On this episode of Real Drug Talk, Jack Nagle sits down with Shannon Althouse—a former street kid, biker gang leader and repeat prisoner—who turned nine years of sobriety into a mission helping young people across Australia. Shannon unpacks meth addiction, near-death moments, life inside NT prisons, and the mindset shift he built through mindfulness/Buddhism, fitness, and Indigenous cultural dance—now taking his message to communities, schools and national youth forums.Main takeawaysFrom street life → gangs → prison to purpose-driven sobriety (9 years)First drug exposure at age 10–11; heavy meth use in his 20sRaw account of prison anxiety, violence, and survival mode in NT facilitiesFaced a 10.5-year sentence (pled to avoid mandatory life); used time to rebuild mindsetCatalyst: a book on mindfulness/Buddhism → daily practice → emotional regulation“Do the work” defined: repetition, catching negative thoughts, retraining patterns like the gymThree attempts on his life (shooting, edged weapon, hit-and-run) and the mental toughness to recoverChoose service over vengeance: supports youth exiting custody, clothes/food/lifts, ongoing mentorshipUses fitness + Indigenous cultural dance to make sobriety “gangster” and engage youth onlineSpeaking at Men’s Health forums, Thrive National Youth Summit (Darwin), and community eventsCore message: “Stay sober, stay fit.”
Find Shannon on Insta @shannon_ulthouse
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