CLEAN Jams

06/13/2024

Congratulations, Benjamin, on your 8th anniversary of sobriety! Your strength, honesty, and fearlessness inspire us daily.

Thank you for your music (CLEAN: the album).
Thank you for your words of wisdom (CLEAN: the column).
And thank you for DJ’ing great sober music (CLEAN Jams on WEQX).

If you haven't heard Benjamin Lerner’s album, CLEAN, in which he shares his story of addiction and his journey in sobriety... check it out: BenjaminLerner.com

12/05/2022

Missed last week's episode of CLEAN Jams?

No problem! Head to CLEANJams.com to check out our extensive library of past episodes.

This week, we played a poignant tribute track to the late, great Atlanta rapper Takeoff from Gucci Mane, a sober rapper who occupies a different niche in hip-hop than many other recovery rappers. We also heard some powerful new jams from some sober independent rappers who speak on their struggles with mental health and family trauma, such as Witt Lowry and Bingx, and we concluded the show with some phenomenal selections from Caskey's new album, "This Isn't Even My Final Form." True to the title, Caskey reinvents himself musically both from an artistic and conceptual angle. He flows over genre-bending production, speaking honestly about his struggles with addiction and personal loss, while simultaneously offering a hopeful message of recovery and self-actualization. No matter what you've been through, it's always possible to turn over a new leaf and use creative expression as a means to confront your underlying issues.

11/18/2022

Missed last week's episode of CLEAN Jams?

No problem! Head to CLEANJams.com to check out our extensive library of past episodes.

This week on CLEAN Jams, we celebrated the life and artistic legacy of Lil Peep, who passed away as the result of a tragic overdose in November of 2017. Lil Peep's dedication to fearlessly sharing his story through his music is also showcased through a brand new song that we premiered from the sober, Vermont-based rapper nothing,nowhere., who resides in Stowe, Vermont. The song, entitled "CYAN1DE," features the influential rock musician Pete Wentz, and finds nothing,nowhere speaking on his continual battles with mental health issues with astonishing clarity. We finished the night off with some inspiring tracks from the recovery rap icon, Colicchie, who has been a longstanding mainstay of CLEAN Jams since the show's inception. Colicchie's music has a motivational message of hope and recovery that resonates in every season, and we're grateful for all of the work that he has done to openly advocate for sobriety through his art and online presence.

11/04/2022

Hey, Everybody! We experienced a small technical challenge last night… So instead, CLEAN Jams will hit the airwaves tonight!

Catch CLEAN Jams TONIGHT, Friday 11/4 @ 11pm on 102.7 WEQX!

09/14/2022

I am incredibly excited to have my music featured on All Sober's Talk Sober Live Facebook Live stream at 2PM ET today!

All Sober is a phenomenal platform that empowers people at all stages of recovery from all walks of life to share their inspiring stories of strength, hope, and sobriety.

The work that they are doing to reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorder by shining a light on hopeful stories is absolutely incredible, and I'm grateful to be able to share a song from my debut album, CLEAN, with their followers and sober community.

08/21/2022

Missed last week’s episode? No problem!

Head to CLEANJams.com to check out our extensive library of past episodes.

We played some stellar musical selections from new albums by Black Thought, Rod Wave, and The Game, which deal with themes of addiction, recovery, mental health, and personal growth. We also invited the well-respected business figure Roger Smith on the show to share his story and experience, strength, and hope with us. Roger is the former CEO of American Income Life and Liberty National. He is also a person in long term recovery. His newly-released book, The Most Unlikely Leader: An Unbelievable Journey from GED to CEO, tells the riveting story of his addiction, recovery, and positive transformation. Roger’s story serves as an inspiring example of the power of sobriety, and we are excited to continue our conversation with him over the next two weeks!

07/27/2022

“Back Together Again: The Music of Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway” previews tonight at 7:30pm - and opens tomorrow night (Thursday 7/28) at 7:30pm at The Dorset Theatre Festival. The show runs through Sunday, August 7th.

Grab your tickets now at dorsettheatrefestival.org or by calling the box office at 802-867-2223, ext. 101

The play/concert features real-life husband and wife, Broadway talents: Christina Acosta Robinson and Ken Robinson. Check out this video from earlier this year, featuring Christina and Ken.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OHXGW3OgHRA

Christina Acosta Robinson and Ken Robinson sing "Be Real Black for Me" from Back Together Again: The Music of Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway at Merrimack R...

07/18/2022

Missed the last show? Don't worry, head to cleanjams.com to hear each week's program!
Check it out at CLEANJams.com/shows

06/19/2022

So grateful to be spending my first Father's Day with my beautiful son, Jude Elliot Irving Lerner. My girlfriend and I welcomed him into the world less than two weeks ago on June 7th, and he has already brought so much joy and fulfillment to our lives. Recovery gives us all the opportunity to be there for those we love most, and I'm looking forward to learning all of the lessons of fatherhood as I continue to keep moving forward in my journey of sobriety one day at a time.

06/06/2022

Missed last week's episode? No problem! Head to CLEANJams.com to check out our extensive collection of past shows.

Over the past two weeks, we have been listening to Kendrick Lamar's incredible new project, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. The new album touches on Kendrick's continuous battle to confront his underlying trauma and move past his self-destructive behavioral patterns. Although Kendrick Lamar does not struggle with Substance Use Disorder, his new album serves as a profound testament to the power of truth and vulnerability, which are two universal tenets of recovery. Whether you're recovering from trauma, substance use disorder, or a combination of the two, it's never too late to make a positive change in your life and work towards self-actualization.

06/01/2022

So grateful to Seven Days Vermont for their phenomenal coverage of Vermont’s recovery community. This article perfectly highlights how employers across the state are stepping up to the plate and providing people in recovery with work opportunities. Working Fields’ mission-based staffing agency services are playing a crucial role in helping small and large businesses become “Recovery-friendly workplaces,” and their efforts are making it possible for many people to find long-term success in recovery. We invited Working Fields’ CEO and Founder, Mickey Wiles, for an interview, which aired on episodes #16 and #17 of . (The shows and interviews are available to stream at www.cleanjams.com/shows)

In the earliest days of my recovery, I was able to develop a profound sense of purpose and accountability by working an honest job. I learned valuable lessons there that enabled me to move forward in my recovery one day - and one shift - at a time. Every employer who offers people in recovery a chance to work is potentially saving their lives, and they deserve nothing but love and praise.

(Photo by Jason Siegel. Courtesy Seven Days)

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/the-addiction-crisis-prompts-employers-to-make-adjustments-in-the-workplace/Content?oid=35645935

05/15/2022

Missed last Thursday's episode? No problem! Head to CLEANJams.com to check out our extensive library of past episodes. This week, we interviewed a talented southern Vermont-based musician named Patrick Sargent, who has an extensive background in both rock and hip-hop music. Music has played an integral part in Patrick’s recovery from opioid dependency. Recently, he has used the lessons that he has learned to spread a message of hope through the community through appearances at local youth programs. Patrick is a gifted artist with an amazing story of resilience and creative integrity, and we’re excited to see how his life and career continues to evolve.