Who this episode is for:
Those navigating trauma like a damn obstacle course.
Anyone who’s ever been raised by chaos and still learned how to laugh.
People who’ve walked out of therapy like it was a bad Tinder date.
Survivors of fucked-up families who still believe in healing.
Anyone tired of tiptoeing around their own pain.
Those who love a little irreverence with their recovery.
And yes—even people who aren’t in recovery but have ever felt like a complete mess trying to hold their shit together.

This episode is the official introduction to our new co-host—and certified chaos enthusiast—Zoë Mendenall, MSW, trauma warrior, and walking tornado of wit, wounds, and wisdom.

Chris and Jeff crack the mic with Zoë, who used to intern for Chris’ wife Ashley, and somehow found her way from clinical work to co-hosting this circus. She’s no stranger to the team—but now she’s on the mic, and she’s unfiltered.

Zoë’s story? It’s brutal, beautiful, and deeply human. From growing up in a cyclone of addiction, loss, mental illness, and family trauma—to healing her throat chakra and ditching the vape—Zoë holds nothing back. She’s a proud “Jesus freak,” a therapy regular, a former Twitter menace (“If you’re not trying to mate like an anglerfish, I’m not interested”), and a woman who’s seen the inside of hell and still sings in church. For real.

You’ll laugh. You’ll wince. You might cry. But mostly, you’ll feel like you just sat down with a friend who finally said all the shit you’ve been thinking. This is why Zoë belongs here—with us. With you. With this whole messed-up, miraculous community.

Oh, and she ghosted Jeff’s Facebook request. So there’s that.

• 00:00 Introduction to Pondoff's Anonymous and Sponsors
• 02:57 The Impact of Chewing Sounds and Misophonia
• 06:00 Zoe's Introduction and Her Unique Perspective
• 08:58 Zoe's Life Experiences and Challenges
• 12:07 Healing and Recovery: The Role of Vaping and Chakras
• 14:59 Zoe's Tour of Illinois Recovery Center
• 18:02 Transformational Journeys in Recovery
• 20:59 Navigating Online Interactions and Safety Concerns
• 21:43 The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
• 24:41 Navigating Personal Relationships and Boundaries
• 27:11 Childhood Experiences and Family Dynamics
• 35:15 Understanding Trauma and Its Long-Term Effects
• 43:28 Friendship and Community Support
• 44:53 Launching a New Church Initiative
• 46:59 Mental Health Conversations
• 49:41 Navigating Family Dynamics
• 51:58 Loss and Grief
• 58:50 Life Changes and Adaptation
• 01:05:44 Navigating Digital Privacy and Parenting Challenges
• 01:08:13 The Impact of Show Choir on Personal Growth
• 01:09:52 Family Dynamics and Emotional Turmoil
• 01:12:37 The Journey to Adoption and Finding a New Family
• 01:15:30 Pursuing Education and Career Aspirations
• 01:18:00 The Role of Community in Healing and Support
• 01:20:38 The Importance of Empathy and Connection in Recovery

Sponsored by:
🛡️ McKelvey Insurance
🧠 LightSource Psychotherapy

Episode 37 –

The Sisters Who Survived: From Pills to Purpose

Who this episode is for:

Anyone who’s ever been told to “get your shit together.”

Those battling addiction or loving someone who is.

The ones who grew up too fast, numbed out too young, or ran too far.
And the rest of you who think you’ve heard every addiction story out there—this one will make you shut up and listen.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests
• 03:07 The Journey of Addiction: Early Experiences
• 06:00 The Impact of Environment on Substance Use
• 09:04 Transitioning from Pills to Heroin
• 12:06 Family Dynamics and Addiction
• 15:09 The Role of Trauma in Addiction
• 18:00 The Cycle of Addiction and Recovery
• 20:58 The Struggles of Active Addiction
• 24:03 The Reality of Treatment and Relapse
• 26:59 The Influence of Relationships on Addiction
• 29:56 Finding Hope and Recovery
• 32:48 Reflections on the Journey
• 35:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
• 45:54 Transformative Journeys: Overcoming Addiction
• 54:46 The Struggles of Withdrawal and Recovery
• 01:06:20 Finding Balance: Life After Addiction
• 01:18:27 The Power of Sharing Stories in Recovery

Show Notes

Chris, Jeff, and the newest chaos conductor Zoe open up Episode 37 with an East Coast energy injection from sisters Valeen and Tiffany — survivors, former addicts, and walking proof that even the wildest flames can cool into something fierce and steady.

You might’ve seen them on Soft White Underbelly, but here they go deeper — Jersey grit, Texas dust, and all the dark in-between.

From faking prescriptions in high school and running oxy scams with a 50-year-old printer lady to shooting meth in Texas kitchens and hiding dope from dogs (that literally snitched), these two don’t sugarcoat shit.

They talk about how pills turned to heroin, how state-funded rehabs can feel like the Wild West, and how sisterhood can be both your downfall and your lifeline.

They’ve buried friends, raised kids, lost everything, and somehow still found a way to laugh — the kind of laugh that only comes after years of crying in bathrooms.

Tiffany admits she “flashed her tits and fought her sister” before getting sober; Valeen calls rehab her second home.

They’re brutally honest about the switch from chaos to clarity — meth-fueled paranoia, vertigo that still haunts, and the terrifying truth that fentanyl has made ‘experimenting’ a death wish.

By the time they reach the part about Kensington, Philly — the zombie apocalypse of America’s drug scene — you’ll understand why these women don’t do half measures anymore.

Their new high is peace, gratitude, and laughing at their own scars.

And yeah, they still drop F-bombs, still talk about Benadryl benders, still love hard. But now it’s with clear eyes.

This episode is a raw love letter to resilience — two sisters who clawed their way out of hell and decided to tell the world what it really looks like when you stop running and start healing.

Watch their original story on Soft White Underbelly to see how far they’ve come.

Sponsored by:

McKelvey Insurance – quick solutions to real-life insurance problems anywhere in Illinois or Missouri.
Visit www.mckelveyins.com

LightSource Psychotherapy – therapy that helps you find your light when everything else feels dark.
Visit www.findyourlightsource.com

Pondoff's Anonymous - Episode 36 Show Notes

Who this episode is for:

• Those in recovery, barely holding on, or trying to claw their way in
• People sober-curious but still actively using
• Families who’ve lost someone to addiction—or feel like they’re about to
• Anyone who’s been burned by a church and swore it off for good
• Spiritual seekers looking for something real, raw, and redemptive
• And anyone who’s ever thought, “There’s gotta be more to life than this shit”

Episode 36 — Matt Miofsky: Building Church for the Fucked-Up and Searching

This one’s not your average episode—it’s a blueprint for holy disruption. Pastor Matt Miofsky of The Gathering joins Pondoff and the crew to unpack a radical new venture: Gathering Underground, a Wednesday-night worship space and recovery community aimed straight at the hearts of people deep in addiction, doubt, grief, and the aftermath of church trauma.

Matt and Chris don’t sugarcoat it. They talk real—about transformation, identity, spiritual skepticism, and the raw, bleeding edge where recovery meets faith. From humble beginnings with no carpet and a bunch of broken people, The Gathering is launching a new site at 2360 McCausland in St. Louis, smack next to the Walgreens where more than a few folks once did heroin in the parking lot. Now? It’s sacred ground.

What you’ll hear:

• The difference between churches built on fear vs. ones grounded in love
• Why recovery is more than just sobriety—it’s purpose, calling, and rebirth
• How to claim an identity (like “pastor” or “addict”) when your soul isn’t ready
• Stories of relapse, reckoning, baptisms in rehab, and the holy power of a smoke break
• The gritty launch of a Jesus-centered recovery night for addicts, alcoholics, loved ones, codependents, trauma survivors, and anyone who can’t quite keep their shit together

Gathering Underground isn’t trying to be another Sunday morning—this is midweek medicine for the walking wounded. Whether you’re detoxing, dragging kids with you, or just there for the coffee and conversation, this community is for you. No guilt. No shame. Just people who get it.

Location:

• Wednesdays @ 6 PM
• The Gathering McCausland – 2360 McCausland Ave, St. Louis, MO
• Accessible by two major bus stops
• Free pizza, smoke breaks encouraged
• Narcan on site
• Childcare provided
• Music won’t be your grandma’s hymns

Follow The Gathering on Instagram: @gatheringnow

Learn more or get involved: https://gatheringnow.org

CHAPTERS:

• 00:00 Introduction to Pondoff's Anonymous and Sponsors
• 02:55 Growth and Expansion of the Church
• 06:47 The Role of Community in Recovery
• 11:20 Transformation Through Recovery
• 17:53 Creating an Inclusive Space for Recovery
• 22:35 The Gathering Underground Recovery Community
• 25:49 Addressing Past Church Experiences
• 30:02 The Importance of Love Over Fear in Faith
• 36:55 The Journey from Fear to Love
• 39:17 Building a Community for Recovery
• 44:57 Transformation and Community Engagement
• 51:09 Creating Safe Spaces for Loved Ones
• 54:41 Healing for Families Affected by Addiction
• 01:00:04 Curating an Inclusive Recovery Environment
• 01:06:22 Understanding and Identity in Recovery
• 01:11:00 The Role of Personal Stories in Recovery

Sponsored by:

McKelvey Insurance – Real humans solving real-life insurance bullshit. Personal or commercial, they’ve got you covered without the runaround. Visit https://www.mckelveyins.com or call/text 618-623-0080.

LightSource Psychotherapy – Individual, group, and family therapy that doesn’t suck. Based in Belleville, IL and run by people who actually get it. Visit https://findyourlightsource.com to learn more.