Who this episode is for:
Those walking through the fire of addiction.
Anyone who grew up in chaos and called it normal.
Parents raising kids with trauma in their eyes.
Social workers hanging by a thread.
Therapists questioning if they’re helping or just absorbing.
And anyone who's ever face-planted in life, looked up, and thought, “Fuck. Now what?”

CHAZ FRANKE RETURNS: MENTOR, THERAPIST, TRAUMA SHERPA

We took last week off because of Thanksgiving—calm down, we're allowed to have lives. But to make it up to you, we're throwing it back to one of the most powerful convos ever recorded in the Pondoff’s Anonymous studio: Chris and the inimitable Chaz Franke, therapist, mentor, and walking embodiment of “safe adult.”

And here’s the real kicker—this isn’t just a rerun. It’s a preview. Chris and Chaz are teaming up to launch a brand-new show under the PA umbrella in the new year. He’s the brilliant. Chris is… well, let’s just say it’s appropriately titled.

In this episode, you’ll hear why Chaz has been the go-to guy for the hardest shit in Chris’s life since the ice rink days. They unpack everything from adolescent chaos and Zamboni-fueled misadventures to trauma, addiction, meth, grief, and how the fuck we’re supposed to survive it all.

Chaz breaks down why people turn to drugs not because they’re weak, but because the pain is unbearable—and why the world’s answer to that has been to shame them. He explains the realm of hungry ghosts, the devastating weight of childhood neglect, and why trauma isn’t what happened—it’s what never got healed.

Raw, funny, heartbreaking, and deeply human—this one’s a time capsule of the broken-to-healing pipeline. And a taste of what’s to come.

Chapters:
00:00 Thanksgiving Reflections and Show Launch
01:30 Insurance and Mental Health Support
02:17 Introducing Light in the Dark Coffee
03:39 Personal Milestones and Family News
04:35 Welcoming Chas Frankie: A Mentor's Perspective
08:11 Exploring Trauma and Addiction
10:15 Nostalgic Ice Rink Stories
12:31 Friendship and Shared Memories
20:09 Reflections on Personal Growth and Challenges
27:54 The Journey to Social Work
34:09 First Experiences in Counseling
40:20 Understanding Addiction and Its Roots
49:57 The Impact of Trauma on Addiction
56:02 The Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
01:04:39 Navigating Mental Health Conversations
01:06:08 Creating Safe Spaces for Therapy
01:09:27 The Concept of Light Source in Therapy
01:12:42 Community Investment and Support
01:14:02 The Impact of Telehealth on Therapy
01:19:35 Feedback and Adaptation in Therapy
01:22:38 The Importance of Safe Adults in Trauma Recovery
01:28:12 Reflections on Personal Growth and Support

Mentions:
🧠 Chaz Franke’s therapy practice: https://findyourlightsource.com
☕ Light in the Dark Coffee: https://pondoffsanonymous.com
📚 Book drop: In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Maté
📍 Location: LightSource is located at 114 East Lincoln St, Belleville, IL

Sponsored by:
McKelvey Insurance
LightSource Psychotherapy

It’s the F*ck Around Show — and this one is the full buffet: trauma, texting, family dysfunction, emo heart emojis, and coffee that’ll punch you in the soul.

Chris, Jeff, and Zoë go deep and unhinged in this raw ride through recovery, relationships, and roasting the sh*t out of each other (and themselves). From whether ghosts can be good friends to why Zoë refuses to text anyone back unless you’re sending emojis with flair, this episode hits all the avoidant-attached neurotic highs and lows.

We get into how ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) meetings saved people’s a**es, why support groups are for more than addicts, and what it means to be haunted by unhealed sh*t. Pondoff opens up about surviving real violence (yes, whiskey bottles and all), and Zoë shares the exact story of her conception — yes, weed, cheesecake, and genitals are involved.

There’s also:

• Emotional support punch cards
• Coffee that funds the pod (https://www.pondoffsanonymous.com)
• A musical interlude about inclusive worship songs that’ll have you crying in your recovery mug
• A debate about Siri voices and Amish communication standards
• A collective obsession with The Sopranos
• A quick pitch for executive assistants who also respond to texts (aka unicorns)

This ep also features one of the wildest detours into strip clubs, pit bulls, bouncers, and the logistics of Zoe and Kathy house-sitting without burning down Chris’s life.

Also, Pondoff says something outrageous in a sermon. So there’s that.

Time stamps (DO NOT MISS):

• 00:00 Introduction to Recovery and Coffee
• 02:03 Navigating Communication in Friendships
• 05:56 Understanding Attachment Styles
• 11:59 Exploring Personal Relationships and Boundaries
• 17:59 Humorous Anecdotes and Family Dynamics
• 23:56 Navigating Family Dynamics and Healing
• 26:20 The Importance of Support Groups
• 28:00 Avoidance and Communication Challenges
• 29:49 The Necessity of Change in Recovery
• 32:00 Facing the Fear of Change
• 33:58 Reflections on Personal Experiences
• 35:59 The Role of Music in Healing
• 39:00 Introducing New Show Concepts
• 41:55 Promoting Community and Connection
• 45:02 Coffee and Community Engagement
• 48:04 Struggles with Weight and Substance Use
• 51:30 Reflections on The Sopranos
• 56:03 Personal Dynamics and Relationships
• 01:01:05 Plans for Future Shows and Guests
• 01:10:37 Building a Supportive Community
• 01:13:46 The Power of Shared Stories
• 01:17:33 Creating a Safe Space for Healing
• 01:19:55 Redefining Church and Community
• 01:24:56 The Importance of Connection and Outreach
• 01:29:50 Transformative Stories of Recovery
• 01:34:58 Encouragement and Affirmation in Community
• 01:39:01 Looking Ahead: Future Initiatives

Find the good sh*t:

• Light in the Dark roast – a bold Colombian collab with Long Story Coffee. Available now at pondoffsanonymous.com
• Song: Plowshare Prayer by Spencer LaJoye
• longstorycoffee.com – use code PONDOFF15 for 15% off anything except the show’s roast

Sponsored by:

• McKelvey Insurance
• LightSource Psychotherapy