Dave Host of the Dopey Podcast | Heroin, Rehab, Podcasting, Losing Co-Host Chris to Addiction, Support Groups, Fatherhood & Celebrities

<p>Dave grew up in Manhattan, and since he could remember, he always wanted to be a TV show host.  He would watch all the famous late-night shows and TV shows with his mom growing up.  Regis Philbin would make him feel relaxed, and was a huge inspiration for him.</p> <p>In his early teenage years, Dave always thought of drug users as “poseurs” and was never interested in them.  One night though after drinking heavily at a party, he started smoking pot, to help with his nausea.  His first real drug experience was taking Acid at a Grateful Dead concert his Junior year in High School.  Not too long after that, his drug use quickly escalated to heroin use.</p> <p>In his early 20’s, Dave was in & out of rehab multiple times, but it finally took on his 3rd time trying.  Dopey Podcast hosts Dave and Chris first met at a rehab center in Connecticut in 2011, where they were both getting help.  Dave worked (and still works at) the famous Katz Deli in Manhattan, New York.  At first, he wanted to do a show about “The Last Jewish Waiter” based on his experience at the deli.  He soon realized that his life was mess and needed to focus on his well-being and getting help.  Chris still liked the idea of doing something with the waiter thing, and it eventually morphed into the podcast they have now.</p> <p>Dave & Chris founded the Dopey Podcast in 2016.  Their style was a little different than other podcasts; they didn’t focus on recovery stories, as they found them boring.  Instead, they would tell their “war stories” of their addiction and using years, with doses of edgy humor mixed in.  They’ve had some amazing guests like Dr. Drew Pinsky, Marc Maron & Jamie Lee Curtis. </p> <p>In 2018, Chris was getting his PhD, working in a sober house, and was engaged to his new found love.  His life was on the right track, but started falling back into bad habits. Supposedly, he had been injured while on vacation with his girlfriend, was prescribed painkillers, and soon was again taking heroin and other substances.  Shortly after, Chris