<p>This week, Brenda sits down with her dear friend Joe Byrne for a raw and honest conversation about identity, addiction and healing. Joe talks about growing up gay, dealing with homophobia and Catholic guilt, and the long road toward self acceptance.</p><br><p>He opens up about his struggles with alcohol addiction and Xanax addiction, his journey through addiction recovery, and the resilience that helped him rebuild his life.</p><br><p>Joe also reflects on his decades of kindness. From giving free haircuts to the homeless to supporting struggling families in Cork, his compassion has touched countless lives and made him a pillar of the community.</p><br><p>A powerful story of courage, generosity and hope.</p><br><p>Sponsored by Fettle. Life gets messy, and Fettle makes getting support simple. Connect with accredited therapists online at fettle.ie.</p><p><br></p><h3>Timestamps:</h3><p><br></p><p>19:48 — Joe Builds a Life in Cork & Finds Community</p><p>21:05 — The Party Years & Early Signs of Addiction</p><p>21:50 — Loneliness, Vodka & the Emotional Spiral</p><p>22:59 — Xanax Enters the Picture & the Secret Double Life</p><p>25:09 — Meeting Darren & the Rollercoaster of Early Love</p><p>26:53 — The Pain of Being Unreliable in the Relationship</p><p>27:42 — Hidden Drinking, Secret Bottles & Denial</p><p>28:54 — When Darren Begins to Struggle with Joe’s Drinking</p><p>29:52 — The Fall in Douglas & Nearly Losing His Life</p><p>31:10 — Choosing Help & Entering Rehab at St. John of God’s</p><p><br></p><h3><strong>Connect With Me:</strong></h3><p><br></p><p>Instagram: @thecomebackwithbrenda <a href="https://open.acast.com/networks/682771b4ee813e8be23a0f01/shows/6828954450cf1b42f4640d61/episodes/instagram.com/brendasbits" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@brendasbits</a></p><p>Contact: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[email protected]</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
