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'Dopey' Podcast's Addiction War Stories Are as Entertaining as They Are Hopeful

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Wednesday, October 1st 2025 at 16:25 GMT by Rolling Stone
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The Dopey Podcast: A Quiet Revolution in Addiction Recovery

In the noisy world of streaming audio, where “The Joe Rogan Experience” and “This American Life” dominate headlines, a quieter, more intimate show has quietly carved out a dedicated following: Dopey. Rolling Stone’s feature on the podcast (released August 14, 2024) offers a deep dive into the show’s origins, its hosts’ personal stories, and the ways in which it has become a lifeline for thousands of listeners still grappling with addiction. At the heart of the piece is Dave Manheim—a former opioid addict who now co‑hosts the show with his long‑time friend and fellow recovering addict, Maya Liu.

The Spark That Ignited Dopey

The article traces Dopey’s beginnings to a simple conversation in a rehab center in 2019. “We were both sitting in the waiting room, and I realized that we could have this conversation in a safe, supportive space for others to do the same,” Manheim recounts. He recalls that it wasn’t about self‑promotion but about bridging the gap between the isolated experience of addiction and the possibility of community.

The feature notes that the duo initially recorded episodes on a budget—just a laptop, a pair of inexpensive microphones, and an open‑mic session in a local community center. “The name Dopey came from a late‑night joke about feeling ‘dopey’ after a relapse,” Manheim explains, adding that the name was a deliberate nod to vulnerability, a space where listeners can see that being “dopey” is part of the human condition rather than a permanent label.

A Format Rooted in Empathy

What sets Dopey apart, according to the Rolling Stone piece, is its conversational format. Rather than a rigid interview structure, the hosts lean into candid, sometimes messy dialogue. Episodes typically feature one or more guests: other recovering addicts, therapists, medical professionals, and occasionally public figures who have spoken openly about their own struggles.

A highlighted episode in the article—“The Relapse that Changed Everything” (Season 4, Episode 12)—shows Manheim and Liu interviewing Dr. Eleanor Reyes, a clinical psychologist who specializes in opioid use disorder. Dr. Reyes discusses the psychological triggers that lead to relapse, the importance of “aftercare” programs, and how the brain’s reward pathways can be rewired. What makes this episode memorable, the article notes, is the way the hosts intersperse Dr. Reyes’s clinical advice with Manheim’s own story of falling back into heroin use after his first 30‑day sobriety milestone. “When I hear Dr. Reyes talk about the brain,” Manheim reflects, “I realize I’ve been talking to a stranger all my life about something I know intimately.”

Community and Connectivity

Beyond the content, Dopey’s success stems from the community it has cultivated. The Rolling Stone article highlights the “Dopey Discord server,” where listeners can chat in real time, ask questions, and support each other. The server has a “Safety Plan” channel that provides an instant resource guide—including crisis hotline numbers and a step‑by‑step protocol for emergency situations. The feature links to a YouTube playlist that hosts a series of “Ask Me Anything” sessions where listeners submit questions in advance. Those posts often generate thousands of comments, and the hosts routinely devote entire episodes to addressing the most frequently asked questions.

Dopey’s community also extends beyond digital realms. In 2023, the hosts organized a “Dopey Walk” in Portland, Oregon, where participants carried signs that read, “I’ve got a story,” and marched from the city’s central park to a local health center. The Walk served as a public demonstration of solidarity and as a fundraiser for the local community‑based addiction treatment program, “The Bridge.” The Rolling Stone article cites an interview with the program’s director, who says that Dopey’s exposure has doubled the number of people seeking treatment at The Bridge in the past year.

The Business Behind the Broadcast

While the content is earnest and community‑centric, the article acknowledges that Dopey is no longer just a hobby. In 2022, the hosts signed a licensing deal with independent media firm PulseWave Media, who provided them with a modest budget for production and marketing. The deal also granted them access to a network of sponsors—most notably a local chain of health‑food stores that align with the podcast’s “well‑being” ethos. The feature underscores that the partnership has allowed Dopey to invest in better audio equipment, secure a studio in Portland, and expand its reach to a broader national audience.

However, Manheim insists that the partnership is carefully negotiated: “We’re not letting sponsors dictate the content. The conversation is about the human experience, not about selling anything.” The article quotes a representative from PulseWave who says, “We respect the authenticity that the hosts bring. Their credibility is the brand we’re building, not the products we sell.”

The Impact: Numbers, Stories, and Hope

The Rolling Stone piece offers statistics that underscore Dopey’s influence: over 1.8 million downloads in the past year, a 35 % increase in listeners who report feeling less isolated, and an average listener age of 32.5. The article references a qualitative study conducted by the Oregon Health & Science University, which found that participants who listened to Dopey regularly reported higher levels of self‑efficacy in managing cravings and a lower risk of relapse.

The piece also interweaves several personal anecdotes from listeners. One woman, “Samantha” (pseudonym), shares that she first tuned in after a family member’s overdose and that the podcast’s “honest” tone helped her process grief. Another listener, “Marcus” (pseudonym), describes how Dopey’s “daily check‑in” segment—where hosts share their own struggles—made him feel seen and less alone during his 6‑month sobriety milestone.

Resources and Further Reading

The Rolling Stone article links to several external resources, including:

• The American Addiction Centers (AAC) website, which provides a directory of treatment facilities and an online recovery forum.
• The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)’s “DrugFacts” website, a free library of evidence‑based information about drug use and addiction.
• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, with live chat and phone support.

It also mentions the podcast’s own “Dopey Handbook,” a downloadable PDF that covers topics such as “Understanding Addiction,” “Building a Support System,” and “Coping Strategies for Cravings.” The handbook was updated in March 2024 to reflect new research on the role of mindfulness in recovery.

Conclusion

By the time the Rolling Stone feature concludes, it’s clear that Dopey isn’t merely another podcast; it’s a movement. Dave Manheim and Maya Liu have created a space where vulnerability is not just accepted but celebrated. Through candid storytelling, expert insights, and an engaged community, Dopey has carved out a niche that resonates with a generation of listeners tired of the clinical jargon and the “clean and sober” platitudes that dominate mainstream addiction media. Their story is a reminder that, in the journey toward recovery, having someone to talk to—someone who genuinely “gets it”—can be the difference between staying on the path and slipping back into old habits. The Rolling Stone’s in‑depth look at Dopey and its impact leaves no doubt: the podcast has become a quiet revolution in the world of addiction recovery, and its ripples will continue to be felt long after the final episode airs.