
Bogie Bowles on Early Sobriety, Music, and Why “It’s Just Weed” Isn’t True
From Finding New Waters by Finding New Waters
March 26, 2026 · 42 min
About this episode
Bogie Bowles discusses his journey of early sobriety, the intersection of music and recovery, and the evolving perceptions of cannabis use.
In this episode of Finding New Waters, B Reeves and Justin McClendon sit down with Bogie Bowles, Clinical Director at Ascend Recovery in Utah, with deep North Carolina connections and a story rooted in early sobriety. Bogie shares what it was like getting sober at 18 as a freshman at Carolina, navigating recovery while still living a musician’s life, and building a career in the field. The conversation also gets real about what has changed in treatment and culture since the 90s. They take a hard look at today’s high-potency THC landscape, the false sense of safety around “it’s just weed,” and the unregulated Delta and THCA products that are showing up everywhere. If you have a teen, work in the field, or have ever minimized cannabis because of what it used to be, this episode will shift your perspective. Subscribe for more recovery conversations from Finding New Waters. Like the video, leave a comment with your biggest takeaway, and share this episode with someone who needs hope. Timestamps [01:00:00] Welcome back + Bogie Bowles intro (Ascend Recovery, Utah) [01:01:00] North Carolina connections + music background (Knockdown Smilin) [01:02:26] Getting sober at 18 as a freshman at…
People in this episode
Hosts: B Reeves, Justin McClendon
Guest: Bogie Bowles
Topics covered
- early sobriety
- music
- cannabis culture
- treatment changes
- THC landscape
Keywords
- sobriety
- music
- cannabis
- treatment
- THC
- recovery
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Ascend Recovery
Books & works: Knockdown Smilin
Places: Utah, North Carolina
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