A Seattle-based social worker and an LA-based creative navigate their personal recoveries from drugs and alcohol, domestic violence and mental disorders amidst encroaching political turmoil and social decay. Hosts Audrey Comber and Patrick Newman attempt to bridge the divide between recovery and world events, recognizing that we live in a society and these dynamics feed each other.
Guests from the world of politics and organizing, psychology and 12-step recovery, disability activism and more will supplement an ongoing conversation between two friends seeking to heal the world as they heal themselves. In a time when the environment, democracy and vulnerable populations are under siege, Outside Issues offers education and solidarity across class and identity lines, advocating for the dignity and value of every person.
Main show theme is “Strangers” by Midnight Prisms
Music and lyrics by Alicia Beck
Music and production by Max Foreman
Mastering by Little Castle Sound
Please follow and listen to Midnight Prisms on Spotify!
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o5jiLSZMoSXNWL98UBxYI?si=sK-K7IoUSp-QfFKgUwVY7A
Logo art by Graffiti Fucks (@graffitifucks on Instagram)
All content for Outside Issues is the property of Patrick Newman and Audrey Comber and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
A Seattle-based social worker and an LA-based creative navigate their personal recoveries from drugs and alcohol, domestic violence and mental disorders amidst encroaching political turmoil and social decay. Hosts Audrey Comber and Patrick Newman attempt to bridge the divide between recovery and world events, recognizing that we live in a society and these dynamics feed each other.
Guests from the world of politics and organizing, psychology and 12-step recovery, disability activism and more will supplement an ongoing conversation between two friends seeking to heal the world as they heal themselves. In a time when the environment, democracy and vulnerable populations are under siege, Outside Issues offers education and solidarity across class and identity lines, advocating for the dignity and value of every person.
Main show theme is “Strangers” by Midnight Prisms
Music and lyrics by Alicia Beck
Music and production by Max Foreman
Mastering by Little Castle Sound
Please follow and listen to Midnight Prisms on Spotify!
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o5jiLSZMoSXNWL98UBxYI?si=sK-K7IoUSp-QfFKgUwVY7A
Logo art by Graffiti Fucks (@graffitifucks on Instagram)
Audrey and Patrick briefly touch on new Trump authoritarianism and Israel’s assassination of journalists, before returning to their own histories of addiction and questions of recovery maintenance. Patrick has chosen not to have children, but Audrey looks forward to being a mom. We touch on the fears but also the hope and promise of bringing a child into a world so fraught with danger and suffering.
In the second part of the episode, Patrick’s sponsor Danny B. joins with his own experience, strength, and hope of fatherhood.
Rest in power Anas al-Sharif, 28-year-old journalist for Al-Jazeera that was among those slain in Gaza this week by the IDF.
Danny’s Substack article on Trump’s replay of the Bush years - Pride Cometh Before the Fall:
https://open.substack.com/pub/envelope/p/pride-cometh-before-the-fall?r=ffyqp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Please consider donating to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF):
https://www.pcrf.net
Further relief options to the victims of genocide and famine through The Sameer Project:
https://linktr.ee/thesameerproject
Every bit helps.
CNN Interview with Doug Wilson - Christian nationalist pastor with ties to Sec. Defense Pete Hegseth:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/08/politics/video/christian-nationalist-doug-wilson-pam-brown-digvid
More on Trump deploying the National Guard to DC:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/13/mayor-dc-trump-national-guard
Introductory quote is from Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men.
Main show theme is “Strangers” by Midnight Prisms
Music and lyrics by Alicia Beck
Music and production by Max Foreman
Mastering by Little Castle Sound
Please follow and listen to Midnight Prisms on Spotify!
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o5jiLSZMoSXNWL98UBxYI?si=sK-K7IoUSp-QfFKgUwVY7A
Logo art by Patrick Mitchell and Angelina Harvey (@graffitifucks on Instagram)
Outside Issues
A Seattle-based social worker and an LA-based creative navigate their personal recoveries from drugs and alcohol, domestic violence and mental disorders amidst encroaching political turmoil and social decay. Hosts Audrey Comber and Patrick Newman attempt to bridge the divide between recovery and world events, recognizing that we live in a society and these dynamics feed each other.
Guests from the world of politics and organizing, psychology and 12-step recovery, disability activism and more will supplement an ongoing conversation between two friends seeking to heal the world as they heal themselves. In a time when the environment, democracy and vulnerable populations are under siege, Outside Issues offers education and solidarity across class and identity lines, advocating for the dignity and value of every person.
Main show theme is “Strangers” by Midnight Prisms
Music and lyrics by Alicia Beck
Music and production by Max Foreman
Mastering by Little Castle Sound
Please follow and listen to Midnight Prisms on Spotify!
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o5jiLSZMoSXNWL98UBxYI?si=sK-K7IoUSp-QfFKgUwVY7A
Logo art by Graffiti Fucks (@graffitifucks on Instagram)
