{"podcast":{"title":"The Addicted Mind Podcast","slug":"the-addicted-mind-podcast-444279","podcast_index_feed_id":444279,"rss_url":"https://rss.art19.com/the-addicted-mind","website_url":"https://art19.com/shows/the-addicted-mind","image_url":"https://content.production.cdn.art19.com/images/dd/ac/a7/38/ddaca738-b186-42db-a080-47f391390bde/afe90945cf697f161594043b48ab8bc1b5e4dc05c0a3d762bc1a08710ecf72408e72e99de0bdefad948634d00d26a6e2cbc1b1519fc8f76bd72b204aa7cf290a.jpeg","author":"Duane Osterlind, LMFT","episode_count":504,"summary":"\"The Addicted Mind Podcast\" offers hope, understanding, and guidance for those dealing with addiction, with real stories and research to inspire and show the journey to recovery is worth it. We're here to do more than just talk about addiction. We want to show you how to heal and recover. Our talks with experts and people who have beaten addiction give you important insights into how addiction affects the mind and how recovery can happen in many ways. Whether we're looking at new treatment ideas or sharing stories that inspire, \"The Addicted Mind Podcast\" is all about understanding the complex world of addiction recovery and showing that recovery is possible. If you or someone you care about is dealing with the challenges of addiction, let \"The Addicted Mind Podcast\" be your friend and guide. We aim to give you the knowledge you need, share stories that inspire you, and show you that the journey to recovery is worth it. Subscribe now to be part of a community focused on learning, healing, and changing for the better. Your journey to a healthier mind and life begins right here.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-18T20:20:01.494829+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-addicted-mind-podcast-444279"},"episode":{"title":"Episode 371: Neurodivergence, Identity, and the Science of Micro-Recovery with Early Brunner","slug":"episode-371-neurodivergence-identity-and-the-science-of-micro-recovery-with-early-brunner","published_at":"2026-02-09T08:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-addicted-mind-podcast-444279/episode-371-neurodivergence-identity-and-the-science-of-micro-recovery-with-early-brunner","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-addicted-mind-podcast-444279","url":"https://rss.art19.com/episodes/c4b58b83-0221-4833-8a8e-9581abb6fe21.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0","audio_url":"https://rss.art19.com/episodes/c4b58b83-0221-4833-8a8e-9581abb6fe21.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0","summary":"In this episode, Duane speaks with Early Brunner , the founder of Recovery Demystified . Early shares their powerful journey of navigating addiction as a queer, neurodivergent (autistic) person growing up in a small town. They discuss why traditional recovery models like AA can feel alienating for marginalized groups and how science-based \"Quit Lit,\" neuroscience, and self-compassion provided the path to lasting sobriety. Key Topics & Chapters [00:03] Introduction to Early Brunner Early introduces their background: growing up undiagnosed autistic in 90s Wisconsin, dealing with profound social rejection, and discovering substances at age 10 as a way to find social connection. [04:30] The 13-Year Struggle Early discusses the \"vicious cycle\" of trying to quit using willpower alone. They share the shame of failed attempts and the realization that the substances that once provided relief were now the primary source of their crippling anxiety. [14:05] The Turning Point: Beyond Willpower The shift began when Early found science-based resources like This Naked Mind by Annie Grace. Understanding the neuroscience of addiction helped them realize they weren't \"broken\" or \"powerless,\" but rather dealing with a brain-based challenge that could be repaired. [23:34] The Birth of Recovery Demystified After working as an EMT and seeing the failures of the traditional medical system, Early felt called to create a space specifically for those with \"complex identities\"—queer and neurodivergent folks who face significantly higher rates of addiction due to systemic trauma. [33:44] Neurodivergence and Addiction A deep dive into why ADHD and Autistic individuals are more prone to substance use, focusing on lower baseline dopamine levels, sensory overload, and the \"mashing of the dopamine…","meta_description":"In this episode, Duane speaks with Early Brunner , the founder of Recovery Demystified . Early shares their powerful journey of navigating addiction as a…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2348,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-addicted-mind-podcast-444279/episodes/episode-371-neurodivergence-identity-and-the-science-of-micro-recovery-with-early-brunner/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-addicted-mind-podcast-444279/episode-371-neurodivergence-identity-and-the-science-of-micro-recovery-with-early-brunner.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}