Pondoff's Anonymous – Episode 21 Show Notes Who this episode is for: Anyone who woke up with a Great Dane puppy and no memory of ordering it The families still trying to love a tornado in human form Addicts who’ve checked into rehab more times than they can count (Angela’s got you beat) People in recovery, people out of recovery, people still circling the drain Folks not in recovery but who’ve ever made a mess of their life and are wondering, “Now what?” Chris and Jeff wrangle the now-married ma...
Jun 23, 2025•1 hr 46 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Crossover Chaos: The Science of Addiction Who this episode is for: Anyone who’s ever stared down their own addictions Families who don’t get why their loved one can’t “just stop” The “I’m not an addict, but I totally have addictive behaviors” crowd People obsessed with the science behind why their brains keep screwing them over Therapy nerds, recovery warriors, and dudes who need to get over being "too tough" to talk about emotions And of course — anyone who’s ever made a complete dumpster fire ...
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Pondoff’s Anonymous – Cristina Preston Episode Who this episode is for: Anyone outworking pain in the gym Folks from good homes who wrecked their lives People with pasts they swore they’d never share Anyone who’s felt like a fraud—addict or not Church kids hiding chaos behind smiles Chris is on a Staten Island ferry, pizza grease on his fingers, yelling at Lady Liberty and eating humble pie ‘cause the remote-record plan tanked. But that tech fail is your gain—because we’re re-dropping a raw conv...
Jun 09, 2025•2 hr 18 min
Who this episode is for: • Anyone battling booze, burnout, or both • Moms hanging on by a thread with a wine glass in hand • Those who think “functioning alcoholic” means everything’s fine • Anyone who ever woke up and said, “How the hell did I get here?” • People not in recovery who’ve ever run from themselves and called it “freedom” Episode Title: "Closet Wine & Corporate Flights: Angela’s Fight for Herself" Angela Schenewerk shows up and blows the roof off. From Cahokia childhood to hidde...
Jun 02, 2025•2 hr 19 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Who this episode is for: Anyone who thinks addiction can't touch high-achieving professionals 🧠💉 People who think "functioning alcoholic" is a badge of honor 🥃🏆 Those stalling on help because \"work is too busy\" 🏃♂️📅 Anyone who's survived a brutal divorce 💔 Healthcare workers, therapists & rehab skeptics 🩺🧪 Family members who don’t get why their addicted loved one keeps spiraling 😔👨👩👧👦 People NOT in recovery but know they’re circling the drain 🚨🌀 Dr. Chris Schenewerk is ...
May 26, 2025•1 hr 51 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Guest: Victory Palmisano-Bruckner – Hollywood Producer, Stunt Industry Survivor, and Daughter of a Vietnam Vet/Addict Who this episode is for: Anyone with an alcoholic parent or a complicated grief story Daughters who loved their dads even when it hurt Folks haunted by the war they never fought in Survivors of church trauma, spiritual abuse, and Hollywood bullshit Creatives chasing their own IP dream (and still broke) Anyone who’s ever loved someone they couldn’t save AND anyone not in recovery ...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 33 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Who this episode is for: Those gutted by playoff heartbreak. Anyone who’s blacked out and called mom from jail. Teachers who taught Spanish while sweating out tequila. The sober curious, the secret drinkers, and the still spiraling. And anyone who’s ever run from a strip club tab and lived to tell it. EPISODE 16: “Señor Tequila & the Long Walk Home” (with Kurt Garner) Chris and Jakob are emotionally wrecked. The Blues blew it with 1.6 seconds left. Enter Kurt Garner—a guy who once taught ele...
May 12, 2025•2 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 16
🎙️ EPISODE 15: Cam Janssen – "Painkillers, Playoffs & Garth Fucking Brooks" Who this episode is for: Anyone who’s ever played hurt, lived high, or faked being fine Moms who can smell bullshit before you open your mouth Blues fans screaming “LET’S GO!” and flipping off Winnipeg Kids who grew up begging to stay on the ice till the Zamboni chased ‘em off Those who overdosed in front of their neighbors and somehow kept it moving Anyone who’s ever made a mess of their life Cam Janssen rolls into...
May 05, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Who this episode is for:Anyone teetering on the edge of “maybe I need help”Parents of addicts who keep asking, “Am I helping or enabling?”People in recovery wondering if they can keep their phone in rehab (spoiler: no)The spiritually curious and the godless skepticsBosses trying to figure out WTF is going on with their flaky employeeAnyone who’s ever paced around their house yelling at a hockey game with chicken wing grease on their shirt🎙️ Episode 14 – What the FAQ: Easter Hangovers, Higher Po...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 54 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Who this episode is for: - Musicians living gig to gig, paycheck to bar tab - Anyone who ever tried to quit drinking with “just a few more beers” - People who’ve played on stage… and people who’ve blacked out in the crowd - Friends who’ve called in a wellness check and hoped to God it worked - Anyone who’s ever made a mess of their life and thought, “F***, I can’t keep doing this” Episode 13: 4-3-2-1 — The Day I Chose Not to Die Pondoff sits down with Dillon Dunnagan—frontman of The Winks and a ...
Apr 21, 2025•2 hr•Season 2Ep. 13
🎧 WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR: If you’re a mom who’s been up all night worrying. If you’ve lost someone and don’t know how you’re still breathing. If you’re in recovery or barely hanging on to it. If you think one more relapse won’t kill you—listen up. This is for you. EPISODE 12 – THE LIGHT THAT DOESN’T GO OUT: BECKY’S STORY We go deep on this one. Becky Evans—our sister, our friend—joins the pod to tell the story of her son Jordan. 18 months sober. Doing the damn thing. Then one relapse. One dose...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Season 2Ep. 12
🎧 PONDOFF’S ANONYMOUS – EPISODE 11 Guest: Alex Kaiser | Host of No Lions Here Podcast 🎧 https://www.nolionshere.com/ WHO’S THIS EPISODE FOR? The morbidly curious Anyone whose secrets are getting heavy Partners of sex addicts who want answers Folks untangling faith, shame, and identity People craving unfiltered recovery talk EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Chris, Jeff, and Jakob dive in with Alex Kaiser, a man who’s walked through hell and come back with a mic. From childhood trauma to sex addiction, locke...
Apr 07, 2025•2 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Back by popular demand (and because we promised), we’re throwing it back to an episode that still slaps five years later. Megan Gehrs sat down with Chris and poured out a jaw-dropping story of addiction, destruction, and one hell of a comeback. From sneaking booze in Catholic school basements to being wheelchair-bound with alcoholic neuropathy, Megan takes us on a brutal, hilarious, and brutally honest ride. But don’t get it twisted—this isn’t a sob story. It’s a story of survival, faith, and th...
Apr 02, 2025•58 min
Who It’s For The introvert who thinks they can't recover in a loud-ass world Anyone clinging to the idea of "high-functioning" addiction Parents who think “we raised them right” means addiction-proof The one white-knuckling sobriety and thinking it’ll magically stay that way Folks who think jail and liver failure are just someone else’s problem—until they’re not Megan Gehrs is back to defend her YouTube crown, and she brought backup: the fierce, funny, and fearless Bree Badgley. What starts as a...
Mar 31, 2025•2 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 10
This week, Chris, Jeff, and Jakob throw down on some heavy hitters: grief, addiction, childhood trauma, and what it really takes to get your shit together in recovery. No fluff, no fake inspiration—just real talk from guys who’ve lived it. Chris opens up about a brutal personal loss and how it shook his sobriety to the core. The crew doesn’t sugarcoat it—grief will mess with your head, especially when you’re trying to stay clean. They break down why grieving your old life is part of the process ...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 44 min•Season 2Ep. 9
So here’s the deal—Chris kicked off this episode saying Jeff’s out ‘cause his kid’s on spring break. Cute story, totally false. Jeff’s actually home while his wife’s doing parent-teacher conferences, because unlike some people, he listens. I guess you can tell who writes these show notes now… With Jeff out, our guy Eric Conley slides back into the studio alongside Chris and Jakob for a special FAQ episode—where we cut through the fluff and tackle the questions people in and out of recovery are r...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 46 min•Season 2Ep. 8
⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses suicide, cyberbullying, and mental health struggles. If these topics are difficult for you, please listen with care. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available—don’t hesitate to reach out. This one’s a tough conversation, but it’s one that needs to be had . We sit down with Tina Meier , the unstoppable force behind the Megan Meier Foundation , a foundation born from tragedy after the unthinkable happened to her daughter, Megan . At just...
Mar 10, 2025•2 hr 23 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Pondoff's Anonymous - Recovery, Relapse, and Real Talk with Eric Conley Chris, Jakob, and Jeff sit down with Eric Conley, CEO of Illinois Recovery Center, for a no-BS deep dive into addiction, recovery, and the brutal reality of getting clean. If you're looking for sugarcoated platitudes, go somewhere else—this one’s raw, real, and straight from the trenches. 🔥 Recovery is a journey—support and community make all the difference. 🔥 The pain of addiction has to hit a breaking point before change...
Mar 03, 2025•2 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Jakob was MIA, playing nurse for his sick girlfriend, so Chris and Jeff held it down. But don’t worry, this episode still packs a punch. Guest: Cristina Preston Ministry Leader at Celebrate Recovery at Connect Church in Fenton, MO. But don’t let the “ministry leader” title fool you—this ain't some holier-than-thou sermon. Cristina's been through the trenches: heroin, crack, drug dealing, debts, and even surviving sex trafficking. Rock bottom wasn’t just a place; it was her reality. But she clawe...
Feb 24, 2025•2 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Strap in, folks—this episode gets raw. Chris, Jeff, and special “guest” (aka their own co-host) Jakob Miller get brutally honest about addiction, recovery, and the wild ride in between. They dive deep into childhood chaos, learning disabilities, and that nagging feeling of being different. No sugarcoating here—just real talk about alcohol, weed, and the slippery slope into harder stuff like heroin. The guys break down the mind games of addiction: denial, relapse, and the struggle to claw your wa...
Feb 17, 2025•2 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Pondoff’s Anonymous – Family, Recovery & The Hard Truth with Kevin BuntenPondoff’s Anonymous – Family, Recovery & The Hard Truth with Kevin Bunten This episode dives deep into the raw, messy, and real side of addiction recovery—because let’s be honest, it’s never just about the addict. The family plays a massive role, and sometimes, they’re just as deep in the chaos as the one struggling. We sit down with Kevin Bunten , a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, family therapist at Illi...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 30 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Brought to you by: Bertarelli Cutlery & Illinois Recovery Center In this episode, hosts Chris, Jakob, and Jeff welcome Nathaniel Carpenter, who shares his journey of recovery from addiction. The conversation explores Nathaniel's early life in Washington, Missouri, the impact of his environment on his choices, and his transition from casual drug use to addiction. The episode highlights the importance of community, support, and the challenges faced in recovery. Nathaniel opens up about his int...
Feb 03, 2025•2 hr•Season 2Ep. 2
-In this episode of Pondoff’s Anonymous, Chris Pondoff, Jeff Allen, and new co-host Jakob Miller discuss their return after a long hiatus, reflecting on personal growth and the establishment of the Illinois Recovery Center. -They delve into the importance of community support, family dynamics in recovery, and the realities of functioning addicts. The conversation highlights the dangers of modern substance use, particularly the prevalence of fentanyl, and emphasizes the need for comprehensive tre...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 39 min•Season 2Ep. 1
For Episode 38’s show notes, I’ll leave it to the words from a girl I know… “We gathered to remember Randy Hoff, a life that ended way too early. I never knew Randy but I know those that love him dearly. It is inspiring to see their commitment to talk about something that has been stigmatized for so long - suicide and mental health. The only way to save lives is to talk about this. Pain is what people are trying to end, unbearable pain, not their lives. We have to keep this conversation going - ...
Oct 19, 2020•55 min
On episode 37, Jeff and I sit down and discuss: -We’re back in the Studio! Thank you, Jesus! -Jeff took a mental health break. Power to him! -The Bold and the Beautiful is getting fucking good, man. Sup, Stephy. Sup, Hope. -I’ve been to a ton of fucking funerals. Had one this past Saturday. -I’m a bad coach, man. But I know how to delegate. And. -F*** six flags. Let us pray. -Chris Chris Pondoff Pondoff's Anonymous (Podcast and ZeroProof Journal) cpondoff@pondoffsanonymous.com www.pondoffsanonym...
Oct 05, 2020•54 min
On Episode 36, Jeff and I talk about: -a two week break -Labor Day -Zillow is the new porn -Chris used to live in a shit hole when he was all drunk. Sorry for the short and sweet show notes, life is 2020 right now. But all is well and God is great, mother fuckers! Enjoy the show, tell your friends, and let us pray! -CP
Sep 21, 2020•51 min
Ben Curtis was on LAW & ORDER! And he came on our shitty, fucking podcast!?! I should quit now! For those of you that know me and understand my obsession with L&O, THIS IS MY MOUNTAIN TOP! (The only thing that could top this is having Joey Potter or Hope from The Bold and The Beautiful on.) Amen! Praise the Lord! And, check-fucking-please! Haha. In all seriousness, it was an absolute honor and privilege having Ben on. He has risen, fell, and rose again, and his story shows hope, resilien...
Aug 31, 2020•1 hr 9 min
Episode Notes Vacation episode, comin’ at ya’! I went to Table Rock Lake! The last time I was in Branson, I rolled my balls off on ecstasy. Not this time! This time It was Ashley, Charlie, and I’s first vacation as a family. As: "The Pondoffs”… Very similar to: "The Griswolds.” Lots of “cluster-fuckery”, but also lots of fun. As much as I make fun of the sentimental shit, I really am a lucky bastard with this family of mine. Thanks, God. ‘Preeciate ya’. Anyway, tune in, holla at ‘ur boys, and te...
Aug 24, 2020•59 min
It’s a bonus episode! I got to take over while Chris is on vacation and give you some quick thoughts on dealing with anxiety. This stuff helps me, I hope it helps you. Here are some links to the couple things I promised you in this episode: Breathing exercise video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdbbtgf05Ek Salsa Recipe! https://www.dropbox.com/s/arm8bqqav2p6m68/salsa%20recipe.docx?dl=1 Check out our podcasting host, Pinecast . Start your own podcast for free, no credit card required, forever....
Aug 20, 2020•7 min
On episode thirty-three, Jeff and I welcome my dear friend, Chaz Franke. Chaz has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from McKendree University, and he has a Master of Social Work degree from Saint Louis University (SLU). Chaz received his clinical license in 2009 and now owns his own joint (private practice) in Belleville, IL called Light Source (we’ll get to that in a minute). Okay. Now that the fancy introduction is out of the way, allow me to get to it. Chaz is the fucking man! Plain and simpl...
Aug 17, 2020•1 hr 30 min
