

  • “When I struggle, I don’t do it alone anymore… Now it’s between me and others.” – Tyler [35:38]
  • “All my struggles and internal conflict used to be between me and myself. Now it’s between me and others.” – Tyler [35:26]

• Service and Community:

  • “One of the biggest things for me is, when I struggle, I don’t do it alone anymore.” – Tyler [35:38]
  • “Pretty quickly, recovery stops being about drugs and alcohol and starts being about myself… and helping people.” – Tyler [39:46–41:32]

Notable Quotes About Addiction’s Logic

• “My drug of choice is drug of no choice.” – Tyler [18:45]
• “If you introduce a drug to me and there’s a substantial amount of it, you’re getting after it. I’ll use it alcoholically, immediately.” – Tyler [08:28]
• “I was never under the delusion that I could control things.” – Tyler [09:18]
• “I’m not a good drug addict. Like, I’m pretty bad at it.” – Tyler [49:37]

Notable Guests, Moments & Humor

• Dynamic with Co-hosts: Joey jokes that he initially disliked Tyler for using too many big words and for being up early in rehab—later they become close [22:19–23:02]
  • “He used big, more than seven-letter words. I didn’t like that.” – Joey [22:35]
  • “That’s my least favorite person right now.” – Joey [22:48]
• Kratom Detox Story: Tyler experienced severe withdrawal from kratom, to the ire of his rehab roommates—sparking laughter and rehab “house arrest” stories [21:37–22:27]
• Music & Recovery: Ends with a deep dive into favorite bands (Deftones, Pantera, etc.), concerts, and how music is a huge part of Tyler’s sober life [70:50–87:00]
  • “I find enjoyment in anything that I’m doing. That’s the thing: I don’t have to feel like I’m doing some special activity for things to be fun.” – Tyler [71:14]
• Charlie Sheen Discussion: The hosts riff on celebrity recovery, secrecy, and the hazards of fame, blending humor and real insight [41:33–49:13]

Highlights: Recovery Wisdom & Memorable Quotes

On Why Recovery Finally “Stuck”

• “The notion of going and taking a drink is so absurd to me now that it gets laughed off… That wasn’t always true.” – Tyler [34:16]
• “Now I run every dumbass thing by somebody. I have a few core people that I’ll talk to about everything.” – Tyler [34:59]
• “If you put barriers up between your recovery world and the outside world… there has to be some selfishness at the bottom of that.” – Tyler [40:46]

On Trauma & Stigma

• “Lots of people assume it’s trauma... But I know people with normal childhoods that end up street junkies. It’s not one-size-fits-all.” – Tyler [12:24]
• “Putting all your medals on your chest… there’s no more hiding, no more shame.” – Joey (paraphrasing past guest Stephen Sheehan) [36:25]

Most Memorable Moment

• Tyler and Joey both admit their first impressions were negative, then became best friends in recovery, poking fun at the “character defect of judgment” they both held [66:30–67:09]

Recovery in Action: Day-to-Day Sobriety

• Today, Tyler:

  • Works as a tech in a mental health treatment center [67:49]
  • Manages sober living housing and does handyman work [68:30]
  • Attends meetings, reads, goes to the gym, plays loads of sports, and enjoys concerts [70:50–72:38]
  • Emphasizes just “answering the phone” and showing up for people as core to his happiness [69:00–70:33]
  • Finds joy in simple things, reluctant to romanticize “big plans” in recovery

  “I find more fulfillment in most day-to-day activities and just life in general.” – Tyler [71:14]

Community Events & Podcast Reflections

• Discussion of recent show trip to Marshalltown, Iowa – gratitude for being invited to speak at a sober event and the surreal experience of connecting with listeners in unexpected places [89:30–94:24]
• Reflections on the responsibility and honor of sharing stories that build hope:
  • “Your story will be too. I mean, I hope so. You guys have platformed a lot of growth and recovery for people.” – Tyler [94:24]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:57] – Tyler marks 15 months of sobriety
• [05:50–09:50] – Early years, first rehab, trajectory of addiction
• [14:18] – Connection between trauma and substance abuse
• [16:30] – The grind of multiple treatment attempts
• [25:15] – Relapse planning and the “slippery slope”
• [34:37–36:21] – Staying connected and not struggling alone
• [39:46–41:32] – Recovery as a principle of life, not just abstinence
• [70:50–72:38] – What fun and fulfillment look like in sobriety
• [89:30–94:24] – Reflections on the Iowa event, community, and responsibility

Tone and Takeaways

• Candid, Open, and Humorous: The episode blends dark truths with plenty of jokes and camaraderie, keeping the conversation real and relatable.
• Hopeful Yet Cautious: Tyler’s story is a testament that recovery is possible but always precarious; “never be too smart to keep learning” and “don’t be alone in your struggle” are key themes.
• Community and Service: The strongest thread is the value of community—both in recovery and life. Service to others and honest accountability are the foundation for growth.
• Recovery Doesn’t Mean Life is Boring: Tyler’s new joys—music, sports, reading, showing up for friends—underscore that fulfillment in sobriety is real, if you stay open and connected.

Final Note:
Anyone in early sobriety or struggling to “get it” will hear themselves in Tyler’s story—his skepticism, pain, humor, and hope. Stu and Joey create a space where recovery is honest, fallible, and worth celebrating, one day and one story at a time.