Healing, Smoke & Stories | Ketamine, Tree of Smoke & Conversations That Matter

Healing, Smoke & Stories | Ketamine, Tree of Smoke & Conversations That Matter

Over the past month, four different people reached out to ask CHD about ketamine therapy. Their questions became the starting point for one of the most personal conversations he has shared on the podcast. In Episode 31, CHD reflects on his experience with depression, anxiety, and ketamine-assisted therapy, not as medical advice, but as one person's journey toward healing. We explore how real recovery is built through honest conversations, journaling, therapy, meditation, movement, and the daily work of becoming healthier. That conversation unexpectedly leads to Tree of Smoke, Denis Johnson's National Book Award-winning Vietnam War novel. Originally used as a battlefield anesthetic during the Vietnam War, ketamine has taken on an entirely different role decades later, helping some people address the invisible wounds of trauma. It's a striking connection that became impossible to ignore while reading Johnson's extraordinary novel. CHD also shares one of the most meaningful moments he had in years: sitting down with his father, a two-tour Vietnam veteran and discovering how a great novel unlocked stories he had carried for more than fifty years. It reminds us all that books don't simply tell stories. Sometimes they give us permission to remember our own. We also talk about Be the Book Club, why reading creates community, and why healing often begins with one honest conversation. In this episode:• Experiences with ketamine therapy and mental health• Why healing requires more than medicine• The surprising history of ketamine during the Vietnam War• Why Tree of Smoke is one of the finest novels written in the past 20 years• Denis Johnson's extraordinary writing• A powerful conversation with CHD’s Vietnam veteran father• How books create conversations that outlive the final page• The vision behind Be the Book Club If this episode resonates with you, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need a little shelter from the modern storm.

The Path We Take, Leadership, and the People Who Shape Us | Conversation with Michael Blanchard | Episode 30

Life lessons. Leadership lessons. Wrestling lessons. In Episode 30 of Cool Hand Dross, Scott sits down with veteran wrestling coach, educator, and author Michael Blanchard for a conversation about leadership, resilience, gratitude, failure, purpose, and the people who shape our lives. A five-time Coach of the Year and contributor to Wrestling USA Magazine, Michael has spent more than 25 years helping young athletes and students develop not only as competitors, but as leaders. His book, The Path We Take, explores the lessons learned through adversity, mentorship, family, coaching, and the lifelong pursuit of becoming a better version of ourselves. Together, Scott and Michael discuss: • The life lessons hidden inside the sport of wrestling• How failure often becomes our greatest teacher• The coaches, mentors, and family members who shape us• Leadership, humility, and service• Gratitude, perspective, and personal growth• Why the path forward is rarely a straight line Whether you've stepped onto a wrestling mat or not, this conversation is ultimately about the universal experiences that challenge us, strengthen us, and help define who we become. The path we take is rarely straight, and none of us get there alone. About Michael Blanchard Michael Blanchard is a veteran wrestling coach, educator, and author with more than 25 years of coaching experience. A five-time Coach of the Year and published contributor to Wrestling USA Magazine, he has dedicated his career to helping young people develop leadership, resilience, teamwork, and character through sport. He is the author of The Path We Take and lives in New Jersey with his wife, Tricia, and their three sons. Connect with Michael Blanchard To learn more about Michael, his coaching philosophy, and his book The Path We Take, connect with him here: • Website: https://thepathwetake23.com/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mblanchard23/ Be the ocean, not the wave. You are the sun, not your clouds. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share the show with someone who might benefit from the conversation.

How Many Summers Do You Have Left? | Books, The World Cup & A Summer Reboot | Episode 29

How many summers do you have left? In Episode 29 CHD reflects on summer as a season of curiosity, community, and personal renewal. After stepping away from nearly two decades in the classroom, he shares why Summer 2026 feels different and why now may be the perfect time to reconnect with the younger version of yourself. Topics include: * The launch of Be the Book Club * Summer reading recommendations and four featured novels: Angel Down Lolita Blood Meridian The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao * Building community through reading * The youthfulness and global connection of the World Cup * Why summer is a reboot, not a reinvention * Putting down our phones and reconnecting with what matters Whether you're reading a great book, watching a football match, walking on the beach, or simply slowing down long enough to enjoy a summer rainstorm, this episode is an invitation to make the most of the season. Read the book. Watch the match. Call the friend. Enjoy the summer. Be kind to yourselves and to others. Be the ocean, not the waves. 🌊📚⚽️

Always in Service | A Conversation with FDNY Firefighter Vincent DeGennaro | Episode 28

Welcome back to the quiet little corner of the podcasting universe where we're building a little shelter from the storm. In Episode 28, CHD sits down with Vincent DeGennaro, a veteran FDNY firefighter with nearly 17 years of service at Lower Manhattan's Engine 10. Born and raised in the Bronx, Vincent has dedicated his life to serving others while also building a life as a craftsman, chef, entrepreneur, husband, and father. Together, they discuss life in the FDNY, growing up in New York City, entrepreneurship, fatherhood, purpose, and the lessons that come from a life of service. Topics include: Life at FDNY Engine 10 (Ten House) Growing up in New York City Culinary school and hospitality Entrepreneurship and craftsmanship Marriage, fatherhood, and purpose Leadership, contribution, and service This conversation also marks the first interview on Cool Hand Dross Podcast and the beginning of a new chapter for the show. Special thanks to Vincent for joining us and sharing his story. If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, rate the show, and share it with a friend. Help us resist and multiply. Connect with Vincent… Instagram: @vin_e_deeInstagram @onebrickmedia

The Surfer, Big Waves, Team Rash and Finding Your Why | Episode 27

What do surfing, Simon Sinek, purpose, dolphins, and a major life transition have in common? More than you might think. In Episode 27 of Cool Hand Dross, Scott reflects on one of life's biggest questions: What is your why? Drawing inspiration from Simon Sinek's Start With Why, legendary surfer Rob Machado, and a memorable encounter with a pod of dolphins during a Long Beach Island surf session, Scott explores purpose, resilience, freedom, and the courage required to begin a new chapter. In this episode: 🌊 The mental health lesson hidden inside the phrase "Be the ocean, not the waves" 📚 A practical exercise to help you discover your own Why Statement 💰 Why purpose still needs a plan and how to fund your why 🏄 Lessons from surfer Rob Machado and his decision to redefine success 🐬 A True Tale from the Mason Jar: Team Rash and the unforgettable Dolphin Story 🎙️ Reflections on career change, creativity, freedom, and life's next chapter Whether you're changing careers, starting a business, pursuing a creative project, or simply feeling called toward something new, this conversation will encourage you to stop waiting for perfect conditions and start paddling out because the waves aren’t getting any smaller. Cool Hand Dross is a weekly podcast exploring mental health, books, culture, creativity, and the stories that shape our lives. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and share the show with a friend. #FindingYourWhy #SimonSinek #RobMachado #PersonalGrowth #MentalHealth #LifeTransitions #Purpose #Surfing #Storytelling #Podcast #CoolHandDross #Creativity #Freedom #TeamRash