AG 026: New Name. New Logo. Same Podcast.

Full Episode Transcript

Hey there and welcome to the After Gambling Podcast. My name is still Jamie, I’m still a compulsive gambler, and the last time I gambled is still July 15th of 2010.

Now for those of you that have been listening right along, you noticed a change in the name, and I’ll discuss that today. But before I say anything further about the name change, I just want to say that nothing’s really going to change. That’s why in the intro I just wanted to talk about how I’m still Jamie, I’m still a compulsive gambler, and the date I last gambled is still July 15th of 2010—because nothing about the podcast, the episodes, the goals, any of that is going to change.

So, why the name change? The simplest way I can describe this is that something inside of me has changed. I think I’m in a much different place in my recovery today than when I started the podcast, even just five months ago. And I know I’m in a completely different place than when I first purchased the domain with the thought of doing some kind of blog.

At the time, I didn’t have the idea of doing a podcast—it was just going to be a blog. But when I purchased the domain, Gambling Still Sucks, back in, I think it was 2013 or 2014, I was in a dark place. I was still dealing with a lot of depression. Depression is something that keeps coming back to me, but over the years, it’s gotten much lighter, and I’ve learned how to deal with it.

I’m getting much, much better at understanding my depression, what triggers it, and how to sort my thoughts and get my feelings out. A lot of it, I’ll be honest, is this podcast. This podcast is my outlet that allows me to share and to expose some of the things that I’m ashamed of or had a lot of shame about. That has been freeing for me, and it’s taken away a lot of my depression and the darkness I was feeling back then.

But with that darkness, the name “Gambling Still Sucks” was one that, when I was thinking of how to come up with a name, I wanted something that differentiated from all the pro-gambling content out there. It was hard to come up with a name involving gambling that showcased that this wasn’t going to be a site giving odds or predictions on games. So I thought, “Okay, I’ll do something that’s very descriptive: Gambling Still Sucks.”

It was good at the time because it also matched up with my thoughts and feelings. It was a reminder to me—kind of a daily reminder—that gambling still sucks for me. It’s not going to be good because, when I was gambling, that addiction kept telling me, “Oh no, this is good for you. This is your way out. You can do this. You’re good at it. Just keep going a little bit longer, and once you get even, you can quit.” That was the great fantasy we all have as gamblers.

So that reminder that gambling still sucks really resonated with me because it was a constant reminder that this wasn’t good for me. And when I designed the imagery, it was black and gold—all very dark. Looking back, it was fitting of the depression I felt at the time.

Now, though, I don’t feel that way anymore. I realized that a few weeks ago when I was working on my Instagram page. If you haven’t followed yet, you can find it at @aftergambling on Instagram, @aftergambling on Twitter, and also on Facebook if you search for After Gambling. I’m considering doing a private Facebook group, so if that’s something you’d be interested in, shoot me a message.

But back to Instagram, I was creating posts, sharing thoughts and inspiration. And I realized quickly that the black and gold didn’t match with hope and inspiration. It was very dark, which matched how I felt then, but now it’s hard to use those dark colors to convey the hope and inspiration I’m feeling now—and hope you are starting to feel too.

This realization was kind of the icing on the cake that pushed me over the edge to say, “Yes, this needs to be done.” I want my content to be motivational and uplifting. I want vibrant colors—blues, greens—because I think many campaigns paint a depressing picture, which connects with people in the midst of gambling addiction, but it’s also important to showcase life after gambling.

That’s how I came up with the name “After Gambling.” It’s almost like a blank space—after gambling, you can insert whatever it is: family, hobbies, happiness, work. All the things we start to get back when we stop gambling. Gambling consumes us, but I want this podcast and social media to highlight the positive things that come back after we stop.

I’ve always been drawn to water imagery, and that will be a big part of the design. It’s just something that resonates with me personally. It will be more uplifting—no motivational quotes buried in dark, dreary colors anymore.

As for the name, when I started the show, I wasn’t 100% sold on “Gambling Still Sucks.” It did serve a purpose by signifying that this wasn’t a pro-gambling show, but I didn’t want it to seem like this podcast was just about bashing the gambling industry. I think I’ve been hard on the industry, and I think they deserve it, but I understand that some people can gamble recreationally without issues, just like some people can drink socially.

I also want to have a dialogue with those in the industry because they provide most of the funding for problem gambling support, and I want that money used effectively. If they listen to this podcast and hear our stories, they might better understand the struggles we face. If an operator hears about someone trying to self-ban and then ending up gambling because they had to go to the casino to do it, maybe they would change their policies.

So hopefully you understand that the name change isn’t about appeasing anyone—it’s about having conversations. I want to have conversations with therapists, operators, problem gamblers, and regulators. The more dialogue we have, the better we can create change for the future. I want to make it better for my kids so that treatment and prevention are more accessible, just like the D.A.R.E. program for drugs and alcohol.

So that’s why I made the change. And being compulsive, I wanted to do it quickly. I’m going to be in Cleveland next week on a panel about sports betting, and I’ll be meeting a lot of people from the industry, including therapists and regulators. I didn’t want the old name pushing anyone away. If you’re listening to this after meeting me there, thanks for coming in. Know that I’m not against you. I want to understand you better so you can understand us.

And that’s it for this episode. Thanks for listening and for hearing me out on the name change. You’re invested in this, and I appreciate you. The next episode of Season 2 features Joe, who shares his story, and it’s one you won’t want to miss—it’s powerful stuff. So be sure to tune in on Friday.

With that, I’ll wrap up this first episode of Season 2 of the After Gambling Podcast, previously known as the Gambling Still Sucks Podcast. Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.