Little Addicts

About Little Addicts

'Little Addicts' is a podcast about facing the addictions we all have, making space for the pain we all feel, and reclaiming the power and life we're all entitled to - starting now.

Publisher

Kerene Strochnetter

Category

education · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Jun 2024

Latest episode

10 May 2026

Latest episodes

26 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 May 2026

   Ep - 25 Psychedelics, Addiction, and the Search for Something Deeper — with Tommy Benefield

   What if addiction isn't just about substances… but about what we reach for when life feels hard, empty, overwhelming, or just a bit too much? In this honest, fascinating, and occasionally mind-bending conversation, I sit down with psychotherapist and Addiction Specialist Tommy Benefield to talk about addiction, recovery, trauma, psychedelics, and the deeper human search underneath all of it. Tommy shares his own story of addiction and recovery, his cautious path into ayahuasca and plant medicine, and why healing isn't always calm, blissful, or a "good trip." This is a conversation about relief, escape, consciousness, distress tolerance, and what people may really be looking for when they reach for something outside themselves. In this episode, we explore: Tommy's personal history with addiction and recovery Why addiction often starts as a solution before it becomes a problem The role of guilt, values, and your inner compass Why some people feel more internal conflict around addiction than others Why psychedelics are not a magic bullet Why "bad trips" may not actually be bad at all The idea that addiction may be less about wanting a fix… and more about wanting connection Why distress intolerance matters more than most of us realise The role of integration after psychedelic experiences What might sit underneath the coping A few standout ideas: Addiction often begins as an attempt to soothe, regulate, or escape discomfort The things we reach for aren't always the problem — sometimes they're the clue Freedom isn't needing life to feel good all the time. It's being able to stay with yourself when it doesn't Why insight without integration doesn't change much Books, thinkers, and ideas mentioned Michael Pollan – How to Change Your Mind Christopher Bache – LSD and the Mind of the Universe Ram Dass Eckhart Tolle The Bhagavad Gita Default Mode Network (DMN) 12-step recovery Trauma, distress tolerance, and integration Final thought If you've ever found yourself asking: "Why can't I stop?" This conversation invites a more useful question: "What am I actually needing when I reach?" To contact Tommy Benefield, go to his website https://tommytherapy.com/

2. 

   3 Jun 2025

   Ep 24 - What 23 Juicy Conversations Taught Me (And What’s Next?)

   Kerene Strochnetter reflects on twenty-three conversations about addiction, behavior change, and humanity, revealing that addiction stems from a need to numb and self-soothe, not a moral failing.

3. 

   20 May 2025

   Ep 23 - Breaking Up with Diet Culture (Spoiler: It’s Toxic AF) with Lotta Dann

   In this refreshingly raw and witty episode, Lotta Dann—author, sobriety advocate, and anti-diet warrior—talks about the tangled web of body image, addiction, and freedom from toxic cultural norms. Lotta unpacks the truth behind diet culture and shares her own vulnerable journey from extreme dieting to empowered body acceptance. We discuss: Lotta’s Wake-Up Call No big bang—just a slow anti-diet awakening via social media Her “aha” moment: realising diet culture is a lie built on profit and control The Addiction Crossover How her battle with alcohol and diet culture shares common roots Emotional coping, control, and the myth of “healthy” restriction “When self-soothing becomes self-harm”—the turning point Inside Diet Culture’s Dirty Lies Diets don’t work—most people regain the weight (plus some!) Fat ≠ unhealthy; health at every size is real The billion-dollar shame machine keeps us hooked The Recovery Shift From thigh gaps to food freedom: Lotta’s personal healing Learning to eat what she wants—without guilt, without obsession Mindfulness and awareness as superpowers in recovery Shame and the Inner Critic A jaw-dropping reading from her journal: brutal self-talk laid bare Humour, honesty, and mindfulness to disarm the shame cycle Practical Tools & Advice Daily habits: challenge negative thoughts, ditch the scales, unfollow toxic accounts Morning pages (a la Julia Cameron) for mental decluttering Surround yourself with anti-diet practitioners and media Choose movement for strength, not weight loss Standout Quotes “My life was diminished down to two sets of scales—one for my body, one for my food.” “The pants aren’t wrong for not fitting your body—your body isn’t wrong for not fitting the pants.” “Diet culture is noisy—because it’s hungry.” “Sobriety is a gift that keeps on giving.” Resources & Mentions Lotta's book: Mrs. D is Not on a Diet Website: Living Sober (https://livingsober.org.nz/) Movement: Health at Every Size (HAES) (https://asdah.org/haes/) Book: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron Anti-diet dietitians and social media (found at the end of Lotta’s book) Final Thought This episode is a gentle yet fierce invitation to disentangle yourself from the shame spiral and reclaim your body, mind, and joy. Whether you've ever counted calories or counted drinks, Lotta’s message hits home: You are enough, just as you are.

Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

83

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.