Meet David Manheim | Podcaster & Dreamer

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Manheim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
We started Dopey when I had 4 months of sobriety after 20n years of drug abuse. I started it with my friend Chris OConnor. Chris and I had met in rehab for IV drugs. When we started Dopey it wasn’t to make a business. It was to have something to do. As addicts in early recovery we knew that to stay busy and occupied was a great strategy for staying clean and more importantly for staying out of our heads. Addicts have the tendency to be incredibly self centered and to get stuck In their heads. Dope was a great means for us to stay engaged, be creative and to stay out of our heads. As a business it never was too successful. We made some money, and we sent a bunch of addicts to free treatment. We just started a non profit foundation who’s mission is to help addicts however we can help. With fentanyl testing, narcan training, and rehab scholarships.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Dopey is by far the world’s greatest podcast on drugs, addiction and dumb shit. Or mission, when we started it was to create a special place for crazy, funny, stupid, and unusually dangerous addiction stories. The goal was to make it casual, conversational and super debaucherous. As we made the show, our mission and purpose became obvious to me. That was to keep addicts company. Then as our audience expanded – the mission grew, to keep anyone company.

Was it easy? Yes and no. Since we started making Dopey in the late fall of 2015, we have put out at least one show every week. Through thick and thin, the birth of my second daughter and ultimately the death of my friends, including our cofounder, cocreator and cohost, Chris, Dopey has never missed a week which has had it’s obvious challenges. The reason it has been easy, is because I have really enjoyed the process and have been able to keep Dopey fun for me. When Chris died I decided I would continue making the show unless it sucked, got boring or wasn’t fun anymore. I have been fortunate in that I still love making the show and thinking about different ways to grow Dopey. The number one lesson for me has been to stay consistent, and allow the show to be as fun and diverse as possible.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I moved to Sayville on Long Island. It is a beautiful old town on the Great South Bay, if I was to take anyone around here, I would walk them to town and show them the bay. Maybe we would take a ferry to fire island.

I love to walk. If it was in Manhattan, where I grew up, I would do the same. I love walking and talking, and Manhattan is the best place I’ve ever been for that. My usual route is from Chelsea to the Lower East Side. I would take people to Katz’s Deli, the world’s most famous deli, also where I have worked for the past 14 years. I would show them downtown, the Highline park/walk is very beautiful and fun. Or maybe I would walk them up to Central Park, get food from a Halal cart on 6th avenue.

I love not planning things and enjoying whatever happens.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The first shout out goes to my friend Chris. He started Dopey with me, it was his show too, he tragically died of a fentanyl overdose in the summer of 2018. There would for sure be no Dopey without Chris.

Second shout out goes to my friend Todd, he also overdosed on fentanyl in the same summer. I met Todd in 1993, and we became drug addicts together, he was one of my best friends and I think of him everyday.

Third shoutout goes to my family, my partner Linda and our two daughters Norah and Susan. I would be nowhere without them. And of course my ridiculously generous and loving father Alan.

Lastly to Howard Stern and Artie Lange, their influence on Dopey is immeasurable.

Website: www.dopeypodcast.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dopeypodcast

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dopeypodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dopeypodcast

Youtube: www.youtube.com/dopeypodcast

Image Credits
Kevin Albinder