What does subtle codependency actually look like in real life? In this kickoff episode of CrazyTown Confessions, Finn and Dr. Sarah pull back the curtain on their own sneaky patterns—manipulation disguised as care, irritation masked as concern, and the quiet control tactics that slip in when we’re trying to soothe ourselves.

From storm anxiety and “helpful suggestions” to shoulder injuries, insurance battles, and unspoken resentment, this episode shows how codependency often hides in the smallest moments. With humor, humility, and hard-earned insight, Finn and Sarah model what it looks like to catch yourself in the act—and choose something healthier instead.

Because recovery isn’t about perfection. It’s about awareness… and doing it differently next time.

Takeaways

• Codependency is often subtle and self-soothing, not dramatic or obvious

• Manipulation can hide inside “care” and good intentions

• Irritation is often a sign of unspoken fear or unmet needs

• Awareness is the first step toward changing behavior

• Recovery means taking responsibility for your emotional experience—not outsourcing it

Notable Resources

Dr. Sarah Michaud, Author of Co CrazyFollow @leavingcrazytown on YouTubeWebsite: https://drsarahmichaud.com/

If you loved this conversation, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown—and share it with a friend ready to reclaim their voice and leave confusion behind.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we’re leaving CrazyTown.

Episode Description

What happens when you’ve done “everything right” in recovery — and it still isn’t enough? In this deeply honest conversation, Dr. Sarah sits down with author Patti Clark to explore long-term sobriety, relapse after 13 years, emotional bottoms, motherhood shame, loneliness, and the quiet moments that can pull us back into addiction. Patti shares the raw truth behind her relapse, the power of connection, and why recovery is about becoming whole — not perfect.

Takeaways

• Why relapse often begins long before the drink

• How loneliness can become an emotional bottom

• The hidden shame many mothers carry in addiction and recovery

• Why connection — not discipline — sustains sobriety

• How creativity and writing can support emotional healing

Key Timestamps

• 01:00 Patti’s recovery origin story and family alcoholism

• 11:00Loneliness, disconnection, and leaving meetings

• 13:00Relapsing after 13 years sober

• 18:00Motherhood, shame, and hidden drinking

• 24:00Emotional bottoms and forgiveness

• 37:00Writing The Recovery Road Trip and “now what?” recovery

Notable Resources & Guest Links

• The Recovery Road Trip by Patti Clark

• Website: https://pattyclark.org

• TikTok: @recoveringwoman

• Instagram/Facebook: Patti Clark, Author

If this episode resonated, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown — and share it with someone navigating recovery, relapse, or emotional burnout.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we’re leaving CrazyTown.

How often do you say “I’m fine” when you’re anything but? In this episode of Leaving CrazyTown, Finn and Dr. Sarah unpack the many meanings behind those two deceptively simple words—and why asking for help can feel harder than suffering in silence. With humor, honesty, and lived recovery wisdom, they explore what makes some requests easy, others terrifying, and how emotional pain often hides behind self-sufficiency. This conversation is for anyone learning how to name their needs without shame and step out of survival mode.

Key Takeaways

• “I’m fine” is often a protective shield—not the truth

• Asking for help feels easier when it benefits others, not ourselves

• Illness and emotional pain trigger deep autonomy and boundary issues

• Recovery trains us to ask for help—but only in specific lanes

• Emotional honesty requires safety, timing, and trust

Key Timestamps

• [00:01] What “I’m fine” really stands for

• [00:03] Why service-based asks feel safer

• [00:05] Illness, isolation, and control

• [00:07] Emotional pain and selective vulnerability

• [00:09] The recovery paradox: trained to ask, still afraid

Notable Resources

• Dr. Sarah Michaud — Author of Co Crazy

• Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com/

• Follow @leavingcrazytown on YouTube

If this episode hit close to home, subscribe, rate, and share it with someone who’s tired of pretending they’re fine.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we’re leaving CrazyTown.

The holidays have a way of turning up the volume on codependency — expectations, guilt, fear of disappointing others, and the pressure to “just make it work.” In this honest holiday wrap-up, Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud review what actually helped, what didn’t, and how clear communication became the difference between resentment and relief. From navigating COVID plans to managing adult kids’ expectations, this episode offers real-life examples of boundaries in action — imperfect, human, and effective.Takeaways

• Clear communication prevents resentment — even when it feels uncomfortable

• Being honest about what you want doesn’t make you selfish

• Boundaries work best when you release the need to control others’ reactions

• Avoiding discomfort creates long-term emotional “ick”

• Holidays don’t require self-abandonment to be meaningful

Key Timestamps

• [00:01:00] Why being “wishy-washy” fuels codependency

• [00:02:30] Navigating COVID, family expectations, and guilt

• [00:04:00] Saying what you want without managing others’ feelings

• [00:06:30] Holiday spirals and parental guilt

• [00:07:30] Choosing clarity over emotional chaos

Notable Resources

• Dr. Sarah Michaud — Author of Co Crazy

• Follow @leavingcrazytown on YouTube

• Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com/

If this episode resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s still unpacking their holiday “stuff.”

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we’re leaving CrazyTown.

Episode Description

What happens when peak physical endurance collides with life-altering diagnosis? In this powerful episode of Leaving CrazyTown, Dr. Sarah Michaud sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds—nonprofit CEO, Ironman triathlete, and two-time cancer survivor—to unpack what it really means to do hard things. Jeffrey shares how endurance training prepared him for cancer treatment, how vulnerability reshaped his relationships, and why strength isn’t about avoiding fear—it’s about learning to run alongside it. This is an honest, grounded conversation about mortality, resilience, masculinity, and choosing presence over panic.

Key Takeaways

• Why fitness is not the same as health

• How endurance training builds emotional grit—not just physical stamina

• The hidden cost (and gift) of vulnerability, especially for men

• What cancer teaches us about priorities, presence, and legacy

• Why letting people help you is sometimes a gift to them

Key Timestamps

• 02:00 – From a spontaneous 5K to Ironman training
• 08:00 – “I did Ironman with cancer”
• 14:00 – Fitness vs. health: an important distinction
• 23:00 – Vulnerability, masculinity, and male friendships
• 37:00 – Rest, burnout, and rethinking productivity
• 41:00 – Legacy, meaning, and what truly matters

Notable Resources & Links

• Book: Every Mile Matters by Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds

• Website: EveryMileMatters.com

• Author Site: JeffreyReynolds.com

If this episode resonated, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown—and share it with someone facing something hard.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we’re leaving CrazyTown

What if the fastest way out of resentment, anxiety, and emotional spirals was the one thing most of us avoid? In this episode, Finn and Dr. Sarah break down why speaking directly to the person who upset you is one of the most powerful tools in codependency recovery. With real-life stories, humor, and practical guidance, they show how confronting discomfort leads to clarity, intimacy, and emotional freedom—and why avoiding the conversation costs you far more in the long run.

Takeaways

• Making up stories in your head creates resentment, not safety

• Avoidance is a core codependency pattern that keeps you stuck

• Speaking directly builds intimacy—even when it feels risky

• Preparation matters: regulate before you communicate

• Short-term discomfort creates long-term emotional freedom

Key Timestamps

[00:01] Why we avoid the person who upset us

[00:03] The danger of making up stories in your head

[00:05] Deciding if a relationship is worth addressing

[00:07] How to prepare emotionally before the conversation

[00:10] Speaking without blame or defensiveness

[00:12] Choosing courage over gossip and resentment

Notable Resources

• Dr. Sarah Michaud – Author of Co Crazy

• Follow @leavingcrazytown on YouTube

• Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com/

If this episode hit home, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown—and share it with someone who’s been stuck rehearsing conversations instead of having them.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we’re leaving CrazyTown.

Episode Description

If you’ve ever rushed in with advice when someone you love was hurting—or felt shut down when you just wanted to be heard—this episode is for you. Finn and Dr. Sarah break down one of the most common (and damaging) traits of codependency: the need to fix other people’s feelings. Through real-life stories, honest reflection, and practical tools, they explain why fixing kills intimacy, what it creates instead, and how learning to listen can transform your relationships.

Key Takeaways

• Trying to fix someone’s feelings often makes them feel unseen and alone

• Most people don’t want solutions—they want validation and presence

• Fixing is usually about managing your discomfort, not helping them

• Asking “Do you want support or feedback?” can change everything

• Listening builds intimacy; fixing creates resentment

Key Timestamps

• [01:00] — The core codependency trait: trying to fix people

• [02:00] — Finn’s story: when advice shut down connection

• [04:00] — Why validation matters more than solutions

• [07:00] — Asking what someone needs instead of assuming

• [08:30] — Fixing as emotional self-protection

• [10:00] — How fixing creates distance and resentment

Notable Resources

• Dr. Sarah Michaud — Author of Co Crazy

• Leaving CrazyTown Podcast on YouTube

• Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com/

If this episode hit home, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown—and share it with someone who’s tired of feeling unheard.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into dysfunctional relationship patterns, emotional recovery, and reclaiming your voice—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we’re leaving CrazyTown.

What happens when you quit drinking—but life still feels unbearable? In this raw, deeply validating conversation, Dr. Sarah Michaud sits down with sobriety coach, author, and creator of the Soberful podcast with Veronica Valli, to unpack the missing link in recovery: emotional sobriety. From early addiction and fear-driven coping to codependent relationships and subconscious attachment wounds, Veronica shares why so many people get sober yet still feel stuck—and what actually creates lasting freedom. This episode is for anyone who’s sober, sober-curious, or emotionally exhausted from repeating the same relationship patterns and wondering, “Why am I still hurting?”

Key Takeaways

• Why sobriety without emotional recovery can feel worse over time

• How fear—not alcohol—is often the real addiction

• The connection between codependency, attachment wounds, and relapse

• Why movement and the body are non-negotiable in healing

• What “emotional sobriety” actually looks like in real life

Key Timestamps

[00:02:00] Veronica’s early drinking and fear-based coping

[00:06:00] The moment she realized fear—not alcohol—was the root

[00:08:30] Emotional sobriety vs. white-knuckling recovery

[00:11:30] Why relationships stay chaotic even after getting sober

[00:14:30] The five pillars of emotional sobriety

[00:18:00] Why movement and the body matter more than we thinkNotable Resources & Guest Links

• Veronica Valli — Sobriety Coach & Author

• Book: Soberful

Podcast & YouTube: Soberful

If this episode resonated, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown—and share it with someone who’s sober but still struggling.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we’re leaving CrazyTown.