Podcast Summary: "Bighead: From Motocross Tracks To Chart Topping Hits"
Podcast Information:
- Title: We're Out of Time
- Host: Richard Taite
- Description: Addressing the fentanyl crisis and delving into addiction, substance use disorders, and mental health.
- Episode: Bighead: From Motocross Tracks To Chart Topping Hits
- Release Date: July 1, 2025
1. Introduction to Big Head
The episode begins with Richard Taite welcoming Big Head, a songwriter, DJ, and music producer, to the show. Big Head shares his origins and the story behind his unique nickname.
- Notable Quote:
- Big Head [00:04]: “Fear has driven my whole life, and eventually I started doing music secretly... I remember being really young, six years old, I'm Big Head. And that became a thing... Nothing else but Big Head.”
2. Early Life and Family Dynamics
Big Head provides an in-depth look into his upbringing in Palmdale, California, highlighting the turbulent family environment marked by his parents' separation, his sister's struggle with schizophrenia and drug use, and his father's influence through motocross racing.
-
Key Points:
- Grew up in a desert town racing motocross with his father.
- Sister was diagnosed with schizophrenia likely due to methamphetamine use.
- Household was frequently chaotic with fights and presence of law enforcement.
- Mother occasionally drank, altering her behavior and contributing to household tension.
-
Notable Quotes:
- Big Head [05:44]: “I grew up... racing motocross teenager. You know, I started seeing girls, getting girls at 12.”
- Richard Taite [15:05]: “So let's go into this. I want to talk about your druggies.”
3. Motocross Career and Its Impact
Big Head discusses his early involvement in motocross, the financial strain it placed on his family, and how it built his resilience and toughness.
-
Key Points:
- Started racing motocross at age five.
- Faced numerous injuries but credits his father for instilling toughness.
- Won significant races, creating memorable moments with his father.
-
Notable Quotes:
- Big Head [09:21]: “He’s like, I'm 30 grand in debt... It was expensive sport.”
- Big Head [13:51]: “I think that has built me tough. God bless my dad for getting me into that.”
4. Transition to Music
Despite his father's disapproval of music, Big Head pursued his passion secretly, initially using it as an outlet for his fears and anger.
-
Key Points:
- Began making beats at age 16.
- Faced ridicule from friends for overthinking and focusing on music.
- Turned to Xanax to cope, marking the beginning of his substance use.
-
Notable Quotes:
- Big Head [19:08]: “I started taking some Zans... I laid there scared as... It was the greatest feeling ever.”
- Richard Taite [21:14]: “Liquid courage.”
5. Struggles with Addiction
The conversation delves into Big Head's spiral into various substances, including Xanax, heroin, and fentanyl, exacerbating his personal and professional life.
-
Key Points:
- Progressed from occasional use to heavy addiction by his late teens.
- Engaged in risky behaviors, including using drugs while touring.
- Experienced homelessness and strained relationships due to addiction.
-
Notable Quotes:
- Big Head [24:09]: “I was smoking crack... I was a full-on heroin addict and crack addict.”
- Richard Taite [27:17]: “What does that feel like to have the day your child is born, you get caught smoking crack cocaine in a hospital, and you don't even get to take that kid home with you?”
6. Pivotal Moments and Turning Points
Big Head recounts the critical incident involving the birth of his child and intervention by Child Protective Services (DCFS), which catalyzed his decision to seek treatment.
-
Key Points:
- During a fentanyl overdose, discovered he was expecting a child.
- DCFS intervened, placing his child with his girlfriend’s family.
- Realized the severity of his addiction, leading to his commitment to sobriety.
-
Notable Quotes:
- Big Head [28:54]: “Honestly, looking back now, I'm grateful that they were aware and they could... I was not a safe fit to be a parent.”
- Big Head [31:06]: “I have to remember it.”
7. Recovery and Redemption
Five years sober, Big Head shares his journey of rebuilding his life, reclaiming his daughter, and revitalizing his music career with newfound clarity and discipline.
-
Key Points:
- Entered treatment after hitting rock bottom financially and personally.
- Reconnected with his daughter one year into sobriety.
- Adapted his music career post-COVID, focusing on quality over quantity.
- Acknowledges the positive changes in his emotional and mental well-being.
-
Notable Quotes:
- Big Head [32:05]: “Everything got better. I got my daughter back at a year sober.”
- Big Head [39:11]: “And I'm in recovery and there's so many guys dying...”
8. Reflections on the Fentanyl Crisis
The episode concludes with Big Head reflecting on the widespread impact of fentanyl, highlighting its dangers, especially in laced forms that unsuspecting users ingest.
-
Key Points:
- Emphasizes that many fentanyl-related deaths are unintentional due to unknowingly consumed laced substances.
- Mentions personal losses, including friends like Little Pimp and Kawhi.
- Contrasts overdose incidents in the U.S. with other countries, noting the prevalence in American party scenes.
-
Notable Quotes:
- Big Head [40:08]: “Fentanyl overdose. Laced pill. My friend Kawhi, you know...”
- Richard Taite [33:10]: “They don't have any tolerance for it... it's not if, it's when.”
9. Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Richard Taite and Big Head wrap up the discussion by acknowledging the hardships faced and the importance of perseverance. Big Head encourages embracing one's past to fuel a better future.
-
Key Points:
- Big Head expresses gratitude for his journey and the lessons learned.
- Emphasizes the transformative power of sobriety and unconditional love, especially as a parent.
- Encourages others struggling with addiction to seek help and hold onto hope.
-
Notable Quotes:
- Big Head [42:50]: “I think that confidence I got when I first did some blow... it's present sober.”
- Richard Taite [31:06]: “Nobody needs to beat themselves up over anything in the past.”
Key Takeaways:
- Impact of Family: Big Head's tumultuous family life, marked by addiction and mental illness, significantly influenced his early behaviors and coping mechanisms.
- Addiction's Progression: His journey illustrates how initial substance use for coping can escalate into severe addiction, affecting all aspects of life.
- Turning Point: The birth of his child and intervention by DCFS served as a pivotal moment, compelling him to seek sobriety.
- Recovery's Rewards: Sobriety has allowed Big Head to rebuild relationships, particularly with his daughter, and revitalize his career with greater focus and authenticity.
- Fentanyl Awareness: The episode underscores the dangers of fentanyl, especially its propensity to cause accidental overdoses due to its potency and prevalence in laced drugs.
Where to Find Big Head:
This episode of "We're Out of Time" offers a profound exploration of overcoming addiction, the importance of family and community support, and the dire need to address the fentanyl crisis. Big Head's candid storytelling provides valuable insights and serves as a beacon of hope for those grappling with similar struggles.