Detox and Withdrawal, Todd's First Call in; Gets Arrested in the Projects, Graphic Design Ryan on Trading a laptop for heroin - Dopey Total Replay!

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Long Summary Notes:

Dave opens the Dopey Total Replay by revisiting Episode 27, “Detox Withdrawal,” one of the earliest foundational episodes of Dopey. He explains how the episode introduced both graphic designer Ryan — creator of the iconic nodding Dopey logo — and Todd Curry, Dave’s longtime using buddy who would later die in 2018, just weeks before Chris.

Dave reflects on Chris’s original idea for a “Dopey Stories” book made up of listener submissions and stories from the show. He talks about failed attempts to pitch the project to publishers and wonders whether self-publishing a Dopey book on Amazon might finally make sense. He invites listeners to resend their best stories to dopeypodcast@gmail.com.

Disclaimer: I think I called Spanish People Stupid - but it was meant totally with love.

Dave then shifts into a recap of Music on the Mountain in Vermont, where he attended with Linda and the kids. He talks about seeing Anders Osborne, Daniel Donato, Jackie Greene, Karina Rykman, Eggy, Lamp, and others. Susan celebrates her eighth birthday and hilariously insists on introducing bands onstage after Dave lets her introduce Karina Rykman. Dave admits Susan might actually be a better MC than him.

Dave promotes the upcoming Dopey Short Film Festival at the SVA Theater, mentioning Mountainside as a possible title sponsor and joking about Katz’s desserts and Othello cookies potentially being involved.

He reads Patreon and Spotify comments reacting to the previous replay episode, including discussion of Rush, Basketball Diaries, Knicks playoff hopes, bread basket addiction, and people missing Chris. Dave goes on multiple tangents about bread, fitness, the Knicks, and Cleveland versus Detroit.

The replay itself begins with Chris and Dave just starting to record when Todd randomly calls in. Todd immediately launches into a story about getting arrested while allegedly trying to buy weed in a housing project. Chris and Dave immediately question the story while Todd insists he was only trying to buy marijuana.

The conversation spirals into stories about community service, Delancey Street cleanup duty, reverse discrimination jokes, airport profiling, Todd’s history with Dave, and their years selling drugs together. Chris openly campaigns for Todd to become a recurring Dopey guest while Dave resists because Todd is still actively using heroin and weed.

Graphic designer Ryan joins the conversation and explains why he loved Dopey from the beginning — because it wasn’t a traditional recovery podcast. He says recovery shows felt too church-like, while Dopey mixed active addiction stories with recovery in a way that could actually reach addicts.

Todd and Dave argue about whether active users should appear on Dopey. Ryan attempts to sober coach Todd live on the air, asking him what heroin does for him emotionally. Todd admits heroin covers feelings of loneliness, insecurity, and self-hatred. He describes failed relationships, yoga classes, women, and using heroin to cope with emotional pain.

Ryan explains the basics of abstinence and recovery while Todd half-jokes and half-confesses his inability to stop using. Chris mostly eggs the entire thing on while enjoying the chaos.

The episode shifts into stories about Mountainside and the infamous “Phase Four” extended-care house. Ryan explains how he entered treatment planning only to save money for heroin afterward, but somehow ended up getting sober instead. Dave admits he originally thought Ryan would never stay sober, while Dave himself eventually relapsed despite appearing more serious about recovery at the time.<