Guest: Rich Roll — bestselling author, endurance athlete, and host of The Rich Roll Podcast Topics Covered: Dave’s intro: Katz’s Deli, Jeff Ross, Marcus Aurelius, parenting chaos Listener comments and Dopey Nation correspondence Sponsors: Oro Recovery, Mountainside, Recovery Unplugged Tom’s Vietnam dope story voicemail Bailey’s Chicago recovery email Rich Roll returns: psychedelics, ego, trauma, identity, and surrender Psilocybin + MDMA therapy and confronting fear Childhood wounds and transactional love Time, relapse shame, and identity in recovery Authenticity in podcasting and media Music talk: R.E.M., Radiohead, The Smiths Connection, gratitude, and the importance of showing up Quotes: “Are there coincidences, or aren’t there coincidences?” “Pain is the universe knocking.” “Love was something I thought I had to earn.” “Every obstacle is an opportunity — if you can stand still long enough to see it.” “I’m not someone who walks around grateful naturally — I’m a crabby self-obsessed motherfucker.” “I’m in it for the relationships.” Identity loss and transformation after injury Spinal fusion surgery and learning to sit still Attachment, ego, and the fear of irrelevance Emotional eating and food as addiction Plant-based pitfalls and vulnerability in body image Ozempic, habits, and shortcuts vs real change Finding joy and gratitude in success Sacred mornings and creative process Writing discipline and not talking about unfinished work Dopey Nation art, DopeyWood, and DopeyCon reflections Harm reduction, drug use stigma, and community inclusion Voicemails, listener love, and fan cover of “Good So Bad” Highlights: “Pain is always asking us to ask ourselves questions.” “Every obstacle is an opportunity — if you can stand still long enough to see it.” “I should be enjoying my life more than I do. That’s the real work.” “Food is like any other drug — a way to regulate emotion.” “Don’t talk about the book. Just write it.” Outro: Voicemail from a harm reductionist listener Shoutouts to Dopey admins, Facebook group, Zoom hosts, and Dopey Nation Tribute to Dave’s dad, “Papa Smurf,” and the late Dopey fans remembered through art Banjo cover of “Good So Bad” by Jake from West Virginia 🎧 Title Ideas Rich Roll on Pain, Purpose, and Letting Go The Contrary Action: Stillness, Sobriety, and Spinal Fusion with Rich Roll Rich Roll: Running, Recovery, and the Addiction to Achievement From Endurance to Surrender — A Conversation with Rich Roll Pain, Presence, and Plant-Based Life: Rich Roll Returns to Dopey 🔍 Searchable SEO Keywords Rich Roll, David Manheim, Dopey Podcast, Dopey Nation, addiction recovery, sobriety, emotional eating, food addiction, spinal fusion, identity crisis, veganism, plant-based diet, endurance athlete, podcast authenticity, Ozempic addiction, recovery podcast, service in recovery, contrary action, stillness, meditation, gratitude, harm reduction, relapse, mental health, banjo cover, DopeyCon, DopeyWood, James Frey, Brandon Novak, Dopey Medal of Freedom, drug use stigma, community recovery