In this episode of Pondoff’s Anonymous, Chris sits down with Lyndsey Jacob, Kyle Jacob, and Zoë for an honest conversation about addiction, recovery, trauma, ADHD, marriage, family, sobriety, and healing.

Lyndsey shares what it was like to live in denial while knowing things could not keep going the way they were. She talks about cocaine use, alcohol, secrecy, survival mode, shame, and the fear of facing life without substances. This episode explores the turning points that led her toward honesty, treatment, and recovery.

Chris, Lyndsey, Kyle, and Zoë also talk about the impact addiction has on marriage, trust, family, finances, motherhood, and identity. They unpack how childhood experiences, trauma, and ADHD can shape adult behavior and self-perception, and how deeper issues can stay hidden underneath addiction for years.

This conversation also gets into support systems, accountability, stigma, and the role of community in recovery. Kyle shares what it was like to walk through this as a husband, and the episode offers a real look at what healing can require from everyone involved. It is messy, personal, honest, and hopeful.

If you are interested in addiction recovery, sobriety, trauma healing, mental health, ADHD, relationships, or real stories of change, this episode is for you.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Sponsorships
01:11 Personal Reflections on Life and Challenges
02:34 The Importance of Connection and Community
06:00 Navigating Personal Struggles and Support Systems
09:29 The Journey of Recovery and Realizations
12:43 Understanding Addiction and Its Complexities
16:14 The Role of Family and Relationships in Recovery
19:10 Childhood Experiences and Their Impact on Adulthood
25:46 Unpacking Trauma and ADHD
27:11 The Turning Point: Coming Clean to Family
28:19 The Importance of Support in Recovery
32:01 Facing the Reality of Addiction
36:00 Unpacking Trauma and Honesty
48:59 The Journey of Self-Discovery
52:03 Understanding Different Addictive Behaviors
58:12 Navigating Substance Use and Social Norms
59:58 The Journey of a Single Mother
01:02:55 Love, Loss, and New Beginnings
01:05:58 The Highs and Lows of Addiction
01:09:52 The Cost of Addiction on Finances and Relationships
01:24:31 The Impact of Addiction on Family Dynamics
01:27:12 Breaking the Stigma of Addiction
01:30:49 Accountability and Personal Growth in Recovery
01:32:01 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Healing
01:39:07 Understanding the Nature of Addiction
01:41:01 The Role of Community in Recovery
01:52:00 Finding Purpose in Recovery
01:56:08 Embracing Authenticity and Connection

Sponsors

McKelvey Insurance Group
https://mckelveyins.com

LightSource Psychotherapy
https://findyourlightsource.com

Fentanyl Killed My Son at a Sleepover | A Mother's Fight for Justice

Tiffany Foster's son Zack was 13 when he died from fentanyl poisoning at a friend's sleepover. He wasn't an addict. It was his first time. Eight days after his birthday, he was gone.

Tiffany shares Zack's story -- his childhood, the night of August 28th, four years of legal battles, and the advocacy work she does now. If you're a parent, someone in recovery, or anyone who loves a young person, this one is for you.

Fentanyl doesn't discriminate. Two milligrams -- the tip of a pencil -- is lethal. Zack had 44.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 -- Introduction to the Journey
03:36 -- The Impact of Loss and Grief
12:29 -- Understanding Zack's Childhood and Development
24:32 -- Navigating Adolescence and Early Experimentation
36:00 -- The Tragic Night and Its Consequences
38:48 -- Navigating Parental Concerns
42:05 -- The Night of the Incident
44:28 -- The Shocking News
51:50 -- Understanding the Overdose
54:24 -- The Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
01:01:32 -- The Trials and Sentencing
01:19:12 -- Judicial System Insights and Parole Eligibility
01:22:28 -- Navigating Grief and the Impact of Trials
01:26:05 -- The Verdict: A Moment of Relief
01:30:21 -- Joining the Fight Against Addiction
01:33:08 -- Early Prevention and Education on Substance Use
01:41:43 -- Hidden in Plain View: Raising Awareness
01:48:11 -- Knowledge is Power: Engaging Parents in Prevention
01:50:15 -- Creating Awareness Through Personal Stories
01:52:53 -- The Importance of Authenticity in Communication
01:56:05 -- Navigating Grief and Addiction
02:01:40 -- The Journey of Recovery and Support
02:05:51 -- The Role of Community in Healing
02:10:37 -- Continuing the Conversation on Addiction

ABOUT ZACK

Born August 21, 2008. Outgoing, loving, never met a stranger. He loved horror movies, video games, soccer, and Halloween, and had a personality big enough to fill any room. He was eight days past his 13th birthday when he died. His toxicology came back with 44 milligrams of fentanyl -- a lethal dose is 2 to 5 milligrams, an amount that fits on the tip of a pencil.

THE LEGAL OUTCOME

Three adults were charged. Andrew Amalong: convicted, 40 years concurrent. Thomas Noonan -- whose biological daughter had died from fentanyl three weeks before Zack -- convicted, 45 years consecutive with a repeat offender enhancement. Jury deliberations: 90 minutes and 30 minutes respectively. Final sentencing: August 2025.

WHAT EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO HEAR

• Fentanyl is in marijuana, counterfeit pills, and things no one expects. Two milligrams is lethal.
• Zack was not an addict. This was his first time. One try can be fatal now.
• Talk to your kids early -- the fear that the conversation invites experimentation is wrong.
• Know where your kids sleep. Vet the household, not just whether a parent is home.
• Fentanyl poisoning does not care about grades, zip codes, or family stability.

ADDICTION IS REAL

Tiffany is a board member of Addiction Is Real, a St. Louis nonprofit focused on early substance use prevention and education. Their Hidden in Plain View program is a bedroom display with 70+ warning signs and stash items parents wouldn't recognize. They're building permanent mobile trailer displays -- needed by April 2026. Free parent toolkit at addictionisreal.org.

SPONSORS

Light Source Psychotherapy
McKelvey Insurance Group | 618-623-0080

CONNECT

pondoffsanonymous.com

Pondoff's Anonymous | Chris Pandoff, Zoe Mendenall, Jeff Allen | Illinois Recovery Center | Music: McCall -- "Anti-Hero"

Ryan Canaday and Karie McMullen from FREE Recovery Community in Denver join us for a raw, thoughtful conversation about addiction, faith, grief, and the power of community.

This episode explores what happens when recovery shifts from isolation to connection. We talk about shame, anger at God, burnout in ministry spaces, losing people to addiction, and the kind of spiritual community that makes room for doubt instead of punishing it.

At the center of this episode is one simple but powerful idea: “we” is stronger than “me.”

FREE Recovery Community (Denver, CO)
https://www.freerecoverycommunity.com

A spiritually grounded recovery community focused on connection, belonging, and breaking shame through honest conversation.

• 00:00 – Introduction to the journey
• 03:12 – Transformative moments in recovery
• 08:55 – Faith, community, and what actually helps people heal
• 12:54 – Doubt, anger at God, and staying spiritually honest
• 17:47 – Addiction and family systems
• 22:48 – Desperation, surrender, and what finally shifts
• 30:32 – “We” is stronger than “me”
• 35:03 – The illusion of anonymity and the power of shame
• 59:53 – How FREE Recovery Community started
• 01:05:56 – Grief, funerals, and the urgency of the work
• 01:30:31 – Representation and belonging in spiritual spaces
• 02:00:56 – Baptism and redemption

https://www.pondoffsanonymous.com

McKelvey Insurance Group
https://www.mckelveyins.com

LightSource Psychotherapy (Belleville, IL)
https://www.findyourlightsource.com