Influencing Substance Use w/guest, Danny Shannon.

"It's like I had no spirit, my joy was just getting on, I was just an empty shell. I died many times throughout my addiction."

Danny believes he spent millions on his crime-funded habit. he also spent 6 years in and out of jail. But after being revived 15 times and more than 50 attempts at rehab, something finally clicked.

"%99 of people I know who have died have been from a heroin overdose,"

Join us this week and listen to Danny #takeofftheblinders around substance us all the way from Sydney, Australia.

We'll talk about what he was like, what happened, and how he found the fulfilling and meaningful life he has today.

You won't want to miss this one friends as we shoot for the moon from down under this week right here,

On Hard Knox Talks.

Buckle up!

Transcript

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So even at my lowest of low living homeless under the bridge or maybe it was in prison hanging out through heroin withdrawals. I always had hope. I always think about my mum, my dad, my family. The stuff that they would go through as well. Christmas day 2009 my life changed completely made.

00:10:45
Alright what's going on everybody? That was tonight's guest Danny Shannon. I'm Daniel Unmanageable. This is Hard Knox Talks coming at you from Saskatoon Saskatchewan. Treaty six territory in the homeland of the Metis people. Let's bring in Danny.

00:11:02
What's going on man? Hey Dan I'm very good mate. It's such a pleasure to be here and I am so impressed with the setup mate. I'm like having a ball already. We haven't even started. Yeah I know that was in the countdown. We're just spouting off and making noise. It's amazing. I love it. Yeah yeah. I'm ready. So is there anything that you'd like to say before we jump in tonight? Um Oh. Um no. I mean look I I love my life. I smile way too much. Um it's my job as a man in recovery and just as a human being to try and carry the message of love and oath to anyone out there struggling bro.

00:11:47
Um let's let's let's hit it.

00:11:49
Let's hit it.

00:11:51
This is Hard Knox Talks.

00:11:55
Alright before we dive in I just want to let our viewers and listeners know that tonight's live production is sponsored in part by Prairie Harm Reduction in Saskatoon Saskatchewan and the Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan alright Danny where do you want to start man you're doing so many things I know that you're working on an app I know that you've done a lot of publicity you've got a wild following on Facebook and on TikTok and man I you inspire me why don't you start at the beginning man tell us how this all got started you want to hear where the the the conction started or where my social media started well let's start actually I mean let's start at the beginning you know what was it like growing up yeah yeah good good alright mate yeah look I picked up alright I always say I come from a good childhood I think it's important I got this beautiful loving mum right and the reason I think it's important to mention is this is that you know when I first landed in drug and alcohol recovery let's say back in like I don't know 2000 I started to compare myself with some of the horrific stories that I'd hear out there you know.

00:13:13
Um in saying that right I got this beautiful loving mum right? My old man was a legend too but he taught me everything I shouldn't know. It's like black and white. Mum was this beautiful woman and is this beautiful woman who has taught me all my values and my morals and my old bed my old man was an absolute legend. I went and visited him yesterday but he would visit me every in jail.

00:13:36
He would do he caught me everything I shouldn't know. He helped me support 17 years of addiction. Mum tried to stop it. Um but anyway mate I picked were they together? Were they together during this time or were they apart? Mostly apart mostly apart by by the time I picked up drugs I think at fourteen I wonder if they were still together they were given the one last hurrah at the age of 14 and they did that for me trying one more time and basically I picked up I got drunk stoned and there's this thing called cream bulbs nitric oxide nangs I got on them when I was 14 up in Bundaberg and that's where my journey began with addiction previous to that I had a couple of cigarettes maybe a sneaky sip of beer or something but at the age of 14 and the reason I say this is because I don't necessarily identify with that thing of feeling like an addict before I picked up alright.

00:14:38
I've had a pretty good childhood. Yeah my dad taught me I am my dad. I have to fight hard not to be my dad actually but my dad taught me all the things I probably shouldn't know. My mum taught me all the good stuff. But the age I picked up drugs and alcohol I just never stopped. It's like the B was unleashed that day when I was 14 when I got drunk stoned and on the cream bowls and you know the next probably 20 years from that date was just a whole lot of trouble, jail institutions, pain, hurt and misery I always say mate.

00:15:15
So you weren't so you weren't craving it. You didn't crave it before you picked up. I mean for me like I couldn't wait to get my hands on the bottle.

00:15:23
Sure yeah. Nah then whatever like to that. I mate I was a really popular kid. I I don't want to sound like a dick but I was a really good skateboard rider right? And what we would do before that age is I we used to go breaking into schools and building sites and ripping off the the building material and we'd come and build ramps in my house. Like we'd build skate parks in my house.

00:15:48
That's why my mum was a legend. We had all the boys over at my house every day. So I was quite a popular kid. So I had a pretty good told you previous today but when I picked up it's slowly but surely over the next two years by the time I was 15 and a half 16 I'd use I'd use cocaine magic mushrooms LSD pot alcohol or what was your favourite? Everything bar heroin.

00:16:17
Everything bar heroin. I didn't think I'd ever use heroin. Dan you know I I was always scared of heroin. Um I remember sitting at the front of the drug dealer's house. I'm about 15 we're in a car I'm with me mate my best mate by the way he used to rob me and I'd rob him that was about the consistency of our friendship at the end anyway I was sitting there and he said calm we're getting by heroin and I remember feeling scared bro and I think it's important that I share that because I was scared.

00:16:51
I was peer pressure. Um but sure enough next thing you know we're in a a dingy little flat in Cabramata. Um no furniture and Wok was about to inject me of heroin for the first time and and mate if if up until that point I'd lost a little bit of control with my drug issue. That was the beginning of the end mate. That day I showed up heroin for the first time in a dingy little flat in Cabramata.

00:17:20
Ah life was dramatically about to change you know within a couple of months I was locked up for the first time in boys homes by the time I was 18 I've been charged multiple times. I spent my 18th birthday in Parramatta Prison. That's one of our local prisons here. It's not open anymore. So did it feel wrong? 21.

00:17:43
Like did when when it went so after you you used heroin yeah like after you used heroin and things went dramatically wrong were you like oh my god things are going wrong or were you enjoying the ride? Bro yeah look let let's I I jumped forward a bit there didn't I? Let me talk it. Often people say what was it like and I don't want to get too no no but but but it was the most amazing thing in the world to be honest like I never if I for someone who never who never thought I wanted to feel different that day I was like I'd found God you know that day that they put that drug into me it's like I'd found a whole another life of contamin confident numbness.

00:18:33
You know I didn't know I needed it. Daniel I didn't know that I needed it. Like I said I thought I was quite a popular kid not to sound like a dick but the day I used heroin for the first time she just really quickly declined you know. If I was popular up until that stage it wasn't going to last long. I can tell you because by the age of 17 all my mates had dropped off.

00:18:55
I was using alone by myself. I was I was that kind of addict even by the age of 1718 who was just out of control. I just had no control over the obsession and compulsion to get and use more drugs. I would use dirty needles in the back of flats in Cabernetta. Um I had a serious motorbike accident stoned. I got I got T-boned at the front of a Cabrabada police station in nineteen ninety-six.

00:19:28
Um which was pretty early into my using. I think I was about seventeen. Um I had a a near fatal accident where I was in a coma for for for 3 days right? Listen to this right. I'm in a coma for three days. I come out of this coma. All my family surrounding me and I'm obviously I've got a big heroin habit by these days.

00:19:51
All my family surrounded me. I wake up. I've got a fractured femur. I've got metal plates in my leg. My head's busted up and all I can think of when I come out of this coma is I need to get heroin. Um because I was withdrawing too you know and and all I just remember my family being there and I remember this is crazy Rob but in the in the storm next to me there was another patient who's still in a coma right? He's got his missus there.

00:20:18
And I can hear her saying I'm putting $100 into your top drawer. Um and I'm onto it. I'm this 18 year old 17 year old heroin addict and I I'm in a just come out of a coma. I've got all my loved ones around. They're so happy to see I'm alive.

00:20:34
And I can hear in the corner of my ear there's 100 bucks being slipped into the top drawer of all my bed the next thing you know that's the only thing you hear I'm sure your loved ones were talking to you at the time right and you're just like ping Yeah man and I'm sure lots of people can relate where I'm coming from if you've been where I've been too late.

00:20:54
Ronna can you relate to and yes absolutely.

00:20:59
If you're a if you're a heroin addiction you can relate to it. Come on. Well fentanyl was our was our was our poison but I was it was more than math. Oh same same. Yeah. Math and Jackton.

00:21:11
Yes. Yeah cool. Well same same yeah isn't it? Well look I was an animal. I had this obsession and compulsion that was you know it led me to through a lot of trouble. Anyway listen I ended up getting rid of my I said listen guys I need some rest. I told them all to go. I managed to drag my **** out of that **** bed got into a wheelchair stole the $100 from my old mate went down the lift got in a taxi and went out to Cabernetta to get on.

00:21:39
Um I had 100 bucks right? You could get two for fifty back then. I needed some smokes and I needed to pay for the taxi fare. I got back to Liverpool Hospital. I managed to haul my **** back up to the bathroom. Shot up the heroin hopped into the bed and by this time my leg was pissing out blood I busted staples out of my leg and then I hit the buzzer and I said I need help and I think that was the day I really realised that maybe I've got a problem with drugs mate maybe like you were considering maybe so was that do you know just add Daniel I was so naive and you I would have been out of being pressing the morphine drip I didn't even know about morphine I'm only young like but don't worry I learned after that anyway I got the morphine drip but previous to that I could have just been hitting the buzzer but I didn't know about that.

00:22:31
So yeah look that was my introduction to being a heroin addict basically. Mhm. So clearly you healed. Uh and and you you realized something about yourself in that experience. When you were well again and out of the hospital did you did you choose a safer path or did you just get right back on again? Ah. I haven't even started telling the story yet. That that was just a that mate that was just the beginning you know like in some ways I guess I thought I was invincible.

00:23:10
You know like that was just the very beginning of my journey. Let me say I had a pretty serious head injury right? And there's still side effects now. Often people say to me Danny you're **** slurring. Or and it's true like I know I slur my words a bit. Maybe I'm a bit lazy but mate since then that was just the beginning of my journey bro.

00:23:30
That was really just the early days. I went on for another 13 years for longer. That I was eighteen. I I didn't quit until I was 34 so I went on for another 17 years getting **** **** Like ah in in that time I I between the age of 18 and 28 I spent probably the well the majority of that time in prison I I fell out of a third story window of a drug and alcohol rehab trying to climb back in after escaping hit the pavement from a third story window and and the the drunk tank around the corner security guard heard me hit the deck and probably screaming caught an ambulance and they hauled my **** off to Saint Vincent's Hospital of man I bet you that guy still remembers you just like just minding his own business and here comes Danny **** Splat like holy **** man He knows your name.

00:24:32
The the the drop was so big that I hit the second story window seal and my feet collected that and I cleared the whole footpath and I hit the road. Um and they reckon because the the reason I didn't do that much damage is because I was so so stoned on heroin. They reckon your body was just so super relaxed that that's why you didn't do any serious serious injuries.

00:24:58
I could walk for months but ah.

00:25:01
Yeah.

00:25:04
Yeah man look I I could I should I would throw in a couple of other things. I cut my Achilles tendon in half. It sprung up my leg on Easter Sunday let's say two thousand. Um that was another horrific injury. Um and then I also escaped from prison in two thousand one. Um kind of scaled a twenty-four foot barrel fence had a had the water police pole air dog swaddle chase me. I managed to get away to Perth and got in a Use on Valentine's Day.

00:25:37
What's a Perth? Perth. City.

00:25:39
Yeah thank you. It is. She's another city. See that's why you know she's very very helpful. That's why we got her a fancy very I'm sorry. What what's your name? What's her name? Donna.

00:25:52
Donna. Hey Donna. So rude. I don't even know if Dan introduced you properly Donna. Man just never mind bro. **** you know her name now. Holy.

00:26:05
Yeah so look there there was a lot look that's the mess we could go on for about the mess for hours brother like let me some try and sum it up I was the kind of heroin addict who had no values no morals I could not wait to get that next shot into me in fact I was so desperate to get that next shot into me I wouldn't even stop at a chemist to buy clean needles I would literally pick up dirty needles in the back of flats in Cabernetta flush them three times with water and just shoot up my gear mate oh up in stairwells or flats you know shoot up with coppers bang along the **** window and I'd be putting a shot away before they'd grab my **** out of the car like just that desperation and and and I I hurt stolen robbed from family members I was the **** lowest of low but whatever I was I was just a heroin addict who had no **** control and I'm sorry I'm sorry no at all you know well of course So so what finally did it? Was it like one was it one pinnacle moment or was it like a series of events? Like tell us about what turned the light on for you? Sure sure sure.

00:27:17
All right. Well mate because I if you remember I said I had this beautiful loving mum right I also had a mad sister too. They were always on my **** **** to go to rehab with detox right? So I kept going. I kept going. This is ridiculous but I've had fifty I've had fifty rehabilitation attempts. Detoxes and rehab's fifty. I was known on a first name basis at St Vincent's Hospital, St London's Hospital, Fairfield Hospital, Cumberland Hospital like I used to go in there all the time right but I would leave like a day I'd get I'd go in there stoned because of course you don't get a detox straight right I'd go in there stoned and by the time I straightened up I'd pack me bags and I'd leave of course ah and I'd leave and but on the 49th attempt right I took drugs in again.

00:28:10
This is the last attempt right? This is my last attempt. I took drugs in again. Um I should mention to I was trapped on the methadone for 13 years. That's a whole another story we could definitely go into that if you wanted to hear more about that but I never thought I'd get off the methadone and there's this incredible treatment centre here in Sydney that got me off the methadone.

00:28:32
I I thought I'd be on it for the rest of my life mate. That place absolutely saved my life you know. Um but I before I jump into the last time like after being on the methadone for 13 years I remember I had 30 days abstinent and all that goods playing on my head I don't know well let me know if you guys relate to this because I was on the methadone I could never feel a shot of heroin properly so all that was on my head is I'm finally off the methadone I need to have another shot of heroin you know sick twisted **** **** thinking but I did I threw it all away again and I went and got on and and I yeah so I I I used heroin again.

00:29:14
I was back at round one again. I I then decided I was going to go to Fiji. I did a geographical to Fiji because Fiji. I thought there was no drugs in yeah I I thought there was no drugs in Fiji right? Mm. Um and this is really important that I shared this because this is when I became an alcoholic overnight right? You know I identify alcohol as being a drug.

00:29:38
This maybe isn't for you guys anyone else listening. For me alcohol is just as bad as shooting up heroin right? Mm. Um but Previous to that I didn't think so because I never really drank alcohol. I thought oh alcohol's sweet. I don't have a problem with alcohol. Well I land in Fiji and by day two there's no more heroin. There's no hard drugs.

00:29:58
I'm I'm drinking Fiji bitter at 8 AM in the morning. So I become an alcoholic basically overnight. And I'll tell you what it was. I was drinking to change the way I feel. I needed heroin, methadone, all those drugs to change the way I feel. I become this empty shell of a human being who did not know how to function without the use of a drink or a drug in me you know like I was just **** **** I just could not cope a single day.

00:30:28
Um yeah that just hit home then and I was just reflecting and anyway mate my last attempt I was in a a detox as I said And I was doing everything wrong mate. I had drugs on me in the detox. I ran out. I went to a short term rehab. I took my phone with me. You weren't allowed to do that. I I got involved in this criminal thing where I was doing the tax raw where we were ripping off the government for 6 grand.

00:30:59
Everyone was doing it. So of course I did that. Um this is my early days of recovery but also you were sober doing this. Yep.

00:31:09
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um but I started doing stuff that I'd never done before. Then I you know like we're talking about the twelve Step Fellowship earlier. You see behind me there's a couple of books or **** wherever it is there that you mentioned. I'm a member of twelve Step Fellowships and I started doing some things that they suggested I do. So let me there's five things.

00:31:36
There's five things that I can if somebody's struggling I can check in on these five things and see probably offer some good solutions why they're **** what they're missing right? Number one How is my connection with other human beings? They say an addict alone is in bad company and also the opposite to addiction is connection right? When I first heard that I thought **** **** what are you talking about? I don't need people like people **** me.

00:32:03
In fact trust me everyone used to **** me. I hated people. So number one how's your connection with other human beings? Number two like how is my meeting attendance? Maybe it's counselling for me it was twelve step fellowship meetings like how how many groups am I involved in to help me become a better person you know. Number three do I have a a mentor? A sponsor.

00:32:28
Call them what you will you know. Um number four like for me I had a higher power. I had to find something bigger than me. Better than me because it wasn't working what I was doing. And when I say that I'm not talking about God. I'm not talking about seeing the **** light. I'm just talking about you Dan. Someone else in the room.

00:32:47
Someone who could help guide me in the right direction. And number five and my favourite one is what are you doing for mankind like service. I learned that the more I give the more the universe provides and the **** I only keep what I have by giving it away. So they're the five things that I got involved in bro. They're the things that I never did before.

00:33:05
Um they're the things that saved my **** They are the reason why I'm sitting here right now today sharing my story with you mate. You know? So at what point at what point now I know you were talking about coming to believe there and I I that's step two to me right? So that's an important one to me. Now when did it was there a a time difference between the timing you because like if there's something out there that's going to restore us to sanity we first have to admit that we're insane.

00:33:35
So did you realize that at like when did you realize like man I am **** crazy? Oh look I I definitely had no problem with identifying that I am an addict and my life is unmanageable and I am a **** lunatic like I had so much evidence to show that. I knew that I had no control over me. I I proved that I proved that through leaving jail getting a **** green card to get out and then using and getting going straight back every time.

00:34:10
I was on this thing called drug court. It's like they'll give you a chance and I would **** get and I'd shoot up heroin again. Like and I'd get sent back to jail. Like I had no control. So I had no problem with that Dan but that didn't mean just knowing something like that accepting that you're a **** addict isn't enough you know there's this level of surrender while we're talking fellowship stuff.

00:34:35
You know there's this level of surrender that I never had. And if I could share this is there's two types of surrender right? There's the one that we hear and we know we to do it. Oh yeah I need to surrender. Okay I'm going to surrender. And then there's surrender. And surrender is like oh it's like you just **** let go man like pain crying the misery, the anxiety but **** I just know that drugs are not the answer you know like because it's just going to leave my **** back there again.

00:35:09
And Daniel can I before I forget this let me I lost the obsessed like I just told you about 17 years of the obsess the lunatic that I was. Well Christmas Day 2009, the biggest miracle happened to me mate. Um Christmas day 2009 I lost the obsession and compulsion to use drugs. It just **** completely left me and **** knock on wood. God bless.

00:35:38
I haven't come close to picking up a drink or a drug since Christmas Day 2009 mate. Um I and I'll I'll run you through through that and I think this is this is my turning point you know. You hear about the **** crossroads and the turning point. Well I think this is mine it was Christmas day. I've been I was in rehab and I was going home to family for Christmas.

00:36:02
Now let me tell you I didn't want to go home to visit family right? But I thought you had to. Because I heard all people talking about family. I wasn't a family guy. Like I was a **** I was I'd spent so long in isolation alone. Me and family and me and anybody just didn't mix you know. We were anyway I went home for Christmas Day and I spent Christmas day sitting around the **** family table with let's say fifty loved ones.

00:36:32
Mum, dad, auntie, neighbours. I had hurt, stolen and probably robbed every single one of them in my past you know. So can you imagine the shame and guilt right? I highly recommend staying the **** away from family in the early days and this is just for me guys right like a the shame and guilt was so overbearing that I left there that day and I said you know what **** it I can't do this. I'm going to get on. Um I'm going to get on. I had to head back to the city. Um I get to town hall station. I get off the train and I'm at the turning point right? Kings Cross is to my right.

00:37:15
And across the road is the bus that's going to take me back to rehab. Now Kings Cross I can get on the Coke and the heroin right? Which is what I would have done because it's like I always want to celebrate when I **** up when I relapse. I want to go on with it. And Coke and heroin were my two saves right? Um so and I'm I'm decided I'm doing it. I'm doing it but for some reason man and we hear the stars and planets align right at the right moment and and this is what happened for me that day I decided I thought about it I thought what are the consequences if I go up the cross and get on I'm going to end up back in rehab probably because I've had forty-nine **** other attempts I'm going to end up back in jail I've been there plenty of times I could end up dead or I could get on that **** bus and do what people have been telling me to do my whole life and not not use you know like don't pick up that next drug and that day I got on that bus it was the hardest decision of my entire life I went back to the rehab I came clean with them about me about me going to get on and the horrific day I spent with my family and the shame and guilt and mate it took me 2 days to get over that **** anxiety but I have not **** come close to picking up a drink or a drug since that day.

00:38:47
I've never been in that position again. The desire to use and get stoned just **** left me that day and I'm I'm not saying that that I haven't worked my **** off. I've worked really really hard to maintain that. I know I'm a I'm a bit emotional like it's it's nice. I really love this feeling like I feel really connected to this moment but it just left me that day mate and I've worked my **** off like 13 years one month and and 30 days today I've been in recovery working my **** off hm building relationships with my family slowly.

00:39:30
I've got a beautiful five year old daughter. Um I got a 21 year old son who spent the first half of his life visiting me in in jails and institutions. We had no relationship at all you know. Mm hm. Um and I'm **** like what I'm a bit emotional. These are tears of gratitude brother. You know like I'm just ah it's I got no I don't really regret anything from my past.

00:39:53
If it wasn't for my past I couldn't be here right here today with the Best life in the world sharing with you about how I've done it so.

00:40:02
So before we get before we get too far ahead let's let's unpack that day just a little bit okay so surely you've reflected like before that day surely you've been like man I've been to rehab like a bunch of times. Surely before that day you said man I've been to jail a bunch of times and surely before that day you had felt pain as a result of being around your family because you know how bad you **** them.

00:40:27
What was different about that day? Like have you gone back and reflected and like trying to decide okay what was different? I think mate look I've been in that position 100 times right? But that day well that day I considered for the very first time not doing it. I'd never considered not doing it before you know. Um like seriously at the point of course while I was in detox and rehab I thought oh yeah I've done whatever I want to use again but once you decide you commit to using there's no turning back.

00:41:05
There just isn't for me. And but that day I like like I said I love this analogy the stars and the planets just aligned and they gave me one split **** second that I that I walked through that day you know I stepped through that split second and I made a different decision for the first time in my life I didn't pick up that next dragon look at the end of the day if I hadn't tried and already been involved in this and the seed had been planted that they probably would never have come it took me forty-nine other attempts of I Trying.

00:41:41
Don't ever give up. That's the message Daniel. Yeah. Just do not ever give up because that day one more thing before we I I get it man because I had a day like it. Here's a question. Cool. Did you hear the birds that day? Uh **** I heard the birds on that day. When I had that day I heard the birds. My mom rolled up in front of my house take me to detox.

00:42:07
She's in an old Nissan Altima. The **** thing looked like a Rolls Royce to me. The sky was blue that day. Like I hadn't noticed the blue sky for years. Like yeah did you have an experience like that? Daniel I didn't that day. No way like the **** No. But I can tell you when I first had that experience. Would you call that a spiritual awakening? Is that what your I mean I wouldn't say it I wouldn't say it wasn't.

00:42:34
That's for sure.

00:42:36
Yeah. Well mate no no Dan to be honest the next ten months were **** absolute misery man. Like like what the **** like what about the pink cloud? Nah **** the birds. **** the the pretty towers. Um **** the people holding hands in the streets. People using the word love. I was so anti gratitude and anti-love. Um I was I was still angry, bitter, resentful. I was there was the butt mate. At 10 months clean. I remember walking home from a meeting. It's like 10 PM. I just got off the bus. It was a beautiful summer's night.

00:43:16
I'm walking up and I see the I see the moon.

00:43:19
And and I just **** that day I felt connected like something I'd never ever ever experienced mate and that day my spirit woke up you know that was the day I had those beautiful feelings that you're talking about and even though I'd lost the obsession and compulsion to use by them it was oh it was **** like my anxiety and my temper and my fear it was it consumed me.

00:43:52
Um but mate look we all have different journeys. The birds and the the birds chirping and all that **** I I didn't get none of that for a good ten 10 months. People used to talk about how beautiful the grounds were at a certain rehabilitation centre. And I used to just think **** **** Like what's beautiful about it you know? Or yeah so anyway no to answer your question.

00:44:19
Glad you heard the birds. I did. Yeah. But okay so let's let's go back now. I mean often times in in these experiences on these journeys that so many of us go through many of us experience suicidal ideation. Now for me personally I didn't experience that until I was already nine months into my into my recovery. Did you ever experience any of that? Uh yeah sure. That's heavy. I'm sure. Um 5000 days and 150 days standing at the bus stop. Standing at the bus stop going to a twelve step fellowship meeting.

00:44:54
It's 11: 30 AM.

00:44:57
I've got so much fear about people. I hate **** people man. And I'm going to I'm about to go to a 12 o'clock meeting every day. Now I remember standing at the bus stop pretty much every single day just feeling like walking out in front of that bus mate you know. Look this is not really a suicidal ideation. It's a fantasy of just wanting the pain to stop. Like it's just like wanting that madness to stop. And I and I think about jumping out in front of that bus daily mate.

00:45:30
There was no joy in my early days man like it was look I used to laugh of course and I was a rat bag and I was I always did things I always hung around my formula for recovery are successful recoveries, 40, 51% nerds of of recovery and 49% knockabouts like I I connect so much easier with the knockabouts I love talking **** and bagging people and and doing all that but the other 51%'s always going to be on the ball like I used to a bit of a nerd in recovery you know and these days I'm just **** me you know but you knew all the quotes you knew all the pages you knew all the things is that right not so not so much I was just there I was in the middle bro like I would be at every meeting I was doing I did I did two meetings a day for the first two years like I did like thousands of meetings you know in my early days of recovery and I was involved in service here's a question a question.

00:46:34
In a hotline. Did you ever think in your early days did you ever think that the the twelve step fellowship was the only way to get sober and if you didn't do it that way you were going to die? Absolutely. And and to be honest Daniel I still I I still believe that bro you know. Really? Um and I share that. Like I've got a really wide audience right? I speak with people on TikTok every day.

00:47:02
I speak with the now and I've studied. I've done a lot of study. I'm all about harm minimisation now right? But for me After I told you the Fiji story I'm a **** alcoholic and I can't touch a drug. Yeah. No no no. I don't like alcohol but I'm an alcoholic and I you give me a **** bar of chocolate. I'm going to smash the whole thing.

00:47:22
I am no half measured man. I can't do things. So anything that makes me feel good or changes the way I feel chemically. Yeah. It's no for me. So the twelve Step Fellowship is the only total absence is the only way for me mate. I have not had a drink or a drug or a mind or mood altering substance in 13 years one month and 30 days and like yeah the like **** he's counting but actually I'm **** scared to ever have one of those things you know.

00:47:53
So yeah I'm **** hyper vigilant mate. Yeah yeah. Oh and and abstinence works for me too. I've I've I've got five and a half years in now give or take a month or so. But I guess maybe maybe the maybe yeah maybe I didn't ask the question properly. So like when when I said this is the only way I meant like did you when you were in fresh in the program like like when I was I would got I got 90 days in and I would go around telling everybody else like this is how you need to manage your recovery or you're going to die like the program is the only way for you.

00:48:22
Not not for me. For you. Was that did you ever have that experience? Nah I've never I'm I'm super shy like it's crazy. I I always say I'm an introvert right but that reminds me of being an introvert because I didn't talk to people for two years bro. I I I had a push bike. I used to avoid every **** person I could.

00:48:45
I did all the service stuff so I had to put out the **** chairs and I had to open up the meeting but I stayed away from people so just on that note like I didn't give myself a chance to do that because but but let me just say Daniel I tried the Australia implants I tried **** rapid detox I tried religion I tried hypnotherapy I fell on the nod I went on the nod with the hypnosis so I did believe that this is the only way it was going to work for me you know yeah yeah cool man so where did the rubber hit the road for you then so when you so you got sober you're in the program you're doing the service and you said that the first whatever how long was just **** for you you wanted to jump in front of a bus.

00:49:28
What was it that changed? Like do you remember the thoughts or were you at a certain part in the steps or like what was it? Yeah sure but look I've I've completed the twelve steps multiple times. Um I got involved in a steps group in about my three years of recovery where I was connected with like twelve men every Wednesday night and we'd come together and we'd do a bit of **** work on ourselves.

00:49:55
We'd answer a couple of questions. We'd share our answers. That was a beautiful way to connect and start to understand the power of connection. Um but mate really it started it started that day when I had that spiritual awakening when I seen the moon man. Like my life started changing for the better that day. And I swear to God like it just gets better and better and better.

00:50:19
Um I I'll do briefly say because I want to share about yeah encapsulate them before we run out of time and and we can definitely go back but let me just share what my journey's been like like I've had the most incredible journey on earth like I honestly think I'm the luckiest man alive and it's because of this right I started working part time as a as a bartender I'm laughing because this is one of those things this is the rebel in me like at six months clean I started working at football events being a bar right? My said don't do that.

00:51:00
You can't you can't do that. I said yes I can. Um but anyway and then I kept that job for about 2 years. I had I I became like this bar operations guy who was travelling all around Australia doing all these different sporting events monster motocross, motor GP, **** skateboard events like so I was just in charge of bar operations but my life opened up Like ah it was just the **** coolest thing ever.

00:51:30
I couldn't get out of Cabramata for 17 years. That's where I used to purchase heroin right? I couldn't get out all my methadone clinic. But from from that day onwards my life opened up I I then started saving money and I was I was about five years clean actually I went on a a European vacation. I travelled backpacked Europe at 2 and a half years clean.

00:51:55
I'd saved up enough money I went by myself. Oh it was one of the most horrific trips ever because I had a bit of a emotional breakdown because my I'd broken up as a partner and I was crying in the backstreet to Venice but I sold it on for six weeks. I was doing fellowship meetings over there every day so that opened my eyes up.

00:52:13
I came back. I I had some money in the bank. I had about 25K in the bank. How the **** did I do that? Because I've stopped buying drugs. That's how I do that. And I was working a lot right? And I thought what bought a house. I thought maybe I could buy a house. And I got fixated with this fantasy and I just started saving money for a house and I bought this little tiny investment property up in Caboolture.

00:52:39
Um here in Australia like I've travelled the world I've had so I guess I'm just wrapping it up quick saying that I've had the most incredible journey all I did bro is I've continued to stay connected I've continued working on myself I continue to give back to others and I work a really rigorous program and I have not **** picked up a drink or a drug so I know it sounds pretty simple in summary but and let me say nobody's given me anything even brother not one single thing has been given to me my mum and my I'm the first person to buy a house in my family.

00:53:18
We're poor. You know Mum couldn't give me I've had to support my family so I **** should. Um my entire recovery so. Mhm. But so that that I was I was waiting for a spot. Right? Yeah sorry. Well we will. We'll talk about all about that in just one minute but you I was going to bring it up but then you did. Where's Mum and Dad through all of this? Yeah cool mate.

00:53:43
Mate I've kept my poor dad he's still if I see him up until recently him having a stroke he'd still want to go to the pub have a beer and slap on the pokies like my dad just doesn't get it you know I haven't of course I have I've gone through phases where I've enabled him because me and my dad had no relationship. I call my dad Tony.

00:54:07
We never had a father-son relationship you know but recovery talk me that basically part of my immense to my dad was don't try and change my Dad. I don't need to change my Dad. He's never going to change. Just let him be him and try and connect with him. So I've been through phases where I've sat at the pub with him while he played the pokies. I've given him money to do it.

00:54:31
He's a compulsive gambler my dad so he's never got any money so I've so my dad he's **** My Dad he recently had a stroke. Um he's totally **** now. I went and seen him yesterday but and I told him I love him. I something I never ever done throughout my entire entire life. It wasn't until I got cleaned in recovery. I took my dad to Thailand about five years ago and I told him this is part of my step nine.

00:54:58
I said Tony I just want to let you know that I love you. And he said to me Daddy I like you too. So I that was yeah which was cool you know that's all he needed to say. Um and my mum my mum's been a big part of my journey somewhat. She's always been in the background. I've never let her get too close to my recovery because recovery's **** horrific man like I don't ever want my mum to know about all of my mates that are dying and and and relapsing and I've kept mum at a real distance she sees me today on social media and I'll know if she she'll comment just in like yeah I've I've kept her very sheltered through my recovery.

00:55:43
I I really believe in that too. I don't think we should be telling our **** family members that I want to use drugs or I want to kill myself like that's not for my mum to know that. My beautiful mum doesn't need to hear that stuff you know. I can tell my sponsor and my mates about that. But I also spent the day with my mum yesterday too bro so I'm I'm I'm a bit of a **** family man you know.

00:56:04
I went and visit Mum, Dad, my sister, my son. I had my daughter yesterday. Um Yeah I've got a beautiful a beautiful family and a good connection with my family. It took years it took a solid five years of me working hard at that relationship before I could go to my mum's house and feel comfortable and not shame and guilt as well. You know it was like it was about six months ago I think.

00:56:32
I went for lunch with my mum. And and she's done it before but for some reason it stood out to me this time. We were at the restaurant and she got up and she went to the bathroom and she left her purse there. She left her purse at the table. Yep. You know and like that that was a sign like okay she's not even thinking about whether or not she wants to take the purse to the bathroom with her or not because I might go through it.

00:56:56
So and and that was four and a half years in in you know so it takes time. It takes time to build that trust you know. But anyways that's a beautiful it was. Yeah. It was and she didn't even notice. Like I said you left your purse here and she's like oh I guess I did. Yeah. So I said there was nothing good in it. Why not? No.

00:57:16
Mate you know what Daniel like it took me a long time to actually say sorry to my mum actually. Should mention that right like I've worked the steps back and I I don't want to share this. You know people get clean and this again please this is just my own opinion right? People get clean from drugs they go to rehab they get even say 60 days or 90 days or maybe six months and they want to fix things you know but thank God I was such a shutdown person in my early days.

00:57:48
There's no way I wanted to **** say sorry to anyone right? And I truly believe that the word sorry of course we all know this means **** absolute jack **** you know. It's my actions that are going to be my truer man. So I literally didn't sit my mum down till I was about five years clean and I remember say to her you know what? And it was really hard too. I I just told her that I am.

00:58:13
I'm sorry I want you to know of course I've tried to change my behaviour but it took her three or four years before she didn't get a phone call before she thought I was back on the heroin again you know. So trust is a long slow journey and so it **** should be. I reckon I spent 17 years causing the damage to my life. I reckon it's going to take 17 years to get square again you know.

00:58:40
Yep. So let's what do you reckon? I yeah I mean I've heard a lot of people say that and I don't know like I was on I was I was lost in the dark for 23 years. I hope it doesn't take 23 years to come back. I mean my life my life is better now that I I didn't see any of this coming. Like I'm I'm a welder by trade a year and a half ago. I didn't even know how to open a word document. Now here I am talking to you from in Australia on this fancy mic. I don't even know how this **** happened man. You know like holy cow.

00:59:08
So but anyways. Anyway did well thank you.

00:59:13
How did your social media start? Let's let's move into the let's move into into that. Let's talk about your social media presence, your influence, your recovery influencing and all of that.

00:59:24
Sure all right let me just I'm going to just try this here good. Um all right so mate all right so I I I was I just turned six years clean and sober right. I was working in a rear of I've spent the last 10 years working in a drug and alcohol treatment centre. It was actually the centre I went through and got clean in back in 200nine right but anyway I was working there.

00:59:50
I just celebrated six years clean. I was sitting in my office on the opposite side of the desk where I was once a client right? I remember I was I was full of gratitude I was feeling really chuffed and I was thinking and I thought I wonder what I was like when I was entered those doors you know when I was sitting on that other side of the table what was I thinking how was I feeling and I came up this idea this concept I know it's not new but it was a time capsule I thought I'm going to **** record a video to my future self for my 10 year birthday now that's very ambitious to think six four years down the track as in recovery we talk about keeping it the day right but mhm I thought that would be I thought I'm going to record a video to my 10 year birthday right? I did a little bit of research online about some questions that I could answer.

01:00:42
I printed them out. I started the camera rolling in the private room and man the minute I started recording that video I noticed this most beautiful unique therapeutic process. This was me talking to my future self. Some of the questions was about my loved ones and I remember thinking for of all I hope I'm still alive I hope I haven't **** picked up drugs again and I hope my mum my dad and my son are all good too you know I got teary and I noticed myself talking about stuff that I'd never ever spoken about before because think about this like when we talk of a counsellor or you know anyone we've always got a front there's some kind of ego attached but what this was doing was given me the ability to completely express myself without fear of judgement and it was such a process and as I was recording that video too I thought to myself imagine if I started getting every single client that came through our service to record a video to theirself and over the next couple of years Daniel I recorded I had about 250 clients record videos and the feedback was absolutely **** amazing like people walked out that room saying that they got teary and they never cried and they noticed themselves talking about stuff people would back to me a week later and say oh I remember saying this and they it'll build rapport with me as the worker as well and anyway I went on this amazing trip to America as it happens in 2017 and I met all these entrepreneurs in the twelve Step Fellowship because everyone over there's on the hustle yeah like there's no government support like we get here and and I came back to Australia and I was motivated and inspired to develop a a a thing I call encapsulated so we provide time capsule videos allowing individuals like you and me people on a journey of personal development to identify your hopes your dreams and your future aspirations and this video on video and that gets locked away into our secure time locked volt waiting to be discovered as a date that you choose in the future you can continually update your videos weekly monthly as you progress towards your goals when you verbalise your out loud and help to keep you accountable and motivated.

01:03:19
And lastly like knowing that video's going to be delivered to your inbox in three, six, 12 months time. Add this extra kick up the **** because you know what you said and in fact what you said's often very different. Um the way we recall things is actually a whole another science to that. Um yeah so that's encapsulated mate and we're now sort of working with organisations all around the world using this as a personal development and goals setting program by giving people an opportunity to start verballising their goals out loud, identifying their hopes, their dreams, their fears and giving people a greater chance to achieve their goals.

01:04:00
So that's encapsulated brother. Um wonderful tool for people in recovery especially like a tool to measure your growth. From capturing the essence of who you are today and delivering that to the future you.

01:04:14
We got some comments. How was that for a plug? Oh it's amazing. That was Yeah yeah I know I am. That sounds amazing. Yeah.

01:04:23
Baby man. I I've been working so hard on this for five years. Every my whole life and just sorry before you answer the comments can I just share that? That's how I got a little bit famous on social media because I started telling my stories of recovery I've been blessed to be all over the media. If you type my name Danny Shannon into Google there's I've been featured in you know some of our big news stations here.

01:04:50
They've done little films about me. And my jail escape is always a good **** hook to get people in so they always plug in on that. I like the I like the treatment escape where you where you fell and hit the ground in front of a security worker. Like I'm sure that guy **** remembers that day.

01:05:08
Mate I'm quite **** proud of that one too. Especially if you're sitting here today. But yeah sorry. Sorry that's how and and today I just share my stories. Um I do lives on TikTok every night. I do lives on Facebook. Um I get invited to amazing podcasts like yourself. I get to carry the message of recovery. Um and and I even get paid to do it. So it's **** a good life mate. Yeah yeah no when when when passion meets purpose man.

01:05:38
Amazing things can happen.

01:05:41
So anyways yeah we got some comments here. I think I might get Donna to read a couple out. My voice like I'm getting kind of sick but I'll I'll read a couple and then Donna can read a couple. So anyways we got we got Chantel Garwood here.

01:05:54
Chantelle. Thanks for the comment. Chantel says you are a true legend Danny. And you do carry the message of hope so well. Also you help so many. Hashtag sober squad.

01:06:07
Makes me cry hearing that stuff. She's one of my team members from TikTok obviously. Thank you so much. Yeah we got Steph Green with a question. Steph you Steph thank you for the question. Steph asks did you have access to drugs while in jail? I was stoned every day in jail. Um yes. I was jail I was stoned every day in jail. I was at least smoking pot occasionally using amphetamines and I was on the methanone every day so yes I was stoned my entire time in prison.

01:06:40
Thanks Fast. Why don't you read Joe's comment? So Joe thanks for your comment and your stars. Hang on I gotta take this headset off. Uh so Joe says wow Danny I love your energy bro. Completely out of **** control. Happy recovery. I love it. Love you Daniel and Donna. Thanks guys. Thanks Joe. Thanks Joe.

01:07:04
And thank you. I I know I'm a bit crazy. I'm a bit passionate. I think I talk too fast. Um but I am so passionate. Like I love this. There's nothing that lights me up more than doing this stuff you know. Mhm. Oh I can relate.

01:07:19
I I know you get. Yep.

01:07:24
Okay so let's see. We got one here from John Rouge. John says you went from huh? Pause for a sec. Oh. Skip these two.

01:07:35
Skip them? Yeah. Go up to the let me try that again. Okay here you you read that one. You read that one.

01:07:42
Okay so thanks for clarifying that John. Uh so he wants he says let me try again. You couldn't find happiness in the simple things. When did that change? Where did that go? I don't know. It's gone.

01:08:00
I think I accidentally deleted it. I think you did too. Can you find it in the comments here? It's okay. Scrolling, scrolling, scrolling.

01:08:08
Here, I'll do one while she.

01:08:10
Okay, yeah, we're making a mess here. Holy **** So when did that change for you? You did a video of sitting in the rain appreciating those simple things. When did that happen for you? Um like that video was just last year but Like there's this thing they say early recovery's five years right? Let me tell you my first five years there was a lot of insanity like there was a lot of joy too.

01:08:44
Absolutely there was so much joy like my life was opening up but I didn't really find true peace and serenity. I did but not what I'm saying is I love that saying early recovery being five years because I feel like that gave me permission to be a **** lunatic for five years and then after that I often joke about saying I I contacted the the head the head member of the twelve Step Fellowship and asked him for an extension for another five years but anyway like I feel like that really worked for me and mate the last eight years yeah I've got like the best life you know like the serenity and the gratitude and the spiritual connection I have today is It's my drug.

01:09:33
Mhm. It's the new fix.

01:09:35
Yeah it is. Yeah. Got Danine with the comment here.

01:09:41
Denine says I feel more than more alive than ever. Alcohol is the worst detox ever. I'm happy to be alive. Someone told me I probably saved my own life. So I never complained about anything.

01:09:54
Congratulations.

01:09:57
Alright man well the comments are still one more. Okay. Yeah.

01:10:02
This wasn't fast enough on the trigger here.

01:10:07
Uh so this one's coming from Kim McDonald over on YouTube. Thanks for your comment Kim. Uh she says Danny has helped so many people recovering everyday he shares before and after photo photos of success stories. Ask Danny about Patreon. Oh you're on Patreon.

01:10:24
Yeah yeah sure thank you. Kim she's one of my patrons. Um if anyone is interested I run a couple of support groups each month. Um do you like so many people like you talked about like well there's so many people out there who are isolated and have noone to connect with you know we're blessed I'm blessed to be a member of those 12 step fellowships but a lot of people can't stand that stuff so I I run a couple of support groups they're **** cheapest chips and just giving people an opportunity to come together and we run through a few topics that I love to share about gratitude kindness and and there's a whole bunch of stuff and more importantly give the give the patrons an opportunity to talk to the coach you know like one of my biggest passions today is helping the loved ones of those affected you know because even in through all the carnage of my addiction even at my lowest of low I was always had hope I was going to get stoned but what about my mum my dad my sister my brother my auntie like what about all those people suffering at home we got no idea of the effects we cause on them you know so I've really opened up my patron for for loved ones as well like I want to give those guys the answers.

01:11:41
And I'm not saying I've got the answers but I do have this ability to gently share my experiences with people. So anyway guys you can find my Patreon page probably the comments now that Thanks.

01:12:00
Oh you're you're glitching out. You yeah you are you back now? No you're you're glitching out real bad all of a sudden something's going on here.

01:12:17
How about now? Let's see if it comes though.

01:12:23
Um I can hear you. Okay. Yeah. No. I think we're good now. So okay. I think maybe the internet's going to give out on us here. Are you oh are you frozen again? Looks like.

01:12:37
I am a frustrating. Yeah something's going on. Well let's give it a try one last time. Tell us where we can find you. All the places where we can follow you. Websites. Let us have it man. How do we find Danny? Um Danny Shannon on TikTok also my handle is Dan the Man forty-six on Instagram. I'm Dan the Man forty-six. Danny Shannon bro you'll get me under Facebook. I'm Danny Shannon. Um we got a blue tick over on Facebook.

01:13:08
We're verified. Very proud of that you basically you can track me down on Facey and mate of everywhere. LinkedIn **** YouTube. Just type in the name Danny Shannon and you'll track me down 100percent. Awesome man. Okay we're going to let you go. Thank you so much for coming tonight. Thank you for sharing your your journey and your experience, strength and hope with our community. We appreciate you very much man. And take care for now man.

01:13:36
Let's let's keep this conversation going.

01:13:40
Legend. Thank God. Thank you so much. Daniel. I'm take care my friend. Take care Daddy.

01:13:47
Alright if you're getting something out of what we're doing here you can find all our audios on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also find us live streaming on Facebook. On YouTube on Twitch TV. We are everywhere. So check us out. Thanks again for watching. Thanks again for listening. Take care my friends. We'll see you next time on Hard Knox Talks.