About this episode

Tristen Michael shares a deeply honest and humorous exploration of addiction, identity, and the journey of recovery.

What happens when your primary addiction isn't just alcohol, but escape itself? In this deeply honest, hilarious, and profoundly moving share, Tristen Michael ("TJ Starter the Third") explores growing up with impossible standards, learning to perform a version of yourself that everyone else could accept, and discovering that recovery isn't about becoming a better person, it's about finally becoming an actual person. From hiding candy in the lining of a rehab bag and smuggling coffee grounds behind paintings, to unpacking gender identity, family expectations, trauma, rage, shame, and the exhausting pursuit of perfection, this episode is a masterclass in self-compassion without sentimentality. This is a story about authority issues, emotional survival skills, queer identity, learning to live in your own body, and discovering that recovery isn't about fixing what's broken. It's about learning that you were never broken in the first place.

People in this episode

Guest: Tristen Michael

Topics covered

• addiction
• self-compassion
• gender identity
• family expectations
• trauma
• recovery

Keywords

• addiction
• recovery
• self-acceptance
• queer identity
• perfectionism
• trauma
• emotional survival

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