Mike, Sean and Paul revisit Clarity as a topic for the first time since February 2017. You'll hear some words of wisdom from a version of Mike that was still in sober living at ...

Gayle Saks-Rodriguez is the brains behind the long-running, ever-popular blog My Life in the Middle Ages. For the last decade, she's released one affecting essay after another, ...

Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for continuing to listen to our addiction recovery music podcast Drop the Needle. As it continues to reach new listen...

In this episode, we talk about threats from three different aspects: threats to our active sobriety, threats back when we were using and/or drinking, and songs that simply remin...

The podcast lives! It takes us 15 minutes to get to the subject of Second Chances, but we firmly believe this episode is well worth it. Artists in this episode include Hippo Cam...

Following an unexpected personal matter, Paul gives an update on the current state and the future of Drop the Needle. Artists in this episode include Ringo Starr, Japanese Break...

Recorded live from the gorgeous and historic HALO Live in Sandusky, Ohio, the podcast celebrated the release of Paul's acclaimed alcoholism memoir BOTTLENECK. In the first of th...

We revisit the topic of Secrets this week and listen to songs by Car Seat Headrest and Doombird. Listen below or find us wherever podcasts can be found. (Drop the Needle does...

Writer, public speaker, storyteller, recovery advocate, suicide intervention trainer, and self-described "music fanatic" Shane Watson guests in an episode that dives headlong in...

In this mini-episode, we experiment with a new bi-weekly format where we take a previous topic and share new songs about it. With our Consequences episode, we try to get sponsor...

Wesley "Wes" Geer, founder of the "G-punk" group Hed PE as well as a long-time touring guitarist of KoЯn, visited the show to talk about the things we never stop to consider wou...

The utterly charming Olivia "Liv" Pennelle (the writer, cook, and addiction recovery activist behind Liv's Recovery Kitchen) visits the show to talk about the importance of resi...

This week's guest is actor/activist John Clint Mabry ("NCIS," "ER," "Superbad") who struggled with addiction, depression and PTSD for over a decade following a horrifying car ac...

In this mini-episode, Sean, Paul & Mike reflect on two years of doing the podcast: where it started, where it is, and where it's going. More than anything, it's an episode o...

Friend of the show Tommy Rutger, who was the subject of a feature for The Fix says "silence equals death." That's why he's completely open not only about his drug-addled past bu...

Our guest Josh C. isn't in recovery -- he's still wrestling with substance abuse and dealing with an ever-increasing number of consequences as a result. Josh stopped by to discu...

Rikki Grace is a professional counselor who works with clients struggling with addiction and mental health issues. More importantly, she's the counselor who treated Mike and Pau...

In this special episode (recorded live at the Garden Theater, as part of the Columbus Podcast Festival), guest Jen Hoening shared the Short North Stage with Mike, Sean and Paul ...

One of our very best friends, Cole Downs, visited the show to introduce the topic of Obsession, which is fitting not only from a recovery perspective but because Cole is absolut...

Returning guest Amy Talbott talks about making mistakes in recovery. Musical artists include Middle Kids, Drive-By Truckers, The Replacements, Yuno, and Gossip. (Drop the Ne...

Portland-based recovery writer Sean Paul Mahoney visited our show to discuss the topic of "Freedom" and how the word doesn't simply relate to drugs or alcohol. In this episode, ...

Writer Nancy Carr ("Last Call") called from San Diego to share music that spoke to her pre-sobriety days as well as her much-cherished post-sobriety ones. In addition to discuss...

In this special episode, we collect all of Mike's insights and anecdotes about recovery from the past 1.5 years' worth of episodes. If nothing else, it's aimed at helping someon...

Danielle Stephens (The Darkly Agency) brings the topic of Denial to the addiction recovery table, which gets Sean, Mike & Paul going on all kinds of tangents -- recovery and...

In this special episode, we welcome the hilarious Amy Dresner, the author of "My Fair Junkie: A Memoir of Getting Dirty and Staying Clean." Dresner discusses the process of putt...

We take a break from the music this week and field a few months' worth of questions from our listeners, as read by loyal friend of the show Jen Hoening (Faces of Hilliard, Words...

SEASON 3 PREMIERE. Sean, Matt & Paul welcome their friend, artist Jason Lichtenberger, to join them for a conversation about consequences before and after addiction. Musical...

In our triple-sized winter finale, we welcome Sean's former Wounded Jukebox writer/editor Matt Argalas, who's now the senior editor of The Lazy Flame. Matt shares five tracks he...

Sean, Mike, Paul and in-studio guest Adam G. discuss fear of failure before/after recovery through the music of Dan Auerbach, Broods, Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile, and Ben H...

Sean, Mike, Paul and returning guest Adam G. discuss chaos in both addiction and recovery. Music by M. Ward, The Format, Pink Floyd, YACHT, and Clem Snide. (Drop the Needle ...

Mike, Sean & Paul discuss doubt before and after recovery. They also share songs by The Avett Brothers, Public Service Broadcasting, and Blanco White. (Drop the Needle do...

Mike, Sean & Paul talk about secrecy before and after sobriety. Artists featured in this episode: (1) "SGL," Now, Now; (2) "The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret," Queens of the ...

Season 2 kicks off with Mike, Sean and Paul talking about complacency and getting too comfortable in recovery. Artists include Tegan and Sara, Jackson Browne, Zero 7 and Electri...

The guys talk about lies and deceit in both active addiction as well as recovery. Songs include: (1) "Oxford Comma" - Vampire Weekend; (2) "Cruel" - COTE; (3) "Cry Me a River" -...

In this episode about facing points of no return (in and out of recovery), we welcomed our guest: accomplished sound engineer, record producer, writer, performer, ex-Marine, can...

Sean, Mike and Paul are joined by Adam G. to discuss the subject of loss -- not just in recovery, but with relationships, identity, self-respect and integrity. Songs include: (1...

Our very first guest DJ, Amy Talbott, had just celebrated her first year of sobriety when she joined us. In this episode, we discuss what it's like to have a "tough day" in sobr...

In this episode, the guys discuss how addiction provides an escape as well as how they've escaped their addictions. Sean and Mike also help Paul face the fact that he's constant...

No music this week. This is a one-on-one interview between co-hosts Paul and Mike, who met in a treatment center back in 2013.

The guys talk about trust and recovery: being a trusting person, becoming a trustworthy individual after years of lying to everyone, and trusting others when you know you should...

Sean, Mike & Paul visit gratitude and thanks in recovery, sharing songs along the way. Artists include Vienna Teng, Paramore, The War on Drugs, Missy Elliott, Tunde Olaniran...

Mike, Sean & Paul celebrate their first year of podcasting with a look back at shared songs and subjects like ego, balance, surrender, character defects, joy, guilt, forgive...

The guys talk about nostalgia in recovery. (1) Apollo Ghosts - "Sons of Norway"; (2) Apollo Ghosts - "Things You Go Through"; (3) The Antlers - "Drift Dive"; (4) Ryan Adams - "T...

The guys talk about absence in recovery, with songs from Youth Lagoon, Caitlin Rose, Deerhunter, Jim Croce, Bill Withers, Alice Boman, M83 and Kishi Bashi. (Drop the Needle ...

In this special Mother's Day mini-episode, the guys each share a song dedicated to their mom. (Drop the Needle does not own or claim ownership of any music used in this podca...

Mike, Sean & Paul talk about ego, selfishness, and how important it is to get out of your own way in recovery. Songs: (1) “Paper Planes” – MIA; (2) “I’m the Man to Be” - El ...

SEASON PREMIERE. Paul, Mike & Sean discuss balance in recovery. Songs in this episode: "Slip Away" - Perfume Genius; "Hey Moon" - John Maus; "Take Five" - Dave Brubeck Quart...

The guys talk about clarity in recovery: of mind, of purpose, and of self. Songs: (1) "You Were Born" - Cloud Cult; (2) "Elevator Operator" - Courtney Barnett; (3) "Man on Fire"...

Mike, Sean & Paul discuss healing in recovery. Songs included: (1) "Adulthood" - Jukebox the Ghost; (2) "Paper Bag" - Fiona Apple; (3) "Carry On" - fun.; (4) "Sticks & S...

The guys talk about character defects and flaws while being visited by Sean's very intense cat. Songs in this episode: (1) "Turn It Around" - Lucius; (2) "One Man Wrecking Machi...