Frankie, Have You Seen Johnnie?

04/08/22 • 9 min

Busting Addiction and Its Myths

This podcast is a story about Frankie, his beautiful daughter Johnnie, and the power of desperation.

We learn that:

There is goodness within people that we don't often see because they are not "our kind".
Frank loved his beautiful daughter but was not able to help her due to his own addiction. It took a village to save her.
Johnnie must have figured out that she could no longer stay alive or sane if she kept up the life she was leading.
Ultimately, it was the luck of the draw that a space was available at a local rehab, and it is to her credit she seized the opportunity to help herself and keep her child.

This podcast is a story about Frankie, his beautiful daughter Johnnie, and the power of desperation.

We learn that:

There is goodness within people that we don't often see because they are not "our kind".
Frank loved his beautiful daughter but was not able to help her due to his own addiction. It took a village to save her.
Johnnie must have figured out that she could no longer stay alive or sane if she kept up the life she was leading.
Ultimately, it was the luck of the draw that a space was available at a local rehab, and it is to her credit she seized the opportunity to help herself and keep her child.

Previous Episode

Angelo, Who Believes in Angels

This podcast is a story about Angelo, a dear friend of Bruno J.
Angelo overcame almost unheard-of life challenges to get clean and sober and teach others the lessons of living a sober life.

We learn that:

It is possible to recover from addiction to drugs and alcohol regardless of one's life circumstances. We call the disease an equal opportunity predator and we call the 12-step program an equal opportunity saviour.
Angelo's story usually stops people in their tracks. Here's basically an illiterate guy who ends up with a good job and helps others stay sober. That is a higher power at work.
Angelo's belief in his form of a higher power is completely consistent with the idea of a "God of our understanding".
Angelo "got it" right at the start, and you will notice, he never did have a relapse despite the many challenges he continues to face every day.
His story, his charm, and his honesty continue to teach and uplift all who are privileged to know him.

Next Episode

Chuckie, the original Mad Man

In this podcast, Bruno J. recounts his early career as a Mad Man in the ad business, led by his boss Chuck.

We learn that:

Chuck had established what was already a successful routine that included alcohol by the time I met him.
The ad culture back in the 70's was very male and focused on the intensity of work and of play, defined as drinking.
A young, ambitious man would adopt whatever he saw would help him succeed in fitting in, since belonging is such a powerful motive early in a career.
Although the good lessons I learned from Chuck carried me far in my career and accounted for some considerable success, the hard drinking lesson cost me dearly later on.