Life Goes On Without Dip | #53

Pressure – Episode 53

The Kill The Can Podcast
Recorded: June 30th, 2025

Introduction

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Kill The Can Podcast.

As I typically do, I have to start today’s episode by saying it’s been a little while. I apologize that there has been so much time between episodes.

The last couple of months have been a whirlwind. I’ve had a lot going on in my personal life. All good—nothing bad or anything to be concerned about—but there are reasons why I haven’t been able to record new episodes.

As I believe I’ve mentioned before, I have three boys.

My oldest graduated from high school, and if you’ve had a high school graduate, you know just how busy this season of life can be. Between end-of-year trips, finals, graduation ceremonies, graduation parties, getting ready for college, and everything else that comes with it, it’s added another entire layer of complexity to our already busy lives.

Just this past weekend we hosted his graduation party. We had quite a few people over to the house. The festivities really started on Friday when the tent was delivered. I spent the day setting up the tent, tables, and chairs, and then yesterday evening I was taking everything back down.

It was a wonderful celebration for my son, and we’re incredibly excited for what’s ahead. We’ll be taking him to college on August 22nd, and classes begin on the 25th.

A Family Full of Milestones

In addition to all of the graduation excitement, my middle son—who is a junior going into his senior year—is a baseball pitcher.

His team made an incredible run all the way to the state championship game.

For those of you who have athletes, you know being the parent of an athlete can be a nerve-racking experience. We all want our kids to succeed, and being the parent of a pitcher is especially stressful. He’s a pitcher only, so he pitches about once every five days.

The days he’s not pitching, I get to simply enjoy the game.

The days he is pitching are a different story.

In the Elite Eight, he threw a complete-game no-hitter to send his team to the Final Four.

Then, in the state championship game, he pitched another complete game. He walked nobody, gave up only three hits, and surrendered just one unearned run.

His team lost 1-0.

It was the only time all season they were shut out.

I could not have been more proud of that team or more proud of him.

It was an incredible run.

And while all of that was happening, my youngest son was involved in a summer theater camp. He performed in his play on Friday evening, and he did an amazing job. We couldn’t have been prouder of him either.

Why I’m Telling You This

I tell you all of this because these are the reasons I’ve been absent from the podcast.

I have still been posting Roll Call every single day.

I’ve continued to stay engaged on the forums.

Coming up on 19 years of freedom, making that daily promise is still one of the most important parts of my day.

I tell you these stories not because this podcast is about me.

This podcast is about quitting dip.

It’s about remaining free from addiction.

The reason I share everything that’s been going on in my life is because throughout all of it…

I never once considered having a dip.

I was thinking about that last night.

I realized I hadn’t recorded a podcast episode in a while.

And then it hit me.

Not once did tobacco even cross my mind.

During graduation, there were classmates celebrating with cigars after the ceremony.

It never crossed my mind to join them.

I never thought, “I’d really love to have a cigar.”

I never thought, “I’d really love to have a dip.”

Not once.

The Daily Promise Works

To me, that’s a massive testament to the Kill The Can community.

It’s a testament to the relationships I’ve built over the years by posting Roll Call and making a daily promise.

It absolutely works.

If you’re listening to this and you’re struggling…

If you’re early in your quit…

If you’re wondering whether it’s worth it…

If you’re asking yourself how you’ll ever get back to living a tobacco-free, addiction-free life…

I’m here to tell you that it’s absolutely possible.

I just came through one of the busiest and most stressful periods of my life.

And I didn’t even consider nicotine for a single moment.

So today, I simply wanted to thank each and every one of you.

I walk this walk.

I work this program.

I live this tobacco-free life.

And I am eternally grateful that I get to do it alongside all of you.

Coming Up Next

Coming up very soon on the podcast, I’m really excited to share a couple of pieces of audio—with permission—from fellow Kill The Can members.

This podcast isn’t all about me.

I’m excited for you to hear some really cool stories about their quits, how quitting has impacted their lives, and what this community has meant to them.

I’m hoping to bring that episode to you next week after I get everything edited together.

I think you’re really going to enjoy it.

Closing

Thank you again for joining me.

It is an honor to quit with you today.

We’ll talk to you soon, quitters.

Have a good one.