From Overdosing to Ending Overdoses | AJ Banuelos | Ep. 1

AJ Banuelos survived an overdose he meant to be his last. Today he helps run End Overdose, a nonprofit that has trained more than 700,000 people to reverse one. Ep. 1 of Scars and All. AJ sits down as Frank’s first guest to talk about growing up in a gang neighborhood with a dad he idolized, the moment his 11-year-old son told him "I want you to work on your problem," and why giving up his ego was harder than giving up the drugs. If you know someone who uses, or you're a parent, stick around for the second half: AJ walks through End Overdose's free 20-minute training on how to recognize and reverse an opioid overdose, with naloxone mailed to your door. endoverdose.net No scripts. No polish. Just the truth, scars and all. ▶ Subscribe for a new episode every week:    / @scarsandallpod   CHAPTERS 0:00 Meet AJ 2:40 Five years: April 21, 2021 3:10 The moment he couldn't keep living that way 13:50 What he was most afraid of losing 17:32 Frank on his own father 18:55 Learning to love himself 22:50 The loneliest moment in recovery 26:13 Harder than getting sober? 28:52 What "scars and all" means to AJ 31:15 Becoming your father 37:15 "I'm afraid you're going to die before I do" 39:44 What he was searching for 43:50 What his scars teach him now 46:38 The version of himself he had to grieve 50:20 End Overdose: 80 chapters, 700,000 trained, free naloxone 55:32 Next time on Scars and All NEXT TIME Frank sits down with Danielle Benjamin, an admissions coordinator at Luxe Recovery, about her own scars. Subscribe so you don't miss it. FOLLOW SCARS AND ALL Instagram: Scarsandallpod TikTok: Scarsandallpod X: Scarsandallpod BE A GUEST Have a story worth telling? Email inquiries@scarsnall.com ABOUT THE SHOW We all have scars. Some people hide them well, others don't, but no one is exempt. Scars and All is a recovery podcast about the struggle behind the finished product, told honestly. Host Frank Wills sits down with people in recovery, families who've supported a loved one through it, doctors, nurses, clinicians, and everyone in between who have failed, sometimes more than once, and found the courage to try again. No filters. No muting. Just the real story behind the struggle, the pain, and the comeback. New episodes every week IF YOU NEED HELP NOW This episode includes discussion of overdose and suicide. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24/7) This podcast shares personal experience and is not medical or clinical advice. #ScarsAndAll #Recovery #Sobriety #EndOverdose #AJBanuelos