The Small Bow Podcast

The Small Bow Podcast

The Small Bow Podcast is a recovery show – part interview, part storytelling – hosted by A.J. Daulerio, and based on the recovery newsletter thesmallbow.com. A.J. created TSB after he got out of rehab and wanted to hear stories about sobriety, mental health, and spirituality that he couldn’t easily find on the internet. We talk about recovery from all kinds of things: car crashes, identity crises, drugs, alcohol, ego. And even if you’re not in recovery, these stories and conversations have things to teach. Most people equate recovery with redemption – the part where people who’ve quit drugs or alcohol then tell you how they did it and how good their lives are now – but TSB focuses less on the beginning and ending of rock bottoms, and more about the middle part, making it through the woods. Join A.J. as he speaks with writers, entertainers, social workers, magazine editors, recovering addicts, recovering jerks – people – about how they made it through hard things and got better because of it. Maybe some of this will help you get better too.

Episodes

How to Survive a Nightmare w/Joe Lynskey

May 9, 2025 • 69 mins
Last New Year's Eve, Joe Lynskey was headed home from lunch and stepped onto an empty platform at 18th Street and 1st Avenue when he was violently pushed from behind and inches from being hit by a moving subway car. He survived. And his 12 years of recovery from drugs and alcohol are helping him move forward.  Show Notes:  "He Was Pushed In Front of a Subway Car. How did He Survive?" "NYC Subway Survivor Meets FDNY Who S...
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Mind Reels in America w/Freddie deBoer

April 24, 2025 • 68 mins
Writer/Novelist Freddie deBoer tells us his experience with bipolar disorder and the six times he entered (or was placed) into a facility.  Show Notes:  * "Why I Won't Write a Mental Illness Memoir"  * Pre-order Freddie's novel "The Mind Reels"  * Here's Your Kanye West Cliff Notes The Small Bow Newsletter! Help Support TSB!
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You Did It, Man! w/Cord Jefferson

April 11, 2025 • 64 mins
American Fiction Writer/Director Cord Jefferson returns to the pod to discuss winning at the Oscars, losing the Golden Globes, and how he plans to fill the hole in his soul.  Show Notes: American Fiction Stunting Growth w/ Cord Jefferson The Small Bow Newsletter! Help Support TSB!
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The Last Decent Man on Earth

March 28, 2025 • 61 mins
Joey McIntyre from New Kids on the Block tells us all the ways he's kept himself in check throughout his career and dazzles us with his grace and humility. If you like this kinda stuff, maybe you want to sign up to our newsletter. Show Notes: BUY JOE'S NEW ALBUM "FREEDOM"
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There Are Murderers Here

March 14, 2025 • 65 mins
Journalist and mental health counselor Jayson Blair tells us all about how his plagiarism scandal at The New York Times gave him the opportunity to get the help he needed – and to help others.  Show Notes: CORRECTING THE RECORD KATIE COURIC INTERVIEW WITH JAYSON GOOSE CREEK CONSULTING: JAYSON’S LIFE COACHING
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The Weight Loss

February 28, 2025 • 49 mins
Writer and director Cory Reeder shares about his life-long quest for inner peace from a family tragedy that haunted him for more than 30 years. Trigger warning: some graphic content.  Show Notes: Cory Reeder
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Defective Character Limits

February 14, 2025 • 50 mins
NYT’s writer and author Kate Conger lets us know how she’s holding up since her once humble beat covering a billionaire troll who builds rockets and purchased Twitter has become much more intense, important, and crazy since he’s become a very active member of the Trump administration.  Show Notes: Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter Kate’s recent NYT’s stories 
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Joy as an Act of Defiance

February 7, 2025 • 47 mins
Writer Heather Havrilesky comes on to discuss her creative process and how doing super-vulnerable activities like her Zoom singing lessons helps her grow as a person. Sometimes, our greatest joys come from the process, not the results. As the world continues to fail us, we need more joy; we need more process.  Show Notes: Ask Polly Columns:  “Passion Requires Slow Cultivation”  “Reckoning With This Vicious World” Death, Sex, ...
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Joan As Human Woman

January 23, 2025 • 64 mins
Joan Wasser, AKA Joan As Policewoman walks us through her 20 years of sobriety, how her creativity has evolved, what defects remain, and the path of processing grief.  Show Notes: Buy Joan’s Music and Merch Sober Oldster Interview
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All Meat Rots

January 17, 2025 • 49 mins
Peaceful John returns to the pod just in time for the new year and we discuss how vanity and ego never go away, personal needs, and are friendships you develop inside recovery rooms real friendships? Plus, the usual sonorous laughter and deep-ass breaths found in all Peaceful John episodes.  Notes: TSB Newsletter
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You Are F*cking Amazing!

January 10, 2025 • 60 mins
This is a super Dopey episode of The Small Bow, where we speak with Dave Manheim about whether heroin addicts celebrate Dry January, our future ambitious plans for our respective projects, Dave’s book idea, and more.  Show notes: Dopey Podcast TSB Newsletter Gabby Bernstein
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It’s Okay If You’re Not Ready

January 1, 2025 • 18 mins
We revisit an old Small Bow essay about my first New Year’s Eve sober—all the feelings of self-pity and loneliness almost drove me to a very bizarre and off-putting relapse. Sobriety didn’t give me the peace of mind and the results I wanted right away. I beat myself up about it, but you don’t have to.  Show notes: The Small Bow’s Newsletter Search Engine episode featuring A.J. Daulerio about Dry January [Swamp Dogg]
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The Fleeting Joys of Parenthood with George Bilgere

November 15, 2024 • 70 mins
I talk to my version of Taylor Swift, Cleveland poet George Bilgere, whose writing and distinctive voice have influenced my post-sobriety writing (and parenting) more than anyone else. It's a time when a lot of new things come and go, and I want to figure out how to be okay with that. Show notes: Poetrytown.com Georgebilgere.com TSB story featuring George’s work.  Writer’s Almanac Poems “Cheap Motels of My Youth” featured on Rattl...
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Notes from the American Schoolyard with John Devore

November 8, 2024 • 85 mins
Today we talk about how a lack of personal safety as little boys taught us how to be drunk, angry, impotent men. It’s about bullying and Bukowski and desperation and an inability to show love for ourselves and accept love from others. Usual shit.  Show notes: John's book Theatre Kids: A True Tale of Off-Off Broadway. Swamp Dogg's record. In this episode: 01:24 - Keep on trying 06:06 - Curtains up, Beard ASMR, Daily Carry Bros 08:...
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The State of the State of the State

October 31, 2024 • 46 mins
We pause to introduce a new segment, and talk shop about some big plans in the works for the new year. The Small Bow universe is growing in exciting ways, with help from some new friends. Also, a little Q&A about how things are going so far in Season 2, what's next for the podcast, and some industry gossip. Want to help guide things? Take two minutes to tell us what else you’d like to see from The Small Bow in our listener survey ...
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How to Tame Your Monster with Claire Dederer

October 18, 2024 • 101 mins
The acclaimed and wonderful author of Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma helps us sift through the ugliness of monstrous behavior and the guilty feelings associated with being a fan of the art made by vile people. Is it okay to still watch those movies and listen to those songs? Claire Dederer tells A.J. what to do, plus a lot of great advice on writing memoir, and navigating the world of publishing. Links: Claire’s book Monsters: A Fan’s ...
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This is Supposed to Be a Children’s Story with Kerry Madden-Lunsford

October 3, 2024 • 60 mins
Today we talk with writer Kerry Madden-Lunsford about how Al-Anon has helped her deal with the pain of having a child who’s treatment-resistant and now living on the streets of Los Angeles. Find more stories and conversations at thesmallbow.com. Kerry’s book Werewolf Hamlet Kerry’s Substack "Easy Crier" by Al Oldender Listen to Swamp Dogg’s new album "Blackgrass" wherever you get music, or buy a hard copy at Ohboy.com. In this Ep...
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Why Does No One Care About Recovery Month? with Joe Schrank

September 6, 2024 • 61 mins
For the past five years, TSB’s in-house social worker, Joe Schrank, has tried to get someone other than us (and Andy Cohen) to acknowledge Recovery Month every September. Alcoholism and mental health issues affect one in ten Americans. So why does no one want to talk about it? Find more like this at thesmallbow.com. And Listen to Swamp Dogg’s new album "Blackgrass" wherever you get music, or buy a hard copy at Ohboy.com. In this ep...
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Take this Pod and Shove It

August 30, 2024 • 26 mins
We talk to each other about the state of the podcast, and whether A.J.'s workaholic tendencies torpedoed the chance for a second season with iHeartRadio. Also — we need more voice memos from you about your own workaholic/ambition problems. Hit ajd@thesmallbow.com subject WORKAHOLIC, or 323-917-3846. Swamp Dogg’s latest record here.
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Some Kind of Ambition Monster with Jennifer Romolini

August 16, 2024 • 68 mins
We talk with writer Jennifer Romolini about Philly shit, her book "Ambition Monster," her relapse into workaholism while promoting the book, and how to be satisfied with a “B minus” work day.  Also: We’re calling on the Small Bow Family Orchestra: Do you think you might be a workaholic? What moments come to mind? Send a voice memo along to ajd@thesmallbow.com, SUBJECT: WORKAHOLIC. Or you can leave us a voicemail at +1-323-917-3846....
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