Tommy McClenahan's guest appearances

Tommy McClenahan

Too Posh Podcast

Julia Roberts

Michael Bell

Johnny Wimbrey

Krav Maga

Bruce McArthur

Ashley Cook

Carlos Frias

Phil Show

Michelle Jewsbury

Elizabeth Rose

Alyssa Edwards

Tonja Hartman

Jen Pilotte

Emily Austin

Marcella Raneri

OwlTail

James McClenahan and Colleen Michaelis are beyond brave to share their story about the overdose death of their beautiful son Tommy McClenahan on August 10, 2018.They are helping many people that are listening and might be in this exact situation and possibly missing important signs that can change the outcome of their story. Colleen came on this show less than 3 months after Tommy passed away and you can hear her brave testimony in episodes 77 and 78. Since then she has tirelessly worked to bring awareness and education to thisopioid crisis not only in the small town of Coppell but all over the country. This episode we get a first hand look inside the grief of a Dad. James takes us through his memories of being Tommy's Dad from the time he was little and how he was just naturally great at everything. He tells us that even though Tommy struggled he was always convinced that he would beat the disease of addiction. Up until a month before his death there was every indication he was beating the disease.Even though James noticed signs in early highschool he never understood how powerful and highly addictive these opioids were. Colleen says that Tommy had so much greatness that as a parent you allow that to cloud your vision because you believe that he will stop anything that is silly and the greatness will take over. Colleen warns everyone that in addition to prescription medications all drugs are being laced with Fentanyl or Oxycontin because drug dealers know that will bring the customers back. Most people don't even realize that the Xanax bars are also laced with it and they take those at parties. The Fentanyl issue is so deadly. Fentanyl was initially used for pain treatment in severe cancer patients. Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 2 tiny little grains can kill a man. It is extremely powerful. James and Colleen have made it their mission to get the word out and get people and parents aware of how truly dangerous it is. James tells us about the time Tommy had a sports injury and was prescribed opioids. 2 1/2 millions of people are addicted to opiods. You can be addicted to hydrocodone in 3 days. There is a huge misconception that once people complete drug rehab they are going to be fine going on with life but reality is they need treatment for the rest of their life. James bravely and tearfully takes us through the day when he found out that Tommy passed away. He leaned on his best friends that were right by his side. He had to call Colleen and his son Ben, Tommy's brother. Both Colleen and James are so grateful to the town of Coppell, Texas and all their friends who rallied around them. James says he doesn't know how people do it without support. Colleen tells us that the average age in Texas of children experimenting with alcohol and smoking is age 11!!!!!!!Colleen warns everyone to be very vigilant with what you are prescribed. When kids have been given opioids and medication for one thing or another it makes them way more prone to addiction when they are older. With opioids it takes on average 8 years of relapsing, being sober, relapsing, being sober to get 1 full year of sobriety. That is very daunting and almost too much to handle. James shares about his experience at Encore, which is an after care program from the rehab facility Unplugged where Tommy was. He went to a reception held for Tommy and was blown away by how many people showed up.Addiction makes good people do bad things. It changes and rewires the brain to make it think you need this drug like you need food and water. James talks about how hard it is on Tommy's younger brother to have lost the person that he always looked up to. Tommy was the 8th drug related death in Coppell of Coppell High School graduated students in 2018.With Colleen's leadership together with the superintendent and the principles of the Coppell school district they are focused on educating parents, students and focusing on kids emotional wellness. They are making sure kids have good coping skills. There is no one solution. We like to think in Coppell like so many other suburbs we live in a bubble. It's time to burst that bubble. If you think that we do not have drug issues you either live under a rock or are severely misinformed.

James McClenahan and Colleen Michaelis are beyond brave to share their story about the overdose death of their beautiful son Tommy McClenahan on August 10, 2018. They are helping many people that are listening and might be in this exact situation and possibly missing important signs that can change the outcome of their story. Colleen came on this show less than 3 months after Tommy passed away and you can hear her brave testimony in episodes 77 and 78. Since then she has tirelessly worked to bring awareness and education to this opioid crisis not only in the small town of Coppell but all over the country. This episode we get a first hand look inside the grief of a Dad. James takes us through his memories of being Tommy's Dad from the time he was little and how he was just naturally great at everything. He tells us that even though Tommy struggled he was always convinced that he would beat the disease of addiction. Up until a month before his death there was every indication he was beating the disease. Even though James noticed signs in early highschool he never understood how powerful and highly addictive these opioids were. Colleen says that Tommy had so much greatness that as a parent you allow that to cloud your vision because you believe that he will stop anything that is silly and the greatness will take over. Colleen warns everyone that in addition to prescription medications all drugs are being laced with Fentanyl or Oxycontin because drug dealers know that will bring the customers back. Most people don't even realize that the Xanax bars are also laced with it and they take those at parties. The Fentanyl issue is so deadly. Fentanyl was initially used for pain treatment in severe cancer patients. Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 2 tiny little grains can kill a man. It is extremely powerful. James and Colleen have made it their mission to get the word out and get people and parents aware of how truly dangerous it is. James tells us about the time Tommy had a sports injury and was prescribed opioids. 2 1/2 millions of people are addicted to opiods. You can be addicted to hydrocodone in 3 days. There is a huge misconception that once people complete drug rehab they are going to be fine going on with life but reality is they need treatment for the rest of their life. James bravely and tearfully takes us through the day when he found out that Tommy passed away. He leaned on his best friends that were right by his side. He had to call Colleen and his son Ben, Tommy's brother. Both Colleen and James are so grateful to the town of Coppell, Texas and all their friends who rallied around them. James says he doesn't know how people do it without support. Colleen tells us that the average age in Texas of children experimenting with alcohol and smoking is age 11!!!!!!! Colleen warns everyone to be very vigilant with what you are prescribed. When kids have been given opioids and medication for one thing or another it makes them way more prone to addiction when they are older. With opioids it takes on average 8 years of relapsing, being sober, relapsing, being sober to get 1 full year of sobriety. That is very daunting and almost too much to handle. James shares about his experience at Encore, which is an after care program from the rehab facility Unplugged where Tommy was. He went to a reception held for Tommy and was blown away by how many people showed up. Addiction makes good people do bad things. It changes and rewires the brain to make it think you need this drug like you need food and water. James talks about how hard it is on Tommy's younger brother to have lost the person that he always looked up to. Tommy was the 8th drug related death in Coppell of Coppell High School graduated students in 2018. With Colleen's leadership together with the superintendent and the principles of the Coppell school district they are focused on educating parents, students and focusing on kids emotional wellness. They are making sure kids have good coping skills. There is no one solution. We like to think in Coppell like so many other suburbs we live in a bubble. It's time to burst that bubble. If you think that we do not have drug issues you either live under a rock or are severely misinformed.

#174: The Legacy Of Tommy McClenahan - Tommy's parents surviving the grief of an overdose death by bringing awareness and education

Colleen Michaelis

The amazing Colleen Michaelis is back to discuss her passion for raising awareness and making changes to the opioid epidemic in the USA.She wants to not only raise awareness but fight against the stigma of addiction in memory of her beautiful son Tommy McClenahan who sadly passed away of an accidental drug overdose on August 10, 2018. Drug overdose is the Number 1 cause of death in under 25 year olds. There is no discrimination of age, race, gender or where you live. Addiction is everywhere. Colleen wrote about what her first and second months were like without her son and we read the summary. There are little signs and messages we all believe are sent from heaven for her to know that Tommy is still with her. Colleen encourages everyone to read the book Dopesick by Beth Macy.“NOT EVERYTHING THAT IS FACED CAN BE CHANGED, BUT NOTHING CAN BE CHANGED IF IT IS NOT FACED” We hear about graphics of staggering, crazy numbers of drug overdoses.It is like a 737 plane crashing every single day. That is how many people die daily of drug overdose in this country alone. When there is stigma surrounding something people don’t talk about it. We have to keep talking about it. It is the most important thing.FDA approved an even stronger painkiller than Fentanyl, which is frightening. Colleen is joining Shatterproof which is an organisation all over the country that works to bring awareness and education. They also research the best treatment to give to people that are unable to have access to it. Only 1 in 10 people suffering are able to get good treatment.There is a 5 K race for Team Tommy in Dallas on November 17. Please join if you can and donate. Tommy was involved in an organization called Recovery Unplugged, Face the Music in Austin. Colleen wants more regulation for rehab centers. She shares with us that for 1 solid year of opioid addiction it takes an average of 8 years of in and out treatment and relapse to get 1 year of sobriety!!!!!!The grip that drug has on your brain and body is unbelievable. Most people don’t have 8 years. We learn about Tommy’s Letterman jacket that was missing for 5 years and was returned to his family after his death. We end the show with an important lesson for everyone. Instead of asking people how many children they have start saying “Tell me about your family”. This will help make things less painful for people that have lost children.We added the slideshow that was shown at Tommy’s funeral to the end of this podcast on our YouTube channel.

The amazing Colleen Michaelis is back to discuss her passion for raising awareness and making changes to the opioid epidemic in the USA. She wants to not only raise awareness but fight against the stigma of addiction in memory of her beautiful son Tommy McClenahan who sadly passed away of an accidental drug overdose on August 10, 2018. Drug overdose is the Number 1 cause of death in under 25 year olds. There is no discrimination of age, race, gender or where you live. Addiction is everywhere. Colleen wrote about what her first and second months were like without her son and we read the summary. There are little signs and messages we all believe are sent from heaven for her to know that Tommy is still with her. Colleen encourages everyone to read the book Dopesick by Beth Macy. “NOT EVERYTHING THAT IS FACED CAN BE CHANGED, BUT NOTHING CAN BE CHANGED IF IT IS NOT FACED” We hear about graphics of staggering, crazy numbers of drug overdoses. It is like a 737 plane crashing every single day. That is how many people die daily of drug overdose in this country alone. When there is stigma surrounding something people don’t talk about it. We have to keep talking about it. It is the most important thing. FDA approved an even stronger painkiller than Fentanyl, which is frightening. Colleen is joining Shatterproof which is an organisation all over the country that works to bring awareness and education. They also research the best treatment to give to people that are unable to have access to it. Only 1 in 10 people suffering are able to get good treatment. There is a 5 K race for Team Tommy in Dallas on November 17. Please join if you can and donate. Tommy was involved in an organization called Recovery Unplugged, Face the Music in Austin. Colleen wants more regulation for rehab centers. She shares with us that for 1 solid year of opioid addiction it takes an average of 8 years of in and out treatment and relapse to get 1 year of sobriety!!!!!! The grip that drug has on your brain and body is unbelievable. Most people don’t have 8 years. We learn about Tommy’s Letterman jacket that was missing for 5 years and was returned to his family after his death. We end the show with an important lesson for everyone. Instead of asking people how many children they have start saying “Tell me about your family”. This will help make things less painful for people that have lost children. We added the slideshow that was shown at Tommy’s funeral to the end of this podcast on our YouTube channel.

#78: Fighting the Opioid Epidemic in memory of her late son Tommy McClenahan – Meet Colleen Michaelis