Person of the Week: Matt Thomas

Matt Thomas is a 30-year music industry veteran with over a decade providing consultancy and support services in mental health, addiction, and conflict resolution. He is co-host of the podcast Empathy For The Devil and co-founder and Chair of the charity Music Support.

www.we-are-attune.com

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?

A. Alcohol, with a big side of sedatives. But alcohol was my first love. Sobriety date is February 25th 2006. Proud Cottonwood alumni. 

Q. What do you like most about 12-step meetings?

A. The sense of belonging, relief, community, and connection. 

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?

A. I believe addiction is a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-cultural-circumstantial condition, that starts off as the best fucking coping mechanism ever, but soon turns into another part of the problem and eventually takes centre stage. 

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?

A. I don’t have favourites. I actually think people should leave celebrities in recovery alone, and also not presume that they have something useful to say about recovery just because they are celebrities.

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

A. Definitely an ocean. Preferably in Bali. 

Q. Is there anything special in your sobriety toolkit that helps keep you sober?

A. I don’t know if this is special, but I like to think that I take out an insurance policy every morning by doing certain things that will most likely keep me sober that day, but with the full knowledge that it will expire as soon as I go to sleep that night, and I will have to start over the next morning. And knowing that although my Step One is rock solid, that alone will not keep me sober. As the old advertising saying goes –  “half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is, I don’t know which half.”  This also applies to recovery. I don’t know what keeps me sober so I really have to do it all. 

Q. How do you measure success?

A. With a spiritual tape measure.

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?

A. Professionally – it’s rehabs that say they can treat complex co-occurring issues, but actually can’t. Personally, it’s TV shows that don’t resolve well or crime documentaries that don’t tell you whodunit. 

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?

A. Music Support of course! 

Q. Who has been the biggest influence throughout your life?

A. My influences have always changed depending on my state of mind. For a long while, it was Jim Morrison. Then people in the workplace whose outsides I admired. Now, I still think about the words of my first AA sponsor every day, and try to apply them. And my Dad. He’s gone now, but I came to realize that he was the coolest dude in so many ways, and I aspire to be more like him. His name was Derek. Am thinking of getting a tattoo that says “Be More Derek.”

Q. Who made you feel seen growing up?

A. My 2 male 10th grade high school English Lit teachers. 

Q. From what school of thought or teacher did you learn the most from?

A. The School of 12-Step Recovery, the School of Rock, and the School of Life. 

Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?

A. I was born in Canada, brought up in France, the UK and the USA. I currently live in Dorset, United Kingdom. I have spoken with French, English and American accents. 

Q. What major event or realization shaped who you are?

A. Hearing AC/DC for the first time.

Q. What is something you swore you would never do, but did anyway?

A. Become more like my Dad.

Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be?

A. F. Scott Fitzgerald. Stephen King. John Irving. And if Fitzgerald is too drunk, I’ll bring in Keats but that probably wouldn’t end well either.

Q. What is your Astrological sign?

A. Libra. But didn’t they all shuffle around recently? 

Q. What is a phrase that has kept you afloat during hard times?

A. There is plenty of booze / drugs / chocolate at home depending on what period of my life I was in. 

Q. What’s your concept of a Higher Power?

A. Not me. 

Q. What book(s) have you read more than once?

A. The Great Gatsby. The Ordeal Of Gilbert Pinfold. The Stand (but I’ve never managed to finish it!) 

Q. Which film have you watched the most?

A. Spinal Tap.

Q. Who is your favorite film director?

A. At the moment probably someone versatile like Peter Berg. 

Q. What do you love most about living sober?

A. Not having to remember which lie I told who or scroll through my sent messages with a sense of horror. And knowing I narrowly missed cameras on phones and social media.

Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?

A. People can be assholes for no reason. Don’t take it personally. its not your fault. 

Q. Is there anything you do that seems mundane on the surface but has turned out to be sacred for you?

A. Coffee.

Q. When did you realize you were a grown-up?

A. Still waiting for that moment to arrive. 

Q. What books are you reading now?

A. Liz Pelly – Mood Machine, Riley Sager – The House Across The Lake.

Q What is your favorite App?

A. Shazam by a long shot. 

Q. Are you binge watching any TV series?

A. The Last Of Us, The Silo. 

Q. Who is your favorite performer, living or dead?

A. Robin Williams.

Q. What are some of the most memorable songs in your life?

A. AC/DC Back In Black. Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run. Regina Spektor -Us.  Guy Clarke – LA Freeway. 

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

A. Me.

Q. What is your favorite city?

A. Ubud. 

Q. What is your favorite hotel?

A. Erm. I dont have one. Closest is probably Morrison Hotel. If you know you know.

Q. What is your favorite restaurant?

A. Nandos.

Q. What is your favorite cuisine?

A. Thai.

Q. What is the best and or worse piece of advice someone has given you?

A. Worst – come off your meds. Best – you gotta tell her. 

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given someone else?

A. Don’t listen to my advice. 

Q. Have you ever been arrested and, if so, what for?

A. Drunk and disorderly.

Q. What is one thing that always makes you smile?

A. Watching Family Guy.

Q. What was the proudest moment in your life?

A. Becoming a father x 4.

Q. What is your favorite compliment to receive, and why?

A. I’m still not great at doing that but getting better.

Q. What is a style trend you wish would come back?

A. Flock of Seagulls haircuts.

Q. What do you love most about yourself?

A. Aww shucks.

Q. What are five things you always carry with you?

A. My inner critic. My sense of humour. My anxiety. My recovery. My luggage.

Q. What is your biggest fear?

A. My shadow.

Q. Where do you go when you’re seeking solitude?

A.The couch.

Q. What is your biggest regret?

A. There’s a few all mushed together into a big ball. Mostly of acceptance. But sometimes it still hurts. 

Q. What is the greatest risk you’ve ever taken?

A. Asking for help.

Q. What is something you are currently curious about?

A. Whether or not Ringo should replace George as my favourite Beatle. 

Q. What book would you most like to see turned into a movie or TV show that hasn’t already been adapted?

A. Demon Copperhead.

Q. What is the hardest amends you’ve ever had to make?

A. The one I haven’t made yet.

Q. Where did you go wrong?

A. Copying the people I thought I wanted to be like.

Q. Where did you go right?

A. Surrendering.

Q. What is something you’ve learned about yourself in the last six months?

A. To quote Regina Spector, all the lies on my resumé have become the truth by now….

Q. How important is human connection?

A. More important than gravity.